Volume One: The Eight Coffin Corpse Grounds Chapter 42: Extending Life

The two of them wrestled for quite some time, but in the end, Third Uncle surrendered. He waved his hand, saying, “Enough, enough, I can’t go on. You old fellow are surprisingly tough. I’m starving—if we keep fighting, I’ll collapse from exhaustion.”

Ma Su, who had been struck by the tomb monkey in the burial corridor, still had a swollen face. Now his hair was a tangled mess from Third Uncle’s pulling; he looked utterly disheveled. He slumped into a chair, pointed at Third Uncle and me, and scolded, “Neither of you are any good. I tried to help, and you two ganged up on me.”

I smiled wryly. “Come on, Old Ma, I didn’t even hit you. How is this my fault?”

Ma Su waved dismissively. “You’re no better. You’re the type who abandons the donkey after it’s done grinding.”

Third Uncle and I exchanged amused glances.

After his outburst, Ma Su seemed to realize he’d talked himself into a corner. He flushed, unable to continue his tirade.

This eccentric professor’s peculiar personality was truly endearing, at least to me. I found myself quite eager to work alongside him.

After all the commotion, the atmosphere lightened. It was time to get to the heart of the matter. I asked Third Uncle, “Tell us, what really happened during your disappearance?”

Third Uncle stood up. “I haven’t eaten in days—let’s go downstairs for a meal, and I’ll explain as we eat.”

I nodded, inviting Ma Su to join us, but Ma Su’s stubborn streak surfaced. He refused to dine with Third Uncle, no matter what. After much persuasion, promising him a little wine, he finally agreed.

Ma Su’s only real indulgence, aside from his academic pursuits, was drinking.

When we reached the dining room, we were surprised to find Wu Tianyou already seated at the table. Upon seeing us, he beckoned us over.

I greeted him. “Mr. Wu, what brings you here?”

Wu Tianyou chuckled. “I’ve been waiting for you. I didn’t want to disturb your rest, so I stayed here.”

“How’s Liang Yue?” I asked.

Wu Tianyou nodded, inviting us to sit. “Following Master Dongbin’s method, Liang Yue is fine. She’s just a bit weak and needs to rest for a few days.”

I was startled. “Master Dongbin? Who is Master Dongbin?”

Third Uncle smacked me lightly, and I suddenly realized he’d taken the name Li Dongbin—so this ‘Master Dongbin’ was him.

Yet the explanation only confused me further. Third Uncle had been under the spell of the flute—when had he found time to advise Wu Tianyou? And what about the things Wu Tianxiong claimed Wu Tianyou had done—were they true?

The dishes arrived, and despite my swirling questions, hunger prevailed. We all picked up our chopsticks and began to eat. Ma Su poured himself a drink.

Wu Tianyou didn’t touch his food. Instead, he watched us and asked, “My brother caused you trouble, didn’t he?”

With my mouth full of meat, I mumbled, “Which brother? Wu Tianxiong or Wu Tianze?”

The words slipped out before I realized. Wu Tianze was already dead—surely a sore spot for Wu Tianyou. My comment was salt in a wound.

As expected, Wu Tianyou’s face changed, his calm demeanor replaced by bitterness.

He sighed, pulling two sheets of paper from his pocket and handing them to me.

Puzzled, I took them. One was a medical diagnosis for Wu Tianyou, dated three years prior. It stated he suffered from a rare disease, with a prognosis of less than two years to live.

The other was a declaration signed by Wu Tianze, stating he willingly accepted death and that no one else was responsible.

“Mr. Wu, what does this mean?” I asked.

His expression grew somber as he recounted the events.

Years ago, Mr. Wu was diagnosed with a terminal illness, with little time left. At that time, Tianyou Group was preparing to develop a plot of land in the neighboring city, a site recorded in the clan archives by Wu Baozhang as a feng shui treasure.

When construction began, strange events followed. A feng shui master in Wu’s circle declared the dragon vein was on the verge of breaking; mishandling it would not only ruin their business but also bring misfortune to the entire Wu family.

Wu Tianyou was at a loss. The feng shui master suggested a solution—though sinister, it would use the dragon vein to prolong Wu Tianyou’s life and suppress the evil coffin, ensuring the plaza’s prosperity.

The twofold plan required a clan member to sacrifice themselves for the coffin, a kind of life exchange. Wu Tianze was the ideal candidate: frail and sickly, with a predicted lifespan of no more than ten years. Sacrificing those years could extend Wu Tianyou’s life and protect the family.

Wu Tianyou vehemently opposed the idea, but Wu Tianze overheard. Gentle-hearted and loyal, Wu Tianze learned that his sacrifice could save his elder brother and secure the clan’s future. He left the declaration, sought out the feng shui master, and offered his life. The evil coffin was suppressed, and the project continued.

Third Uncle, now full and content, burped and asked, “So Wu Tianze’s sacrifice wasn’t forced by you, as Wu Tianxiong claimed?”

Wu Tianyou nodded, then shook his head. “He wasn’t forced, but he died because of me. I’ll owe him for the rest of my life. Tianxiong isn’t entirely wrong.”

I looked at Third Uncle in surprise. “You seem to know everything. What’s going on? Were you really under the spell of that bone flute?”

Third Uncle grinned. “My dear nephew, this is a long story. When we were on the rooftop and I heard the flute, I knew it could capture souls. The situation was tangled and complex. Without diving into it, I couldn’t possibly unravel the truth. I used a method—pierced my acupuncture points with silver needles, opened my fontanel, and intentionally fell under their spell. The flute led me straight to the elevator, and I descended to the basement.”

I shook my head, reproaching him. “Third Uncle, that was irresponsible. You could’ve told me. Your disappearance had us worried sick. Liang Yue, Old Ma, and I nearly died down there.”

Third Uncle chuckled, “You’ve always been timid. I thought my disappearance would make you back off, and I’d return once I sorted things out. Besides, my method was risky—if things went wrong, I really could’ve been controlled. I didn’t want to drag you all down with me.”

(End of this chapter)