The elderly woman originally didn't want that old man to stay. She was just an old lady, and people in the village loved to gossip. Those who didn't know might think that at her age she'd gotten lovestruck and found an old companion.
The chubby kid said that this man was a veteran who survived the Battle of the Celestial Gate Pass. With him around, it would be much harder for anyone to bully the family.
From the woman's perspective, Xu Qing saw the crippled veteran often practicing in the yard early in the morning. The three or four hundred jin stone roller seemed as light as a clay marble in his hands.
Judging by those moves, he was at least a Meridian Passage Martial Master of the third realm.
Exchanging a senior Meridian Passage Martial Master for an unknown young lad, even if he's a crippled martial master, was indeed a bold gamble.
"That chubby kid has quite an eye."
Xu Qing continued watching. Just like the Wang family's little sister had said, with a Meridian Passage Martial Master around, minor nuisances were no match.
Then one day, the so-called owner from the Capital City, behind the brokerage, stood at the Wang family's door.
The person wore an embroidered long robe, gesturing with his fingers as he spoke. His voice, as jarring as an escaped duck from a coop, grated on the ears.
"I don't care what veteran you are. If you block my way to riches, you are my enemy!"
"Today, I'm in a good mood and won't bicker with you, old thing. Starting tomorrow, leave this land with your little brat at home, and I'll pretend none of this ever happened..."
Before the eunuch could finish, the crippled old man spoke up, "When I was fighting for Dayong, you hadn't had your balls cut! And now you, a eunuch, dare bully my soldier's household?"
The old man straightened his stooped back, but the eunuch extended a hand to keep him down.
"Old geezer, you're right. I'm indeed ball-less. But in today's world, the ball-less bully the ones with balls. What can you do about it? I'm not the least bit angry."
Though his words claimed no anger, the eunuch's grip showed otherwise. With a mere pat on the shoulder and a twist, the battle-worn veteran fell to the ground.
After finishing his actions, the pale, beardless eunuch pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, finally glancing toward the old lady at the door, broom in hand, hesitant to approach.
"You're without balls too, just like me, so I won't trouble you."
With that, the eunuch cheerfully got into a sedan chair and swayed away from the Wang family.
After the eunuch left, the old lady's legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the ground.
Staring at the crippled old man's corpse at the door, the old lady beat her legs and wept bitterly.
It wasn't until the Wang family's little sister returned with a basket of vegetables that, with her help, the old lady managed to stand again.
Since then, the old lady had a heart ailment, neither eating nor sleeping well. Coupled with losing the house, she braved the elements daily. It wasn't long before she passed away.
On the muddy dirt road, the wind and rain persisted, water puddles bursting one after another. Xu Qing held a string of calming Buddha Beads, heart as restless as the water splattering around.
This string of Buddha Beads was his reward for providing solace for the Wang family's old lady. When she was alive, she often recited sutras and lived in what was essentially a small Buddhist shrine.
But unfortunately, Buddhism couldn't save the old lady.
As Xu Qing rolled the Buddha Beads in his hand, he grew increasingly irritable, until they started to emit a faint white smoke, bringing him back to reality.
He almost forgot! These Buddha Beads had a calming effect on ordinary people, but were useless against evil spirits or zombies, no wonder he felt off.
Looks like this wild zombie couldn't digest the fine bran of Buddhist teachings.
Xu Qing clicked his tongue. The Celestial Master's Mansion was at odds with him, and Buddhist items had issues with him too.
Even when facing tribulations, he had to thrust the merit stele in the heavens' face just to barely escape.
Why was it so tough for him!
At the Funeral Shop, Xu Qing returned carrying the corpse of the Wang family's old lady.
The Wang family's little sister was wailing, agitating Xu Qing more and more.
After dressing the old lady in her burial clothes and tidying up her appearance, Xu Qing lit candles and fetched mourning garments, handing them to the young girl.
Finally, Xu Qing took out a string of Buddha Beads for her and said, "Keeping vigil is dull. Take these Buddha Beads, offer her blessings or talk to her, it helps."
With all done, Xu Qing donned his raincoat again, looking as if he was about to head out once more.
The Xuan Yu possessing Sun Erniang inquired, "With such heavy rain outside, where are you going?"
"Just going for a stroll, to aid digestion."
Xu Qing put on his straw hat and added just one more line before heading out:
"Might as well go collect another corpse."
Out the door, Xu Qing headed straight to Wanshou County.
This time, the corpse he was to collect wasn't a dead one, but he had to go gather a living corpse.
What's a living corpse?
Driving a living person into a coffin is what they call gathering a living corpse!
...
On the deserted official road in the rain, Xu Qing rode the Five-Colored Steed, stopping and starting. At every fork, he'd remove his shoe and toss it into the road's center.
This was the Shoe Throwing Inquiry Technique, a minor form of divination.
As Xu Qing entered Wanshou County, he took his time. Whenever he encountered a carriage stuck in the mud, struggling to move, he'd lend a helping hand.
In the county town, the blacksmith in the smithy was clanging and hammering the anvil.
Xu Qing, wearing his raincoat and a straw hat, walked into the shop. Unable to see his face, the blacksmith casually asked what he wanted.