Chapter 21 of 100

Chapter 21

14 min read3,445 words

On the Qingming Festival, the ghost gates open, marking the day when yin energy is at its peak. The calendar records: suitable for burial and relocation of graves, but avoid celebrations.

It had been six days since the incident at the police station. After Qin Yu unlocked the handcuffs for Mo Yongxing, the city police chief arrived shortly after. Qin Yu even wondered if Chief Wei had been there all along, just waiting for Mo Yongxing's handcuffs to be unlocked before entering.

After Chief Wei's arrival, he and Hao Jianguo held a party committee meeting at the police station. During the meeting, they directly announced the punishment for Ren Yuanpeng, removing him from his position as deputy county police chief. The city police disciplinary committee would thoroughly investigate Ren Yuanpeng's issues. Not only would he lose his position, but he would also face a thorough investigation into his financial problems.

In our party, nothing is more feared than seriousness. The city police are determined to deal with Ren Yuanpeng. Given his conduct, it's clear that he has something to hide. He will face imprisonment, but none of this has anything to do with Qin Yu. After Chief Wei's arrival, the three of them left.

Because of A Long's actions at the police station, Mo Yongxing developed a good impression of him. The two quickly became close friends. After getting drunk at the nightclub, the two drunkards loudly declared they wanted to blow up the police station. Qin Yu, helpless, asked A Long's subordinates to help them rest, while he found a room on the second floor to sleep.

The next day, Mo Yongxing left. After A Long woke up, he had a deep conversation with Qin Yu. They decided that A Long would leave the nightclub to his subordinates and go out into the world to see more.

After the incident at the police station, A Long seemed to have matured a lot overnight. As he put it, "I thought I was a big shot in the county, but in the end, I was at the mercy of others. I've realized that being a gangster is pointless; only power and influence can control one's destiny."

Qin Yu was very happy that his brother had come to this realization. The two brothers reminisced about their high school days, talking about the girls they liked and the embarrassing stories of their youth, laughing until tears streamed down their faces, but there was a hint of sadness in their eyes.

The next day, A Long boarded a train to the north. Qin Yu watched him board, silently wishing him well. A Long had found his direction, but what about himself? Could he overcome the obstacles in front of him and Meng Yao?

...

The arson case at the Kaixuan Nightclub also had a conclusion. The police report stated that the fire was caused by a sudden electrical short in the partition. As for why the wiring suddenly shorted, no one knew. It was ultimately attributed to old wiring.

However, the Kaixuan Nightclub had only been renovated a few months ago. How could the wiring be old? Qin Yu smiled and shook his head as he read the police report. No one knew the real reason better than he did, but now it didn't matter. A Long was gone, and Ren Yuanpeng was arrested. The matter was over.

...

On the morning of Qingming, Qin Yu's father and the Qin family clan went to pay respects to their ancestors. Qin Yu did not go with them because he had more important matters to attend to. The new design for the cemetery that Qin Yu had drawn was complete, and today was the day to relocate Hao Jianguo's grandfather's grave.

Qin Yu was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, similar to the style of the 1990s, making him look refined and elegant.

"Qin Yu, get in the car!"

The horn sounded at the door, and the Hummer's window rolled down, with Mo Yongxing's head sticking out to call.

"Miss Mo is here too!"

Qin Yu pushed open the car door and found Mo Yongxin sitting inside. Today, Mo Yongxin was wearing a white pleated dress with a high collar and white flat shoes. Her fair and rosy skin made her look like a Snow White.

"Mr. Qin, I heard today is the day you are relocating your client's ancestor's grave, so I came to see it."

Mo Yongxin explained, and Qin Yu didn't hesitate, getting into the car. He owed the Mo family a favor for the police station incident, so if they wanted to come, he would let them.

Hao Jianguo was already at his grandfather's grave, accompanied by some people, including elderly men and young children, likely his clan members.

"Master Qin, everything is ready!"

Qin Yu and the others arrived, and Hao Jianguo, looking excited, shook hands with Qin Yu and said.

Qin Yu checked the time. The sun had not yet risen, and a table had already been set up in front of the grave, with incense burners, three sacrificial animals, white wine, glutinous rice, tea, and yin-yang water. Three incense sticks, each about 1.5 meters long, were burning, with smoke rising.

Qin Yu walked to the table, clasped his hands, and bowed three times. He picked up the yin-yang water, dipped his fingers, and sprinkled it in the four directions, reciting:

"Here, the most powerful land god ascends to heaven and descends to earth, entering the netherworld and the mortal world.

For me, report to the heavens, do not linger, and on the day of success, your name will be recorded in the upper realm."

As he recited, he stepped in the positions of the Bagua, exuding a special aura, almost like a Taoist priest.

"Sis, Qin Yu really looks like a Taoist priest," Mo Yongxing said with a laugh. Mo Yongxin glared at him and interrupted:

"Don't be silly. He is paying respects to the four mountain gods and the land god to avoid offending the Year Star!"

"Light the three-foot-long talisman for the land god, and now I will summon the soul with the light of the heavens!"

Qin Yu's expression was solemn as he grabbed the peach wood sword from the table, piercing a talisman with the tip. The peach wood sword waved in the air, and the talisman suddenly caught fire.

"Sis, what... what kind of magic is Qin Yu performing!"

Mo Yongxing's mouth dropped open when he saw the talisman on the peach wood sword suddenly catch fire. This scene was something he had only seen in Hong Kong ghost movies.

"Hao family descendants, come and wave the soul banner!"

The burning talisman not only surprised Mo Yongxing but also many of the Hao family members, who had never seen such a thing before. Qin Yu's loud command brought everyone back to their senses. An elderly man slowly walked forward, picked up the soul banner from the table, and began to wave it. A cold wind blew, rustling the trees and making the soul banner flutter. This scene, combined with the self-igniting talisman, made many people shiver.

"Recite the prayer to the ancestors!"

Qin Yu frowned and said to Hao Jianguo, who quickly stepped forward and began to recite the prayer. The prayer had been written in advance, explaining to the ancestors that their descendants were relocating the grave.

As the prayer ended, the cold wind gradually subsided and returned to calm. Mo Yongxing looked around and muttered, "Is it really that eerie?"

"Alright, now we can break the ground!"

After completing everything, Qin Yu nodded to Hao Jianguo, who called out, and several young men with shovels and picks approached the grave. Qin Yu had already explained the precautions for breaking the ground, so he didn't need to worry about it.

"Master Qin, rest for a moment."

Hao Jianguo noticed that Qin Yu was sweating and quickly handed him a towel. Qin Yu wiped his sweat, looked at the young men digging the grave, and leaned against a tree to rest.

He was indeed a bit tired. The incantations he recited were different from those of ordinary Taoist priests, using mental power and focusing on the Bagua steps, which was mentally exhausting.

"Mr. Qin, what was that cold wind just now?"

Mo Yongxin and Mo Yongxing came to Qin Yu's side. As spectators, they had nothing to do, and Mo Yongxing even went to the grave to watch the digging. Hao Jianguo now knew Mo Yongxing's background and didn't say anything.

"Would you believe me if I said it was the spirit of the Hao family's ancestors?" Qin Yu opened his eyes and asked.

"I believe you!"

To Qin Yu's surprise, Mo Yongxin nodded without hesitation.

"Mr. Qin, do you want to know why I stayed in Tongba Mountain?" Mo Yongxin asked, and before Qin Yu could answer, she continued, "After the relocation, I have something to discuss with you."

"Master Qin, it's done!"

Qin Yu was about to answer when Hao Jianguo's voice came. The grave had been dug open, and Qin Yu quickly went over.

The grave was opened, revealing the coffin inside. Several people had already pulled back the sunshade. Qin Yu observed for a moment, nodded, and said, "We can open the coffin now."

Two of the young men picked up crowbars and loosened one corner of the coffin lid, creating a small gap. A foul smell immediately escaped. Qin Yu threw a handful of glutinous rice into the coffin, and everyone moved back a bit.

When opening the coffin, the smell of decay is inevitable. Opening a small gap first allows the air to circulate. After waiting for about ten minutes, Qin Yu no longer smelled the foul odor and called for everyone to open the coffin completely.

The coffin lid was lifted, revealing a well-preserved skeleton. A red silk cloth was still partially intact under the skeleton, indicating that the coffin had been well-sealed. After more than twenty years, it had not decomposed.

"Master Qin, how should we proceed now?"

Hao Jianguo was surprised by the well-preserved state of his grandfather's skeleton. Qin Yu smiled and said, "This well-preserved skeleton should not be damaged. Find some people to get a red silk cloth, lay it under the skeleton, and carefully lift it out."

For some reason, Qin Yu was not afraid of the skeleton and even touched the jawbone. It seemed he was indeed suited for this line of work.

The skeleton was carefully lifted out, and some of the more timid people covered their eyes or turned away. Qin Yu guided those holding the red silk cloth and placed the skeleton in a golden coffin that had been prepared.

The golden coffin was already lined with red cloth and colorful grains. Qin Yu, wearing red gloves, reached in and placed a ball of cotton under the skull, then carefully felt between the jawbone and the skull to ensure they were properly aligned. He then took a colorful string and tied it from the feet of the skeleton, wrapping it around the entire body.

From outside the coffin, it looked as if Qin Yu's face was touching the skeleton. Mo Yongxing, who considered himself brave, did not dare to get so close to a skeleton.

"Sprinkle the tea leaves and seal the coffin!"

After confirming everything was correct, Qin Yu called to Hao Jianguo, who quickly sprinkled tea leaves over the skeleton. A carpenter then nailed the coffin lid with three nails, one inside and two outside, and covered it with a red sunshade cloth.

"Take a bag of blood-soaked soil from under the original coffin, wrap it in a red cloth, and take it with you."

Blood-soaked soil is the soil within eight inches below the original coffin. Due to the decay of the body inside the coffin, this soil is often contaminated with the blood and fluids from the body, making it part of the deceased and necessary to take to the new grave.

After everything was done, the elderly man from the Hao family led the way with the soul banner, followed by eight young men carrying the coffin. Everyone went down the mountain, placed the coffin in the car, and headed to the new cemetery.

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