I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality-Chapter 112 - 81: The Hu Yang Clan, Ghost King Mausoleum

Free of charge? Is there really such a good thing?

Xu Qing looked skeptical.

However, the next moment, he heard Hu Baosong say:

"As long as you agree to this matter and fulfill my wish, getting you as many corpses as you want won’t be a problem!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing, who was about to shake off old Hu’s hand, immediately relaxed.

The two of them clasped hands, entered the coffin shop together, and Hu Baosong closed the door, lit a candle, and the store packed with coffins was enveloped in a dim yellow glow.

Xu Qing casually sat on a coffin, and the Galloping Immortal Disciple who followed him jumped up and sat beside him.

Hu Baosong glanced at the black cat staring at the candle flame, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"A black cat? It’s unlucky to keep such a thing in our line of work!"

The black cat bared its teeth and hissed, clearly displeased with the old man’s words.

Xu Qing didn’t mind. He had seen plenty of unlucky things. Besides, those in the burial business naturally brought bad luck.

With so many fleas, one doesn’t worry about itching. The bad luck had already seeped into his bones; how could he be afraid of more?

"Never mind the cat; let’s talk business. What were you saying about the corpses earlier?"

Hu Baosong took out an incense stick, slowly walked to the candle, and lit it with the wavering flame before inserting it into the Incense Burner.

A wisp of white smoke drifted up to the beam, covering the red lacquered square wood hanging from it with a thin veil.

Only then did Xu Qing notice a heavy coffin that could hold three people overhead on the beam.

The coffin was wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, high at the front and low at the back; it looked like there was a smaller coffin nestled inside.

Could this be the type of coffin Wu Yaohua mentioned that could accommodate two or three people lying down together?

Xu Qing was amazed, not because of the size of the coffin, but because of the high status it symbolized. Unless the deceased were extremely wealthy or had official titles, they had no right to use a nested coffin.

In life or in death, there are ranks.

In life, it depends on titles, office, wealth, and estates; in death, it depends on coffins, burial shrouds, and grave vaults.

According to the ancient burial customs, the emperor’s coffin had four layers of thickness, with the main coffin being eight inches thick. Nobles had three layers with a main coffin six inches thick, while commoners were only allowed small coffins four inches thick, without any nesting.

Hu Baosong’s custom-made coffin had at least two layers. Being a commoner running a coffin shop, how could he dare to use such a grand coffin?

If someone reported him, his ashes would be scattered by the Imperial Court!

Even if he were still alive and not yet buried, he would be charged with great disrespect and prosecuted according to law.

"Old Hu, you said that keeping a cat is unlucky, but aren’t you afraid that this large coffin would spell disaster for you in the future?"

Standing opposite Xu Qing, Hu Baosong lowered his hands, which were tucked in his sleeves, looked up at Xu Qing seated high on the coffin, and smiled:

"Why should I fear?"

"You are a commoner. According to ancient laws, you are not qualified to enjoy the luxury of a grand burial. Such treatment is reserved for nobles."

Hu Baosong laughed heartily, showing a mouthful of missing teeth: "Looking back over hundreds of generations, who wasn’t born a noble of some sort? How do you know I’m a commoner?"

Before Xu Qing could ask, he continued: "Xu boy, have you heard of the Hu Yang Clan?"

"Hu Yang?" Xu Qing was puzzled.

"The Hu Yang Clan can be traced back ten thousand years. Although it declined, it’s only been for the past thirteen hundred years. According to the celestial rules, the clan patriarchs are entitled to thick coffins and multiple layers."

"This humble old man happens to be the genealogist elder of this generation of the Hu Yang Clan."

"A genealogist elder?" Xu Qing was astonished.

"Exactly."

"How many people are left in your lineage?"

"Just this old man alone."

"..."

Xu Qing couldn’t help but say: "Old Hu, your clan is on the verge of extinction! Shall I prescribe you some aphrodisiacs and help arrange a marriage? Maybe you can still father a child."

"Do you think I haven’t tried? If it worked, why would I seek your help?"

Hu Baosong shook his head: "The Hu Yang Clan has branched out over the years. It’s not that the clan will be extinct, but the lineage remembering the Hu Yang legacy is about to end. I’m looking for you because of this."

"What do you mean? Weren’t you saying you could provide me with infinite corpses? If you’re going to ramble, I’m not interested."

"Young people are always impatient. Listen to me slowly."

Hu Baosong, tired from standing, found a chair to sit down on. At this moment, he looked like a shriveled old monkey, curled up on a large chair like a withered branch.

"Last year, your master Liu Youdao dug up a coffin on the River Mouth Ancient Path. That coffin was a burial accompaniment from the Ghost King’s Tomb, containing either the Ghost King’s concubine or his guard, a Ghost General or Shadow Soldier."

"Your master was lucky, managing to steal the coffin during a lapse in the Yang Fire sealing it. Unfortunately, the Celestial Fire came and went quickly. Liu Youdao had the guts to steal the coffin but not to open it. I figured he wouldn’t be able to resist for long. Who knew he didn’t die in the Ghost King Mausoleum but outside instead."

Xu Qing said unhappily: "Last time I asked you, you didn’t mention this!"

Hu Baosong chuckled: "Only tell people three parts of the story, never fully reveal your heart. If I didn’t leave some mystery, how would you be willing to sit here and hear me out?"

Xu Qing chuckled, noting the saying in his heart.

"Liu Youdao’s master, Yang Qiying, was once a named disciple of the Yin Corpse Sect. The River Mouth Ancient Path, that forbidden region for the living, is the favorite training ground for the Yin Corpse Sect."