Chapter 9: Old Xie, the Yin-Yang Agent

Regarding corpse control techniques, the book on occult arts offers a rough description: it speaks of transforming a dead body into a walking corpse through alchemical means, then controlling it via sorcery. Unlike zombies, though both have souls sealed within the body, these walking corpses move like living people, while zombies remain stiff and can only hop.

The corpse slowly crawled up, finally standing upright in place. Its rising was truly horrifying to witness. Imagine: the scattered bricks and stones were a grave, and this person was effectively clawing their way out of it. The body was decayed and movements stiff, sending chills down the spine of anyone watching.

Suddenly, the old woman’s lips twitched again, emitting a hoarse, ancient voice that made me shiver uncontrollably.

“You lived not as a human, and cannot become a ghost in death. I grant you a body of adamantine flesh, an immortal form. Go forth.”

By the fire, the old woman kept murmuring incantations while stooping to throw more paper offerings into the flames. Once she finished this chant, the rigid corpse suddenly moved.

She tossed a few more sheets into the fire, then sharply pointed at me. The corpse immediately began to walk toward me. The bricks and tiles clattered as it advanced, and a foul stench rushed to meet me.

Panic surged through me. I dashed toward the old woman, shouting, “Using such evil sorcery will bring retribution!”

As I yelled, I collided with the old woman, knocking her to the ground. Meanwhile, the corpse was speeding toward me, head bowed. In the dim light of the old city, it looked like a living person walking—but up close, its face was covered in corpse spots, unmistakably dead.

I ran down the old city streets for over two hundred meters, only to glance back and see the corpse still pursuing. Fear gripped me, but I racked my brain recalling the occult text, which contained no method to break corpse control.

By then, I had reached the end of the old city streets. Beyond lay the bustling new city, alive with crowds even though it was still early.

I halted immediately—not daring to run forward. If I brought the corpse into the crowd, I’d terrify countless people. Gritting my teeth, I turned and ran back toward the old city.

The corpse was close behind, but moved slowly enough that I easily circled around it.

Just when I thought I’d escaped, the old woman reappeared in my sight. Her lips moved rapidly as she pointed at my feet.

Suddenly, something tripped my foot, and before I could react, I fell hard to the ground. The stench hit me again. The decomposed corpse that had been buried beneath bricks caught up.

Suddenly, two icy-cold hands clamped around my neck with terrifying strength. Within seconds, my limbs went limp and vision blurred. I vaguely remembered struggling, trying to pry the hands away.

But when I touched the hands choking me, they felt slippery and impossible to grip. Darkness crept over my eyes. Only one thought remained: am I really dying so soon?

---

“Unexpected to see such vile corpse control sorcery in a populous county. Tonight, you’re lucky. By order of the law.” Just as hopelessness took hold, a man’s voice echoed in my ear.

Then I felt the grip on my neck loosen, and nearby came sounds of a scuffle before I fainted.

When I opened my eyes again, I was still in the old city. A middle-aged man in casual clothes sat beside me, smoking.

“You’re awake?” he said, glancing down at me.

I quickly stood and looked both ways along the old city streets. The fire was gone, the old woman gone, and the corpse gone. Puzzled, I looked at the man. “Wasn’t I—”

He cut me off with a long drag on his cigarette. “You’re lucky. I happened to be passing by outside the old city and sensed a strong ghostly aura inside. I came in to check. Otherwise, you’d be dead by now.”

He stood up as he spoke. Only then did I notice the peachwood sword in his hand and the bag slung over his shoulder with talisman papers visible inside. He was clearly a Taoist priest of some kind.

I nodded in understanding and thanked him. “Thank you for saving me. Are you a Taoist priest?”

He waved dismissively. “Priest, my foot. I’m a yin-yang agent. You’re lucky today. No more talk—I have business.”

He took a final drag of his cigarette and turned to leave. I hurried in front of him, chuckling nervously, “Since you saved me, I have to repay you somehow. At least tell me your name, benefactor.”

“Xie Laowu,” he said, pushing past me and continuing on.

I wasn’t about to let him go so easily and caught up again. “How about dinner, then?”

Xie Laowu looked annoyed. “Dinner? Don’t block me—I’m busy.”

I persisted. “Then at least leave me your number. I’ll treat you another day.”

He seemed irritated, snapping the cigarette butt to the ground, then handing me a business card. “Damn, you’re annoying.”

I took the card, and he left without looking back.

Of course, I didn’t just want his number to invite him to a meal. He saved my life. Even now, I still felt shaken—if not for Xie Laowu, I’d be dead.

---

But where had that old woman gone? Had Xie Laowu driven her off? This man was no ordinary figure. Perhaps I’d have many matters to ask of him in the future.

With that thought, I slipped the card into my pocket and left the old city feeling somewhat reassured.

After the terrifying night in the old city, my heart raced incessantly. Back home, I lay awake for hours, unable to calm my nerves.

Early the next morning, I called Xie Laowu. “Hey benefactor, let me buy you breakfast.”

“Damn it, it’s you again? I’m sleeping—don’t bother me,” he snapped before hanging up.

By noon, I tried again. “Hey benefactor, lunch on me.”

“Damn, you brat, I’m skipping lunch,” he growled.

In the afternoon, I called once more. “Benefactor, how about dinner together?”

“F***, you’re so annoying,” came his gruff reply.

At six that evening, I finally met Xie Laowu in a county restaurant. He wore casual clothes again, but no sword or bag. A cigarette dangled from his lips unlit, and his scruffy stubble gave him the air of a street thug.

He sat opposite me and lit his cigarette. “You just want to know who that old woman was, right?”

I was surprised he brought it up first and quickly asked, “Who was she?”

He took a long drag, then exhaled before speaking. “Judging by her technique, she’s probably the Little Ghost Queen, who disappeared many years ago. I wondered how you’d managed to provoke someone like her. Back then, the Little Ghost Queen was notorious throughout the land—few dared cross her.”