yasinovel Chapter 142 Coffin
Chapter 142 Coffin
The rising sun dispelled the chill that lingered over Huaicheng.
However, the people of this city did not slack off in the slightest. Instead, they all watched Jinding Mountain, which was covered with dark clouds, thunder, and earthquakes in the morning.
If someone were to go up the mountain to offer incense and worship Buddha at this moment, they would find that the Da Ruo Temple, which occupied almost the entire mountain, was instantly reduced to ashes.
That sacred land of Shakyamuni, with its solemn imagery, chanting Buddhist hymns, and fragrant sandalwood incense, was utterly destroyed by this overwhelming divine might.
"Have you heard? It happened at Chen Shi (7-9 AM). All the disciplinary monks stationed in Huai City died instantly, their lives cut short."
"It's said that her miserable appearance was like a vengeful ghost demanding revenge!"
"Who can argue with that? The corpses of nearly a hundred monks are still lying on that untouched platform. Someone has already sent a fast horse to inform the Demon Suppression Divisions of Guihua County and Sishui County."
"This matter is too horrifying... Some say that the monks of Da Ruo Temple colluded with evil spirits, which attracted the divine power to subdue the demons..."
The drunkards who used to drink and play drinking games are no longer to be found in the taverns, and even the travelers coming and going to eat have decreased significantly.
Private room on the second floor
Fang Hongxuan and Zong Du, wearing straw raincoats and carrying bamboo baskets, were quietly eating the delicacies on the table.
However, both of them found it tasteless, unable to taste anything at all.
"Junior brother, what are your plans after this?"
"The county of Mixian is shrouded in mystery, and I have already promised someone that I must do something that needs to be done."
"While my colleagues from the Demon Suppression Division haven't set foot in Huai City yet, I intend to return to Mi Xian County to thoroughly investigate the cases of Hui Kong and the living corpses. Once I've laid down all my burdens, I'll then venture into the Secret Realm..."
Zong Du's resolute face couldn't help but furrow slightly.
"Even without hearing the details, just following the clues, I feel that you seem to be caught in a conspiracy, Junior Brother. Otherwise, you should come back to the Secret Realm with me first. It won't be too late to investigate thoroughly once you have mastered your skills and have the strength to rely on yourself."
Fang Hongxuan waved his hand, then raised his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.
"Senior brother, a gentleman's word is as good as his bond. Although I am not exactly a gentleman, I still understand the principle of keeping one's promise."
Seeing Fang Hongxuan's firm resolve, Zongdu decided it was best not to offer any further advice.
"That's fine then. Master has many enemies in the Secret Realm. If you are discovered, you won't have a good ending. I should return to the Secret Realm first to make thorough preparations for you."
After Fang Hongxuan paid the bill, he parted ways with Zong Du on a path outside the city.
The two horses, now possessing intelligence, were reluctant to part, clinging to each other and unwilling to leave.
Zongdu had to tighten the reins before the yellow horse reluctantly carried him westward.
As for Dou Yan'an, he had already bid farewell to Fang Hongxuan with his silver in hand.
Only after watching Zong Du completely disappear from sight did Fang Hongxuan angrily crack his whip.
"You lecherous steed, you've caused so much trouble in just a few days. I think you're looking for a good whipping!"
"thorough..."
Despite the pain, Wuqi was not angry. Instead, it took off galloping away, making whimpering noises from its mouth.
As for the cloth bag on the side of the horse's back, Huang Yiyi's alert head peeked out.
"Young master, where are we headed?"
"Even the petrel knows to return to its nest, so a traveler should naturally return home..."
...
As the saying goes: It's better to have no house in life than no place to call home after death.
Throughout history, everyone, from emperors and nobles to commoners, has faced death. The coffins used to welcome death have been carefully chosen.
Black coffins were used for those who died violently, unjustly, or by suicide; red coffins were used for joyous funerals; white coffins were used for those who died young; and gold coffins were reserved for royalty and nobility.
The remaining yellow coffins were mostly used by ordinary, impoverished people, since the paint was quite expensive. Unless absolutely necessary, no ordinary family would paint their coffins.
Shahe Town is a well-known impoverished village in the Jinghu Mountains.
Although the people here are not starving, they are barely making ends meet.
On ordinary days, neighbors would help each other out when one family was struggling to make ends meet, so as to get through the increasingly difficult times.
One day
Suddenly, the streets were filled with the deafening sounds of gongs and drums, and the crackling of firecrackers.
Such a lively scene disturbed the local residents.
"What's all this commotion outside the window? What's going on this time?"
A mule was pulling a wooden cart with great effort, and on the cart was a bright red coffin, as red as blood.
The characters for "longevity" were prominently displayed at both ends of the coffin, displaying a magnificent and powerful style.
This was actually a coffin that would make an old man envious!
The driver was a short, hunchbacked man with shifty eyes.
His triangular eyes constantly scanned his surroundings, as if he were extremely afraid of being captured.
Judging from his timid and cowardly appearance, he didn't seem like a traveler returning home, but rather someone trying to escape the patrol of the constables.
"Isn't that the good-for-nothing boy from the Qi family? Not only did he run away from Shahe Town with debts, but he also caused his old mother to cry every day. At the age of seventy-nine, she still has to do needlework every day to pay off the debts of that unfilial son."
"Who can argue with that? Tomorrow is Old Madam Qi's 80th birthday. He probably only dared to come back after knowing the debts had been paid off, right?"
"Hmph, if this unfilial son had been born into my family, he would have been beaten to death countless times by now."
"Shh..."
"Grandma Qi has arrived..."
Such a noise naturally startled the old woman in the courtyard.
Then, the radiant face of Old Madam Qi peeked out from behind the wall, and her eyes met Qi Jingming's.
Qi Jingming, who had been timid and hesitant, now seemed to have someone supporting him.
He arrogantly reined in his horse, shook off the dust, and hurried over to the old woman in a few steps.
"Mother, your son is unfilial. He committed many wrongdoings in the past, which led to the destruction of our family. Now, your son has turned over a new leaf and earned some money in another place."
On the occasion of my mother's 80th birthday, I am taking this opportunity to present her with a coffin for her longevity.
Upon hearing this, the old lady of the Qi family's gloomy expression vanished instantly, and her already nimble hands and feet became even faster.
She lay prostrate on the coffin, her expression one of overwhelming emotion, tears streaming down her face.
"A four-section coffin! And it's even made of the finest cypress wood! Ah Ming, you've really put your heart into it..."
What is the Four Directions?
Naturally, the coffin was made of four whole, intact pieces of wood, fitting together perfectly without any gaps.
Four enormous cypress trees of similar age are even harder to find, and even if they are available, they are extremely expensive.
For an old woman nearing the end of her life, this item is worth more than ten thousand taels of gold!
Even the elderly townspeople who gathered around looked on with envy.
It's impossible not to be envious, after all, who wouldn't want their descendants to treat them with great fanfare after they die peacefully in their old age?
Life is but a fleeting few decades, gone in the blink of an eye. If one dies young, the years spent lying in a coffin will be many more.
The desire to obtain the finest coffin naturally becomes a concern for older people.
...