Yu Daohan saw Zhu Futing walk out of the wooden house and look at Su Lai, who was eating nearby.
Su Lai nodded, understanding what Yu Daohan wanted to say: that corpse pond had existed for at least five years.
The corpse pond described by Zhu Futing was likely related to Ma Meiling, but I don't see any aura on Ma Meiling's face.
Yu Daohan was a little confused; everyone in this line of work had an aura on their face, without exception.
Su Lai shook his head: I didn't see any aura on Ma Meiling's face either, but the martial world is full of strange and peculiar sorceries. It's not surprising that there are spells to hide one's aura.
Yu Daohan did not refute, just because he hadn't seen it didn't mean it didn't exist.
Yu Daohan thought for a moment and said, "I recall that corpse ponds have two uses: one is to raise evil creatures for sacrifice, and the other is to condense Yin energy."
Su Lai nodded: "The second is to condense Yin energy for ghosts to cultivate by piling up corpses."
Yu Daohan continued to ask, "Which one do you think it is?"
Su Lai did not answer directly, but pondered for a long time and was unsure: "I think it should be the first type. If it were the second type, it would be more appropriate to build the corpse pond in the mountains."
Seeing that Su Lai was also unsure, Yu Daohan could only shake his head helplessly. However, whether it was the first or second type, their task was only to retrieve the corpses, and they didn't care about anything else.
"Our task is only to retrieve the corpses; we can't control anything else," Su Lai reminded him.
"I understand, Brother Su."
Yu Daohan naturally understood that Su Lai wanted him not to meddle in other people's affairs. After all, meddling in others' affairs was the biggest taboo for people in this profession. You should only do as much as you can, or you wouldn't even know how you died.
"If it were in the water, calling that guy over, no matter who it was, they would have to kneel and call him grandpa upon seeing him."
Thinking of this, Yu Daohan shook his head helplessly, wondering why he kept thinking of that guy.
"But honestly, if that guy revealed his true form, this fish pond would probably barely be able to contain him."
Su Lai handed two steamed buns to Yu Daohan: "Master Yu, after eating, it's almost time to prepare. Let's try to retrieve the corpses today and leave this place."
Yu Daohan thought the same, took the buns, and started eating.
After the three finished eating, they walked out of the wooden house and began to prepare.
Su Lai took out a four-clawed hook and a chain three times larger than yesterday's, as well as three white wax candles, a half-meter-long wooden stick, and some green incense.
Yu Daohan looked closely at the bright red wooden stick, a little curious. It wasn't dyed; it was natural red wood, where only one out of a thousand peach woods could produce such a piece. It had extremely strong Yang energy, more substantial than chicken blood. Even ordinary minor ghosts would have to walk around it.
"I'll go down first to see the situation. If the three rules are violated, things will be difficult."
Su Lai took off his upper garment, revealing his strong muscles, then took out three sticks of green incense and lit them: "This incense respects heaven and earth, respects ghosts and gods. I hope everyone will be accommodating."
After speaking, Su Lai inserted the three sticks of green incense into the ground, gripped the half-meter-long wooden stick, and plunged into the water.
Zhou Fu, standing beside him, looked at Yu Daohan, somewhat confused: "Sect Master, what are the three rules Master Su mentioned?"
Yu Daohan looked at the water surface, which had returned to calm, and said, "There are many taboos for corpse retrievers, the most taboo of which is 'three retrievals and three non-retrievals'."
There is no specific explanation for "three retrievals," but "three non-retrievals" must be observed.
The so-called "three non-retrievals" are: do not retrieve a corpse standing upright in the water, do not retrieve during thunderstorms or overcast weather, and if a corpse cannot be retrieved after three attempts, it cannot be retrieved again. This is the "three non-retrievals."
Zhou Fu nodded in understanding, and both of them looked towards the movement in the water.
Unnoticed by the two, Ma Meiling, next to Zhu Futing, looked at the commotion in the water with a solemn expression.
About ten minutes later, Su Lai's head emerged from the water, gasping for breath, and he quickly swam towards Yu Daohan and Su Lai.
Reaching the shore, Yu Daohan grabbed Su Lai's hand and pulled him up.
Su Lai got onto the shore, his face pale, his thighs trembling uncontrollably. Yu Daohan frowned at Su Lai's appearance. The midday sun was scorching, and it shouldn't be this cold.
Yu Daohan patted Su Lai's shoulder: "I say, Old Su, your body is also..."
Before Yu Daohan could finish, he felt Su Lai's body was extremely cold, like that of a dead person.
Yu Daohan's expression changed. In this hot weather, even soaking in this fish pond all day wouldn't make him this cold, especially since Su Lai had been dealing with water all year round.
"Master Yu, give me a cigarette first," Su Lai said slowly.
Although Yu Daohan didn't understand, he looked at Zhou Fu beside him: "Go to the wooden house and get cigarettes."
Zhou Fu nodded and went to the wooden house to get cigarettes.
Zhu Futing and Ma Meiling, seeing Su Lai in this state, knew the seriousness of the situation and watched from the side without speaking.
Zhou Fu came out with the cigarettes, lit one, handed it to Su Lai, and then passed him the lighter.
Su Lai lit the cigarette, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled. After finishing the cigarette, Su Lai finally calmed down.
"Brother Su, what exactly is the situation inside?" Yu Daohan couldn't help but ask after seeing Su Lai calm down.
Su Lai shook his head, sounding disbelieving: "Master Yu, this corpse cannot be retrieved."