Chapter Thirty-One: Fallen to Death (The Title and Synopsis Have Both Been Changed)

Things of ghosts and monsters always spark curiosity in everyone. Because of this, whenever ordinary people gather and talk, they can almost always recount a few stories of encountering spirits or evil, regardless of truth, yet each tale is told with utmost seriousness.

Those skilled in handling such matters are naturally regarded as possessing great abilities. For instance, Li Pei’s grandfather, Li Chao. Uncle Zhong from Beijiao Village. And the recently mentioned Granny Sun.

Thus, when faced with these situations, even physicians are justified in saying, “I can’t deal with this,” and advise others to seek a specialist. After all, their expertise does not extend to such things; treating sickness and warding off evil are entirely different realms.

Soon enough, the elderly man surnamed Wu once again carried his grandson on his back and hurried off. The two fisherman father and son wasted no time either.

“These days are getting harder and harder. To encounter such things even in broad daylight…”

“That’s right. He’s lucky, only caught once. The old Sun from the fishing family they just mentioned is from my village. He had two marks on his neck from being strangled. Granny Sun was summoned but didn’t make it in time—he just passed away the day before yesterday. If my back hadn’t been aching so badly, I’d have attended his funeral.”

“I heard something happened in Qianjia Village too? They say the ‘Bear Matron’ is causing trouble, and several children have already been eaten.”

…

As the fishermen left, the pharmacy grew lively. Without waiting for invitation, everyone began discussing strange and unusual events.

Seeing this, Physician Liu coughed and called for the next patient to step forward. This was, after all, a pharmacy; matters of ghosts and monsters were not their business, and he naturally preferred not to let the conversation linger.

Chen Yushu listened to their discussion, his expression thoughtful.

“What the child encountered just now probably wasn’t a ghost, but a ‘Water Corpse.’ Jianghuan Town is surrounded on three sides by rivers, and those who die in the water are very likely to become water corpses.”

Nowadays, Chen Yushu was not entirely ignorant of such matters. In “Li Chao’s Record of Ghost Encounters,” aside from ghosts, the most frequently described phenomenon was water corpses.

A water corpse is a kind of corpse spirit, somewhat similar to a zombie, but most often found in water—though it can also come ashore to harm people, vicious and ferocious.

Once targeted, being dragged into the water is common; it may even enter one’s dreams, control them, and make them drown themselves. Crucially, unlike ‘water ghosts’ who seek replacements and leave after harming one, a water corpse continues to haunt unless its resentment dissipates.

“Water corpses are even harder to deal with than ghosts,” Chen Yushu muttered, though he didn’t dwell on it. It wasn’t his concern; he was only an apprentice in the pharmacy, with no connection to ghosts or corpse spirits. He had no intention of provoking such things.

Soon, he returned to the decoction room. At this hour, there were many patients in the pharmacy and he was busy.

…

The work within the pharmacy was endless for those who wished to do it. By the time he finished his tasks, dusk had already fallen.

After dinner, Chen Yushu went straight to the backyard to practice stance exercises. This was the norm for apprentices in the pharmacy—not only was he diligent, but so were all the others.

Those who had achieved basic proficiency in stance exercises and learned martial arts would practice their skills after finishing their stance routines.

Stance practice was foundational, a pure exercise to cultivate energy and blood, and without medicinal supplements, everyone’s capacity for repetitions was limited.

Martial arts, however, were different. They merely required effort, but not excessive consumption; those with strong constitutions could practice for an hour or two without fatigue.

After finishing his stance practice, Chen Yushu watched some apprentices practicing martial arts—most from Room One and Room Two. Of course, to Chen Yushu, they were all familiar faces, fellow apprentices working in the pharmacy.

Among them were Zhang Ruyun, Wang Kui, Lu Yuan, Xu San…

Chen Yushu observed that the one practicing best was Wang Kui, whom Xu San had previously mentioned as a contender for first place in the year-end assessment. Wang Kui was practicing a set of boxing moves; each punch was fierce, and the force could be heard whistling through the air.

Xu San was practicing a set of blade techniques, substituting a wooden sword. The blade flashed, his movements agile and swift, giving the impression that his body followed the blade, and the wind surged with its passage.

“Only after achieving basic proficiency in stance exercises can one train in martial arts. As for me, I still have a long way to go,” Chen Yushu thought calmly. “Fortunately, although I cannot yet practice martial arts, my skill in throwing has reached basic mastery. Within a hundred feet, I hit whatever I aim at, and the power is not insignificant. Most importantly, this skill is close to a breakthrough. With another day’s practice, I should reach full mastery.”

After becoming a decoction apprentice, Chen Yushu did not slacken; he became even more diligent.

He scheduled specific times to practice the Apothecary King’s stance exercises, the White Tiger visualization method, reading, writing, and his throwing technique.

For example, in the morning.

Each day, he woke at dawn, ran to his usual spot by the river in the backyard, first practiced a set of stance exercises, then took out books to read. Lately, he had spent most time on “Li Chao’s Record of Ghost Encounters,” gaining knowledge about the profession of a “spirit walker,” its common practices and methods.

After reading, he practiced calligraphy. Combined, these activities usually took about half an hour.

The remaining time was devoted to practicing throwing techniques. The riverbank had plenty of small stones, making it an ideal training ground.

…

Night fell.

Chen Yushu lay in bed, once again practicing the White Tiger visualization method. At present, he had only reached the introductory stage; to further advance, to strengthen his spirit enough to ignite “incense,” he had to persistently cultivate.

Fortunately, for Chen Yushu, entering meditation was now a simple matter. Sometimes, he could enter that state without even employing hand gestures or self-hypnosis, then swiftly visualize the White Tiger.

White Tiger Visualization Method +1

As Chen Yushu trained in visualization, in the pharmacy’s backyard by the river, a figure silently emerged from the water.

After coming ashore, the figure, dripping wet, walked step by step toward a certain direction.

Soon, it passed by the rear gate of the pharmacy’s backyard but did not pause, continuing onward for fifty or sixty yards before slowly stopping.

This, too, was the backyard of a household—more remote and dilapidated.

Unlike the Liu Family Pharmacy, there were no sturdy walls or rear gates, only a crude bamboo and wood fence. Through the fence, one could clearly see fishing nets hung out to dry, and when the breeze occasionally stirred, the air was thick with the stench of fish.

…

The title and summary have been revised—hope readers don’t get lost!