Chapter 129 Dead but Not Stiff

Mu Xi then realized that Shen Lun had arrived in Moyang City long ago, but had not made a public appearance until now.

Not showing his face doesn't mean he hasn't done anything. He's hiding his true intentions, especially at such a crucial moment for Jin Fangjun. What is he doing?

Before Mu Xi could even ponder this, Madam Gao urged, "Master, Master, please don't be late."

The shaman, however, said unhurriedly: "The inner room is small and crowded, and the air is stuffy, which is not conducive to 'spirit observation'."

The man finally spoke, and although his voice was muffled by the mask, it was still possible to identify him as a middle-aged man.

Gao Quan then forcefully asked people to leave: "Did you all hear what the master said? Please leave so that the master can perform the ritual in peace."

Mu Xi and the others all felt this was inappropriate.

"What? With my sister, his legal wife, by your side, are you afraid she'll murder her husband?" Gao Quan said, first gesturing to Shen Lun, "Please, Lord Shen, if you delay any longer, we'll really have to have a good talk about this tomorrow at the Tianjun Hall in the palace."

Shen Lun, having been caught red-handed, had no choice but to be the first to step outside.

Knowing that Mu Zhen was dead and had already confessed everything, Mu Xi was no longer afraid of Gao Shi causing any more trouble, so she followed her out.

Mu Xun and Doctor Luo followed them out afterward.

Once outside, Mu Xi discovered a row of black-clad guards with swords standing under the eaves; they were all Gao Quan's men.

The group of men drew their swords and confronted the soldiers in the courtyard, neither side willing to give way.

Meanwhile, Zelan and Tao'er, who were beside Muxi, had been driven to a corner by the courtyard gate.

Gao Quan was the last to come out as well.

Shen Lun then asked, "Grand Marshal Gao, what do you mean by this? Do you even know that this is the residence of Lord Jin Fang?"

"Lord Shen, please don't misunderstand..." Gao Quan made a gesture, ordering the guards to remove their swords. "These are my personal bodyguards and have nothing to do with the Imperial Guards. I brought them in simply because my sister is alone and vulnerable in the Jun Mansion. I was afraid she would be bullied. Some people don't even let her see her own husband."

Gao Quan's statement makes sense.

In the final moments of Jin Fangjun Mu Zhen, Mu Xi intentionally or unintentionally prevented the Gao family from seeing him one last time. However, despite all the precautions, she could not prevent the Gao family from having truly capable and powerful members.

Fortunately, Jin Fangjun Muzhen said everything he needed to say before he died.

Shen Lun knew he couldn't win the argument on this point, so he stopped arguing and tried to leave the inner courtyard. But as soon as he reached the gate, something still felt off: "That's probably a wicked sorcerer."

Since Mu Zhen passed away, Mu Xun has not yet recovered from the grief of losing his father.

Doctor Luo has completed her mission. The only reason she hasn't left is because she's worried about Mu Xi.

Upon hearing the words "evil sorcerer," Mu Xi perked up: "What about an evil sorcerer? Can an evil sorcerer really bring people back to life?"

Shen Lun hesitated and shook his head: "That's not possible, but..."

Just as the word "however" left his lips, Gao shouted from inside the room, "Someone, set up an altar in the inner courtyard. The Lord still has heating; there is still hope."

"Yes." The servants who had come with Madam Gao seemed to have been prepared and responded in kind.

Doctor Luo shrugged and said, "Impossible. I have personally examined it. Even the Great Immortal is powerless against it. What supernatural powers does he have to rely on?"

“It is indeed impossible, but if it is an evil sorcerer…” Shen Lun stroked his long beard, seemingly concerned about something.

Before long, the people brought by the Gao family set up a proper offering table in the courtyard.

The altar area was demarcated by flags around the offering table.

Mu Xi was somewhat interested, so she watched from the side and discovered that among those people were not only ordinary servants, but also the shaman's assistants. They were not wearing masks and dressed in a low-key manner, so they were not easily recognized in the crowd.

After the simple altar was set up, two assistants entered the altar to perform the ritual.

One wields a sword, the other rings a bell.

The bell's "ding-ding-ding" sound was quite eerie, resembling the "Soul-Splitting Bell" that Mu Xi had heard before, yet it was also somewhat different.

The two were gesturing and talking in the courtyard. Through the window, one could see the black-faced shaman pacing back and forth in the inner room, occasionally letting out strange chanting sounds like "humming and ah-ah..."

Laymen watch the spectacle, experts watch the details.

Mu Xi couldn't discern anything.

Shen Lun's brows furrowed even more deeply.

"What?" Mu Xi suddenly remembered that Shen Lun had another identity, the famous shaman "Jiuyi".

Shen Lun did not answer. His willow-leaf eyes narrowed and opened repeatedly, but he remained silent in the end.

Just as Mu Xi was beginning to suspect that Shen Lun's other identity was also that of a wicked sorcerer, a cry of surprise came from the inner room from Gao Shi: "Oh dear, the Marquis has woken up."

Everyone was taken aback.

Mu Xi was the first to react, rushing forward: "Really?"

Gao Quan did not stop it.

Mu Xun, Shen Lun, Doctor Luo, and others followed.

Mu Xi pushed open the door, and a strong, pungent odor mixed with heat hit her, almost suffocating her.

The evil sorcerer Qiu Chi, wearing a black mask, was still dancing and gesturing in front of Mu Zhen's bed.

Standing in the outer room, Gao was already drenched in sweat from the heat inside, her cheeks flushed red, but her eyes shone brightly, as if she had truly witnessed some miracle.

Mu Xi didn't see Mu Zhen's body at first glance.

Just as he was about to step forward, the evil sorcerer stripped off his black robe and pounced forward like a roc spreading its wings.

Mu Xun stepped in front of him, saying, "Your Highness, be careful."

Gao shouted excitedly, "He's alive! He's alive... Your Lordship has really come back to life!"

where?

Mu Xi stared intently at the bed.

Mu Zhen lay stiffly on the bed, still wearing the gold-embroidered python robe he had worn at the previous birthday banquet. He remained motionless, unchanged from when they left.

His already withered face had become even more somber, turning into a pale, scaly complexion covered with a strange, dull, waxy yellow hue, like a cheap wax figure.

This looks like a dead person, not someone who has come back to life.

Mu Xi was puzzled.

The evil sorcerer stopped his bizarre dance and pulled out a staff carved from ebony, its intricate patterns resembling twisted snakes, from beneath his black robe.

Beneath the black mask with gold patterns, deep chanting syllables emanated from his mouth.

As he chanted, he tapped the forehead of the lying Mu Zhen with the end of his staff.

First the forehead, then the throat, the chest, the navel...

Just as the needle touched his navel, a low shout rang out.

Without warning, Jin Fangjun Muzhen suddenly sat up straight.

The evil sorcerer Qiuchi then twirled the wooden staff in his hand in the air.

Mu Zhen's stiff body spun around on the bed, facing everyone, her eyes tightly closed, her legs as thin as sticks.

Mu Xi was less afraid of ghosts and spirits than others, but she couldn't help but frown: "What is this? Did you bring the Marquis back from the dead?"

"Heh heh, ignorant brat, you mustn't offend the gods." The evil sorcerer's voice, hoarse and rough, hissed from behind the mask. He then pointed his wooden staff at the top of Mu Zhen's head and shouted again, "Wake up..."