Is it really a ghoul?
What should we do now?
I turned to look at Master Jin.
Jin Ye pondered for a moment: "Let's observe secretly first, without alerting them. The power of the Corpse Demon should not be underestimated. We must act cautiously. If he really is a Corpse Demon, he will definitely have other unusual behaviors. Let's find a place to stay in the county town first, and then make further plans."
We found a small hotel in the county town to stay in.
This time I booked a triple room so that everyone can stay together and look out for each other.
I tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep, with the image of Old Man Zhao constantly appearing in my mind.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Jinye and I arrived at the market.
The market was already bustling with activity, with people coming and going, and various shouts of vendors and the sounds of bargaining mingling together.
We could see Old Zhao's fish stall from afar.
He was warmly greeting customers, with that familiar, honest smile on his face.
If one didn't harbor doubts, who would have thought he was a terrifying ghoul hiding among the crowd?
I found a milk tea shop opposite Old Zhao's stall, sat down, ordered a cup of milk tea, and seemed to be drinking it leisurely, but in fact my eyes never left Old Zhao for a moment.
His movements were skilled and natural as he killed, weighed, and collected the money.
When business is slow, he chats with the stall owners next door, occasionally letting out a hearty laugh, looking no different from a normal person.
For two days in a row, Old Zhao continued selling fish, but we did not notice anything unusual.
I said this can't go on! Why don't we go to Sanjiapo and find Wu Zhiguo?
I feel like we've been wasting our time these past two days. We were supposed to be looking for Wu Zhiguo, but instead we've been wasting our time with this zombie.
"Finding him is the same as finding Wu Zhiguo!"
"What's the meaning?"
Jin Ye glanced at me sideways: "Have you forgotten what Grandma Zeng said? She said that all our previous guesses were wrong. Wu Zhiguo and that feng shui master are refining corpses. We just happened to run into one of them. Maybe we can get some information out of him."
After a pause, Jin continued, "Xiao Chen, go lure him away."
"I?"
I thought I misheard: "How do I lead it?"
Jin Ye explained, "If a corpse demon wants to maintain a normal human body, it must absorb yang energy. Have you noticed these past two days? Old Zhao doesn't seem to be exposed to the sun all day like he did the first time I saw him."
Upon careful reflection, it seems that this is indeed the case.
"But the sun has been so strong these past few days. Nobody can stand being in the sun all the time. Isn't it normal to seek shelter in the shade?" I countered.
Jin shook his head, his expression serious.
"You don't understand. Although ghouls can survive briefly under the sun, sunlight is like a slow poison to them."
"The sun's yang energy will continuously deplete the power within them, which is formed from resentment and yin energy, weakening their abilities."
"After becoming a ghoul, their physical structure and way of life have changed. Although they have gained some strange powers, they have also lost the right to enjoy the sunlight. Prolonged exposure to the sun will cause them great pain and their strength will be greatly reduced."
I scratched my head, still feeling a bit strange: "If he chose to become a ghoul, why does he still work so hard selling fish every day?"
Jin shook his head: "Not everyone becomes a ghoul for money and power. Some people just want to live a normal life. Maybe they become ghouls because they have a terminal illness, such as cancer, and are so tormented by the pain that they are willing to prolong their 'life' in this way."
I said he was quite pitiful, he just wanted to survive.
Jin Ye sneered.
"There's always a reason why someone is pitiful. He can become a corpse demon because he's sucked the life force of countless people. Every vibrant life has been lost because of him, and countless families have been broken up. Do you still feel sorry for him now?"
That's true.
I asked Master Jin how I could lure Old Man Zhao into a trap.
Jin Ye narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and then spoke.
"You pretend to be unwell and go to his fish stall to buy fish. During the conversation, you deliberately reveal flaws, such as a weak voice or trembling hands, so that he can realize that your yang energy is weak and arouse his desire to consume it."
"Don't be too deliberate in your speech; act naturally, as if you are truly terminally ill."
Just then, a weak voice came from behind: "I'll go."
I turned my head.
Luo Tianhe, who had been in a coma for several days, had woken up at some point.
He was leaning against the bed, looking much thinner, his face as pale as paper, completely bloodless, as if a gust of wind could blow him over.
"Brother Luo, you're awake! How are you feeling?" I quickly got up and gently patted his shoulder.
Luo Tianhe slightly tugged at the corners of his mouth, managing a weak smile, his breathing still somewhat unsteady.
“I’m much better. I heard what you all said. I think I’m the most suitable candidate. My body is still very weak, but the yang energy in my body is constantly radiating outwards, which is a deadly temptation to the corpse demon. I am much more likely to lure him out than you are.”
This won't do.
Luo Tianhe is still so weak, what if something happens to him?
Jin watched us quietly from the side, his tone calm yet unquestionable.
“Xiao Chen, Xiao Luo is indeed the most suitable. He is currently weak and his yang energy is exposed, making him the most tempting food for the corpse demon. Moreover, his appearance will not arouse too much suspicion from Old Man Zhao, since he had been unconscious in the car before and Old Man Zhao remembered him.”
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