I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality-Chapter 47 - 37 Dream Creation Skill

It is said that distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors, and close neighbors are not as good as people living across the street.

Xu Qing took out eight strings of cash, four of which were from Wu Yaohua, and as for the other four...

He had long taken advantage of the tax collector’s transfer of property, using the Thousand Shadows Stealing Skill and the Yang Pei Technique to steal two booklets issued by the Celestial Heart Sect.

Xu Qing’s technique was fast; in the blink of an eye, he pulled out the booklets from his bosom and handed them to the leading tax collector.

"These two booklets, one was thrown into my yard by a rogue from the Celestial Heart Sect, the other was found at the doorstep of the Incense and Candle Shop across the street. No need for you officials to waste your words and effort; these extra four strings of cash can be considered as the joint fine paid by me and the owner of the Incense and Candle Shop."

The leading tax collector raised his chin, contemplating what more to say, when Xu Qing took out an additional two taels of silver.

"The Celestial Heart Sect deceives people, causing great harm. These two taels are my extra contribution to help eradicate the rogue sect members."

Seeing the silver and hearing such noble words, the tax collector’s expression softened immediately.

"Look here, this is what I call understanding righteousness and knowing the essentials. This is how the citizens of Dayong should be!"

The officials saw the money, and like cats and mice sleeping together, they left in harmony.

Xu Qing watched the group of elegantly dressed corrupt cats leave, while the lady owner of the Incense and Candle Shop across the street blinked, wearing an incredulous look.

Why didn’t these officials come to her place? Could they have changed their ways?

At the entrance of the Paper Mache Shop, Wu Yaohua insisted on stuffing two strings of cash and two taels of silver into Xu Qing’s arms.

"You’ve paid for me, so you must let me repay you, otherwise I won’t feel easy!"

Wu Yaohua had no idea that the money Xu Qing provided had been manipulated. As long as Xu Qing wished, he could use the Cyan Butterfly Returning Coin Technique to summon the mother coins, and all the child coins would obediently return to him.

"Just keep the money for now. In the future, when I organize funerals, I will need paper figurines and horses from you. Besides, you know me, as soon as I have some money, I like to spend it in Yanliu Lane, eventually throwing it down the drain anyway. So, just hold onto it for me!"

Xu Qing wasn’t short of money, plus the Cyan Butterfly coins he gave could always return to him. If he were to accept Wu Yaohua’s hard-earned silver now, how would he be any different from the corrupt officials that came today?

The lady owner of the Incense and Candle Shop remained oblivious until the talkative Wu Yaohua explained to her, at which point she realized that Xu Qing had paid her tax silver.

Later, Xu Qing closed the shop door, ready to go to the Patrol Room to find his senior brother Wang Lingyuan, but he saw Cheng Caiyun from the Incense and Candle Shop carrying a basket of fresh eggs coming over.

"Little Shopkeeper Xu, these fresh eggs were specially fetched by my sister-in-law for you. I heard you liked them, so I brought them for you to taste."

Xu Qing raised an eyebrow, smiling as he accepted the basket.

Cheng Caiyun was different from Wu Yaohua. The latter reluctantly accepted the thought of repaying the money.

But the lady owner of the Incense and Candle Shop thought a basket of eggs was enough to cover the tax silver owed.

Xu Qing wasn’t surprised, having eaten the poor-quality candles from her shop earlier in the morning, realizing then that Cheng Caiyun was a petty, stingy woman.

Reading Xu Qing’s reaction, Cheng Caiyun was delighted when he didn’t mention repayment, even throwing him a flirtatious glance as she left, which made Xu Qing cringe.

A woman in her thirties, stooping so low for two strings of cash?

Xu Qing had no inclinations towards this aging flirt, thinking her less fresh than the hen that laid the eggs.

He decided to buy a few hens to keep in the yard for fresh eggs daily.

Xu Qing placed two fresh eggs in his pocket, sucking on them while heading to the Patrol Office.

Upon reaching the office, Wang Lingyuan waved at him, and Xu Qing, as excited as a customer visiting a brothel, followed ’Wang Mama’ to the morgue.

A few green lamps illuminated the room.

The morgue had ten or so wooden beds neatly arranged, three of which were covered with plain cloth, revealing the vague outlines of human bodies underneath.

On the other side were bookshelves with case files and a table for corpse examination.

Forensic doctors were not only responsible for examining bodies but also had the authority to access case files and participate in case deductions according to Dayong’s laws.

If they could successfully resolve cases during examination, earning posthumous justice for victims, the Imperial Court would reward them with extra silver to commend their efforts.

Thus, a forensic doctor was one of the thirty-six professions, requiring considerable skill and experience.

Xu Qing was about to use the Corpse-Driving Technique to help Wang Lingyuan move the bodies to the examination table when Wang Lingyuan stopped him.

"Junior brother, examining a body is different from driving a corpse. It’s crucial to keep the body in its original state. Using the Corpse-Driving Technique might alter the body’s posture, losing vital clues."

Wang Lingyuan’s demeanor changed significantly when discussing his expertise.

He genuinely wanted to teach Xu Qing the methods of forensic examination.

Given his advanced age and lack of a protégé to pass on his skills, he took the opportunity to teach Xu Qing seriously.

Carefully placing the body in the designated spot, Wang Lingyuan talked about observing the deceased’s posture and determining the cause of death.

He shared all details, his precious experiences from his years in forensic work.

Xu Qing listened attentively, occasionally pouring tea for Wang Lingyuan, stopping only when Wang Lingyuan was thoroughly satisfied.

Nearing the time to light more lamps, Wang Lingyuan, over fifty years old, drank a lot of tea and couldn’t suppress his need for the toilet. He gave Xu Qing some casual instructions and hurried to the outhouse.

Seeing his chance, Xu Qing immediately focused on the corpse on the examination table.

The body was of a woman; the strangulation marks on her neck suggested asphyxiation.

But Xu Qing didn’t need any techniques for examination; he could instantly perceive the deceased’s life story.

Reciting the Sutra of Salvation, visions of the Netherworld and Underworld flashed in his mind, the memories of the deceased unfolding before him.

The deceased was named Sai Yuxian, a performer at the Pear Garden Theater. She fell in love with a patron who frequently listened to her sing, redeeming herself and marrying him.

But after just half a year of marriage, her husband accumulated huge debts, resorting to daily drinking and fights with her.

One day, drunkenly pointing at her, he said, "Everyone says performers are heartless. If you truly love me, you should sing and entertain guests to pay off my debts, sparing me from this daily misery."

Sai Yuxian, being headstrong, went to Yanliu Lane to become a secret prostitute because of his words!

After two or three months, Sai Yuxian proudly presented enough silver to her husband.

"Today I prove that performers have feelings and honor!" ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

But Sai Yuxian was shocked when her husband scolded her for not being virtuous, claiming her secret prostitution brought shame to him among neighbors and relatives.

Sai Yuxian couldn’t believe her husband had two faces, urging her to become a prostitute yet chastising her for it.

Angry, she pretended to seek neighbors’ judgment, threatening to expose the truth.

Her husband, obsessed with reputation, couldn’t stand the idea, despite his impoverished state.

He immediately pinned her down, wrenching a belt around her throat, ensuring she couldn’t utter a single damaging word.

Thus ended the story of the performer sacrificing for her husband.

Witnessing this tragic love story, Xu Qing was at a loss for words.

All he could conclude was that the purest body still couldn’t withstand the greed and lust of the heart.

After reciting the Sutra of Salvation, Xu Qing received a mid-grade human evaluation and a skill reward—’Dream Creation Skill’...