Chapter 8: To Die Without Decay Is to Become a Zombie!

“Y-you’re agreeing to this?”

The old woman could hardly believe it. She had nearly given up herself; it was only her lingering obsession that held her back.

They had already summoned several groups of people, but without exception, each fled in terror shortly after arriving.

The old woman did not blame them—she simply could not let go.

After all, that was her only son!

“Please, tell me what exactly is going on!”

Du Yuan still had no idea what was happening.

It was not the old woman who answered, but a middle-aged man dressed rather decently standing behind her.

He gave Du Yuan a weary smile and said, “Young man, I advise you to stay out of this. Many masters have come before, and none succeeded. Don’t get yourself involved.”

Their elderly patriarch had specifically sent him to handle this matter.

He had done his best, visiting every renowned Taoist temple and monastery nearby.

But it was all in vain. Before they came, everything seemed fine.

Each of those so-called masters acted as if they were incarnations of bodhisattvas or divine beings, exceedingly confident.

One even went by the name Purple Cloud Immortal, putting on quite the grand display—with acolytes, ritual platforms, claiming to harness the righteous energy of heaven and earth, to form an eighteen Vajra array that could subdue all.

And yet? After a mere glance, they all fled, with that Purple Cloud Immortal so scared he wet himself!

Those who left earlier were the last batch he could find.

Now, he was thoroughly disillusioned with these monks and priests.

They were all charlatans, freeloaders, frauds in every sense—no real skill beyond their words!

Du Yuan sighed helplessly.

“Brother, at least tell me what’s really going on!”

The man looked puzzled.

“Didn’t you come because you heard the news?”

“No.”

Du Yuan shook his head slightly.

The man did not press further; instead, he shook his head and said,

“Then your timing is really unfortunate. But if you want to know why...”

He glanced back at the village behind him with a grim expression, then turned to Du Yuan and said,

“It’s a pity, really. It’s their man, Zhou Da. A fine fellow, but after getting caught in a rainstorm, he fell ill with an acute condition. Several courses of medicine did nothing.”

“The crucial part is, Zhou Da’s body is already covered in deathly discoloration, yet he still clings stubbornly to life!”

As he spoke, the well-dressed man’s voice lowered, as if raising it would summon something dreadful.

Hearing this, Du Yuan finally understood.

He frowned.

“A zombie?”

But the words barely left his mouth before the man hastily waved him silent.

“Pah, no, no, that’s not it. It’s just that Zhou Da is holding on by a thread.”

Whether or not he was a zombie was something the villagers understood better than Du Yuan.

But they dared not say it aloud. If they did, who would stay in this place?

Would they abandon the fields their ancestors had tilled for generations?

So, even though everyone knew the truth, they insisted Zhou Da was merely clinging to life, not that he had become a creature of legend.

It was self-deception and helplessness intertwined.

Most importantly, Zhou Da had not left his house.

He remained within their home.

Otherwise, the village might have been deserted already.

Du Yuan seemed to sense their thoughts and nodded.

“I see. My apologies for speaking out of turn.”

Seeing Du Yuan’s discretion, the man nodded in approval and said,

“Young man, now that you know, you should leave quickly. This really isn’t the right time for you.”

The old woman—Zhou Da’s mother—stood silently nearby, holding her granddaughter.

She had seen clearly that this newcomer was not a master called upon by rumor, but merely a passerby.

So she did not beseech Du Yuan further; though she could not let go of her son, she would not cause harm to others.

She could only hold her granddaughter and wipe away tears.

She felt hopeless; her son might never rest in peace.

What then? Would they have to burn down the house with everything in it?

Having lost her own father years ago, and now her son at this age, it was as if half her life had been taken. Were it not for the little granddaughter, she might have followed soon after.

But if the house was gone and the fields mortgaged, how could she possibly raise the child?

The old woman was lost, utterly without options.

Unexpectedly, Du Yuan told them,

“I have some ability. Though I did not come for this matter, I can take a look.”

As he spoke, Du Yuan folded his hands behind his back, the edges of his robes fluttering gently in the breeze. He lowered his gaze with a faint smile, his eyes and brows serene, as if long familiar with the fates woven before him. The calm aura surrounding him inspired a quiet certainty that with him here, any difficulty could be overcome.

This brought boundless hope to the old woman and the little girl, and left the man feeling uncertain and wary.

After hesitating for a long moment, the man finally said,

“You saw for yourself—those masters who fled were renowned nearby. None succeeded; aren’t you afraid?”

Du Yuan glanced at the old woman and the girl in her arms and replied,

“Let me try, and you will see.”

He had stumbled into this strange world somewhat bewildered. Whether to find peace of mind, accumulate merit, or something else, he wished to help others as much as possible.

He also hoped that if possible, others might help his own grandmother as he was helping them.

Without further hesitation, the man stepped aside and gestured,

“Then please.”

Du Yuan nodded and stepped forward.

As he walked, he asked the old woman,

“How long has your son been like this?”

The old woman looked puzzled, so the man spoke for her,

“Rural folks don’t understand such polite phrases. Zhou Da collapsed three days ago. He’s been clinging to life ever since, endlessly banging on the door day and night.”

The man had thought he was used to it and wouldn’t be scared.

Yet when he was brought back to see Zhou Da, his legs trembled uncontrollably.

After all, Zhou Da had not left the house before and hadn’t harmed anyone. But now?

Isn’t it said that the longer someone has been dead, the less they remember their past life? So even if a moment ago they still remembered kindness and refrained from harming, the next moment might be unpredictable!

Three days have passed?

And he can come out during the day as well?

Du Yuan looked up at the bright sun.

This was unlike any zombie he had known, but his knowledge of zombies was all imagined by others, so it was natural that reality differed.

Still, something felt off.

Of course, he had not come recklessly.

As mentioned before, Du Yuan liked to keep room for flexibility in all things.

This was no exception.

He knew Zhou Da had not left the house and had not harmed anyone.

That gave him a basic sense of safety.

Moreover, on the way to Qiaoshui Town, when no one was around, he had tried to replicate the ritual from that night.

He confirmed that he could indeed summon a Buddha’s light.

Though it required a chant beforehand.

Embarrassing as it was, as long as it worked, who cared about saving that for last?