Chapter 99: Funeral Procession

"When all is said and done, it was I who harmed this child..." Xiao Zongting said, his face full of self-reproach.

He recalled how, back then, his wife had been pregnant with the child and, due to excessive worry over his safety, had suffered from pent-up anxiety and died in childbirth! Although Xiao Baijiao had managed to survive, he had been left with a chronic illness!

Ruan Fengshan feared this topic; if they kept talking, it would only cause Xiao Zongting to dwell on the past, so he immediately changed the subject and asked, "Has anyone been found to check the date for the burial?"

"I have already found Mr. Li from East Street to look into it. Originally, the time was set for the sixth quarter of the Wei hour today!" A flicker of worry crossed Xiao Zongting's face. "But it just so happens that a major case has broken out at the Ya Men! I don't know if we will be able to leave the city when the time comes."

"That shouldn't be much of a problem. The city gates have been open for entry and exit since yesterday, though the inspections are a bit stricter!" Ruan Fengshan said, pondering for a moment before adding, "How about this: I will go to the County Office myself in a moment to get a definite answer from the Magistrate. I will ensure this child can leave the city for burial on time!"

"If that is the case, this old man is grateful to the Manager!" Xiao Zongting said, cupping his hands with deep emotion.

"Xiao Lao has dedicated his life to the Escort Agency; these are all things I ought to do!"

Xiao Zongting personally saw Ruan Fengshan out, and Ruan Fengshan, along with the five wives and concubines he had brought, a dark, dense crowd of people, walked out...

Barely an incense stick's time after Ruan Fengshan had left, Luan Jingfu and his son Luan Bao also rushed over to pay their respects to the spirit!

The mourning hall had been set up for three days, yet Luan Jingfu had not come to pay his respects once. This morning, he had received word that Ruan Fengshan had returned in the latter half of the night yesterday and had taken his five wives and concubines to Xiao Zongting's courtyard that morning to pay their respects and fulfill their duties!

Only then did he rush over, hoping to make up for it.

Luan Jingfu and his son did indeed perform the proper etiquette, bringing wreaths and funeral couplets. After paying their respects before the spirit, Xiao Yu returned the gesture according to custom!

Xiao Yu naturally knew that when she had first begun arranging her sister's funeral, Luan Jingfu had secretly tripped her up, instructing people not to help her!

However, grudges are grudges, and etiquette is etiquette!

Since Luan Jingfu had come to pay his respects, she would naturally give him enough face.

Luan Jingfu stood before the mourning hall and said, "Niece Xiao, human affairs are impermanent; you need not be overly sorrowful!"

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle Luan. The matter happened suddenly; I am grateful for Uncle Luan's helping hand, and I, Xiao Yu, will remember it for a lifetime!" Xiao Yu's voice was soft, her expression as usual.

But Luan Jingfu felt his heart jump, thinking to himself: This girl has a sharp tongue.

He naturally understood that what Xiao Yu was referring to was the time when he had taken advantage of Ruan Fengshan's absence to secretly tell those Escorts not to help her.

Luan Jingfu looked somewhat sheepish and, saying nothing more, left with Luan Bao.

Duan Rong did not go before the spirit to speak with Xiao Yu and Zhu Xiaoqi; he simply went to the inner room of the main hall, chatted with Xiao Zongting for a few moments, and then left.

Upon returning to his dormitory, Duan Rong had nothing to do, so he shut the doors and windows tight and began to practice the Reckless Bull Saber Technique he had already digested and absorbed!

Once this martial art was set in motion, it truly possessed a momentum that could crush dry weeds and smash rotten wood!

It lived up to the true meaning of the "Reckless" in Reckless Bull Saber Technique: attacking regardless of everything, even going so far as to expose flaws in his footwork in the pursuit of slaughter.

As Duan Rong practiced, he gradually realized that the predecessor who created this saber technique likely believed that offense was the best defense!

Pressing forward without retreat, leaving no path back!

"It's a bit stubborn; no wonder it's called the Reckless Bull Saber Technique!"

After finishing the set, Duan Rong stood holding his saber, his eyes bright. When this saber technique was performed, each move was fiercer than the last; if not for his Cloud Snake Step, which allowed him to dodge constantly, he reckoned he would have demolished his dormitory within a few strikes.

"In a one-on-one fight, this saber technique has its merits. But if one encounters a group attack or is besieged by two people, it immediately becomes full of flaws! By comparison, the Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber is better; at least the Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber has no obvious defects or weaknesses."

Duan Rong sheathed his saber. He had now digested and absorbed three types of saber techniques; besides the Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber, there were also the Yellow Springs Saber Technique and the Reckless Bull Saber Technique.

These two saber techniques, one good at defense and one good at offense, both had their highlights, but they were too narrow and lacked the breadth of the Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber!

Having finished studying the saber techniques, it was time for the part that interested him most: the Proficiency-level Bone Shrinking Technique he had devoured from the Longevity Lock on Xie Lei's neck!

He had seen the power of the Bone-Locking Technique with his own eyes!

This was definitely an unorthodox martial art; it even had a hint of the mysterious arts of the strange gates.

Duan Rong stood before his bed, suddenly bent his legs, abruptly twisted both shoulders, and let his two hands hang naturally in front of him like Sadako...

Duan Rong's face changed drastically; he hissed through his teeth, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Damn! Dislocated!"

Fortunately, the Bone Shrinking Technique contained strange ways to move various joints, and Duan Rong used this to pop his two dislocated shoulders back into place!

The Bone Shrinking Technique had high requirements for the movement of joints and ligaments. Although he had digested and absorbed the Proficiency-level realm, he had never practiced it before. Now that he had suddenly attempted it, how could his joints withstand it?

"This strange skill must be practiced slowly, gradually unfolding it!"

Having figured out the reason, Duan Rong began to practice bitterly right there in the dormitory!

In the cramped dormitory, Duan Rong performed various strange postures. His body's flexibility was average to begin with, and he was already sixteen this year.

Now, practicing this Bone-Locking Technique, he had already missed the optimal age.

However, as long as he could endure this hardship and shed a layer of skin, he could still succeed!

Duan Rong had only practiced for a short while before he began to grimace in pain, beads of sweat dripping from his temples...

As he practiced, a touch of madness appeared in Duan Rong's eyes; he had forced out his own ruthless streak!

In the dormitory, Duan Rong practiced self-torturously until it was almost the Wei hour before he finally stopped!

Where he stood, there was already a small puddle of glistening sweat on the floor!

Duan Rong caught his breath, and as the bones in his body moved, they creaked and groaned!

That was the sound of ligaments and fascia rubbing together!

Duan Rong fetched clear water, washed himself off, and then left the dormitory courtyard to head toward Xiao Zongting's courtyard.

The time for Xiao Baijiao's funeral procession was the sixth quarter of the Wei hour, and he had to hurry over to see him off!

Moreover, with the strict inspections in the city now, the time for lifting the coffin would certainly be moved up.

When Duan Rong arrived at Xiao Zongting's courtyard, there were already many people standing there, and more were arriving one after another!

Just as the Wei hour began, the courtyard was already packed with people, a dark, dense mass that appeared somewhat crowded.

Before the funeral procession, the coffin had to be nailed shut!

The list of people to carry the coffin and drive the nails was personally selected by Old Master Xiao.

Among the six people to drive the nails, one was Duan Rong!

The other five were all wearing Escort uniforms, but Duan Rong did not recognize them well.

The six of them lifted the coffin lid and covered the coffin!

Duan Rong took one last glance at the side of Xiao Baijiao's face as he lay in the coffin, and his heart couldn't help but ache!

The moment the coffin was covered, Xiao Yu and Zhu Xiaoqi, who were standing to the side, found their faces covered in tears without realizing it.

The person presiding over the funeral was a thin, tall middle-aged man wearing a skullcap and sporting a grizzled goatee; despite his thin frame, his voice was unusually deep and resonant!

"Drive the nails!"

"Strike!"

Duan Rong and the other five had already taken their hammers and coffin nails, standing in their respective positions; upon hearing the command, they immediately swung their hammers down!

Although all six were Martial Artists, none of them channeled their Internal Breath at this moment, relying purely on muscular force; furthermore, they had to control their strength well, completing the ritual with three strikes of the hammer.

"Strike again!"

"Third strike!"

"Nails driven, prepare to lift the coffin!"

As soon as the presiding man's voice fell, the pallbearers surged over.

Duan Rong was the only person on both the list for driving the nails and the list for lifting the coffin; after he finished driving the nails, he placed his hammer on a table to the side, and by the time he came over to lift the coffin, a dozen or so men were already jostling to take their positions!

These dozen or so men were also dressed as Escorts, and all of them wanted to grab the position at the head of the coffin, pushing and shoving until a large, burly man covered in rolls of fat snatched it; the fat on his face was round and chubby, and he braced his arms to hoist the head of the coffin onto his shoulder behind his head; because he was sturdy, he was the only one squatting at the front of the coffin.

The rest of the men squatted on both sides of the coffin, hoisting it with one shoulder.

Duan Rong saw Zhao Mu, walked over, stood beside Zhao Mu, squatted down, and braced his right shoulder under the coffin!

"Ready!"

"One! Two! Three!"

"Lift!"

Following the presiding man's shout, the pallbearers exerted force all at once, pushed off with their legs, and stood up, the heavy coffin rising steadily with them!

Two of the three long benches that had been supporting the coffin toppled over in an instant!

"Move out!" the presiding man roared, his voice like a booming bell!

The double-reed wind instrument and string instruments began to play!

The pitch-black coffin left the mourning hall, following the slow, heavy footsteps of the pallbearers!

Firecrackers cleared the path, and paper money drifted through the air!

A chorus of wailing rose up!

(End of chapter)