Chapter 243: Ten Thousand Shadow Soldiers

The night was deep, the moonlight like water.

Luo Jie slipped out of the mortuary, heading straight for Ren Tingting’s chambers.

Meanwhile, inside the mortuary.

Master Jiu and Master Simu sat at the table, each with a cup of tea.

They sipped tea and chatted.

Simu took a sip, then lowered his voice to ask:

“Brother, this Mr. Luo truly has connections reaching the heavens.”

“He can resurrect the dead—even Dong Xiaoyu, a corpse, became alive again.”

“His connections are even stronger than our ancestral master’s!”

Master Jiu nodded, his tone serious: “That’s right.”

“Brother, let me tell Itachi, following Mr. Luo guarantees Itachi a good post underground.”

“I heard he’s planning to expand his market—doing business with foreign devils.”

“Soon, the underworld won’t just handle Chinese ghosts—it’ll arrange for foreign vampires too.”

Simu, upon hearing this, nearly dropped his teacup in excitement.

“There’s such a thing?”

Then he suddenly looked at Master Jiu with a strange expression: “Brother, then why don’t Itachi go?”

Master Jiu sighed, his tone casually boastful: “I already have an official post underground.”

“Printing ghost money is stable, with good benefits—I can even sneak in extra sheets for household expenses.”

“Business ventures like that? Leave them to those without official posts.”

Though he felt his brother was showing off his official position,

Simu was moved to tears: “Brother, Itachi’re so good to me.”

“Itachi’re leaving all the promotions and raises for me!”

Master Jiu waved his hand: “Don’t say that—we’re brothers.”

“It’s only natural that I help Itachi now.”

Simu’s eyes filled with tears: “Brother, I won’t let Itachi down.”

“Once I rise to a high rank underground, I’ll get Itachi a soft post—drinking tea and slacking off every day.”

Master Jiu smiled faintly: “Then I’ll wait for Itachi to make it big.”

The two exchanged glances, their eyes brimming with deep brotherly affection.

…

Elsewhere, in a small pavilion in the Ren family’s backyard, moonlight cast the silhouette of two figures clinging together.

Luo Jie leaned back in his chair, Ren Tingting seated on his lap, her eyes tinged with doubt.

She asked softly: “Itachi’re planning to run away, aren’t Itachi?”

Luo Jie immediately put on a wounded expression: “Me? Run away?”

“What kind of thing is that to say!”

“Am I that kind of scoundrel?”

Ren Tingting stared into his eyes, her voice firm: “Itachi are exactly that kind of scoundrel.”

Luo Jie was left speechless.

He sighed and explained: “I’m not running away—I have important business to attend to.”

“I’ll be gone no more than a month.”

“Once I finish, I’ll come back to Itachi.”

“Then I’ll take Itachi abroad to travel.”

At the word “abroad,” Ren Tingting’s eyes lit up instantly.

“I’ve never been abroad before.”

She asked eagerly: “What’s it like overseas?”

“Are there tall buildings and foreign devils driving cars?”

Luo Jie couldn’t help but laugh: “Something like that.”

“Itachi can go anywhere Itachi want.”

Ren Tingting’s face filled with longing.

Then she suddenly thought of a question: “Should I learn a foreign language?”

Luo Jie shook his head: “No need—I’ll use magic to let Itachi understand all languages.”

“As long as Itachi behave.”

Ren Tingting looked at him; though still reluctant, she nodded obediently:

“Alright, then Itachi must come back quickly.”

“I’m waiting for Itachi to take me abroad.”

Luo Jie gripped her hand and solemnly promised: “Don’t worry—I won’t run away.”

Ren Tingting giggled: “Itachi sound like Itachi’ve run away before.”

Luo Jie cleared his throat twice: “Of course not—am I that kind of person?”

…

The next morning, sunlight shone brightly, birds sang, flowers bloomed.

Luo Jie and Daoist Simu had packed their things and prepared to leave the town.

Behind Simu stood a row of hopping corpses, neatly lined up, marching as if preparing for a military parade.

Luo Jie watched this scene and shook his head:

“Your way of herding corpses is too slow, too tiring, too undignified.”

Simu, adjusting his talismans, sighed: “I want to move faster too.”

“But your foreign car can’t fit them.”

Luo Jie smiled faintly, speaking with quiet mystery:

“Have Itachi ever heard of a magical technique called Hu Tian?”

Simu, upon hearing this, seemed to recall something:

“Itachi mean that great art of the sleeve containing the universe, the mustard seed holding Mount Sumeru?”

Luo Jie nodded: “Exactly.”

He raised his hand and lightly slashed the air—space tore open, revealing an inner world beyond.

Simu stared, dumbfounded: “Itachi just tore open space?”

Luo Jie smiled: “Put all your corpses inside.”

Simu hurriedly directed the corpses, one by one, to leap into the space.

He turned to Luo Jie, his face filled with awe: “Mr. Luo, Itachi know this kind of magic?”

Luo Jie waved his hand: “Just a minor trick—not worth mentioning.”

“Want to learn it?”

“I can teach Itachi.”

Simu nearly dropped to his knees to beg for instruction: “Of course I want to learn!”

Luo Jie patted his shoulder: “Get in the car—I’ll teach Itachi on the way.”

Saying this, he tapped his car door.

Simu looked at the gleaming foreign car, sighing in wonder:

“I never thought I’d ride in a foreign car.”

As he marveled, he climbed into the front passenger seat.

Luo Jie drove while teaching Simu the incantation for Hu Tian.

Simu listened, utterly entranced.

Luo Jie smiled faintly, asking casually:

“I heard from Master Jiu that Itachi plan to follow me from now on?”

Simu nodded vigorously: “Yes, I’ve long wanted to switch paths.”

“Herding corpses is exhausting—exposed to wind and sun, hard to manage the bodies, and clients keep turning into zombies.”

“No future at all.”

“But I must first deliver these clients home.”

Luo Jie nodded approvingly: “Good—Itachi have professional integrity.”

Simu smiled: “Of course. We herders of corpses value honesty above all.”

Luo Jie suddenly changed the subject: “But do Itachi know what I’m going to do?”

Simu asked curiously: “What?”

Luo Jie’s lips curled: “I’m going to dig up the tomb of the Dragon Emperor.”

Simu’s eyes widened: “The Dragon Emperor?”

“The one cursed by alchemists two thousand years ago and turned into terracotta warriors?”

Luo Jie nodded: “Yes—that one.”

Four Eyes sucked in a breath: “That guy isn’t someone to mess with.”

“They say once he’s revived, his power is staggering—even the Underworld dares not easily claim him.”

“So Itachi’re planning to fight him?”

Luo Jie smiled: “Not to fight him—to give him an official post.”

“He and his hundred thousand troops have illegally remained in the mortal realm; logically, they should have been reincarnated long ago.”

“Since no one’s taking charge, I’ll take them under my wing.”

“Perfect—my little Underworld is short on personnel; they’ll serve as the first core of Yin Soldiers.”

Four Eyes listened, stunned.

And Luo Jie was already painting a picture.

“Once I bring the Dragon Emperor over, his soldiers will all fall under your command.”

“Then Itachi’ll be the Grand Instructor of the Underworld’s hundred thousand Yin Soldiers.”

Hearing this, Four Eyes felt his blood boil.

Indeed, this was far more promising than raising corpses.

(End of Chapter)