The young man had eyes and a high nose bridge.
It only said looked alike.
"This is first time seeing a security a home."
"You are really brave."
"Must tired middle night? Here, have a smoke stay alert!"
Though young man appeared cold, he quite talkative.
He enthusiastically lit cigarettes for a strange fragrance filling air:
"Why aren't you smoking?"
"Don't tell you're looking down because cigarettes?"
The mood shifted like June weather. smiled him:
"Brother, we really can't smoke these."
These cigarettes were for dead.
14
The tobacco smoked grave incense, stuffed black cat tail hairs, and infant corpse oil.
These were ghost cigarettes, specially offered wandering spirits.
If people accidentally smoked it would extinguish their fire, them possession.
The darkened instantly:
"What do you mean? Looking down me?"
Song Feifei immediately out a golden pack Liqun from bag:
"Big brother, don't angry! Try these! We brought own!"
"Holy shit! Fuchun Mountain Residence!"
The eyes nearly out. My twitched.
Before coming home, asked Feifei prepare cigarettes for socializing.
The girl immediately chose most expensive ones reportedly over per pack.
The hands trembled as he held cigarette box, overwhelmed by Feifei's display wealth.
Money make ghosts turn millstones.
Song Feifei enthusiastically stuffed entire carton into arms.
The man eyes, shifting through emotions.
After a pause, he teeth and whispered:
"This home is... unusual."
"You should return rest room. 1 AM, don't out no matter you hear."
"Remember if you value your lives, don't leave before dawn!"
With that, he fled cigarettes as if chased by demons.
Song Feifei and stared blankly retreating figure, completely confused.
15
Funeral Rules:
1. Don't speak corpses
2. Never visit during shifts
3. Ignore people seen mourning halls night
4. Refuse cigarettes offered vigil room
5. Beware judicial police
We'd met judicial and accepted cigarettes vigil room.
The judicial mentally unstable, and vigil man also seemed peculiar.
After lengthy consideration, Feifei and decided check mourning hall.
It just midnight still early before warned 1 AM deadline.
The largest mourning decorated expensive.
I nudged Feifei:
"Tsk, people even die style."
Song Feifei sniffed disdainfully:
"Still rather low-class for status."
As we chatted, began flickering madly.
"Lingzhu, look!"
The mourning arranged like an a raised platform front for remains.
White-covered filled back rows.
As a blurry figure appeared front bench.
16
It back view a young woman.
Dressed bright red wedding attire, waist-length hair styled an elaborate updo.
The strobing and this bizarre even us veterans gasp.
Most importantly, no yin energy from her.
She wasn't a ghost.
"Who are you?"
My loud question by bell-like laughter echoing through hall.
Exchanging glances Feifei, we stepped forward and she vanished.
The again.
Next flowers display platform.
Her deathly pale, blood-red.
"Holy shit! What is thing?"
"What are you doing here?" Liu came running, furious us "Why do you wandering? Forgot warnings?"
Strangely, Liu's arrival instantly normalized hall.
I studied him:
"Captain, did you see woman?"
Liu around nervously before glaring:
"What woman? Only you women here!"
"You girls are too bold! Disobeying get you trouble!"
17
Liu about incident dissection room.
He claimed high blood pressure caused fainting spells, saying he woke up restroom.
Reiterating home rules, he ordered us back room.
His shifty eyes and contradictory statements revealed obvious lies.
After escorting us back, he helpfully brought cups water:
"I'll take first watch. Sleep until 4 AM for your shift."
When Liu a hurry, tasted water weird flavor:
"Liu Dazhuang's definitely suspicious."
Song Feifei tried door:
"Locked. double-locked."
Liu seemed anxious we might quit, hence supernatural events.
Remembering vigil warning about staying after 1 AM, we until appointed time.
Picking lock easily, we crept toward where corpses were stored indefinitely...
