By coincidence, things happen, objects appear.
Emerging from the Bone Temple, Xu Qing had just reached the Desolate Bone Station when he saw a man shaking a bell, leading a group of the walking dead with talismans pasted on their foreheads, making their way through the Desolate Bone Station.
Looking closer at the man's attire, he wore straw sandals, donned a blue cloth outfit, a blue cloth cap on his head, and a black sash around his waist.
Xu Qing was more familiar with this garb than anyone; only a Corpse Driver would wear such attire.
Is it not said that everything in the world happens by chance, for the Corpse Driver came face-to-face with Xu Qing, instantly brightening with delight.
Such a robust frame, such height, would make an excellent subject for corpse refining!
Xu Qing was invigorated, for before him were fifty or so walking corpses, nearly equivalent to two or three months' income from his time at the Funeral Shop.
"Friend, are you also a Corpse Driver?" Xu Qing initiated the conversation.
"Also?"
Xu Qing cupped his hands with a smile, "I am but an unworthy one, having learned corpse driving from my master since childhood, with now over ten years of experience in the art."
The Corpse Driver, past fifty and self-claimed veteran, smiled even more broadly, "Young and promising, indeed young and promising!"
"I am Tian Baocheng, a Named Disciple of the Yin Corpse Sect, specifically leading these walking corpses here for the sect to recruit young disciples for cultivation."
"I see, you seem young yet adept in navigating the Underworld River, no doubt aided by respected teachers or friends..."
Xu Qing chuckled humbly, "The teacher who introduced me to this path perished years ago at the hands of a Celestial Heart Sect demon, and I've been driven by the desire for vengeance, seeking my elder uncle to send me into the Underworld River, hoping to join the Yin Corpse Sect to learn the arts."
"As for my elder uncle... he was entangled with mundane affairs and returned to Xiang Province after sending me into the Underworld River."
Feigning the role of a lone junior, Xu Qing's eyes held hope, "It's fortunate to encounter a fellow practitioner today; otherwise, I'd be at a loss on how to traverse this Underworld River. If it's not too much trouble for you, esteemed elder, could you take me along to the sect?"
"Of course, of course, since we're in the same craft, it means we're of the same lineage, and it is only right that I help you!"
Tian Baocheng held an Incense Burner in his left hand and shook a corpse bell with his right, as wisps of smoke gently hoisted the walking corpses as they floated forward.
During this, Tian Baocheng, like a kindly elder, asked from time to time, "It's not peaceful outside, why don't you carry any corpse soldiers for protection? What if you encounter villains or demons, what then?"
At other times, he queried, "You haven't brought corpse soldiers, do you possess martial arts cultivation?"
Xu Qing responded to each question, appearing entirely like an innocent lamb unaware of the treacheries of the martial world.
And also a solitary lamb.
Tian Baocheng's gaze grew more benevolent, he asked, "Of the walking corpses you've cultivated, do any have the potential to become Silver Armored Corpses?"
"My master spent his entire life crafting just one Silver Armored Corpse, how could I possibly create one!" Xu Qing smiled wryly, shaking his head, then his eyes revealed a longing: "If I could make a Silver Armored Corpse, it would be worth dying right this instant!"
"Splendid! I happen to have a notion of crafting a Silver Armored Corpse, yet never found a suitable corpse body, meeting with you today by chance, we might just collaborate and cultivate an excellent corpse general!"
"And how does the elder propose we collaborate?" Xu Qing still maintained an earnest demeanor.
"It's simple, I'll provide the effort, you provide the person; perhaps with your body type, I might even leverage your help to become a formal disciple of the sect before my days run out!"
Having said this, the previously amiable Corpse Driver suddenly leaped aside, fervently shaking his bell, aiming to have the walking corpses behind him completely subdue the youth before him!
However, before the walking corpses reached Xu Qing, they trembled like leaves in a storm, ultimately falling to the ground, prostrating in worship.
"..."
Tian Baocheng, feeling flustered, shook the bell again, this time with more vigor, and with the bell's ringing, a black coffin that had fallen to the ground in the corpses' ranks abruptly stood up, the lid flinging open as icy cadaverous energy billowed out.
Xu Qing took a glance; it was a Silver Armored Zombie, clad in official garb.
From which dynasty, he could not tell.
The Silver Armored Zombie, upon receiving the command to attack, exhaled as it stepped from its coffin, but when it turned, catching sight of Xu Qing, its eyes, cloudy from countless years, cleared instantly.
Xu Qing smiled, lifting a finger to gently point at Tian Baocheng.
Upon seeing this, the Silver Armored Zombie lunged at Tian Baocheng like a rabid dog obeying its master's command.
Tian Baocheng, experienced in corpse driving for so many years, had never witnessed such a scene.
Even in the entire corpse driving sector, it was unheard of for one's own cultivated zombie to turn against its master; such a thing was utterly illogical!
Tian Baocheng repeatedly begged for mercy, though adept at controlling corpses, his own cultivation was extremely weak, leaving him completely incapable of handling a rebelling Silver Armored Corpse.
Xu Qing walked up to Tian Baocheng's corpse, the old Corpse Driver now lying with his mouth agape, eyes wide with disbelief at the moment of death.
The Silver Armored Corpse stood behind Xu Qing obediently, issuing low, enigmatic growls from its throat, akin to a feline purring, or a canine bowing low, exposing its belly in submission.
Xu Qing ignored the friendly zombie, placing his hand over Tian Baocheng's body, peering into the tormented elder's past.
The old man hailed from the Jinxiang region, where ancient Xiang Province, with its deep forests like Black Fir Mountain, Son of Heaven Mountain, Yellow Lion Fortress, and Ghost Cub Ridge... abound with strange legends and ancient lore, a region extremely mysterious, retaining one of the most common dark professions, Corpse Driver.
Tian Baocheng had followed his master in learning corpse driving from a young age, roaming through north and south China upon adulthood, eventually discovering a sect in the Jin Sect territory, which, while not dedicated to corpse driving, could raise and refine walking corpses, utilizing them as soldiers, generals, slaves, or servants: the Yin Corpse Sect.