Left with no choice, the Master and Zhu Yan could only select a few pieces that appeared less hard to stitch together. They had to use embroidery needles, piercing a hole before each stitch.
Although it was laborious, it allowed them to buy time. Zhu Yan found this task oddly satisfying.
In truth, Zhu Yan’s autopsy bag contained a complete set of tools, including suturing instruments. Crafted by her master Chen Wen with utmost care, these precision tools were made of fine iron and razor-thin, and were Zhu Yan’s prized possessions.
For ordinary corpses, regular tools sufficed. However, unusual cases requiring skull opening or bone examination often arose. Common dissection knives and suture needles were inadequate for such tasks, not to mention bodies frozen or transformed into rigid corpses over time. Her master had considered these scenarios when crafting this set. He kept his own set, never explaining why, and Zhu Yan never asked.
But here, Zhu Yan was determined not to use them.
As for this so-called Master, Zhu Yan had guessed his identity. He was likely akin to those grave robbers or illegal body traders. Perhaps he dealt with unusual deaths or secrets of wealthy families. His complexion bore a hint of the netherworld, yet he couldn’t produce proper tools. Zhu Yan wondered where Luofu had found such a character.
Wang Buzui watched their progress impatiently, pacing and muttering incomprehensible words, occasionally glancing at Zhu Yan.
About a quarter-hour later, two Half-Faced Ghosts entered carrying food boxes. The leader bowed slightly and said, “Vice Commander, the food the Master requested is ready.”
Wang Buzui didn’t even look at them. “Put it down!”
Useless fool, can’t even handle a simple task, yet wants to eat?
Might as well go to Naihe Bridge and ask Meng Po for a bowl of her soup.
The two Half-Faced Ghosts obeyed, setting down the food boxes. One of them, who hadn’t spoken, glanced towards the secret chamber. Seeing Zhu Yan still alive, his gloomy expression lightened.
The other, noticing his companion’s lingering gaze, kicked him impatiently. “Stop looking. No matter how many beauties there are, they’re not for you to covet.”
If one of them caught the eye of the Vice Commander’s sister as a potential vessel for resurrection, given the Vice Commander’s doting nature, anyone who dared to lust after her would be courting death.
Unexpectedly, the silent man suddenly moved, seizing his companion by the throat and twisting his head. In an instant, the man fell lifeless.
The people in the dark hall were caught off guard by this sudden action, frozen in shock.
The women, seeing a death occur, began screaming again.
Shen Du dropped his disguise, retrieving a signal flare from his sleeve and tossing it out through his entry point, alerting Jing Lin.
By now, night had fallen completely. The signal flare exploded brilliantly in the ink-black sky as if to tear open the darkness.
As the flare burst, Wang Buzui realized things had gone awry. He glared at Shen Du with murderous intent.
“Insolent intruder, how dare you trespass in my Guangchun Hall! Surround him!”
As he spoke, he drew his sword, ready for battle.
Inwardly, he cursed his men as useless wine sacks. The intruder had slipped right under their noses without them noticing. They had grown too complacent as mountain bandits, unable to react to danger.
The Half-Faced Ghosts encircled Shen Du.
Zhu Yan was struggling to suture the severed parts. The human jerky was too hard, preventing her from focusing as she would during a normal autopsy. Hearing the commotion, she looked up, her gaze meeting Shen Du’s through his mask. Her hand trembled, causing the needle to break against the tough skin.
Zhu Yan disregarded this. Her heart pounded like a drum, a lump forming in her throat. She bit her tongue, forcing herself to remain calm and pushing back the moisture in her eyes.
Her feelings were mixed. She hadn’t expected him to come to her rescue. Was it because he feared failing to account for her death to the Empress, or did he truly care for her?
Seeing Zhu Yan’s conflicted expression – clearly wanting to rush over yet forcing herself to hold back – Shen Du’s head throbbed and his chest ached. Especially seeing Zhu Yan in tattered clothes, dirty and disheveled, her small face grimy and pitiful.
How dare they treat the person he treasured most like this?
Shen Du snorted coldly, taking the initiative. He twisted another Half-Faced Ghost’s head, seizing their sword for his use. Then he declared, “I’ve come for your dog’s life.”
For daring to lay hands on Zhu Yan, even beheading them a hundred times would be too lenient.
If he could capture them alive, he’d interrogate them before killing them. If they resisted to the death, he’d have to execute them on the spot.
“Big words,” Wang Buzui sneered. “Seize him for me!”
Wang Buzui had his suspicions but dared not voice them. Why? If his subordinates learned that the intruder was the feared White King of Hell who controlled the inner court, or his most formidable deputy, they might surrender before the battle even began.
At Wang Buzui’s command, the Half-Faced Ghosts lunged at Shen Du with deadly attacks. The so-called Master had already hidden under the suturing table when the intruder arrived, refusing to come out. Zhu Yan took the opportunity to shrink to one side, pretending to be frightened while secretly observing the situation.
She knew she absolutely couldn’t hinder Shen Du. He had come alone, and Zhu Yan didn’t know what plans he had made, but she was determined not to jeopardize them.
Wang Buzui grabbed the hiding Master and Zhu Yan’s arm, dragging them to the scattered human jerky pieces. He barked, “Hurry up and stitch them!”
Zhu Yan and the Master immediately resumed stitching, but after several attempts, the embroidery needles kept breaking. Wang Buzui noticed Zhu Yan’s bag looked unusual and demanded, “What’s this?”
He reached to snatch it, but Zhu Yan dodged, taking out the specially made needles and thread for suturing, and started sewing.
Surprisingly, the human jerky that had been impossible to suture, even with steel knives, was now as pliable as ordinary cloth in Zhu Yan’s hands.
Ha! Wang Buzui was astonished, never expecting Zhu Yan to have such a skill. His teeth clenched in frustration, but the shame of being tricked quickly faded as he watched the human jerky being stitched together flawlessly. Seeing Shen Du’s unstoppable advance, his eyes darted about, and he snorted coldly, no longer dwelling on it.
Shen Du dodged a blade, kicking away an attacker, then spun around, his hand falling as he slashed another Half-Faced Ghost’s throat.
Catching a glimpse of Wang Buzui roughly handling Zhu Yan, he wished he could sprout wings and fly to her. His actions didn’t slow as he focused on rescuing Zhu Yan quickly.
He couldn’t help but feel annoyed with himself. Usually a man of unwavering resolve, he had impulsively revealed himself upon seeing Zhu Yan mistreated – a mistake he shouldn’t have made.