"He Zuzhang, it's Gao Mingqiang. We've always been close buddies, but you're already living a happy married life, and I'm still single. I proposed to Xie Chuchu recently, but she didn't accept... Maybe you were right, people like her wouldn't fall for a muggle like me. But I've improved a lot over the years, haven't I? Oh, right, I'm looking for you now to hurry back and teach me how to find a partner... You seem silent, but you've got a knack for things... Even our Captain Liu fell for you. Impressive!"
"Guess who? Don't worry! It's not Houzi, it's Xiao Yuande. I never thought I'd be in this situation. Actually, I've been thinking about what I wanted to say all night. I don't know how to tell you, because I feel awkward saying such sentimental things to a grown man. But let's get to the point. I promise, with just one word from you, I'll take down Cang Xuesong like a fierce tiger!"
"He Sheng... everyone in Hejia Village supports you. Even if I can't come out of seclusion, I'll help you in secret. Remember to use the Quanzhongjue at critical moments, and... I've sent it to you. Houzi helped too. The wooden mechanism hidden weapon, install it on your left hand. You already have a bracelet on your right hand."
"Child, go! Don't keep everyone waiting. The plan will be successful soon! I still remember the toy gun I gave you on your birthday. You were so young then, but you held it tightly and said: 'I will become an outstanding criminal investigator in the future, or a forensic doctor.' And you've succeeded in both and become the leader of the Punishment and Crime Team, the Director of Guangming City Hall."
"Child, your mother is right. You are the pride of our He family. I believe this generation can finally deal with Polaris. I believe you can do it. I forgot to tell you, there's something inside the grip of the Falcon pistol. Take it and go back to the Siheyuan. Be careful. Open the door under the floor of the south attic. There's a secret inside, find it yourself!"
...
The moment I woke up, I wiped my eyes and sat up abruptly. I looked at the bracelet and saw it was filled with dense information. I never expected that what I heard in my dream was exactly the same as the content of this information. I had heard of lucid dreamers before, and perhaps people really have such abilities. I went to the bathroom and washed my face. Seeing that it was already 6 AM, I decided to go back to the Siheyuan first.
When I returned to the Siheyuan, no one was there. Grandpa had already gone back to Hejia Village. As my father instructed, I searched the bottom of the gun grip and indeed found a small silver key. I never expected there to be such a hidden detail on this weapon. Its shape was a bit like a miniature shadowless reflection tube.
Holding the key, I went to the south pavilion of the Siheyuan and searched around until I found a floorboard that sounded very crisp when tapped. I lifted it slightly, and it revealed a lock.
I inserted the key, and with a click, the door finally opened. A dark and deep staircase appeared before me. I found the space extremely narrow and could only descend cautiously, step by step, again and again, inch by inch, very carefully, because the stairs were very steep. I wondered if this place was some kind of secret chamber. Then, I would find some He family secret manuals at the bottom and soar to the heavens, becoming the God of the Xuanmen?
I shook my head. I really wanted to punch myself. I'd been reading too many feng shui novels lately, my mind was all over the place.
It wasn't until I reached the bottom and saw rows of secret manuals and weapons that I was stunned. How could this be?
Ancient weapons were hung on the walls. The closest to me was a bamboo slip. I picked it up and opened it to find the words: "For the descendants of the He family, with respect."
I carefully and solemnly opened the bamboo slip. It was filled with dense text written in Han Chinese. Although it looked different from modern text, I could still understand the general meaning. Then, based on my own language organization skills, I sorted it out, and the meaning was roughly this: "I am He Yan. As I write this, perhaps I have reached that point. Recently, the rebels of the Shu Kingdom and the running dogs of Eastern Wu have repeatedly attacked our Great Wei's Tianshui and Hefei. Emperor Cao Pi does not properly employ Mr. Sima, leading to repeated defeats. General Cao Zhen is self-important. I don't know why the Emperor would still notice me at this time. When Grand Marshal (Prime Minister Cao) was in office, I had already retired. Our He family has made so many contributions to Great Wei, why do we end up being hunted by the court? Why? We cannot die. No matter who you are, a descendant of the He family, remember that these notes were written by your ancestors at the cost of their lives. He Family Wu Zuo Training: 'The art of Wu Zuo corpse examination has continued for thousands of years. After the task is done, brush off your clothes and leave, leaving no fame or glory.'"
He Family Wu Zuo Secret Manual: Quanzhongjue, made by applying Nanxing, Kuaihua, Cang'erzi, and other medicinal herbs to the nose for eighty-nine days, thus achieving an essential improvement in olfactory ability.
Feng Hou Dian Xue, suitable for dealing with bodies that have been burned. The method is to heat the corpse examination knife until it is hot, add white wine and chopped scallions, pierce the dead person's forehead at the Cu An, Yintang, Touwei, Yuyue, and Taiyang acupoints with a silver needle, and then cut open the dead person's neck...
Tan Hun Shu...
Zheng Gu Shu...
By the time I read the end, tears were already uncontrollably streaming down my face.
I never imagined that this was my ancestor's final testament. All these years, I had no idea. Could this Siheyuan trace its origins back to the Great Wei era?
He Yan's last words were: "If you decide to become a Wu Zuo for life, pick up the corpse examination knife. Leave here and test its power. Heh heh, actually there's also a Wu Zuo sword behind, but I'm not sure if you can use it, after all, you are not the one from the He family..."
Reading these words, I felt a bit confused. Did my ancestor somehow know that I would come here one day? Did he predict my arrival and my taking up the corpse examination knife through divination or some other means?
This knife should be older than Song Ci's era, yet there's no record of it in history.
The world only knows Song Ci, the Song Dynasty's Judicial Official, but little do they know of our He family ancestor, He Yan.
With a heavy heart, I carefully picked up the long-dusty corpse examination knife and closed my eyes, deeply feeling its cold and profound aura: "Ancestor, I have returned..."
I will surely make the He family's name renowned throughout China once again, just like in the Great Wei era. Don't worry, I will ensure the art of Wu Zuo is passed down forever. Little did I know that many years later, Houzi would learn all the Wu Zuo techniques from me. Even after my death, he would be able to stand on his own and become the new leader of the Punishment and Crime Team. But that's a story for another time.