Corpse Recovery Diver

The people before the New Year are like salmon swimming upstream, returning to their birthplace after much toil and hardship.

After the New Year, people are like dandelions blown by the wind, gently drifting in all directions.

Reunion and warmth are like a piece of candy that quickly dissolves in the mouth, leaving a faint lingering sweetness on the lips to savor throughout the year.

Every morning after the New Year, Li Sanjiang would change his habit of sitting on the second-floor terrace and instead sit in the courtyard.

Whenever villagers carry backpacks or ride motorcycles, intending to leave the village, they always make a point to come inside and stop by Li Sanjiang's house.

Some would bring a simple gift, not worth much, just to make a pair.

Some would offer a cigarette, smoke it with Li Sanjiang, then give another one for Li Sanjiang to tuck behind his ear before leaving.

Many don't even come up to the courtyard, they just stand below and chat with Li Sanjiang across the steps, talk about where they're going, discuss their aspirations for the year, engage in idle chatter.

In truth, there isn't really anything happening; it's just that they're leaving home, likely unable to return mid-year, and with elderly at home, they make a special effort to visit Li Sanjiang to show their face.

Some are urged by their elders to come, while others know they should come on their own.

Major life events are simply about life and death; life can be anticipated, but death always comes suddenly.

If something happens at home, and they're unable to return in time, with Li Sanjiang there, at least the family won't be in chaos, and they'll feel reassured.

Lin Shuyou spent the New Year here and then set off back to his hometown in Fujian.

Carrying a backpack standard to his team, dressed in a deep blue snug-fitting outfit.

Upon arriving at temple street, he paused at the alley entrance to adjust his expression.

He couldn't be overly cautious like before, nor could he appear too arrogant.

After thinking it over, he showed a shy smile.

No wonder Brother Xiao Yuan liked to use this expression.

When you have enough status and confidence, a touch of shyness can help you avoid many troubles.

Someone was standing at the temple entrance early, and upon seeing Lin Shuyou, promptly went inside to report.

Soon, grandfather and master came out to greet him.

One on each side, gently patted Lin Shuyou's shoulders.

Lin Shuyou's chest unconsciously puffed up higher with the patting.

By the time he returned home, it was dusk and time for dinner.

The elders and brothers at the temple gathered neatly, ideally, it should be the busiest time at the temple with activities like processions, blessings, exorcisms almost filling the schedule.

Yet despite this, the master specifically freed up the temple's schedule just to welcome his disciple home.

Today's reunion dinner was even grander than the past New Year's Eve dinner.

Everyone else at the temple felt bewildered by this, unable to understand but had to follow the arrangement, as the master and grandfather kept silent.

Thus, the specially opened page in the family genealogy and the honor of sitting at the head didn't apply to Lin Shuyou.

But when offering incense to the Lords of Yin, Lin Shuyou was asked to stand between grandfather and master.

At the dinner table, before grandfather sat at the head, he gestured for Lin Shuyou beside him to sit first.

The elders at the table wanted to hear about Lin Shuyou's stories over the past half year, and Lin Shuyou only spoke of university life.

Whenever an elder deliberately prodded for more, master and grandfather would actively change the topic to ensure Ah You wouldn't blurt out inappropriate things in the heat of the moment.

After dinner, everyone dispersed.

Lin Shuyou was invited to sit with the master and grandfather to drink tea.

Even in this closed-door talk, they only discussed studies and life.

Lin Shuyou said he was studying hard and making significant progress, but his exam results couldn't be revealed yet.

To this, the master and grandfather nodded in agreement, even if some new teachings couldn't be disclosed now, the fact that the child learned it meant it was beneficial.

In terms of life, the topics were about getting along with classmates.

From Lin Shuyou's perspective, he truly made a great effort to integrate into the small group, although he often made mistakes.

But in the ears of the master and grandfather, the meaning was different — is it true that he could really become best friends with that one from the Dragon King family?

They were once scared out of Jinling, thinking leaving Ah You behind to work like an ox for the Dragon King family was a great prospect.

They never expected Ah You to strive so hard and advance bravely.

The late-night talk ended shortly.

The next morning, the temple became bustling busy.

"Dong, dong, dong! Dong, dong, dong! Dong, dong, dong!"

The old home territory at this time had no lack of people but a lack of gods.

Lin Shuyou's return home filled the void.

Before the procession began, everyone in the temple lined up in the yard.

Lin Shuyou was arranged first; after all, he was young, inherently eager to show off a little.

No opening of the face, no incense burnt, nor did he kneel and bow; he just stood simply in front of the main temple, facing the temple crowd, back to the altar statues;

Hands behind his back, chin gently raised, while vertical pupils opened!

Outsiders watched the spectacle, insiders watch the subtleties.

The whole scene was immediately abuzz; even the master and grandfather couldn't help but widen their eyes with surprise.

Because only a very few respected old divination children could invite the Yin God to embody them in such a simple manner, and even then only in truly emergency situations where etiquette couldn't be considered, still, they had to apologize and explain afterwards.