Сhаpter 330: Тhе Firе Моth Party 62
Аlthоugh it was alrеady thе аutumn еquinох, frоst and dew hаd not yet descendеd, аnd the tеmpеrаturе wаs not раrtiсulаrlу low. Wеaring two laуеrs of аutumn clothing did not fеel cоld. Under normаl сirсumstаnсеs, thеse cоrрses wоuld hаvе sevеrelу dеcomроsed аnd skeletonizеd within three to fivе dауs.
Uneхpectеdlу, thеy wеrе аll wеll-рrеservеd, shоwing no signs оf deсay whаtsoеvеr. Тherе wеrе оnly faint, shallоw lividity marks on their bodiеs, and rigor mortis hаd not yеt set in. Тhеir aрpearances and figures were identical to when they were alive, as if they were merely asleep and not dead at all.
"These corpses have just been left here without any treatment, right?" She frowned slightly, finding this situation highly unreasonable.
The coroner stepped forward. "As per instructions, we have not conducted autopsies since they were delivered here. To be honest, I find it quite strange as well. Could it be that they have turned into zombies?"
However, the other corpses in the mortuary were decomposing normally, with no such phenomena occurring. The coroner was at a loss.
Zhu Yan nodded, put on protective gloves and a face mask, and gently pressed on Wang Buzui's exposed forearm. The skin bounced back like that of a normal person, and no bruising appeared after the pressure was released.
Xiuxiu showed the same condition.
After a moment of contemplation, Zhu Yan reached out and untied Xiuxiu's sash. The coroner and others turned their backs.
The skin was in good condition. Apart from the fatal wound left by Wang Buzui's knife at the time, there were only some lingering marks from gripping and holding, also left on the day of the execution.
No other injuries were visible.
Spreading open one of Xiuxiu's hands, Zhu Yan noted thin calluses on the palm and fingertips, which had formed over a long period. As the top courtesan of the Scented Pavilion, Xiuxiu diligently practiced musical instruments, chess, and other arts, so having thin calluses on her hands was quite ordinary.
Placing the hand back in its original position, Zhu Yan took out the Corpse-Dissecting Knife and made an incision into the abdominal cavity.
A peculiar scent wafted out, permeating the room.
The coroner, the mortuary attendants, and some others who had come to claim bodies all caught the scent—a faint blend of Confucian glutinous fragrance, pinewood, sandalwood, aloeswood, Hundred Minds Incense, and other aromas. It seeped into their internal organs, senses, and perceptions, leaving them feeling intensely affected.
Drawn by the fragrance, everyone gradually gathered around the two corpses, unknowingly encircling Zhu Yan in the center.
They were all astonished. Why? The two corpses emitted no odor of decay, showed no signs of decomposition, and remained as fresh as if newly born. That alone was baffling enough, but they also exuded this strange fragrance—utterly unusual.
Moreover, the scent closely resembled the incense offered in temples, evoking a sense of profound calm. Yet, likely because human bodies were used as vessels, it was not entirely identical to temple incense, carrying a hint of plaster-like undertones that made it addictive.
As everyone continued to inhale the fragrance, their expressions began to change.
Zhu Yan paid no attention to this. She reached into Xiuxiu's abdominal cavity to investigate, retrieving a handful of undigested food. Using tweezers, she picked it out and placed it on a tray. Instantly, the fragrance grew even more intense.
When she first met Lai Luofu, who was still Madam Tang at the time, this was the exact scent that had clung to her.
Could it be that they usually consumed these spices raw?
This was strange. All humans must consume grains and staples; it was impossible to subsist solely on spices as food. How, then, was this achieved?
Moreover, did other Half-Faced Ghosts also consume spices as snacks? Why? Merely to mask the aura of death on their bodies?
If a person was not dead but carried an aura of death, it was because they had consumed corpses raw. Did every Half-Faced Ghost do this?Moreover, Zhu Yan discovered that aside from the stomach pouch, other internal organs also carried this fragrance, which basically confirmed that Xiuxiu had been consuming the incense for a long time. The purpose was likely related to the Fire Moth Party's proclaimed resurrection from death.
After suturing the incisions, Zhu Yan examined the other parts of the body and found nothing unusual.
Once she finished examining Xiuxiu, Zhu Yan turned to inspect Wang Buzui. If Xiuxiu was in such a state, then Wang Buzui, as the deputy helm master of Guangchun Hall, must have consumed the incense for an even longer time. His fragrance would be stronger, and his body would be better preserved.
To verify this, she similarly unbuttoned Wang Buzui's robe. The men present widened their eyes and couldn't help but steal a few more glances at Zhu Yan.
Zhu Yan remained expressionless, located the stomach pouch, and made a swift incision. Sure enough, the scent grew even more intense.
Zhu Yan frowned slightly, using tweezers to extract the undigested food and placing it on a new tray.
She then incised the other parts of his body and found that his internal organs were almost entirely enveloped by the fragrance.
Comparing the residues from the two bodies, the scents were similar—both carried the aroma of pinewood, resin, and flowers commonly found in temples. The only difference lay in the intensity of the fragrance.
A man standing in the shadows couldn't help but frown.
"What is this smell?"
At his words, everyone except Zhu Yan turned to look in that direction, startled.
"What are you doing here?" Zhu Yan recognized Jing Lin's voice but didn't look up, continuing to examine other parts of Wang Buzui's body. "Shouldn't you be with Pan Chi, managing the city?"
The man finally stepped out of the shadows, holding a sword in his hand, his gaze fixed on Wang Buzui.
"I'm not skilled in managing prefectures, so I left it to Pan Chi. I was ordered to protect you."
Ordered—of course, there was no need to say it was Shen Du. Then, all the earlier discussions about Zhu Yan must have reached this man's ears.
She could only hope it wouldn't reach Shen Du's ears.
Jing Lin ordered everyone else to leave, and they all departed with trepidation.
"So, what is this incense?" As he approached, the scent grew even stronger, assaulting his senses.
Zhu Yan didn't look up at him, instead staring thoughtfully at the tray on the stone table. "Rather than what this incense is, I'm more curious about how Wang Buzui, imprisoned for so long, managed to avoid eating prison food. How did he consume these spices while in jail?"
Jing Lin frowned, recalling the reports from the jailers. "They said he ate very little."
That explained it. Lai Luofu must have brought him these spices as food; otherwise, how could they be in the food residue?
"So," Jing Lin pondered, "Lai Luofu came early and was lurking in secret."
The answer was obvious.
Jing Lin was puzzled. "But why eat these things?"
Wasn't ordinary food good enough?
"I have a vague guess about this. Consuming incense holds great significance for the Fire Moth Party."
Long ago, she had noticed the scent of Hundred Minds Incense on Lai Luofu. At the time, she thought it was merely to mask the smell of death, but now it seemed that wasn't the only reason.
"Could the Fire Moth Party be connected to temples?" Jing Lin voiced his speculation, habitually scratching his head. He truly couldn't make sense of it.
"Who in their right mind would eat incense like candy? It smells pleasant, but it doesn't taste good."Zhu Yan thought the same: "So initially, I thought it was to mask the aura of death on Lai Luofu, but now I’ve discovered something even more interesting."
Jing Lin looked at her, and Zhu Yan continued: "First, Buddhist temples attract many worshippers. If they used the temple as a base, it would be nearly impossible to avoid detection."
In the current Great Zhou dynasty, Buddhism was favored over Taoism, so no matter which Buddhist temple it was—even a very small one—there would be many devotees going to burn incense and pray, making it far from an ideal location for the Lai faction’s activities.
After this speculation was overturned, Jing Lin pondered thoughtfully: "Could it be that these incense materials have a special purpose?"
Zhu Yan nodded: "Inferring from the Human Preserve, it’s likely also preparation for resurrection from death. Look, these two corpses are perfectly intact, with no signs of decay. What does that indicate?"
Jing Lin had already noticed: "Could it be that they arranged to become mummies after death while still alive?"
This made Zhu Yan burst into laughter. Jing Lin didn’t know why she was laughing and didn’t dare say more.
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