"Is this some kind of supernatural matchmaking?" she asked with a hint of amusement. "But you'll have to tell me—are you trying to return to life by possessing a corpse?"
"Yes," he replied.
"Then why not simply enter the home of someone newly deceased and take over their body? Wouldn't that be much faster?"
"No. That path is riddled with complications. I refuse to be shackled by the dead man's past—his parents, his ties, his responsibilities."
Gu Lili understood. "So, what you seek is a body unburdened by worldly entanglements. But in that case, couldn't you wait until the burial is complete and then inhabit the corpse?"
"Even if I could, how would I emerge from the coffin afterward? And from the family's perspective, it would be impossible. This must be done with their full consent."
She hadn't expected him to be so… ethical. She nodded slightly. "I see. But do the deceased's relatives need to know the body will be used for resurrection?"
"If they don't know, what family would willingly let someone take their loved one's remains?" The man remained motionless beneath the moonlight. "It is possible—but on the condition that, once I return to life, I sever all ties with the dead man's past."
"And what exactly do I gain from this arrangement?"
"I shall render you immune to all poisons. Follow my instructions, and no toxin will ever harm you."
Gu Lili raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "You're not expecting me to die during the experiment, are you?"
"No," the man said calmly. "You'll receive the benefit first—only then will I ask you to fulfill your end. I won't let you suffer a loss."
She was tempted. Such an extraordinary offer…
Immune to all poisons…
But how could such a thing be possible?
Such an outrageous claim.
"I have another question. If you don't reincarnate through normal means, won't the underworld come after you?"
"I have my ways of dealing with that. It's not something I can disclose. So, what do you say? Will you make this trade?"
"Alright," Gu Lili said slowly, her mind already considering a suitable body—an orphan, perhaps.
"At six o'clock tomorrow morning, come to Wangchuan Mountain. Start at the base, walk exactly 265 steps upward, then stop. Face the mountain wall and say, 'Changzhi, open the door.' To close it, say, 'Changzhi, close the door.' Do not forget a light—it's quite dark inside. There will be a coffin. Inside the coffin is a box. Swallow what's inside. For thirty minutes, no matter how unbearable it becomes, do not leave. After that, you will be fine. From that moment on, no poison shall harm you. One condition: you must tell no one. This secret is yours alone. I mean you no harm. After my resurrection, I may need your help again. If you trust me, be there at dawn."
Gu Lili murmured, "Understood."
The figure slowly faded into the shadows. Not once had she seen his face.
She returned quietly to the bedroom.
Immune to poison?
Could it truly be so miraculous?
Whether the man spoke truth or not, she would make sure to leave behind clues of her whereabouts—just in case she needed rescuing.
She drifted off to sleep, and by five in the morning, she was already awake. She carefully set her phone, documenting every detail of what had happened.
If she returned safely, she would delete the file. If not, the phone was programmed to activate an emergency alert exactly two hours after she entered the cave.
At six sharp, she arrived at the foot of Wangchuan Mountain.
And so, step by step, she began the ascent—counting as she climbed.