Corpse Recovery Diver

"Let's stop here."

"Alright."

The little Taoist let go, glanced down, and saw that his palm was already slightly purple, feeling numb when pinching.

"Phew..."

He exhaled, rubbing his hands.

The little Taoist rubbed his hands for quite a while before it gradually felt better.

"Big brother, I'll head back first."

"Mm, okay."

The little Taoist turned back. Just before turning a corner, he stopped, turned, and looked back, seeing that Tan Wenbin's wheelchair had somehow reached the edge of the terrace. There were railings around the terrace, but only two bars in the middle. An adult could easily slip down from the bottom to jump off.

At this moment, the person in the wheelchair was trying hard to shake his body, his head gradually sliding downwards.

The little Taoist quickly ran back, grabbing Tan Wenbin by the collar with one hand and pulling the wheelchair back with the other.

After pushing the wheelchair back to the center of the terrace, the little Taoist first breathed a sigh of relief, then began shivering from the cold, feeling the chill even more in his hands, especially the one that just grabbed Tan Wenbin.

Suddenly, something seemed to occur to the little Taoist. He widened his eyes, looking at Tan Wenbin.

"You... you... you're not... are you already..."

"I'm not dead."

"Not dead?" The little Taoist reached into his pocket, and found nothing. The Daoist robe he wore outside was left in the water cave, along with the talisman paper.

Tan Wenbin asked in return, "What do you think I was trying to do just now?"

The little Taoist: "You wanted to commit suicide?"

Tan Wenbin: "If I were dead, how could I commit suicide?"

The little Taoist: "Right, makes sense. But why is your body so cold?"

Tan Wenbin: "I have a degenerative disease."

The little Taoist: "Ah? I think I... I've heard about it on the radio before."

Tan Wenbin: "What's your name?"

The little Taoist: "Chen Jing."

Tan Wenbin: "Will you chat with me for a bit?"

The little Taoist looked troubled.

Tan Wenbin's gaze shifted to the railing, his eyes gradually dulling, as if his resolve to die rekindled.

"I'll go tell my grandparents that I'm going to the bathroom. If I don't return for too long, they might worry. I'll let them know and then come back?"

"Alright, I'll wait for you."

Chen Jing ran off.

After a while, he ran back again, carrying a cup of hot water.

"Here, drink something warm to warm up."

"Okay."

Chen Jing sat down beside him.

Tan Wenbin sipped the water and asked, "You have a good relationship with your grandparents?"

"Yes, they raised me when I was young."

"What about your father?"

"My father is a Taoist priest and also my master. He doesn't like me to call him father, only master."

Chen Jing was quite unguarded, plus life in the Taoist temple was too monotonous, almost cut off from the world, so he had a strong desire to share.

Tan Wenbin didn't have to deliberately pry; Chen Jing just spilled everything about the people and events from his past, all that he could share.

However, he left out matters concerning the sect's Array and practices, not because he wanted to keep secrets, but because he felt it wouldn't be appropriate to tell Tan Wenbin, as it might cause him trouble.

The more he talked, the happier he became, his smile growing more radiant.

Tan Wenbin gave just the right amount of encouragement at critical points to keep his enthusiasm for speaking alive.

Finally, he finished speaking, taking a deep breath, looking up at the stars, with something akin to hope in his eyes: "I just wish my grandfather's illness could get better."

Tan Wenbin: "Regardless of the outcome, at least you and your grandfather won't have any regrets, right?"

"That's right, thank you, big brother. Oh, I forgot to ask your name."

"Tan Wenbin."

"Brother Tan?"

"Just call me Brother Bin."

"Alright, Brother Binbin."

When he heard this form of address, Tan Wenbin couldn't help but smile.

Usually, only Brother Xiao Yuan would call him "Brother Binbin."

In fact, from the first contact, Tan Wenbin sensed that this little Taoist was much like Brother Xiao Yuan, especially that smile.

He remembered a time when Brother Xiao Yuan loved to wear that smile.

However, Brother Xiao Yuan's smile was performed, while this young man's was a spontaneous and genuine expression.

After all, not every young man is called "Brother Xiao Yuan."

Perhaps, this was also why Brother Xiao Yuan assigned the task of contact to him.

Brother Xiao Yuan didn't like children, especially the ones similar to himself.

Now, Tan Wenbin's contact task was essentially completed, with the confirmation of three original targets.

The first was the little Taoist's strength. The little Taoist had entered the basics, knew some Taoist Skills, and honed basic abilities but had no practical experience. Otherwise, in Tan Wenbin's current condition, it wouldn't have been so easy to fool him.

The second was the relationship between the little Taoist and that Taoist priest. For now, it seems that although they are father and son, their connection isn't deep.

Tan Wenbin had the feeling that their father-son relationship recently faced significant discord.

Because every time the little Taoist mentioned his master, he started with great enthusiasm, but halfway through, his tone would invariably drop — a sign of a fresh wound throbbing in pain.

The third was the little Taoist's character, which was pivotal.

The little Taoist's identity would undoubtedly be utilized by him and his team. If his character wasn't good, they could discard him after use without guilt; if he was of good character, they'd have to consider supporting him through the turmoil until the end.

Chen Jing: "Ah, without noticing, it's so late. Brother Binbin, shall I push you back?"

"Okay."

Tan Wenbin placed a Sealing Talisman on the wheelchair, covering it with a blanket.

Chen Jing rolled his sleeves into his palm and reached out to push the wheelchair again. Generally, a single layer of cloth wouldn't make much difference, but this time, Chen Jing was surprised to find it wasn't as cold as before.