Hui Gai turned to Wei Ying again.

"He was unresponsive, eyes open and it looked like he was wide awake but no amount of trying to rouse him was working. To be honest, it looked like he was under the control of somebody else, and when I had that thought, I turned around and something vanished. That's when you called me back."

"Well, unfortunately and rather sadly, I think he was on this path from the beginning, by whatever triggered this state. But now, I think this is a job for me." Wei Ying flexed his fingers and cracked his knuckles.

"Will Wei Ying be alright?" Lan Zhan asked him.

"Yes...I actually think the excitement of what we're facing is keeping the sleep at bay...for now." Wei Ying smiled brightly at his husband. "But we need to find out what happened. That brothel is the key."

"Mn." Lan Zhan had full confidence in Wei Ying's abilities and he didn't mind stepping back to watch him at work.

To others, this skill might seem savage and uncouth, to raise the dead and use them, but Lan Zhan remembered when this very same gift had won them the Sunshot Campaign. Wei Ying’s powers were not to be scoffed at. Plus he was always respectful towards the beings he asked for help from.

Wei Ying sat cross-legged next to the dead man. Closing his eyes, he held the hand of the corpse and began the summoning.

At first, the corpse was surprised at being able to talk normally, until he realised that it was just a projection of his thoughts, and Wei Ying was able to understand him, and vice versa.

"I have to explain to you, Sir." Wei Ying said softly, through their mental connection. "You have passed away, and are no longer able to connect with your earthly body."

Reanimated corpses often had trouble with the truth of their own deaths. It would take them a long time to come to terms with this horrible truth that they had indeed moved onto another realm. But this one was 'fresh' and hopefully would grasp the situation faster, Wei Ying wished.

The corpse looked at his own hands carefully, nodding to himself.

"So we were wondering if you could still help us with something." Wei Ying continued. "It's still a mystery about your death and we are no closer to understanding who is behind it. We think if you are able to let us see into your last moments while this body was your temple...we are hoping it will shed some light as to what happened. If you agree, Sir."

The corpse appeared to be thinking about what Wei Ying was suggesting.

Then it nodded.

Wei Ying offered his other hand and the corpse put both of his hands in Wei Ying's.

Immediately, Wei Ying was transported into his memories. He found himself climbing stairs to reach a second floor.

There were many beautiful women standing at the entrance of countless rooms, their doors open in invitation to entertain their next guest.

Wei Ying watched this man walk past every single woman, until he came to a closed door. He watched this man reach out to the door knob and twist it, entering the room.

At first it looked like the many other rooms on this floor, the walls painted a very vivid red, with a large bed in the centre of the room, but pushed up against a wall. It had dark coloured sheets and coverlet, and there was a dresser with a mirror to one side, with a single chair neatly resting within the gap where a person's legs would be. Tiny little bottles and jars were placed neatly on the dresser, as if put there with the utmost of care. The room smelled of cheap perfume masking another scent, mixed with the staleness of a closed room.

The room was empty at first, but then Wei Ying heard a voice.

"So...you have returned. What do you want this time? Surely you know it's too late now?"

The voice wasn't familiar now, but as Wei Ying made him turn around, he heard a gasp and then suddenly he was propelled out of the corpse's memories, definitely by a third party.

Wei Ying opened his eyes, blinking against the light of the room.

The corpse fell into the bed, as if he too had been expelled.

Five faces stared at him, hoping for an explanation.

"I think we were just kicked out of his memories." Wei Ying said, puzzled.

"Does that happen? Can it happen?" Jiang Cheng was asking, looking from Wei Ying to the dead man on the bed.

"It's never happened before. I've encountered reluctant hosts...but this was different.  Something doesn't want us to know who they are." Wei Ying tapped his nose.

"Did you feel that too, PengYou?" Hui Gai asked, also interested.

"Hmm. I wonder, who could have that much power, to be able to influence a person's consciousness?" Wei Ying thought hard.

The moments ticked by.

"Unless it's another demon." Hui Gai suddenly said. "I keep picking up something familiar...but not? So I'm not sure who it is."

"Well...it's clear we won't learn anything more from our friend." Wei Ying unfolded his legs and gracefully stood up.

"How are you feeling?" Lan Zhan was by his side then, looking into silver eyes.

"Not too bad. I think we can tackle one more village if you're all up for it." Wei Ying smiled at him, before turning to face the dead man. He bowed to it and said a little prayer.

"I feel sorry for him though." He remarked.

"Mn?"

"It's just...I know he was going to die anyway...it's...I hoped...I guess a small part of me wished we could have done something to stop that. He still has a wife and three kids...what are they going to do now?" Wei Ying sighed.

No one answered him as they shuffled out of the room, but discreetly, Lan Zhan placed a purse of silver pieces on the dresser as they left.

Downstairs, the lady of the house gave her son to his eldest sister, and the children removed themselves from that room.

"Dear lady...we are sorry to inform you of your husband's passing." XiChen told her, gently.

To their surprise, she didn't look upset.

"To be fair," she explained, looking at the surprise on their faces, "I was kind of expecting it. The children will be sorry." She added.

"And you won't be?" Wei Ying prodded. He was intrigued.

Normally the death of a loved one, especially a spouse, caused quite some distress, a lot of noise and certainly some tears. But here...there was nothing.

"Oh...don't get me wrong...I'll miss him too...if for nothing else than someone to talk to."

"You didn't love him?" Wei Ying asked, feeling more out of his depth.

"Well...it's not like that." She sighed. "I may as well tell you, I mean at this point, the whole world seems to know about my husband." Her fingers played with the edges of the apron tied around her waist. "Ours was an arranged marriage, as many are in little villages like this one. Parents want the best for their children and hope that a relationship built through the community will last longer, as you know. But my husband...he seemed to have no interest in me. At the beginning of our marriage, I thought it was my fault that he seemed disinclined...to...to...engage in the physical aspect of our union."

Wei Ying nudged Jiang Cheng.

"See? Other people suffer from it too. It seems to be quite common. You and XiChen-Ge should really talk to a doctor..."

Jiang Cheng shoved him hard, his face red.

"It was only later that my husband confided in me...and we came to an arrangement.  Whenever it got too much for him, he would go into the city and release his needs. It was working very well for us until a few days ago. To be fair, I didn’t notice anything was wrong until he wouldn't wake up yesterday. And given what's been happening, not just in our village, but in the neighbouring villages too...I kind of knew what was going to happen now." The woman seemed resigned.

"Would you happen to know the name of the place he visited? Was it always the same one? Or did he go to any others?" Wei Ying asked, stepping forward.

She put her hand in her pocket and brought out a packet of matches. It was red, with a name written in gold calligraphy on the cover flap.

"Tian Shui Wine House." Wei Ying read out loud. He looked back at her quizzically.

"This was in his pocket when he came home that night. Tian Shui is the name of the city where they visited." She explained.

"It's a good name...Sweet Water..." Jiang Cheng said, thinking aloud. "Our next clue, I suppose."

"Yes, this seems to be a good start." Wei Ying added, rubbing his hands in glee.