The Corpse's Lament: The Haunting of Guiling's Embalming Fluid

The small town of Guiling, nestled between towering mountains and a serene river, was a place of tranquility until the night the mortuary's embalming fluid came to life. The town's residents had long whispered about the spectral whispers that echoed through the dimly lit corridors of the mortuary, but no one dared to investigate the eerie phenomenon. Until now.

It was a cold, damp evening when a group of friends decided to explore the rumored haunted mortuary. They had heard tales of the ghostly guanxi, the spectral connections that bound the departed to the living, and the haunted embalming fluid that was said to hold the essence of the departed. Their curiosity was piqued, and they decided to venture into the unknown.

The group, consisting of Li Wei, a fearless young man; Xiao Mei, a curious historian; and Zhen, a jaded skeptic, entered the old, creaking mortuary. The air was thick with the scent of formaldehyde, and the dim lighting cast long shadows across the walls. They were greeted by the sight of rows upon rows of coffins, each one sealed with a heavy lid.

Li Wei, the leader of the group, felt a chill run down his spine. "Let's keep moving," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper. They cautiously made their way to the embalming room, where the fluid was kept.

Xiao Mei, the historian, was the first to notice the strange symbols etched into the floor. "These look like ancient Chinese characters," she said, tracing the intricate patterns with her fingers. "I wonder what they mean."

Zhen, the skeptic, rolled his eyes. "Ancient Chinese characters? More like just old dirt. Let's get on with it."

As they approached the embalming table, Xiao Mei's eyes widened. The fluid was bubbling and frothing, unlike anything she had ever seen. "This is definitely not normal," she said, her voice trembling.

Suddenly, the room was filled with a chilling wind. The embalming fluid began to hiss and bubble, and the air grew colder. The group exchanged nervous glances, their hearts pounding in their chests.

Li Wei, ever the brave one, stepped forward. "Let's see if we can find out what's causing this," he said, his voice steady despite the fear that gripped him.

He reached out to touch the fluid, but as his fingers made contact, a ghostly figure appeared before him. It was the embalmer, a man named Liang, who had been working at the mortuary for decades. His eyes were wide with terror, and his mouth was agape in a silent scream.

"Run!" Liang's voice echoed through the room, his spectral form fading as quickly as it had appeared.

The group bolted for the door, but it was locked. They could hear the embalming fluid hissing and bubbling behind them, and the chilling wind grew stronger. The air was thick with the scent of death, and the temperature dropped rapidly.

Xiao Mei, the historian, remembered the symbols on the floor. "These symbols are from an ancient text about the Corpse's Lament," she said, her voice barely audible over the growing cacophony of the embalming fluid.

Zhen, the skeptic, was no longer so confident. "What do you mean? What's the Corpse's Lament?"

Xiao Mei explained that the Corpse's Lament was a ritual performed by ancient embalmers to ensure the peace of the departed. If the ritual was not completed properly, the spirit of the deceased would be bound to the living, seeking revenge.

As they listened to Xiao Mei's explanation, the group realized that they had inadvertently awoken the spirit of Liang, the embalmer. The fluid was his lament, a cry for help from beyond the grave.

The door to the embalming room burst open, and a wave of cold air washed over them. The embalming fluid began to glow with an eerie, otherworldly light, and the group could see the spectral figure of Liang standing before them.

"Please, help me," Liang's voice echoed through the room. "I was not meant to be here."

Li Wei stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest. "We'll help you, Liang. But we need to find a way to break the Corpse's Lament."

Liang nodded, his spectral form shimmering with a faint glow. "You must pour the fluid into the river. It is the only way to free me."

The group made their way back to the river, the spectral figure of Liang trailing behind them. They reached the riverbank, and Li Wei poured the fluid into the water. The river bubbled and frothed, and the spectral form of Liang began to fade.

"Thank you," Liang's voice echoed through the air as his form disappeared completely. "You have freed me."

The group watched as the river returned to its serene state, the embalming fluid no longer bubbling and frothing. They had freed Liang's spirit, but they had also learned a chilling lesson about the dangers of the Corpse's Lament.

As they made their way back to town, the group was haunted by the memory of the embalming fluid's haunting lament. They had faced the unknown and emerged victorious, but they had also uncovered the dark secrets that lay hidden within the walls of the mortuary.

The Corpse's Lament: The Haunting of Guiling's Embalming Fluid was a chilling tale of the supernatural, a story that would be whispered for generations to come.