民国4年,袁世凯(⛲)意图称(chēng )帝,政局动荡是年秋(🕋),吴淞镇大(dà )火,灾民数以万计,本(🥈)就鱼龙(🌰)混杂的吴淞镇(zhèn )显(xiǎn )得更(🎾)为动(🌫)荡不(bú )安(ān )。因地方善款筹集,吴(⚫)淞(sōng )镇重(chóng )修居民,却在某(mǒu )宅架梁时(shí )出(chū )(✳)现(🔲)意外,期间爆出一具男(nán )尸(shī ),其(qí )状(😚)诡异,引得镇上流言纷(fēn )(🕕)起,镇民惶恐(kǒng ),募资(🌙)请僧道做(🔩)法驱邪超度(🛑),期间亦有(yǒu )江湖术士(shì )混事,搅(jiǎo )得(dé )(💻)镇(zhèn )上一派乌烟瘴(zhàng )气。镇保卫(wèi )团团长陆悦戎行伍出(🈴)身,最(zuì )是不信神(🔔)鬼之说,,见此情形不由(🎋)大(🥕)怒,一面下令驱(qū )散(sàn )僧道术士,一面(miàn )差人找(🏉)来(lái )镇(🍑)上(👊)义(🛎)庄仵(🚗)工吴(🦇)云根(🈸)、柳归元(yuán )师徒(tú ),命其验(🃏)尸查明(míng )死因,以正视听。镇上落魄乡绅(shēn )少爷石乐(lè )志(⏲)少年游(yóu )历颇广,得知此案(🥅)后便赶(🏃)来查(chá )看(🚲),又(🔎)见陆(🔙)香邑(👄)在场(chǎng ),欲有所表现(xiàn ),当下一味(🎐)指点(diǎn )评说,言(👗)语间对吴云根、柳(🛃)归元(yuán )师(🧘)徒颇为不屑。吴云(🎴)根对(🚤)此不以为意,自(zì )顾检(🧥)验死者身(shēn )上的绿芽,神(🈂)情(🚪)颇为震(zhèn )惊,继(😲)而(🐅)借(jiè )故推(✒)托似有隐情,期间语焉不详。