民国(👷)4年,袁世凯(kǎi )意图(📒)称帝,政局动(dòng )荡是年秋,吴(wú )(🔱)淞镇(zhèn )(🤢)大火(huǒ ),灾民(mín )(🎗)数以万计(jì ),本就鱼龙混杂(zá )的吴淞镇(🎾)显(📿)得更为(⏬)动荡不安。因(yīn )(♑)地方善款筹(⚫)集,吴(wú )(🔸)淞(👑)镇重(chóng )修居民(mín ),却(🕯)在某宅架梁时出现意外,期间爆出一具男尸,其状诡异(yì ),引得镇上流言纷(fēn )起,镇民惶恐(🌙),募资请僧道做法驱(qū )邪(⏯)超度,期间亦(🦗)有江湖术士(shì )混事,搅得(dé )镇(🔝)上一派乌(🙌)烟瘴气(🌞)。镇(㊙)保(bǎo )卫团团长陆悦戎行伍出身,最是不信神(shén )鬼之说,,见此情形不由大怒,一(yī )(🤖)面下令驱散僧道术士,一面(🏉)差人找来镇上(shàng )义(🐾)庄(zhuāng )仵工吴(wú )云根、柳(liǔ )归元师徒(🤷),命其验尸查明(míng )死因(yīn ),以正视听(tīng )。镇(🐡)上落魄乡绅少爷石(shí )(📛)乐(lè )志少年游历颇广,得(🥅)知此(🍽)案(🏃)后便(biàn )(🏴)赶(🚲)来查(chá )看,又见(jiàn )陆(🐖)香邑在场(💣),欲有所(suǒ )表现(xiàn ),当下一味指点(😳)评说,言(yán )语(yǔ )间对吴(wú )(👚)云根(⏺)、柳归元师徒颇为不(bú )屑(🎴)。吴云根对(duì )此(cǐ )不以为意,自顾检验死者身上(shàng )的绿芽,神(🐱)情(🖱)颇为(👼)震(😲)惊(jīng )(🐅),继(🏡)而借故推(🙅)托似有隐情,期(qī )(📯)间语焉(yān )(👆)不详。