民国4年(nián ),袁世凯(kǎi )意图(tú )称帝,政局动荡是(shì )年秋,吴淞镇大(dà )火,灾民(mín )数以(yǐ )(🔧)万计(jì )(🎹),本(běn )就鱼(yú )(🛤)龙混杂(🔬)的吴淞镇显得更为(📿)动(🌫)荡(dàng )不安。因地方善款筹集,吴(⚫)淞镇重(chóng )修居(jū )(🎩)民,却在(🎡)某(🕖)宅架(jià )梁时(💆)出(✳)现(🔲)意(🥄)外,期(qī )(🏐)间爆出一具(📞)男尸,其状诡异,引得镇(zhèn )上流言纷起,镇民惶(🔊)恐,募资请僧道(dào )做法(🥁)驱邪超度,期间亦有江湖术(shù )士(🎛)混事,搅得镇(zhèn )上一派乌烟(yān )瘴气(qì )。镇保卫团(tuán )团长陆悦戎(⛓)行伍(wǔ )出身,最(🥫)是不(👃)信神(shén )鬼之说,,见此情形不(🤳)由大怒,一(🧟)面下令驱散僧道术士,一面(miàn )(💝)差人找来镇上(shàng )义(yì )庄(zhuāng )仵工(gōng )吴(🦇)云(😊)根、柳归元师徒,命(mìng )(🥋)其验(🃏)尸查明死因(yīn )(💹),以正视听。镇上落魄乡(🈺)绅少(📧)爷石乐(lè )志(zhì )少年游(yóu )历颇广,得(👵)知此(cǐ )案后便赶来查看,又见陆(lù )香邑(yì )在场,欲有(yǒu )所表现(🌸),当下一味指(🍁)点评说,言(yán )语(🎦)间对吴云根、柳归元师(🧘)徒(tú )颇(🤼)为不屑。吴(💑)云根(😉)对此不以为意,自顾(⏺)检验(🔮)死者(zhě )身上的绿(lǜ )芽,神情颇为(🐱)震惊,继(jì )(😲)而借故推托(💨)似(sì )有隐情,期间语焉不详(♊)。