During the Western Han Dynasty, the Kingdom of Dian fell apart due to major internal strife. A group of people split off from the kingdom and retreated into the remote mountains, living in isolation. Over time, they faded from history, and what we know about them comes mainly from scattered records in the book Records of the Western Regions.
This group that separated from ancient Dian naturally formed a tribal community. They practiced a bizarre ritual where they would drown living people in strange jars suspended in water, using the dead to feed fish. These fish, which fed on human flesh, grew much larger than ordinary fish. When the fish were fully grown, on the night of a full moon, they would take the jar out of the water, burn the bones inside as an offering to six jade beasts, and then cook the fish for a meal. It was said that eating this fish could prolong life.
The old owner of the coffin shop at Shibeidian somehow came into possession of these practices—whether it was inherited or discovered is still unknown. He likely held the key to this dark ritual and had found a pre-Qin site beneath his shop, creating a hidden place for his activities. To keep his secrets safe, he spread rumors that his shop was cursed, making the nearby villagers too afraid to approach. It wasn't until after his death that these secrets began to surface. However, whether this coffin shop owner was truly a murderer remains to be seen, pending a thorough investigation by the police.