It sounds they are lured in.

Why is Old Cheng called: old smuggler, is this an expression or was it his former "job"?

It feels a bit odd if machines can be made the damaged body of those passed away are used as machines. I also find it surprising there is still, although the soul left the body, some human memory behind which can be triggered.

If comes to the brain... Braincells are already used instead of chips so by using this the story is even less fiction. I wonder what people will say about it in a few years or twenty years if they read this.

I hope you are fine. Don't forget to rest. Like you said bugs will always show up.

A creative weekend!