Chapter 97: I''m Going to Kill |
That blood-covered figure was Tian Huaiyi''s soul. After kowtowing to thank his teacher and confessing that he had failed to protect Shen Yusheng, his final wish was fulfilled. Although he was filled with endless reluctance in his heart, he was pulled by the power of the underworld and dragged toward the realm of the dead.
"Huaiyi!"
Fu Leisheng cried out, suddenly standing up and looking around. He saw no ghostly wind around him, no blood-drenched Tian Huaiyi. He thought he must have fallen asleep while reading the book without realizing it.
After all, the Master''s books were quite dull.
"What you think about during the day, you dream about at night. I''m always worried that Huaiyi, for the sake of high office and generous salary, would betray Shen Yusheng."
He secretly mocked himself. Back when Tian Huaiyi was his student, he was the most mischievous and troublesome pupil, giving him the biggest headaches. During school, he never studied properly, always playing with the hair of the female student sitting in front of him, which made the girl cry.
He called the parents, and Tian Huaiyi got a beating.
When practicing magic, he didn''t practice properly either, doing things haphazardly, working for three days and slacking for two.
But he had a sharp intelligence, learning everything quickly, and once learned, it was hard for him to forget, able to infer other things from one fact.
At that time, it happened to be when Chen Shi''s Divine Embryo was dug out, causing a huge uproar. Fu Leisheng was also fearful and anxious. Sure enough, several groups of people came to snatch the Divine Embryo.
He went through great hardship to drive them back and protect Tian Huaiyi. Because of this incident, the relationship between teacher and student became very close, as intimate as father and son.
Later, Tian Huaiyi passed the provincial examination, becoming a provincial graduate, and went to another region. Then he heard he went to a military garrison, serving in the army for many years. When he returned, he had transformed from a mischievous big boy into a steady official.
The change was so great that even Fu Leisheng couldn''t help but marvel.
What he worried about most was that Tian Huaiyi would enter the big dye vat of officialdom and become dyed beyond recognition. Therefore, after Shen Yusheng received the God of Literature Divine Embryo this time, he repeatedly warned and urged, fearing Tian Huaiyi was no longer that righteous young man.
"I''m overthinking things." He breathed a sigh of relief.
At that moment, he saw Chen Shi shielding the lamp with his hand, and the black dog outside the door was still barking. He couldn''t help but be stunned.
He clearly remembered Chen Shi dozing off while he was reading. Why had it become him falling asleep while Chen Shi was awake?
"Master Fu, you just fell asleep."
Chen Shi''s voice was somewhat low. After hesitating, he said, "Senior Brother Tian came, appearing in your dream. I saw him covered in blood and didn''t stop him. Master Fu, the county government... something may have happened."
Fu Leisheng''s mind exploded. His body trembled, and his hands hurriedly grabbed the lectern to steady himself. He tried to speak, but as the words reached his throat, two streams of scalding tears rolled down first.
He raised his hand to wipe them, but the tears only grew more.
He thought he was strong, having taught the Master''s teachings for so many years, his Dao Heart long as solid as rock. He was sure he could hold back, but he just couldn''t.
The tears simply wouldn''t stop flowing outward.
"I..."
He choked up, clenching his fists to support his body, but still couldn''t stop the tears from his eyes.
"Chen Shi, let me be alone for a while..." he said with difficulty.
Chen Shi silently stood up and walked out of the lecture hall. Looking back, he saw Fu Leisheng slumped over the table, his body shaking uncontrollably.
"Huaiyi, if you couldn''t win, you should have run! Didn''t I teach you that?"
He cried out loud, weeping while scolding Tian Huaiyi for not being flexible.
"You could have abandoned Shen Yusheng and run! They only wanted Shen Yusheng, not your life. You''re an imperial official, the chief examiner of Xinxiang County. Unless absolutely necessary, they wouldn''t take your life!"
"Run! Shen Yusheng is my student, but you''re my student too! Why didn''t you run? You blockhead!"
...
Chen Shi sat beside Black Pot, holding the big dog, looking at the county town''s night sky.
The bright moon hung high in the sky, illuminating every detail.
"Who says there are no evil spirits in the county town, Black Pot? Evil spirits dwell in people''s hearts," he said quietly.
After an unknown amount of time, Fu Leishen walked out of the lecture hall. His eyes were red and swollen, the bags under his eyes much puffier. He carried an oil lamp in his hand, his voice somewhat hoarse as he said softly, "Chen Shi, rest early. Tomorrow is the results announcement."
Chen Shi acknowledged but watched him without moving.
Fu Leisheng carried the lamp and walked outward. Passing through the bamboo grove, he broke off a bamboo stalk, using it as a walking stick as he continued.
Chen Shi followed him. Black Pot followed Chen Shi.
Fu Leisheng stopped. "Chen Shi, go back. This has nothing to do with you."
Chen Shi shook his head. "If I stay alone at the academy, I''m worried someone might kill me to take my Divine Embryo."
Fu Leisheng said nothing more and continued walking forward.
Chen Shi and Black Pot followed him. Soon, they arrived at the county government.
The county government''s main gate was wide open, pitch-black inside. Fu Leisheng used the bamboo stalk to hold up the lamp as he entered.
Inside, it was completely silent.
Chen Shi suddenly felt something sticky under his foot. Lifting it, he saw his foot covered in blood.
He looked at the ground—a pool of blood.
He didn''t speak, because he had already seen Tian Huaiyi''s corpse lying in the blood pool.
Fu Leisheng placed the lamp aside and raised his hand. It trembled uncontrollably as he tried to touch his student''s face.
Tian Huaiyi''s face was pale, his eyes wide open, pupils tilted to one side.
Fu Leisheng clenched his fists tightly, following his gaze. Shen Yusheng sat on a chair not far away, facing them, also with wide-open eyes filled with terror.
Fu Leisheng stood up and walked to this youthful-faced boy. He felt no signs of life from this student.
He touched the back of Shen Yusheng''s head. The skull had been opened.
His hand was covered in blood.
Fu Leisheng''s mouth twitched, as if about to cry but not crying, forcibly holding back. He switched to a clean hand and closed Shen Yusheng''s eyelids.
He turned around to examine the wounds on Tian Huaiyi''s body.
Corpses don''t speak, but they can leave many useful clues.
What magic the opponent used, what realm they were in, what kind of Golden Core they had, even Nascent Soul or Primordial Spirit—all would leave traces on the corpse.
Meanwhile, Chen Shi was examining the Myriad Soul Banner enshrined in the county government.
The Myriad Soul Banner was a magical treasure. The souls it contained were often those of cultivators. Only the souls of those guilty of capital crimes were qualified to enter the Myriad Soul Banner.
This treasure was immensely powerful, capable of guarding an entire city, preventing evil spirits from approaching even half a step. It could also resist powerful enemies, allowing even a county magistrate to fight against a Spirit Transformation realm expert!
This Myriad Soul Banner was still on the altar table, showing no fluctuations of power.
It seemed Tian Huaiyi hadn''t had time to use the Myriad Soul Banner before dying at the opponent''s hands.
Chen Shi frowned slightly. Tian Huaiyi''s strength was definitely not weak. Years of military life, plus being in a dangerous frontier garrison, his combat experience must have been extremely formidable. It was impossible for him to die at the opponent''s hands without even having time to use the Myriad Soul Banner!
Even if the opponent had cultivated a Primordial Spirit, he could have activated the Myriad Soul Banner to fight!
"The Myriad Soul Banner was used once."
Fu Leisheng''s voice came. "But the user wasn''t Huaiyi."
Chen Shi was slightly startled. He came to Tian Huaiyi''s corpse. The wounds on Tian Huaiyi''s body weren''t ordinary injuries but bruised, cyan-colored wounds. The blood in the wounds had coagulated, cold to the touch, unlike someone who had just died.
Chen Shi thought of the Cyan Ghost Hand in his own chest, his heart stirring slightly. "These are injuries caused by vengeful ghosts and fierce spirits!"
"They''re injuries caused by the Myriad Soul Banner."
Fu Leisheng''s gaze fell on the Myriad Soul Banner. "The vengeful ghosts and fierce spirits within the Myriad Soul Banner were originally very powerful. After prolonged refinement, they became even stronger. But Huaiyi didn''t have time to activate this treasure before it was activated by the opponent."
Chen Shi was stunned. Activated by the opponent?
Tian Huaiyi was holding the Myriad Soul Banner. Why would it be activated by the opponent?
Fu Leisheng didn''t answer. Instead, he looked into the darkness outside, his voice low and hoarse. "The county government should always have bailiffs on duty, but the on-duty bailiffs aren''t here. Moreover, a fight occurred in the government office, yet not a single bailiff came to check."
The only people who could both command the Myriad Soul Banner and keep the bailiffs from acting rashly were the county magistrate and the assistant magistrate.
But the Xinxiang County magistrate was already dead. Assistant Magistrate Zheng Shiyun''s strength was far inferior to Tian Huaiyi''s. He couldn''t have killed Tian Huaiyi so cleanly and efficiently.
There were also many experts in Xinxiang County, possibly even hidden Spirit Transformation realm existences. However, Tian Huaiyi was the chief examiner for Xinxiang County''s exam. His official position wasn''t high, but he was an imperial official. The county''s experts absolutely wouldn''t dare risk having their nine generations exterminated by the imperial court to kill him.
"So, it can only be an outsider."
Chen Shi said. "Among the recent outsiders, those with power and influence are probably the Quanzhou Li Family. Governor Li Xiaozheng passed through Xinxiang County."
Fu Leisheng''s eyelid twitched. He picked up the lamp, turned, and walked outward, saying, "Yesterday, Governor Li already rushed to the provincial capital to take up his post. He''s not in Xinxiang County. Chen Shi, you don''t need to concern yourself with this matter."
Chen Shi didn''t speak, still following him.
Fu Leisheng knocked on the coffin shop''s door and entered, saying to the shopkeeper, "Two coffins, good quality."
The coffin shop owner was startled and quickly invited him in. "Master Fu, what happened?"
"Nothing."
Fu Leisheng didn''t elaborate. "Add one more. Three coffins. How much?"
"Cypress wood, six taels of silver each."
Fu Leisheng didn''t bargain. He paid the silver and said, "Have a few workers come with me. Deliver two wooden coffins to the county government. There are two corpses in the government office. Have the workers prepare the bodies. Keep one coffin in the shop for now."
The coffin shop owner was shocked. Normally, Fu Leisheng would definitely bargain, haggling over every penny, even a single copper coin for half a day. Today, he actually didn''t bargain.
"When a person dies, everything ends. This last coffin... is Master Fu preparing it for himself?"
The owner pondered for a moment, then quietly instructed the workers. "You go to the county government to help Master Fu collect the bodies. Just collect them, don''t ask anything else. Also, be careful these next few days. If you hear unfortunate news about Master Fu, notify me. Business requires integrity. If he dies, use this coffin to bury him."
The shop assistants acknowledged.
Chen Shi followed Fu Leisheng, watching him busily prepare Tian Huaiyi and Shen Yusheng for burial in the coffins.
Unconsciously, the sky brightened.
Neither of them had slept all night. They followed the shop assistants'' wooden cart, delivering the two coffins to Wencai Academy for temporary storage.
Strangely, despite such a major incident happening at the county government, and them working there all night, still no bailiffs came to inquire.
"Chen Shi, today is the day the results are announced. Go with your classmates to see the list. I haven''t slept all night and need to go home to rest."
Fu Leisheng said. "As for my matters, you don''t need to concern yourself. Back when Shao Jing asked me to help you, he actually already paid me a sum. But I also took money from you. You don''t owe the academy anything."
Chen Shi said, "If Master Fu has any matters, just come to the academy and inform me."
Fu Leisheng nodded lightly, walked out of the academy, and headed home.
His home was indeed as luxurious as Hu Feifei had said, built by the Qingqu River. Stepping out the door was the dock. The courtyard covered over one mu of land, with east and west wings, a main building, and a small pond. Around the pond were arranged rock gardens, planted with plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum.
Though not a large area, every part appeared exquisite and elegant.
His wife was someone skilled at managing things, keeping the house very tidy. Their two children were also outstanding, already married, requiring no worry from him.
His wife had already prepared breakfast. Seeing him return, she asked, "Did something happen last night?"
"Nothing."
Fu Leisheng drank porridge while saying, "Xiurong, these years following me have been hard on you."
His wife sat beside him, watching him eat, and smiled. "What hardship? I merely toil inside. You''re the one suffering outside."
Fu Leisheng said, "Mingzhi and Zhiyuan are already married. Though not particularly accomplished, at least they can support themselves. You haven''t returned to your hometown in a long time. Why not go back, burn some paper money for my parents and your parents? Last night I dreamed those elders said they had no money to spend down there."
His wife hesitated. "Did something happen?"
"No."
Fu Leisheng ate some salted meat. "The countryside isn''t peaceful. Have Mingzhi and Zhiyuan go with you. Take their wives and children along. Consider it returning to the village for a few days, relaxing."
"What about you?"
"I won''t go. I still have matters in the city."
His wife shed tears. "Something happened, right? Must you really stay?"
Fu Leisheng was silent for a moment. "I must stay. You all go, pack up, leave today. Don''t delay. I''m going to sleep. Don''t let Mingzhi and Zhiyuan come bother me. After tomorrow, if I''m alive, I''ll come find you."
His wife wiped her tears while packing.
Fu Leisheng ate and drank his fill, then fell into deep sleep.
Many students had already arrived at Wencai Academy, exclaiming in surprise at the two coffins placed in the academy, speculating wildly, not knowing what had happened.
Hu Feifei asked Chen Shi, but Chen Shi didn''t say.
At noon, the government announced the results. Students swarmed to the county government to see the list.
"Brother Chen, you passed! First in Xinxiang County!"
Hu Feifei was extremely excited, saying to Chen Shi, "I never realized your literary talent was so good, you actually placed high! Huh, strange, why isn''t Shen Yusheng''s name here?"
She examined the list up and down but couldn''t find Shen Yusheng''s name. Logically, Shen Yusheng, who received a Divine Embryo without needing the Grand Sacrifice, should have topped the list. But for some reason, after scanning several times, she still couldn''t find Shen Yusheng.
Not only was Shen Yusheng''s name missing, but news of chief examiner Tian Huaiyi''s death also hadn''t spread. The chief examiner''s death was shockingly silent.
Chen Shi thought silently, "This noble lady truly has vast supernatural powers, holding absolute sway over Xinxiang County."
The day after the results announcement was the Grand Sacrifice.
The Grand Sacrifice occurred once every three years and was also very lively. The county town''s people treated this grand ceremony as a festival, decorating everywhere with lanterns and streamers. Shopkeepers also took the opportunity to shout, proclaiming discounts to attract customers.
Chen Shi, Hu Feifei, and several other Wencai Academy students put on scholar attire, wearing red headbands with flowing ribbons and green belts around their waists.
Fu Leisheng, with a smile on his face, personally straightened their collars, then hung a large silk red flower on Chen Shi''s chest, sending them to the Confucian Temple.
The Confucian Temple was already fully prepared. The statues of the Master and the God of Literature were also draped in red clothing. The xiucai hadn''t arrived yet, but the energy of incense offerings rose like blue smoke, soaring upward.
Some had already prepared chickens and ducks, leading cattle, sheep, pigs, and other livestock. These were live sacrifices, gifts for the True God. More were various fruits like melons, pears, and peaches, placed in flower baskets, basket after basket.
Incense sticks were also planted along the roadsides. Some incense sticks were as thick as arms, taller than a person, already lit. Several children were puffing their cheeks, blowing on the incense to light firecrackers, which crackled and popped.
Everywhere, gongs and drums were being beaten, full of joyous atmosphere. People kept congratulating Fu Leisheng, and some reached out to touch the big red flower on Chen Shi''s chest to share in the auspiciousness.
Chen Shi was first in this Xinxiang County exam, naturally receiving special prominence, positioned at the front among the xiucai.
Hu Feifei followed behind him, also quite proud, whispering with a laugh, "This time I''ve become a xiucai, received a Divine Embryo. After passing the provincial exam to become a provincial graduate, I can finally meet mature scholars. Our fox girls'' long-cherished wish is about to be fulfilled! Hehe..."
Chen Shi looked around and suddenly saw Fu Leisheng turn around, squeezing his way out of the crowd.
His heart jumped. He looked at the people busily working on the altar, then looked up at the two great suns in the sky. For two years, regaining the True God''s recognition and receiving another Divine Embryo had been his obsession.
He hesitated. Now that he was first in the Xinxiang County exam, this was the moment to fulfill this obsession.
If he missed it, who knew when he''d have such an opportunity again!
Becoming a xiucai, obtaining a Divine Embryo, returning home to bring honor to his ancestors—even Old Lady Wuzhu would look at him with higher regard.
If he committed a crime, he might become an outlaw. Probably even the ducks from Yuzhu''s family would spit twice when passing by him before walking away!
Chen Shi gritted his teeth, suddenly took off the big red flower from his chest, stuffed it into Hu Feifei''s arms, pushed through the crowd with both hands, and walked outward.
Hu Feifei was stunned and quickly said, "Chen Shi, Chen Shi! What are you doing? You''re Xinxiang''s first! You''re about to go on stage! Don''t you want this Divine Embryo?"
Chen Shi disappeared into the crowd, his voice coming through: "You stay here. I''m going to kill someone!"
His spirit resembled a fierce tiger, his eyes revealing murderous light.
Body upright and shadow straight, a heart set on murder and arson!
