Chapter 254: Natural Disposition

The book not only features a succession of malevolent spirits and various monsters making their appearances, but also countless intrigues, conspiracies, and historical secrets surfacing between human kingdoms, between Taoist sects, and between human kingdoms and Taoist sects.

The cruelty of immortals and demons, the depravity of human hearts, the barbarity of the world, and the entanglement of karma are all laid bare.

The book even mentions gods, implying that despite never showing themselves, they wield significant influence over the world.

The life experiences of individuals like Zhong Shengguang, Hong Xiangqian, Nian Songyu, and Sun Fuping all seem to exemplify this perspective.

The more He Lingchuan read, the more he felt that beneath the fantastical and bizarre surface of these two books lay a bleak, dark core, chilling to contemplate.

The book also puts forward an important concept:

The resurgence of spiritual energy.

The author believed that the spiritual energy of heaven and earth should have gradually revived during the medieval period, but for some unknown reasons, it was long delayed.

Even this outspoken author did not elaborate on these "certain reasons."

He Lingchuan found the authors' names:

Oral account by Ao Xun, recorded by Sun Yang.

It turned out the book was a collaborative effort, one speaking and the other writing.

He Lingchuan had read so many books in the Literary Promotion Pavilion before, but now he felt that all of them combined weren't as captivating as these two.

Sun Fuling's recommendation was indeed reliable; this was the difference between knowing how to find good books and not.

While reading, he hadn't realized it was already evening, with brilliant sunset clouds painting the sky.

From his neighbor's house, he heard the sound of children and adults arguing, followed by a continuous slapping sound, making him wonder if someone was being spanked.

Yet, Sun Fuling's home was completely silent, without a single sound.

He Lingchuan knew she preferred quiet and often went out, so he hadn't thought much of it before. However, after the battle today, he felt increasingly uneasy:

She was already home, but why wasn't there even the sound of footsteps?

Their two homes were separated only by a low wall, and with his current hearing, he should easily be able to discern any movement from her inner room.

Had she returned home and remained completely still?

Or did she, like him, possess cultivation?

He Lingchuan's identity in this dream world was both like a player and a transient visitor. So far, he still didn't know why he was there, but the appearance of Sun Fuling must have been an intentional arrangement by the dream.

Should he go over and investigate one day when she wasn't home? The thought, once it surfaced, became impossible to suppress.

Fortunately, someone outside began striking a gong, two times in succession, shouting: "The City Prefect has decreed a curfew at the sixth quarter of You Shi tonight! Citizens must not go out!"

The sixth quarter of You Shi was around 6:30 PM. From now on, everyone would have to return home and lock their doors in just half an hour, indicating the suddenness of this curfew.

Upon hearing the order, people hurried home. Soon, He Lingchuan heard the noisy, hurried footsteps in the alley outside.

His neighbors were also whispering: "What's happened this time?"

"Ever since the 'Emperor's Flowing Sap' descended, there have been so many incidents. We finally had a few peaceful days, sigh!"

He Lingchuan vaguely felt that the temporary curfew might be related to the monster that appeared that afternoon.

This indicated that the entity had caught the attention of Panlong City's high-ranking officials.

As expected, the city's patrol forces were strengthened. Previously, only one group of constables would pass his door every quarter of an hour; now there were at least three.

The patrolling puppet beasts had also increased in size.

The city was mobilizing its forces to find the monster's hiding place.

He Lingchuan was not optimistic about the search results; the creature was too fast and likely capable of shrinking its size, allowing it to hide silently in someone's chicken coop.

Indeed, the next two hours passed without incident. He Lingchuan heard no whistles and saw no signal arrows or fireworks launched into the sky.

The moon had passed its zenith and was beginning to descend westward.

He Lingchuan jumped onto the rooftop and found that most of the residential lights had already been extinguished.

In the dead of night, not even a dog barked, and frost had formed on the tree branches.

By this time, most people were asleep. Only the cold wind and patrolmen carrying lanterns traversed the streets and alleys.

He Lingchuan looked down from his vantage point toward Sun Fuling's courtyard.

The house door was tightly shut, but light seeped through the window paper.

Was she still awake?

The tree in the courtyard, whose branches and leaves had been swaying, had become still at some unknown point, and the omnipresent wind seemed to have ceased.

Unbeknownst to him, Panlong City had fallen into a silent solemnity.

He Lingchuan acutely sensed something unusual in the air, as if something was approaching.

He sat on the rooftop, a bright moon above him, surrounded by profound silence.

Yet, he felt as if he was being observed and spied upon, and faint, fragmented whispers seemed to echo in his ears—like incessant chatter or mocking laughter—making him restless. But when he concentrated to listen, there was nothing.

This sensation, it felt familiar, didn't it?

He Lingchuan thought for a moment, then took a pill from his pocket and swallowed it.

He then abruptly turned around and saw swarms upon swarms of Three-Corpse Worms!

It was these creatures, as expected.

Since leaving Panlong Desert, he had never again seen such a magnificent army of Three-Corpse Worms. They resembled schools of tropical fish in a coral reef, circling every building and passing through doors and windows.

Needless to say, they were inspecting every intelligent living being.

Needless to say, they had been dispatched by Zhong Shengguang using the Great Square Gourd, capable of penetrating everywhere.

However, unlike what He Lingchuan had seen in Panlong Desert, these terrifying little creatures did not harm any of the city's inhabitants. They merely circled around them, as if conducting an inspection, before moving on to the next potential point of interest.

Even when the worms swarmed past He Lingchuan, he only felt a slight irritation, not enough to drive him mad.

Those asleep were completely oblivious.

This demonstrated the Great Square Gourd's powerful control over the Three-Corpse Worms, enabling it to make them defy their own nature.

Such a method was indeed beyond human capability.

Of course, at this moment, He Lingchuan was more concerned with whether they could locate their target.

Zhong Shengguang had actually deployed an army of Three-Corpse Worms for a city-wide search, showing how seriously he regarded the monster.

After waiting for another hour or so, there was still no sound from outside.

He Lingchuan, somewhat dazed from reading, felt his last thought was:

Right, his saber was broken; he needed to replace his weapon as soon as possible.

***

Bailu Town, Haotian County, Xiazhou.

On a wooden platform erected at the east end of town, three youths were bound: the youngest was fourteen or fifteen, the oldest barely over twenty.

The executioner stood by with his saber, while a patrol officer loudly read out their crimes on the platform.

It turned out that when the military grain transport unit passed through Bailu Town last time, these three had successfully stolen two carts of grain. One cart was buried, and the other was secretly distributed to the equally starving townsfolk during the night.

After several days of pursuit, the three were apprehended. According to the Great Kite Law, stealing military provisions during wartime was punishable by beheading, and immediate execution was permitted without needing to report to the royal court.

After listing their crimes, the patrol officer asked them: "Any last words?"

The oldest youth cursed loudly: "Last words? My last words are: I have no regrets! At least I had a full meal last night! You robbed us of every last grain! You leech off the villagers like leeches! Even bandits aren't as ruthless as you! What kind of 'parents of the people' are you?! Why haven't the righteous army from Woling Pass fought their way into the capital city, ripped out the guts of you dog officials, and paraded you through the streets with them wrapped around your necks?! I'll stretch out my neck for you to kill! Even if you kill me, there will be others after me! One day, your heads will roll just like mine!"

He spoke with fervent indignation. The platform was surrounded three layers deep, with townsfolk craning their necks to watch, silent, some with mouths agape.

The patrol officer gave the executioner a look. The latter stepped forward and, with one swift cut, severed the youth's hands.

Blood gushed from his two wrists.

The youth cried out in pain, but continued to curse relentlessly.

The executioner delivered another blow, hacking off his feet.

The youth immediately fainted.

With the third strike, his head fell to the ground.

For the principal offender in military grain theft, this was standard procedure.

Blood flowed profusely over the platform, and the severed head rolled to where the other two youths were kneeling, already unable to stand. At this sight, they immediately wet themselves, screaming and weeping: "Have mercy, sirs! He tricked us into stealing the grain! We didn't know anything beforehand!"

The patrol officer sneered: "Did he also trick you into distributing the grain? You didn't know when you were doing that, either?"

The two pleaded desperately, but the executioner's blade rose and fell.

As accessories, they received a swift death.

"I reiterate the Xiazhou Prefect's order: The front lines are stalemated, and military supplies are of utmost importance. All those who steal them will be summarily executed on the spot!" The patrol officer announced forcefully, then stepped back. Others brought water to wash away the blood, and family members tearfully collected the bodies.

In the chaos, someone secretly stripped the shoes from the bodies.

With the spectacle over, the stunned spectators also dispersed.

A tall man also turned with the crowd, pulling his wind-blocking hat tighter.

As he rounded the pawnshop's privacy screen, he noticed quite a crowd inside, even requiring a queue. Those leaving the counter were either fuming with anger or utterly dejected.

Soon, it was his turn.

The young appraiser seated at the counter asked: "What are you pawning?"

The tall man took off his padded jacket, turned it inside out, and pushed it forward: "The lining is made of gliderrat fur; it's waterproof and warm."

The appraiser took it, kneaded it, and said: "Too old, the fur is all worn off. Two silver coins for it."

The tall man, dejected, began: "When I bought it back then..."

"That was then," the appraiser cut him off, unwilling to hear his reminiscences. Who who entered this place hadn't been a 'hero' in their prime?

"Could you give me a little more?" He pleaded meekly, though he had grown accustomed to such humility in recent years.

"Take it or leave it." The appraiser pushed the padded jacket back, adding, "We've had too many clothes pawned recently; we don't need your piece."

"I'll pawn it, I'll pawn it, and this too." The tall man took off his hat as well. "This is made of silver-rat fur."

"You've worn it for so long, all rat fur is the same," the appraiser said after a single touch. "Seven fen."

The tall man choked, his voice rising: "Only two qian and seven fen in total?!"

Another older appraiser behind him leaned over and asked: "What's going on? What's so expensive?"

"Nothing," the young appraiser chuckled back. "A monster-rat fur jacket."

As he handed over the money, he lowered his voice and urged: "Mr. Hong, this is already too much. Take the money and leave quickly."

Mr. Hong, the tall man, was startled. Hearing footsteps from behind the counter and seeing the young appraiser nod to him, he quickly grabbed the two qian and seven fen, bowed his head, and hurried away.

The wind was strong that day, and without his padded jacket, the spring streets still felt chilling to the bone.