Chapter 66: Ghosts and Gods

It was then that he realized the Cat God had instructed him to perform good deeds and accumulate virtue so that he would gain merit. This merit was intended for him to block the lightning tribulation for the Cat God on the day of its transcendence, as lightning tribulations do not strike those with great merit. However, he fled due to the heavy rain, causing the Cat God's transcendence to fail, and its thousand years of cultivation were destroyed in an instant.

The Cat God sought out Fang Lianshan to claim his life, but to its surprise, Fang Lianshan had perfected his swordsmanship over three years. Furthermore, he possessed immense merit. With its cultivation ruined, the Cat God was no match for Fang Lianshan, and was ultimately driven back by him.

However, not long after, cat demons began wreaking havoc at the foot of the mountain. Fang Lianshan had no choice but to descend and eliminate them. He fought the cat demons for several years, but while the demons could not defeat him, he also found himself helpless. Witnessing so many innocent people die because of the cat demons, he made a momentous decision: to sacrifice himself to quell the cat demon's menace.

During his final confrontation with the cat demon, he negotiated with it, offering his life to appease its wrath. He also promised that his disciples would build a temple for it, where it could enjoy human incense offerings. Furthermore, after sixty years, they would help it regain its true spiritual form.

On that very day, before the eyes of many, Fang Lianshan, a renowned hero, died beneath the cat demon's claws. His four disciples, honoring Fang Lianshan's dying wish, built a temple and enshrined the cat demon's golden effigy.

Strangely enough, from then on, the cat demon indeed ceased harming people. Moreover, throughout Qingyang Prefecture, highly intelligent cats frequently appeared. Some even assisted officials in solving cases. Large numbers of cats often gathered at the Cat God Temples. Some groups of cats would block paths to beg for food, and would willingly leave once given. Other cat groups would perform good deeds and accumulate virtue; these were genuine acts of kindness. In Qingyang Prefecture, there were many instances where cats stopped child traffickers from kidnapping children. These occurrences were known as "Spirit Cat Incidents." Similar Spirit Cat Incidents frequently occurred throughout Qingyang Prefecture, and the Cat God Temples were widely revered by common people in many areas of Qingyang Prefecture!

In the main hall, Gu Chudong and Gu Mo exchanged glances after listening to Chen San's story.

Gu Chudong asked skeptically, "Are the Cat God Temples still being worshipped to this day?"

Chen San nodded, "Much less than before, but there are still many folk Cat God Temples. The incense offerings remain strong. In our Fang County alone, Cat God Temples are the most numerous, with at least thirty to fifty of them."

Gu Chudong exclaimed in surprise, "This can't be true, can it?"

Zhuo Qingfeng said gravely, "How could this be true? It must be a story fabricated by Fang Lianshan for fame and personal gain. Such tactics are very common. Take, for example, our Yunzhou's foremost sect, the Canglan Sword Sect. Its founding patriarch, for promotional purposes, claimed that the Canglan Sword Art was created after he encountered an immortal during his travels along the Canglan River, gaining insight from witnessing the immortal sever the river with a single finger. In reality, the patriarch spent over a decade in secluded cultivation for the Canglan Sword Art and consulted with many martial arts masters before finally creating it. There are no gods or ghosts in this world!"

Chen San, however, had a different opinion. "My lord, what you say is reasonable," he began, "and the events you mentioned are true, but they don't apply to the Cat God Temples."

"Why not?" Zhuo Qingfeng asked.

Chen San replied, "I've seen it. I'm from Fang County myself. When the cat demon incidents were happening, I was only about ten years old. I personally witnessed cat demons killing people. I also personally saw Hero Fang Lianshan die by the cat demon's claws to quell its menace. As for what you said about profit, Hero Fang died to quell the demonic threat. What profit could he gain? Not even his four disciples ever managed the Cat God Temples or collected incense money. After Hero Fang's death, they rebuilt the Cat God Temple on Mount Jiuhua, but they did not collect incense money there. Instead, after the temple was rebuilt, they disappeared into the martial world and were never seen again. Decades have passed, and while the Cat God Temples still exist, there has been no news of Hero Fang's disciples since then. So, my lord, if you say that Hero Fang quelling the demonic threat was false, then what was his motive? He sought no fame, no profit, and neither did his disciples. How do you explain that?"

Zhuo Qingfeng was momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond.

"I still don't believe it," Zhuo Qingfeng shook his head slightly. "While I cannot explain Fang Lianshan's motives, I have investigated cases for many years in the Six Doors. I have heard of and witnessed many strange occurrences, but every time the truth was uncovered, it was always found that someone was pretending to be supernatural for various reasons."

Gu Chudong chimed in, "I also don't believe there are any gods or ghosts in this world. When I roamed the martial world with my brother, I saw many charlatans who relied on a few martial tricks to deceive ordinary people who knew no martial arts. Brother, what do you think?"

Gu Mo smiled and offered no comment, instead saying to Elder Chen San, "Elder Chen, if there truly are divine cats as you say, then wouldn't the inn robbery case be impossible to investigate?"

Chen San shook his head, "The divine cats might seek revenge, but would divine cats covet the Blood Tear Stone Clam? I believe someone used the pretext of the divine cats seeking revenge on the escorts to steal the Blood Tear Stone Clam amidst the chaos, and then framed the thirteen escorts."

Afterward, the group continued to chat at Chen San's home. Most of their discussion revolved around supernatural topics.

They talked for nearly two hours. After eating a meal at Chen San's house, Xiao Wu, who had gone out to gather information, returned.

"Master, My Lords, Hero Gu, Heroine Gu," Xiao Wu said, bowing as he entered. "I've found something. On the night of the incident, Squire Ma, a fur merchant from the South City, happened to be transporting a batch of goods to Tong County. He would have passed through the Mount Jiuhua area, taking that very road. I just investigated all the carriages and horses that were traveling that night. The only batch that fits the description is Squire Ma's. He had twelve carriages, which would be more than enough to carry some people."

Chen San nodded, "Then take them to Squire Ma's residence."

"Understood," Xiao Wu nodded and asked, "My Lords, Hero Gu, Heroine Gu, shall we go now, or...?"

"Let's go now."

Gu Mo and the others rose and bid farewell to Chen San.

Chen San accompanied them to the door. As they reached the entrance, he suddenly called out to Gu Mo, inquiring about Yan Sanniang's recent situation.

Zhuo Qingfeng and Gu Chudong waited outside.

Gu Chudong suddenly asked, "Lord Zhuo, do you feel that my brother seems to have some reservations about tales of ghosts and deities?"

Zhuo Qingfeng asked, puzzled, "What makes you say that?"

Gu Chudong pondered for a moment, then said, "His reactions make me think he might actually believe in the existence of ghosts, gods, and demons. Just now, we were discussing how many martial arts sects fabricate strange, mysterious events at their inception. You and I both think those are false, yet my brother seemed to be nodding in agreement, but he never once uttered a definitive statement. Instead, when listening to Chen San recount tales of gods and ghosts from the martial world, he would fall into deep thought, as if contemplating whether they were true or false."

Zhuo Qingfeng frowned, "Surely not. How could Hero Gu, with his profound and unfathomable martial arts, be afraid of ghosts like a child?"

Gu Chudong shook her head, "It's not about being afraid, but about belief. I can sense that my brother is somewhat conflicted internally."

As she spoke, Gu Chudong looked at Gu Mo, who was talking with Chen San, her face filled with worry.