Chapter 576

"Xiao Zhuang, stop crying!"

Xuanqing Daozhang watched Xiao Zhuang cradle Le Wenmao's corpse, weeping heart-wrenchingly, a pang in his heart.

It wasn't pity for Xiao Zhuang's suffering, but grief for his longtime friend—after reuniting, they had barely spoken before being torn apart by life and death.

But he knew Le Wenmao wouldn't want to see him and Xiao Zhuang in tears.

Xuanqing Daozhang changed the subject, saying:

"What we should consider now is how to prepare your grandfather's funeral arrangements, so he may rest in peace—does your family have a coffin ready?"

Xiao Zhuang nodded.

When he was young, his family had already prepared a coffin, his grandfather's.

Only after his questioning did he learn that this coffin was an extra one made when his grandfather built coffins for his parents.

Originally intended for his parents' funerals, his grandfather planned to take this coffin to the Zhu clan to seek justice.

However.

In the end, out of concern for him, the matter was dropped.

"Alright, carry your grandfather's corpse back; we'll go home and first tidy his appearance."

Xuanqing Daozhang glanced at Le Wenmao's corpse; at some point a tear slipped from his eye. He thought himself, after years of ascetic practice, not to have completely severed the seven emotions and six desires; at least he wouldn't shed tears lightly—yet today he had broken his precept. Turning to the onlooking crowd, he said:

"Everyone, you are presumably Old Le's neighbors. I don't know if you've had disputes, but out of respect for the deceased, let bygones be bygones. If possible, please each household send one person to Old Le's home to lend a hand, so he may rest in peace."

Having spoken, Xuanqing Daozhang didn't wait for the neighbors' response, gesturing for Xiao Zhuang to carry Le Wenmao's corpse away, preparing to greet Wang Ping'an—but seeing Wang Ping'an already ready, needing no summons, he followed beside him, and Xuanqing Daozhang chuckled:

"You little rascal, quite clever—I can't even imagine what formidable figure you'll become when you grow up!"

Wang Ping'an was his disciple; he had interacted with him for more than a day or two, and all of Wang Ping'an's extraordinary traits were observed by him.

Therefore.

No matter how clever Wang Ping'an might be, even if he could speak tomorrow, it would not surprise him; he would regard it as ordinary.

Because at this point, having witnessed Wang Ping'an's various extraordinary abilities, he had almost come to regard him as an innate immortal; according to various historical records, such innate immortals display many unusual traits from birth.

Compared to the innate immortals whose names are recorded in history, Wang Ping'an's current performance is still rather ordinary!

Chiyong Chun wore a grim expression, his complex feelings evident as he watched Xiao Zhuang's party depart; his cousin beside him whispered:

"Brother, Old Le is dead—do I still need to go to the county seat and tell the Zhu young master what happened here?"

"Go, of course you must—Old Le may be dead, but his grandson is still alive!"

Chiyong Chun quickly reacted, snorting coldly as he watched Xiao Zhuang's party disappear; his gaze lingered on Xuanqing Daozhang's retreating back, as if the Daozhang stood before him, and he spoke again:

"Besides Old Le, that old Daoist just now is probably no ordinary person; perhaps Old Le's changes are related to that Daoist."

"I can't use Old Le as a stepping stone to curry favor with the Zhu young master, but that old Daoist might help me do so."

"Such a chance, even one in ten thousand, cannot be abandoned!" Given his current situation, he had practically reached the peak of being a constable; further advancement on his own was impossible, he needed external aid—everyone in Xiang Xian knows the Zhu clan's might, and if he could gain the Zhu young master's favor, taking another step forward would not be impossible.

"I'll go back..."

Before his cousin could finish speaking, Chiyong Chun interrupted: "What are you preparing to go back for? No delay—go now!"

As they spoke, Chiyong Chun directly took a money pouch from his waist—heavy, clearly full of cash—and without a hint of reluctance tossed it to his own cousin.

"I'm off right now!"

Feeling the weight of the money pouch, his cousin's eyes lit up; preparing to rush alone to the county seat, he recalled the stories he'd heard—bandits often lurked on the road to the city.

Although he wasn't wealthy and was a constable, unless he had a screw loose, bandits generally wouldn't waylay him—there'd be no profit and they'd offend the authorities.

However.

Who made him cling to life and fear death? No, who made him cautious and prudent.

After all.

Life is only one!

Chiyong Chun's cousin gave a glance to the two constables beside him—his good friends from the office, precisely because of his connection to his elder brother Chiyong Chun, they hung around him, flattering him.

You have reached this point in the novel.

"Old Daoist, I hope you don't disappoint me!"

Chiyong Chun watched his cousin lead two constables toward the office, presumably intending to ride a swift horse to the county headquarters; then he turned his gaze to the path Xuanqing Daozhang had taken, muttered inwardly, withdrew his look, and ordered the other constables nearby:

"Let's return to the office!"

One constable reminded: "Chief Chio, aren't we cleaning up the Cui residence?"

"What's there to clean up at the Cui residence? These corpses are frightening to look at; leaving them here could serve as evidence..."

Chiyong Chun blurted out instinctively, hadn't finished speaking, then instantly realized the meaning of that constable's words, and corrected himself righteously:

"What you say is correct—although Cui Xing and his parents have done all manner of evil, people often report them in Liangshui Town, but given the special circumstances of the Cui household, we cannot deal with them."

"Now someone has ruthlessly killed them; though they got what they deserved, no matter what, we are Liangshui Town's constables, they are also Liangshui Town's common folk—we cannot, under any circumstances, let their corpses lie exposed in the wilderness."

Having said that, Chiyong Chun waved his hands, led the way into the Cui residence, with a throng of eager constables following behind.

They had no interest in clearing the corpses in the Cui residence, but they were very interested in its wealth, and keenly so.

"Pah!", "Pah!", "Pah!"

The onlooking crowd, seeing Chiyong Chun leading a group of constables rushing into the Cui residence, could no longer restrain themselves; their inner anger at Cui Xing was not frightened by the sight of his dismembered corpse, and they spat, then spoke:

"That Daoist asked each household to send one person to help the Le family—do you say we should help or not?"

(End of chapter)