[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-there-is-a-malevolent-spirit":3,"chapter-there-is-a-malevolent-spirit-there-is-a-malevolent-spirit-chapter-64":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","There Is a Malevolent Spirit",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2263170,4416,"Chapter 64: 63, Zhou the Madman","there-is-a-malevolent-spirit-chapter-64",64,"\u003Cp>63, Zhou the Madman\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Zhou Chang’s hands were empty and he no longer held the knife that could directly threaten Zhu Gui’s life, Zhu Gui still dared not move a muscle—he had been psychologically scarred by Zhou Chang’s earlier actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Gui nodded with forced friendliness, fumbling in his clothes for several copper coins: “Alright! I’ll settle the account for Shi Danshen right now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come, collect your pay!” Zhou Chang waved at Shi Danshen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Danshen shuffled forward dazedly, watching the copper coins clatter one by one into his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, he shuddered, turning to the pale-faced youth, tears welling in his eyes: “Big Brother Zhou!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy likely believed Zhou Chang was leaving for good—that he was going to die heroically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang flicked him a sharp tap on the forehead: “The liquor shop ‘Li Lu Rou’ is done for. Use this wage to treat me to something else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! Yes!” Shi Danshen nodded frantically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang turned to the silent Zhou Sanji and sighed: “Old man, don’t be so impulsive anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Handle things rationally. Look at me—I’m calm, polite, and negotiate. What can’t be settled that way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m off now. I’ll be home for dinner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang then slung an arm around Zhu Gui’s shoulder and pushed him toward the courtyard gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, his grandfather had said the liquor shop hadn’t released any of the mad patients these past two days; Zhou Chang guessed a major upheaval had occurred in the cellar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the Wen brothers, Wen San and Wen Si, had said Wen Laozu was about to succeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang believed Wen Laozu might now be on the verge of fully seizing the “Grass-Head Dragon Flag,” the divine banner granted by Emperor Shizong’s skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cellar was no longer a safe place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Zhou Chang had no sense of avoiding perilous walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He himself was nearly dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is there to fear, for a dying man?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, when Shi Danshen had been infected by Wen Laozu’s offerings in the cellar, he had experienced a hallucinatory dream—and every element of that dream had since been verified by Zhou Chang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Shi Danshen’s dream, a Qing man with a rat-tail braid stood beside Bride’s Pond, endlessly reciting the Pure Scripture of Qingyi Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This dream originated from Wen Laozu’s offerings; the Qing man’s identity was obvious—it was Wen Laozu himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Laozu endlessly recited the Pure Scripture—this scripture was almost certainly created by Wen Laozu and later spread throughout Qingyi Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He left this scripture to pave the way for his current ascension as a mortal deity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this Pure Scripture, he imposed countless unbreakable rules and taboos upon the people of Qingyi Town; these taboos became walls locked deep in their hearts, and whenever a rule was broken, monstrous devils might crawl out from within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If all this is as Zhou Chang suspected, aren’t these devils merely the food preordained by the Wealthy Heavenly King for the corpse-spirits?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Sanji stared blankly at Zhou Chang’s retreating back until it vanished beyond the gate, then slowly turned his eyes to Yang Rui beside him: “W-what did he just say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said I—I’m too impulsive?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s the one who negotiates calmly?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s face twitched, wrinkles bunching together in utter confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rui also stared toward the courtyard gate, thoughtful: “The boy’s right—you really are too impulsive… Look at him—he handled things perfectly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But he didn’t even stay behind himself! He still had to go with Zhu Gui!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! That liquor shop isn’t safe anymore!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not only are those mad patients still locked in the cellar—they won’t let them out—but even those previously released, lately, have started dying or going mad… [38] Some people have already gone to the liquor shop to cause trouble!” Zhou Sanji’s face was filled with regret and dread: “What are we going to do? He’s walking straight into the fire!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone has already gone to the liquor distillery to cause trouble!” Zhou Sanji’s face was filled with regret and worry. “What are we going to do? He’s throwing himself straight into the fire…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rui turned back to Zhou Sanji, patting his shoulder: “Achang said he’ll come home for dinner. Don’t worry so much—I don’t think he’s in danger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think you’ve gone mad yourself!” Zhou Sanji glared at Yang Rui. “He’s a madman too! You’re Yang the Madman, he’s Zhou the Madman—you two must just adore each other!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou the Madman…” Yang Rui repeated the old man’s nickname for his grandson, then suddenly laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lifted his gaze toward the courtyard gate—Zhou Chang was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rui murmured softly: “I think your grandson isn’t mad at all. He might accomplish great things one day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cub of a tiger or leopard, though still without stripes, already carries the spirit to devour an ox;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young swan, though its wings are not yet full-grown, already dreams of the four seas…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Zhou Chang arrived at the liquor shop’s back courtyard with Zhu Gui’s group, apart from the workers, only a few scattered individuals stood in the corners, waiting to descend into the cellar for treatment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked uneasy—they had clearly heard rumors about the shop’s troubles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chaodong, the cellar supervisor, didn’t bother comforting them; they had already been brought here, and once arrived, there was no leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chaodong cradled his beloved white dog, Bai Er, feeding it strips of fresh, bloody meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Er devoured the meat ravenously, blood smeared across its muzzle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the bone ring on his thumb came several low whines of warning from the Ao Zanben.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang now had a faint rapport with these Ao Zanben; he understood their cries, and he cast a deep glance at Qian Chaodong’s white dog—this dog was certainly strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might become a devil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if it did, Qian Chaodong would die first—what did it matter to Zhou Chang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he merely glanced at the white dog once, then looked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Qian Chaodong, seated on the chair, brightened noticeably upon seeing Zhou Chang, brought by Zhu Gui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Supervisor Qian…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Gui stepped forward, tense, carefully choosing his words, trying to delicately explain that he hadn’t brought back Shi Danshen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, Qian Chaodong handed him the white dog, Bai Er, and patted his shoulder with his bloodied hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chaodong rose from his chair, smiling: “Supervisor Zhu, you’ve done well! The Proprietor will reward you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhu Gui was even more confused—he thought Qian Chaodong was mocking him. Holding the dog, he trembled and said: “Supervisor Qian, I failed—I couldn’t bring Shi Danshen along too… [64] Punish me if you must…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Punish me if you must…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah! Bringing this one is enough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shi Danshen doesn’t matter!” Qian Chaodong chuckled, reassuring Zhu Gui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Gui gathered courage, raised his head, and saw Qian Chaodong’s expression was genuine—he finally exhaled, sheepishly smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chaodong then glanced once more at Zhou Chang behind him. He said nothing to Zhou Chang, merely waved to the group waiting to descend, signaling them to follow, then ordered Zhu Gui to take Bai Er home and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang and the others awaiting treatment were shoved forward by the enforcers, following Qian Chaodong’s steps.\u003C\u002Fp>",1203,"2026-06-19T18:47:42.084Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a2eb409d3a05e48f0f359d879ee9d15762d9d98fb6e3933738a777b33605d181","there-is-a-malevolent-spirit-chapter-65","there-is-a-malevolent-spirit-chapter-63",209,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthere-is-a-malevolent-spirit-cover.jpg"]