Chapter Fifty-Nine: Undercurrents Rising

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“Didn’t you ask me to find the old man who rented you your place? I found him!” Zhang the Fatty said to Feng Yuan.

Earlier, Feng Yuan wanted to help Lan Qirou find the address of Young Master Huang, so he had entrusted Zhang the Fatty to look for the old man who managed the house. Only by finding him could they track down Young Master Huang.

“Where is he?” Feng Yuan asked immediately.

“In the countryside near Yun Chuan County, at Chen Family Village. It’s a two-day journey. The old man’s name is Chen Bosheng!” Zhang the Fatty replied, looking at Feng Yuan. “By the way, what do you need him for?”

“It’s nothing important,” Feng Yuan shook his head.

Zhang the Fatty didn’t press further and continued, “By the way, something big happened in the city these past few days. People have been dying on Book Street for three or four days in a row—eight scholars so far. I even saw it myself this morning. They say it’s the work of evil spirits. It’s terrifying. I don’t even dare pass through there anymore.”

“Four days of deaths on Book Street?” Feng Yuan echoed.

“Yes, and the way they died is strange. Their expressions look blissful, as if they’d just left a brothel after a night of pleasure!” Zhang the Fatty went on.

This description matched what Feng Yuan had seen on Book Street earlier—the two dead scholars with eerily satisfied expressions. Feng Yuan had sensed something was amiss then; it seemed likely to be the work of evil spirits, and now it was all but confirmed.

Feng Yuan couldn’t help but think of Ding Changqing. The first two scholars who died had followed Ding Changqing. After Feng Yuan returned from his run, he found them dead. The azure light that had appeared above their heads was the same as that above Ding Changqing’s, so their deaths must be connected to him.

The other recent deaths were probably linked to Ding Changqing as well. But since they all died with such blissful expressions, it couldn’t have been Ding Changqing who made them die of pleasure. Feng Yuan suspected Ding Changqing was being controlled by an evil spirit and was leading victims to it—just like last night, when the Yellow Immortal manipulated corpses to bring the living to the Sage’s Temple.

“Hasn’t the magistrate dealt with it?” Feng Yuan asked Zhang the Fatty.

Zhang the Fatty shook his head. “When it comes to evil spirits, the authorities are helpless!”

Feng Yuan frowned in thought. Liu Chengwan was a cultivator—if he took action, he could surely handle the evil spirit. Why hadn’t he intervened?

“Oh, and Feng Yuan, there’s something else. This morning, the Zhang family steward was looking for me, asking about your whereabouts!” Zhang the Fatty said.

Feng Yuan’s face changed at once. “Did you tell him?”

“No. Didn’t you tell me before not to say anything, no matter who asked? Of course I kept quiet!” Zhang the Fatty assured him.

Feng Yuan let out a sigh of relief. If his whereabouts had been revealed, things would have become troublesome. Master Zhang was still not giving up, still wanted him dead. Outrageous! If only he were stronger, he would have wiped out the Zhang family by now.

“Fatty, be careful with the Zhang family. They’re no good. Last time they asked for my help, and when I refused, they threatened me. This time, they definitely mean me harm. When you come here, make sure you’re not being followed!”

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Lu Yan looked at Zhang the Fatty and reminded him.

“Then maybe I shouldn’t come anymore. I don’t want to get in trouble myself!” Zhang the Fatty shook his head.

“That won’t do. You still have to come every two or three days and bring me some meat and vegetables from the city!” Feng Yuan said, smiling.

“So you’re treating me like your servant now!”

“Well, will you do it or not?” Feng Yuan demanded, eyes wide.

“Ahem… Well, we’re brothers. Of course I’ll help you!”

“That’s more like it.” Feng Yuan nodded in satisfaction. “By the way, be careful around that Ding Changqing—the one who wrote ‘Legend of Immortal Fate.’ He’s not a good person. I suspect the dead scholars are connected to him. If you see him, keep your distance.”

“No way! I ran into him on Book Street this morning. He’s my idol! He even invited me to breakfast at his place tomorrow!” Zhang the Fatty said.

“If you value your life, listen to me and don’t go. Understand?”

“Alright,” Zhang the Fatty agreed. “Actually, I thought there was something off about Ding Changqing too. He looked deathly pale—like a corpse!”

“For all you know, he might actually be a corpse.”

“Don’t scare me!” Zhang the Fatty’s face turned green.

“I’m not trying to scare you. Last time, I saw Scholar Ding take two students to his house in the morning. Later, those two scholars were found dead—on Book Street. Tell me that’s not suspicious!”

“Damn, stop it! You’re giving me the creeps!” Zhang the Fatty clutched his chest, his face ashen.

“Don’t be afraid. Just do as I say, and you’ll be fine,” Feng Yuan said reassuringly, patting him on the shoulder.

...

Zhang Residence.

“Still no news of Feng Yuan?” Master Zhang asked Qiao Si, who stood before him.

“No, sir. But I did find his friend Zhang Zhen today and tried to get information, but the boy claimed he didn’t know. I suspect he’s lying,” Qiao Si replied.

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“Then have someone follow him. If he knows where Feng Yuan is, he’s bound to try and find him,” Master Zhang instructed.

“Yes, sir.” Qiao Si nodded, then added, “There’s some good news as well. I’ve learned that Feng Yuan isn’t with Magistrate Liu either. Magistrate Liu is also quietly searching for him.”

A sly smile spread across Master Zhang’s face as he nodded. “Perhaps we can set up Magistrate Liu—draw Feng Yuan to our side.”

“Set him up? How?” Qiao Si asked, puzzled.

“It’s simple. Since Feng Yuan isn’t with Magistrate Liu, it means he doesn’t want to work for him. So we’ll pretend to be Liu’s men and try to kill Feng Yuan, then ‘rescue’ him ourselves. After that, we’ll try to win him over. I’m sure he’ll join us soon enough,” Master Zhang said with a sinister grin.

“But we’ve already made an attempt on his life. He knows we want him dead, and there’s an expert from our clan by his side. Even if we save him, I doubt he’ll join us,” Qiao Si replied.

“What if we kill that expert at his side? Then do you think he’ll join us?” Master Zhang asked.

Qiao Si frowned, considering. “That might work. We could blame Magistrate Liu for it, even say the previous attack was from Liu’s people. Then, with the clan expert dead and Liu trying to kill him, Feng Yuan will have no one left to turn to but us.”

“Exactly. And if he still refuses, we’ll just kill him. We won’t lose anything either way,” Master Zhang said coldly.

“Understood. I’ll see to it at once. Within the next few days, we’ll find Feng Yuan’s whereabouts.”

“Good. And while you’re at it, go to Book Street and warn whatever creature is causing trouble there. Find out what it is—tell it to keep a low profile. If necessary, get rid of it. I don’t want the imperial court getting wind of this and interfering with our plans,” Master Zhang ordered.

“Yes, sir.”