Jianghu was more than just killing. There were also connections and emotions. Compared to the brash Gao Ming, Zhang Mingli was more careful and experienced. While he was held as a prisoner, he understood compromise and trade. As long as he could reach the goal, the process was not important.
“If Zhang Mingli has an existing trade with Elder Tang, then, he sending me to deliver the birthday present was not a death task.” Gao Ming knew Zhang Mingli was a trace of malice. He appeared to him as a tester from Immortal Pharma. Gao Ming understood why Zhang Mingli did certain things.
“Don’t make excuses for him. Zhang Mingli is not a good person. There are no good people left in this town. The good people have been eaten already.” Fu Shu interjected, worried that Gao Ming would misunderstand Zhang Mingli.
“Is that how you view the world?” Bai Feng’s impression of Fu Shu was bad, “How you view the world reflects yourself too.”
“You’re not wrong. I am a bastard. Dream Break Town is my creation. If I’m given a second chance, I’ll definitely destroy this place.” Bai Feng didn’t know how to respond to that.
“Stop fighting among yourselves. We have a show to watch.” Gao Ming stopped them. Figurines appeared in his eyes. Through the distance, he observed the area around the Soul Temple.
Around the Tang Residence, paper money flew everywhere. The guests had plastered smiles on their faces. They carried birthday presents and moved towards the temple. Black threads of greed curled around their bodies. The other end of the threads congregated at a spot in the crowd. Elder Tang should have been in the crowd but he had hidden himself.
Once Elder Tang made his move, the other Gods couldn’t sit still anymore. The nine-story temple was too alluring.
The music began. Amidst the loud scolding, animals crawled out of the red lanterns that hung outside the Xi Residence. Two Minor Xi Gods wore saddles on their backs and crawled out of the gate. Animals followed behind them. There were pigs, dogs, cows and sheeps. Among them, a black donkey looked the most handsome. The Xi Residence was taken over by the butcher and turned into an animal enclosure. The citizens became animals and the previously-captured animals gained human dignity. Among the animals, there was a heap of rotten meat that had a single pig’s head. The body kept transforming. It was occasionally a man over three metres tall and other times, a small and cunning shopkeeper. Its body was covered in black fur and it was branded with horrible words. Unlike Elder Tang, who chose to hide in the dark, Zhu Ren made his move openly. It was like he was afraid others didn’t realise he had taken action.
“He has a bad history with Elder Tang. Even in his dream, he wishes to move into the Tang Residence and take over everything Elder Tang has.” Fu Shu had a smile on his face. “Zhu Ren used to be the kindest person in town. He was honest and silly. However, he was tricked by Elder Tang and Shopkeeper Wang until he lost his family and wealth. He was given a lot of slave brands because his position was as low as the livestock in town. It is why he shows so much respect when he butchers animals.”
“That was not what you told me about him.” Gao Ming shot a light glance at Fu Shu.
“Is that so? I had just escaped at the time. I was so shocked, and I just remembered certain details.” Fu Shu smiled, “To cultivate the Unmentionables, Immortal Pharma purposely pitted the Gods against each other. I didn’t agree with that, but from how things look now, that has prevented the Gods from collaborating with one another. That is a good thing for us.”
Zhu Ren generated a lot of commotion as if trying to prove that he had more guts than Elder Tang. Blood leaked out of his long pig’s snout. His red eyes glowed with madness.
Gao Ming looked past Zhu Ren. A human skin swayed out of another alley. Its open belly was filled with hay and peddles. Using the blood of different people, many Yong Gods were painted on the skin. The human skin had a stronger bloody stench than Zhu Ren. It was unclear which modification method it had employed. Gao Ming even saw it take down the Granny Gu.
Not long after the human skin appeared, a few houses behind the Xi Residence crumbled. The black coffins opened. A group of paper dolls in mourning clothes carried three white sedan chairs out. They carried divine mud figurines and burned paper houses. Even though they had painted expressions, they were more expressive than humans.
“Only three Ji Gods remain.” Fu Shu looked joyful. “It looks like the Unmentionable will be chosen from the Yong Gods.”
After the Ji Gods departed, the shadow in town was unshackled. It grew rapidly like a giant snake. The lights in each house were suppressed, and the temperature plummeted. Screams came from everywhere as different evils infiltrated people’s homes.
As the bloody rain continued to fall, the bridge outside the town broke from the middle. The water level rose. Rotten bodies washed up to the shore. A giant shadow was slowly approaching. The town became ‘livelier’ due to the appearance of the Soul Temple. However, Gao Ming still hadn’t spotted Zhang Mingli.
“What is he plotting?” Gao Ming was a random intruder. Zhang Mingli would have made his move that night even if Gao Ming didn’t show up.
The guests from the Tang Residence had already entered the street where the temple was. The Tu Di Temple Gao Ming saw had disappeared. The guests cut open the birthday ribbons and stopped at the north side of the Soul Temple. Paper money flew everywhere as the other Gods appeared.
The Gods and ghosts killed wantonly. Dream Break Town became a large sacrificial altar. Everything in town became a sacrifice for the Unmentionable.
The night obstructed all the light beyond the Soul Temple.
With a loud gong, a familiar and aged figure showed up on the street. This text is hosted at NoveI-Fire.ɴet
The old night-watcher had a joss stick on his neck. His black clothes were practically submerged in the blood water. He didn’t hold his umbrella. He single-handedly protected Dream Break Town’s rules and steadily conducted his responsibility.
His cotton shoes sunk into the mud and left behind red footprints. As he banged the gong he held, he shuffled towards the street where the Nine-story Soul Temple was.
As he walked, he shouted. His voice brought a balm of security to the resident’s hearts.
“Chou Shi Si Geng. The sky is cold, and the land is frozen!”