Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Advancing to the True Vein Realm
A night without words, several people had been busy all evening, but had achieved absolutely nothing.
Dawn began to break, and members of the Divine Sun Holy Sect returned to the main hall.
Wang Tao was the first to inquire, “Ministry Councillor Hu, did anything happen last night?”
"Nothing, nothing,” Ministry Councillor Hu quickly shook his head, responding, “I just checked the names, everyone is safe and sound.”
"It seems that the person is only capable of that much, masquerading as a ghost, only knowing how to pull off small tricks,” Wang Tao breathed a sigh of relief, saying.
Xu Zimei, who was beside them, stood up from the recliner, stretched his back, and said to Wang Tao, “Young man, I see darkness on your brow, perhaps you are facing an imminent blood disaster.”
...
"What do you mean?” Wang Tao frowned and asked.
"Let’s all calm down, I’ve had the servants prepare breakfast. You’ve all been busy the whole night, go and have something to eat,” Ministry Councillor Hu quickly interjected, coaxingly speaking, “I still hope you can stay a few more days to help me catch the murderer as soon as possible.”
Wang Tao glanced at Xu Zimei and said indifferently, “I’m going to the latrine.”
Then he left on his own.
During breakfast, everyone sat down, but after a long wait, Wang Tao still did not show up.
Xiao Guizi joked, “Could your brother Wang have fallen into the pit?”
"I’ll go call him,” Xing Lin frowned but still managed to suppress the anger in his heart, hastily leaving the side hall.
Before long, a young maid came running in, trembling and frantic, exclaiming, “Master, Young Master Wang Tao is dead.”
"Dead?” Ministry Councillor Hu’s cup, which he had just picked up, fell to the ground. His complexion turned ashen as he stood up and rushed outside while asking the maid for details.
Wang Tao was dead, not in the latrine, but in his room.
This morning a maid passed by his room and, smelling a strong scent of blood, curiously opened the door to Wang Tao’s room.
The scene inside was somewhat nauseating. Wang Tao lay on his bed, his head chopped off, and his bloodstained the entire bedsheet red.
His eyes were closed, and he appeared quite peaceful, as if he had been beheaded in his sleep, unaware of his fate.
"Didn’t he say he was going to the latrine? He was fine just a while ago, how could he
Ministry Councillor Hu, pale and in shock, stammered, unable to finish his sentence.
Xing Lin had also run over from the latrine; there was no sign of Wang Tao inside.
People fell silent at the scene in the room.
Xing Lin stepped forward and began to examine Wang Tao’s corpse, considering the congealing of the blood at the scene and the temperature of the flesh around the wound.
After completing his examination, Xing Lin was silent for a long time before he finally said slowly, “He has been dead for at least six hours.”
"Are you joking? Who was the person who has been with us all evening, and even talked with everyone this morning?” Xiao Ye was ashen-faced, still unwilling to believe.
"This task may be beyond our capabilities,” Xing Lin pondered for a moment, then told Ministry Councillor Hu, “I apologize, Ministry Councillor Hu, but we give up on this task.
I’ll reclassify it when I get back, and see if any senior brothers are willing to come over.”
Ministry Councillor Hu was anxious but knew he could not force them to stay.
That morning, Xing Lin did not even eat. He and Xiao Ye left Ten Mile Town and returned to the Divine Sun Holy Sect.
"Young Master Xu, are you also leaving?” Ministry Councillor Hu asked Xu Zimei and the others.
"Ministry Councillor Hu, would you like to watch a good show?” Xu Zimei said with a smile.
"What kind of good show?” Ministry Councillor Hu asked somewhat nervously.
Afterward, Xu Zimei called Ministry Councillor Hu, Xiao Guizi, and Lin Ruhu together and secretly gave them a few instructions.
Observing the trio’s odd expressions, Xu Zimei said, “If you’re scared, you don’t have to do it. I can solve it alone.”
"What’s there to fear? My Hu family has already become like this,” Ministry Councillor Hu reflected for a moment before making up his mind.
That day, some more servants resigned and left the Hu Residence. No matter how high the salary, one had to be alive to spend it.
Perhaps Wang Tao’s death had delivered too great a shock, becoming the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
After all, the title of a disciple from the Divine Sun Holy Sect still carried considerable weight.
After eating breakfast, Xu Zimei moved a reclining chair and lounged leisurely on it, soaking up the sun.
He pondered about advancing to the True Vein Realm, having been at the peak of the Condensing Vein Realm for some time already.
Then, you could see him slowly activating the power within the sphere. The third Vein Gate of the True Vein Realm, “Zhao Yingfeng,” was located at the chest.
The unblocking of the Vein Gate went incredibly smoothly. With the double enhancement of the power of the Divine Vein Realm and the Ten-Vein Fruit, the third Vein Gate was instantly opened.
It was as if he was demolishing decayed wood, encountering not a trace of obstruction.
With a “boom,” the surging Spiritual Energy flowed through Xu Zimei’s body like a great river that had broken through a dam.
The waters of the Yellow River come from the sky, rushing to the sea never to return.
The rich Spiritual Energy rapidly cleansed Xu Zimei’s entire body, bit by bit strengthening his internal and external muscles and bones.
Lun Quan, Xuan Gu, Zhao Yingfeng.
These three Vein Gates formed a small circulation, with the Spiritual Energy autonomously circulating and merging among them.
Twelve Vein Gates formed a Grand Circulation, with every three forming a small circulation.
Xu Zimei felt that the Spiritual Energy in his body had become at least several times more robust. Once he opened the fourth Vein Gate, “Kun Hai,” he would possess the basic ability to fly.
In the very center of the Hu Residence courtyard, many low-level spiritual medicines were planted: colorful and vibrant, blossoming flowers surrounded by butterflies dancing among them.
And Ministry Councillor Hu’s four-year-old daughter was running through the flowers, happily chasing butterflies.
"Brother Xu, look, I caught another butterfly,” Hu Yingying ran over to Xu Zimei, boasting.
"Hmm, very good,” Xu Zimei slightly bent down and reached out his right hand to pinch Hu Yingying’s chubby cheek.
He pinched the little girl’s cheek almost to the point of deformation; Hu Yingying, with tears in her eyes, touched her puffed, red pinched cheek and ran off crying towards Ministry Councillor Hu to tell on him.
Behind her came the sound of Xu Zimei’s hearty laughter.
After a day of calm, the Hu Residence inevitably welcomed the night. The sun set, and as the light faded away, the hearts of all within the Hu Residence seemed to be harshly clenched.
In the hall, Ministry Councillor Hu held a wine cup, drinking one cup after another, seemingly to fortify himself with courage.
"Brother Xu, are you really confident?” Xiao Guizi asked with some worry.
"Would I undertake something if I wasn’t confident?” Xu Zimei replied with a smile.
"I believe in Brother Zimo,” Lin Ruhu said, nodding in agreement.
The group watched the pitch-black night sky as the haunting, melancholy song sounded once again.