Chapter 324
Chapter 324
I had never imagined there was such a complicated story behind Song Xiaotian’s violent streak.
His father had been possessed by the Evil Buddha all those years ago. Although they eventually succeeded in driving it out, the possession had left his father with certain aftereffects.
When Song Xiaotian was born, those aftereffects were passed down to him.
No wonder Song Xiaotian was the way he was.
I remembered the night Pan Xiaorou was abducted in Lincheng. Song Xiaotian broke both legs of the bespectacled man and beat him until he was barely breathing.
The man had only a breath of life left, yet Song Xiaotian still had no intention of sparing him. He raised his foot to stomp on the man’s head, and I had stopped him just in time.
Even then, I had sensed something was wrong. It did not feel as if Song Xiaotian was merely venting his rage. He seemed addicted to the violence itself.
“Did Song Qing’s condition never improve?” Seventh Master could not help asking.
Elder Song sighed. “Of course it improved. Otherwise, he would never have been able to return to a normal life. One careless remark from another person might have upset him and brought out his violent side.”
“After he left the military, I took him to Qingyun Temple, where he lived for an entire year. His daily routine and diet were identical to those of the resident Daoist Priests. I had him recite scriptures every day and listen to the priests preach the Dao. Only then did his condition improve.”
Qingyun Temple?
It was a fairly famous Daoist Temple in our area.
My grandfather had taken me there several times to burn incense when I was young.
“I know several Daoist Priests at Qingyun Temple as well,” Seventh Master said. “It is a legitimate Daoist Temple. Its abbot, Daoist Qianxin, comes from the same hometown as me. There is also a more senior elder there named Daoist Yuanxiu. He is a Daoist Healer of unsurpassed medical skill and the only person alive today who has mastered the Thirteen Disciplines of Zhuyou. I assume Daoist Yuanxiu was the one who cured him?”
Elder Song nodded. “Correct. It was Daoist Yuanxiu. One of the Zhuyou disciplines is specifically used to expel evil. Daoist Yuanxiu had already restored him almost completely, but the priest said he had an inner demon and could not be fully cured. Song Qing would have to cultivate his character and resolve the knot in his own heart.”
“Although Song Qing still loses his temper at times, he can keep himself under control now. That put my mind much more at ease.”
“I simply never expected the condition to be passed down to the next generation. That is why we refused to let Xiaotian join the army.”
Seventh Master and I finally understood.
There was too much killing intent in the military. If Song Xiaotian enlisted, his condition could easily be triggered. He might lose control one day.
“That is why being friends with him will inevitably cause you trouble.”
Elder Song sighed. “If no one restrains him when his condition flares up, it can easily lead to disaster. This is a society ruled by law, after all. A murderer must pay with his life.”
“Ever since he was born, we have never relaxed our efforts to educate him. All we could do was raise him as well as possible. If we had failed and allowed him to become a bad man, he would have been a dangerous outlaw at the very least.”
I thought the old man was understating it.
If Song Xiaotian had turned evil, he would have been an S-class fugitive at the very least.
“Elder Song, he really hasn’t caused us any trouble.”
I spoke sincerely. “Brother Tian and the rest of us are brothers who have faced life and death together. If we regarded this as trouble, we wouldn’t deserve to call ourselves brothers. Don’t worry. We won’t let him do anything out of line.”
“If all else fails, I’ll club him over the head. Just don’t hold it against me.”
Elder Song burst into laughter and patted my hand. “People say you become red near vermilion and black near ink. I feel quite reassured knowing he is friends with all of you. I can tell from your face that you’re a kind young man.”
I could not help laughing.
I had to admit, I did look like a kind person.
After we chatted a while longer, it was time for lunch. Mrs. Song personally prepared an entire table full of delicious dishes.
Song Xiaotian’s home was enormous, yet his family had not hired a single housekeeper.
After lunch, Mrs. Song went to clean the kitchen. We chatted in the sitting room for a little longer, then prepared to take our leave.
Before we left, the old man told us that his eightieth birthday was in five days. He would be celebrating at home with friends and relatives, and he invited us as well.
Naturally, we would attend.
At the entrance, Elder Song asked Song Xiaotian, “Xiaotian, you’re not getting any younger. You’re twenty-nine this year, aren’t you? Have you found a girlfriend?”
“No!”
Afraid we might let something slip, Song Xiaotian hastily denied it. “I think a man should focus on his career. Grandfather, stop pressuring me about this.”
Perhaps out of guilt, he grabbed us and hurried away.
Once we left his home, Meng Yifan and I asked what the old man liked so we could prepare a gift for his birthday.
Song Xiaotian said, “Why prepare anything? Our family tradition is not to give or accept gifts. Passing gifts back and forth is too much trouble. If you have money to spare, you might as well give it directly to me.”
I sighed. “Your grandfather and father both have such extraordinary bearing. How did you turn out so different? You act like some common hoodlum.”
“Insolence!” Meng Yifan glared at me. “Is that any way to speak to the young master?”
I was speechless.
“Come, Young Master. Sit in the back.” Meng Yifan fawned over him and even opened the car door. Chuckling, he said, “A man of your status can’t possibly drive. Wouldn’t that make you our chauffeur? From now on, your boss will drive for you. Ha!”
I could hardly blame Meng Yifan for fawning.
He lived in a courtyard residence and had a rich woman chasing after him. Song Xiaotian must have accumulated blessings over several lifetimes to enjoy such fortune.
I remained where I was, planning to finish my cigarette before getting in the car.
Seventh Master stood with his hands behind his back, still gazing thoughtfully at the Song family’s courtyard residence. “Elder Mr. Song was implying something just now. He didn’t tell us the whole story.”
I said, “Why did Uncle Song, Brother Tian’s father, fail the review when he returned from abroad? Was it simply because everyone else died while he survived? There may be more to it.”
Seventh Master nodded but said nothing more. I also fell silent. We both understood.
The truth was that Uncle Song had killed his nine teammates. That was why he failed the review after returning home: he could not explain how they had died.
I believed he had not been in control of himself when he killed them. The Evil Buddha’s consciousness must have dominated his actions. But even if he had told the truth, no one would have believed him. He might even have faced execution.
He could not explain what had happened, so being forced to retire was the best possible outcome.
Seventh Master and I had not arrived at this conclusion through wild speculation. The old man had just told us that when Uncle Song received treatment at Qingyun Temple, the Daoist Healer there said he had an inner demon. Only by resolving the knot in his heart could he fully recover.
And what was Uncle Song’s inner demon?
His teammates had come to rescue him, only to die at his hands.
That knot had probably become something he could never untangle for the rest of his life. He could not forgive himself, even though he had never intended to kill them.