Chapter 194
Chapter 194
After descending the mountain, Yan Zhengchu had switched to a large cloth bag packed full of magical artifacts.
He found a stick of Soul-Guiding Incense and placed it between Zhong Dingyan and Zhong Junyue.
Then he arranged a Copper Coin Array around them to protect the Living Soul from outside interference.
Next, he drew a drop of blood from Zhong Dingyan’s fingertip and let it fall upon the forehead of Zhong Junyue’s corpse.
After lighting the incense, he immediately sat cross-legged before the array and began chanting as he performed the ritual.
A moment later, Zhong Dingyan, lying tensely on the arhat couch, felt drowsiness overtake him.
His vision suddenly went black, and he lost consciousness.
But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that he was still lying on the couch. Judging by his surroundings, he remained inside his father’s bedchamber.
Only Ren Fengjue and the others had disappeared.
Remembering his purpose, Zhong Dingyan hurriedly rose. The moment he reached the door, he saw his father approaching from the distance.
Supported by a servant, Zhong Ming was walking toward the bedchamber. He asked, “Has the Eldest Young Master returned?”
Zhong Dingyan froze.
The servant answered with a smile, “Master, the Eldest Young Master went out to buy you steamed flatbread.”
“But the stall does not open until dusk. I fear it will be a while before he returns.”
Zhong Ming gave a thoughtful murmur. “Then I will return to my room and rest.”
Zhong Dingyan watched his father walk down the corridor and come straight toward him. Zhong Ming did not see him, passing directly through his body.
“Father…”
In his distress, Zhong Dingyan could not help calling out, but Zhong Ming appeared not to hear.
Only then did Zhong Dingyan remember that he was merely a wisp of a Living Soul.
Everything before him was only Zhong Junyue’s memory from before his death…
A memory?
Zhong Dingyan instinctively looked around. Sure enough, beyond the ornamental window in the corridor, he spotted a furtive figure: Zhong Junyue.
At the courtyard entrance, two guards were talking softly.
“Isn’t it almost time? I’m hungry.”
“Yes. I get starving at this hour every day.”
As they spoke, Zhong Junyue approached them.
“Second Young Master.”
“Mm…”
With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhong Junyue stood before them and asked, “Is my elder brother in this courtyard?”
One guard answered, “The Eldest Young Master went out.”
“Oh…”
A nearly imperceptible gleam flashed through Zhong Junyue’s eyes. “Do you know when he will return?”
The other guard hurried to answer. “I heard he went to the street to buy the master some steamed flatbread. I expect he will not return until dark.”
Zhong Junyue nodded and turned to leave.
But he had not gone far when he stopped. Looking back and seeing the two guards leave to change shifts, he hurriedly doubled back and ran into the courtyard.
Zhong Dingyan immediately followed. He watched Zhong Junyue sneak into their father’s bedchamber, clearly up to no good.
The servant had gone to fetch medicine, and Zhong Ming lay motionless on the arhat couch.
After entering, Zhong Junyue swept the room with a practiced gaze.
Keeping low, he slowly moved to the wardrobe, carefully opened its door without making a sound, and took out a box.
Zhong Dingyan watched from behind, anger rising within him.
That worthless wretch was stealing money!
And from the ease of his movements, this was clearly not the first time!
When Zhong Junyue opened the box, several gold ingots lay inside.
Without hesitation, he took two and slipped them into his robe, then returned the box to the wardrobe.
Just as he was about to close the door, a strange wind inexplicably swept through the bedchamber.
The hair on Zhong Junyue’s back rose. He spun around and found his father, Zhong Ming, standing silently behind him.
“F-Father.”
Zhong Junyue shuddered in terror and froze where he stood.
He frantically invented an excuse. “I… I only came to see you…”
“Father, are you feeling better?”
His voice held nothing but panic. There was not the slightest trace of concern.
Zhong Ming did not answer. His expression was dark, his eyes terrifyingly cold.
Assuming he could no longer conceal the truth, Zhong Junyue dropped to his knees, clung to his father’s legs, and began to plead through tears.
“Father! Father! Your son knows he was wrong.”
“I shouldn’t have fallen into bad ways. I shouldn’t have stolen the money!”
“Please forgive me, Father!”
As he cried, he slapped himself, believing he could win forgiveness as he always had before.
But Zhong Ming still did not respond.
Only then did Zhong Junyue notice something strange…
His father’s body seemed terrifyingly cold.
Even through a layer of clothing, he could feel the chill piercing into his bones.
How could a living person be so cold?
He looked down and received another terrible shock.
His father was not wearing shoes!
He stood barefoot on the floor. Not a trace of blood colored the tops of his feet, which were covered with dark blue veins…
Zhong Junyue screamed, released him, and scrambled backward.
His back struck the wardrobe, his body trembling like a sieve.
“Father… you…”
When his eyes met Zhong Ming’s again, terror robbed him of coherent speech.
He wanted to run, but his feet refused to obey.
Zhong Ming advanced two more steps, reached out, and closed one hand around Zhong Junyue’s throat…
Zhong Dingyan stared in horror.
He instinctively tried to intervene, but Zhong Junyue cried out. The vision vanished with the scream.
“Ah!”
Zhong Dingyan jerked upright on the arhat couch.
When he turned his head, he saw Zhong Junyue’s corpse.
Seeing that the Soul-Guiding Incense had broken, Yan Zhengchu hurriedly told Yu Lang to pass over the warm water prepared in advance.
“Drink some water first, Young Master Zhong.”
Zhong Dingyan panted heavily, cold sweat pouring from his temples.
He lowered his head and drank before slowly recovering. Then he said urgently, “I saw it! I saw Zhong Junyue… he…”
Halfway through, he stopped, his expression growing complicated.
He seemed… unable to accept what he had witnessed.
Ren Fengjue gently patted his shoulder. “Did you see the person who killed the Second Young Master?”
Zhong Dingyan hesitantly shook his head. “I cannot be certain…”
Yu Lang could not hold back. “Then what exactly did you see?”
Zhong Dingyan paused again, struggling inwardly.
Yu Lang grew even more anxious and was about to press him, but Ren Fengjue stopped him.
After a long while, Zhong Dingyan finally sighed. “I saw… Second Brother enter Father’s bedchamber.”
“He stole money from this wardrobe, and Father discovered him…”
“Then he knelt and admitted his mistake, but… Father did not forgive him…”
“Instead… instead, Father reached out and seized him by the throat!”
Zhong Dingyan looked tormented as he spoke.
Ren Fengjue asked, “So Minister Zhong killed the Second Young Master?”
Concubine Qiu’s furious roar instantly came from outside.
“What nonsense are you spouting, Zhong Dingyan? How could the master possibly kill his own son?”