Chapter Twelve: Destroying the Evidence

Next, Wang Zhenling took out a black incense stick. As soon as it was lit, a fetid stench, as if dozens of dead fish rotting together, filled the air. Just a whiff was enough to make one nearly retch. Fortunately, Wang Zhenling had anticipated this and had already inserted two pills into his nostrils to ward off the odor. He placed the suspected letter, said to be written by the Supreme Lord of the Heavenly Way, over the foul incense, letting it slowly roast in the smoke. Soon, the once-brilliant seal on the letter began to fade bit by bit.

“Indeed, it works...” he murmured. This was a method to break the spell, for divine beings value purity above all and abhor filth. The more righteous the deity, the more true this holds. Thus, those who summon spirits with planchettes and such usually call forth malevolent entities, not true gods, for the human body is impure and no noble deity would descend into mortal flesh. Spell-breaking follows this logic: when a Daoist casts a spell, he often invokes the power of divine beings. Yet such divine power can often be disrupted by corruption.

So now, as Wang Zhenling smoked the letter with the foul incense, a sound like shattering glass rang out. Somewhere, an angry roar echoed, but it grew distant and then faded completely. The seal on the envelope slowly dissolved and finally vanished.

“It truly is the Supreme Lord’s own letter...” Wang Zhenling muttered. The letter was vague, with neither salutation nor signature. It merely stated that the Heavenly Way had established its own sect and was no longer affiliated with Jun Tian Temple. Yet, out of lingering respect for past ties, it would send a Jade Flask of Spirit Water to Jun Tian Temple, as a token to settle old friendship.

“Could it be that the Supreme Lord of Heavenly Way originally hailed from Jun Tian Temple, but upon arriving in this world, founded his own sect? And now, knowing Jun Tian Temple’s fortunes have waned and they have crossed into this world, he sends the Jade Flask of Spirit Water as a gesture?” Wang Zhenling murmured. “This world is deep and treacherous.”

But where was the Jade Flask of Spirit Water mentioned in the letter?

Just then, a few wolf howls echoed outside. The medicine Wang Zhenling had scattered soon attracted two wild wolves, which began tearing into the corpse of the shrouded envoy, ripping it apart until blood and flesh spattered everywhere. Quietly, a leopard approached, stepping with elegance.

The two wolves growled threateningly, but when their threats failed, they tore off two more chunks of flesh and retreated into the forest. The leopard moved forward and began gnawing at the corpse. Soon, other beasts arrived! Wang Zhenling’s potion could attract wild creatures from miles around.

Sitting in his grass hut, whose wall had been broken, Wang Zhenling paid no mind to the chaos outside. “Thankfully, the medicines Lord Hu gave me last time were quite useful! Otherwise, destroying all traces would not have been so easy...” he thought.

Outside, disorder reigned. Several fierce beasts fought over the remains of the shrouded envoy, tearing the body into pieces and devouring it. A tiger, still hungry and aroused by the scent of blood, tried to charge into Wang Zhenling’s hut. But as soon as it drew near, it sneezed repeatedly, turned tail as if seeing a ghost, and fled. The stench inside was so overwhelming that even a tiger could not bear it. Far away, its face was covered in snot and tears; it looked utterly defeated, and without pause, it dashed into the woods to seek water.

It was precisely because of the foul incense that Wang Zhenling feared no wild beasts. Otherwise, he would not be so foolish.

After reading the letter, Wang Zhenling sat in meditation for a while, then went into the kitchen. He built a fire and burned the three-section staff along with various odds and ends. The three-section staff was enchanted, a magical artifact; even when placed in the hearth, it would not melt. Yet Wang Zhenling was unsurprised. He simply tossed the remaining incense stick into the fire. In moments, the staff that had resisted burning was ignited and consumed by the flames.

Only then did Wang Zhenling feel at ease. The shrouded envoy, together with all incriminating objects, had been erased.

Now, the envoy’s body had been stripped clean, leaving only bones and traces of blood. With no food left, the beasts lingered for a while and then departed. Wang Zhenling sprinkled more powder over the bones and blood, and soon a dark swarm of ants arrived.

They would destroy the last traces, leaving not a drop of blood behind. Wang Zhenling then set to work himself, repairing the broken wall of the hut and covering all signs of the struggle.

Thus, he had largely erased the evidence, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Yet, not long after he finished repairs, just as dusk approached, he saw movement from the window—shadows at the foot of the mountain, the sound of hooves. Two riders, leading a squad of county constables, ascended the mountain. On closer inspection, they were familiar faces, subordinates of County Officer Chen whom he had met before.

The group circled the area as if searching for something. Upon seeing Wang Zhenling, they asked directly, “Mr. Wang, has anyone visited today? Hmm, why is your wall broken? Looks like it’s just been fixed...”

The newly repaired wall differed in color from the old, making it obvious at a glance.

Wang Zhenling remained calm, smiling bitterly, “Yesterday, a tiger came and tried to break into my hut. Though I chased it off with my bow, it damaged my house!”

“A tiger?” The rider was skeptical, but sniffed the air a few times and then nodded, “Indeed, there’s tiger scent here, as well as wild boar and wolf...”

Wang Zhenling was astonished at the man’s keen nose, able to discern all that. He replied, “Exactly. Yesterday, I don’t know what got into the beasts; they all stormed up the mountain. Fortunately, none broke into my home, or I’d be nothing but bones now!”

The rider nodded slightly, investigated the area, and soon found traces that confirmed Wang Zhenling’s account. All this left him secretly amazed and impressed.

Luckily, Wang Zhenling had attracted a horde of wild beasts to destroy the scene, otherwise it would have been impossible to deceive such keen observers!

“Indeed, a great many beasts came through. Mr. Wang, your skills are remarkable, but the mountains are dangerous, and lately things aren’t peaceful. Best to return home soon!” the rider advised, saluted Wang Zhenling, and led his men away in a whirlwind.