Chapter Twenty-Eight: Refining Gu with Human Lives

The assassin let out a hoarse chuckle, but the light in his eyes quickly faded. He collapsed to the ground, and soon his corpse began to change, sprouting scales like those of a snake all over.

“So, it truly was a sorcerer…”

The county magistrate, Chen, strode forward and snorted coldly. Well-versed in the ways of the world, he immediately recognized the origin of this assassin.

Master Yu stepped in front of him and said, “It’s best you keep your distance, my lord. These sorcerers are full of strange tricks. Even their corpses can harm you.”

Hearing this, County Magistrate Chen, ever cautious, took several steps back without further protest.

Master Yu flicked his fingers, and a blossom of flame landed upon the assassin’s corpse. As the fire burned, countless snake-like parasites scurried out from the body. Yet, before they could spread, Master Feng struck his cloud drum once more, instantly killing all the parasites.

The flames blazed higher, swiftly consuming the entire corpse, which would soon be reduced to ashes.

County Magistrate Chen frowned slightly. “Sorcerers are common in the wild hinterlands, but how did one appear here in Danling County? And how did they become involved with the Society of No Façade?”

No one could answer without information.

Master Feng remarked, “Have you forgotten Mount Wuji?”

Mount Wuji!

Of course Chen Bushi had not forgotten. In fact, if not for Mount Wuji, he would never have chosen to come to Danling County in the first place.

Mount Wuji was an ancient sacred mountain of sorcerers, stretching for hundreds of miles and bordering the Lingzhou mountain range. Its depths were vast, with many regions beyond the reach of the authorities, and since antiquity, the Puyue tribes had made it their home.

They continued to pass down ancient sorcerous traditions, so it was not so surprising after all.

“We’ll keep a few alive for questioning. Then we’ll understand the truth,” said Master Yu.

The county magistrate nodded, then smiled at Wang Zhenling. “Thanks to you just now, otherwise that assassin might have wounded me!”

Wang Zhenling quickly replied that he dared not take credit, for with both Masters Yu and Feng present, the assassin could never have harmed the magistrate.

County Magistrate Chen laughed heartily, and both Yu and Feng were quite pleased with Wang Zhenling’s response.

By now, the fighting within the manor was nearly over. Soon, the armored warriors emerged, escorting a dozen prisoners.

“Question them about the sorcerer—find out what’s going on!” the magistrate commanded.

Those who could be taken prisoner were, without exception, cowards desperate to cling to life.

It did not take long to extract confessions from them.

It turned out the so-called Society of No Façade was nothing more than a band of practitioners who had gathered together into an association. Simply put, it was a group of itinerant cultivators banding together for mutual support.

Naturally, such an organization attracted all sorts, both good and bad.

The sorcerer was the most powerful among them and had always acted as their leader. When the manor was on the brink of destruction, he tried to slip away but, rather than fleeing, attempted to assassinate the county magistrate in hopes of turning the tide.

As for what happened next, everyone knew the outcome!

The manor itself was merely a gathering place provided by a wealthy itinerant practitioner, always considered safe—until, suddenly, the authorities stormed in and captured them all.

Now, Wang Zhenling realized that in this world, besides the Path of Heavenly Cultivation, there were actually many secret associations of practitioners.

Yet…

Judging by this incident, even if these clandestine organizations kept to themselves and the authorities generally ignored them, that didn’t stop aristocratic scions like County Magistrate Chen from using their capture as a way to build their own reputations.

“Fortunately, I didn’t choose to run away from home and join such groups. Otherwise, my fate would be grim indeed!

And as for my so-called father in this world, he’s been away seeking the Way for over a decade—I have no idea what’s become of him now.

Could it be, as others say, that he was already killed by the authorities, his head displayed above the city gates?”

Just as these thoughts crossed his mind, someone reported to County Magistrate Chen in shock and anger, “My lord, these fiends have committed atrocities, using innocent people to raise parasites. We discovered a cellar in the manor—it’s unspeakably gruesome!”

Everyone hurried over, and in the depths of the manor, indeed found a cellar about a dozen yards wide, packed with skulls and venomous snakes.

It was a snake pit built by these people, used to feed live humans to the snakes and breed their parasitic creatures.

Interrogations revealed that at least a hundred people had been victims of the Society of No Façade, thrown into the pit to be devoured.

Most were slaves bought with money; others were lone travelers abducted along the way.

Wang Zhenling had initially felt some sympathy for the members of the Society of No Façade—a common feeling of sorrow when one’s kind suffers misfortune.

It was with this in mind that Wang Zhenling had rescued that Zhen Yunzi previously.

But now, witnessing the atrocities committed by these people, he could only feel disgust and hatred.

Sword in hand, he strode over and was about to run one of the kneeling prisoners through.

Master Yu stopped him, saying sternly, “Killing them now would be letting them off too easily. Once they are sent to the authorities, they will suffer the punishment of being torn apart by chariots!”

Only then did Wang Zhenling relent.

The prisoners, hearing this, turned pale and desperately tried to kill themselves on the spot.

But it was not so simple. The armored warriors knocked them down with a few blows and dragged them away.

Master Yu, with deep meaning, said to Wang Zhenling, “The reason the authorities and the court suppress cultivators is because many of them, in their pursuit of power, stop at nothing. Those who raise parasites, worship evil gods, or practice demonic arts are too numerous to count. Many kill without hesitation, using human lives to refine their skills or craft magical tools. Of course, there are some pure-hearted Daoists who do no evil, and the authorities generally leave such people alone.”

Wang Zhenling nodded slightly, gaining his first true understanding of the chaotic state of practitioners in this world.

To be brief, the villains of the Society of No Façade were caught red-handed and brought into the county. The case caused a stir in all directions.

All the disappearances throughout the county were finally attributed to the Society of No Façade.

Moreover, though the Great Cheng dynasty allowed the buying and selling of slaves, there were strict laws: to kill a slave was to pay with one’s own life.

In other words, while people could be bought or sold, their lives were still protected by law—murder required atonement.

These criminals had killed dozens of slaves and kidnapped law-abiding citizens, feeding them to venomous snakes.

This was a grave case, reported all the way to the prefecture, and eventually the Inspector himself came to oversee the trial.

Originally, the Inspector was a court-appointed official sent to supervise the provinces, but over time, his power grew, and he came to surpass even the prefectural governor, becoming a de facto regional overlord.

Nonetheless, in name, the Inspector remained an agent of the imperial court. Since this matter had reached his attention, it was sure to be reported to the highest authorities.