Free Web NovelChapter 7: Chapter 7: Leaving a Memento
’Come to think of it, isn’t the Heartless Ghost Mansion just like that? It seeks out the most vicious and evil people, brings them into the Ghost Mansion, and never lets them leave. Isn’t that just a massive prison?’
But after a moment of thought, Ye Jingshuang said,
"You have a point, Sir, but the Heartless Ghost Mansion has always been a source of great fear.
"They’ve gathered all manner of ghouls and fiends, and the Lord of the Heartless Ghost Mansion himself possesses peerless martial arts, keeping all other evils in check.
"If that group ever truly decided to make a move... the consequences would be unimaginable."
Jiang Ran nodded. ’The Heartless Ghost Mansion sounds like a good place. It’s practically Laozi’s Alchemy Furnace. If I ever had the chance to visit... my Nine Deaths Pulse might just be cured.’
But that was a distant prospect. Jiang Ran didn’t dwell on it and instead asked,
"Then what is this Heartless Order all about?"
"It’s... a reception token for the Heartless Ghost Mansion."
Ye Jingshuang’s expression soured as she looked at the Heartless Order in her hand.
"The token that the Lord of the Heartless Ghost Mansion took from that Demon back then was a Heartless Order.
"It is said that when the Heartless Ghost Mansion wants to induct one of those demons, they will produce a Heartless Order as proof of identity.
"Afterward, the person who receives the order accompanies the escort and is never heard from again in the Jianghu.
"And these stories have all been passed down gradually over the years.
"Some claim to have witnessed the Heartless Ghost Mansion’s escorts in action with their own eyes.
"But it’s difficult to tell whether these stories are true or false.
"However, where there’s smoke, there’s fire..."
"I see."
After hearing all this, Jiang Ran understood why Ye Jingshuang’s expression had changed so drastically when she heard about the Heartless Order.
According to this, anyone who receives a Heartless Order is taken directly to the Heartless Ghost Mansion.
As the former great leader of the Celestial King Stronghold, Zhang Dongxuan would have been a prime candidate for induction into the Heartless Ghost Mansion after his stronghold fell.
So, it wasn’t surprising that he had a Heartless Order on him.
His disappearance all these years could very well be because he was enjoying a period of peace within the Heartless Ghost Mansion.
But the strange thing was, if he had truly gone to the Heartless Ghost Mansion, how could he have gotten out?
Seventy years ago, countless people witnessed the fate of that Demon after he came out of the Heartless Ghost Mansion.
How would Zhang Dongxuan dare to escape from the Ghost Mansion?
Wasn’t he afraid of having his heart gouged out by the Mansion Lord?
"So, Miss Ye, you suspect that the Heartless Ghost Mansion is behind what happened to the Ye family?" Jiang Ran mused. "If the Mansion Lord ordered them to act this way, they naturally wouldn’t worry about being punished afterward."
Ye Jingshuang nodded slightly, her expression grave.
"I have my suspicions, but I can’t be certain.
"But if that’s the case, I’m afraid we can’t stay here any longer.
"Sir, I must get to Cangzhou Prefecture as soon as possible and find my family’s old friend to explain this matter clearly.
"If the Heartless Ghost Mansion is truly making a move, then what happened to the Ye family is likely just the beginning.
"The sooner I get the word out about what happened, the more of our fellow martial artists can take precautions."
Jiang Ran nodded and looked outside the temple.
It was just reaching midnight, and it looked like the rain wasn’t about to stop, so he said softly,
"Miss Ye, how are your injuries? Can you still travel?"
"Yes."
Ye Jingshuang nodded immediately.
Seeing this, Jiang Ran said no more. "Then let’s set out now."
He gathered their things and put his clothes back on. They weren’t completely dry, but they would have to do.
He shouldered his bundle and extinguished the last few embers of the fire.
Finally, he cut off Zhang Dongxuan’s head, wrapped it in Zhang Dongxuan’s black outer robe, and carried it in his hand.
Then he looked at the headless corpse, and after a moment of quiet contemplation, he took a bottle from his bundle, opened it, and sprinkled the powder inside evenly over the body.
Watching this, Ye Jingshuang couldn’t help but ask,
"Sir... what is that?"
"A little parting gift."
Jiang Ran smiled faintly, and understanding dawned on Ye Jingshuang.
The two of them set off at once, leaving the ruined temple and heading north.
Just after they had been gone for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick,
two more figures arrived, cutting through the wind under the cover of night.
The one striding forward using a Lightweight Technique was a large monk with a fleshy, fierce face, a towering build, and a Crescent Shovel in hand.
His eyes were like bronze bells, and as they swept around, they revealed a savage glint.
Perched on his shoulder was another person, small in stature, also dressed in black. Even his face was wrapped in black cloth strips, leaving only his eyes and nostrils exposed.
Suddenly, the large monk stopped and glanced up at the ruined temple.
"Huh, there’s a temple here?"
The masked man on his shoulder sniffed the air and looked up at the ruined temple.
"Zhang Dongxuan is inside. I can smell him.
"Mm, and the stench of blood..."
"That bastard was indeed chasing in this direction. Could something have gone wrong?"
The monk frowned slightly.
"Heh heh, Ye Jingshuang is already a spent force. And Zhang Dongxuan’s Black Death Infinite Hand technique isn’t for show... How could he possibly have made a mistake?"
A shifty glint flashed in the masked man’s eyes.
The large monk nodded. "That’s true... Besides, that scoundrel Zhang Dongxuan has profound Inner Energy. His pair of iron palms can shatter mountains and split stone. Even if something unexpected happened, he wouldn’t necessarily be the one to lose out."
"Exactly."
The masked man gave another sly chuckle.
"Perhaps he killed the Ye family’s little girl and is just slacking off in here? Let’s go over and give him a scare!"
"Let’s go!"
Hearing this, the large monk no longer hesitated. He took huge strides and reached the temple entrance in just a few steps.
Inside the ruined temple, there was no longer any light from a fire.
However, neither the large monk nor his companion was an ordinary person. With their sharp eyes and ears, they stood outside the entrance and stared in, soon making out a corpse lying in the temple.
For a moment, they were both stunned.
The monk immediately strode forward, while the small, masked man flew directly up to the roof.
He was worried someone was lying in ambush on the rafters.
The large monk reached the corpse and peered down at it.
"It’s Zhang Dongxuan. We crossed hands several times in the Mansion. I’d recognize those iron palms anywhere.
"Damn it all! How could this useless bastard be so incompetent? freewёbnoνel.com
"He couldn’t even handle a single, heavily injured girl?
"And ended up getting his head chopped off instead!"
"No one on the rafters."
The masked man crouched on the ruined temple’s rafters, sniffing the air wildly.
"The stench of blood, roasted chicken... strong spirits.
"The body odor of a man, the orchid-like fragrance of a woman... Mm, that must be Ye Jingshuang!
"There was another man in this ruined temple at the time... The problem must lie with him."
As he said this, his brow furrowed. "But why is there also a faint smell of medicine?"
He immediately began searching for the source of the smell.
The large monk, however, scratched his head again.
"How did Zhang Dongxuan die? There’s so little blood. He must have been beheaded after he was already dead.
"Ha... they even stripped off his outer robe. Truly disgraceful."
As he spoke, he used the hand that wasn’t holding the Crescent Shovel to pull open the collar of Zhang Dongxuan’s inner tunic.
He did this to determine Zhang Dongxuan’s cause of death.
A corpse can often reveal a great deal of information. Injuries caused by blades, swords, fists, or palms can all hint at the truth of what happened from the state of the wounds.
But just as he pulled open Zhang Dongxuan’s collar, he heard the man above him exclaim in alarm,
"Not good! Don’t touch the body! Someone tampered with it!!"
"What?"
The large monk’s expression changed drastically. He hastily pulled his hand back, but it was too late.
A wisp of purple-black energy could be seen in the center of his palm, spreading along his meridians.
"What is this poison?!"
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PS: I’m so confused... I just wished everyone a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival... Happy Dragon Boat Festival~~~
