Undercurrents

The evening mist hung heavy.

On the southeast side of Chen Family Village stood a massive burial mound.

The village's lingering spirits watched as the remains were laid to rest, their resentment dissipating, turning into wisps of green smoke, leaving only Old Man Chen's wronged soul.

Zhou Yi found a piece of bluestone and used his magic to shape it into a long stele. He used his finger as a pen to write on it:

"Tomb of 327 souls from Chen Family Village, Twenty-seventh day of the Fifth Month, Eighteenth Year of Hongchang!"

His finger was like refined steel, penetrating the stone by a third of an inch.

Old Man Chen bowed in gratitude, "Such great kindness, the Chen clan has no way to repay it. We will pray for your well-being in the Underworld. If there is a next life, we will surely become oxen and horses to repay you!"

"What do you plan to do?"

Zhou Yi held the swaddled infant, his magic protecting Chen Ya'er's body.

The lingering spirits had dissipated not long ago, leaving behind a dense, chilling Yin energy. If infants or the elderly passed through this place, they might suffer from Yin energy invasion.

"I'm about to pass on, and I must trouble you with one last thing."

Old Man Chen said, "Please, benefactor, help me scatter my soul."

Zhou Yi asked in confusion, "Why is that?"

Old Man Chen said, "Originally, my mere remnant soul would have dissipated in a few days, but who knew that in this cold place, it would actually solidify a bit."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

If Zhou Yi didn't have the Longevity Dao Fruit, he would definitely try every possible method to extend his life when his lifespan was about to end.

Orthodox methods, strange arts, evil scriptures, he wouldn't refuse any of them.

Such as seizing a body to extend life, or turning into a ghost cultivator after death, or simply burying himself in an extremely Yin place, transforming into a long-lived zombie.

Influenced by the information explosion of his previous life, he believed that as long as a person maintained their self-awareness, becoming a demon or ghost was fine.

"I am being eroded by this Yin energy, and many desires have arisen in my heart, such as absorbing Yang energy and devouring fresh blood."

Old Man Chen explained, "This is just the beginning, and it's already making me restless. In a while, I will definitely turn into a fierce ghost, a scourge to this area. I might as well take advantage of my remaining sanity and ask you to stifle these evil thoughts!"

"Old Man Chen, you are truly a remarkable person!"

Zhou Yi praised, "You are a hundred times, a thousand times better than those dog emperors who know they will die but still harm the world to extend their lives."

"Haha, you flatter me, benefactor. I'm just a failed scholar who couldn't even pass the provincial exam."

Old Man Chen laughed, "If I were the emperor, enjoying all the glory and wealth, I might be afraid of death."

"Farewell, Old Man Chen!"

Zhou Yi cupped his hands. Old Man Chen wasn't an emperor, but the emperor didn't have the chance to turn into a wronged soul. Considering the distance between the two and the pursuit of longevity, the former was closer.

Everything in the world is about giving and taking.

Most people are greedy and few are willing to give up. Zhou Yi is also like this.

Old Man Chen said freely, "May you live ten thousand years, benefactor. I will repay you in the next life!"

"..."

Zhou Yi didn't know what to say for a moment. He waved his hand, and his magic turned into sword light, shattering the wronged soul into dust.

He looked down at the swaddling clothes. Chen Ya'er was staring blankly at the tombstone, as if remembering it in her heart.

"Old Man Chen repeatedly urged me not to let you have any thoughts of revenge. However, the blood feud of your parents and clan is such karma, how can it be concealed or let go!"

Zhou Yi looked at the little girl's rosy lips and couldn't help but tease her a few times.

Giggle!

Chen Ya'er let out a crisp laugh, adding a touch of warmth to the new grave, the mist, and the cold wind.

Boom boom boom!

The sound of horses' hooves was like thunder.

A dozen black-clad cavalrymen roared past on the official road.

The cavalrymen carried small bright yellow flags on their backs. Whether officials or merchants, they quickly retreated to the side, as delaying the imperial edict was a great disrespect.

Zhou Yi held the swaddled infant in one hand and tightened the reins in the other. The枣红马 under him obediently gave way.

"Emperor Hongchang has actually passed away!"

Zhou Yi was eager to take Chen Ya'er back to Shenjing to find a wet nurse. After leaving Chen Family Village, he had been rushing along the official road day and night, and had already encountered four batches of message-carrying cavalrymen.

The cavalrymen carried imperial notices, heading to all the prefectures and counties of the Fengyang Kingdom to post the news of the new emperor's succession.

"His merits and demerits will be left for later generations to judge!"

Due to the precedent set by Emperor Chongming, Zhou Yi didn't have much ill feeling towards Emperor Hongchang. Killing meritorious officials was not a stain for an emperor.

Throughout history, the game between imperial power and ministerial power has occurred in every dynasty.

Recovering lost territory, restoring the mountains and rivers, and reducing taxes, Emperor Hongchang will surely have a place in the history books.

"It's a pity they chose to ensure the stability of imperial power even at the cost of the nation's decline. I suppose Emperor Hongchang saw the defeat at the Northern Frontier before his death. People truly can't learn from history, because when faced with overwhelming circumstances, all choices are selfish!"

Early June.

Zhou Yi gazed at the walls of Shenjing from afar, still majestic and solid.

At the west gate.

A bustling crowd clogged the entrance, forming a queue stretching for two or three miles.

Hundreds of heavily armed Imperial Guards stood watch, meticulously inspecting every carriage, horse, and pedestrian entering or leaving the city, thoroughly searching any boxes larger than three feet.

"No travel permit? Arrest him and lock him up!"

"Is this knife registered with the yamen? No? Arrest him!"

"Bows and arrows? The court has issued an order temporarily banning hunting. Confiscated..."

The Imperial Guards were thorough and showed no leniency. One man, claiming to be the son of a magistrate from the capital, tried to throw his weight around, only to be punched, kicked, and dragged away to be fitted with heavy shackles.

Dozens of people were lined up neatly against the city wall, each with a hundred-pound yoke around their necks. In a few days, they'd be ruined.

The commander roared, "Obstructing the Imperial Guards is tantamount to treason! Take my name card to the capital yamen and summon Magistrate Li for questioning!"

This scared many merchants and officials, as the truly profitable businesses were explicitly written into the law. However, most common people showed respect, thinking this general was a good official.

Nothing more than fairness!

A fat merchant stepped forward, stuffing several silver notes forward: "General, our Wan Tong Bank is a two-hundred-year-old establishment in Shenjing. Could you please do us a favor?"

"Wan Tong Bank, eh? I know of it."

The commander pocketed the silver notes and ordered his soldiers, "First, check his goods for contraband. Otherwise, why would he bribe this general?"

The merchant cried out in alarm. Before he could stop them, the Imperial Guards found several sets of armor in his carriage.

"Illegally manufactured armor! Wan Tong Bank is plotting a rebellion!"

Seeing this, other merchants either left with their carriages or sent people to the capital to find someone with influence.

Zhou Yi waited in line for a long time before showing the Imperial Guard his Heavenly Prison warden badge.

The Imperial Guard commander recognized Zhou Yi and joked, "I've long heard of Mr. Zhou's title, Blood Prison Old Demon. Today, I finally meet the real person."

"Just a nickname from the martial world, nothing compared to the general."

Zhou Yi wasn't surprised. The number of first-rate experts in Shenjing could be counted on one's fingers, not exceeding fifty.

Picking only fifty or so out of three or four million people could be described as one in ten thousand. Moreover, Zhou Yi worked in the Heavenly Prison, so he couldn't escape the attention of those who cared.

The commander asked, "I heard that Mr. Zhou lives alone. Who is this child?"

Zhou Yi explained, "A distant relative's daughter. She doesn't have a formal name yet, so we just call her Ya'er. Her family couldn't afford to raise her, so they sent her to me. At least she'll have something to eat and won't starve."

"I see. Mr. Zhou, please enter."

The commander didn't ask any more questions, ordering the Imperial Guards to clear the way. After Zhou Yi left, he sent someone to notify his superiors.

It had only been a few days since His Majesty ascended the throne, but many rumors had suddenly spread in Shenjing.

That the Second Prince's ascension was illegitimate and that the original edict was for the Sixth Prince to ascend...

That two of the four regents died on the spot...

That the Second Prince was ruthless and personally killed Imperial Concubine Sun and the Sixth Prince before the late Emperor's remains...

Such rumors were vividly described, causing undercurrents to surge in Shenjing, and many people began to have different thoughts.

The court's Imperial Guards thoroughly investigated and guarded the city gates, thoroughly checking carriages and pedestrians. This was just the beginning of a storm!