Death Question

"Is there no cure?" Chen Luo asked.

Wei Yan nodded. "There is! Daoist sects cultivate the Yang God and specialize in the path of the soul, giving them considerable restraint over ghosts. The Buddhist Kingdom establishes the Cycle of Rebirth Buddhist Kingdom, allowing ghosts to be reincarnated. Even our Confucian school, beneath Righteous Qi, ghosts and gods alike flee."

Chen Luo curled his lip. "I don't know about the others, but the Confucian school's Righteous Qi can only protect oneself, not others. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been harmed by a Malevolent Ghost before."

Wei Yan smiled awkwardly. "If it could truly be cured at the root, why would it be called a Ghost Calamity?"

"Daoist sects restrain ghostly creatures, but doing so taints their own souls with resentment, which takes effort to cleanse away. Those Daoists fancy themselves immortal figures; casually dealing with a few ghosts is already a blessing they bestow. Why would they truly take this matter up as a mission?"

"The Buddhist sect has its Buddhist Kingdom, but it merely carves out a territory in the Nether Land, where souls endlessly cycle through reincarnation. Once one enters a Buddhist Kingdom, one becomes the slave of that kingdom's master, never free for all eternity! It treats the symptoms, not the root cause."

"As for our Confucian school, it is indeed as you said, little friend: more than enough for self-protection, but insufficient to protect others. Only after cultivating the Divine Ability 'Gentleman's Grace' can one transfer one's Righteous Qi to shelter others."

"Furthermore, a dynasty's fortune can also protect its people. Great Xuan is presently at the height of its glory, so cases of ghosts harming people are rare."

At this point, Wei Yan cast a sidelong glance at Chen Luo. "Your encounter was orchestrated by a Tiger Demon, so it does not count."

Chen Luo rubbed his nose and asked Wei Yan to continue.

"However, protecting the people is an enormous drain on fortune. Thus, once a dynasty suffers natural disasters or foreign threats and its fortune shifts, the people will encounter more strange and uncanny ghostly incidents."

Chen Luo roughly understood Wei Yan's meaning, but another question surfaced in his mind. He could not help asking, "Why are you suddenly telling me all this, Senior? Does it have something to do with Zhong Kui?"

Wei Yan nodded. "What I just spoke of is something only officials of the fifth rank and above, or those in the Great Scholar realm, may know. Tongchen is only seventh rank, after all, so he failed to notice what was unusual about the Zhong Kui Literary Friend."

Having said this, Wei Yan turned his gaze back to Zhong Kui. "A Book Spirit is the manifestation of the will of heaven and naturally bears Heavenly Dao Power. You yourself do not possess the Omniscient Reading Talent, yet you were able to condense the Zhong Kui Book Spirit. Do you know what that means?"

Chen Luo shook his head. When he had written Brief Biography of Zhong Kui, it had only been to deal with the Tamed ghost. How could he have considered so much?

Delight appeared on Wei Yan's face. "It means that the Elegant Script article through which you condensed Zhong Kui can be recited by ordinary people as well! It means ordinary people can rely on chanting your article to ward off ghosts and protect themselves! More importantly, it means Great Xuan's consumption of fortune will be drastically reduced, and Great Xuan's fortune will rise tremendously!"

"Little friend, you have brought blessings to the people and rendered great service to the state!" Wei Yan finally sighed.

Chen Luo froze for a moment, then turned back to look at Zhong Kui. Zhong Kui's savage eyes looked back at Chen Luo with equal innocence, and the two held a profound exchange in their hearts.

"Old Zhong, why didn't you tell me about something this huge?"

"My lord, I didn't know either!"

"Is what he said true? If so, will there be many more of you?"

"I do not know. But I shall follow my lord for all eternity!"

Chen Luo cut off the mental connection and asked, "Senior, if others read that article, will they also condense new Zhong Kuis?"

Wei Yan waved a hand. "A Book Spirit can only condense at the very moment an article enters the world. No matter how much others read it, at most they can condense a phantom of a portion of its power. It will not possess awareness like your Book Spirit!"

"Of course, you will naturally benefit as well. If this method spreads throughout the land and every commoner recites it, then aside from the court, the dynasty's fortune will reward you too. Perhaps..."

Wei Yan suddenly revealed a mischievous expression, his tone seductive. "There were once those who rendered great service and were infused with fortune. They lived two jiazi longer, enjoyed wealth and honor throughout their lives, had wives and concubines to rival an imperial harem, and could still enter the bridal chamber at a hundred years old."

"There's something that good?" Chen Luo exclaimed in delight. "I agree!"

It was mainly because he wanted to do something for the common people—not because he was pursuing the pleasure of a pear blossom pressing down a begonia!

Beneath the high sky, within the county yamen.

Cai Tongchen had moved a chair into the open space before the county yamen. Holding a cup of fragrant tea, he sipped as he looked up at the sky, blue light flickering endlessly in his eyes.

Advisor Li entered carrying a jug of wine. "My lord, I have long heard that Grand Scholar Wei enjoys a drink. This is a thirty-year Xin Quan Niang from my private collection. How about..."

Before Advisor Li could finish, he saw Cai Tongchen's strange posture. He stepped closer and looked up as well.

"My lord, what are you looking at?"

"See for yourself!"

Advisor Li immediately circulated his Righteous Qi and poured it into his eyes. As he Looked up, the sight before him left him gaping in shock.

"T-that is Young Patriarch Chen. Why is he on Lord Wei's Ancient Chariot?"

"Heh heh. How would I know? I have followed my teacher for twenty years, yet I have never once ridden in the same carriage as him!"

"My lord, look! Grand Scholar Wei is smiling so happily! Just what did Patriarch Chen say?"

"Heh heh. How would I know? I have followed my teacher for twenty years, yet I have never seen him so open-hearted!"

"My lord, why is Grand Scholar Wei bowing to Patriarch Chen?"

"Heh heh. How would I know? I have followed my teacher for twenty years, yet I have never seen him so courteous!"

Advisor Li suddenly sensed that something was off in Cai Tongchen's tone. Seeing the Righteous Qi around Cai Tongchen nearly glowing green through his skull, he took a deep breath. "This subordinate just remembered there are still some Trivial matters to attend to. I shall go deal with them at once and take my leave!"

"Wait!" Cai Tongchen came back to himself. Looking at Advisor Li, who was about to leave, he asked, "What are you carrying in your hand?"

"Nothing, nothing. It's thirty-year-old vinegar!"

"So it's aged vinegar. I was wondering why the courtyard smelled so sour. Go on, then."

As though granted a reprieve, Advisor Li hurriedly ran out of the county yamen, while Cai Tongchen continued staring up at the sky...

"Only a little over two hundred characters?" Wei Yan stared at Chen Luo in astonishment. "And it condensed such an extraordinary Book Spirit?"

Chen Luo nodded. "I call it Brief Biography of Zhong Kui. It is indeed only a little over two hundred characters."

With a sweep of Wei Yan's sleeve, a small writing desk appeared atop the Ancient Chariot, upon which lay the Four Treasures of the Study.

"Please, young friend, wield your brush!"

Chen Luo reached out and picked up the Brush Pen. Wei Yan naturally stood to one side and began grinding the ink.

The two did not know that this scene had fallen into the eyes of the two people watching below—

Cai Tongchen: "Master is personally grinding ink? Th-this... I have followed Master for twenty years, yet Master has never ground ink for me... Pah, how could I dare make Master grind ink! Chen Luo, what nerve you have!"

On the other side, Advisor Li nearly dropped the Wine Jar in his hand.

"A Great Scholar grinding ink? This Young Patriarch Chen—no, Patriarch Chen—just who is he? What exactly is he going to write? Could it be an imperial edict? Pah... I'm overthinking it, overthinking it..."

Chen Luo swiftly finished writing, completing a Brief Biography of Zhong Kui. Wei Yan squeezed Chen Luo aside and carefully Comprehended it from beginning to end before sighing. "No canonical doctrines, no Great Words of Meaning; the entire piece is plain and unadorned, recounting Zhong Kui's life, yet it is strange and legendary besides. This old man has never seen such an article before! Wonderful! However, young friend, this old man has a question."

"Please speak, Senior..."

"In your article, you mentioned Tang. What dynasty was that? And this Painting Sage Wu Daozi—who exactly was he, that a single painting of his could control ghosts and subdue demons?"

"Th-this..." A bead of sweat slid down Chen Luo's forehead.

The waterfall plunged straight down three thousand feet; the request for support never stops!

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