After leaving that down-and-out Scholar's house, Shen Bai followed the location the Scholar had described and hurried all the way there.
His emotions remained in a state of excitement throughout the journey.
Especially at the thought of finding the source of Killing Intent, he became even more exhilarated.
Before long, Shen Bai arrived at the academy.
Ascending Cloud County's academy was not large, but there were plenty of Scholars here.
In a poor place like this, for those who wished to change their fate, studying was still the only choice in this remote little county.
At the very least, in an unfair world, it offered a sliver of fairness.
The clear sound of reading drifted out from the academy. Shen Bai merely stood outside and glanced around a few times before losing interest and leaving, continuing back along the route the scholar had mentioned.
There was nothing unusual when he passed through the first street.
Afterward, Shen Bai arrived at the second street.
The second street was livelier than the first, but there was still no sign of anything unusual.
Shen Bai thought for a moment, then came to the third street.
This was a busy marketplace, considered quite a lively area even within Ascending Cloud County.
Shen Bai stood in the middle of the street, listening to the cries of the vendors lining both sides, and fell into thought.
"That Scholar said it was roughly around here."
"But after arriving, I haven't found anything at all."
Shen Bai pondered for only a moment before patiently searching through the street.
In broad daylight, Shen Bai felt that something strange was unlikely to appear so easily.
After all, if it had truly happened during the day, the news would probably have spread throughout all of Ascending Cloud County by now.
As the owner of a pawnshop, it was impossible for Shen Bai not to know.
After searching three full times without finding anything, Shen Bai decided to wait.
"When night comes and there are fewer people around, I'll see whether I can wait for that strange person the Scholar mentioned."
Since it was already noon, there was no point in simply waiting around. Shen Bai casually found a lunch stall, ordered a bowl of beef noodles, and sat there eating slowly.
Although Ascending Cloud County was only a small county, a sparrow might be small, yet it had all five organs.
Shen Bai felt that regardless of the taste, the portion of beef noodles alone was already generous enough.
As Shen Bai ate, he observed his surroundings.
The common folk around him all seemed normal, and the place was bustling with life.
Once he had finished the bowl of noodles and paid, Shen Bai found a teahouse and sat by the window on the second floor, where he could carefully observe the changes along the entire street.
While he was drinking tea, a waiter approached Shen Bai carrying a plate of melon seeds.
"Sir, please enjoy yourself. I'll be heading downstairs first. If you need anything, just call out." The waiter bent at the waist as he spoke.
Shen Bai set down his teacup, suddenly recalling something. "Has anything unusual happened on this street recently?"
The waiter had been about to leave, but upon hearing Shen Bai's question, he hurriedly turned back. After thinking briefly, he shook his head.
"This street has always been like this. Nothing bizarre has happened. Sir, your accent doesn't sound like you're from out of town, so how come you don't know?"
When seeking information in the martial world, one either sought out well-informed local beggars or the attendants at these shops.
Whether their information was true or false, at least they could tell you something.
Although Shen Bai was from Ascending Cloud County, he had not been transported here long ago and was unfamiliar with many places. He spent every day in his own pawnshop, so it was normal for him not to know.
Hearing the waiter's words, Shen Bai smiled faintly, then took two copper coins from the money pouch at his waist and placed them on the table.
The waiter looked left and right, immediately revealing a fawning smile as he slipped the two coins into his sleeve. "Sir, whatever you wish to ask, as long as I know, I'll definitely tell you."
Shen Bai tapped the tabletop with his finger. "The same question as before. Has anything unusual happened on this street recently?"
The waiter thought carefully, draped the rag over his shoulder, and said, "Nothing unusual has happened, but some days ago, an enormous Chinese scholar tree was brought to our street. Quite a few people found it rather novel."
An enormous Chinese scholar tree?
Shen Bai looked out the window.
The whole street lay in full view, yet he saw no Chinese scholar tree standing anywhere, much less a so-called enormous one.
Seeing Shen Bai's expression, the waiter revealed a mysterious smile. "Sir, you're overthinking it. If the tree were really standing here, people could see it from far away. Well, one of the wealthy merchants on our street took it away."
"Ah, it's rather aggravating to speak of it. The county magistrate had this tree brought to our street, but that merchant somehow believed a Daoist priest's rumor. He said that if the trunk of a Chinese scholar tree was used to make a coffin, it could bless one's descendants and let them enjoy glory and riches."
"So he went to great lengths to buy the tree, and it has already been made into a coffin."
"Made into a coffin..."
By this point, Shen Bai had roughly understood the course of events.
If that was the case, then it was indeed no wonder he could not see the tree.
He thought of the Scholar he had met today and felt that this matter was connected to the Chinese scholar tree.
Thus, after finishing his meal, he asked the waiter a question.
"Where is the wealthy merchant who bought the Chinese scholar tree?"
"Leave this teahouse and walk east for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, and you'll reach the Sun Family residence," the waiter replied.
Shen Bai did not pause in the slightest, heading straight in the direction the waiter had indicated.
The Sun Family was considered a renowned clan on this street. Their businesses were spread across many parts of Ascending Cloud County, and in this remote little county, they could be considered wealthy and prosperous.
Yet at this moment, the Sun Family was shrouded beneath a silent dark cloud.
Main hall.
Master Sun sat in a chair, his face utterly vacant.
"Master, let's just move away." Madam Sun tightly clutched a handkerchief in her hands. Her face was pale, and fear showed in her eyes.
"Move? How?"
Master Sun slapped the table. "All of the Sun Family's assets are in Ascending Cloud County. Do you want me to sell them off at dirt-cheap prices?"
Madam Sun gave a bitter smile. "But that coffin is simply too evil. If this continues, our daughter's life may be in danger."
At the mention of this, the anger on Master Sun's face deepened.
"Have you still not found that Daoist priest? What are all of you good for?"
The servants beside him quickly lowered their heads, not daring to meet Master Sun's gaze.
Seeing this, Madam Sun immediately began to cry. "I told you from the beginning that a Chinese scholar tree could not be used to make a coffin. But you refused to believe me and trusted that Old Daoist Priest instead. Now our daughter is acting as though she's possessed."
"What does a woman know?" Master Sun stood up. "Wasn't I doing it for the Sun Family to flourish and multiply? You only gave birth to a daughter. Who is supposed to inherit the Sun Family's property?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Sun did not dare say another word, only crying even harder.
Just then, a servant rushed in from outside, shouting as he ran.
"Master, this is bad! Miss Sun is sleeping in the coffin again!"
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