The Sole Survivor

The Chen Mansion had five Five Viscera Realm guards in total.

Two had gone out to patrol the shops, leaving three behind.

One stayed to guard the mansion, while the other two were called away by Chen Mo.

Among them was a sturdy, tall man named Wei Heng, who wielded a large broadsword with an aura so fierce it made others dare not meet his gaze. The other, Liu Jiang, was lean but used a soft sword, specializing in agility. His gloomy eyes gave off a sinister feel; a single glare could chill one's heart.

Martial artists at the Five Viscera Realm were already considered formidable in Honghe County. They represented the highest level ordinary wealthy families could hire. Those at the Blood Infusion Realm and above mostly held key positions in the yamen or the Guard Station, or served as instructors at martial arts schools—they were not people who could be hired with silver.

After all, martial artists who had stepped into the Blood Infusion Realm had hope of breaking through their limits and becoming Internal Martial Masters. They didn't lack money; they sought a better future. They generally wouldn't work as guards for others.

Someone like Zhou Liang was an exception, entirely due to his good relationship with Chen Yin Fu.

Wei Heng and Liu Jiang sat on the carriage board, driving the horse-drawn cart straight toward the Lei Family Martial Arts School.

Meanwhile, Qiulan sat inside the carriage with Chen Mo.

When they reached the entrance of the Lei Family Martial Arts School, they saw several constables in black uniforms gathered together, blocking the onlookers. Leading them was Captain Wang He.

Chen Mo dismounted the carriage with his saber in hand and greeted Wang He.

Thanks to Chen Yin Fu's annual greasing of the yamen's connections, Wang He was also a beneficiary. Naturally, he recognized Chen Mo and wouldn't stop him from entering.

After some pleasantries, Chen Mo got straight to the point: "Captain Wang, could you take me inside to see the scene?"

Wang He replied, "Of course. Young Master Mo, follow me."

The group entered the Lei Family Martial Arts School and arrived at a secret room in the back courtyard.

This room was vastly different from the others. The walls were reinforced with a layer of stone, and the doors and windows were made of iron, as if used to imprison some terrifying existence.

As soon as they reached the door, a thick, bloody stench hit them.

Stepping through the iron door, Chen Mo took in the scene inside.

Lei Peng lay dead on the ground, his skin and flesh turned inside out, his chest torn open, and his internal organs pulled out and scattered everywhere, as if gnawed on by a wild beast. Not far from Lei Peng's corpse lay a youth with no hands or feet, bound in iron chains, his entire body covered in white fur. A broadsword was embedded in his skull.

Chen Mo found the sight horrifying.

Sigh.

Wang He let out a sigh and began recounting the events: "Master Lei Peng was foolish. His son had contracted the Mad Demon Disease, but he didn't report it to the authorities. He insisted on keeping him at home, and in the end, his own son bit him to death. I imagine that in his final moments, Lei Peng couldn't bear to see his son turn into a monster, so he drove the blade through Lei Ming's head. A perfectly good family, gone just like that. Pitiful and lamentable. What's strange is that Lei Ming actually grew white fur. I've never seen such symptoms before... bizarre..."

Wang He didn't know the underlying reason, but Chen Mo did: the Wei Qi Skin Paste.

The symptoms were similar to those of the woman locked up in the mansion, except she had endured it, while Lei Ming had his head pierced by Lei Peng.

Chen Mo stood quietly at the door, looking at the two incomplete corpses, feeling a wave of melancholy.

Lei Peng had been fine just a while ago, and now he was suddenly gone.

Chen Mo shook his head and sighed, then snapped back to reality. "Captain Wang, may I examine Lei Peng's corpse?"

Wang He was slightly surprised, finding it hard to believe that the Second Young Master Chen would want to examine a corpse. He himself felt like vomiting just looking at the scene...

But Wang He couldn't refuse. "If Young Master Mo isn't afraid of getting sick, there's no reason not to."

Chen Mo said, "I've interacted with Master Lei a few times. Now that he's met with misfortune, my heart is heavy with grief, so I wish to take a closer look."

With that, Chen Mo held his breath, walked over to Lei Peng's corpse, crouched down, and carefully examined it.

He had a reason for doing so:

Lei Ming was only at the Three Gates Iron Bone Realm. Even if the Ghost Curse's resentment had enhanced his strength, there was no way he could have devoured Lei Peng, who was at the Five Passes: Blood Infusion Realm.

Moreover, according to Wang He's account, Lei Peng had killed Lei Ming with his own hands. Even if Lei Ming's illness had flared up, Lei Peng would have certainly come to beg for medicine immediately.

As someone in the know, Chen Mo keenly realized... there had to be something fishy.

Upon closer inspection, he indeed found something.

Although Lei Peng's body was covered in scratches and bite marks, and based on Captain Wang's account, the time of death was around last night.

But Chen Mo noticed two faint but fatal sword wounds on his back. The wounds were thin and sharp, likely caused by a soft sword. Judging by the location, they had pierced through the abdomen and internal organs.

This meant that before killing his own son, Lei Peng had already been severely injured, which was why his son had been able to gnaw on him.

That made sense...

Wang He saw Chen Mo crouching beside Lei Peng's corpse for a long time and asked, "Young Master Mo, have you finished your examination? If so, I'll have the body carried back for inspection."

Chen Mo snapped out of it and stood up. "Captain Wang, go ahead. By the way, where is Lei Peng's wife, Liu Cui?"

Wang He shook his head. "We haven't found any trace of Liu Cui."

Chen Mo didn't ask further. He turned and led Qiulan and the two guards on a stroll through the entire Lei Family Martial Arts School, but found no sign of Liu Cui.

Finally, Chen Mo stopped in the central courtyard. "Wei Heng, Liu Jiang, go look around and see if you can find any women's footprints or the like."

The two nodded in acknowledgment and immediately began searching.

Chen Mo didn't waste time either. He took Qiulan into the main bedroom of the central courtyard to investigate.

He still felt that Lei Peng's death wasn't so simple.

If Liu Cui wasn't dead and could be found and questioned, perhaps he could learn the truth.

Just then, Qiulan called out from beside him, "Young Master, look at this wardrobe."

Chen Mo leaned in to look. Inside the dark red wooden wardrobe, clothes were in disarray. Some complete sets had been partially taken, and many garments were stained with blood, a faint metallic scent lingering in the air.

Qiulan said, "Maybe Liu Cui ran into an emergency and packed up in a hurry to flee?"

Chen Mo breathed a sigh of relief after hearing that.

It seemed Liu Cui had really run off!

If he could find her, it would at least bring some comfort to Lei Peng's spirit in the afterlife, and he could also ask whether the Lei Family had any other hidden martial arts for warding off ghosts.

Before long, Wei Heng and Liu Jiang returned, both shaking their heads—no findings.

Chen Mo glanced at the sky outside. The setting sun hung low, nearly dusk.

"It's almost dark. Let's head back to the mansion."

Perhaps because of the little girl he'd encountered here before and the Nightmare Suppression Technique he'd fallen prey to, Chen Mo didn't want to linger. He wanted to get home before nightfall. Along the way, he kept the two guards close to prevent any strangers from approaching.

By the time they reached the main gate of the Chen Mansion, the sky had gone completely dark. The fiery sunset clouds were covered by black clouds, gloomy and heavy.

Chen Mo got off the carriage at the back gate and told Wei Heng and Liu Jiang to lead the horses to the stable.

Just as he was about to step inside, a disheveled, filthy woman suddenly burst out from a nearby alley, rushing toward Chen Mo in panic.

Clang!

Sensing danger closing in, Chen Mo yanked out his blade and thrust it forward.

The woman froze in fright, then dropped to her knees. "Young Master Mo, it's me, Liu Cui. I brought you pastries a month ago, remember?"

Lei Peng's wife?

Chen Mo remained on guard. "Push your hair back. Show me your face."

Sensing the heavy pressure of Chen Mo's blood aura, the woman dared not argue. She quickly swept aside her tangled hair, revealing a pale, frightened face.

It really was Liu Cui.

Chen Mo relaxed and sheathed his blade. "Qiulan, take her to bathe and find her clean clothes. If she's hungry, give her a full meal. Then bring her to the East Courtyard to see me."