Grind Bones to Ashes

In the blink of an eye, it landed before He Song.

Releasing a thread of his aura, He Song watched as the Sound Transmission Paper Crane before him immediately turned into a sheet of white paper.

He unfolded it.

"Fellow Daoist, this matter arose because of me in the first place. Cleaning up after it for you is simply my duty."

"I had thought it would not be too late to handle it after my shift, but who would have expected Fellow Daoist to have already investigated Chen Zhou's background so thoroughly?"

"That Chen Zhou has a perverse temperament. He habitually bullies the weak, extorts Spirit Stones, and commits every evil imaginable. His crimes are too numerous to count; he is simply a black sheep poisoning the flock."

"For Fellow Daoist to uncover him is truly a great merit."

"I have already struck Chen Zhou's name from the roster of Spirit Plant Farmers and requested credit for Fellow Daoist."

"With this merit, Fellow Daoist should receive a reward from the Spirit Medicine Pavilion. When the reward is issued, I will personally deliver it."

"Zhao Lin."

In the letter, Zhao Lin did not mention a single word about why he had sought benefits for He Song, nor about He Song's intention to deal with Chen Zhou.

Instead, he had both struck Chen Zhou's name from the roster of Spirit Plant Farmers and declared that Chen Zhou's crimes were unforgivable, saying he would request credit for He Song after exposing the man's misdeeds.

This maneuver was simply classic.

He Song could not help but laugh when he read it.

Even Wei Fan, who had been furious over Chen Zhou's actions, wore a strange expression after accidentally catching sight of it.

This Zhao Lin.

So long as it fell within his authority and could benefit a friend, he really dared to do it.

"This Fellow Daoist is truly quite the character."

Wei Fan's expression was strange as he spoke in faint praise.

He, too, had once used his authority to give He Song some benefits in order to save him a few Spirit Stones.

But he had not expected—

Zhao Lin to go even further than he did.

He had merely waived more than half a month's rent for He Song.

But Zhao Lin?

Not only had he helped He Song settle the matter of the Spirit Fields, he had also helped cover for He Song when He Song wanted to kill someone, and was even going to request credit for him.

This...

Clearly, the two sides had come into conflict, and one side wanted to pull out the weeds by the roots to eliminate future trouble.

Yet in Zhao Lin's hands, it had become He Song's keen eye discerning Chen Zhou's vile character and clearing a malignant tumor from the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.

If he himself had not been involved in this incident, Wei Fan might truly have believed Zhao Lin's words.

"This Fellow Daoist and I have known each other for more than three years. He is a connection Old Meng entrusted to me before leaving. Once Old Meng returns, perhaps we can invite him along and add one more person to our gathering."

Seeing that Wei Fan had taken an interest in Zhao Lin, He Song—who had long intended to bring Zhao Lin into their small circle—immediately explained.

If someone was friends with any one of the three, their character could already be confirmed.

If they were friends with two of the three, then joining the small circle would naturally present no obstacle.

He Song, Wei Fan, and Meng Guan.

The three had known one another for many years and understood each other's temperaments well.

Anyone recognized by two of them naturally would not have any issues with their character.

"But speaking of Old Meng, has Old Meng sent you any Sound Transmission Paper Cranes lately?" Halfway through speaking, He Song thought of Meng Guan again and hurriedly asked.

He Song had not seen Meng Guan for a very long time.

Three years ago, Meng Guan had sent one Sound Transmission Paper Crane each to He Song and Wei Fan, then vanished without a trace until now.

He Song and Wei Fan had also tried to contact him, but whenever they sent out Sound Transmission Paper Cranes, there was never any reply.

The two were anxious, but there was nothing they could do.

The Red Spirit Gold Mine was far too dangerous. With their cultivation, neither dared go investigate.

They could only worry in their hearts.

"We can discuss bringing in a newcomer after Old Meng returns. And no, Old Meng has not sent me a Sound Transmission Paper Crane either. But wait here a moment. I'll have my men throw Chen Zhou out of the Immortal Market first." Shaking his head, Wei Fan spoke as he released a Sound Transmission Paper Crane.

Wei Fan was not someone without power or influence.

As a steward of Lingjian Pavilion and a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator, he wielded considerable authority.

Lingjian Pavilion was the department responsible for managing every building in the Immortal Market.

As a steward in such a department of real authority, driving an ordinary Rogue Cultivator out of the Immortal Market was no more than a word from him.

Now—

Since Zhao Lin had removed Chen Zhou from his position as a Spirit Plant Farmer, he was already nothing more than a Rogue Cultivator.

The simplest way to deal with a Rogue Cultivator was to drive him out of the Immortal Market, then finish him with a single blade.

As a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator whose combat strength had greatly improved three years ago, Wei Fan would find facing a Qi Refining Layer 4 cultivator incomparably easy.

Although Chen Zhou was a Rogue Cultivator, he was merely a Qi Refining Middle Stage cultivator who had only recently broken through to Qi Refining Layer 4.

Facing a cultivator at the Qi Refining Late Stage, armed with fine Magic Artifacts, never lacking Spirit Talismans, and proficient in spells, he had virtually no power to resist.

"Wait here a moment, Fellow Daoist. I will fetch that bastard's head." After releasing the Sound Transmission Paper Crane, Wei Fan smiled faintly at He Song, then swiftly rushed out of the small courtyard.

Judging by his eager manner, it seemed he had not fought for a very, very long time, and his hands were itching.

Yet just as he was about to step through the courtyard gate—

He Song's voice rang out behind him.

"Brother Wei, there's no need for the head. But remember to burn him, then grind his bones to ashes!"

Wei Fan's figure visibly paused, then he rushed out of the courtyard at an even faster speed.

At the same time, his voice drifted back.

"Fine. After I burn him, I'll bring you some ashes."

Only then did Wei Fan's figure disappear from the courtyard, heading toward Chen Zhou's home.

Within the small courtyard.

Watching Wei Fan disappear from sight, He Song was speechless. But after thinking about it, he did not refuse.

Burning the corpse after killing him, then grinding the bones to ashes.

That should leave behind no future trouble.

Even if Chen Zhou had friends outside, they likely would not be able to trace it back to him.

Moreover, burning the corpse and grinding the bones to ashes would prevent Chen Zhou from playing dead or escaping through a feigned death.

Even if he truly died, he would not become some zombie or eerie creature.

Once the corpse was burned and the bones ground to ashes, everything would vanish into nothingness.

Chen Zhou would completely disappear from this world.

After some thought, He Song forcefully suppressed the urge to follow Wei Fan and dispose of the evidence together.

Outside the Immortal Market was still far too dangerous for him.

His cultivation was only at the Qi Refining Middle Stage, and he had not learned any offensive or defensive spells. His ability in combat was practically zero.

Under such circumstances, if he encountered an enemy, he would likely only be able to hide behind Wei Fan.

That was not what He Song wanted.

I should wait until I've learned some offensive and defensive spells, acquired offensive and defensive Magic Artifacts, and prepared some excellent Spirit Talismans before leaving the Immortal Market.

In Wei Fan's small courtyard, He Song silently went over everything he needed to prepare.

By now, He Song's cultivation had reached the Qi Refining Middle Stage, and he would receive at least ninety Spirit Stones each year.

That was far more affluent than when he had been at the Qi Refining Early Stage.

He only needed to save for some time, and He Song believed he would certainly be able to gather everything he had just thought of.

After all, time—

Was something he had never lacked.