Eliminating Evils and Settling Debts, Gaining a Moment of Joy, and Three Parts Melancholy

The entire Lin manor seemed to fall silent at this moment.

The classmates from the County School stood by the veranda, speechless and looking at each other.

Everyone seemed unable to process it. Just yesterday, the person who was in the same classroom, chatting and laughing with them, had suddenly died like this.

Although they had received news of Lin Qi's sudden illness early in the morning, the shock from falling ill to death was still quite different.

Especially since, just now, everyone had clearly seen the Lin father invite a master into the manor.

After an unknown amount of time, Xu Wenyuan, suppressing the sting in his eyes, said, "Today was supposed to be Brother Muxian's twenty-second birthday. Yesterday, he told me that he was determined to place in the Courtyard Examination this year.

He said his family had been urging him to get married for two years, but he wasn't willing, wanting to achieve the Xiucai title first before seeking a good wife. I never expected, never expected..."

Never expected what?

A scholar sighed, "I never expected the impermanence of life."

Indeed, the impermanence of life.

Chen Xu stood at one end of the veranda.

At this moment, although he seemed to be standing among the crowd, he also felt as if he were drifting at the other end of the mortal world.

Here and now, perhaps no one was more qualified than him to say the words "impermanence of life."

Chen Xu recalled when he was on Little Peak Mountain, he had mentioned the bizarre head-swapping incident he encountered last night. Mr. Zhou had told him, "Your opponent's evil cultivation is limited. Even a head-swapping technique would require extensive preparation to be completed at the most crucial moment."

Therefore, Lin Qi had actually spent several years planning.

He had chosen Chen Xu, outwardly approached him, and befriended him, but in reality, he had been secretly using evil magic to steal his Fortune.

From the year Chen Xu passed the Child Scholar exam and participated in the Courtyard Examination, Lin Qi had employed various schemes.

After years of erosion, Chen Xu's Fortune weakened, his bad luck grew, he failed repeatedly, and once fell into despair.

Lin Qi had then finally, at midnight last night... or rather, in the early hours of this morning, as night turned into day, come to claim his victory – the final step of the head-swapping technique--

He intended to sever Chen Xu's head.

Fortunately, he had failed.

The scholars lamenting Lin Qi's untimely death, precisely on his twenty-second birthday, were unaware that today was also Chen Xu's birthday.

However, Chen Xu was turning eighteen.

If it weren't for their birthdays falling on the same day, possessing a peculiar resonance, Lin Qi might not have targeted Chen Xu in the first place.

A smile played on Chen Xu's lips. Though he felt a sense of melancholy, it didn't diminish his current joy.

Precisely because of the impermanence of life, he had to strive even harder, until he possessed the ability to completely control his own destiny!

Lin Qi was dead. The Cauldron Scripture actually provided a system notification: "[You have eliminated evil and settled debts, gaining a measure of satisfaction and a touch of melancholy. You have entered Embers Kitchen and received 100 Firework Value.]"

Chen Xu had used the method taught by Mr. Zhou to utterly destroy Lin Qi, and the Cauldron Scripture had even rewarded him!

At this moment, the various stats for Chen Xu on the Cauldron Scripture had changed again.

Mainly, his accumulated Likes had increased in the short time he hadn't checked.

However, the increase this time was small; Old Madam Lai's minced meat and scallion pancakes must have almost sold out.

[Accumulated Likes: 656] [Free Attribute Point: 17] [Firework Value: 399]

Seeing his accumulated Likes steadily approaching 1000, Chen Xu's heart filled with anticipation for the future.

This anticipation stirred within him, yet his gaze remained calm and powerful.

Killing for the first time felt good.

A moment later, a frantic cry erupted from Lin Qi's room: "Lin Zhongliang, it was you! You definitely harmed my Qi'er! If you hadn't suddenly returned, how could my Qi'er have died?

You were never home before, and now you return and harm my son. Why didn't you just not come back at all?"

Madam You cried out in pain, "You deserve to die, you scoundrel, woo woo woo..."

Madam You's sudden wailing truly startled the students from the County School.

Scholarly families, regardless of their financial status, always emphasized etiquette and demeanor in the past.

And the Lin family was a prominent local household in Jichuan County. For someone of Madam You's status to suddenly throw a tantrum was unthinkable.

Her cries, even from a distance, made the students on the veranda feel extremely awkward. For a moment, they didn't know whether to continue mourning Lin Qi or to quickly distance themselves from Madam You's outburst to prevent the elder from losing face.

Xu Wenyuan awkwardly said, "Auntie must be overcome with grief, leading to confusion. Brother Muxian... died of a sudden illness, how can you blame Uncle? Should we go and try to console her?"

The other students exchanged glances. Someone quietly advised Xu Wenyuan, "Don't be foolish. Listen carefully, is Auntie really scolding Uncle? She's clearly implying something else."

Xu Wenyuan was taken aback but quickly understood.

Indeed, no wonder Madam You had suddenly erupted with that nonsensical outburst.

She wasn't scolding Father Lin at all; she was clearly using a metaphor to scold Daoist Master Xuanjing!

However, Daoist Master Xuanjing was a respected master from Qiyun Temple. Madam You lacked the courage to directly curse him, so she didn't dare to point fingers at him.

The students looked at each other.

Originally, they had come to visit the sick, perhaps with the thought of seeing Lin Qi one last time.

Logically, now that Lin Qi had passed away from his illness, everyone should have stayed to comfort his parents and help with the funeral arrangements.

But who could blame them for the awkwardness of the current situation?

Some matters were best left alone, no matter how close the relationship. Their camaraderie as classmates had reached its limit.

At that moment, someone among the students suddenly said, "Everyone, Brother Muxian has suddenly fallen ill, and the Lin family must be extremely busy. Our staying here would likely only be a nuisance. It would be better for us to leave now and come to pay our respects and bid Brother Muxian farewell after the Lin family issues the obituary."

As he spoke, the person cupped his hands in a salute and turned to leave.

The rest of the crowd quickly followed, one saying, "Precisely, precisely," and another, "That's exactly what we should do."

Xu Wenyuan's expression was somber. Though he hesitated, he still followed the main group.

As for Chen Xu, there was no need to mention him. He simply followed silently behind everyone. After they explained the situation to the Lin family's butler, they left the Lin residence together.

A group arrived, and the same group departed.

Only Lin Yuan, Wang Mochuan, and a few others were missing from the crowd, but no one mentioned them at this moment. After tacitly leaving the Lin residence, they each went their separate ways.

Xu Wenyuan did want to escort Chen Xu, as Chen Xu was still limping.

In reality, Chen Xu's right leg had basically fully recovered after receiving medicine from Mr. Zhou.

However, to avoid attracting unnecessary trouble, he was still pretending to be lame for the time being.

Chen Xu declined Xu Wenyuan's kind offer, hired a carriage himself, and with the rumbling of wheels, it carried him back to his small home in Ping'an Alley.

At his doorstep, Chen Xu saw someone who was both expected and unexpected.