CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 40: ARSON

This thing is very evil. If all else fails, we still need to seal it again.

Staring at the jade Bodhisattva covered with a white cloth in the corner, Qi Xiu remembered the first time he saw this Demonic Artifact: the eerie and cold smile on its face. That memory remained fresh in his mind to this day.

Better safe than sorry, he decided, resolving to start working on it tomorrow. I need to reseal this Demonic Artifact to prevent any trouble.

The remaining scriptures had nothing substantial left. Qi Xiu casually flipped through them and then put them back into the box. I’ll take them all to the Ghost Market when I have time to clear the stock, he planned.

He had just lifted these scriptures and hadn’t taken two steps when a scroll carelessly slipped out.

CLACK! It smashed onto the ground.

The wooden shaft broke into two pieces instantly. Qi Xiu turned his head to glance at the scroll on the ground, not paying it much attention at first. But just as he was about to turn back, he suddenly seemed to realize something.

Eh?

Surprised, he looked at the broken wooden shaft on the ground and blinked. There seems to be something else hidden inside the broken shaft.

Are there some hidden goods?

Throwing the scriptures he was holding back into the box, Qi Xiu bent down, picked up the broken shaft, and gently pried it apart. Indeed, a note was hidden inside.

"May 15th, Stone Ox Valley, cash on delivery."

Is this... a delivery slip?

Surprised, Qi Xiu turned the note over several times. Aside from those twelve characters, there was nothing else on it.

May 15th... that’s still more than two months away. But this ’cash on delivery’... what are the ’goods’, and how much is the ’cash’? Stone Ox Valley... isn’t that right next to Mu Ze County? It’s not far.

Staring at the note, Qi Xiu’s gaze flickered. This delivery slip undoubtedly belonged to the deceased evil cultivator, Wu Changqing. But was it necessary to hide just a delivery slip so carefully? If he hid it so secretly, he definitely didn’t want others to know. He was the Yuhua Temple’s Master, effectively the boss. Who would he be afraid of?

The single note raised countless questions in Qi Xiu’s mind.

Forget it, who cares. That evil cultivator had wicked intentions; anything he bought with such caution surely wasn’t anything decent.

Crumpling the note into a ball, Qi Xiu casually tossed it into a corner. He then tossed all the other miscellaneous items from the ground into the box.

Seeing it was getting dark, Qi Xiu headed to the kitchen. After a day of reading, he was ready to showcase his cooking skills and reward himself.

In the kitchen, the stove fire blazed brightly, accompanied by the clanging of pots and pans. Meanwhile, in the deserted main hall, a sudden breeze swept into the room, dragging the white cloth off the jade Bodhisattva.

The jade Bodhisattva, its face compassionate and glimmering like glaze, had its hands clasped together.

CHIME! The Corpse-Control Bell at the foot of the jade Bodhisattva rang softly, inexplicably.

The next second, a tall, expressionless figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

The summoned Corpse Child showed no hesitation, heading straight for the table in the center of the main hall. On it lay the Hundred Faces Mask and... the Autumn Sandalwood Bamboo Staff.

Just as the Corpse Child reached the table and stretched out its hand towards the Autumn Sandalwood Bamboo Staff, a series of urgent gong sounds suddenly erupted from outside.

What’s going on?

Confused, Qi Xiu walked out of the kitchen. Listening to the clanging gongs outside, he glanced back at the main hall. Inside, it was as calm as usual, except the white cloth that had covered the jade Bodhisattva seemed to have been blown off by the wind.

"Fire! Fire!"

Hearing the shouts from outside, Qi Xiu frowned. He quickly returned to the main hall to put on the Hundred Faces Mask, then fastened the Autumn Sandalwood Bamboo Staff to his waist at his back.

Transforming into a black-clad man, he leaped onto the roof in a single bound.

After Qi Xiu left, the vanished Corpse Child stepped out of the shadows again. It looked at the empty table and fell into a long silence.

「...」

"Quick, put out the fire! Put out the fire!"

"Hurry, everyone! There’s a fire! Wake up, don’t sleep!"

"Mommy, I’m scared!"

"Which damned bastard set this fire?! If I catch him, I’ll flay him alive!"

It was a night meant for peaceful slumber, yet a sudden blaze shattered the sweet dreams of many citizens. All over Baoho County—in the East, West, South, and North Markets—dozens of fires broke out simultaneously.

The smaller fires merely consumed one or two tile-roofed houses. But in the South Market, where the fire was fiercest, an entire street of shops was nearly ignited. Flames towered into the sky, turning half the heavens bright red.

Even the county government office was not spared. With so many places catching fire simultaneously, this was clearly no accident but deliberate arson.

Standing atop the tallest tower of Hui Fan Residence in the North Market, Qi Xiu surveyed the numerous fires, large and small, burning across the city.

Has a madman entered the city? Setting fires one after another, even targeting the county government office—this is sheer recklessness!

The night wind howled. It was exceptionally strong this evening, fanning the flames. Small fires grew into large ones, and the large fires spread madly in all directions.

Just as Qi Xiu watched the city burn, wondering how many people would lose their homes and families, a sneaky figure dashed into an alleyway at extreme speed. The next second, a burst of flames suddenly engulfed an innocent person’s house.

After setting the fire, the arsonist quickly ran out of the alley, thudding towards his next target.

Still lighting more?

Seeing the arsonist continuing to set fires, Qi Xiu raised an eyebrow. He flexed his knees, and with an explosive burst of internal energy, instantly charged toward the lunatic.

It wasn’t that he wanted to play the hero. It’s because that madman is heading towards my home!

"Stop right there!"

The thought of the more than twenty thousand taels in silver notes in his house made Qi Xiu’s expression turn fierce. That’s all my wealth! If that bastard burns it, I’ll want to die!

Hearing the shout from behind, the arsonist turned his head in panic. Discovered? Shit! A Tempering Power martial artist!

Noticing the Qi Force swirling around Qi Xiu’s legs, the arsonist hurriedly sped up, tossing several bottled items behind him as he went, trying to divert Qi Xiu’s attention.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Bursts of firelight once again consumed several houses.

You son of a bitch, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?!

Seeing the arsonist increase the frequency of the fires, and realizing his own home was now at risk, Qi Xiu drew the Autumn Sandalwood Bamboo Staff strapped to his back.

Can’t hit his head; that would kill him. I still need to hand this guy over to the authorities. The torso is out too... I’ll aim for his legs.

Gripping the bamboo staff, Qi Xiu narrowed his eyes slightly and gave it a gentle swing.

SWISH— A bright red Sword Qi, the length of an arm, shot out and tore through the air.

It was incredibly fast! Like a scarlet streak, it instantly struck the arsonist’s calf.

Bone and flesh parted as if a knife were slicing through tofu. The Sword Qi’s sharpness was terrifying; in just an instant, the arsonist was severely maimed.

And the strange power within the Sword Qi rapidly mutated the blood in his body, threatening to make him explode.

Reaching the arsonist, Qi Xiu slapped a "Suppress" Character talisman onto the wound, and the mutating blood immediately stabilized.

Looking at the arsonist clutching his leg and screaming in agony, Qi Xiu sighed with relief, "Setting fires all over the city, you’ve got some real nerve. The authorities will surely grant you a one-way ticket to the underworld."

Crouching in front of the arsonist, Qi Xiu noticed he too was dressed in black with a cloth covering his face. He reached out and tore the cloth from the man’s face.

Hmph. Same style as me.

But when Qi Xiu saw the arsonist’s true face, his eyes widened in shock.

Liu?

This man lying on the ground, wailing in pain, the one who set dozens of fires in the city... is actually Baoho County’s ninth-ranked black-robed head constable, Liu Changfeng!

His brows slowly furrowed. Qi Xiu turned to look at the increasingly fierce firelight behind him, his gaze growing somber. It seems this isn’t an ordinary arson case.