Chapter 80 Blasphemy 29. Instead, he committed suicide.

"Brother, you've agreed?"

In the eastern part of Yu County, at Shenjia Mingyuan, Shen Mingxin heard the joyful sounds of gongs and drums from the street through the wall. He paused slightly, realized something, and turned to look at Chu Shenxiang, who was flipping through a book under the eaves.

"I agree. It's only a matter of time before Xiling is taken over as a place of worship," Chu Shenxiang said.

As he spoke, he glanced at the time and asked, "What would you like to eat today?"

"Braised pork ribs," Shen Mingxin said with a smile, then stopped her cultivation, got out of bed, and said, "I'll help my brother."

Chu Shenxiang glanced at the clingy young master, put down her book, and reached out her hand to him.

Shen Mingxin's eyelashes trembled slightly, but she still took another step, obediently moving closer to that hand and pressing her lower abdomen against it. Chu Shenxiang sat with her fingers slightly spread, completely covering the area of ​​her dantian.

Those fingers were incredibly hot, and as they moved and caressed, they seemed to grasp and hold Shen Mingxin completely.

He pursed his lips, his back trembled slightly as he straightened up, his toes curling and gripping silently inside his shoes and socks.

It's been three to five days.

I have been checking my dantian like this every day for the past three to five days.

He left Wangqiu Mountain with the spirit and stayed at the Shen family's house for three to five days.

Since the Battle of the Three Gods of Wangqiu Mountain, people from all over Xiling have longed to come to Yu County to worship. The Shenxiang Temple is bustling with incense offerings, burning day and night, with a constant stream of people coming and going, and the small temple simply cannot accommodate them all.

Seeing that he could not rest and cultivate in peace, the deity took him down the mountain and back to the Shen family.

No one knew that the two had moved into the Shen family's residence. Even the Shen family's servants, such as Shushi Qinggui, only knew that he had returned and were unaware that their young master had audaciously brought a deity with him.

After the last selection of disciples of the Imperial Preceptor, Shen Jia was in a difficult situation, and many servants were dismissed, leaving only three or five people. He also kept them silent and forbade them to spread the word, thus saving too much outside interference.

After arriving at the Shen family, the spirit became fascinated with three things.

First, he read books. The deity used magic to move all the books that the national teacher of Shenzhao Kingdom and his entourage had carried with them and left behind in the county government office, which he then read daily. Second, he cooked. Without using magic, he personally washed his hands and prepared the soup. The deity said this was beneficial for integrating with humanity. Third, the deity frequently checked on his cultivation progress.

Not long ago, after refining the divine embryo, the deity said that he had established his foundation and officially entered the next realm.

From then on, a completely new exploration began. No one in the world had ever walked this path before, and He needed to observe Him constantly to prevent any mishaps.

Shen Mingxin neither refused nor wanted to refuse.

However, having to go through this every morning and evening was really unbearable for him.

Logically, after three to five days, he should have gotten used to it, but for some reason, whenever Chu Shenxiang sat there with an indifferent expression and raised her palm, he would still feel embarrassed and want to tell her not to probe his dantian anymore, but just leave it there and let him sit on it and grind.

Unfortunately, the longer he spent with the gods, the less he could do such things, so he could only bite his lip and endure it with a mixture of obsession and pain.

"Everything is normal."

Before Shen Mingxin's knees buckled, Chu Shenxiang withdrew her hand, saying, "But remember, proceed steadily and surely, and do not be too hasty."

"...I understand perfectly."

Shen Mingxin barely parted her lips and answered softly.

Chu Shenxiang looked at him.

Shen Mingxin probably thought she had concealed it well, but in his eyes, it was almost a naked confession.

Tightening legs, trembling waist, heaving chest, flushed neck and cheeks, lips slightly damp from repeated rubbing, shy yet bold, innocent yet lewd eyes, and the unconsciously bulging lower abdomen chasing his palm for warmth—all these betrayed the wicked thoughts of this cheap sworn brother.

He was so lovable that one just wanted to lean against someone and fill their arms with his smooth skin.

Chu Shenxiang sometimes felt fortunate to be a god, as a little trick could conceal her abnormality, allowing her to leisurely appreciate the beautiful sight of the red-clad, black-haired woman.

Finally, one could add: "Do not indulge in excessive sexual activity."

Upon hearing this, the cheap sworn brother would bite his lip, looking as if he had been stripped naked, with a startling blush rising from his fingertips to the corners of his eyes.

Absolutely beautiful.

At times like these, people instinctively curse: "Hypocritical! Pretentious!"

Chu Shenxiang turned a deaf ear.

"Besides the braised pork ribs, would you like two more side dishes?" Chu Shenxiang stood up, her long sleeves of her blue robe flowing in the wind like clouds, and walked towards the small kitchen.

Shen Mingxin followed Chu Shenxiang's sleeve with reluctance, saying, "I will listen to my elder brother."

As they spoke, the two arrived at Mingyuan's small kitchen.

There was no one to serve them; only Chu Shenxiang and Shen Mingxin were there. One of them heated the pot and boiled water, while the other washed vegetables and chopped meat, all without using any magic.

As autumn deepens and leaves fall in the wind, as dusk settles, the aroma of cooking fires gradually drifts from this small kitchen, creating a rare moment of peace and tranquility.

By the stove, Shen Mingxin was chopping garlic with his sleeves rolled up. Halfway through, he suddenly remembered something and looked up, saying, "By the way, brother, now that you're going to establish Shenxi Mausoleum, shouldn't the matter of spreading the Dharma be arranged as soon as possible? Although everything is peaceful now, I still feel uneasy. Shen Chou is dead, and so many Shenzhao soldiers have been detained. Xu Tianming will never let this go easily. The sooner you have more power under your command, the better..."

In the battle of the three gods, Xu Ming's side was completely wiped out. Except for Chunshan Gong, who was still alive, his divine power was dispelled by Chu Shenxiang and he was turned into a stupid donkey, pulling the millstone from house to house in Yu County. There were not many survivors.

The causal array directly questions one's true nature; when comparing merit and karmic debt, very few can be spared.

The few remaining are still in the Yu County prison.

“Let’s wait a few more days,” Chu Shenxiang said. “Aren’t you going to the county town to find your grandfather tomorrow? Once you return, we’ll arrange for the transmission of the Dharma. You are their senior and also my eldest disciple, so the transmission of the Dharma will be inseparable from your assistance.”

The matter in Yu County has been settled for some time, but there is still no news of Shen Zhuan, and the letters sent to him have disappeared without a trace.

After Shen Mingxin's foundation was stabilized, he planned to go to the county city to find someone. Chu Shenxiang was temporarily unable to accompany him, so she personally carved a small statue the size of a palm and sent a part of her spirit to accompany Shen Mingxin.

“But if I go, it could take many days, and I’m afraid I’ll delay my brother’s plans…” Shen Mingxin was delighted by Chu Shenxiang’s words, but also hesitated.

"It's inevitable that Xu Ming will make a move, but with his divided spirit killed, his main body is also severely injured. In addition, he is entangled in evil energy, so his condition is already unstable. Before he recovers, he won't attack with his main body. At most, he'll just use some boring moves back and forth. I have countermeasures for him, so there's no need to worry."

Chu Shenxiang glanced at Shen Mingxin.

In recent days, he has increasingly felt that his adopted brother treats him like a porcelain doll, worrying about this and that, afraid that someone might hurt or defile him, even though he is the more vulnerable one between the two of them.

This fragile mortal dared to draw his sword against the gods in the Shenxiang Temple to protect him.

“It’s good that you’re aware of the situation, brother,” Shen Mingxin said, looking at him. “It’s always Mingxin who worries, after all, your injuries have only just healed…”

"Don't worry," Chu Shenxiang said, picking out a piece of cooked pork ribs. "I wouldn't dare to cause Mingxin any concern, and I will be extremely careful."

"Here, have a taste."

Shen Mingxin's brows relaxed slightly as she tilted her head back, bit into the rib, and chewed it with gusto.

"Delicious!" he said with a beaming smile. "Absolutely delicious!"

"If you like it, that's fine."

Chu Shenxiang looked down at that smiling face, her lips slightly raised.

Amidst the aroma of cooking and food, within his spiritual sea, the outline of his humanity had become blurred and indistinct, only a final thread separating him from complete fusion. Chu Shenxiang had a premonition that the day his humanity was fully fused, his strength would undoubtedly rise even higher.

"Go wipe the table, bring the bowls and chopsticks..."

Chu Shenxiang gave the order.

"Okay!" Shen Mingxin replied happily and got to work.

That night, everything in Shenjiaming Garden was as usual.

Shen Mingxin ate his favorite braised pork ribs, finished his cultivation at 5 PM, took a bath, and went to sleep.

Chu Shenxiang sat alone in her study, flipping through books.

Although the Refining Spirit Technique has been completed and can be passed on to others, there are still some flaws in the step of condensing the divine embryo. This is why Chu Shenxiang wanted to wait a little longer and brought the hidden book from the Ming Dynasty.

Since they were the ones who brought out Shen Mingxin's divine embryo, there's a high chance that some of the answers can be found in these books.

At the end of the Xu hour (7-9 PM), Chu Shenxiang was immersed in deducing her cultivation technique when suddenly, within the range of her divine sense, a carriage sped towards the Shen family's gate on the long street. The driver was none other than the old steward who had left Yu County with Shen Zhuan earlier.

Inside the carriage...

Chu Shenxiang paused for a moment, then suddenly opened her eyes.

The sound of banging on the door rang out in the quiet night.

The Shen family lit lanterns, and a chaotic scene ensued.

Shen Mingxin was sleeping soundly, but as if sensing something, he woke up. He put on his clothes, got out of bed, and followed the sound outside. After only a few steps, a figure suddenly appeared beside him.

“Brother,” Shen Mingxin hurriedly turned his head, “do you know what happened up ahead? I think I heard…”

Chu Shenxiang didn't know how to answer, so she just raised her hand and patted his head without responding.

Shen Mingxin's eyelids twitched. Before he could ask any more questions, he stepped through the moon gate and heard a hoarse cry erupting in front of him: "Young Master! The Old Master... the Old Master is gone!"

Shen Mingxin seemed frozen in place, her steps abruptly halting.

All around was a vast darkness, like the sea, with a few lanterns in the center illuminating the wooden planks that Soseki and the others had carried in.

On the wooden board, a corner of the white cloth was blown open by the wind, revealing a weathered and wrinkled hand full of scars and calluses. On the hand was a thumb ring, a birthday gift that he had put on the old man's finger on his birthday.

Shen Mingxin stared at the ring as if she didn't recognize it, staring at it for a very long time.

It wasn't until someone couldn't hold back their sobs that he was jolted awake. He trembled, stumbled to the wooden board, and stiffly lifted the white cloth.

Shen Zhuan is dead.

He was not harmed by villains, nor killed by demons, but committed suicide.

Before he died, he wrote a letter, which was brought back along with his body and handed to Shen Mingxin.

"May my grandson's conduct be understood in these words:"

Seeing this letter is like seeing you in person. By the time you open this letter, I will have already departed this mortal world and my soul will have returned to the void. Life is but a hundred years, and all must eventually come to an end. Do not grieve or dwell on the past.

My funeral arrangements should be simple. There should be no mourning hall, no condolences, no religious ceremonies. All formalities should be omitted. My body should be burned, and my ashes scattered in the Yu River. That will be my final resting place.

My death is not an evil deed, but rather my own wish..."

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Author's Note: [Dog head with rose in hand] Happy Qixi Festival, my little angels!