Chapter 26 Let's vent our anger (pointing out bugs) Don't want him, want me, okay? ...
"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible."
“My rules are all in your hands, Jiang Feiwan, are you still going to deny them?” Shen Jiuxu stretched out his long arm and pulled him into his arms. “What am I supposed to do if you have a Daoist partner? Don’t ask him for me, okay?”
Jiang Yu buried his head in the crook of Shen Jiuxu's neck, his gentle voice echoing in his ears, sounding particularly aggrieved.
He looked up and saw those beautiful, clear eyes. A few strands of long hair fell across her sharp jawline. Shen Jiuxu lowered his eyes, and the two looked at each other. An ambiguous heat spread through the room.
"cough--"
"The soup's getting cold, drink it first." Jiang Yu turned his head, his pale face looking as if it had been smeared with rouge, revealing a rosy glow. It had been a long time since he'd been this close, and he felt a little uncomfortable.
The black clothes made his skin look even whiter. Shen Jiuxu stood behind him, mesmerized, watching him pretend to drink the soup.
"It's too bitter."
Jiang Yu dislikes bitter tastes the most. In the months after he injured his wrist, he drank a lot of bitter herbal soups, which almost made him taste bitter.
Now that he finally doesn't have to drink such bitter medicine anymore, Shen Jiuxu has lost his memory and has returned to his old self, upright and unyielding. He frowned, when suddenly a bite of pastry was stuffed into his mouth, the sweetness domineeringly filling his entire oral cavity.
"I'll improve next time, okay?"
He accepted it and successfully compromised because of some people's sweet words.
The Ladder to the Clouds.
Zheng Minzheng was carrying a large pile of newly arrived fabrics and arranging them one by one on the stall. They were all plain and simple. Tomorrow was the seventh day after Sect Master Shen's death. Although it had nothing to do with him, it was always better to keep a low profile lately.
Moreover, if Sect Master Shen really ascends to immortality, wouldn't all the wishes he made in front of the portrait these past few days come true, allowing him to earn a fortune every day and no longer have to reluctantly come out to introduce fabrics to others?
"Hey, Manager Zheng, where have I seen Aunt Zhou and her daughter Xianying these past few days?" The old man selling sesame cakes asked as he saw him come out. "They haven't returned the cart they borrowed from me yet. Did they go to Shen Wuke to find Young Master Jiang and haven't come back yet?"
"I haven't seen him either. Perhaps he stayed in Shenwuke. After all, Xianying's illness doesn't seem easy to cure. I just met with Young Master Jiang and forgot to ask him how Xianying is. I'll ask him next time."
Zheng Min scratched his head. He had been feeling unwell for the past two days, with bouts of dizziness. He didn't know what was wrong with him. Could it be because he was getting old?
Most of the shops on the street were closed, with white silk hanging above them. The closer it got to the seventh day after the death, the fewer people came and went. The sun overhead was still covered by thick clouds, and a mountain rain was about to fall. The old man selling sesame cakes stopped talking, said goodbye to Zheng Min, and went home.
Zheng Min and the shopkeeper carried the fabric back together. The rain was already pouring down from the sky, and he quickened his pace. But his legs suddenly gave way and he collapsed to the ground without warning.
"Shopkeeper, what's wrong?"
The young, strong man fell to the ground halfway through his sentence. The transparent raindrops fell to the ground and turned into a murky black liquid, seeping into the clothes of the two men and slowly soaking a large area.
"ah--"
Someone's dead!
Jiang Yu looked at the two corpses being carried to Shen Wuke. Having just met them, he felt a sense of dread. He didn't believe in accidental deaths, especially not at this time.
Tomorrow is the seventh day after his death, and some people are already getting restless.
“Young Master Jiang, I don’t know what’s going on outside. Everyone’s saying that the recent frequent accidents are because Sect Master Shen’s coffin has not been buried for a long time. His ghost cannot rest in peace and is causing trouble, which is why everyone is suffering.”
"This is utterly absurd and unreasonable! How can they drag a dead person into everything?" Lian Quesheng was standing nearby. Hearing this, he was so angry that he wanted to leave on the spot. He wished he could sew their mouths shut. It had only been six days since the body was laid in state. How could it be considered late?
Besides, Shen Jiuxu didn't die at all, so who made up this lie?
"Young Master Jiang, Elder Lian sent someone to say that there were several families where people had died in accidents before. He went to deal with it but didn't tell you until now. Now that those people are making a fuss, he's sending you a message saying that Sect Master Shen visited those families before. This matter needs your handling."
Dianxing's expression was also unpleasant. He had no idea that Lianfeng had stopped those people without his permission before Jiang Yu returned. Now, the trouble had been brought to Young Master Jiang and the Sect Master. As time went on, even the rumors were being spread at will by them.
"Who does he think he is? I'm going to beat this bastard to death right now. Jiang Yu can't do it, but can't I?"
The rain outside continued without stopping. Lian Quesheng grabbed an umbrella and ran, but Jiang Yu grabbed his collar and pulled him back forcefully. "I'll go myself."
"Are you really going to break ties with him? What if he makes things difficult for you tomorrow?" Lian Quesheng hurriedly stopped him. "Those sect elders are definitely colluding with him. This is too risky."
Dianxing stood dejectedly at the back, with Xichuang and Yezishan also guarding outside. Even Quesheng told them to close the door, stubbornly refusing to let Jiang Yu out.
"What about Shen Jiuxu? Why don't we just stop hiding it and let him show himself? Wouldn't that solve everything?"
Jiang Yu glanced at him and said, "Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? I still have a use for him tomorrow. Tonight, just shut Lian Feng and the others up."
"Why don't you shut up? Or should I go and drug them?" Lian Quesheng began to consider the possibility of this. His Lian family did indeed have many colorless, odorless drugs with all sorts of strange effects. Although it was immoral, it was because they were unrighteous in the first place.
This can only be described as giving someone a taste of their own medicine.
"No need." Jiang Yu sneered, "Let those people make a fuss. Dianxing, you can add fuel to the fire. Tell them that Sect Leader Shen is wicked and has killed so many people. In short, the more chaotic it is, the better. Throw all the blame onto us."
"Young Master Jiang, what's going on?"
“Go ahead, you’ll find out tomorrow.” Jiang Yu patted his shoulder. “Xichuang, you and Zishan call a few more disciples and move all the dead people here. Stay here and wait for me to come tomorrow.”
"What about Lian Feng and the others?" Lian Quesheng pressed. "I'm furious, I can't stand it until tomorrow."
“Then I can’t bear to do it. Change your clothes and come with me.” Jiang Yu turned around neatly, not forgetting to bring the calming incense that Shen Jiuxu had specially found. “Hurry up, Qinggui has lost his memory. Only the two of us can do this kind of rule-breaking thing.”
"They're here."
Lian Quesheng excitedly caught up with Jiang Yu, who never tolerated being bullied. The two tiptoed into Lianfeng Palace and lay on the roof, their black clothes almost blending into the night.
The calming incense was extremely effective, and the Lianfeng Palace was undefended. They easily found the Lianfeng Master's room, where thunderous snoring could be heard. Jiang Yu and Lian Quesheng exchanged a glance and said, "One for each of us."
The Lianfeng and Liangu brothers were sleeping soundly when they were suddenly awakened by pain. Fists rained down on their faces, limbs, and chest, each blow heavy and decisive.
The two men were so badly beaten they were seeing stars. They tried to see who was in front of them, but their heads were covered with hemp sacks, and dust and sand from the wheat sacks kept falling down. They couldn't open their eyes, nor could they stay closed. They barely managed to shout before their mouths were stuffed full of dirt. They tried to fight back, but Lian Quesheng's immobilization talisman covered them in dirt. In the end, they could only grit their teeth and wait to be beaten like wooden puppets.
Jiang Yu and Lian Quesheng were tired from fighting, so they kicked the two of them one last time before leaving, feeling relieved.
A note from the author:
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If the earlier Shen Jiuxu had known that Jiang Yu and Lian Quesheng had beaten someone up while their heads were covered tonight, and that he hadn't taken her along, he would have posted a message on his WeChat Moments late at night:
Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. — Mencius
When the hour of Chen (7-9 AM) arrives on the street, and when the hour of You (5-7 PM) returns to the hall, one must always be mindful of propriety. —From *Man Ting Fang*
The next day, he happily earned the nickname "Rule-Following Bro," hahaha.
Jiang Yu: He's such a show-off! Rule-abiding guy.
Lian Quesheng: He really is a show-off! (Referring to a character in a TV series)
Lian Quesheng was overjoyed and wanted to become allies with Jiang Yu, but Jiang Yu grabbed Shen Jiuxu's hand and gave him a kiss, saying, "I'll take you with me next time!"
Lian Quesheng: You're quite the actor too! (The clown is actually myself)
Just having some fun, goodnight! [droopy-eared bunny head][upright-eared bunny head]
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