Chapter 37: Jiang Yu

The next day.

A major event shocked the entire city.

Over seventy diners at the Green Moon Pavilion, more than thirty restaurant staff, and the entire Jiang family of 105 members were all consumed by a blazing inferno. The identity of the villain remained unknown!

Upon hearing this, Chen Tiansheng was deeply shaken.

The Green Moon Pavilion was the largest restaurant in Qingzhou Prefecture, and the Jiang family was a prominent clan. Such a catastrophe occurred, yet no one had seen the culprit with their own eyes!

The rumors were roughly true—it was the work of an immortal, most likely targeting the Jiang family.

There was no shortage of gossip, with all sorts of wild stories circulating.

As for the survivors of the Jiang family—since their mansion was burned to ashes, the bodies inside were reduced to nothing. It was said everyone perished without exception, including Jiang Yu.

Chen Tiansheng felt a slight twinge of regret over Jiang Yu’s death.

Only a little.

Not much.

After all, aside from Jiang Yu helping Yue Wumiao yesterday to prevent a mishap in his mission, they had little acquaintance.

When Yue Wumiao learned of Jiang Yu’s fate, he felt deeply sorrowful. He sent a maid to find Chen Tiansheng and implored, “If it weren’t for Jiang Yu yesterday, I wouldn’t be as well as I am now. Could you please visit him for me? Even just to grant him a peaceful resting place. I will pay you for this.”

Chen Tiansheng replied, “He and I are comrades in the Mortal Martial Pavilion. Helping you yesterday was also helping myself. Since this happened to him, it’s only right I assist. You need not pay me.”

Yue Wumiao nodded.

Chen Tiansheng took his leave.

Watching Chen Tiansheng’s retreating figure, Yue Wumiao found it all the more incredible.

Since that night in the Moon Family Village, he had tried to learn more about Chen Tiansheng. This mature and composed young man was actually younger than him, born into poverty, never attending school, and working as a lodge hand from the age of ten. Yet now, he had mastered such skills—calm in speech, polite and meticulous in thought. It was unimaginable how much effort this youth must have invested to achieve so much.

Compared to Chen Tiansheng, Yue Wumiao was clearly better off. At least he had family for more than a decade, and a master who cared for him. But if his master found out about his feelings…

After leaving the Fragrant Pavilion, Chen Tiansheng went to the nearest Jiang family estate.

The once splendid mansion was now a charred wasteland, with government officials cleaning the scene.

On the street, Chen Tiansheng spotted a familiar face—Liang Wei. The latter saw him too and came over, clasping his fists in a comforting gesture.

“You’re here for Jiang Yu, right?”

Chen Tiansheng nodded.

Liang Wei sighed and said, “I don’t know who the Jiang family offended in the immortal world, but the entire family perished overnight. Even the unrelated staff of the restaurant suffered this calamity. The Immortals’ actions are beyond the court’s control. It’s a pity about Jiang Yu, such a talented young man of the mortal path. Given time, he surely would have entered the immortal gates.”

He looked at Chen Tiansheng gravely and earnestly added, “You surpass Jiang Yu. Your talent in the mortal path exceeds everyone’s expectations. You will surely ascend to the immortal gates one day. Although you’ve entered the Mortal Martial Pavilion, it may not be able to protect you. Take my advice—leave the Qi Kingdom while you still can!”

Everyone in Qingzhou knew about Chen Tiansheng’s exploits with the Mortal Path Society. Liang Wei was equally shocked and, like others, found it hard to believe such a young man with just a few years in the mortal path could pass the Society’s disciple test and enter the Mortal Martial Pavilion. Hence, he did not want to see a genius fall.

Feeling Liang Wei’s sincere concern, Chen Tiansheng was especially touched.

The martial world was treacherous, people’s hearts had grown cold, and villains far outnumbered the good. It was rare to meet someone who truly wished him well.

Chen Tiansheng respectfully returned the gesture and said seriously, “The Mortal Path Society surely investigated my background before accepting me. They did not expel me, so they must have ways to protect me. Besides, I am in the right. Maybe Zhang Jingcong can’t do anything to me.”

Liang Wei shook his head, sighing, “Maybe before, but not now.”

Chen Tiansheng was puzzled.

Liang Wei explained, “No one knows what kind of virtue Zhang Jingcong’s ancestors accumulated, but according to the Zhang family’s people who went to find him, Zhang Jingcong has already reached the Foundation Establishment stage and become an inner disciple. A twenty-year-old Foundation Establishment cultivator—that talent rivals the Young City Lord Xu Ye. The City Lord is ruthless and ambitious. If he favors Zhang Jingcong, not even the Mortal Path Society can protect you!”

Chen Tiansheng’s heart tightened.

The Foundation Establishment stage in cultivation and in the mortal path are of the same level, but their essence is different. The former is achieved through proper immortal cultivation and reflects innate aptitude. Fewer than one in ten thousand reach Foundation Establishment before twenty, showing Zhang Jingcong’s exceptional talent.

If Zhang Jingcong truly wished him dead, even Gao Runshan might not be able to keep him safe.

If only he could enter the Blade Tomb Sect—that would certainly guarantee his survival!

But the Blade Tomb Sect was still a mystery, and Chen Tiansheng was unsure if Liang Wei was a gossip. So he reluctantly said, “If that’s the case, no matter how far I run, it won’t help. I only hope Zhang Jingcong, now with high status, values his reputation and knows he’s in the wrong, and will spare me.”

Liang Wei thought his hope was naïve and tried to persuade him more, but Chen Tiansheng politely declined. Liang Wei could only say, “Suit yourself. Life is yours to keep.”

After a brief chat, Chen Tiansheng inquired about the status of the Jiang family’s remains. Liang Wei pointed to where the bones were stored.

As the Jiang family’s tragedy was deemed an immortal’s crime, there would be no further investigation. The bones, unclaimed by anyone, would be tossed into a mass grave. So Chen Tiansheng could take them without concern for ill fortune.

The fire had been massive; from the entire family of 105, only a little over half a small sack of bones remained, all mixed together beyond recognition.

After learning the location of the Jiang family’s ancestral tomb, Chen Tiansheng took the bones, bought some incense and joss paper, and left the city.

The Jiang family’s ancestral tomb lay about ten miles outside the city on a low, wooded hill. The layout resembled a mountain garden. Following the winding stone path, Chen Tiansheng arrived at the burial grounds.

He found an empty spot, dug a pit, and buried the bones. After offering incense and burning paper, he said, “Jiang Yu, though you were petty and made things difficult for me, I hold no grudges. This time, I bury your whole family here. I hope you remember to bless my immortal path. Perhaps one day I can avenge your family.”

“You call who petty-minded?”

Suddenly, Jiang Yu’s voice rang out.

What the—was there a ghost?

Chen Tiansheng’s heart tightened.

It was broad daylight—surely nothing so terrifying.

Already prepared to draw his Dragon-Phoenix Sword, he thought the soul-devouring blade might also swallow a ghost.

At that moment, the tombstone of the central grave shifted aside, revealing an entrance. A figure stepped out.

It was Jiang Yu himself!

Chen Tiansheng jumped up, about to draw his sword, but noticed a shadow trailing behind Jiang Yu. Both feet touched the ground—he didn’t look like a ghost.

Jiang Yu sneered disdainfully, “Coward. If I were a ghost, you’d have been drained dry and become a corpse by now. How could you still be scared?”

Chen Tiansheng: …

Steadying himself, Chen Tiansheng asked, “How are you still alive? What really happened to your family?”

Jiang Yu’s expression darkened as he recalled something that infuriated him. Just as he was about to speak, a sharp pain stabbed his chest. He coughed up blood, then raised a grimacing face, eyes bloodshot, and ground his teeth.

“It’s all Zhao An’s doing! He stole the immortal’s root-seeking rat and slandered my family, causing us all to be slaughtered!”

Chen Tiansheng had long suspected Zhao An was a treacherous villain but never imagined he would dare such deeds.

Jiang Yu punched the gravestone in fury, shouting, “And that scoundrel Fang Chenghu too! If not for him, the immortal wouldn’t have come to Qingzhou Prefecture, wouldn’t have stayed at my family’s restaurant, and wouldn’t have been manipulated by Zhao An!”

Fang Chenghu!

Chen Tiansheng’s heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that the one who gravely wounded Fang Chenghu was the immortal who slaughtered the Jiang family?

If it was an immortal, the fire in the cave might not have concealed the truth.

If this person had entered the city, perhaps they had already discovered Fang Chenghu’s murder and tracked him here!