Chapter 449 - 232: "Whisper

Chapter 449: Chapter 232: "Whisper

Gu Qiutang proved to be a reasonable person.

Persuading Gu Qiutang took a little less time than Zheng Xiu had initially expected.

Yin Qingqing silently drove the carriage back, the blood-soaked Gu Qiutang tied to the roof with a rope that had been prepared in advance under the seat.

They reached the Imperial City by midnight. After presenting the Red King Jade Pendant, Zheng Xiu swaggered into the city, well past curfew.

Such was the privilege of a Prince, beneath only one but above all others.

Zheng Xiu pounded open the gate to Living Dead Situ Yong’s courtyard. He tossed down a heavy bag of silver and the barely breathing Gu Qiutang. As Situ Yong grumbled and cursed, Zheng Xiu smiled calmly. "Half the payment upfront," he said. "You’ll get the other half when they’re revived."

Situ Yong immediately dropped his complaints. Muttering under his breath, he had a few assistants carefully carry Gu Qiutang into an inner room.

"This is the last time," Situ Yong said, knowing exactly who stood before him. After stashing the money pouch, he let out a long sigh. "Medical Compassion."

The money from the Red King was enough for him to buy out another small clinic in the heart of the bustling city.

Zheng Xiu was about to pretend to "accidentally" follow Situ Yong for a peek.

But Situ Yong stopped before the hanging cloth curtain.

"Prince Zheng, please go back now."

"Alright, I get it."

Zheng Xiu was rebuffed. Although he was curious about what Miracle Technique from the Physician Path Situ Yong used, Situ Yong had made his position clear. Zheng Xiu decided not to force the issue with his princely status and break Situ Yong’s rules. He returned, disgruntled.

Back home, Yin Qingqing was still reeling from the day’s events.

She was intensely curious about who had struck the blow—Feng Bei or the Red King himself—that had reduced the former "Lower Four," Gu Qiutang, to such an immobile state in a matter of moments.

If it was Feng Bei, it would be understandable. But Feng Bei rarely left anyone alive.

But if it was the Red King...

Yin Qingqing gasped, recalling secret records from the Secret Ministry. Many had speculated that a "Merchant" Path existed—perhaps the one Zheng Xiu followed. But could the Merchant Path really be used to beat Gu Qiutang into that state?

Yin Qingqing did not believe it.

’Perhaps the Red King really did it himself to make a statement.’

The Red King’s mystique gave Yin Qingqing a faint understanding of why the Great Emperor had sent her to him.

In her room, Yin Qingqing removed her bodice. The Copper Mirror reflected her smooth back, but the sight of the ugly, two-character brand, like a tattoo, made her expression twist in disgust.

Slipping into bed, Yin Qingqing first took out two wads of Cotton and plugged her ears, then curled up under the covers.

Her room was filled with oil lamps, leaving it brightly lit. But in the dead of night, Yin Qingqing’s eyes shot open in terror. Once again, she could only watch as tangible clumps of "Darkness" seeped from the corners of the room, converging on her bed and pressing down until she could barely breathe.

’It’s happening again... It’s happening again... It’s happening again...’

Yin Qingqing shut her eyes in agony. A sound filled her ears, like sharp nails scraping against wood and glass. It was as if something was lurking in the Darkness, its sharp claws dragging along the floor as it crawled toward her, inch by inch.

But Yin Qingqing knew with certainty that there was nothing alive in her room, or anywhere outside it.

These were the "whispers" from the Darkness.

...

After seeing Feng Bei back to his room, Zheng Xiu excitedly slipped down into his small cellar.

Tonight, Zizi and Jing Xuemei were practicing together in the cellar. Both were scantily clad, their skin flushed red and strikingly pale. Their limbs were entangled in a strange posture.

They were practicing the "Orchid" Path.

’Weird,’ Zheng Xiu thought with a glance, before heading straight for the back of the cellar.

As he had instructed before leaving, a large wooden barrel was waiting for him. In the dim light, a viscous, tar-like poison churned within it, an occasional bubble rising to the surface.

Zheng Xiu took a sniff. The smell was more pleasant than he’d expected; there was even a faint, strange floral aroma.

A special formula from the Thousand-Handed Poison Lady, Ji Hong’ou.

As he continued to inhale the scent, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and a hazy, seven-colored light swam before his eyes. Zheng Xiu quickly covered his mouth and nose and backed away, not daring to test his luck any further.

’Worthy of the Thousand-Handed Poison Lady,’ he thought. ’Seems she added a healthy dose of Sedative to this bathwater.’

"Smells nice, though."

Marveling at the efficiency of the Zheng Clan’s workers, Zheng Xiu sat down on the spot, a good ten paces from the poison-filled barrel. His consciousness sank, and he found himself seated upon the Bone Chair in his Heart Prison.

Zheng Xiu checked the locations of his various Post Stations. The "Flower Post Station" was about to reach Shuzhou, its journey so far having been uneventful.

The Monk’s status in the Post Station system showed his Destiny as "Blessed with Good Fortune." While Destiny was an illusory and unpredictable thing, Zheng Xiu had to admit that in the time he’d spent with the Monk, the man’s luck was indeed inexplicably good. It forced Zheng Xiu to believe that such a force truly existed. Thus, he wasn’t worried about the Monk’s journey; a cursory glance was all it took before he moved on.

’When the Monk gets to General Town, I’ll head over and take a look too.’

Zheng Xiu knew the Monk wanted to find Master Dengdeng for answers. He was no different.

After pushing open the seventh door of the Prisoner Path, Zheng Xiu’s physical attributes had improved by leaps and bounds. His five senses were keen, and even without projecting an Incarnation, three or five ordinary brutes would be no match for him in close quarters.

During the Capture of Gu Qiutang, Zheng Xiu had taken the opportunity to assume his "Dan Demon" form, experiencing the thrill of being a tyrannical monster.

The "Caged Sparrow" and "Dan Demon" forms had completely different characteristics. The Caged Sparrow could fly, possessed aerial combat capabilities, and offered a massive speed boost, making it suitable for most situations. The Dan Demon, however, was different. Its form was twisted, its movements slow, and its body cumbersome. It could barely move quickly at all. When Zheng Xiu had first transformed into the Dan Demon, the ground beneath his feet had collapsed. Clearly, the "Dan Demon’s" weight was measured in tons.