Immortality Path: From the Blind Man at the Pharmacy-Chapter 64 - 63. Holding a funeral
Chapter 64: 63. Holding a funeral
Chapter 64: 63. Holding a funeral
On the execution ground, heads rolled around, yet An Chenyu did not attend the scene. Only Mr. Wang, Wang Tianma, two attendants from the An Residence, the steward, and “Miss Ling, who was everywhere when miscellaneous tasks arose,” were present.
As for the eldest of the Wang brothers, Wang Tianchuan, he was supposed to be there but was absent due to urgent matters outside the prefecture.
Upon seeing the head of the eldest master rolling off the execution platform, Mr. Wang’s mind became completely muddled…
What was going on here?
Clearly, they were supposed to seize power with a letter from the Old Master; how simple should that have been?
How did it suddenly come to colluding with bandits and getting beheaded?
“Good! Good!”
“Serves him right!”
Among the onlookers, there were evidently some who deeply hated bandits, each expressing their joy at seeing the bandits die.
Mr. Wang looked around, finding the sunlight glaring and hearing the cries of “good” made him dizzy. He thought to himself: How would he explain this to the old employer?
…
…
“Good!”
“Good!!”
On the branches, festive little firecrackers popped and burst.
Amidst a faint smoke of gunpowder, the red flowers were in full bloom.
A group of muscular men in Martial Path uniforms gathered around a grove thick with blossoming crabapple flowers, clapping frantically.
In the woods, where the flowers bloomed, an altar table displayed offerings of pig, cow, and sheep, as well as fruit platters. Three sticks of clear incense were still burning on the Water Bird brass incense burner.
Outside the altar table, two young men were bowing to the vast sky, vowing future brotherhood and mutual support.
As the two stood up, Zhao Hua excitedly looked at Song Cheng and shouted, “Big brother!”
Song Cheng smiled and nodded, the black cloth around his eyes fluttering slightly in the gentle breeze.
The martial arts hall’s muscular men immediately began to cheer again.
Meanwhile, the elders from the martial arts hall, like Old Master Zhao and Master Chen, watched the scene with contentment, their hearts settling much.
Although they had previously sworn an oath with blood, there was still a slight unease.
However, they were well aware of the events of the past few days, and at that moment, when Zhao Hua, who represented the southern city martial arts hall’s power, and Blind Song sworn brotherhood, truly a sense of being bound unto death arose.
Blind Song was destined to be a man of consequence.
In this chaotic world, Zhao Hua following him, the southern city martial arts hall following him, the old men felt completely assured.
Old Master Zhao couldn’t stop smiling and, seeing enough, waved his hand, causing the cheering strong men to immediately halt. Old Master Zhao looked at Song Cheng and called, “Brother Song…”
Just as he spoke, many people burst into laughter, but upon realizing it was Old Master Zhao, quickly covered their mouths, suppressing their laughter.
Song Cheng replied, “Uncle Zhao, since Hua and I are sworn brothers, I’ll call you uncle from now on.”
Old Master Zhao suddenly felt elevated in status and laughed heartily, “Old and muddle-headed, old and muddle-headed.”
Master Chen beside him laughed and said, “Old Zhao isn’t muddle-headed, just delighted.”
Old Master Zhao laughed heartily, waving and saying, “Come on, come on! Today at the southern city restaurant, eat, drink, be merry, everything is free, no stopping till we drop!”
Turning again to the martial arts hall’s disciples, he said, “Boys, eat and drink to your heart’s content!”
“Good!!” the martial arts hall disciples responded loudly.
…
…
The meal continued straight into the afternoon until they finally stopped at early Shen time.
Song Cheng staggered back to the Ruyi Commerce Chamber, collapsing onto the couch in the middle of the afternoon, feeling as light as if he were about to float away, leaving all troubles behind.
Good wine was truly marvelous.
Not getting drunk would have been fine, actually.
But that would be such a waste.
Song Cheng decided to enjoy this rare moment of drunkenness, knowing he still had things to do by early evening at the latest.
Sure enough, by evening, a government official arrived to notify them that many bodies were found near the southern city highway, appearing to belong to the Ruyi Commerce Chamber, and so they were notified to identify them.
Consequently, An Chenyu, Song Cheng, Mr. Wang, along with several guards, hurriedly went on horseback.
After a round of identification, all identities were clear.
The Old Master of the An Residence, Madam of the An Family, the Madam’s personal maid, a Force Realm Warrior of the An Family, and several guards…
All the money on the carriage was robbed, and the surroundings bore traces suggesting it was bandits, since the officials found upon searching that the killers had fled toward the mountain forest.
Now, the refugees surviving the Ghost Tide outside the town were a major issue, and their number had yet to be meticulously counted, making the appearance of bandits all too normal.
An Chenyu stood silently beside the Old Master’s corpse, her feelings complex.
She was generally aware of the situation in the prefectural city, as she left spies within the An Family, even if they weren’t senior, they could still detect some movements.
She could roughly guess the Old Master’s purpose in coming.
An Changsheng colluded with bandits to kill her, which the Old Master probably knew too.
Yet the punished, the wronged, even the deserving of death, was always her.
Why?
“Just because I’m a woman?”
“Are women doomed to sacrifice for your self-interests?”
Miss An murmured softly, in a voice only the young man beside her could hear.
She hung her head silently, and unsure of what she thought, gradually the sorrow on her face was covered by resolute ice. She bent down to gently pull up the white cloth, then took a deep breath as if to expel all the “choking,” “melancholy,” and “sadness” from her heart.
After a long time, she calmly said, “Song, let’s return to the prefectural city to hold the funeral.”
Song Cheng nodded, softly saying, “Sister An, things in the county should be almost settled; the prefectural city is further behind, so whatever happens, there will still be a buffer.”
Major forces were not allowed to migrate, but the Ruyi Commerce Chamber’s roots were in the prefectural city, and also having a reason like providing the Old Master’s funeral, no one would obstruct them.
As for what they needed to do in the county, it was mainly revolving around the Shanghe County’s grain warehouse and the canal.
But just yesterday, An Chenyu had already successfully donated two supervisors, getting Wang Tianchuan from the Wang brothers and Gao Lin both involved in the “Canal Project.”
The project had already started, and just this morning, the two had left for the vicinity of the Shanghe County’s canal.
Thus, there was really nothing left worth staying for in Shanghe County.
…
…
Three days later…
Coffins were loaded onto ox carts.
Miss An was making arrangements for the departure.
Meanwhile, Song Cheng accompanied the steward to the county government office to handle the road guide.
If it were another family’s departure, the government offices might have obstructed a bit, but as the Ruyi Commerce Chamber’s roots were in the prefectural city, needing to return for the funeral, there would be no obstruction. As to whether Song Cheng’s influence played a part, there was somewhat of that element.
Influence, perhaps, could not work miracles, but it certainly could provide benefits.
The steward found the road guide procedures exceedingly swift…
Ahead, the steward went through the procedures.
Meanwhile, Song Cheng was invited to the backyard by a government official.
In the backyard, Ouyang Fei was sitting at a white stone table, smiling as he watched him.
Song Cheng approached with a cane and bowed, sitting down casually.
Ouyang Fei poured tea for the two, then smiled and said, “The Internal Affairs Envoy will arrive soon, so no drinking during the day. Bear with it, Brother Song.”
Song Cheng smiled, “The tea is good.”
He lifted his cup, sniffed the aroma of the tea, then slowly lifted it to level.
Ouyang Fei clinked cups with him.
The two laughed heartily and drank it all.
Ouyang Fei put down his teacup, took out a letter from his bosom, and pushed it toward Song Cheng, saying, “These days, I’ve observed that Brother Song actually hasn’t been much affected by his eye condition. This letter is a recommendation for talents from our White Camel Estate, jointly signed and fingerprinted by me and Magistrate Chen. If you wish to join the Inner Sect upon your arrival in the prefectural city, just present this letter; if not, keep it hidden.”
Song Cheng asked seriously, “Brother Ouyang, if I join the Inner Sect, what will happen?”
Ouyang Fei thought for a moment and began counting out the details.
Song Cheng slowly understood.
The White Camel Estate wasn’t just an estate; it was a block, the Flower Sea Block.
The entire block formed the White Camel Estate together.
If you formally joined the White Camel Estate, first, your family members must move into the Flower Sea Block, entering and exiting with a hand order.
Doing so, first and foremost, offered more safety; secondly, it elevated your status. Seeing you were from the Flower Sea Block, others would know you were either rich or noble and wouldn’t dare provoke you easily; thirdly, it rooted you there. If you harbored ulterior motives, you had to weigh them first.
The third point, of course, Ouyang Fei didn’t mention, but Song Cheng could easily deduce it.
Within the White Camel Estate, the Old Master and Young Master of the estate held the highest regard, followed by two Elders, one who enforced the law and another controlled snakes; then four Internal Affairs Envoys and two External Affairs Envoys.
These higher-ups were at least at the “Form Realm.”
It was even rumored that the Master and Elders were beyond the “Form Realm,” having broken the mortal limit of a hundred-year lifespan.
The Internal Affairs Envoys oversaw local affairs and were the superiors to whom the county’s magistrates and county magistrates reported. However, with the four of them alternating shifts, they couldn’t and dared not consider “forming factions.”
The External Affairs Envoys oversaw the martial arts world; compared to the hall of the Internal Affairs, they had fewer people, but all were elite.
The Law Enforcement Elder, as the name implied.
The Snake-controlling Elder was established due to the characteristics of the White Camel Estate.
The White Camel Estate mastered controlling a unique type of demon beast, and this beast was the snake, which came in different species, the specifics of which Ouyang Fei didn’t know, only aware they were terrifying snakes, as the county magistrate’s Inner Sect disciple.
Hence, the Snake-controlling Elder was considered the strongest individual aside from the Old Master.
Regarding territories…
Within the eighteen counties of Hanping Prefecture, White Camel Estate controlled territories over five counties, the Pearl Mountain Taoist Temple controlled four, and Shanhe Martial Arts Hall controlled nine.
This time, to assert control, the Internal Affairs Envoys and even the Law Enforcement Elder of White Camel Estate were all mobilized.
All the above was the basic information about White Camel Estate known to Ouyang Fei. He, from the Inner Sect, was unaware of further developments…
While the two were chatting, a clerk from the front yard suddenly rushed back but, upon seeing Song Cheng, hesitated.
Ouyang Fei barked, “Speak directly!”
The clerk said, “The Ruyi Commerce Chamber’s return to the prefectural city this time is accompanied by some martial arts hall people.”
Ouyang Fei asked, “How many people?”
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The clerk replied, “Eleven… including Zhao Hua and Liu Jun from the Water Bird Martial Arts Hall…”
Ouyang Fei said, “Only eleven, and you specifically came to report it? Just handle it! Haven’t you heard that Zhao Hua from the southern city martial arts hall and my Brother Song became sworn brothers? What’s wrong with going with him to the prefectural city? Not clever!”
The clerk hurriedly withdrew.
Once gone, Ouyang Fei smacked his lips and lowered his voice, saying, “Brother, don’t make it too frequent. Come every five or six days, with fewer numbers, ideally just three or four people. Otherwise, it becomes too conspicuous and might cause trouble with others wanting to fuss. Once the Internal Affairs Envoy arrives, it would be hard if they investigate.”
Song Cheng chuckled and clasped his fists, saying, “I will remember, thank you, Brother Ouyang.”
Ouyang Fei smiled and said, “No need for courtesy.”
