Chapter 25 : A world of chaos and trouble

In the dilapidated temple, a rustling sound persisted for a long time before gradually dying down.

Honghong let out a loud burp, her face filled with a look of complete satisfaction. So, the taste of "friends" was so wonderful. They were tender - skinned and much more delicious than candied haws. Especially the soft and tender internal organs, which could be regarded as the most delicious delicacy under the sun...

Looking at the bare skeleton in front of her, she pouted unhappily. It was disappointing that it was eaten up so quickly. Unfortunately, her parents had told her to keep a low profile. Otherwise, she could have eaten more heartily. After all, there were quite a few "friends" around here.

Honghong had always been intelligent and remembered her parents' admonitions firmly in her heart. So she specifically targeted "friends" with small figures and took great pains to cover up her tracks and identity, for fear of being noticed by others.

After a full meal, Honghong hid her petite body back in the wide - black robe again, turned around and walked out of the dilapidated temple, ready to look for the next "friend".

...

Today, the old beggar was overjoyed. When it was nearly noon, a very handsome young master was extremely generous and directly rewarded him with two ingots of silver. These two ingots of silver were enough for him and his grandson to live for several months.

The old beggar had originally wanted to kneel down and kowtow to express his gratitude, but was straightforwardly refused by the other party. All this made the old beggar feel as if he were in a dream. There was actually such a kind - hearted person in the world. The old beggar was filled with emotions. After the young master left, he quickly put the two ingots of silver into his pocket. He knew the truth that one should not show one's wealth, especially in Changqing County, where there were many of his kind. There was no guarantee that someone might be jealous and covet his unexpected fortune.

Go back to the dilapidated temple to find his grandson! Today, they would not eat steamed buns made of corn flour. Later, he would take his grandson to a restaurant and have a good meal! The old beggar had just made a bold statement in his heart, but quickly changed his mind. Forget it, going to a restaurant was too expensive. It would be better to go to a street stall with his grandson and eat two bowls of wontons.

With such thoughts in mind, the old beggar cheerfully left the city and rushed towards the dilapidated temple. But as soon as he reached the entrance of the dilapidated temple, a strong and pungent smell of blood rushed towards him!

The joy on the old beggar's face instantly disappeared. He furrowed his brows and walked quickly into the temple. There was no one in the dilapidated temple, but the smell of blood became even stronger. The old beggar groped his way along until he reached the back of the statue.

There, a blood - stained skeleton was lying quietly on the ground.

"Boom!" The old beggar felt as if his head had been hit hard by a sledgehammer. He was dizzy and almost couldn't stand steadily. No, no... Don't think nonsense. These bones could never be Gouwa's... Gouwa had just gone out. He must have gone out to look for him. These were someone else's bones. They must be! He frantically comforted himself in his heart, but tears welled up in his eyes uncontrollably. Because the size of the skeleton... was clearly that of a child. And beside the skeleton, on the torn pieces of burlap, there were faintly visible numerous patches, which he had sewn on one by one with his own hands.

Facing this cruel reality, the old beggar could no longer hold back and burst into heart - rending wails.

...

In the county magistrate's yamen, the lights were on all night. The atmosphere in the inner quarters of the yamen was so oppressive that it was suffocating, as if a storm was about to come. It was so dull that people wanted to die.

Shang Wenshu, the county magistrate's assistant, reported to the gloomy figure behind the desk with trepidation, "My lord, from yesterday afternoon until now, I have led people to search everywhere for that Shen Zhou for a whole day and night, but still haven't found anything..."

Zhao Shuanghe didn't respond. He seemed not to have heard Shang Wenshu's words at all. His eyes were closed, and there was no sign of joy or sorrow on his face.

Shang Wenshu didn't dare to let this deathly silence continue. He could only brace himself and continue, "In my humble opinion, for now, I'm afraid we can only wait for someone from Guanghan Palace above to come down before we can bring that scoundrel to justice."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhao Shuanghe finally made a move. He slowly opened his blood - shot eyes and stared straight at Shang Wenshu. Staring until Shang Wenshu's scalp went numb, Zhao Shuanghe let out a long sigh, "Lao Shang, you have been with me for ten years, right..."

Wait a minute. Isn't this the standard line when one is about to kill a lackey? Shang Wenshu trembled all over. With a "plop", he directly knelt down in front of Zhao Shuanghe and begged, "My lord, please calm your anger! It's not that we didn't do our best. It's just that that fellow's whereabouts are erratic and difficult to track! Moreover, he has successively killed several powerful martial artists in the county. He didn't die even when his head was shot by a crossbow. He is simply no different from a devil. He is definitely not someone we can deal with! I'm also heartbroken about Jing'er's accident. I watched Jing'er grow up. He is just like my own son. Please, my lord, accept my condolences and take care of yourself..."

"Accept your mother's condolences!" Zhao Shuanghe rudely interrupted Shang Wenshu's words. Suddenly enraged, he fiercely threw the pen container on the desk at Shang Wenshu's head.

Shang Wenshu couldn't dodge in time. Blood gushed out instantly. He covered his head and knelt on the ground, not daring to make a sound.

Zhao Shuanghe's eyes were wide with anger, and his face was distorted with rage as he roared, "Stop saying such cold - blooded things! It's easy for you to say. You haven't lost your son! I really want to kill your son now and let you taste the feeling of losing a son! My son is just short of a servant to order around!"

Shang Wenshu was so frightened that his soul almost left his body. He quickly kowtowed frantically to Zhao Shuanghe, "I know I'm wrong, I know I'm wrong..." He knew Zhao Shuanghe's character. This old scoundrel could really do anything! The perverted conduct of Zhao Shuanghe's son was largely influenced by his father!

Shang Wenshu kowtowed like a pounding garlic. His head, which had already been broken, now made the ground full of blood with his kowtowing. But he didn't dare to stop because he understood that he was fighting for his son's life.

Zhao Shuanghe said nothing and looked down at Shang Wenshu's狼狈 appearance from a height, as if he intended to let him kowtow until he died.

It was not until Shang Wenshu felt dizzy and almost lost consciousness that Zhao Shuanghe's cold voice finally rang out, "That's enough. Get up. Don't make a fool of yourself here!"

"Thank you, thank you, my lord..." Shang Wenshu let out a long breath. These words meant that Zhao Shuanghe probably wouldn't do anything to his son.

He stood up shakily and then immediately noticed something was wrong. Make a fool of himself? In front of whom? At this time, Shang Wenshu noticed that there were two people standing at the door of the study.

Saying they were people was actually not appropriate. Although they had human figures, they were not human beings but two demons. The two cat - demons were both wearing the same black robes. The one on the left was as burly as an iron tower, with bulging muscles all over his body and shiny black fur. The one on the right was petite and delicate, like a night elf, with smooth and soft orange fur.

Demons actually swaggered into the county magistrate's yamen!!

The male cat - demon happened to lower his head and met Shang Wenshu's gaze. With just one look, Shang Wenshu trembled all over. The eyes were full of greed and cruelty, as if looking at a tiny and insignificant mouse...

"What are you standing there for? Get out!" Zhao Shuanghe's angry shout brought Shang Wenshu back to his senses.

"Yes. Excuse me. Please make way, two lords..." Shang Wenshu lowered his head, covered his face, and squeezed past the two cat - demons in fear. The two cat - demons ignored him and let him walk out of the room.

It was not until he reached the courtyard that Shang Wenshu let out a heavy breath, feeling as if he had just come back from the gates of hell. Fortunately, the result was not too bad. His life and his son's life should both be saved. At the same time, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart: Crazy. This old scoundrel Zhao Shuanghe has completely gone crazy! In order to avenge his son, he actually doesn't hesitate to collude with demons! Shang Wenshu had vaguely noticed this before, but he never expected that Zhao Shuanghe would be so bold this time and directly bring demons into the yamen! What should he do now?

"Dong dong dong!" Suddenly, there was a rapid drumming sound outside. Shang Wenshu, who was already frightened, jumped up on the spot. But he quickly realized that it was the sound of the drum of justice at the entrance of the yamen.

"Who, who is beating the drum?" Shang Wenshu asked loudly as he walked out quickly. Soon, a yamen runner came to report. As soon as the yamen runner approached, he saw Shang Wenshu's blood - covered head and couldn't help showing surprise, "My lord, your head..."

"Never mind my head first!" Shang Wenshu waved his hand and asked eagerly, "I asked you, who is beating the drum outside?"

"It's a beggar. He said his grandson has been killed!" The yamen runner reported truthfully.

"Quickly drive that beggar away!" Shang Wenshu waved his hand angrily, "Our master has just lost his son. How can he have the time to care about someone else's grandson?" Zhao Shuanghe had already gone crazy. If this beggar kept beating the drum like this, I'm afraid not only his grandson's life would be in danger, but his own life would also be at stake!

However, the yamen runner looked tangled and terrified, "But, my lord, the old beggar has brought his grandson's bones. His grandson only has a skeleton left. The other parts are gone, and even the meat on the bones has been completely picked clean... I guess, most likely, he was eaten by some demon!"

As he said this, the yamen runner's face was full of fear, and Shang Wenshu was stunned. Demons... Weren't there two in the yamen right now?