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Chapter 195: Rumors
"Oh? What great event has occurred in Cangzhou that has caught your attention, Elder Wei?" Lu Qing asked casually, his curiosity piqued by the mention of his home region.
Elder Wei Shanhai explained, "A few days ago, an incident took place in the provincial capital. There was a brothel district that, for reasons unknown, was slaughtered. It's not unusual for these small factions operating in the gray areas to offend someone and get wiped out. However, what was unexpected was that the second young master of the Zheng family of the provincial capital happened to be there and was also killed."
"Is this Zheng family from the provincial capital very formidable?" The elderly physician asked curiously.
"The Zheng family is a powerful and longstanding old clan. Their foundation is one of the strongest in the entire provincial capital, ranking them among the most powerful families in Cangzhou. The elder of the clan is a woman, but her cultivation is profound. Years ago, she had already reached the peak of the Initial Profound Ancestor Realm. Although she suffered a severe injury later due to certain events and her realm has stagnated since, she is still considered one of the most powerful Ancestor Realm cultivators in the provincial capital," Wei Shanhai elaborated.
"So, Elder Wei, this major event is related to the Zheng family?" Lu Qing inquired further.
It seemed that the news of the brothel being a Seven Murders Sect base had not spread. Lu Qing wondered if someone had intentionally covered up the information or if the guests who had fled the scene had kept quiet about it.
"Indeed," Wei Shanhai nodded. "The death of the second young master of the Zheng family wouldn't usually be a huge deal. In these turbulent times, even disciples of top sects may perish during their travels if they're not careful, let alone a mere scion of a noble family. However, this particular young master was the favorite grandson of the Zheng family's elder. After his death, the elder of the Zheng family went berserk. She not only executed the young master's bodyguards but also imprisoned their families and clansmen. She vowed to perform a live human sacrifice of all of them on the day of her grandson's burial to accompany him in death."
Lu Qing remained unmoved at the mention of live human sacrifice, only surprised by the ruthlessness of the Zheng family's elder. To slaughter the bodyguards for failing in their duty was one thing, but to take it out on their families as well seemed excessive for a major clan.
However, the elderly physician was visibly shocked at the mention of live human sacrifice, his face paling as he asked, "Live human sacrifice? Is the Zheng family elder so cruel?"
"Master, what is live human sacrifice?" Lu Qing rarely saw his master so disturbed and couldn't help but ask.
"Live human sacrifice is an extremely cruel form of burial," Wei Shanhai explained before the elderly physician could respond. "The victims are forced to consume a life-sustaining drug and then tortured with various cruel methods. Just before they die, they are sealed in clay to create a clay figure that is buried with the tomb owner. Due to the effects of the drug, even as clay figures, they do not die immediately but remain conscious and slowly feel their life ebb away, eventually perishing in endless resentment."
Lu Qing shuddered. He had not expected the method of live human sacrifice to be so cruel, no wonder his master was so affected.
The elderly physician's face darkened as he recalled, "I remember this practice was banned by the royal capital due to its extreme cruelty and violation of the laws of nature and heaven."
Wei Shanhai nodded. "Not just the royal capital, even the Holy Mountain has issued edicts forbidding live human sacrifices."
Chapter: The Rumors Spread
"So, it's rare for such an event to occur in this world. Even if someone dares to perform this act, they would do it secretly and never openly."
"Then why is the elder of the Zheng family daring to go against the world and perform such a cruel and inhumane act?" The elderly physician inquired.
"Indeed, isn't she afraid of incurring the wrath of the Holy Mountain?" Lu Qing added.
"That, I do not know." Wei Shanhai shook his head.
"However, there are rumors that the elder of the Zheng family has gone mad.
She had two sons in her early years. The eldest had exceptional martial talent and was one of the most renowned young talents in Cangzhou at the time.
The elder doted on him immensely and intended to groom him as the future head of the Zheng family.
However, who could have foreseen that the eldest son would offend a passing Heavenly Realm warrior due to certain matters and be killed on the spot?
When the elder of the Zheng family learned of this, she fought a great battle with the Heavenly Realm warrior, avenging her son.
Although she was severely injured and her lifespan greatly reduced, she still managed to survive. Counting the years, her time is almost up, and she doesn't have long to live.
It's said that the second young master who just passed away was the posthumous son of the eldest son.
Facing consecutive blows and with her own death approaching, it seems the elder of the Zheng family has lost her sanity, no longer heeding the Holy Mountain's edict."
"Even so, she shouldn't perform the live human sacrifice. It's too cruel. It's said that those tortured by this method are filled with resentment, their three souls and seven spirits trapped within the clay figure, unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation and attain rebirth. It goes against the natural order and provokes the heavens," the elderly physician said, his expression still grim.
"Elder Wei, since the royal capital has expressly forbidden this act, why hasn't the state intervened?" Lu Qing asked.
"The news of the Zheng family performing a live human sacrifice is still just a rumor and hasn't been confirmed. The Zheng family has denied it all. Without concrete evidence, even the City Lord's Mansion can't act against the Zheng family.
However, what's strange is that even though these rumors are detrimental to them, the Zheng family hasn't made any effort to stop them from spreading. It's quite puzzling.
Moreover, the Zheng family has indeed imprisoned the families of those guards.
Because of this, many people suspect that the rumors might not be groundless.
In any case, the entire state is on edge right now.
We don't know if the elder of the Zheng family will truly go through with this inhumane act on the day of her grandson's burial."
"Let's hope that the elder of the Zheng family will show mercy and refrain from creating such heinous karma."
The elderly physician felt relieved, thinking that there might still be a chance to prevent the live human sacrifice. He was a kind-hearted man, and if the elder of the Zheng family insisted on going through with it, he feared he would have to intervene.
"I hope so too. I heard that among the captured families of those guards, there are even children who haven't reached adulthood yet. If even they are subjected to this extreme punishment, it would be truly heart-wrenching," Wei Shanhai sighed.
The elderly physician's face turned grave again upon hearing this.
On the other hand, Lu Qing's eyes lit up as he heard Wei Shanhai's previous words, a guess forming in his mind.
However, he kept his expression neutral and continued chatting with the two elders.
Subsequently, Wei Shanhai shared some recent happenings from around the world.
Even though the Wei family resided in a remote area, they had always kept themselves informed about the outside world.
After the near-extinction of their clan two years ago and learning about the impending great changes in the world, they had become even more attentive to external affairs.
Through Wei Shanhai, Lu Qing gained a lot of valuable information about the world.
After Wei Shanhai returned to his courtyard, Lu Qing went back home and quietly contemplated what he had heard.
(End of Chapter)
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