https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-196-Conspiracy-and-Open-Strategy-A-Challenge-for-Sparring/13688370/
Chapter 195: Rumors
"Oh, I wonder what major incident has occurred in Cang Zhou this time?" Hearing Wei Shanhai mention Cang Zhou, Lu Qing’s thoughts stirred slightly. He kept his expression calm and asked, feigning casual interest.
"Two days ago, a small outpost in Zhou Fu was wiped out—some Entertainment District Barracks, to be precise. No one knows exactly why, but the entire place was slaughtered. At first, it wasn’t considered anything significant. These kinds of minor factions operating on the fringes of society often provoke enemies and get destroyed in fights all the time. Their annihilation wasn’t surprising.
But then, things took a turn. The second son of the Fu Cheng Zheng Jia family was present at the time—someone from the family’s elite—and he was killed too. That’s when the situation exploded."
"Why? Is the Fu Cheng Zheng Jia family so powerful?" Old Doctor asked, curiosity piqued.
"The Fu Cheng Zheng Jia is a long-established, formidable clan with deep roots. Their influence ranks among the strongest in all of Zhou Fu—truly one of the most powerful families in Cang Zhou. Their ancestral matriarch, though a woman, is a peerless cultivator. Decades ago, she had already reached the peak of the Xian Tian Early Stage. Though she suffered grave injuries in the past and can no longer advance, she remains one of the most formidable Xian Tian Jing within the Fu Cheng clan."
"So the matter you’re referring to, Old Doctor, is connected to the Zheng Jia family?" Lu Qing pressed.
It seemed Yuan Yang Zhai’s fate—the outpost of Qi Sha Lou—hadn’t spread beyond its immediate circle. Whether the news had been deliberately suppressed or the surviving guests had simply failed to report it remained unclear.
"Yes," Wei Shanhai confirmed. "The death of the Zheng Jia second son, on its own, wasn’t a major issue. In these times, even disciples of top sects can perish during cultivation trials. How much more so for a mere noble’s heir? But the problem lies in the fact that this second son was the beloved grandson of the Zheng Jia Lao Zu—her only remaining heir. She doted on him deeply.
After his death, she went mad. Not only did she execute the几名 guards who failed to protect him, but she also arrested their wives, children, and entire clans. She openly declared that on the day of her grandson’s funeral, she would perform a living human sacrifice—offering them all as burial companions for her grandson."
When Lu Qing heard the words “living human sacrifice,” he remained silent. He felt only a flicker of shock—amazed at the Zheng Jia Lao Zu’s ruthlessness. Executing the guards was one thing, but to punish their families, their children—was this the behavior of a noble house?
Old Doctor, however, reacted with utter horror, his face pale. "Living human sacrifice? The Zheng Jia Lao Zu is truly monstrous?"
"Master, what exactly is living human sacrifice?" Lu Qing had rarely seen his master so shaken, and he couldn’t help but ask.
"It’s an abominable method of burial," Wei Shanhai answered before Old Doctor could. "The victims are first given a life-extending elixir. Then, they are subjected to endless tortures—slow, agonizing deaths. Just before they expire, they’re sealed in clay, shaped into statues, and buried with the corpse. Because of the elixir, they remain conscious—still breathing, still feeling—though trapped in complete darkness. They spend eternity in fear, slowly dying in silence, their souls wracked with hatred and despair, unable to be reborn. Their spirits are trapped forever in the clay."
Lu Qing shuddered. He had never imagined such a method could be so cruel. No wonder Old Doctor was so shaken.
Old Doctor’s expression darkened. "I recall that this practice was outlawed long ago—by Imperial Capital edict, due to its extreme cruelty and violation of Heaven’s harmony."
Wei Shanhai nodded. "Not just the Imperial Capital. Even Sheng Shan issued a decree forbidding it. Now, such acts are exceedingly rare. Anyone who dares practice it does so in secret, never openly."
"Then why is the Zheng Jia Lao Zu defying all of this? Why would she commit such a heinous act?" Old Doctor asked, voice tight with disbelief.
"Indeed," Lu Qing added. "Doesn’t she fear Sheng Shan sending envoys to punish her?"
"I don’t know," Wei Shanhai admitted, shaking his head. "But there are rumors—whispers that the Zheng Jia Lao Zu has lost her mind. She once had two sons. Her eldest was a prodigy, one of the most celebrated young talents in Cang Zhou. She had planned to groom him as the next head of the family. But he was killed by a passing Xian Tian Jing cultivator, for reasons unknown. Enraged, she fought the stranger in a battle that left her gravely wounded. Her lifespan was drastically shortened. She’s nearing her final days now.
Now, the second son—killed in the massacre—was said to be the eldest’s posthumous child. After such repeated blows, with her own time running out, her mind may have broken. That’s likely why she no longer fears Sheng Shan’s wrath."
"Still, even if she’s mad, she shouldn’t resort to such a cruel method," Old Doctor said, his voice heavy. "The legends say those sacrificed are cursed—their souls trapped in the clay statues, unable to reincarnate, their spirits forever tormented. It’s a grave sin against Heaven and Earth."
"Old Doctor, if the Imperial Capital has forbidden this practice, wouldn’t Zhou Fu take action?" Lu Qing asked.
"Right now, it’s only rumor. No proof has been confirmed. The Zheng Jia denies it outright. Without concrete evidence, even the Cheng Zhu Fu can’t act against them. Yet… strangely, despite the damage the rumors cause, the Zheng Jia hasn’t tried to stop them. They let the stories spread freely—something utterly baffling.
And yet, they have imprisoned the families of the dead guards. That fact alone fuels suspicion. Many now believe the rumors may be true. The entire region of Zhou Fu is on edge. No one knows what the Zheng Jia Lao Zu will do—whether she’ll truly carry out this unspeakable act on her grandson’s funeral day."
"May she still have a shred of mercy," Old Doctor sighed, relief washing over him. "At least there’s a chance she’ll stop before it comes to that."
"Indeed," Wei Shanhai added, sorrow in his voice. "I heard among the arrested families, there were infants—children not yet a year old. If even the very young are to suffer such a fate… it would be the most horrific atrocity imaginable."
Old Doctor’s face darkened again.
But Lu Qing, hearing Wei Shanhai’s earlier words, suddenly felt a spark of realization deep in his mind. Yet he showed nothing on his face, continuing to chat with the two elders as if nothing had changed.
Later, Wei Shanhai shared more recent news from across the realm. Though the Wei Family lived in relative isolation, they had always kept a watchful eye on the outside world. Especially after nearly being wiped out two years prior—and learning of the great upheaval looming ahead—they had become hyper-aware of every ripple in the world.
Thanks to this, Lu Qing gained valuable intelligence on the wider world.
When Wei Shanhai finally finished and returned to his private courtyard, Lu Qing went home, his expression solemn. Only then did he allow himself to sink into deep thought.
(End of Chapter)
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