Chapter 1061: Chapter 1065: The Judge of that Year Chapter 1061: Chapter 1065: The Judge of that Year Leaving Dream Hall, Zhu Minglang walked alone in the forest.
By now, it was already the afternoon, and the thin silver sunlight scattered through the dense foliage, spottily illuminating Zhu Minglang's figure.
Passing through the woods, he returned to the somewhat murky river.
Zhu Minglang glanced at this muddy river, vaguely feeling that the riverbed was sedimented with many impurities.
Just then, Zhu Minglang heard footsteps.
From the direction of the woods, an elderly man carrying a bamboo basket approached, gasping for air. Upon seeing Zhu Minglang, his eyes lit up.
“Old man, why haven't you gone home yet?” Zhu Minglang asked.
“Immortal, this is the best Lingzhi Mushroom I gathered today. I'm giving it to you. I can tell you've been busy with Hong Mo's matters lately; your complexion looks a bit off. Take it home to replenish your vitality,” the elderly man said.
“My issue is not one of vitality. Keep it for yourself. Old man, heed my advice, reduce your Spirit Gathering in the early morning, as it's not good for your health. Especially if you want to spend a few more years with your grandchildren,” Zhu Minglang said.
“All I want is for my children's life to be better in the future. At this age, this old bag of bones doesn't have much else to offer. By the way, have you resolved the matter?” the old man inquired.
Zhu Minglang shook his head and replied, “The youth you know is no longer the weak boy who used to rely on deception. Now he has grown powerful in mana, and I'm afraid he is one of the most formidable Evil Immortals in Yuheng Fairy City. I am also uncertain if I can overpower him. Moreover, with the nights growing longer and the days shorter, the True Gods are in decline, while dark and evil forces are burgeoning unchecked…”
The elderly man listened with a confused look; he didn't quite grasp these matters but just listened on.
“If there's anything you need from this old man, just say it. After all, I bear responsibility for this matter too. Had I assisted them more forty years ago, perhaps they wouldn't have ended up on such a path,” the old man earnestly said.
The older he got, the more he believed in the cycle of karma and the revolving fortunes of the Heavenly Dao.
It was evident that the old man held genuine remorse and guilt over the past.
“Them??” Zhu Minglang asked with some confusion, “Old man, why do you say 'them'?”
“After the Taoist vanished, the Daoist Temple became an orphanage. A group of Daoist Boys lived by begging, scavenging from the river to eat, with Hong Mo being the eldest among them. He tried all means to take care of them,” the old man explained.
“How are they now?” Zhu Minglang asked.
“Most of them have become small path vendors, carrying a basket of daily goods, peddling everywhere. Not long ago, while I was out gathering spirits, I encountered one of them. I can't recall his name. He initially wanted to sell me something, but when I asked for some tea because I was thirsty, it was strange; after he recognized me, he immediately said he wouldn't sell and ran off,” the old man said.
Zhu Minglang immediately lapsed into contemplation.
Could it be a gang committing the crimes?
In each of the mortal cities within Yuheng Fairy City, similar crimes occurred on a daily basis, with a particularly high frequency, and in different locations.
Could it be that these are not the work of a single person?
“Old man, do you remember the Judge who handled Hong Mo's arrest? Who was in charge of his case?” Zhu Minglang inquired.
Events from forty years ago would mostly need to be chronicled in writing, but written records can't reveal the names of gods. Therefore, one could only ask those who knew about the incident forty years earlier.
“I remember, that Judge was rather formidable. In earlier years, he became an Immortal and even held a position in the Yuheng Star Palace, seeming to assume the role of the Ring Holder God. He was always renowned for his impartiality and strict punishment,” the old man said.
The Ring Holder God??
Isn't that the old dog East Palace Swordsman?
Zhu Minglang was set with waves of realization!
This matter seemed far from simple!
Zhu Minglang thanked the old man and immediately returned to the Yuheng Star Palace.
Not long after Zhu Minglang left, the elderly man sat alone in the crumbling Daoist Temple, not yet willing to go back.
The old man looked at the Spirit Grass he had gathered in his basket and sighed deeply.
He woke early and stayed up late for the sole purpose of improving his descendants' prospects.
But why hadn't he been more generous back then, a little kinder, and cared more for those pitiable Daoist Boys of the temple, who survived by picking up the innards dumped into the river by slaughterhouses, filth containing diseases. The boys who consumed this waste broke out in sores, their bellies infested with parasites, with many dying right inside the temple.
“Ahem ahem…” As evening approached, the air grew colder, and the Spirit Gathering elder coughed a few times.
Then, the sound of a flute wafted over. It was used by vendors to draw the attention of passersby, just as a candy seller would always jingle bells at a street corner.
The flute drew closer, and a young man stepped into the temple with a smile.
The evening glow fell perfectly behind him, placing his figure right on the dim twilight's dividing line, making the old man barely able to discern his face.
“Master, it's been a while, you don't seem to be looking well,” the youth said.
“Who are you?” the old man asked, puzzled.
The young man slowly approached, and the old man finally saw his face clearly.
“Hong… Hong Mo?” the Spirit Gathering elder said, surprised.
“It's me. I encountered a bit of trouble around noon. After thinking it through, there's hardly anyone else who might have a sliver of a connection to my Earth Soul, other than you, my mentor in gathering medicine,” Hong Mo, with a smile revealing distinctly sharp canines, said.
“Alright,” the Spirit Gathering old man sighed.
He probably guessed his fate.
Yet, he had no regrets.
“If you're looking to do something, please just place this basket at my doorstep afterward. My grandson is about to start learning the sword, and we can't afford to miss these funds,” the Spirit Gathering old man didn't run, his eyes held unease, but no panic.
“Master Ge, you should take your goods home yourself. I just came to see if that Immortal was still around, thinking of dealing with him on the side. It'll make things less restricted in the future,” Hong Mo said.
“Hong Mo, I know the world has been unfair to you, but you don't have to vent your past resentment and dissatisfaction on innocent people. Turn back before it's too late, for Old Heavenly Father ultimately can't turn a blind eye,” Elder Ge said.
“Master Ge, I hold not a trace of resentment toward this world. In fact, I'm rather enamored with it. I don't know what those divine beings have told you, but my deeds are not as reprehensible as they make them out to be,” Hong Mo said.
“But so many people have died. I've heard,” Elder Ge said.
“People get beheaded at execution grounds every day, why don't you find that inappropriate?” Hong Mo asked.
Chapter end
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