Upon entering the cell, Xu Zhengyang had Wang Yonggan stand aside while he used his divine sense to lock onto the five ghosts. He then summoned the Soul-Slaying Whip, grinned, and began to brutally beat each of them one by one… The shrill, ear-piercing screams instantly filled the cell. The ghosts who hadn't even had their turn to be beaten were already trembling with fear, their minds on the verge of collapse. However, being ghosts, they couldn't afford to break down or faint.
The City God is even more ruthless than the ghost messengers!
Little did they know that the City God was simply using them to vent his frustration. Otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered to punish them; he would have just let the ghost messengers beat them for a few more days.
After beating them one by one, Xu Zhengyang felt a little better, so he turned and walked out, saying, "Wang Yonggan, keep beating him, beat him hard..."
“Yes!” Wang Yonggan immediately bowed and replied.
Stepping out of the cell, Xu Zhengyang stood quietly in the illusory courtyard of the mansion, hesitating about how to arrange the future ghost messengers...
According to books I've read before, ghost messengers are toiled and unpaid, which is why they choose evil ghosts to serve as ghost messengers. But now it seems Wang Yonggan and Su Peng are quite happy and content being ghost messengers. Damn it, this won't do! Should we replace them with good people as ghost messengers? That won't work either, because ghost messengers often have to do very fierce and wicked things, which kind-hearted ghosts can't handle. For example, when Wang Yonggan disciplines bad people, he exudes a much stronger sense of intimidation and terror than Su Peng.
It seems that choosing a ghost messenger shouldn't be done casually; I was rather hasty.
Are they really going to choose the ghosts of beasts like Ox-Head and Horse-Face to be their errand boys? That's absurd... Xu Zhengyang really couldn't accept such a thing.
Hmm, from now on, when choosing ghost messengers, we need to use those who hate evil and are fierce in nature.
However, we urgently need ghost messengers. How long will it take to gather thirty ghost messengers within the Fuhe River region to find such compatible spirits?
"My lord, Yan Liang has just agreed to serve you." The ghost messenger Su Peng walked out from the front hall and bowed as he spoke.
"Oh." Xu Zhengyang nodded and said, "Is everything true?"
Su Peng said, "I dare not be careless, I have investigated everything thoroughly."
"Mm." Xu Zhengyang nodded and walked towards the front hall.
Su Peng respectfully stepped aside to let the City God pass, and followed three steps behind him.
In truth, Xu Zhengyang's original intention was that regardless of whether you were a good or bad person in life, you should be severely beaten, even several times, before being assigned to be a ghost messenger. Otherwise, given human nature's selfishness, you'd be difficult to control without some suffering. However, after reviewing Yan Liang's life and actions again with the city scroll, Xu Zhengyang's heart softened...
This guy has it tough! His life is really tough, even pathetic and stupid.
It's extremely rare to see someone as honest and straightforward as him.
He was poor and ugly, and had been bullied since childhood, always swallowing his anger. Perhaps it was the pent-up resentment of over thirty years that finally erupted, leading him to kill four families, taking seven lives and injuring six others—well, that's somewhat understandable. But how stupid was this guy? His sister gave him six hundred yuan to help him escape, and when he was arrested and questioned by the police, he readily confessed everything.
As a result, his sister was sentenced to six years in prison.
When the city scroll revealed this location, Xu Zhengyang finally had a reason to give Yan Liang a good scolding: "Damn it, you're really stupid! Couldn't you have just said you saved up the money yourself? Why did you have to drag your sister into this..."
So the honest and kind-hearted Yan Liang was severely beaten by the City God.
After angrily beating Yan Liang, Xu Zhengyang hesitated again, wondering if it was appropriate to use such a fool as a ghost messenger.
However, after mentally probing Yan Liang's thoughts, Xu Zhengyang immediately felt relieved. Not bad, not bad, quite suitable, even more suitable than Wang Yonggan and Su Peng. This guy's righteous indignation after his outburst is truly remarkable.
Su Peng had already explained the rules of being a ghost messenger to Yan Liang, so Xu Zhengyang didn't need to waste any more words. He directly injected the ghost messenger token and the soul-beating ruler into Yan Liang's soul, gave him a stern warning, and then handed them over to Su Peng, instructing him to take care of Yan Liang for a while so that he could familiarize himself with how a ghost messenger should act.
As for the other five ghosts...
Xu Zhengyang sneered. After you've suffered enough, like Wang Yonggan, you'll serve me well for a while. Once I find a more suitable ghost, you... will go suffer in the slow flow of the River of Three Crossings. Hmph!
Volume 4, City God Chapter 170: I Want to Try
Looking out from afar in the western suburbs of Fuhe City, Xiaowang Mountain is covered in lush, dark green trees; below, the Qinghe River flows gently, with reeds swaying gracefully on both banks, a vibrant green scene.
The white Audi A4 was driving along National Highway 302. Xu Zhengyang was driving alone and turned onto the cement road leading to the courtyard house.
Xu Zhengyang had originally planned to wait for Li Bingjie to come looking for him at Gu Xiang Xuan, but after several days, she still hadn't appeared. He became puzzled, recalling how Li Bingjie had asked him before leaving after paying New Year's respects to Old Master Li, "If I don't come looking for you, will you come looking for me?" At the time, Xu Zhengyang had readily agreed. He had even worried that Li Bingjie's father or mother might have taken her away to prevent them from seeing each other.
Although Old Master Li left his granddaughter in the courtyard house, almost four months had passed, and Xu Zhengyang had not seen Li Bingjie. Could it be that Old Master Li was angry or that Li Bingjie was sad and had really left? Slightly worried, Xu Zhengyang immediately used his divine sense to check and found that Li Bingjie was still living in the courtyard house, which put his mind at ease.
Thinking back, Xu Zhengyang realized he hadn't contacted Li Bingjie in a while, and the poor girl still frequently went to Gu Xiang Xuan to look for him. He felt a pang of guilt.
So he needs to come in person. He should at least take the initiative this once.
When the car was still dozens of meters away from the gate, Xu Zhengyang slowed down and drove slowly toward the entrance. He knew very well that he had come uninvited this time, and if he didn't slow down, who knew if the guy in military uniform standing guard at the gate would start shooting at him with a rifle?
Sure enough, when the guard at the gate saw the white Audi A4 approaching, he immediately turned around alertly and gestured towards the yard.
Two more guards in green military uniforms quickly ran out of the courtyard. The three of them stood at the gate, their faces grim as they watched the white Audi A4 slowly drive up. One of the guards stepped forward to greet them.
When he was about ten meters away from the gate, Xu Zhengyang stepped on the brakes and smiled at the guard who was walking towards him through the open car window: "Hello, I'm here for Li Bingjie."
The guard stared at him coldly for a while before saying, "Please wait a moment."
After saying that, the guard turned and walked back, while the other two guards stared at them with cold expressions.
Xu Zhengyang smiled wryly to himself, realizing that his arrival had indeed been somewhat abrupt. He knew that in the past, whenever he came, the guards would always be informed beforehand, presumably by Elder Li's arrangement and instructions. They would change out of their military uniforms and into civilian clothes like suits, and they wouldn't be standing guard at the gate so heavily armed.
In fact, Xu Zhengyang felt that the old man didn't need to do this at all, given Li Lao's status. Even if there were several armed guards standing at the door, or even if you placed several tanks with their cannons pointed outwards, no one would find it strange, given his status.
Could it be that the elderly person is afraid of frightening the guests and making them feel pressured?
Or are you just going to keep a low profile?
"What's all this fuss about? It's pointless." Xu Zhengyang pursed his lips.
Soon, Li Chengzong, dressed in a black suit, came out of the courtyard. His short hair was slightly wet and his face was a little red, which showed that he had been exercising earlier. He must have hurriedly washed his face and changed his clothes when he heard that Xu Zhengyang had come.
At Li Chengzong's instruction, Xu Zhengyang drove the car to the parking space on the east side of the courtyard gate, got out of the car, and took out some simple gifts he had bought on the way there.
"Zhengyang, have you finished dealing with everything in the capital?" Li Chengzong walked up to him and asked with a smile.
"Hmm." Xu Zhengyang nodded and smiled, "I've been really busy these days, I'm sorry."
"It's alright." Li Chengzong smiled and stepped forward to help Xu Zhengyang take something and carry it. As they walked inside, he said, "The routine check is still necessary, don't mind it."
Xu Zhengyang smiled and nodded, then followed.
He had called Li Chengzong before coming, but the phone was off. So he used his divine sense to check and confirmed that Li Bingjie was in the courtyard before he came.
The gifts weren't delivered directly to the house by Xu Zhengyang. Instead, they were taken by another man in a suit and the nanny, Wu Ma, before they even reached the main room. Li Chengzong offered a slightly apologetic explanation, and Xu Zhengyang nodded calmly in understanding. He thought to himself that he should try to come less often in the future. "Don't blame me for not being proactive enough," he thought, "it's just that Li Bingjie's place is so special."
Li Bingjie and the old man sat facing each other next to the sofa on the west side of the living room. Between them was a wooden table with a chessboard pattern on it, covered with chess pieces arranged in a staggered pattern.
"Grandpa, hello." Xu Zhengyang bowed slightly and said politely.
"Alright, sit down." The old man smiled and gestured for Xu Zhengyang to sit down.
Xu Zhengyang walked over, sat on the sofa in the middle, looked at Li Bingjie, and said, "Bingjie, I'm sorry, things have been quite busy in Beijing these days."
Li Bingjie had been watching Xu Zhengyang ever since he entered the house. However, after hearing Xu Zhengyang's slightly apologetic words, only a faint look flashed in her eyes before she got up and walked to the side.
Xu Zhengyang was slightly surprised, wondering if he was really angry.
Unexpectedly, Li Bingjie brought him a glass of water, carrying it lightly as if it were a cloud, pushing aside the chess pieces on the table, and placing the glass on the chessboard.
"Thank you," Xu Zhengyang said quickly.
Li Bingjie didn't say anything. She simply picked up the wooden box under the table and put the chess pieces on the table into the box one by one.
The old man leaned back on the sofa and said calmly, "Zhengyang, Kyoto is not easy. You must be careful in everything you do. You did well, but you were a little too ruthless and impulsive."
"Grandpa is right, I will be more careful in the future," Xu Zhengyang nodded.
"Yes, no matter how capable a person is, they must not be too proud, nor should they lose self-discipline. Fearlessness is not wisdom; prudence is not cowardice."
Xu Zhengyang nodded again, humbly accepting the instruction.
Li Bingjie tidied up the chessboard, placed the chess box under the table, and then sat back on the sofa, quietly watching Xu Zhengyang.
"No one can figure out how you did some things. This old man has thought about it for a long time, and as before, I still don't understand it or see through it... Zhengyang, I'm just reminding you. If you continue like this, even if you always stand on the side of reason, without breaking the law, committing crimes, or harming anyone, you will still be under scrutiny. It's too detached from reality."
Xu Zhengyang said calmly, "I just want to have a clear conscience."
"Is that so?" the old man asked with a gentle smile.
Xu Zhengyang hesitated for a moment, then nodded, confirming his own words.
"Let's not talk about that anymore." The old man waved his hand, smiled kindly at Li Bingjie, and said, "Zhengyang, do you think Bingjie's illness can be cured?"
"Sure." Xu Zhengyang answered without any hesitation.
How long will it take?
The question sounded incredibly trusting, as if the old man knew Xu Zhengyang could definitely do it. However, Xu Zhengyang wasn't surprised. Instead, he calmly met Li Bingjie's gaze, his eyes questioning, and softly replied, "It depends on Bingjie's opinion."
This question and answer took place entirely in front of Li Bingjie. Apart from Xu Zhengyang caring about Li Bingjie's feelings, the old man didn't seem worried that Li Bingjie would be saddened or hurt by these words.
Li Bingjie remained silent, her gaze fixed on Xu Zhengyang, clear and indifferent, devoid of any emotion.
A moment of silence fell over the room.
Xu Zhengyang wanted to reach out and hold Li Bingjie's hand to comfort her. At this moment, Xu Zhengyang didn't have any thoughts of love; all he felt was tenderness for the pure and innocent friendship of the past, which had also slightly crossed the line of friendship.
However, Xu Zhengyang did not reach out. With his somewhat traditional mindset, he was almost as pure as the author of this book, Duanren, in some ways. When facing girls, he was even more shy than the girls themselves... Moreover, the girl's grandfather was right in front of him, so he dared not act recklessly.
"I'm fine," Li Bingjie suddenly said softly.
Xu Zhengyang smiled and turned to look at the old woman, saying, "Don't you think we should respect her?"
The old man nodded, somewhat relieved yet wistful, and said kindly and gently, "She's just withdrawing into herself out of personal feelings."
"I understand." Xu Zhengyang nodded, then turned to look at Li Bingjie and said gently, "Bingjie, you should be much better off now."
Li Bingjie paused for a moment, a barely perceptible blush rising on her fair, smooth cheeks. She lowered her head slightly.
Seeing Li Bingjie's shy demeanor, the old man was even happier and said, "Zhengyang, be a good...person."
The old man deliberately dragged out the sound of the word "person".
"Hmm?" Xu Zhengyang naturally understood the hidden meaning in the old man's words, but he didn't care. This old man was different from ordinary people. He wanted to know some things, and although he couldn't know them as directly and quickly as Xu Zhengyang, he was fully capable of doing so. Therefore, he became increasingly suspicious of Xu Zhengyang, from the fact that he possessed extraordinary abilities to the fact that the old man had even begun to acknowledge some unbelievable deity standing behind Xu Zhengyang.
The old man's expression remained unchanged, still smiling, and he said kindly, "Don't believe the misleading words of those so-called gods. People should have their own choices and ideas. This world doesn't need the existence of gods. People have to rely on themselves. So you can treat it as an opportunity, a stroke of luck, but don't let it dominate your life."
"Grandpa, perhaps 'it' can hear what you're saying."
"Faith is something that exists if you believe in it, and doesn't exist if you don't. Human beings pursue faith simply to find a place for their souls to rest."
"Then you believe I can ask 'that person' to cure Bingjie..."
"When you're desperate, you'll try anything. I'm just an ordinary person, after all," the old man laughed.
Xu Zhengyang laughed too, and, as if possessed or perhaps audacious, said, "Fairness is the one thing most lacking in this world..."
"Man proposes, God disposes." The old man remained kind, waving his hand slightly, and said, "Zhengyang, you are still young. If you think about it carefully, you will understand that no one actually wants the existence of gods, because people are selfish. Perhaps you, as the direct and long-term beneficiary, don't think so..."
"I want to try..."
The old man paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Go abroad."
"You are very...selfish."
The old man laughed heartily and nodded repeatedly.