"The beam is truly a treasure!"
Chen Shi stood on his tiptoes under the vermilion beam, lifted his leg, and one end of the beam flew up. He gently stroked the beam, which was incredibly smooth, with a gilded dragon that seemed alive, as if the transformation into a real dragon was just a dream.
But it really happened.
Chen Shi carried this vermilion beam to the mountain temple because it had absorbed the incense Qi from the Mountain Lord Temple for countless years, capable of suppressing Black Mountain Granny's powers. At the last moment, he infused his True Qi into it to unleash its extraordinary power.
He didn't expect it to work so well.
The extraordinary power manifested as a golden dragon, tearing Black Mountain Granny apart and destroying the temple.
"What a treasure..."
Chen Shi was reluctant to part with it, wanting to keep it for himself. But he remembered his promise at the Mountain Lord's Divine Altar and decided against it.
"I'll take it back and have craftsmen repair the front hall of the Mountain Lord Temple and put the beam back. If I return what I borrowed, borrowing again won't be difficult. Maybe I'll need it again in the future. The more I borrow it, the more it feels like mine."
With this thought, he felt content and looked down from the ruins of Black Mountain Granny's temple. People were already in chaos, running in all directions in panic. Some nearby cultivators were rushing over, likely sensing the battle here. It was unclear if they came to support Black Mountain Granny or Chen Shi.
Heiguo was guarding the mountain, darting around the fields and roads, killing any escaping rats. The mountain was full of rats, countless in number. With Black Mountain Granny dead, her followers scattered. Most of the demon cultivators on Black Mountain died by Chen Shi's hand, and the rest were mostly killed by Heiguo.
Heiguo was agile, unlike a normal dog.
Chen Shi watched, growing more suspicious. Though Heiguo was doing a dog's job of catching rats, it was fierce. Ordinary village dogs would lack the courage to face such large rats and would likely be killed. Moreover, some of these rats had absorbed moonlight, gained intelligence, could speak, cultivate, and use magic, yet were still killed by Heiguo.
"Grandpa said Heiguo was found, but didn't say where."
Chen Shi thought, "It's a pity Grandpa is now in the underworld, and no one knows the dog's origin. It's becoming less discreet."
He carried the vermilion beam down the mountain. Suddenly, he slipped but quickly steadied himself. The stone steps were covered in blood, requiring careful movement to avoid falling.
Chen Shi carefully descended, stepping over rat corpses scattered along the way. As he passed each one, his left hand formed a sword gesture, and a thin sword Qi flew from the Divine Altar behind him, piercing the corpses' heads. Another sword Qi followed, slicing off the rat tails.
The Midnight Demon Slaying Sword didn't have such precise control, but Chen Shi's strong spirit allowed him to perform delicate sword moves naturally.
The Midnight Demon Slaying Sword had only six basic moves, leaving much to the imagination, like an ink painting with large blank spaces for interpretation.
Many who practiced the Midnight Demon Slaying Sword only learned the moves, never considering the blank spaces or the artistic conception.
Chen Shi moved along, completing the sword moves, until he reached halfway down the mountain. There, he saw cultivators of all ages and genders, mostly young students from private schools, with clean appearances and innocent expressions, climbing the mountain.
When they met, the cultivators quickly stood aside on the mountain path, making way.
The leading private school teacher prepared spells but didn't act rashly. Without a word, Chen Shi nodded and carried the thousand-pound beam past them.
Once he passed, the teacher led the others up the mountain.
Chen Shi continued his sword work, collecting rat tails, gradually reaching the foot of the mountain. Heiguo had killed all the rats it could find, dragging them together in rows, covering two or three acres.
Chen Shi set down the vermilion beam, approached to cut off the rat tails, and then, with Heiguo, went back up the mountain to collect the tails he had previously cut.
The best tails were those of the five white-bearded elders, as fine as beautiful jade, both soft and hard, top quality.
The private school teacher and his students searched the mountain, seemingly looking for someone. They passed by several times, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Chen Shi and Heiguo gathered the rat tails and descended the mountain, feeling pleased: "It wasn't a wasted trip. These rat tails can sell for a lot of money."
Chen Shi carried the vermilion beam, dragging his tired body towards the Virtue River. With night approaching, they needed to cross the bridge before dark, or the river's terrifying evil spirits might drag them into the water.
Some said the river spirits were water monkeys, others said they were the grudges of drowned people, or a white-clothed female ghost who captured scholars to drain their Yang energy.
Especially young boys, who were the female ghost's favorites.
On land, Chen Shi feared no water spirits, but in water, his strength was limited. He might not be a match for the water monkeys or female ghost.
"Sir!"
Footsteps sounded behind him. Chen Shi stopped and turned. The private school teacher led the group down the mountain hurriedly.
Some slipped and fell, covered in blood and dirt, but kept running, lifting their clothes to avoid getting dirty.
The teacher stopped a yard from Chen Shi, bowed respectfully, and said, "Sir, did you defeat Black Mountain Granny?"
Despite Chen Shi's young age, the teacher remained respectful.
Chen Shi nodded, "I killed her."
"Benefactor, please accept our gratitude."
The teacher knelt, followed by the cultivators and students, all bowing.
Chen Shi was startled, quickly setting down the beam to help them up, "Please rise, I'm just a child, I can't accept your bows."
"Benefactor, our eighteen villages and towns, 4,600 people, have suffered under Black Mountain Granny for too long."
An elderly cultivator choked up, "We tried to fight her, but she killed many. We sought help, but they were also killed. She knew evil magic, her head a black hole, devouring everything. Those who disobeyed were eaten or beaten half to death to feed the rats. We suffered greatly, and the authorities did nothing. Thanks to your righteousness, she is dead."
Everyone cursed Black Mountain Granny's evil deeds, clearly despised by all.
The teacher said, "Benefactor, leave your name, and we will spread your righteousness, building a shrine to honor you."
Chen Shi's expression changed.
More villagers arrived, kneeling and bowing, "Please leave your name, so we can thank you day and night."
Chen Shi's face changed, and he knelt, bowing several times, "Don't bow to me, I can't accept it. I killed Black Mountain Granny not for righteousness, but to avenge a friend who died because of my words. What I did wasn't for you, it has nothing to do with you. If you bow to me, I'll return the bows."
He bowed repeatedly.
Seeing this, the people stopped bowing, looking at each other, unsure.
Chen Shi stood, wiped the dirt from his forehead, "It's getting late, please go home to avoid evil spirits. I must return too, I have important matters tomorrow, farewell."
The teacher quickly said, "Benefactor, why not accept our incense offerings?"
Chen Shi shook his head, "Grandpa told me not to be bound by morality. If I do good and people thank me, then everyone expects me to be a good person, not letting me fight for my interests or refuse danger. I'm just an ordinary person, accidentally doing good, not pretending to be virtuous. So in such situations, I must clarify."
"Grandpa said, let go of moral standards, enjoy a shameless life, don't pressure yourself with morality."
Chen Shi earnestly said, "I'm not a good person, just seeking revenge. Don't treat me as a good person. Don't build a shrine for me, don't worship me. If I find out, I'll destroy your temple."
The teacher was stunned, watching Chen Shi carry the beam away with his dog.
After a long time, he came to his senses.
"So young, yet so brave, killing Black Mountain Granny alone, truly unmatched courage."
The teacher sighed, "But such a strange personality, refusing our offerings and worship."
He had seen the aftermath of Chen Shi's battle, and at the temple, the ruins and shattered black statue shocked him.
He couldn't believe Chen Shi was the one who killed so many rats and Black Mountain Granny.
Meeting Chen Shi on the road, he thought he was a disciple of a master, but found no master on the mountain.
Only then did he believe Chen Shi was the one who destroyed Black Mountain Granny.
He hurried to thank him, but Chen Shi refused.
A student asked, "Teacher, he said he sought revenge, not to help us. Should we still be grateful?"
"Of course!"
The teacher said seriously, "Is Black Mountain Granny's death beneficial to our 4,600 people?"
The student nodded.
The teacher asked, "Does it free us from her oppression, no more monthly offerings, no more children sacrificed to her? Does it free us from the rats' tyranny?"
Everyone nodded.
The teacher said, "As the saying goes, judge a person by their actions, not their intentions. He may not have a noble heart, but he acted nobly. We need not consider his reasons, only if his actions were good or bad. This is the Doctrine of the Mean."
Everyone agreed.
The student asked, "Should we still build a shrine for him?"
"No, since he's our benefactor and doesn't want a shrine, why make him unhappy?"
The teacher urged everyone to return to the village, "Let's remember his kindness, and if he needs help, repay him. It's getting late, let's hurry back."
Meanwhile, Chen Shi reached the Mountain Lord Temple, set down the vermilion beam, and bowed to the Divine Altar before leaving for home.
As he arrived, the sun set, and the moon grew brighter.
Daytime moon sightings had become routine, and he was getting used to it.
The moon was the same, dim during the day, bright at night.
Outside the village, evil spirits roamed at night.
Recently, nights were lively like festivals.
Because Granny of Yellow Slope Village was injured, the Divine Tree was bare, and the spirits wanted to take advantage, entering the village to feast.
Despite Granny's injury, she was formidable, and the spirits, beaten several times, still lingered.
Chen Shi returned home, preparing medicine for himself.
Heiguo told Chen Shi not to make dinner, as it was full from eating rats.
Chen Shi stayed awake all night, practicing the Three Lights True Qi Technique, stepping on the Seven Stars, diligently training.
He worried about falling ill after killing so many grey-clad rats and elders, and defeating Black Mountain Granny.
Surprisingly, the night passed peacefully.
The green ghost hand on his chest showed no signs of trouble.
He was amazed at the uneventful night.
Under the big tree at Chen's door, Granny Sha was equally surprised.
A green sheep with raised paws peered into Chen's room, puzzled, "Granny, didn't you say eating souls would make him sick? He killed so many demon cultivators and evil spirits, ate so many souls, why isn't he sick?"
Granny Sha was troubled, her wrinkled face almost forming the word 'bitter', "I don't know, killing and eating souls should cause illness, that's what Chen Yin told me, who knew it wouldn't be accurate."
A burly man with a beard pondered, "The soul eater is another evil spirit, and the green ghost hand causes the illness, maybe they're not the same?"
"Very possible."
The green sheep suggested, "But I think we should ask Chen Yin to be sure. Granny, can you summon Chen Yin?"
Granny Sha hesitated, "I can try, wait a moment."
End of Chapter.