Shao Jing had just seen off Chen Shi and was sitting motionless in his chair. Beside him was a box containing the three hundred or so rat tails that Chen Shi had sold him. His expression was uncertain.
"I should put a couple of these in the Immortal Gathering Tower first, sell them cheaply, and then slowly raise the price. Soon, people will discover their usefulness, and word will spread. People will definitely pay a high price for them. By controlling the supply and raising the price, I can make a huge profit.
"I can also pre-order some iron hats in nearby towns like New Township and Water Buffalo County. Once this item becomes known, it will cause panic, and iron hats will become scarce. Only I will have them. If people want to protect themselves, they'll have to buy from me. Another big profit.
"I'm a businessman, not a hero. For a businessman, making money is the main goal. But... this could harm many people!
He looked worried and muttered softly, "Thousands of girls could lose their reputation, thousands could die, and many families could be destroyed! I should destroy these things, burn them all, to prevent them from causing harm!"
He took out a Samadhi True Fire Talisman. If he placed it on the box, the fire would burn the box and the tails to ashes.
"Three thousand six hundred silver taels could turn into forty thousand or more! Burning it all goes against business principles!"
"Not burning it would cause long-lasting harm. If I don't follow the right path, how can I talk about business ethics? Is business not a righteous path?"
He was torn inside, struggling with his decision.
Just then, Little Peach came in, wiping the tables and chairs. She noticed he wasn't moving and asked with a smile what was going on.
Shao Jing, lost in thought, explained the use of the rat tails and shared his inner conflict, saying, "I've been in business since I was young. I don't want to go against business ethics, nor do I want to do something wrong that harms my neighbors. A gentleman loves money, but it should be earned the right way. I don't want to stray from the right path."
Little Peach took a tail from the box and smiled, "Is this the thing that made me fall asleep twice just now? Young master, you didn't even search the bookstore for 'The Way Above.' Why not do something while you can?"
Shao Jing blushed slightly and shook his head, "How could I take advantage of someone like that? Don't underestimate this thing. A rat spirit in the countryside can use its tail to make someone sleep soundly while being eaten."
Little Peach thought for a moment and said, "Yesterday, I passed by Hua Tuo Hall and heard someone crying like a pig being slaughtered. I found out someone was possessed, with a ghost face sore on their back. The doctor gave them an anesthetic, and they fell asleep, but when the sore was cut, they woke up in pain.
The person screamed, and the sore screamed too. It was terrible.
Shao Jing shook his head, "That person must have gone to the countryside! It's very dangerous there, not everyone can go."
Little Peach laughed, "I was thinking, if there was something better than anesthetic, something that made people sleep so deeply they wouldn't wake up even in pain, they wouldn't scream so miserably. These rat tails you bought have that effect, right? You don't have to sell them or burn them. Use them in medicine to help people. Wouldn't that be better?"
Shao Jing was stunned, then suddenly jumped up, shouting with joy.
"Little Peach, Little Peach! You're my savior!"
He was overjoyed, feeling a great sense of relief, "Yes! This thing isn't inherently good or bad. Used to harm, it's evil; used to help, it's good! Since that's the case, why not use it for good?"
Little Peach held the rat tail, puzzled, "Does this really make people sleep? Young master, if I fall asleep again, will you do something?"
She touched her head with the tail and fell asleep standing.
Shao Jing saw her delicate face, full of emotion, and couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth. He leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips.
Just as he was about to do more, the girl bit his lip, startling Shao Jing, who quickly backed away.
Little Peach giggled, proudly saying, "I didn't really touch my head with it. I tricked you! I'm going to tell the lady you kissed me and even tried to use your tongue!"
She ran out like a little rabbit, and Shao Jing quickly chased after her, hugging her waist, laughing, "Little ancestor, please forgive me this time!"
The two were caught in a playful struggle, one resisting, the other holding tight.
Here, two thousand words are omitted.
In the afternoon, Chen Shi found out the location of the Scholars Academy and soon arrived there. The academy's walls were quite old, with blue bricks and black tiles. The courtyard had ancient trees with marks from children climbing them, the bark worn smooth and polished.
Some students were reciting books, some playing, others drawing talismans, and one student was facing a wall, practicing the Midnight Demon Slaying Sword, trying again and again, never giving up.
These students ranged from about ten to twenty years old, and Chen Shi was among the youngest.
"Are you... Chen family brother! It's really Chen family brother!"
A bright young girl approached, wearing a small white jacket with red edges and a red skirt, her steps light. Her oval face was smiling, and her voice was soft and sweet, "Why did you come to the city?"
Chen Shi found her face somewhat unfamiliar and asked, "I'm Chen Shi. And you are?"
"I'm Feifei from the Hu family courtyard."
The oval-faced girl smiled, "I served you tea when you and your grandfather visited our house."
Chen Shi suddenly remembered the girl, though he hadn't paid much attention at the time, as his grandfather was talking to a burly man.
But wasn't everyone in the Hu family courtyard supposed to be evil spirits?
He was confused. How could evil spirits study in a private school in the county?
And wasn't the city supposed to be free of evil spirits?
How did this Hu family girl end up in the city?
"Our Hu family is different from other evil spirits."
Hu Feifei looked around, seeing no one, and whispered in his ear, "We just need to search the bookstore for 'The Way Above.' If we don't absorb moonlight, we won't turn into evil spirits. Those foxes you see turning into evil spirits don't know how to cultivate properly and absorb moonlight, which confuses their minds and turns them into evil spirits. Our family has a long tradition and doesn't see ourselves as evil spirits. We call ourselves cultivators. In the True King era, we were called demon cultivators. Our Hu family is called fox cultivators or fox immortals."
Her voice was soft, her scent fragrant, and she was so close, with red lips and a fair complexion, it was hard not to have thoughts.
Chen Shi didn't know much about this and listened with interest.
"Also, there are five private schools in the county, and our Hu family has brothers and sisters in all of them."
Hu Feifei whispered, "Even in our Scholars Academy, there are three or four of us. Our fox clan can transform into women at fifty, beauties at a hundred, or even men to interact with humans. After a thousand years of cultivation, we can connect with the heavens and be called heavenly foxes. My sisters are fascinated by scholars, so they come to study in private schools."
She bit her nails, looking at Chen Shi with eyes as enchanting as water, captivating his soul.
Chen Shi, who was mostly clueless about matters between men and women, wasn't moved and asked, "Why do you like scholars?"
This question puzzled Hu Feifei, who kicked a stone on the ground and said, "I don't know, we just do. After transforming into women, we feel that scholars have an inexplicable charm that attracts us little foxes. We always want to develop something with them."
She thought hard, as this feeling had been with her for a long time without a clear reason, and seeing Chen Shi, she wanted to try and seduce him.
But Chen Shi was too young and felt nothing from her attempts.
"What kind of fox is Uncle Hu?" Chen Shi asked.
Hu Feifei replied, "The clan leader is a heavenly fox, thousands of years old."
Chen Shi was startled. The burly man didn't look thousands of years old.
He was even more puzzled. Humans live a hundred years at most, so how can foxes live thousands?
His grandfather's skills surely weren't inferior to the burly man's, so why such a difference in lifespan?
There must be something wrong here!
He saw Fu Leisheng coming out and quickly left the girl to greet him, "Mr. Fu, student Chen Shi greets you."
Fu Leisheng smiled, "Good, good. Chen Shi, don't be shy. Make yourself at home. I'll show you around and introduce you to your classmates. Our Scholars Academy is a bit rundown, lacking funds for repairs, so you'll have to bear with it."
Chen Shi took out a piece of silver and said, "Seeing the teacher in such poverty makes me uneasy. If this small amount can help improve the academy, it's a good deed."
Fu Leisheng accepted the silver, praising him, "You're very thoughtful. What books do you usually read?"
Chen Shi replied, "Mostly the classics of Master Confucius, like 'The Analects,' 'The Book of Poetry,' 'The Book of Documents,' 'The Great Learning,' and 'The Doctrine of the Mean.'"
Fu Leisheng said, "The classics are enough for the county exam. Have you practiced any spells?"
Chen Shi modestly said, "I've learned the basics of the Midnight Demon Slaying Sword."
"Even the basics are enough..."
Fu Leisheng said, "The chief examiner for the New Township County exam is my student, Tian Huayi. He's quite promising. Even if you don't do well, I can help you pass."
Chen Shi thanked him repeatedly, "If I pass, I will give a generous gift."
Fu Leisheng, seeing his understanding, liked him even more and advised, "Next time, you don't need to bring a big gift, just some tea. I love tea."
Chen Shi understood and agreed respectfully.
Fu Leisheng showed him around and said, "The county exam is in five days. Don't delay. Get to know your classmates. I have to go." With that, he hurried off.
Hu Feifei came over again, seeing Fu Leisheng leave, and smiled, "That old miser. Did you give him money?"
Chen Shi nodded.
Hu Feifei said, "A gentleman loves money, but that old miser loves money without principles. I heard he even sold his student's Divine Fetus."
Chen Shi was shocked, "Really? How could he do that to his own student?"
Hu Feifei looked serious, "Chen family brother, if you want to do well, don't score too low or too high in the county exam. Otherwise, your Divine Fetus might be in danger!"
Seeing Chen Shi worried, she quickly smiled, "Don't worry, with me here, no one will dare touch you. See this jade hairpin? It glows in the dark! Come, I'll show you under the covers! It really glows, I'm not lying."
Chen Shi politely declined, "I have to travel a hundred miles to get home. If I don't leave now, I won't make it back before dark."
Hu Feifei had to let him go, "Chen family brother, next time you must see my jade hairpin!"
Chen Shi left the Scholars Academy and began his journey back with Heiguo.
In the Underworld.
Granny Sha, along with the Green Sheep and the burly man, drifted in the ghostly wind. The Underworld was full of dangers, with strange powers and entities, and bizarre, mysterious spaces. Even disguised as ghosts, they were nearly attacked several times.
Fortunately, Granny Sha's magic was still effective, allowing them to follow the ghostly wind and avoid danger.
After drifting for a day and a night, they finally found Chen Yindu.
Chen Yindu recognized them despite their ghostly disguises and asked, "How did you find me here?"
The three explained their discoveries, and Granny Sha said, "We suspect that besides the Green Ghost Hand, there's another evil spirit hiding in Chen Shi's body. This spirit has been there for two years without you noticing."
The Green Sheep added, "More importantly, this spirit eats ghosts, unrelated to Chen Shi's episodes."
Chen Yindu said, "I already know."
The three were shocked, and the burly man asked, "How do you know?"
"Look!"
Chen Yindu pointed southwest, and the three followed his finger, stunned.
In the southwest, among the mountains, a towering green ghost was half-buried in the earth, the other half above ground.
It reached out a green arm into the Yang Realm, gripping something tightly.
And on the green arm, countless Underworld creatures were crawling,
Climbing along the ghost's arm!
The three stood frozen, cold sweat dripping.
The direction those spirits were crawling was into Chen Shi's body!
Not just one spirit, but countless!
"The ghost hand's owner is holding Little Shi's heart, using it as an anchor to connect to the Yang Realm, creating a bridge between the two worlds."
Chen Yindu said seriously, "Each time Little Shi has an episode, it's not because he's eating ghosts, but because spirits crawl from the Underworld into his body, causing the Green Ghost Hand to involuntarily grip his heart."
Granny Sha and the others' eyes twitched. Each episode meant a spirit entered Chen Shi's body.
Over two years, Chen Shi had episodes a hundred times!
That means a hundred spirits are hiding in Chen Shi's body, waiting to act!
The burly man swallowed dryly, his voice hoarse, "So, what level of spirit is Little Shi?"
Silence fell, and everyone was drenched in cold sweat.
End of Chapter.