Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1465: 793: Killing to Unseal

Mingxi Town features a thick web of rivers, where multiple primary roads stretch alongside the water paths, meandering through endless twists.

Strolling down the central avenue, fresh views emerge every hundred paces, shifts happen every thousand, presenting a landscape that's delightfully diverse and gracefully appealing.

At the close of the main thoroughfare sits the Weng Pavilion, positioned kitty-corner to a stone bridge merely a few dozen steps off, where the steady rush of bridge walkers funnels substantial visitors to the bookstore.

Zhao Sheng hastened to the bookstore's doorway and went inside.

The instant he stepped through, the shopkeeper caught sight of him and dashed from behind the counter to welcome him warmly: “This morning, I heard magpies chattering and thought it was some great news. It turns out Mr. Zhao has arrived.”

The shopkeeper possessed an agreeable look and a learned air, but his manner of speech carried the strong tinge of a trader, making it a touch grating to the ear.

“I see Young Master looking radiant, it seems your health has greatly improved. Truly a cause for celebration!”

Zhao Sheng dismissed it with a wave, replying casually: “Manager Chen, I came today to personally visit Old Shopkeeper Chen. Could you please inform him on my behalf?”

At these words, Manager Chen's face shifted suddenly. He paused briefly before responding, “He is feeling a bit under the weather now and it’s inconvenient for outsiders to visit him. Perhaps another day, Mr. Zhao.”

Zhao Sheng furrowed his brow lightly but quickly composed himself, smiling: “No problem, no problem. Since that’s the case, I shall come with ample gifts to visit once the Old Shopkeeper is feeling better.”

With that, he cupped his hands to take his leave.

Right then, a blue-robed man burst into the shop, face full of alarm, yelling: “It’s bad, you must go back and see!”

Manager Chen's expression soured: “What’s got you so riled up? Calm down and speak slowly.”

The blue-robed man gulped nervously, his features twisted in anguish: “The… the old master has passed away. You must hurry—”

“What?! My father is dead! Say that again!” Manager Chen's countenance drained of color as he demanded fiercely.

“Yes… yes, just a short while ago, we found the old master’s study wide open. I thought it odd and went in to check and found… found that the old master had already passed away,” the blue-robed man stammered, shaking.

Manager Chen went ashen and bolted from the shop without a word, speeding toward his home.

Zhao Sheng watched this unfold and trailed after him discreetly.

The Chen Mansion lay just beyond the river, a brief half-mile trek once over the stone bridge.

By the time Zhao Sheng got to the Chen Mansion, chaos had already gripped the place.

Manager Chen's arrival steadied the household at once, as the servants clustered around him and moved toward the study.

Zhao Sheng slipped into the mansion with ease, keeping a relaxed pace behind.

Before long, the crowd moved past the courtyard entrance and halted before a tastefully appointed study, its door flung wide.

Manager Chen ordered the others to remain outside and ventured in alone.

As Zhao Sheng moved to follow, a servant spotted him and blocked his path: “Hey, who are you? Leave quickly, this is no place for spectators.”

Zhao Sheng had no interest in arguing with the servant, merely explaining that he was a longtime acquaintance of Manager Chen and had come to offer aid upon learning of the old master's demise.

The servant ignored him, intent only on shooing him away.

Zhao Sheng cast the servant a flat glance.

That single gaze hit like a thunderbolt, leaving the servant frozen in shock, beads of sweat forming on his brow.

Zhao Sheng then brushed past the servant and marched into the study, with no one else venturing to halt him.

Inside the study, everything appeared remarkably orderly, far from a typical scene of foul play, the shelves lined with all sorts of old tomes, and off to one side, a stand displaying seven or eight relics like jade stamps, bronze pieces, ink slabs, and more.

An elderly white-haired man slumped halfway in the chair behind the desk, his complexion ashen and bloodless, his lifeless eyes fixed rigidly forward, as though fixed on some distant sight.

At that instant, Manager Chen, grief etched on his face, crouched low, probing under the old man's nostrils with a finger, testing over and over for any sign of life.

Seeing this, Zhao Sheng spoke gravely: “The old master has passed on, Manager Chen, my condolences!”

As he said it, his gaze swept the room, soon fixing on the wall behind the desk, where a pale rectangular outline lingered, suggesting a artwork had once been mounted there.

Manager Chen jolted from his daze at the words, rising unsteadily, and addressed Zhao Sheng in a voice thick with sorrow: “I’m embarrassed before Mr. Zhao. My father has always been healthy, yet his passing was so… so sudden! I need to handle my father’s affairs, Mr. Zhao, please help yourself.”

“Hold on! I believe the old master’s death is suspicious, haven’t you noticed a few things missing in the study?” Zhao Sheng declared, gesturing behind Manager Chen.

Manager Chen whipped around at the prompt, and his features twisted in horror upon spotting the bare wall.

“No, there was once a Yellow Springs Other Shore Painting hanging here. It’s gone now, indicating someone took it. Shishu, get in here now!”

Manager Chen bellowed in fury, and the blue-robed man dashed inside, looking utterly distressed.

Fuming, Manager Chen demanded: “I ask you, has anyone ever entered the study?”

“Sir… Sir, I don’t know! When I realized the old master was in trouble, I immediately ran to inform you. After I left, I don’t know if anyone came in!”

Zhao Sheng's gaze sharpened, and he abruptly jabbed a finger at the wall, cutting in: “When you found the old master had no breath, was the painting on the wall there… or not?”

The blue-robed man eyed the spot where the painting had been, wavered for a second, then bobbed his head vigorously: “As soon as I entered, I noticed the Other Shore Map was gone. At the time, I found it strange, since the Other Shore Map was the old master’s most beloved ancient painting. How could it just disappear for no reason?”