The bloodied figure was the soul of Tian Huaiyi, expressing his gratitude for his teacher’s kindness. After mentioning his inability to protect Shen Yusheng, he said his last wish had been fulfilled. Despite his reluctance to leave, the force of the Netherworld held on to him, dragging him toward the underworld.
Fu Leisheng shouted at the top of his lungs, suddenly standing up and looking around. There was no chilly breeze or the blood-drenched figure of Tian Huaiyi: he must have dozed off while reading his book.
After all, the Master’s writings were quite dull.
"Daytime thoughts lead to nighttime dreams. I’m always worried that Huaiyi would betray Shen Yusheng for wealth and status."
He sarcastically chided himself. When Tian Huaiyi was his student, he was the most mischievous, the one who gave him headaches, playing with the girls’ hair instead of studying, causing them to weep.
He called in the parents and gave Tian Huaiyi a thrashing.
Even during Spell practice, he was lackadaisical, hammering away one day and networking the next.
But he had a sharp intellect; he learned quickly and remembered well, able to infer other facts from one he was taught.
Later, Tian Huaiyi passed the Scholar’s exam and obtained the Divine Embryo gifted by the gods. Being a third-grade Doukui Divine Fetus, it was a remarkable feat in the county; Fu Leisheng worried it would be targeted and guarded Tian Huaiyi day and night.
At that time, Chen Shi’s Divine Embryo had been stolen amidst much commotion, putting Fu Leisheng on edge. As expected, they encountered several attempts to seize the Divine Embryo.
He fought off the attackers with great difficulty and kept Tian Huaiyi safe. Due to this, their teacher-student relationship was very strong, as close as father and son.
Later, Tian Huaiyi passed the imperial examination, traveled to other places, and then, it was heard he joined the military. After many years of service, he returned, transformed from a playful boy into a composed official.
The change astonished him.
His biggest fear was that Tian Huaiyi would become unrecognizable, tainted by the corrupt court. Thus, when Shen Yusheng received the Wenchang Divine Embryo, he warned him time and again, fearing that Tian Huaiyi would no longer be the righteous young man he once was.
"I’m overthinking it," he sighed in relief.
At that moment, he saw Chen Shi shielding the lamp with his hand, and the black dog outside still barking, which puzzled him.
He clearly remembered Chen Shi dozing off while he read. How had it become himself sleeping, and Chen Shi awake?
"Master Fu, you’ve just fallen asleep."
Chen Shi’s voice was low and hesitant, "Senior Brother Tian came, visiting you in a dream. Seeing him bloodied, I didn’t interfere. Master Fu, there might be trouble at the county yamen."
Fu Leisheng’s mind exploded, his body shook, and his hands frantically steadied himself against the lectern. He tried to speak, but hot tears rolled down before words could escape.
He wiped his tears, but they kept streaming. fгeewёbnoѵel_cσm
He thought he was strong, that years of teaching had fortified his spiritual resolve like solid rock, that he could endure, but he just couldn’t help it.
Tears uncontrollably flowed.
He choked up, clenching his fists to support himself, but the tears wouldn’t stop.
"Chen Shi, leave me alone for a while..." he said with difficulty.
Chen Shi stood up quietly, walking out of the lecture hall. Looking back, he saw Fu Leisheng slumped over the table, his body convulsing.
"Huaiyi, if you can’t beat them, run! Haven’t I taught you that?"
He cried out, berating Tian Huaiyi for his lack of cunning.
"You left Shen Yusheng behind and ran! They only wanted Shen Yusheng, not your life. You’re an Imperial Official, the chief examiner of Xinxiang County; they wouldn’t take your life without dire cause!"
"Why didn’t you run? Shen Yusheng was my student, and so were you! Why didn’t you run? You fool!"
Chen Shi sat beside Black Pot, hugging the large dog, looking into the night sky above Xinxiang.
The bright moon was high, illuminating everything below.
"Who says there are no Evil Spirits in Xinxiang? Black Pot, the Evil Spirit resides in people’s hearts," he whispered.
Time passed, and Fu Leisheng emerged from the lecture hall, his eyes red and swollen, carrying an oil lamp in his hand, his voice hoarse, "Chen Shi, get some rest early, we have to post the results tomorrow."
Chen Shi responded, but did not move.
Fu Leisheng continued onward, carrying the lamp. As he passed through a bamboo grove, he broke off a bamboo stick to use as a walking staff.
Chen Shi and Black Pot followed him until they reached the yamen.
The gates were open, and inside was pitch dark. Fu Leisheng entered the yamen, lamp in hand.
Chen Shi felt something sticky underfoot and looked down to see blood on his foot.
He gazed at the bloodied ground, but said nothing, for he had already seen Tian Huaiyi’s body lying in a pool of blood.
Fu Leisheng set the lamp aside and reached out, his hand trembling uncontrollably, trying to touch the face of his student.
Tian Huaiyi’s face was pale, his eyes wide open and askew.
Fu Leisheng clenched his fists tightly, following his student’s gaze, only to see Shen Yusheng seated not far away on a chair, facing them, eyes wide with terror.
Fu Leisheng stood and approached the boyish-looking youth, but couldn’t feel any sign of life from his student.
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