Chapter 39: Chapter 36: Hui Ming Flees, Spirit Monsters Wreak Havoc in the Prefecture City
and not saying a word?
You guys really know how to play games!"
Hui Ming listened to Xu Lei’s endless stream of questions and deductions.
He felt a massive headache coming on.
He continuously chanted "Amitabha Buddha."
He kept walking faster and faster, trying to escape Xu Lei’s questioning.
Then, after walking in a couple of circles, he saw that Xu Lei still intended to follow him and pester him with questions.
So he just broke into a run and bolted out the door.
He had been relatively calm when Xu Lei’s deductions were about him.
But when Xu Lei even figured out about Wu Gui, a vein began throbbing on his forehead.
Watching Hui Ming flee out the door, Xu Lei just gave a slight smile, not bothering to chase him.
After all, he had confirmed that Hui Ming was someone who practiced an Extraordinary Skill!
And that was enough!
Xu Lei had already achieved his purpose for coming here today.
’As for whether Hui Ming will leave for good?’
’It doesn’t matter.’
’As long as the Extraordinary exists in this world, with my many lifetimes, I’ll eventually learn about it and figure out what’s really going on.’
Besides, Xu Lei guessed that Hui Ming would probably come back anyway.
After all, he was extremely interested in the master Xu Lei had fabricated.
He probably wouldn’t rest until he met the "revered master" Xu Lei had spoken of.
"Soon, very soon! It shouldn’t be long now."
Xu Lei muttered to himself, "I won’t have to wait for the next life. In this life, I’ll be able to perceive what this world’s so-called Extraordinary truly is."
"I’ll understand all the things that have puzzled me until now!"
「Later that night.」
Xu Lei had Zhang Xiaomai sleep by herself.
He, on the other hand, made his way to Wei Qingning’s room under the cover of darkness.
Wei Qingning had already removed her Jade Pendant.
She wore nothing but a simple bodice.
She was a beautiful young woman with fair, delicate skin, looking utterly adorable.
The wooden bathtub in the room was already prepared.
"Divine Monk, Qingning is ready."
Wei Qingning raised an elegant hand, sweeping her long hair behind her smooth back. In a delicate voice, she said, "I am ready to assist the Divine Monk in his cultivation at any time."
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei pulled Wei Qingning into an embrace. "You are too kind, Patroness. Excellent, excellent."
"In that case, just as we spoke of during the day, we shall first bathe together and then ascend to supreme bliss."
「One month later.」
On this day, Zhang Xiaomai was sitting in Xu Lei’s lap, wiggling and whining playfully that she wanted to go out for a walk.
Xu Lei, holding Zhang Xiaomai, nodded and told a servant to prepare the carriage for an outing.
"Young Master, Madam."
Just then, Aunt Hu hurried in and said respectfully, "It’s not very safe outside these days. Perhaps it’s best if you two don’t go out."
"Madam, you’ve been pregnant for over a month now!
I heard there was another murder over on Lishui Street.
Some vagrant was killed.
His heart was torn out.
They say this isn’t the first case of someone’s heart being ripped out.
Some people are saying it might be a demon on the loose."
"What?"
Xu Lei’s expression flickered. "A demon? Tearing out hearts to eat them?"
"That’s just what the rumors say."
Aunt Hu added, her expression uneasy, "I don’t know the exact details."
After all, ordinary people just pass along rumors.
’It’s just like back on Earth, whenever people came across something strange.’
’They’d say it might be ghosts or demons.’
’That so-and-so saw a ghost, things like that.’
’But most people would hear it and just let it go.’
’They didn’t really believe it was true.’
But Aunt Hu knew about the Jade Pendant, which allowed her young mistress to change her appearance and flawlessly disguise herself as a man.
Therefore, she couldn’t afford to take this matter lightly.
"So what if it’s a demon?"
But Zhang Xiaomai wasn’t scared in the slightest. Lounging in Xu Lei’s arms, she even gave him a kiss. "With the Divine Monk here, what does it matter what demon it is? They’ll all be subdued, won’t they?"
"That’s right. You’re the Divine Monk. My brain must be getting rusty."
Aunt Hu froze for a moment, then beamed. "With you here with us, what’s there to be nervous about, demon or not?"
She hadn’t thought of it earlier because for the past month, Xu Lei had spent nearly every day shuttling back and forth between Zhang Xiaomai and Wei Qingning.
He was constantly surrounded by women, wine, and meat.
Plus, Xu Lei had been wearing plain clothes lately.
When they went out, he even had her call him "Young Master."
It all made her almost forget that Xu Lei was a Divine Monk.
Now that Zhang Xiaomai had reminded her, she recalled the scene of the bandit chief’s head exploding.
"That’s right. I am a Divine Monk. Of course I’m not afraid of any demon."
On the surface, Xu Lei remained perfectly calm.
After all, he’d been playing the part of a Divine Monk for well over a decade.
He had long ago mastered the essence of the role.
’As a Divine Monk...’
’...no matter what the situation...’
’...and no matter what you’re thinking on the inside...’
’...on the outside, you must always project an unhurried, all-is-under-control demeanor! That’s the key!’
Inside, however, he was actually feeling a little awkward and panicked.
After all, he wasn’t a real Divine Monk who possessed any Divine Power and Magical Ability!
’And Hui Ming has been gone for a month now.’
’Hasn’t he come back yet?’
’No idea where he ran off to.’
Of course, Xu Lei also felt a flicker of excitement at this news.
In the past, if he had heard such a thing, he would have just dismissed it as the superstitious talk of ignorant people.
But now, he knew it might actually be true.
After all, Hui Ming possessed real Extraordinary Power.
So what was so strange about a demon actually tearing out hearts?
Perhaps it was just that ordinary people were incapable of perceiving the many facets of the Extraordinary.
So Xu Lei spoke again. "However, Xiaoai, you’re pregnant."
"If I were to fight that Demon Spirit, it would be terrible if you and the child were accidentally caught in the crossfire."
"So please, listen to my advice and stay here for today."
"Let me go out by myself to investigate."
"I’ll check out the situation."
"In that case, Divine Monk, you must be careful."
Zhang Xiaomai added, "Xiaoai and the baby will be waiting for you to return."
Xu Lei nodded.
Afterward, Xu Lei went out for a stroll by himself.
He soon discovered that an entire street had been cordoned off.
Constables carrying long sabers patrolled the area.
This was the scene of the heart-gouging murder.
However, Xu Lei couldn’t get onto the crime scene itself.
Not unless he revealed his identity as the Divine Monk.
’But after a moment’s thought, he decided against it.’
’Never mind the huge stir it would cause...’
’...everyone would know that this Divine Monk had arrived in the Prefecture City...’
’...and he’d definitely lose his peace and quiet.’
’Besides, what if those constables asked him to subdue the demon? What would he do then?’
’He’d be completely screwed.’
’After all, Xu Lei knew perfectly well that he didn’t have any Divine Power and Magical Ability whatsoever!’
An hour later, after briefly gathering some information about the heart-gouging case, Xu Lei headed back to the Wei Mansion.
But just as he returned, he was surprised to see a familiar figure!
It was Hui Ming!
He’d actually come back!
"What’s this? Nephew Hui Ming?"
Xu Lei said, "Why have you returned? No longer afraid I’ll pester you with questions?"
"Amitabha Buddha. Master Wu Tan, I can tell you everything you wish to know."
Hui Ming said, "But you must cooperate and help us subdue the demon!"
"What? Help you subdue the demon?"
Xu Lei was taken aback. "Are you talking about the heart-gouging case? But how can I possibly help you?"
"Wait, let me guess... You don’t want to expose yourselves, so you want to use my fake Divine Monk persona as a cover?"
"Correct."
Hui Ming said, "You will go to subdue the demon in your capacity as Divine Monk Wu Tan. This will give me the freedom to act as I see fit."
"Rest assured, I will pose as your humble attendant. I will be the one to handle the actual subduing of the demon."
