Chapter 194 - 151: The Plague Ghost Ascends the Chu Family

The land of Jiangzhou.

The entire sky was covered in a blood-red hue, these colors swirling and vibrating,

forming a massive whirlpool spanning thousands of kilometers in the sky.

Beneath the whirlpool were the deities and the grim skeletons.

The grim skeletons were at the bottom end of the whirlpool’s path, their ghastly white bones slowly crawling with crimson blood,

even the hollow eyes turning a deep red!

A wisp of Zhang Fusheng’s spiritual will was embedded within the skeleton, maneuvering and controlling this structure,

he could clearly feel that his own spiritual will was also stained with crimson blood.

The voice of the deities reverberated across the land:

"In my name."

The tumultuous Jiangzhou heaven and earth suddenly fell silent, the winds ceased, the clouds extinguished, even the rumbling of the whirlpool that hid the sky was subdued at this moment.

Only the solemn voice of the Divine Spirit remained.

"In my name, I decree."

"Thou shalt become a [Plague Ghost], and unto thee, grant the power to spread diseases, and draw upon the power of the plagues."

"Thou can form a divine body within the plague, thou can within the plague..."

A faint smile appeared on the deity’s face:

"Within the plague, birth a true self-awareness."

"The decree, finished."

’Boom boom boom!’

Within the Jiangzhou Bubble, Jiangzhou’s small heaven and earth, there seemed to be a crack of thunder.

Plague Ghost?

The thought flashed through Zhang Fusheng’s mind, the grim skeleton undergoing a fierce metamorphosis, yet there was no flesh and blood growing,

but within the empty skeleton structure, a sombre hue emerged, and within the hollow eyes, that touch of crimson coagulated into a mass of scarlet flame.

The flame danced and trembled.

This grim skeleton became the [Plague Ghost].

"Go."

The divine voice rolled like thunderous tide.

"My Plague Ghost..."

"I permit thee, to act in my name, to walk among the human world."

"Fear, illness, weakness, breathlessness, the pain of separation..."

"Go, go."

A pale red blood mist surrounded the Plague Ghost, and he moved upward, ascending to crash into the very top of the celestial vault, and then slowly embed into it.

The last echoes of the God of Plague dissipated.

"As for the matter of the Ancestor of Land Immortals."

"Discuss it later."

"When you bring the Sea-Stabilizing Divine Needle Iron, when you bring the Sea-Stabilizing Divine Needle Iron..."

The Plague Ghost completely immersed into the top of the celestial vault and emerged again from beneath the earth.

Returning to the endless desert outside the waiting area.

"This body..."

Zhang Fusheng carefully perceived the Plague Ghost’s form, the blood mist around him gathered with his thoughts into a blood robe, shrouding his form.

He let out a hoarse, dry yet sharp sigh.

"That old thing, still trying to trap me?"

Zhang Fusheng sneered, the Plague Ghost’s form controlled the power of diseases, to some extent, this avatar was bestowed a certain [Position] by the God of Plague,

but this god who usurped the celestial position was very dishonest, leaving himself a fatal flaw.

The stronger the Plague Ghost becomes, the easier it is for a self-consciousness to be born within.

At that time, would this body still belong to him?

No.

It would belong to the God of Plague.

Becoming the divine attendant, walking under the god of the other, even if he found a way to curb the birth of self-consciousness,

the God of Plague could still reclaim the Plague Ghost’s position and abilities at any time.

It was equivalent to,

if he used this Plague Ghost form, he would be working for free for the God of Plague.

But the problem is.....

Even if the Plague Ghost were to truly birth a touch of spiritual light, even just a bit.

It would, in a certain sense, belong to the realm of the flawless soul— in other words.

It could be ’traded’.

The divine granted position, abilities, and even the powerful strength obtained through this position and ability, could be reclaimed in a single thought.

But what he purchased, would no longer belong to the deities.

And naturally, there would be no talk of reclaiming.

"Plague Ghost..."

"Growing strong in disease."

Manipulating the Plague Ghost towards the waiting area, Zhang Fusheng did not retract the wisp of spiritual will tainted with crimson within,

but instead let his main consciousness slowly return to his true body.

Assistant’s office.

He opened his eyes, licking his dry lips, naturally understanding the various abilities of the Plague Ghost.

Spread disease, draw upon disease— the more disease possessed, the stronger he becomes.

The only restriction was that each time he drew upon a disease, he needed to conduct a ritual to the God of Plague, requiring that deity’s nod of approval.

"How many patients are there in this world?"

"Each time the Plague Ghost draws disease upon himself, a ritual and offering to the God of Plague is required."

Zhang Fusheng looked out the window, talking to himself:

"But it’s not only you who can extract disease."

"I can too."

The contract suppressed at the acupoint of his brow gently swayed, emitting an extraordinary light.

Zhang Fusheng sat reclined on the sofa, quietly waiting for time to pass, with a Plague Ghost form, entering the Western Sect, legitimate and justified.

Even if the Plague Ghost form had weak cultivation, it was still a [Deputy Ghost] and [Punishment Ghost] personally appointed by the gods.

The clock pointed to nine-thirty.

The door of the office was knocked:

"Vice Director Zhang, the enforcement team is ready, shall we set out now?"

"Let’s go."

Zhang Fusheng slowly stood up.

The Chu Family.

A commercial tycoon.

According to the intel, it was also one of the wealthy families supporting and investing in Liu Yuan, and had intricate connections with Legislator Li of Chongyang City, whose current position was shaky.

......

The First District.

The manor by the riverside was brightly lit.

Old Mr. Chu quietly flipped through a large stack of documents, intelligence, and adjusted his glasses.

The spacious living room was silent, only the sound of him turning pages could be heard.

Big Brother Chu leaned slightly:

"Dad, ever since that capital conflict, the Golden Province has been affected, and now Legislator Li’s position is also unstable."

"Should we invest in someone else?"

"For instance... Chen Qiusheng?"

Old Mr. Chu did not move his head, slightly raised his eyelids, rolling his eyes to gaze at his eldest son, and remained silent.

Big Brother Chu promptly lowered his head.

A long while passed.

Old Mr. Chu snorted:

"Director Liu’s daughter is just upstairs, and you can say such things?"

He adjusted his glasses and said indifferently:

"Do you really think our family of merchants can interfere in a legislator’s election? Legislator Li and Director Liu accepting our political donations is their blessing to us!"

"Don’t think too highly of yourself, that’s going against the Celestial Rotation!"

Big Brother Chu lowered his head, his lips trembled, and he said somewhat defiantly:

"But, old man, now that Chen Qiusheng is willing to accept us, this is a great opportunity!"

Even though the building’s soundproofing was excellent, he instinctively lowered his voice and spoke earnestly:

"My people have specifically assessed it."

"Liu Yuan has a seventy percent chance of losing to He Gaozhuo... But that’s just a position of Director General."

"But according to my people’s assessment, there’s over a forty percent chance that Old Mr. Chen, Chen Qiusheng, could become the new Golden Legislator..."

Old Mr. Chu suddenly stood up, walked over, and extended his hand.

’Smack!’

He gave his eldest son a slap.

Big Brother Chu neither dodged nor resisted, silently took it, and then looked up, staring into the old man’s eyes, and continued:

"Dad!"

"Say no more, last time when our Chu family was attacked by competitors, did you see Liu Yuan or Li Hongyu interfere? Did they help?"

"How do you think the last crisis was resolved?"

"It was Old Mr. Chen who lent a helping hand!"

’Smack!!’

The old man slapped hard again, clearly truly angry, lowering his voice to scold:

"You bastard!"

"Did you secretly go to Chen Qiusheng for help??"

"Yes!" Big Brother Chu’s face showed a bright red handprint, nodding in acknowledgment: "Not only did Old Mr. Chen help, but he personally appeared, personally stood up for our Chu family!"

Old Mr. Chu was trembling with anger, extending his hand, shakily pointing at his eldest son, then pointing to his other children:

"You bunch of bastards, none of you told me?"

Big Brother Chu placed both hands on his father’s shoulders, gently pressing him to sit back on the sofa.

He said in a low tone:

"Dad, times have changed, walking one path to the end will only break us into pieces..."

"Only turncoats end up in pieces!" Old Mr. Chu roared, hating iron for not becoming steel: "How did I raise such a bastard like you!"

Big Brother Chu was obviously getting heated too, his face red and neck taut:

"What’s wrong with what I did? If it weren’t for me, the Chu family would have long collapsed! Without me, you wouldn’t be sitting here, using your outdated mindset to dictate!"

"We are merchants!"

"Seeking profit is inherent for merchants, what principles should we uphold? What persistence is needed? We are not that Confucian evil cult!"

Old Mr. Chu was shaking with anger, even though he was pressed into the sofa by his eldest son,

he still slapped his son swiftly and fiercely, one after another.

The ’slap’ sound echoed in the spacious living room, and the other children remained silent.

Big Brother Chu’s eyes were getting increasingly red from the beating.

"Enough!"

He thrust his right hand deep into his father’s chest.

The old man’s movement suddenly froze, staring blankly down at the blood constantly gushing from his chest, looking at the hand of the son he raised all his life, piercing his own heart.

A wave of dizziness surged to his head.

"Dad."

Big Brother Chu gasped heavily, staring at the old man:

"You’re old."

"Being old, you should learn to let go... can’t learn, your son would have to help you let it go."

The old man made a ’heh-heh’ sound from his mouth, his aged hand’s veins popping, clutching his son’s ear tightly,

just like many years ago when he disciplined this son, clutching tightly, clutching tightly.

The middle-aged man’s ear turned bright red from being pulled.

The strength gradually weakened.

"Go in peace."

Big Brother Chu spoke in a low tone:

"With me around, this family, our Chu family, will only get better and better."

"The glory of the Chu family, ultimately, will be forged by me."

The old man’s hand slipped down feebly, staring hard at his son, not with anger, but only with a trace of desolation and sigh in his eyes.

His breathing gradually weakened.

’Sigh!’

Big Brother Chu slowly withdrew his hand from the old man’s chest, taking the handkerchief handed over by the maid, wiping the blood from his palm,

then turning around, looking at his brothers and sisters.

"Arrange the most grandiose funeral for the old man."

"I need to meet with Elder Chen later, you all get this place cleaned up, tidy it properly, and as for Miss Liu upstairs playing with Yu, do not neglect her."

The siblings bowed their heads and answered ’yes’.

A servant hurriedly approached, not daring to look at the old man whose eyes were closed in death on the sofa, lowering her head, she said:

"Two people arrived outside, the leader claims to be the Assistant Commissioner from the Public Security Headquarters named Zhang Fusheng, specifically here to visit."

"Zhang Fusheng?"

Big Brother Chu threw the handkerchief on the ground, the youngest sister moved forward to gently pick it up.

He frowned and said:

"Sounds somewhat familiar? Is it the guy from the banquet during the day?"

"Yes."

Big Brother Chu pondered, Zhang Fusheng... he actually knew this person.

Hong Tianbao’s apprentice, Elder Chen’s junior nephew.

It’s known that Elder Chen and Hong Tianbao have deep-seated hatred... If memory serves correctly, this Zhang Fusheng is also under Liu Yuan’s command.

"Hmph, what’s that guy here for?"

Big Brother Chu thought for a moment, suddenly looking at his father’s corpse thoughtfully.

If he could set up Zhang Fusheng, he would indeed offend many people, offend that Hong Tianbao...

But Elder Chen would be very pleased.

"When placing a bet, go all in, when betting, go for broke."

He looked at his father’s corpse and sighed:

"Dad, you taught me this."

After a pause, Big Brother Chu turned his eyes sideways towards the servant:

"Leave this place as is, keep it unchanged, then let’s go to the reception room... don’t let that Liu Cuihua come over here."

"Additionally."

"Notify Tributor Zhou to come over and let that Zhang Fusheng wait for me in the reception room."

After giving out instructions, Big Brother Chu pondered for a moment, and then respectfully made a phone call.

"Elder Chen, it’s me, Little Chu."

"This is the situation, my father passed away, it wasn’t natural, it was murder, just at the time when Zhang Fusheng, the Assistant Commissioner of the Public Security Headquarters, visited..."

On the other end of the line, Chen Qiusheng focused on the box holding two indistinct masses of flesh, his disciples’ bodies.

He immersed his hand into the mush of blood and flesh, sorrowfully extracting the evil gu he planted in his disciples.

Two sets of great materials, just gone like that...

Chen Qiusheng felt a lump in his throat.

For a long while.

He said coldly:

"Go ahead and do it, I’ll cover for you... The Chu family is doing well."

"Understood, Elder Chen."