Chapter Forty-Four: The End

Night had fallen.

Shen Chang'an lifted his head to gaze at the stars. In this small county town, there were no dazzling neon lights to obscure the heavens, and the starlight shone brilliantly.

“Well, I suppose this is the place…”

He had followed the ghost all the way here, arriving at the entrance to an abandoned building. The spirit halted, unwilling to proceed.

After all, she had been killed by the Five-Viscera Ghost, and fear still lingered in her heart. Sensing the aura within, she dared not go any further.

If not for her yearning to restore her soul, she might have departed long ago.

Shen Chang'an sighed helplessly. Even though he had slain the Five-Viscera Ghost, her soul could not be restored. And even if it could, she would not re-enter the cycle of rebirth—eventually, she would fade away, leaving nothing behind.

To establish reincarnation, to help wandering souls return and remain in the world—such feats only a Sage could accomplish. Although Shen Chang'an felt regret, he had no better solution. He could only recite a scripture to bring her peace before letting her go.

With that, he strode into the abandoned building.

Activating the Jade Amulet of Zhonglong, Shen Chang'an dispensed with the need to search; he walked straight toward where Teacher Lu resided.

Upon seeing Teacher Lu again, the word “emaciated” was no longer enough. At this moment, Teacher Lu was little more than skin stretched tight over bone, with not a trace of flesh remaining.

His eyes were vacant, his breath as fragile as gossamer, yet somehow he still moved. What force sustained him was a mystery.

“Ah, why persist in this suffering…” Shen Chang'an sighed. In the end, Teacher Lu was only a pitiable soul.

His eyes were sunken, so he could not see Shen Chang'an. Only upon hearing his voice did he realize Shen Chang'an had approached him.

Slowly, Teacher Lu shifted his body and then, prostrate on the floor, spoke in a hoarse voice, “Master… please, I beg you, let me… let me kill that beast one last time… I swear, I won’t harm Officer Li…”

Shen Chang'an sighed again, yet shook his head and replied softly, “Dark arts and evil sorcery—let such things go.”

With a sob in his voice, Teacher Lu gritted his teeth, trembling as he said, “I… I have no choice… What… what else could I do…”

Before embracing the dark arts, Teacher Lu was but an ordinary man. What could he possibly achieve?

He knew well that it was the rumor-mongers who had driven his student and wife to their deaths, yet what recourse did he have?

He had no evidence whatsoever.

Moreover, there were so many spreading rumors—it wasn’t only a handful of people. Who could say for certain who was truly responsible?

Teacher Lu’s vengeance was, in the end, merely the desperate cry of a common man. His chosen targets were only those who had spread the rumors the most.

“Beware the power of words…”

Shen Chang'an sighed yet again, but still shook his head. “Though I sympathize with your plight, to harm others with dark sorcery—it's better to stop now.”

With a wail of despair, Teacher Lu suddenly released several little ghosts from his body. They cackled as they surged toward Shen Chang'an.

These little ghosts were swift—five in total, the Five-Viscera Familiars nurtured by Teacher Lu.

By releasing them, he expended the last vestiges of his energy, collapsing to the ground, his breath shallow and fading.

Shen Chang'an sighed, throwing several Evil-Repressing Talismans from his hand, which ignited in midair.

The five familiars were instantly pinned in place, their movements sluggish, their speed gone.

Seeing this, Shen Chang'an took a deep breath and flicked his fingers—several Ghost-Slaying Talismans fell upon them, one for each. The familiars were cut down, their souls utterly annihilated.

The power of the Five-Viscera Ghosts lay in their secrecy and deception; in a direct confrontation, they were no match for Shen Chang'an.

From the moment Shen Chang'an found Teacher Lu, the affair was already settled.

He walked to Teacher Lu’s side; the man had already breathed his last. His body was withered and twisted beyond recognition.

“What a pity…”

To have cultivated the Five-Viscera Ghosts in this age of declining law, Teacher Lu’s talent was evident. Yet, this was the era of declining law—his fate could only end as it had. The thought brought with it a sense of lament.

“Teacher Lu, rest well now.”

Shen Chang'an brushed his eyelids closed, so he might rest in peace.

…

“Is everything resolved?”

Shen Chang'an turned to Sun Yiyuan, who had come to see him off, and asked.

They were now at the county bus station. Shen Chang'an was to take a bus back to the city, then catch the high-speed rail to the provincial capital.

Sun Yiyuan smiled. “Not everything, but most of it is sorted out—just some loose ends to tie up. Nothing troublesome.”

Shen Chang'an glanced at Li Xia, who stood nearby, and smiled. “You’re finally willing to speak to him again.”

Li Xia glared, snorting, “It's only temporary. If he does anything wrong in the future, I won’t let him off.”

Shen Chang'an shrugged, laughing. “Don’t scare him. Your father may be a bit unreliable, but he’s had a hard time, too. And you—don’t wear yourself out. You still have a child at home. Try to spend more time with your family.”

Li Xia huffed in annoyance. “Enough. You sound like an old neighborhood aunt, always needing to meddle. So annoying.”

At that moment, Sun Yiyuan intervened, “Xia, go buy Old Shen a bottle of water. I need a word with him.”

After all that had happened, Li Xia had begun to sense Sun Yiyuan’s unusual identity. Knowing their conversation was not meant for others, she said nothing more and left.

When she was gone, Sun Yiyuan finally spoke. “Old Shen, I’ve already reported your situation. Someone from above will likely contact you soon.”

Shen Chang'an was not surprised. After all, Sun Yiyuan worked for the Bureau of Paranormal Affairs; with Shen Chang'an’s extraordinary abilities, it would be stranger if he hadn’t reported it.

“Will there be any requirements?” he asked.

Sun Yiyuan smiled. “What could there be? You won’t be forced to join the Bureau, and you don’t do anything bad. No one will bother you. Perhaps they’ll just want to register your details. If you take action in the future, just don’t go overboard.”

Shen Chang'an nodded. That was no trouble.

“Oh, and if the Bureau ever needs help, they might ask you for assistance. Don’t worry—the pay won’t be low.”

Shen Chang'an’s face lit up with a smile. “That sounds great.”