“Have you any objections?” Chen Changsheng asked.

The Badger Demon had no choice but to agree.

Chen Changsheng nodded, then put the mortal body into his sword.

Chen Changsheng said, “Whenever I have free time, I will come to Donglin Quarter to check on things.”

The Badger Demon sighed inwardly. It seemed things weren’t going to be peaceful after this.

“There’s one more thing,” Chen Changsheng said.

The Badger Demon snapped out of his thoughts. “Go ahead, Mr. Chen.”

Chen Changsheng turned his wrist, revealing the Black Pagoda lying on his palm. “This Black Pagoda must be the source of your power. Such a sinister thing—where did you get it?”

The Badger Demon answered truthfully: “I found it in an ancient immortal’s tomb.”

“Ancient immortal?”

“Yes.”

The Badger Demon replied, “The tomb was located in the Desolate Sea. I only found it by pure luck. Now, I can’t remember the exact location.”

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment. “Who was buried there?”

“There wasn’t a name anywhere,” the Badger Demon said.

Chen Changsheng looked at him, his eyes seemingly piercing through him.

The Badger Demon responded, “Mr. Chen, I speak the truth.”

Chen Changsheng tucked the Black Pagoda away.

He didn’t press the matter further. “You know when to bend,” he observed.

“It’s better than soul disintegration,” answered the Badger Demon.

Chen Changsheng gave a few more instructions. One after another, the Badger Demon agreed. He had no choice.

He only felt it was absurd—a monster like him becoming the City God.

This Mr. Chen…he really dared to think the impossible.

……

Chen Changsheng left the City God Temple and returned to the valley.

Seeing him back, Zhong Zhengyuan stood up.

“Were you dealing with that monster just now?” Zhong Zhengyuan asked.

Chen Changsheng nodded slightly. “I directed him to take over as City God.”

“Huh?”

Zhong Zhengyuan paused, momentarily speechless.

Then, he watched Chen Changsheng walk into the compound without another word and followed him inside.

In the courtyard corner, over twenty monsters huddled together. None dared make a sound when they saw the gentleman return.

Only ‘Huang Shan’ sat beneath the eaves, head hung low in thought.

When Chen Changsheng stepped into the yard,

‘Huang Shan’ finally looked up.

Chen Changsheng glanced at him. “Come with me,” he said.

‘Huang Shan’ gave a start, then followed him out.

Walking behind the gentleman, he suddenly asked, “Is…is the Great King still alive?”

Chen Changsheng turned to him. “For now,” he replied.

Hearing this, ‘Huang Shan’s’ worry eased slightly.

Outside the courtyard, Chen Changsheng spoke: “That tuft of dog hair—you left it deliberately, didn’t you?”

‘Huang Shan’ sighed wearily, as if he’d known this would come.

“I could not deceive you, sir.”

Chen Changsheng had thought it odd—things were a little too convenient.

The Badger Demon was so careful. How could he let a minion make such an amateur mistake?

“Why?” asked Chen Changsheng.

‘Huang Shan’ opened his mouth to explain. But in the end, he could only voice one sentence: “Sir, though my body may not be the original Huang Shan’s… Old Dog is truly Old Dog.”

Chen Changsheng watched him, then suddenly chuckled.

‘Huang Shan’ paused, muttering wryly: “You think it’s absurd too, don’t you? Truth to tell…so do I…”

Chen Changsheng said, “Among all these monsters…only you truly took it to heart. But there must be a reason?”

Huang Shan looked down. “I came later. That year, I met a Martial Artist of the Jianghu…he nearly killed me. If I hadn’t stumbled upon Old Dog…I might’ve died long ago.”

“Also…Old Dog…he treated me kindly…”

“That’s all?”

“Yes…that’s all.”

Chen Changsheng shook his head. “Did you plan to stay by his side until he completes his natural span?”

“I suppose I will,” Huang Shan answered.

Chen Changsheng chuckled softly, uttering only two words.

“That’s good.”

Zhong Zhengyuan watched Huang Shan’s figure.

His mind turned over the scene—all this was fabricated, entirely unreal… yet not a single fault could be found.

Just as Chen Changsheng had said. That’s Good.

……

Next, Chen Changsheng and Zhong Zhengyuan gathered up all the monsters. Their first stop was to report at the City God Temple.

Finally, Zhong Zhengyuan fully grasped it.

Chen Changsheng really made the monster the City God!

Such an approach…likely only someone like him could imagine.

“To let a demon become City God…is that truly appropriate?” Zhong Zhengyuan asked.

He took a sip from his gourd. “He knows the stakes.”

Zhong Zhengyuan opened his mouth briefly. “Frankly, only someone like Chen Changsheng would conceive such a thing…yet it is a workable solution. I only hadn’t anticipated…you’d also shield these monsters.”

“What else might one do?”

Chen Changsheng declared: “Reality and falsehood…illusion and truth… Would you see the people of Donglin Quarter crying their hearts out at the Gate of Death?”

Zhong Zhengyuan sighed deeply. “Then…then counted so… they have granted a kindness.”

Chen Changsheng stated: “Were it not concerning the City God…I might not have interfered.”

“This…”

Zhong Zhengyuan mused for a moment, then shook his head with a sigh.

“Justice and culpability…are the hardest truths to weigh.”

The two walked side by side down the main street of Donglin Quarter, heading toward the district exit.

Just then, a voice drifted near.

“Masters…you are still here.”

Both paused and turned.

The speaker was the elder gentleman they’d met during the wedding feast.

Chen Changsheng said, “We lingered for a matter. And you? What brings you to your door?”

“I await my son’s return,” the aged man replied. “Yet today is his joyous day, and he slipped away without a trace. When he comes home…he shall feel my belt!”

Chen Changsheng smiled in reply. “Likely he’ll return soon.”

The elder nodded, peering intently toward the street’s far end, eyes longing for his son’s figure.

Observing that expectant gaze, Chen Changsheng queried: “All this year past…have you felt nothing unusual?”

The aged man’s eyes widened…then his face clouded deep with thought.

Those aged milky eyes fixed onto Chen Changsheng.

In that one instant…the seventy-year-old soul understood.

“Will…will he still return?” he whispered.

Chen Changsheng paused….then dipped his head: “Yes.”

The aged man seemed to settle back into himself…yet he stared down as a murmur escaped him. “Good…that is good.”

A heavy, resigned sigh escaped him…then he viewed the distant mountaintops where sunset sunk low.

Chen Changsheng followed his gaze.

Zhong Zhengyuan stood silent.

The aged man suddenly spoke: “You masters are no mortals…are you?”

Both Zhong Zhengyuan and Chen Changsheng froze.

“Truth is…from the beginning…I felt it in my bones.”

The aged man turned to Chen Changsheng. Still, a smile touched his weathered face. Yet what he spoke held a starkness: “But masters…know this: do you think a parent…does not recognize their own child?”

As he spoke…the smile faded…a faint redness appeared at his eyes.

He seemed desirous to cry…yet no tears would fall.

“Kind sir…let this matter rest. Spare them this once.”

“They are not bad.”

“Truly…they are not bad.”

As these words were uttered…the setting sun beyond the mountains finally vanished wholly beyond the western peaks.

Chen Changsheng stood still, the drinking gourd gripped loosely in his hand. Like one stunned speechless.

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He looked upon the aged man…eyes brimming red…and felt a thousand tangled thoughts…dazed and unanchored.

He had never imagined…

That the Ways of this world…could hold such absurdity.