Hello, Welcome to Merit Supermarket (SUPERMARKET)
On the eerie and vast altar lay three fresh corpses, all recently killed by Huo Yunxi.
Jiang Chenyi wasn’t holding the cat; his current physical condition didn’t allow him to carry the chubby little fellow weighing over ten pounds.
Even dragging those three corpses over had exhausted him, leaving him gasping for breath.
After arranging the sinners properly, Jiang Chenyi faced their wide-open eyes and slowly backed away from the altar.
He threw the basin of strange paint in his hand, and the crimson liquid arced through the air before landing on the ground, emitting a foul stench.
The young man raised his hand and snapped his fingers lightly. In the next moment, white flames appeared out of thin air, not only on the altar but also inside the boxes containing the corpses.
The strange flames burned fiercely and gradually devoured the corpses without leaving a trace.
If Wei Yuanshou and the others had seen this, they would have known that this fire was formed from Merit that was capable of burning everything.
He then slowly sat down on the ground.
Having drained a significant amount of his Spirit energy, he now felt his vision darken and he nearly fainted. If it weren’t for his concern that some corpses might not be completely burned, he would have closed his eyes and passed out right then.
Seeing him like this, Wu Tuan anxiously circled around him while meowing incessantly and occasionally bumping his head against Jiang Chenyi.
When Wu Tuan noticed that the young man’s breathing wasn’t as steady as usual, a sudden fear arose—not the kind of fear one feels when encountering an enemy, but the fear of losing the human before him, just like his previous master.
"Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow!" Wu Tuan’s cries grew increasingly urgent. Just as he thought the young man wouldn’t respond, a soft hand rested on his head.
"Good kitty, stop meowing. I’m awake."
Jiang Chenyi opened his eyes, his gaze filled with both helplessness and gratitude. He had been on the verge of fainting, and if it weren’t for the Black Cat’s persistent meowing, he might have truly passed out.
Wu Tuan stared at him for a while, then stood up to place his front paws on the young man’s shoulders and licked his pale lips.
"Meow…"
Jiang Chenyi held the cat’s neck and nuzzled against its "broad" and warm chest before taking a deep breath.
Much better!
With this dose of feline therapy, Jiang Chenyi’s Spirit indeed improved slightly.
But only slightly.
After confirming that not a single corpse remained, he finally let out a sigh of relief, closed his eyes and collapsed completely to the ground.
Before losing consciousness, the last thing he heard was a piercing cat’s cry.
‘Oh no, I’ve scared the cat this time…’, He thought silently.
Jiang Chenyi had thought that he would lose consciousness after fainting, but he found himself being pulled into a strange place.
Here, everything was a vast expanse of white, with nothing around, and the distance was desolate.
After arriving, translucent spirit bodies began to appear around him one after another. These spirits were incomplete souls and, in theory, should have no consciousness.
Yet, they all turned their gaze toward the young man at the forefront, with their hollow eyes slowly streaming with white tears.
Seeing them like this, Jiang Chenyi suddenly felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.
He understood that these spirit bodies were the last remnants of the corpses at the altar, the voices he had heard earlier.
[Thank you.] One of the spirits stepped forward and handed him a white pearl formed from tears.
[Thank you for setting me free. I am finally free.] The second spirit also handed him a pearl.
[Young man, thank you. Take care!] The third, the fourth… until the last spirit handed him a tear pearl. After a gentle breeze passed, all the lingering spirits here vanished.
They were free.
Finally no longer trapped in the place of their death.
The young man looked at the handful of white beads in his hand, his heart overwhelmed with indescribable shock.
When he had acted earlier, he hadn’t actually thought about gaining anything from these lingering spirits. He had only wanted to let them rest in peace.
"To think that…"
After uttering these words, his consciousness finally sank into darkness.
Jiang Chenyi had no idea that just after Wu Tuan let out a piercing cry, Huo Yunxi happened to arrive below with his people.
Hearing Wu Tuan’s cry, Huo Yunxi’s face turned pale, and he quickly disappeared from the sight of the others.
Following the sound, Huo Yunxi rushed in and the first thing he saw was the young man lying on the ground with his face devoid of any color, while Wu Tuan anxiously meowed beside him.
For a moment, Huo Yunxi felt as if his eyes were covered in a layer of blood. Everything he saw, except for Jiang Chenyi, appeared crimson.
His steps faltered slightly.
Even in the face of death, he had never felt fear, but now his entire body trembled with terror.
Huo Yunxi knelt on the ground before nervously reaching out to place his hand on the young man’s chest.
When he felt the faint heartbeat beneath the thin chest, Huo Yunxi gasped for air like a drowning man who had just surfaced.
"Thank goodness… thank goodness!"
He tightly embraced the young man in his arms. Although the young man’s breathing was weak, it still brought Huo Yunxi a sense of relief.
The footsteps of the others gradually approached. Not only were Director Long and his team there, but also the three Celestial Masters who had earlier escorted the victims away.
They had just returned when they heard Huo Yunxi mention that there were numerous corpses here. As Celestial Masters, the mention of corpses and altars immediately set off their alarms.
However, when the group arrived, they saw nothing.
Corpses? None.
The three outsiders? Also nowhere to be seen.
Gu Chen and Wei Yuanshou exchanged a glance, then silently activated their Celestial Eyes. Their pupils flickered slightly, as if they had seen something astonishing.
This scene went unnoticed by Director Long and the others. The only one who sensed something amiss was Wei.
"Martial Uncle, do you feel that the aura here… is a bit too clean?"
Seeing his Martial Nephew sneak over to ask, Wei Yuanshou showed a pleased expression. He patted his Martial Nephew’s head and whispered, "Of course it’s clean. All the filth and resentment have been burned away."
The lingering resentment and anger of the deceased, and the traces left by the outsiders—everything had been incinerated.
Not a single trace remained!
Wei didn’t quite understand his Martial Uncle’s words. Wei Yuanshou pulled him to a corner and, gazing intently at the young man being carried by Huo Yunxi, said, "Many, many people died here. Each person who died in torment would leave a trace of lingering resentment in the place of their death. This trace determines whether they can truly rest in peace."
He paused, then explained it in another way for his Martial Nephew: "In other words, if this trace isn’t resolved, they cannot reincarnate and be reborn as humans. They can only remain trapped in the place of their death and slowly fade away."
No peace in life, no rest in death. How agonizing that must be…
"Although I'm not entirely sure how that child managed it, there are no lingering resentments here anymore."
All the deceased could finally rest in peace.
Director Long couldn't see any corpses, and coupled with Jiang Chenyi's unconscious state, she immediately guessed that Jiang had done something.
As Huo Yunxi, carrying Jiang Chenyi, brushed past the man, he was grabbed by the man: "Where are they?"
What about the promised corpses and the outsiders?
As a result, he was startled by Huo Yunxi's gaze—a look filled with such killing intent that the man felt Huo wouldn't hesitate to kill him on the spot.
"They're dead, all dead. Find the evidence yourself." Huo Yunxi's voice at that moment wasn't just cold; it was like a block of ice speaking.
After saying that, he continued walking towards the exit.
The man narrowed his eyes while carefully observing the back of his great-grandfather, then ordered the soldiers behind him to thoroughly search the area.
"He acted," Director Long suddenly remarked.
The man glanced at her: "So? Matters of Spirits killing people should be referred to the Celestial Masters Association."
He thought Director Long was trying to pin a murder charge on Huo Yunxi, but... Director Long laughed.
"Overthinking, Chief. Fighting with criminals and accidentally killing them is at most excessive self-defense, not to mention they were spies from an enemy country who had committed numerous crimes in our nation. Mr. Huo and Mr. Jiang acted heroically; they should be rewarded, not punished."
The man looked at her with a complex expression, and after a long pause, he slowly said, "You don't think I would report them, do you?"
‘What was he thinking? Their Huo family would never do anything inhumane!’
Director Long stared at him intently: "I'm just being cautious."
They both fell silent for a moment, then laughed simultaneously.
But soon, they couldn't laugh anymore—evidence was found by the soldiers about a certain organization from Dai Country smuggling into the country and using innocent Chinese people for human experiments!
………
When Jiang Chenyi woke up, the scent of medicinal cuisine at his nose told him he wasn't in a hospital.
He turned his head and found himself back in the hotel—the hot spring hotel Huo Yunxi had originally booked.
Huo Yunxi, who was cooking soup in the kitchen, suddenly felt a stir in his heart and turned around sharply to see the young man lying on his side, staring at him.
"You're finally awake!"
This phrase, Jiang Chenyi felt like he had heard it several times before...
Huo Yunxi knelt by the bed then carefully helped Jiang Chenyi sit up and placed a pillow behind his lower back.
Jiang Chenyi, holding his still throbbing forehead, asked hoarsely, "How long have I been unconscious?”
Huo Yunxi paused, then lowered his head, burying it in Jiang Chenyi's palm, and murmured, "Two days..."
After Jiang Chenyi had been unconscious for a day and a night, Huo Yunxi was completely panicked. If it weren't for the supermarket nearby explaining, he would have been furious by now.
Jiang Chenyi covered his face, thinking... Some things are better not traded; using them really takes a toll on a person!’
"Then... did they ask about the three outsiders?"
Huo Yunxi immediately saw through the young man's worries. He shook his head and relayed Director Long's words to Jiang Chenyi: "Director Long said that fighting with spies is a heroic act worthy of reward."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chenyi immediately understood Director Long's stance and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Back then, he had been so consumed by anger that he had blurted out, "Kill them", without a second thought...
He looked at the head in his hand, his brow slightly furrowed, and said with a hint of guilt, "I'm sorry, I almost got you killed."
Huo Yunxi didn't lift his head, but he wrapped his arms around the young man's waist and buried his face in the other's abdomen once more.
"Even if you hadn't said it, I would have acted."
At that moment, any Chinese person would have found it impossible to hold back.
Jiang Chenyi blinked and reached out to pat the man's head.
That might be true, but he still needed to be more careful next time...
Although the law didn't specify what would happen if a Spirit killed someone, considering the Celestial Masters Association and his role as a Supervisor, it wouldn't be good to cause trouble for Gu Sheng.
So, next time, he would just beat them until they were on the verge of death.
As he pondered these thoughts, he didn't stop his actions. Huo Yunxi, being patted on the head repeatedly, suddenly felt a ticklish sensation in his heart.
Fortunately, just as he was about to lose control, a sweet meow interrupted his reverie.
"Meow~"
Huo Yunxi looked up with his eyes filled with dissatisfaction, and even snorted at Wu Tuan.
Wu Tuan instantly bristled, itching to scratch that dog-like human's face!
"Stop it, stop it! Yunxi, isn't the medicinal cuisine in the kitchen almost ready? I'm so hungry~" The young man pressed down on the restless cat's head with one hand and Huo Yunxi's shoulder with the other, fearing the two might start a fight.
Huo Yunxi glanced at the black furball hanging halfway, curled his lips, and revealed a disdainful smile.
Then he turned back to Jiang Chenyi, "The soup is ready, I'll ladle you a bowl.”
After estimating the time Jiang Chenyi would likely wake up, he had prepared this pot of medicinal cuisine in advance.
He had promised to nourish the young man, and the supermarket had even given him many good medicinal ingredients at a discount. He couldn't let them go to waste.
As Huo Yunxi came out with the bowl, he saw Wu Tuan being showered with kisses in Jiang Chenyi's arms, laughing all the while...
For a moment, he felt a pang of envy.
"It smells amazing! What did you make?" When Jiang Chenyi woke up, he hadn't felt hungry, but now, looking at a bowl of soup filled with premium ingredients, hunger surged through him.
He devoured the meat and soup, finishing it in no time. Huo Yunxi ladled him another bowl, and it wasn't until the third bowl that Jiang Chenyi finally felt full.
After eating and drinking his fill, Jiang Chenyi inquired about the villagers' situation.
At the mention of the villagers, Huo Yunxi paused, his eyes filled with loathing, "They all deserve to die."
Of the dozens of households in the village, except for children under 14, all those involved would be sentenced, with the main participants definitely facing the death penalty.
Although the sentencing hadn't happened yet, this information had been revealed by his descendant.
"The military has been mobilized, so the sentencing is practically a done deal. Anyone who dares to resist will be shot on the spot."
In fact, the military had already shot and killed several people during the arrests.
Those individuals had been the first to try and retrieve materials for explosives. Fortunately, Huo Yunxi had tipped off the authorities about their location beforehand, preventing them from succeeding.
"Some of them tried to take their wives as hostages, but the women who remained there were all Doppelganger Ghosts, so whether they lived or died didn't matter."
Huo Yunxi's eyes were particularly cold. If it had been in his time, this village would have been bombed into a crater.
Why bother with trials? Just kill them outright.
Jiang Chenyi's mouth twitched, and he grabbed the man's face: "This isn't the chaotic times of a hundred years ago. Don't act recklessly, or I won't be able to protect you!"
Suddenly, Huo Yunxi turned his head, his dark eyes fixed on Jiang Chenyi: "Then... what if one day I lose control and act recklessly?"
Faced with his sudden question, Jiang Chenyi didn't hesitate.
"It's okay if you lose control. I'll bring you back." And then quietly clean up the aftermath while ensuring no one knows.
Huo Yunxi's eyes flickered. The young man's words made his heart itch even more.
He sat by Jiang Chenyi's bed and, under the young man's bright gaze, pulled him into a hug.
Huo Yunxi's body temperature was slightly higher than Jiang Chenyi's, and being held by him felt like being embraced by a giant warm water bottle.
Warm and somewhat comfortable.
He didn't resist the embrace, but after being held for half an hour, Jiang Chenyi couldn't help but push him away: "Enough, enough."
A hint of regret flashed in Huo Yunxi's eyes as he was pushed away, but he quickly masked it perfectly.
Having been unconscious for two days, Jiang Chenyi was curious not only about the aftermath of the villagers but also about the effects of that clock.
Regarding this, Huo Yunxi hadn't received any news from Director Long.
"Then let's go and ask," he said, taking the matter seriously.
No one could guarantee that similar altars wouldn't appear elsewhere.
Huo Yunxi wanted Jiang Chenyi to rest properly, but Jiang Chenyi felt that he could only rest after finishing the task at hand.
Unable to persuade the young man, Huo Yunxi had no choice but to take him back to the police station.
At this moment, the Xiaocheng Police Station was bustling with activity, but upon seeing Huo Yunxi, everyone stopped in their tracks with their eyes filled with respect for Jiang Chenyi.
They had long known that if it weren’t for the young man, who knows how many more people would have died at that so-called Altar!
Upon learning that Jiang Chenyi and the others had arrived, Director Long immediately had someone bring them to her office.
When she saw the young man’s still pale lips, she felt a pang of guilt.
She and the other officers shared the same thought—if it weren’t for Jiang Chenyi, they might not have discovered the hidden threat at the border.
Fortunately, they found out in time, though not too early, but also not at the point of no return.
"Thank you so much for this!"
As she spoke, Director Long actually pulled out a certificate from her drawer, with golden letters on it—a Certificate of Bravery.
This was the first time Jiang Chenyi had received something like this, and he couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
As for Huo Yunxi, he had even less interest in it!
Director Long glanced at the closed door, then beckoned the two men closer and lowered her voice to say, "Do you need me to apply for a gun permit for you?"
‘Huh??? What did she mean?’
Huo Yunxi understood her intention faster than Jiang Chenyi, and his gaze toward Director Long gradually deepened.
"I didn’t bring this up casually. Before you woke up, I had already contacted the police in Chashan City, and we all thought it would be better to prepare a gun permit for you."
To be precise, it was a weapons permit, but whether it was a gun or not… that was another matter.
Currently, in the entire country, only Gu Sheng had such a permit.
And with this permit, Jiang Chenyi and the others would have the authority to take action against criminals.
Jiang Chenyi had no thoughts on the matter: "This is useless to me. When I take action against someone, it’s never physical."
Director Long smiled, then shifted her gaze to Huo Yunxi.
‘Yes, you can extract a person’s Soul, but what about him? Although he is a Spirit, when it comes to taking action, his methods aren’t much different from a human’s, right?’
With one look, Jiang Chenyi fell silent.
He could, but Huo Yunxi couldn’t…
In fact, Director Long wasn’t wrong. With this permit, at least he wouldn’t have to worry about legal issues regarding yesterday’s events—he would only need to submit evidence and a detailed account of the process.
"Of course, having a permit doesn’t mean you can abuse force. You can ask Old man Gu Sheng about that."
Jiang Chenyi nodded silently, accepting Director Long’s goodwill.
After discussing this matter, Jiang Chenyi brought up the question he had before coming here: "Have those five Souls confessed? Was the clock used? How effective was it?"
At this, Director Long’s smile grew even brighter.
"That matter has been handed over to Huo Feiquan to handle. Those five Souls have already confessed everything, and now we’re just waiting for the other side to verify it one by one."
Jiang Chenyi was about to ask who this Huo Feiquan was, but then it occurred to him that this was probably the name of the border defense commander from the previous two nights—and also Huo Yunxi’s great-grandson.
Although the matter was already being handled, it wasn’t something that could be resolved overnight.
When Jiang Chenyi left the police station, he casually took the box containing the Souls with him.
Since the information had already been extracted, they were of no further use.
Jiang Chenyi didn’t return to the hotel. Instead, he went to the highest peak in Xiaocheng.
He opened the box and released the five Souls inside, then took out the Golden Abacus and detached the other three Souls as well.
The eight Souls exchanged glances, and upon recognizing each other, they immediately sensed that something was wrong.
However, before they could beg for mercy, an intense pain surged through their bodies.
The surroundings had been prepared in advance. No matter how agonizing their screams were, no one else would hear them, nor would anyone see their miserable state.
Jiang Chenyi and Huo Yunxi tore them apart like pieces of paper, shredding them into strips and then into fragments smaller than fingernails.
This was far more excruciating than being dismembered.
After all, even if the Souls were torn into pieces, it didn’t mean they were destroyed.
So, from beginning to end, they remained fully conscious and enduring the pain.
“Does it hurt? The people you harmed suffered true pain. What you’re experiencing now doesn’t even count as atonement.” Listening to their screams, Jiang Chenyi didn’t feel satisfaction, only sorrow—sorrow for the innocent victims.
When the Souls were shredded beyond recognition, Jiang Chenyi lit another fire.
White flames reappeared in mid-air and devoured all the fragments completely.
After using Merit once again, Jiang Chenyi slumped drowsily onto Huo Yunxi’s back, almost falling asleep.
“This can be considered avenging the victims.”
But rather than seeking revenge, it would have been better if such things had never happened in the first place.
As soon as he finished speaking, the young man tilted his head and immediately fell asleep. The previous exhaustion hadn’t been replenished, and now he had drained the last bit of his strength.
It was unclear how long it would take to recover this time.
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