Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

Chapter 1465: Chapter 793: Killing to Unseal

The river network is dense in Mingxi Town, with several main streets distributed along the waterways, winding in countless curves.

Walking along the main street, every hundred steps reveals a new scene, every thousand steps brings a change, the scenery is wonderfully varied and quite elegant.

The Weng Pavilion is located at the end of the main street, diagonally across from a stone arch bridge a few dozen steps away, with a bustling stream of pedestrians on the bridge bringing considerable customer traffic to the bookshop.

Zhao Sheng quickly arrived at the entrance of the bookshop, stepped inside.

As soon as he entered, the shopkeeper immediately saw him and hurriedly came around the counter to greet him enthusiastically: “This morning, I heard magpies chattering and thought it was some great news. It turns out Mr. Zhao has arrived.”

The shopkeeper had a pleasant appearance and a scholarly demeanor, yet his way of speaking was full of the flavor of a merchant, which was somewhat displeasing to listen to.

“I see Young Master looking radiant, it seems your health has greatly improved. Truly a cause for celebration!”

Zhao Sheng waved his hand, saying indifferently: “Manager Chen, I came today to personally visit Old Shopkeeper Chen. Could you please inform him on my behalf?”

Upon hearing this, Manager Chen’s expression changed abruptly. He hesitated for a moment before saying, “He is feeling a bit under the weather now and it’s inconvenient for outsiders to visit him. Perhaps another day, Mr. Zhao.”

Zhao Sheng frowned slightly but soon regained his composure, smiling: “No problem, no problem. Since that’s the case, I shall come with ample gifts to visit once the Old Shopkeeper is feeling better.”

With that, he clasped his hands intending to bid farewell.

Just then, a man in blue clothes stumbled into the shop, looking panic-stricken, shouting: “It’s bad, you must go back and see!”

Manager Chen’s face darkened: “What’s got you so riled up? Calm down and speak slowly.”

The man in blue swallowed hard, with a grief-stricken face: “The… the old master has passed away. You must hurry—”

“What?! My father is dead! Say that again!” Manager Chen’s face changed drastically as he urgently questioned.

“Yes… yes, just a short while ago, we found the old master’s study wide open. I thought it odd and went in to check and found… found that the old master had already passed away,” said the man in blue tremblingly.

Manager Chen turned pale and rushed out the door without a word, quickly heading towards his residence.

Zhao Sheng observed this and followed quietly.

The Chen Mansion was just across the river, not half a mile walk after crossing the stone arch bridge.

By the time Zhao Sheng reached the Chen Mansion, it was already in a state of panic.

Upon Manager Chen’s return, everyone in the mansion immediately felt reassured and surrounded the master, heading towards the study.

Zhao Sheng easily entered the mansion, following leisurely.

Soon, the group passed through the yard gate and arrived in front of an elegantly refined study, the door wide open.

Manager Chen instructed everyone to stay outside, walking in himself.

When Zhao Sheng was about to enter, a servant noticed him and immediately stopped him: “Hey, who are you? Leave quickly, this is no place for spectators.”

Zhao Sheng did not want to tangle with the servant, simply stating that he was an old friend of Manager Chen and came to see if there was anything he could help with after hearing of the old master’s passing.

The servant paid no heed, simply focused on driving him out.

Zhao Sheng gave the servant a bland look.

Just one look, and the servant seemed struck by lightning, standing stunned in place, cold sweat breaking out on their forehead.

Then, Zhao Sheng stepped past the servant, striding into the study without anyone daring to stop him.

Entering the study, the room unusually tidy, unlike a crime scene, with both bookshelves filled with various ancient books, and in a corner, a display rack holding seven or eight antique items, including jade seals, copper wares, ink carvings, and others.

Behind the desk sat an elderly man with white hair, half-leaning against the chair, his face deathly pale without a trace of blood, his dead fish eyes staring straight ahead, as if gazing at something.

At this moment, Manager Chen, with a sorrowful expression, was bending over, extending a finger beneath the old man’s nose, repeatedly checking for breath.

Zhao Sheng saw this and said in a deep voice: “The old master has passed on, Manager Chen, my condolences!”

As he spoke, he glanced around the study, his eyes quickly landing on the wall behind the desk, where there was a light-colored rectangular mark, as if a painting had previously hung there.

Hearing this, Manager Chen snapped out of it, shakily standing upright, and said mournfully to Zhao Sheng: “I’m embarrassed before Mr. Zhao. My father has always been healthy, yet his passing was so… so sudden! I need to handle my father’s affairs, Mr. Zhao, please help yourself.”

“Hold on! I believe the old master’s death is suspicious, haven’t you noticed a few things missing in the study?” Zhao Sheng said and pointed behind Manager Chen.

Upon hearing this, Manager Chen quickly turned around and his face changed drastically when he saw the empty wall.

“No, there was once a Yellow Springs Other Shore Painting hanging here. It’s gone now, indicating someone took it. Shishu, get in here now!”

After Manager Chen angrily shouted, the man in blue rushed in, appearing extremely flustered.

With a livid face, Manager Chen interrogated: “I ask you, has anyone ever entered the study?”

“Sir… Sir, I don’t know! When I realized the old master was in trouble, I immediately ran to inform you. After I left, I don’t know if anyone came in!”

Zhao Sheng’s eyes flashed, suddenly pointing at the wall, interjecting: “When you found the old master had no breath, was the painting on the wall there… or not?”

The man in blue looked at the wall where the painting once hung, hesitated, then nodded emphatically: “As soon as I entered, I noticed the Other Shore Map was gone. At the time, I found it strange, since the Other Shore Map was the old master’s most beloved ancient painting. How could it just disappear for no reason?”