TRWSB – Chapter 24 The Funeral

After Zhuang Hao left, he didn’t appear for several days. Four days later, Qi Shaorong received an invitation to attend Zhuang Ling’s funeral.

“Young master, will you attend Zhuang Ling’s funeral?” Qi Heng asked.

Qi Shaorong toyed with the invitation in his hand and said, “Impressive! Drawing the snake out of the hole.”

“Young master, do you think Zhuang Ling isn’t really dead?”

Qi Shaorong shrugged. “Maybe. Who knows?” If Zhuang Ling were dead, the parasite inside her would have lost its vitality, rendering its medicinal effects useless. The person who planted the parasite wouldn’t be satisfied with that.

“Have you heard anything about how Zhuang Ling died?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“Rumor has it that Zhuang Ling didn’t want to burden Zhuang Linyuan any longer, so she committed suicide,” Qi Heng replied.

“They sent an invitation, so I can’t ignore it. I’ll have to make an appearance,” Qi Shaorong sighed and added, “I visited Zhuang Ling not long ago, and now she’s dead. It’s almost as if I drove her to suicide. If I don’t go, it’ll seem like I’m feeling guilty.”

Qi Heng: “…”

Qi Shaorong attended Zhuang Ling’s funeral as planned. When he arrived, many people were already there.

“Master Evil Doctor, you came too!” Zhuang Renquan greeted Qi Shaorong.

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Yes! It seems Third Master is recovering well.”

“All thanks to you. Unfortunately, Ling’er wasn’t as lucky as me,” Zhuang Renquan said with a touch of sadness.

“I’m sorry, but Miss Zhuang Ling’s illness was beyond my ability to cure.”

“It’s not your fault, Master Evil Doctor. Ling’er lived in pain for a long time. Maybe death is a release for her,” Zhuang Renquan sighed and shook his head before walking away after exchanging a few more pleasantries with Qi Shaorong.

Shen Yuan then approached Qi Shaorong. “Master Evil Doctor, you came too.”

“Miss Zhuang’s death is truly a pity. I’m here to see her off one last time,” Qi Shaorong replied.

Shen Yuan shook his head helplessly. “Sister Zhuang Ling was beautiful and kind-hearted, but sadly, beauty is often cursed with a short life.”

“There you are!” Zhuang Qian approached.

Qi Shaorong looked at Zhuang Qian and asked, “You’re here too? You’re everywhere. Where’s your brother?”

Zhuang Qian shook his head. “I don’t know. Are you looking for him, Master Evil Doctor? I can help you find him.”

Qi Shaorong shook his head. “No need. I was just asking casually.”

Zhuang Qian: “…”

Originally, Qi Shaorong had doubts about whether Zhuang Ling was truly dead. But after walking around the mourning hall, he started to believe she really had passed away. Zhuang Linyuan’s grief was so deep that it seemed to drain the life out of him.

Guests came to pay their respects in waves, and as time passed, most of them left.

By nightfall, Qi Shaorong sat on the railing of a corridor, resting, when Zhuang Hao approached him.

“Master Evil Doctor, aren’t you going to the front hall?” Zhuang Hao asked.

Qi Shaorong shook his head. “No, I can’t stand seeing people cry.”

“Master Evil Doctor, you can’t bear to see others in sorrow.”

Qi Shaorong shook his head again. “Not really. It’s just that their crying gives me a headache.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

“Zhuang Hao, aren’t you going to the front courtyard?”

Zhuang Hao shook his head. “No need. There are already enough people there.”

Qi Shaorong stared at Zhuang Hao for a moment before suddenly laughing. “It seems you’re well-prepared, Zhuang Hao.”

“Not to that extent.”

In the middle of the night, a blaze erupted from the mourning hall.

“It’s begun?” Qi Shaorong looked in the direction of the hall.

Zhuang Hao squinted. “It seems you were right. Someone really did plant a parasite in Sister Zhuang Ling.”

Qi Shaorong looked at Zhuang Hao. “What do you mean? You never believed me in the first place.”

Zhuang Hao responded with a hint of apology. “No, I did believe you. But what you said was too shocking. I couldn’t believe that someone in the Zhuang family could be so ruthless.”

Qi Shaorong looked at Zhuang Hao and said, “Young Master Zhuang, you’ve been blessed with talent and raised in luxury, so naturally, you don’t know that this world is full of dark-hearted people. Take me, for example. Every time I see you, I want to carve a few scars on your face.”

Zhuang Hao’s gaze deepened. “Why?”

Qi Shaorong chuckled. “I’m just joking.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

In the front courtyard, various magical and martial attacks exploded. Qi Shaorong heard Zhuang Linyuan’s furious roar, “Second Brother, it really was you who planted the parasite in Ling’er! You’re truly heartless! Ling’er is your niece!”

“Niece? She’s nothing but the bastard you and Fu Ruxue created. Back then, I was the one who met her first. But that fickle woman chose you.”

“Ruxue never liked you.”

“That’s right! That slut liked you! All the elders in the family preferred you, and even Fu Ruxue liked you. Why? Why must I always be overshadowed by you?” Zhuang Linmu’s voice dripped with resentment. “When Zhuang Ling was born, I knew it was your retribution. She turned out to be a natural spiritual vessel, perfect for raising the Blood Spirit Gu.”

“Brother, you’ve gone to great lengths for this daughter of yours. You’ve even neglected your cultivation all these years, raising both her and the parasite inside her. But alas, at the final moment, it was all for nothing. She committed suicide. However, since you’ve set this trap, your daughter must still be alive, right?”

“Ling’er is indeed still alive,” Zhuang Linyuan admitted.

“Tell me, how do I break the Blood Spirit Gu?”

Zhuang Linmu let out a chilling laugh. “Brother, the Blood Spirit Gu has no cure. Now that you know, let’s share the spoils. Hand Ling’er over to me, and once I refine the elixir, I’ll give you half.”

Zhuang Renxian frowned. “Zhuang Linmu, are you mad? Surrender yourself now.”

Zhuang Linmu narrowed his eyes. “Zhuang Renxian, you’re meddling too much. Although we share the same surname, we’re hardly close. Why interfere in our brotherly matters?”