Chapter 27 - 26: Maggot

Chapter 27: Chapter 26: Maggot

Jiang Chaosheng handed the umbrella to Jin Meiting.

This simple, kind gesture made Jin Meiting suddenly clutch her lower abdomen, bending over as she stood up.

She swallowed hard, straightened her body, and slowly backed away.

Seeing her master’s domineering presence, as if he commanded all the ghosts of Hell, her enchanting eyes seemed to brim with moisture, and she greedily licked her lips.

Suddenly, she felt a gaze upon her and turned her head to look.

It was the old man in black, staring at her!

’Why... is he so horrifying to look at!’

Jin Meiting frowned in displeasure.

"What are you looking at?! I’ll gouge your eyes out!"

She revered a powerful figure like her master. She would even be thrilled if he slapped her.

But being looked at by any other man, even a fellow employee of Antique Shop Zero, made her feel sick to her stomach.

’My allure is for my master to see. A loser so much as glancing at my black stockings is blasphemy!’

A hint of recollection appeared in the old man’s eyes. His lips moved.

"A Succubus. I think I’ve killed a few."

The old man in black frowned.

"Where did I kill them... I can’t remember."

As the old man spoke, his expression began to change.

From confusion to bewilderment, from bewilderment to struggle, until he finally grabbed his hair in agony.

Jin Meiting swallowed the lump in her throat and took a few delicate steps, distancing herself from the old man.

...

Jiang Chaosheng took a step forward.

The Ghost Constables retreated a step in terror, like wild beasts fearing a flame.

The County Magistrate’s body trembled as he shakily pointed at the Scythe of Death in Jiang Chaosheng’s hand.

"Peasant! Where did you get that thing!"

Jiang Chaosheng glanced out of the corner of his eye at the rust-spotted Scythe of Death in his hand.

’This is the scythe of the Death God. Even though it looks dim and lackluster, as if it has lost its divinity over the long years, it’s still a Divine Artifact!’

The Death God is the King of Hell, one of the Deities who commands countless Evil Spirits. The deterrent effect of the Divine Artifact in his hand against evil ghosts should not be underestimated.

Normally, every Taboo Item is incredibly fierce, making them extremely difficult for Managers to contain.

’Fortunately, my luck is pretty good.’

’My first time containing a Taboo Item, and it’s a soul-related Taboo from the ’5’ series.’

’The Scythe of Death is the perfect counter to these things, a complete suppression.’

Jiang Chaosheng glanced at the Gavel in the County Magistrate’s hand.

"And that block of wood you’re holding, where did you get it?"

Upon hearing this, the County Magistrate shrieked as if provoked.

"This is the Gavel of Bao Qingtian! It is mine!"

He had completely forgotten his fear of the Scythe of Death.

It was as if he would rather die than not claim the Gavel as his own.

Jiang Chaosheng’s eyes were filled with scorn.

"Bao Qingtian? Does scum like you even deserve that name?

Bao Zheng of the Northern Song Dynasty judged wrongful cases by day and tried Fierce Ghosts by night.

Beloved by the masses, they called him ’Bao Qingtian’.

What is this, a cosplay?

Heh, you’ve been dead for so many years and you’re still so cringey."

The County Magistrate shuddered at the name Bao Zheng.

Jiang Chaosheng said slowly,

"Item 5-16, the Gavel.

This is the very tool that the esteemed elder Bao Xiren used during his life at the Jianchang County Yamen.

The common people believe Bao Qingtian’s ’night trials of Fierce Ghosts’ are just a legend.

But they don’t know that the righteous aura of Bao Xiren, which could cleanse the universe, truly made ghosts and deities tremble in awe, forcing evil to flee.

The Gavel, having been with Bao Xiren for so long, gradually absorbed his divine essence. Over time, it gained the ability to summon Ghost Constables to its service."

Listening to this, the County Magistrate trembled more violently, his throat bobbing, unable to utter a single word.

A mocking smile played on Jiang Chaosheng’s lips.

"You wanted to be loved by the people, to earn the good name of Bao Qingtian.

But you exploited the common folk. Even during a famine, you tore down their homes and seized their land just to build a temple to yourself.

You wanted to be worshipped by the masses? You thought a temple would prove you were an honest official?

Do you really think the people of today are the same pitiful souls from your era, so easily fooled by the likes of you?"

The County Magistrate’s lips moved for a long time before he managed to say:

"Stop talking."

Jiang Chaosheng paused for a moment.

"Heheheh... HAHAHAHA..."

He suddenly pointed at the County Magistrate and burst out laughing, as if looking at a pathetic worm trapped in a cesspool.

"You admired Bao Xiren, so you went to great lengths to collect the items he used in life.

This Gavel must be your deepest obsession, right?

Did you really think that by holding this Gavel, you would become Bao Qingtian?"

When Jiang Chaosheng had laughed his fill, he tightened his grip on the Scythe of Death. His gaze turned sharp, and his lips curled into a cold arc, revealing his stark white teeth.

"You’re nothing more than a wretched soul attached to this Gavel.

You’re nothing but a... maggot staring up at the blue sky!"

The County Magistrate stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.

His eyes were wide, and his mouth hung open.

He watched Jiang Chaosheng strolling casually through the surrounding Ghost Constables and shook his head nonstop.

"No, I’m not a maggot, I’m not! I also wanted to be... like Bao Qingtian!"

The County Magistrate watched as Jiang Chaosheng came to a stop before him and raised the Scythe of Death. His face was filled with horror as he grit his teeth.

"But the world wouldn’t allow it! The Emperor wouldn’t allow it, the Lady wouldn’t allow it, the entire imperial court... wouldn’t allow it!"

The County Magistrate looked up and saw the Scythe of Death.

This blow would surely scatter his soul to the winds.

’Am I going to die again?’

The County Magistrate thought of the last time he died. His life had flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern.

He saw the scholar from a poor mountain village who worshipped Bao Zheng.

He saw himself making a grand promise to his fellow villagers that he would become a just official like Bao Qingtian.

He saw the high-spirited young scholar who had passed the imperial exams, riding proudly on a tall horse...

Somehow, facing the complete annihilation of his soul, the County Magistrate suddenly felt a sense of release.

He chuckled softly, lowered his head, and asked, "Tell me, if I admit I was wrong, can I still be a just official?"

Jiang Chaosheng said indifferently, "No."

The Scythe of Death in his hand swung down without mercy.

The County Magistrate’s figure abruptly dissipated, turning into several wisps of black smoke that vanished between heaven and earth.

Jiang Chaosheng mumbled, "If ’sorry’ was enough, what would we need Sheriffs for?"

Wrong is wrong. There are no second chances in this world.

’Maybe only Li Qinglian would have offered the Ghost County Magistrate a few kind words of comfort before he died?’

’Hm... maybe not.’

’Li Qinglian seems to be from the Qing Dynasty.’

’Even a pedantic scholar would want to kill an official like that, right?’

Jiang Chaosheng picked up the Gavel from the tabletop and slammed it down on the wooden desk.

"Disperse!"

The Ghost Constables, holding their Execution Sticks in both hands, touched the heads of the sticks to the ground. They made a fist-and-palm salute to Jiang Chaosheng, then suddenly vanished.

Jiang Chaosheng picked up the Gavel, murmuring to himself, "Ten more Taboo Items to go before the Curse is broken."

Suddenly, several flashlight beams pierced the darkness.

Jiang Chaosheng was still in a normal human body. Faced with the strong lights, he squinted and tilted his umbrella forward slightly, hiding half of his face.

It was the Sheriffs.

Some were in Sheriff uniforms, others in plain clothes.

They held firearms, watching Jiang Chaosheng warily.

Some had tense faces and had their guns aimed at Jiang Chaosheng.

The leader was a burly man with a buzz cut, wearing a leather jacket.

The captain of the South Sea criminal investigation team, Luo Quan.

A glint of coldness flashed in Jiang Chaosheng’s eyes.

Li Mingyue, who was protecting the prostitute, keenly noticed this.

She was still trying to process her internal shock.

’She’d seen this man before. He was Jin Meiting’s boss!’

’That woman... it couldn’t be Jin Meiting, could it?!’

’Compared to the last time they met, her figure was fuller, and her allure was even more potent!’

’What in the world is going on?!’

Li Mingyue couldn’t worry about all that. She immediately shouted to Luo Quan,

"Captain! Don’t! Get away! It’s dangerous!"

Luo Quan heard Li Mingyue’s words, but he couldn’t just ignore the three of them.

’These three people destroyed the Ghost Government Office. I have to keep them here!’

Luo Quan shouted, "The three of you, I mean no harm! I just..."

Jiang Chaosheng placed his index finger to his lips in a ’shushing’ gesture, a disdainful smirk slowly spreading across his face.

Luo Quan froze for a second and looked back.

Quite a few of the Sheriffs were actually pointing their guns at the man!

They were too afraid, too tense, when faced with an unknown entity.

Luo Quan roared angrily, "What are you doing?! Lower your weapons!"