Li Geng's face was ferocious, gasping heavily.

He didn't notice at all that some fleshy whiskers suddenly appeared on his face, then retracted as swiftly as lightning.

Bam!

Li Geng suddenly picked up the teacup on the table and smashed it to the ground with a heavy hand. Seemingly still not satisfied, he swept the precious brushes, inks, paper, and inkstones off the table onto the floor.

"Where is everyone, are they all dead? Arrange two fox maids for me!"

He shouted outside, but after waiting for a long time with no response, his pupils constricted, finally sensing that something was amiss.

Within the ancient, dark Imperial Palace,

it was frighteningly silent…

"Alas…" An aged sigh sounded.

Immediately after, the fragments of the torn and scattered "Imperial Extreme Scripture" suddenly flew, transforming back into the ancient yellowed booklet, appearing in a withered hand.

"True Man Lu!"

Seeing the suddenly appearing old man, Li Geng was startled, his heart pounding, swallowing a gulp of saliva, "Weren't you resting? What… what do you intend to do?"

The flickering candlelight cast shadows on True Man Lu's old, expressionless face.

"Your Majesty…"

True Man Lu sighed, slowly approaching,

"I thought you would secretly ally with the National Guardian True Man, perhaps even send someone to explore the Underworld, all of which didn't matter, but you… shouldn't have stopped practicing the 'Imperial Extreme Scripture'..."

"The 'Imperial Extreme Scripture'… indeed, it's related to that damned book!"

Li Geng clenched his fists tightly, his eyes full of blood, "I discovered long ago that this thing was not right, unable to gain longevity, unusable for spells."

"I diligently govern and care for the people, and you do not praise it. I appoint the wicked and nurture the fox demon, and you do not interfere either."

"I sent people to rob the imperial mausoleum, all the coffins of former emperors were empty, even the Sealed Demon Cave, which the National Guardian True Man wanted to enter, you stopped him. What are you demons plotting!"

Years of doubts and anger exploded with tonight's events, Li Geng's face contorted beyond recognition.

It was indeed beyond recognition, as sinister tentacles crawled out of his face. If Zhang Kui were there, he would have noticed they were almost identical to the ones he had severed.

True Man Lu remained expressionless, slowly raising his hand.

Li Geng finally came to his senses, his eyes filled with terror, "You want to kill me... don't, Grandpa Lu, after all, you watched me grow up. Don't kill me! If you want me to practice the 'Imperial Extreme Scripture', fine, I will... I'll continue tomorrow..."

"Foolish child, it's too late."

True Man Lu struck down with his palm.

The Imperial Study Room returned to silence, the old man stood calmly and expressionlessly.

Suddenly, six other elders appeared soundlessly, four men and two women, both monks and Daoists, all in plain robes, aged beyond recognition, with various ancient artifacts floating behind them.

If a knowledgeable person were present, they would exclaim in awe.

The Thunder Sword, Yellow Springs Palace Lamp, Blood Weng Zhong, Soul-Devouring Silk, Wordless Stele, and Demon Bone Gourd, along with the Nine Heavens Profound Fire Mirror behind True Man Lu.

The seven State Preceptors of Qian, the seven National Guardian Divine Artifacts, were all present.

"Alas… the abnormalities at Insect Cave should have tipped me off."

An old woman sighed. The Yellow Springs Palace Lamp floating behind her emitted a dim, eerie glow, illuminating Li Geng's corpse.

The tentacles on Li Geng's face instantly retracted, and then he opened his eyes, standing expressionlessly.

"Who should succeed the throne next?"

"The Eldest Prince Li Shuo, perhaps; outwardly broad-minded but inwardly timid, while the Fourth Prince is too reckless..."

"Hmm… that will do then..."

Outside the Imperial Study, the guards and palace maids maintained their vigil, oblivious to the happenings inside.

In Haojing City, the Lantern Festival had long ended, and at this late hour, a delicate snow had begun to fall from the sky, only to grow heavier…

...

The sky was thick with leaden clouds, and the steadily falling heavy snow wove together into an encompassing curtain of white, rendering the distant mountains, rivers, and forests dreamily blurred.

"What a heavy snow!"

Zhang Kui stood in the courtyard stretching his body, joyfully practicing Tai Chi in the snow.

He loved the snow; although the days were cold and monochrome, the vast whiteness opened one's heart.

"Master Kui is unburdened, naturally carefree and at ease…"

Under the eaves, Cui Yebai sat on a small bench wrapped in a thick cotton coat, pale-faced and smiling.

Zhang Kui swung his fists and palms freely, laughing heartily, "Unburdened, indeed, just heartless and careless. But you, as a scholar, how did you end up with such a sickness from depression, if it weren't for Old Zhang discovering it, you might have frozen to death in the streets of the Capital City."

"Thank you, Taoist, for rescuing me once again…"

Cui Yebai cupped his fists with a wry smile, "Since we parted several months ago, I wandered to the Capital City, intending to make connections with seniors, but had not anticipated that the city no longer had a place for poor scholars. The Maritime Bureau is controlled by powerful families of the south."

"I was unwilling to give up, so I wrote poems depicting the seascape, hoping to attract attention, but Qiongshan Academy's headmaster, the Great Scholar Situ Yan, dismissed them as ignorant, completely cutting off my path forward."

"A lifetime of learning washed away, leaving me in a daze until rescued by the Taoist."

Zhang Kui chuckled, walked over with large strides, sat casually on the steps, and picked up a wine jar nearby to take a couple of sips.

"You have no interest in fame or fortune, what great future are you talking about? If your lifelong wish is easily achieved, wouldn't it be dull?"

Cui Yebai was taken aback, then his face showed a smile. He respectfully clasped his hands and said, "Indeed, indeed, thank you, Master, for your guidance."

"You talk too much, learned scholar..."

The nearby Fatty Tiger shook its head, "Quickly tell a couple more of your stories to entertain us."

Cui Yebai laughed,

"Sure, storytelling is my forte."

However, just as he was about to speak, Old Liu walked in with a heavy heart.

"Master Kui, things are not looking good..."

Zhang Kui frowned, "Don't panic, what's happened?"

Liu Mao'Er had a gloomy face, "The Lantern Festival has just passed, and several businesses in the Capital City have already terminated their contracts with us. I went to investigate, only to find that a winery suddenly produced a truly exquisite wine, rich and mellow without causing hangovers, and now everyone's gone crazy over it."

"Hey, I thought it was something serious..."

Zhang Kui shook his head indifferently, "In business, there's no such thing as always winning. It's just a slight decline in business, don't overthink it."

"Master Kui, you make it sound easy..."

Old Liu shook his head, saying, "I'm just not convinced. That person is accustomed to using inferior goods to replace authentic ones, how can he match the new wine I painstakingly crafted?"

"Hmph, those wine drinkers, came begging us just before the New Year, and now they're crazily drinking his wine. It's truly spooky. Who knows where he got the recipe from..."

"It might not necessarily be the recipe."

Beside him, Cui Yebai was thoughtful, "Do those people become so addicted to wine that it's harder and harder for them to get drunk?"

Liu Mao'Er was stunned and hurriedly nodded, "Yes, yes, exactly like that."

Cui Yebai laughed heartily,

"Don't worry, elder. If I'm not mistaken, then that wine merchant must have obtained a 'Wine Worm.'"

"Wine Worm?"

Everyone was a bit puzzled.

Cui Yebai nodded, "Yes, according to my ancestral records, this Wine Worm is a demon transformed from the spiritual energy within the wine. Just rolling it in the wine makes even plain water into fine wine, and the effects after drinking are just as you described."

Zhang Kui frowned, "Is it a type of Gu Poison?"

Cui Yebai shook his head with a smile, "No, this wine won't harm people, but it can be addictive. If ordinary families drink it, they might sell their pans and irons, even their wives and children, just to buy wine."

Liu Mao'Er's eyes lit up,

"Is there really such a treasure in the world?"

"What treasure!"

Zhang Kui snorted, "I, Old Zhang, despise such harmful things the most. Let's go!"

With that, he rode Fatty Tiger into the wind and snow...

...

Haojing City, Xinghua Square.

The most popular winery in the Capital City was in chaos, with people from the Astronomical Bureau coming and going.

Onlookers gathered around, and when they saw the Black-clothed Profound Guards pulling out a white worm as thick as an arm, constantly writhing, from a massive wine jar, they all gasped.

"Good heavens, there really is a demon."

"The owner truly has a black heart..."

At the window of the opposite tavern, Yin Bai withdrew his gaze, shook his head slightly, "This shop's backer is the Fourth Prince, who would have thought he would use demons to harm people."

Zhang Kui snorted coldly, "I, Old Zhang, don't want to deal with mortals, which is why I asked you to handle this. Damn it, none of them are good stuff."

Yin Bai gave a wry smile and said nothing.

"By the way..."

Zhang Kui suddenly furrowed his brows and asked, "Have you had any significant actions lately?"

Yin Bai was stunned and shook his head,

"No, only that the National Guardian True Man, Yellow Eyebrow Monk, specifically instructed to suspend the investigation of the Demon Star Pavilion, and, also, the Emperor suddenly fell ill. Taoist Zhang, could there possibly be... some trick involved?"

Suspending the investigation?

What plan are these people plotting...

Zhang Kui nodded, "Hmm, got it. This matter is dangerous, you better steer clear."

After bidding farewell to Yin Bai, Zhang Kui and Fatty Tiger ate around Xinghua Square and only returned to Iron Blood Manor in the evening.

As soon as he entered, he saw Jade Flower Temple Elder Huayan's major disciple, Taoist Master Buxu.

This black-faced Daoist had eyes full of anxiety,

"Taoist Friend Zhang, my master, might be in trouble..."

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