Chương 7: The Smell of Evil

White Flower City sat in the southern reaches of the Great Sheng Dynasty, a remote border county with only a few thousand residents. Few outsiders came except traveling merchants, and even the locals rarely left their homes. East of the city grew a forest of crabapple pear trees. Every early spring, the branches would bloom with tiny white flowers, pure as fresh-fallen snow. But this year, spring was nearly over, and the crabapple pears still hadn't bloomed.

Looking at the buds, one could vaguely make out the stamens inside, flickering like candle flames, or like drops of blood. Strings of white buds hung from the branches like tiny paper lanterns, as if guiding the way for a departed soul.

"The City God died last night." The news spread through every corner of the city. Commoners and merchants alike were consumed by grief. Their City God had always been kind and approachable, helping countless poor families. Whenever a child was born, parents would bring the infant to the City God Temple, asking the City God to bestow a name, then kneel before the Everlasting Emperor's statue, praying for the child's health.

"Everlasting Emperor, open your eyes! Lord City God is our protector! He can't die!"

"Yes! Lord Zhang was a good man. A great benefactor like him should have lived a hundred years! How could he just... just... wuwuwu!"

"It's impossible! It must be a joke Lord Zhang is playing on us." Outside the City God Temple, crowds of weeping citizens gathered. Some old women fainted and were held up by others as they continued their mournful wailing. They wanted to enter the temple to see whether the City God was still alive, but the doors were shut. No matter how they knocked, no one answered. So they surrounded the temple, praying devoutly, hoping to see Lord Zhang walk out alive. They waited a long time. They didn't see Lord Zhang.

Instead, a young man appeared from nowhere, claiming to be Zhu Youchang. He held an appointment letter, saying he was the new City God. The people stared at him with fury and hatred, as if he were the one who'd killed Lord Zhang.

"You? You're not worthy to be our City God!"

"Exactly! A snot-nosed brat like you, how dare you be the City God of White Flower City?"

"The officials at the Hall of Eternal Life are fools to have chosen you." A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Those bastards at the Hall never liked Lord Zhang. They probably killed him!"

"Exactly! This Zhu Youchang shows up, and Lord Zhang dies. He must be the assassin sent by the Hall!"

"Zhu Youchang! How could you do this? Don't you fear divine retribution? The Everlasting Emperor is watching!" The crowd hurled accusations. Some men rolled up their sleeves, ready to charge. Facing the furious mob, Fang Cheng was at a loss. He'd traveled for days to reach White Flower City, asked for directions to the City God Temple, and rushed over. He'd planned to announce himself and see if anyone would expose his disguise. He'd never expected the City God to have just died.

The people were grief-stricken and enraged. Worse, no one exposed his identity. Everyone thought he was Zhu Youchang, and they all loathed him. Fang Cheng felt like he'd been made a scapegoat. Irritation gnawed at him. For some reason, the bloodthirsty urge was rising again. The closer he stood to the City God Temple, the stronger it grew. If someone attacked him, they'd be bad people too, right? He was really looking forward to slitting their throats, hehehe... The demon sword in his heart whispered temptations.

Fang Cheng slapped himself to stay focused. The strange act made the crowd even more furious. They thought he was admitting guilt.

"You're slapping yourself? So you admit it!"

"Debts must be paid, lives must be avenged! Give us back our City God!"

"Li Sanshui, give the order! Kill him! Avenge the City God! Blood for blood!" Li Sanshui was White Flower City's Magistrate, appointed by the Great Sheng royal family. He was responsible for public order and tax collection. He stood in an unremarkable corner, trying to be invisible. He was only a minor mortal official, a ninth-rank nobody who couldn't even offend a village Land God, let alone a newly appointed City God.

"Everyone, calm down. Lord Zhang, our former City God, was a good man. And Lord Zhu, our new City God, though young, is also good. Let's at least hear what Lord Zhu has to say." Li Sanshui stepped forward reluctantly.

"Magistrate Li! What are you saying? Are you helping the killer?" A burly man glared at Li Sanshui, fists clenched. The City Gods were appointed by celestial immortals. No one dared strike first. But if this puny Magistrate got in the way, they wouldn't show mercy.

"This corrupt official is definitely in league with the Hall of Eternal Life! Brothers, together! Avenge the City God!" Someone shouted, and many followed. Most citizens were simple townsfolk, easily swayed. A butcher raised his cleaver. A manure collector lifted his carrying pole. Others brandished hoes, ready to attack Li Sanshui. At that moment, Fang Cheng couldn't hold back any longer. He stepped forward, shielding Li Sanshui.

"Fellow villagers, please calm down. Accusations require evidence. You can't just make wild claims. That's slander! I hate slander more than anything. When I hear it, my righteous fury stirs, and I lose control. Once, a whole village slandered me. Want to know how I judged them? I don't know how to describe it. The trial was delicious. For some reason, I'm drooling. Should I give a demonstration?" Fang Cheng asked the crowd. But they didn't understand. His words were baffling.

Yet inexplicable fear gripped their hearts, fear of death.

"Hehehe, I can't wait. Tell me you want to see it. Go on, I'm begging you, hehehe..." Fang Cheng urged, his laughter turning cold. His gaze swept the crowd. They began to tremble. For some reason, they felt like they were being stared at by an ancient beast. They wanted to flee, but their feet wouldn't move. Even the butcher with his cleaver was drenched in sweat, his arms weak, his legs shaking. Fang Cheng was frantic too. He was a good person. He couldn't force them. He could only wait for someone to permit him.

Then he'd satisfy everyone's viewing pleasure. Come on, I know you want to see. I can smell the sin in your hearts. So delicious, hahaha. I'm an agent of justice. I have a big stomach. I can eliminate all your sins, completely.