Wandering Gods of Day and Night
Chapter 235 - 177 Ancient Clan Plan_2

Chapter 235: Chapter 177 Ancient Clan Plan_2

He squatted down again, channeling his perception into the Blood Well Human Brain, and asked: "During the early hours, what did you sense within the hunger-stricken body?"

Aside from terror, it was only terror. The Blood Well Human Brain seemed like someone traumatized beyond repair, with certain memories erased automatically for self-protection, unable to provide the information Zhou Xuan sought.

"I guess I’ll investigate on my own."

Zhou Xuan stood up and walked out of the research institute.

Li Chengfeng was sitting by the door, smoking his pipe.

"The person inside, who was cut into countless fragments, wasn’t Wang Yiweng—it was the killer who murdered Wang Yiweng."

Zhou Xuan lit a cigarette as well, calmly sitting beside Li Chengfeng, narrating what he had seen.

Li Chengfeng asked: "The killer came from the water?"

"Yes, its true form should be the hundreds of small snakes inside the tumor of flesh on its back. The woman is its "feet"; the "feet" were driven insane by the screams from the Blood Well Human Brain.

The deranged "feet" were uncontrollable by the snakes and difficult to be brought along, so instead they possessed Wang Yiweng anew and sliced the woman into fragments. Moreover, they took away a small portion of the flesh fragments. This way, they avoided leaving key information while creating a false impression that the deceased was Wang Yiweng."

Li Chengfeng was astonished and asked Zhou Xuan: "Young Master, it’s been only half an hour—how did you gather so much information?"

"Ever read detective novels? It’s called deduction!"

"..." Li Chengfeng.

"Wang Yiweng obtained a half-important piece of information about "Hunger." Hunger originates from Qiye Temple. The other half mentions the "old sacrifice." Although incomplete, it leaves room for speculation—like an old altar or an ancient sacrificial temple. You all can figure it out yourselves."

Qiye Temple, the birthplace of Buddha’s son—could Hunger be part of Buddha’s son split off?

Zhou Xuan dismissed this possibility.

In the span of two hundred years, Monk Zhu Jiu and Buddha’s son became one entity. Would Zhou Xuan be unaware if Buddha’s son had fragmented?

Since Monk Zhu Jiu never mentioned it, Buddha’s son had not fragmented.

As for why "Hunger" was born in Qiye Temple, only capturing it might provide the answer.

Zhou Xuan told Li Chengfeng: "The rest is up to you and the Bone Elder Association. A tumor of flesh containing hundreds of snakes that can traverse in and out of a pool of water with ease—such a malicious entity in Mingjiang Prefecture should be easy to locate with your full efforts."

"I’ll immediately gather people to investigate."

Li Chengfeng’s path to finding the killer was made remarkably clear by Zhou Xuan.

"By the way, when you head home tonight, feel free to summon me."

"Young Master wants to guide me?"

"Of course! I need to utilize my deductive reasoning skills."

Li Chengfeng: "..."

Zhou Xuan added: "Also, notify me if you discover anything new about ’Hunger.’ As for the library, pay more attention—I’ll need to access it to examine ancient texts."

"Rest assured, Young Master."

Li Chengfeng watched Zhou Xuan’s departing figure, recalling Young Master’s directives.

"Investigate the residence of Wuzuo Hall Master,

apply for the Bone Elder Association library access,

track down the whereabouts of the snake tumor killer."

Li Chengfeng acted decisively, first calling Zhang Yifeng, the City God night watchman, to inquire about Wuzuo Hall Master’s residence.

Zhang Yifeng had plenty of free time during the day, being a night watchman.

After the call, Li Chengfeng drafted an application for library access.

Upon finishing that, he assigned several lower-ranked scholars to trace the "snake tumor."

By the time he completed these tasks, two or three hours had already passed.

Li Chengfeng smiled bitterly. Before knowing Zhou Xuan, his days were exceedingly simple—reading an ancient text for an entire day, free of worldly concerns. But now...

"Feels a lot like clocking in at work."

Li Chengfeng felt his current days carried a strong resemblance to office life.

...

At this moment, Zhou Xuan sat in the Old Painting Pavilion.

The incense he burned had shrunk by two and a half inches, marking time for learning new tattoo maps.

Having used one entry chance, he entered Totem Hall.

Of the four chances, one had been used.

Walking within Totem Hall, the Blood Tree seemingly missed him. Before he approached, its branches gently swayed, producing a rustling sound to welcome him.

During his first entry into Totem Hall, the Blood Tree almost killed Zhou Xuan, but luckily the Lantern Bride walked into the tree and dissolved the intent to kill.

Familiarity breeds ease.

Now, the Lantern Ghost Girl entering the tree had become a mere procedural formality, purely symbolic.

The intimacy between Zhou Xuan and the Blood Tree had risen sharply.

"Tree, haven’t seen you for two days—missing me already?"

Zhou Xuan gently stroked the trunk of the Blood Tree.

The Blood Tree swayed once again with an affectionate motion.

Zhou Xuan sat on the puduan, awaiting the Blood Tree’s third lesson.

With their intimacy increased,

the Blood Tree no longer used ambiguous "infants" or "branches" as teaching tools.

Its "teaching" had grown exceptionally meticulous, conveying knowledge directly through intended thoughts.

A branch extended, growing swiftly like a tentacle, wrapping around Zhou Xuan’s right arm.

Before his eyes appeared three living figures.

The first figure had a tattoo of a faceless woman dressed in red inked on his back.

The second figure bore a tattoo of a white tiger head on his shoulder.

The third figure had tattoos of a crimson serpent on both his arms. Its head lay on his left hand while its tail rested on his right hand. The serpent’s body coiled from his left hand up to his shoulder, crossed his back, and wound back to his right hand.

The materials of these three tattoos and the needle techniques were imparted to Zhou Xuan through the Blood Tree’s thought transmissions, allowing him to comprehend them fully.

"This time, the subjects of the three tattoos feel rather strange—not Buddhist nor Taoist, indistinguishable by category. However, they’re clearly not related to the Blood Map or Soul Map. They must be tattooed onto living individuals."