False evidence

Chapter 397 The Soul-Chasing Decree (Part 2)
I realized what was happening and said, "I was too busy today, I didn't pay any attention to that white post."

The old man looked at me with suspicion: "Then it wasn't you who did it?"

I sensed something was amiss and asked, "What? Has the person in the portrait already...?"

The old man still kept his voice low as he said, "This afternoon, Chen San sent Li Si over to tell me that the master has returned. The master has already taken care of the white paper matter."

A thought flashed through my mind, and I couldn't help but recall what had happened at the hospital that afternoon. Luo Liu was also from the Kumu Hall, so how could he be with Sun Jing?
Grandpa said, "If the real master really comes back, we can both relax. You won't have to pretend to be Tenth Master anymore, and I can have Little Fatty take over the job so I can live a carefree and shameless life with your Third Grandma. But why do I feel... feel like there's something wrong with this?"

I thought for a moment and took the white sticker out of my bag.

“Whether it suits our tastes or not, since Chen San and the others are convinced that the boss is back, it's none of our business anymore. What I'm worried about now is Erpang. Did you bring him along to cover things up from the beginning? If that's the case…”

I was stunned when I was halfway through my sentence.

I only glanced at the post this morning because I was in a hurry to leave.

At the time, I felt something was off; the person in the portrait looked vaguely familiar. I didn't look at it again afterward.

When I saw the man in the portrait again, my heart skipped a beat.

I walked to the back door and called out to Fang Ling, who was washing clothes in the backyard, "Grandma, come in and take a look."

I turned around and saw my grandfather glaring at me: "Kid, there's a limit to joking! Is she your ancestor, or what am I?"

I said, "Hey, you really can't find fault with this. If you really think about it, she's my ancestor."

When Fang Ling came in, I didn't bother to explain to the master and directly showed the portrait to Fang Ling.

Fang Ling glanced at it only once before turning to me with a puzzled look and asking, "Where did this portrait come from?"

"Just tell me, the person upstairs is..."

"Jiang Baohan!" Fang Ling's expression was still somewhat unpleasant. "He was like this when I first met him!"

I slapped my forehead and respectfully bowed, inviting them to enter.

"Ancestor, please rest. Leave the clothes there, I'll wash them later."

Fang Ling rolled her eyes at me and left the house. I immediately went back to the table and whispered to Grandpa:

"The person in the post is really dead."

I gave Grandpa a general account of Jiang Baohan's background and deeds.

The old man nodded: "A heinous villain, no wonder the authorities sent out invitations to arrest him."

I told my grandfather, "I saw him once before he died. He said some strange things to me and later left me an envelope, saying that I should handle his affairs after his death."

I immediately recounted my meeting with Jiang Baohan and then unfolded the handwritten A4 paper for my grandfather to see.

The old man looked at both sides without saying a word, his eyes fixed there for a long time without moving.

I said cautiously, "The burial plot he bought for himself is quite high-end. If you like it, I'll grit my teeth and get one for you too."

Grandpa glanced at me sideways and said, "Stop talking nonsense, go to my room and bring me the calligraphy brush and cinnabar from the medicine box."

I found a calligraphy brush and cinnabar, and Grandpa had already laid the blank white paper flat on the table.

“Write it down now, write... write down as much as you know about Jiang Baohan’s life, and at the end write down when and why he died.”

"What am I supposed to write? My handwriting is terrible..."

I was completely confused, but my grandfather just kept urging me to write faster.

Left with no other choice, I picked up my pen and wrote:

Jiang Baohan was born on a certain date in a certain month of a certain year...

I dare not reopen Fang Ling's wounds. I will only list out what I know about the things Jiang Baohan did.

Grandpa watched me finish writing, then pointed to the bottom left corner of the post and said:
"Write here, the person in charge—Sanqi!" After I finished writing, I was still wondering to myself when Grandpa took out three short incense sticks from the house, told me to light them, and then hold them with both hands to go to the courtyard to worship the four directions.

Seeing his serious expression, I didn't dare to ask any more questions. After bowing, I placed the short incense sticks below the west wall as he instructed.

Back inside, Grandpa found a wax stick as thick as a child's arm from somewhere.

"Light the candles and burn the post."

Seeing that Grandpa was becoming increasingly furtive, I couldn't help but lower my voice and say:
“I wouldn’t dare to kill someone, but I can destroy evidence. However, I respect the elderly and care for the young, so you can burn it yourself.”

"Get lost, stop talking nonsense! Burn it!"

I had no choice but to light the candle with a match.

It's no different from a regular candle, and the flame is orange-red.

I really don't understand why we have to use a match to light it.

I tucked the portrait into the white paper and held it up to the flame.

I thought it would ignite easily, but after burning for a long time, there wasn't even a trace of char.

Grandpa took two deep breaths, then suddenly said "Oh," and whispered something in my ear.

I met his gaze with a puzzled look, pursed my lips, and whispered to the candle:

"Kumutang Sanqi, the matter is settled!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the candle flame suddenly turned a ghastly green, and the flame instantly grew by nearly a foot.

I was almost burned by the flames that suddenly appeared, and I quickly pulled my grandfather back half a step.

The white slip of paper in his hand fell onto the table.

Just then, a gust of cold wind swept in and flipped the white letter open.

Just as I was about to step forward, Grandpa suddenly pulled me back and gestured towards the candle with his lips.

I looked at the candle as he pointed, and suddenly felt a chill run down my spine.

Within the eerie green, will-o'-the-wisp-like flame, a tiny figure could be vaguely discerned.

The person was at the same height as the flame. Although the movement was somewhat erratic, it was still possible to discern that he was an ancient man with wide robes and a full beard.

The little figure stood in the flames, head bowed, as if carefully examining the words I had written on the white slip.

This situation lasted for a full five minutes before the little man nodded slightly.

Immediately afterwards, the candle flame went out on its own, and the little man disappeared without a trace!
My grandfather and I both swallowed hard and tiptoed to the table.

When I looked again, the post was still there, but it was no longer white; instead, it had turned charred black, as if it had been burned.

The writing on it, as if scorched by fire, has turned from red to gold.

However, Jiang Baohan's name and dates of birth and death were circled in red.

I was stunned and stood there, not knowing what had happened.

At that moment, Grandpa gently pulled me aside and pointed to the bottom left corner of the post where I had just signed my name.

I glanced over and saw that the writing was still there, but it had changed...

—What's going on with Tenth Master at Kumu Hall?
Suddenly, another gust of cold wind swept by.

The discolored post, blown by the wind, scattered into ashes, but before it could even settle on the ground, it vanished into thin air...

(End of this chapter)