Day and night tour

Chapter 368 The Evil Rat Ballad

With a gentle squeeze of the severed hand, fresh blood seeped out, and Zhou Xuan immediately knew that something terrible had happened inside the tent.

He put his palm back in its original position, wanting to get a clearer view of the "scenery" inside the tent.

Although once he takes a deep breath, just as "Mountain Ancestor" Li Changxun said, he merges into the world. Unless there is any obvious touching, he seems to disappear and is almost impossible to be discovered.

However, he still did not choose to lift the tent flap and go inside—Zhou Xuan was currently unsure whether lifting the flap would trigger the breaking of the Turtle Breathing Technique's stealth.

So he strolled around the tent as if taking a walk, and only peered inside when he found a gap in the tent.

There were no lights in the tent. As for electric lights, although Mingjiang Prefecture could be considered "well-fed and clothed" after the bartering of mountain delicacies, electricity was still too extravagant and economically unaffordable.

So, after tents bloomed one after another like wildflowers at the medical school, the people of Mingjiang used kerosene lamps almost exclusively for lighting at night.

At this time, the tent was completely dark, not even lit by a kerosene lamp.

Fortunately, after Zhou Xuan entered the tortoise breathing state, he was not only able to completely suppress his aura and senses, but also enhance his hearing and eyesight.

Even in complete darkness, it looked as bright as day to him.

Upon peering into the tent, even Zhou Xuan, a seasoned veteran, was astonished by what he saw inside.

There were about a dozen people in the tent, men and women, young and old.

These people were delivering a baby for a pregnant woman, but it wasn't a natural birth; it was a cesarean section. A man was frantically digging into the woman's belly with both hands, creating a laceration, and then pulling out a thin, black object.

After careful examination, Zhou Xuan discovered that the black object was a rat's tail, meaning that the pregnant woman was not carrying a baby, but a rat!

The man grabbed the rat by the tail and tried to pull it out, but he couldn't get the rat out of its stomach. Frustrated, he gestured to his companions around him.

The other women then used their sharp teeth to bite off the pregnant woman's left hand and handed the severed hand to the man.

The man held the severed hand in his hand and squeezed it repeatedly, dripping the blood from his palm into the bloody hole.

The scent of blood lured the black rat inside the belly to throb, and soon a plump rat's rear end was revealed, swaying incessantly.

When the man saw that part of the black rat's body was exposed, he threw his severed hand on the ground and continued to pull at the black rat.

Zhou Xuan also noticed that the pregnant woman's other hand had long been severed, which meant that the slap he had found by the tent was from that hand.

"There was a rat inside the pregnant woman's belly. They helped the rat give birth, but the rat didn't want to come out, so they used the blood of a living person to lure it out?"

Zhou Xuan was puzzled, still not quite understanding what these people were up to.

The man exerted even more force this time, and finally, after a great deal of effort, he managed to pull the rat out.

The black rat was very fat, had no eyes, and was blind.

"A vile rat from the abyss, reborn from the filthy earth?"

When Zhou Xuan saw the newly produced black rats, he was reminded of the last Child of the Abyss.

"It's a pity that I've encountered you, this reincarnated evil rat."

Zhou Xuan had already made up his mind to kill the rats, and while he was at it, to wipe out all the other rats in the house, leaving only one alive for interrogation.
As a result, the people inside the tent were even faster than Zhou Xuan. As soon as the fat black rat was born, the people inside swarmed over it, opened their mouths, stretched out their hands, tore the fat black rat to pieces, and then shared it.

The rats directly chew and swallow the soft tissues of their bodies, such as blood, flesh, tendons, and internal organs. If it's something hard, like bone, they put it in their mouths and slowly grind and chew it.

This was the sound of "bone grinding" that Zhou Xuan had heard not long ago.

After doing all this, the midwife stuffed the two severed hands from the ground into the bloody hole in the pregnant woman's belly.

The moment the hand was inserted, it miraculously melted, then, like a clump of sticky glue, it sealed the bloody hole in the pregnant woman's belly together.

After the man finished doing all this, he waved his hand inside the room and said in a very low voice, "Go to sleep, everyone. The rats have been eaten, so Zhou Xuan won't be able to find our tracks. Go to sleep."

Everyone inside the tent then took off their clothes and lay down.

Their bodies were laid bare before Zhou Xuan's eyes.

"Are they all turning into rats?"

Zhou Xuan noticed that these people all had varying degrees of rat-like features. Some had rat tails growing between their buttocks; some had patches of short black hair growing on their skin; some had faces that looked very much like large rats; and some had even grown rat-like beards.

The mildest case involved a person yawning and revealing two rat-like front teeth.

……

If the people in one tent have all undergone a mysterious rat transformation, what about the people in the other tents?

Zhou Xuan temporarily put aside his murderous intent and did not think about killing all the "rat-like people" in the tent first. Instead, he continued to rely on the Turtle Breathing Technique to walk through every tent in the swimming pool.

In some tents, the "birth of vile rats" is also taking place.

Inside some tents, people were secretly gossiping and spreading rumors.

"I heard that the great master is going to build a prison in Mingjiang Prefecture and lock us all up?"

Yes, that's true.

"We're just ordinary people, why is he locking us up?"

"You don't know, all mortals in this world have incense burning on them. Although the incense is relatively weak, if they gather together, it's extraordinary. If you inhale it, you can have great fortune."

"Those who practice the path of incense and deities are all envious of the incense offerings we mortals receive."

"That gentleman, on the surface, appears respectable, but he's full of dirty tricks. He provides us with good food and drink, but in reality, it's like a prisoner's last meal before execution."

"That's right. I've asked around. That master is only in his early twenties. He's so young, yet he has miraculous abilities. I don't know how many people's offerings he's absorbed to achieve such great power."

"How many dirty things must he have done in the past?"

The discussions in these tents are no longer the jokes of "Cricket" behind Zhao Wuyai's back; they are outright smears, rumors, and slander, aimed at undermining public morale.

“Some people are fanning the flames.”

Moreover, those who fan the flames are people who have certain "rat" characteristics.

"This is the great gift that the Abyssal Rat has given to our Mingjiang Prefecture. It's quite vicious."

Zhou Xuan still didn't know how those rat-like people had infiltrated Mingjiang Prefecture, or what their relationship was with the Abyss Rat, but one thing was certain.

The main purpose of these people was to undermine Zhou Xuan's prestige among the people of Mingjiang Prefecture.

Is it really that simple?

Zhou Xuan felt that things were not so simple. If it was just a rumor and a smear campaign against him, then why would the "rat-turned-human" eat the newly born evil rats?

How does this matter help spread rumors and smear Zhou Xuan?
"Let's catch all these rat-like people first."

Zhou Xuan immediately used the sixth level of the Dunjia technique, "All Things Grow," in the swimming pool area.

He heard the sounds of those "evil rat" souls growing and churning within his body, and he saw one black spirit after another moving about in one tent after another.

"Tortoise shell, come out."

After Zhou Xuan saw the spirits of those evil rats, he called upon the tortoise shell.

The tortoise shell flew out from Zhou Xuan's sleeve and landed on his forehead.

Zhou Xuan heard a crisp "clang," and his meditative state became even more stable. Moreover, his hearing and vision, like an infinitely expanding ripple, reverberated throughout the entire Huifeng Medical College.

This is the function of the tortoise shell: it enhances the "tortoise breathing method" of the master divination master, and at the same time allows the master divination master to move more freely in the river of fate.

The frequency of the tortoise shell's tremors was initially out of sync with Zhou Xuan's. The man and his magical artifact were like toddlers who had just learned to walk, using their hands and feet with all their might, but their steps were still very uncoordinated.

Fortunately, the tortoise shell was extremely agile. After trembling several times, it found a frequency that resonated with Zhou Xuan. With each subsequent tremor, the tortoise shell's breathing technique was pushed to its limit, and Zhou Xuan unconsciously activated the "River of Fate" incense ritual.

A powerful low whistling sound was amplified by his roar, and at the same time, the Blood Well Brains in the secret realm also put down their games and roared in unison.

Perception and the art of escape reached an unprecedented harmony for a time.

At Huifeng Medical College, the fates of countless people were stirred up and intertwined across the vast land.

The River of Destiny, with millions of its branches overlapping, is turbulent with undercurrents and swirling waves. Its waters are as murky as a churning mud pit. Just one glance at this magnificent river of destiny is enough to make one's heart tremble. Even someone with Zhou Xuan's extraordinary perception, who also carries the old tortoise's brow bone, dares not venture into the river for a swim.

The fates of millions are intertwined, and once they are in the river, they can trap the great fortune teller of destiny at the bottom of the river of fate forever.

Of course, Zhou Xuan originally had no intention of going down into the river; he only wanted to find the souls of those "rat-turned-humans".

In Huifeng Medical College, apart from the River of Fate, black flames emanate everywhere, blooming like flowers of evil.

These black flames are Zhou Xuan's technique, "Knowing the Fate of All Beings."

Through the method of "knowing the fate of all beings", Zhou Xuan could see the power attributes of the other party clearly - and the power of those "rat-turned people" was mostly evil energy, which Zhou Xuan saw as clumps of black energy.

Zhou Xuan stared intently at those black wisps of energy, intending to record all of them so that the Bone Elders' Guild and the City God could accurately capture them.

"Smear me, spread rumors about me? Arrest them all, don't let a single one escape."

There are quite a few people who have turned into rats. A preliminary estimate would be at least several hundred, if not a thousand. It would be difficult for Zhou Xuan to record them all by himself.

Fortunately, he had Miss Wall.

“Miss Wall, it’s your turn to show your skills.”

"What's wrong, Ah Xuan?"

Miss Wall was having a great time playing Monopoly with Red Ginseng Boy when she heard Zhou Xuan calling out, so she asked in response.

“There is a group of people who are spreading rumors and smearing me. They are all rats, not normal people. We should arrest them in advance to avoid undermining morale.”

Zhou Xuan said this.

"Where are they?"

“You can’t see it, but I can. Can you draw me a map of the medical school and mark all the people there precisely?”

“No need. I will merge my consciousness with yours and then I will be able to see them.” After thinking for a while, Miss Wall said, “Moreover, I need to see them so that the map I draw will be accurate. You can just follow the map to catch people and you will be able to catch them without making a mistake.”

"Then you will let your consciousness enter into the space between my eyebrows."

"Okay."

Miss Wall's consciousness, like a silver worm, twisted its shimmering body and burrowed into Zhou Xuan's brow.

Wow, so many people are smearing you?

“The words they used to smear me were very malicious.”

Zhou Xuan said.

Miss Wall immediately stirred up the black water and began drawing an arrest map, doing it with great care—she was determined to avenge Zhou Xuan.

"You've done so much for Mingjiang Prefecture, and they still dare to spread rumors. Should I mark all those who believe the rumors and arrest them all?"

Miss Wall asked.

"That's not necessary."

Zhou Xuan wanted to arrest people just because they heard rumors, but if he actually did that, he wouldn't be able to finish arresting them even after three days and three nights.

……

That night, Miss Qiang and Zhou Xuan were busy together.

Two or three hours later, a map appeared in the black water of the secret realm, and the appearances of those "rat-like people" were drawn clearly.

The drawing is done, but how do we take it outside and show it to the painters?

Zhou Xuan couldn't possibly manually draw each of these faces one by one; with so many people, the brush would be worn out by the time he finished.

“My great Lord, why didn’t you remember me? I am your capable little brain.”

The mastermind of the Buddhist Kingdom did three things in his life. The first was to shout the slogan "annihilate the Buddhist Kingdom". The second was to express his loyalty to Zhou Xuan. The third was to become the group leader of the praise group.

Sure enough, Zhou Xuan missed a moment and the main AI immediately expressed its loyalty.

"Yeah, and your cerebellum too."

Zhou Xuan laughed, mainly because the main brain of the Buddhist Kingdom usually had such a low profile that he hadn't thought of this walnut-sized brain for a moment.

The Buddha Kingdom's mastermind recorded all the images on those maps, and even flew out of Zhou Xuan's secret realm to the location of the "rat-like person." He selected some representative examples of how the other party slandered and spread rumors about Zhou Xuan, and recorded them. Later, he would present them to the painters and musicians.

……

After everything was ready, Zhou Xuan put away his breathing technique and, under the cover of night, went to the teaching building to find the painter.

The painter, the musician, and the King of the Hill—these figures all lived on the top floor of the teaching building and slept in the same room.

Dawn was approaching, but the painters and musicians were still awake. It wasn't that they weren't tired; it was mainly because King Xishan had just been bestowed a new divine title—"Heavenly Fox"—during the night before.

When a person has a happy occasion, in addition to being in high spirits, they are also prone to becoming talkative.

The King of Himalayas was so excited that he couldn't sleep and insisted on chatting with the painter and musician. The old painter and musician didn't want to spoil the King of Himalayas's fun, and since it was only for one night, they just went along with it.

While the three were having a lively conversation, Zhou Xuanri entered.

"Hey, sir."

The painter, musician, and King Xishan quickly stood up and greeted Zhou Xuan.

"Old Hua, I want to report this!"

"report?"

“Some people are smearing me, spreading rumors about me, and defaming me. Moreover, these people are not normal people; they are all half-demon, half-human killers.”

Zhou Xuan said with a half-smile.

The painter immediately said solemnly, "Sir, you are now the ruler of Mingjiang Prefecture, a living Buddha in the hearts of the people. Who is so bold as to dare to smear you?"

“Even if someone tries to smear or spread rumors, the rest of the people won’t believe it,” the musician said.

“Many people already believe it.”

Zhou Xuan waved his hand and said, "Cerebellum, show me the evidence."

The Buddha Kingdom's mastermind immediately flew out of the secret realm and played the recorded "rumor-mongering voice".

"That sir, bah! He's not here to save our Mingjiang Prefecture, he's just here to drain our incense offerings."

“Look at that master, so young, yet his cultivation is higher than the heavens. How did he rise to such heights? It’s all thanks to his mischief towards us mortals and ordinary people.”

"Sending us grain and tents, providing us with food and drink? How much does that cost? Compared to the incense offerings of ordinary people, that's just a drop in the ocean."

The musician frowned as he listened to the constant stream of rumors.

The painter's face darkened.

The King of Mount Xi is a spirit, and when he is restrained, he is very restrained, but when he explodes, he is more domineering than anyone else.

“Master, please rest first. We, the fox clan of Mingjiang Snow Mountain, will take care of the rest for you… I’ve arrested those who slandered and spread rumors about you. I’ll silence them first and avenge you.”

"This anger must be vented."

The painter, unable to bear it any longer, slammed his hand on the window frame and gazed down at the medical school below.

What angered him wasn't the "smears and rumors," after all, Zhou Xuan had said that the people spreading the rumors were a bunch of half-human, half-demon killers.

These murderers have no normal morality or conscience. They only want to destroy Mingjiang Prefecture and Zhou Xuan. It is not surprising to hear any strange remarks from them.

What truly enraged the painter was the chorus of voices from ordinary people echoing the rumors, even going so far as to smear Zhou Xuan—more vicious than those half-human, half-demon murderers.

"Those who believe these rumors, don't they ever think about who provides them with food and drink? Great disasters are often like ferocious tigers; after the disaster, troubles abound, bandits are everywhere, evil people are everywhere, and acts of cannibalism are common."
"If it weren't for the intervention of the Great Master, Mingjiang Prefecture wouldn't have such orderly society today, nor would it have such abundance of food and clothing, with children playing happily in the sunshine!"

"A bunch of heartless ingrates."

The painter angrily slammed his fist on the window frame again, then turned to Zhou Xuan and asked, "Master, I will now gather the Bone Elders and the City God's disciples to arrest those murderers, and also arrest those ungrateful wretches who fanned the flames—such people do not deserve to enjoy the current order, abundant food, clothing, and medicine."

Zhou Xuan felt a warmth in his heart, but he also knew that the situation should not be blown out of proportion by the rumors, especially regarding the "reconstruction of Mingjiang Prefecture." He had already received responses from five deities, and with the Red Coffin Lady contacting the last Bitter Ghost, there was a 99% chance that there wouldn't be any problems.

In other words, the reconstruction of Mingjiang Prefecture can already be put on the agenda. All that is needed is to collect the power of wishes. At this time, if people are in a state of panic, how can the power of wishes be collected?
"This time, we'll only arrest the ringleaders."

Zhou Xuan said solemnly, "Arrest all those half-human, half-demon killers, but don't start killing them immediately—there might be other reasons behind it."

It's unlikely that all of the hundreds of "rat-like people" slipped out of the abyss. After all, with a divine eagle circling overhead, it would be extremely difficult for hundreds of people to leave undetected.

"I always suspect that those rat-like people have fallen for some kind of trick."

"As for those who believe the rumors and fan the flames... arrest some representatives, imprison them, and give them a beating as punishment."

At this point, Zhou Xuan snapped his fingers.

The mastermind of the Buddhist kingdom immediately projected the appearances of those "half-human, half-demon" rat-like people onto the wall.

The painter immediately summoned the officials in charge of the procession.

Several lanterns, meant for the gods, flew into the top floor of the teaching building. The City God's night watchman brought a magical artifact: a long scroll.

The scroll unfolds, collecting all the faces of these people.

"Spreading rumors and smearing the Great Master is destroying our Mingjiang Prefecture. This is a matter of utmost importance! The Bone Elders' Association and the City God, with lightning speed, arrest these murderers and bring them to justice, stabilize our army's morale, and give the Great Master justice!"

The painter was so angry that his fingers were trembling when he announced the arrest.

……

In his previous life, Zhou Xuan had read a sociologist's theory—theoretically speaking, in a small city of several hundred thousand people, if you know eight people, and then use those eight people as radiating points, your interpersonal relationships will spread layer by layer, and you can know everyone in the city.

And so it is with rumors.
If dozens of people spread a rumor, it can cause a huge stir in a very short time.

Huifeng Medical College is densely populated, and hundreds of rat-like individuals are spreading rumors. The speed at which these rumors spread exceeds Zhou Xuan's imagination.

Before the Bone Elders Association and the City God could take action, riots had already broken out among the common people at the medical school.

However, the riots originated between those who strongly supported Zhou Xuan and those who believed in "conspiracy theories" and fanned the flames.

……

Li the shoemaker, during the fire disaster, his wife and daughter were burned to death.

He was also suffering from lung disease. On the first night after the disaster, if Peng Sheng and the musician hadn't used divine power to turn the moon into a small sun and protect him from the sudden drop in temperature, he probably wouldn't have survived that night.

Now, he has a tent to sleep in and blankets to cover himself with. When he wakes up coughing at night, he can get up and cook a bowl of hot meat soup to warm himself up. For him, such a life is already a blessing.

That night, he woke up coughing again. He went to heat up a bowl of pear soup. As he set up a small stove outside the tent and started a fire wrapped in cotton clothes, he heard a commotion coming from the next tent.

He started the fire, and the pear soup was bubbling away. Since he had nothing better to do, he decided to go and see what the people in the tent were talking about.

As soon as he approached the tent, he heard people inside talking about Zhou Xuan.

"That 'master' is a wicked man who collects incense offerings. He's eyeing us common folk because we have incense offerings on us."

"What great master? Call him Zhou Xuan. That Zhou Xuan is a wicked man... He doesn't care about the lives of us nobody..."

These words made Li the shoemaker's blood boil.

"Damn it! These ungrateful bastards!"

Shoemaker Li strode back to the stove, picked up the still steaming pear soup, and stormed angrily toward the next tent...

(End of this chapter)