Chapter 68: The Last Supper

  The next morning, Wang Wushui brought Wang Weiyang to find Sanbao, and the three of them set off to Wang Zuo Academy. Before they reached the gates, Sanbao spotted the academy from afar, where a rge number of guards stood in formation, the security tight.

  Wang Weiyang greeted the guards, and the group walked into the academy.

  As they walked, Wang Weiyang expined, “This Wang Zuo Academy has been abandoned for nearly a century. The buildings are dipidated, the beams and pilrs are decaying. When you investigate, be extra careful. Watch out for any sudden colpses that could injure us.”

  Inside Wang Zuo Academy, the scene was one of desotion. Between broken walls and remnants of structures, weeds grew wildly, and rotting wood y scattered. The wind blew through broken windows, causing torn paper to flutter, emitting a haunting sound. Some of the rooftops had already colpsed, and the interiors were filled with decay, cold air swirling through the space. A sense of desotion and deadly silence pervaded the atmosphere.

  Sanbao frowned as she took in the ruinous scene. “Since you’ve already found this pce is linked to the serial murders, have you thoroughly searched here?”

  Wang Weiyang replied, “Of course. The Wangcheng Division has sent guards to search this pce several times already. But all we’ve found are broken bricks and tiles. Nothing else.”

  “Have any of those who searched this pce encountered any problems?” Sanbao asked.

  “No,” Wang Weiyang shook his head. “They’re all fine. No issues at all. That’s why we suspect the things here only target those who received the invitation.”

  Sanbao fell silent, lost in thought.

  Among the victims were both ordinary people and cultivators, all unreted to one another. What standard does that ghost use to select its targets?

  The group investigated the academy thoroughly but found nothing. By the time they were done, it was already noon.

  They left the academy and headed to a small restaurant near the entrance for lunch.

  The owner of the restaurant was a plump middle-aged man with a friendly demeanor and a smile on his face. Once seated, the group ordered several dishes, with Sanbao opting for the restaurant's signature dish, the Xiaolongbao (soup-filled dumplings).

  Soon, the owner brought out the Xiaolongbao. When the steamer lid was lifted, steam billowed up.

  Wang Weiyang, already famished, couldn't care less about the dumplings being hot. He immediately grabbed one and stuffed it into his mouth. As he chewed, he asked the owner, “Old Zhang, how come it’s just you today? Where’s your wife and kids?”

  The owner, Old Zhang, twitched his mouth and forced a smile. “My wife took the kids back to her family’s house st night.”

  “Back to her family again? You’re here alone, doing all the cooking and serving. That’s a lot of work! And you let her take the kids? You must really love your wife.”

  Old Zhang chuckled but said nothing further.

  Sanbao, feeling hungry as well, picked up a dumpling and was about to take a bite when she suddenly noticed a strange smell. She peeled back the skin of the dumpling, leaned in to sniff the filling, and then pced it back into the steamer.

  Wang Wushui, noticing her actions, also peeled back his dumpling, sniffed the filling, and quietly set it down.

  He looked at the owner. “Old Zhang, these dumplings don’t seem fresh. The filling seems to have gone bad. You should take a sniff.”

  Owner Zhang walked over with a smile. “I use the freshest meat, chopped daily, for the fillings. If you don’t believe me, the kitchen is right behind, and there’s still some filling left. Let me show you.”

  “No need. We’ll eat somewhere else,” Sanbao stood up, heading for the door.

  Wang Wushui also stood up and followed her.

  Seeing them about to leave, Old Zhang hurriedly spoke up. “If you think they’re not fresh, don’t eat them. Let me change the dish for you. This meal is on the house.”

  Wang Weiyang, still chewing on his dumpling, tried to smooth things over. “Mr. Wang, Miss Sanbao, I think the dumplings are quite fresh. The filling is just a bit rough. You nobles are used to fine food, so it’s understandable if you’re not accustomed to such dumplings. Old Zhang’s cooking is excellent. Let him make something more delicate for you.”

  Sanbao was unmoved and kept walking toward the door. She coldly replied, “No need. We’ll eat at another pce.”

  Just as she was about to exit, the guards who had been sitting at the nearby tables suddenly stood up in unison. They quickly walked to the door, blocking her path.

  Wang Weiyang hurriedly shouted, “Xiao Li! Xiao Wu! What are you doing? Young Master Wang and Miss Sanbao are important guests! What are you stopping them for? Are you crazy?”

  Sanbao and Wang Wushui turned around and saw Old Zhang walking toward the kitchen. He returned carrying a sharp bone-cutting knife, his face now sinister as he approached.

  “You’re not going anywhere,” his voice had turned sharp, piercing, “You might as well stay and eat the dumplings.”

  Wang Weiyang looked shocked. “Old Zhang, what are you doing? What’s with the knife? Have you gone mad?”

  Sanbao gred at him coldly. “Your wife and children didn’t go back to her family’s house, did they? You wrapped them up in the dumplings, made them into the filling, didn’t you?”

  Wang Weiyang, who had just taken a bite of the dumpling, turned pale at her words. He bent over and began to violently vomit.

  Old Zhang’s eyes fshed with a cold light, and his sharp voice became even more menacing. “Since you know everything, then you can make the next batch of dumpling filling. Your delicate skin will make a perfect filling.”

  Before he finished speaking, he swung the knife sharply, and with a “plop,” the sharp bde sshed through Wang Weiyang’s neck. His head fell to the ground, and blood spurted out like a fountain.

  The other guards who had been eating at the restaurant stood up in unison, drawing their weapons, but instead of attacking Old Zhang, they lunged at Sanbao and Wang Wushui.

  “Don’t hold back!” Sanbao shouted while forming seals with her hands. “They were already dead! They’ve turned into zombies!”

  Her fingertips glowed with spiritual energy as several ice arrows shot out, knocking down the nearest zombie guards.

  Wang Wushui drew a rge broadsword from his waist. With a fsh of cold light, he cleaved through several approaching zombie guards, their bodies splintering and falling to the ground. But the remaining zombie guards showed no fear and continued to march forward, expressionless, swinging their swords.

  “Shoot for their heads! They’re zombies, they don’t feel pain! Injuring their bodies won’t do anything!” Wang Wushui yelled, “You quickly summon a sealing spell. I’ll hold them off!”

  Sanbao stepped back, standing against the wall. With swift movements, she formed several complex seals in the air, chanting quietly. A fire dragon shot out from her right arm, circling around her, creating a ring of fire that surrounded her and Wang Wushui.

  The zombies charged into the fire ring without hesitation, but as soon as they made contact with the fmes, their bodies were instantly set abze. Within moments, the zombies were reduced to ash, leaving behind only the scorched remnants of their armor.

  Old Zhang, watching from a distance, squinted, an eerie smile pying on his lips.

  “So you’re a Fifth-Rank Fire Elemental and a Martial Artist at the early stage of the Grandmaster rank. No wonder you’re so bold,” he sneered, discarding his bone knife and quickly forming seals with his hands.

  Suddenly, the floor of the restaurant began to shake violently, and a massive earth dragon erupted from the ground with a low, terrifying howl, charging straight toward the fire ring Sanbao had created.

  The earth dragon soared into the air above the fire circle and exploded into a dense shower of earth, instantly extinguishing the fmes.

  “Earth Dragon Tail!” Wang Wushui’s face changed. “This spell can only be cast by someone with a Fifth-Rank Earth Elemental power!”

  He quickly positioned himself in front of Sanbao and whispered, “Wait for the right moment to break out. I’ll hold him off.”

  Sanbao coldly replied, “No need.”

  She quickly formed seals, and with a flick of her wrist, the Candle Dragon Sword shot out from her palm. The sword cleaved through Old Zhang’s chest, and its remaining force drove the bde deep into the wall of the restaurant.

  Old Zhang, caught off guard, vomited a rge mouthful of blood.

  Sanbao took a delicate crystal mirror from the Seven Treasures Bracelet and walked up to him, coldly holding the mirror up to his face.

  “Look, your wife and kids are here. They’re looking for you, calling you to join them.”

  Old Zhang looked down and saw the faces of his wife and son reflected in the mirror, their bloodied faces reaching out to him, crying and calling his name.

  “It’s impossible!” His face turned pale, and he screamed, “They’re dead! You’re lying! You’re lying to me!”

  In a fit of rage, he suddenly exploded with immense strength, forcibly pulling out the Candle Dragon Sword from his chest. He threw it aside and extended his hands, grabbing Sanbao by the throat.

  Sanbao gasped, feeling the intense pain as her vision blurred...