Chapter 59: Offending Someone to the Utter End

Ding Junhui looked at the pink little paper figures that had appeared around him, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

Although he was a martial artist, he was extremely uncomfortable with these mysterious supernatural things.

He barely had any fighting spirit at all.

Just as he was thinking about fleeing, he noticed that the round little “hands” of the paper figures were all pointing in the same direction.

Were they forcing him to go somewhere?

Ding Junhui took a deep breath and decided to follow them and see.

He understood very clearly that his identity had probably been discovered.

Yet the other side had not sent anyone to deal with him.

They had only sent some paper figures.

That alone was enough to prove that they did not wish to come into conflict with him.

So he followed the paper figures.

Watching the little paper figures tumbling forward, hopping and bouncing about, occasionally tripping over and then climbing back up, the fear in Ding Junhui’s heart gradually faded.

Because he had heard that the behavior of paper figures created through paper effigy arts was related to the temperament of the caster.

The stronger a person’s sense of righteousness, the more normal the paper figures they created would appear, without giving off any feeling of malice.

Objects resemble their masters.

That was the meaning of the saying.

These little paper figures looked foolish and silly.

Then their creator should also be somewhat simple-minded... and sincere of heart.

After following the paper figures for a while, he arrived at a quiet area beneath the eastern city wall.

After climbing over a courtyard wall, he saw a deserted little courtyard filled with a large number of paper figures running around and causing a commotion.

His scalp immediately tingled.

Just as he was about to leave, he heard someone say,

“Brother Ding, I trust you’ve been well.”

The voice was familiar.

Ding Junhui looked up and discovered Wang Tianyou standing above.

He relaxed and said,

“Brother Wang, I never expected it to be you... Since when did you learn paper effigy arts?”

Ding Junhui knew that Wang Tianyou was a Spirit Hunter.

He also knew that Wang Tianyou’s talent in spell arts was rather ordinary.

After all, the Wang and Ding Families were considered old family friends and were quite familiar with one another.

Wang Tianyou shook his head.

“It wasn’t me. It was another friend. He’s not here.”

As soon as he said that, the paper figures gathered together.

Using every possible method, they climbed over the wall and then ran off.

Ding Junhui let out a light breath.

“Brother Ding, you should already know about the recent events involving the Qin Family.”

Wang Tianyou smiled.

“Our Wang Family has suffered considerable losses. Now it’s time for the Ding Family to contribute some effort.”

Ding Junhui nodded lightly.

“As it should be. Next, it will be time to see what our Ding Family can do.”

Meanwhile, Li Lin recalled all the little paper figures.

Looking at the ground covered with paper figures circling around him, shaking their heads and wobbling back and forth, Li Lin began wondering what else they could be used for besides finding people.

After thinking for a while, he suddenly came up with an idea.

Very quickly, the little paper figures all ran toward a certain direction.

The paper figure at the very back was carrying a banknote in its hands.

Sneaking about furtively, they arrived at a general goods store.

It had already closed.

So they squeezed in through the gap beneath the door.

The last paper figure placed the banknote on the counter.

Then it found an oil lamp and poured the oil onto the floor.

Next, the little paper figures rolled around in it, coating their bodies with oil.

Finally, carrying a fire starter, they headed toward the Qin Residence.

Along the way, half of the paper figures fell behind for various reasons.

The remaining paper figures carried the fire starter to the Qin Residence’s rear courtyard and crawled in through a dog hole.

At that time, there were not many people moving around the residence.

Combined with the paper figures’ tiny size, nobody noticed them.

They quickly found the woodshed.

Using the fire starter, they ignited themselves and threw themselves onto the pile of firewood.

Before long, the Qin Residence’s woodshed burst into flames.

“Fire! Fire!”

The Qin Residence servant who discovered the blaze shouted frantically.

Large numbers of servants rushed out from the buildings.

Very quickly, the fire was extinguished.

After all, the Qin Residence was a wealthy household with plenty of servants.

One bucket of water per person was enough to put out the fire.

Qin Feng stood before the burned-out woodshed, his face dark.

“How did the fire start?”

he asked the steward beside him.

The steward shook his head.

“Before I went to sleep, I personally checked the woodshed. I can guarantee there wasn’t a single spark inside.”

“Then someone must have started the fire deliberately.”

Qin Feng looked exhausted.

“Forget it. Put this matter aside for now. Inform everyone. Tomorrow we will lift the coffins and send the two young masters up the mountain for burial.”

The steward asked,

“We’re not keeping the coffins for seven days?”

“No need.”

Qin Feng sighed.

“Seeing those two boys lying in the hall only makes my heart ache.”

“Have you found Second Master yet?”

The steward shook his head.

Qin Feng sneered.

“Looks like Second Master took Old Qiu’s place in suffering that disaster.”

With that, he turned and left.

Li Lin remained hidden high above, watching the fire start and then watching it get extinguished.

He felt rather disappointed.

It seemed the little paper figures still were not very capable.

But if arson would not work, perhaps poisoning would.

Li Lin glanced at the Qin Residence before turning away.

He found a safe place and rested for the night.

After all, creating so many paper figures had consumed quite a bit of mental energy.

The next day, the city gates opened.

The Qin Residence made a grand display of carrying two coffins out of the city for burial in the hills.

White mourning cloth filled the procession.

Li Lin met Wang Tianyou in a tavern.

They watched the enormous funeral procession moving along the street below.

Wang Tianyou laughed.

“It looks like the Qin Residence has admitted defeat. Opening the city gates now is their way of telling us to leave.”

“He’s too embarrassed to say it directly, so he’s using this method to send us a message. The funeral is just a cover.”

“Are you leaving?”

Li Lin asked.

“Why would I leave?”

Wang Tianyou snorted.

“The matter at the Earth God temple started because of him. He pushed things this far and got beaten down. Now he thinks admitting defeat can erase everything.”

“Is he shameless, or am I?”

Li Lin laughed as well.

“I’ll stay and watch what happens too.”

As they spoke, numerous masked men suddenly appeared on the rooftops and leaped down.

They launched a slaughter against the funeral procession.

“The Ding Family has made their move.”

Wang Tianyou became excited.

These masked men were quite skilled.

Very quickly, they killed all the Qin Residence personnel.

Only the performers responsible for the funeral ceremonies were left alive.

The Ding Family was not indiscriminately murderous.

The two coffins fell to the ground.

The masked men walked over, opened them, dragged out the two corpses, and threw them onto the street.

Then the masked men departed in grand fashion.

“The Ding Family really does things wildly.”

Wang Tianyou inhaled sharply.

“Even when things have reached the point of irreconcilable enmity, this is still far too humiliating.”

Not long afterward, Qin Feng arrived with more than a dozen Qin Family experts.

Looking at his two sons’ corpses lying on the cold ground, Qin Feng clenched his teeth.

Only after a long while did he shout through tear-filled eyes,

“Wang Tianyou, this isn’t over between us!”

Wang Tianyou had been happily watching the show upstairs.

The moment he heard that, his face immediately fell.

“Oh no. The Ding Family has done me in.”

Though he said that, there was no fear on his face.

At that moment, two more groups of masked men jumped down from the rooftops.

They carried a huge net.

Iron hooks lined its edges.

“The Ding Family conducts themselves honorably. Let’s join in too.”

Wang Tianyou pulled out his flexible sword and jumped directly out through the window.

His three subordinates followed after him.

Li Lin, meanwhile, used a lightness technique called Willow Fluff in the Wind, drifting onto a rooftop in a spiraling motion.

At the same time, he concealed himself behind an overhanging eave.

Watching Qin Feng battle the masked men below, Li Lin began forming hand seals with both hands.