40: Chapter 40 Human life is as cheap as grass

Chen Mo looked at him.

The old man's eyes were clear, clear like a stagnant pool of dead water.

Chen Mo had a vague suspicion in his heart, but he couldn't voice it.

This was perhaps the best outcome.

"Alright."

Chen Mo stood up, picked up his blade, and walked out of the room.

He stood at the doorway, his back to the door, watching the pedestrians coming and going in the alley.

Sunlight finally shone into the alley, but it couldn't warm the hearts of men.

From inside the room came Old Man Li's low murmuring voice. It was unclear what he was saying, as if he was making his final arrangements, or perhaps telling a story.

Then came Little Grass's childish questioning voice.

Then, the sound of a stool being moved.

"Creak—"

That was the sound of a rope tightening around a roof beam.

Followed by a "thud," the sound of a stool hitting the floor.

Chen Mo closed his eyes.

He did not rush in to save him.

What would be the point of saving him?

If the old man lived, he would be Little Grass's weakness, a bottomless pit. He had no money for treatment, no ability to protect his granddaughter. Living would only plunge both of them into deeper despair.

He was using his own life to buy a path to survival for his granddaughter.

He was also forcing Chen Mo's hand.

"Grandpa? Grandpa, what's wrong?"

Little Grass's terrified cry came from inside the room.

"Grandpa, what are you doing? Come down! Wuwu..."

Chen Mo took a deep breath, turned around, and kicked the door open with one foot.

"Bang!"

The door slammed against the wall, shaking loose a cloud of dust.

In the room, Old Man Li hung from the roof beam, his body still swaying slightly. His tongue was stretched out long, his eyes wide open, staring fixedly in the direction of the door, staring at Chen Mo.

There was no resentment in that gaze, only a plea.

He was begging Chen Mo to fulfill that unspoken promise.

Little Grass was hugging her grandfather's legs, desperately trying to lift him up, crying her heart out.

Chen Mo walked over, drew the short dagger from his waist, and flicked his wrist.

"Swish!"

The rope snapped.

Old Man Li's corpse slumped limply to the ground.

Chen Mo reached out and closed the old man's wide-open, unseeing eyes.

"Alright, stop crying."

Chen Mo's voice was cold, cold as iron.

Little Grass was startled, gave a hiccup, and stared blankly at Chen Mo.

"Your grandpa is gone," Chen Mo said, looking at her, his tone flat, almost cruel. "He died for you. If you want to live, shut up and do as you're told."

Little Grass trembled all over. Tears were still streaming down, but she bit her lip hard, not daring to make a sound.

This child was so sensible it was heartbreaking.

Chen Mo sighed.

In the end, he had been outmaneuvered by this old man.

But he didn't dislike this maneuver.

"Get up."

Chen Mo hauled Little Grass to her feet, like picking up a chick.

"Pack your things. Just take that red padded jacket. Leave everything else."

Little Grass wiped her tears, turned, and went to pick up that tattered, patched red cotton-padded jacket.

Chen Mo glanced at the corpse on the ground.

It couldn't stay here.

If people discovered Old Man Li had hanged himself, while the authorities wouldn't investigate deeply, those local ruffians would surely swarm like flies to devour what was left of the household.

He took a five-tael silver note from his pocket and tucked it into Old Man Li's cold embrace.

"This money is for your journey. Down there, don't be human again. It's too tiring."

After saying this, he set fire to the worn-out straw mat on the bed.

Flames leaped up, quickly engulfing the dry wooden bed.

"Let's go."

Chen Mo took Little Grass's hand and walked out of the house without looking back.

Behind them, flames shot toward the sky.

The alley descended into chaos. Someone shouted 'Fire!', others grabbed buckets to fight the blaze.

Chen Mo blended into the crowd, pulling Little Grass along, head down, quickly navigating through the chaotic street.

Little Grass never looked back.

Her hand was icy cold, trembling constantly, but her grip on Chen Mo's finger was exceptionally tight, her knuckles turning white.

Chen Mo led her through a winding route, arriving at a dilapidated temple on the edge of the Outer City.

A group of beggars and street children lived here.

"Wait here."

Chen Mo pressed Little Grass into a sheltered corner, took two meat buns from his pocket, and shoved them into her hands.

"Don't wander off. Don't talk to anyone. I'll come get you tonight."

Little Grass hugged the buns and nodded.

Chen Mo turned to leave, but the hem of his clothes was tugged.

Little Grass looked up, her big eyes filled with fear and unease.

"Brother... will you come back?"

Chen Mo looked at her and was silent for a second.

"Yes."

He pulled his clothes free and strode away with large steps.

Walking on the road to the yamen, Chen Mo's mood was not light.

Taking Little Grass in was a hassle.

But he didn't regret it.

Cultivating the martial Dao meant cultivating both the body and the heart. If he had truly stood by and done nothing today, his Qi wouldn't be smooth, his thoughts wouldn't be clear.

If his thoughts weren't clear, what was the point of cultivating immortality?

Only...

Chen Mo rubbed his chin, his eyes turning somewhat gloomy.

When he left earlier, he had sensed someone watching him.

It wasn't someone from the Axe Gang.

That gaze was more greedy, more venomous.

It seemed that even in this slum, there were people who didn't want to let him live in peace.

"Want to take a bite out of me?"

Chen Mo gave a cold laugh, his fingers gently stroking the hilt of the ghost rejector blade on his back.

"Let's see if you have the teeth for it."

He quickened his pace.

He needed to go find Jiang Hongli quickly.

Not just for the errand fee, but also to borrow her authority, to use the tiger's skin as a banner.

In this man-eating world, only by standing beside a fiercer beast could you scare off those hungry wolves.

The sun had risen a bit higher, melting away much of the damp chill in the alleyways, but the coldness in Chen Mo's heart hadn't yet dissipated.

After settling Little Grass, he didn't dare delay and headed straight for Yuelai Inn.

Yuelai Inn was located near the Inner City, a den of extravagance in these troubled times. Two stone lions polished to a shine stood at the entrance, and the threshold was high enough to trip a man.

Chen Mo stood at the entrance, looked down at the cloth shoes on his feet. The toe of one shoe had a hole, revealing a big toe, stained with the mud and dust he had just walked through.

He rubbed it against the ground, but it didn't come off, so he simply stopped trying.

He stepped inside.

...

At the same time, in a quiet residence within the Inner City.

This was the private residence of the City Defense Army Commander, Ye Zhiqiu. The courtyard wasn't planted with flowers or grass; instead, there were several rows of wooden stakes, all pitted and scarred from strikes, exuding an aura of stern Killing Intent.

Kneeling below was a black-clothed scout, reporting in a low voice.

"...That's roughly the situation. That kid is called Chen Mo, a Runner for the yamen."

Ye Zhiqiu didn't even lift her eyelids. "Is he really that capable?"

"We've checked, but..." The scout paused, his tone carrying a note of incredulity. "Lord Jiang just casually mentioned the method of Qi and Blood Enchantment, and that kid... used it on the spot."

Ye Zhiqiu suddenly opened her eyes. Her pupils shone with a sharp light, like two blades.

"On the spot?"

"Yes. After hearing it just once, his Qi and blood attached to his blade, and he slayed a wandering spirit."

Ye Zhiqiu fell silent.

The room was frighteningly quiet, only the cicadas' cries outside the window grew more and more raucous.

After a long while, the corner of Ye Zhiqiu's mouth lifted in a playful smile.

"Learned it after hearing it once... interesting."

She stood up, walked to the weapon rack, and reached out to stroke the shaft of a long spear.