Secular Immortal of the Nine Realms - Chapter 55
Chapter 55: No Compassion in the Compassion Hall
“How could this be…” Qin Dong’s eyes lost their light, but he quickly snapped out of his daze and covered his mouth. I’d be dead meat if Fang Chen hears my voice!
Manager He of the Compassion Hall turned ghastly pale, as he had no idea what to do in this situation. He could only pray that the blind War God Fang would turn a blind eye to him as long as he remained silent.
“There’s no compassion in the Compassion Hall…” Fang Chen snorted.
He walked up to the gray-robed daoist and little nun to sever the ropes binding them.
Qin Dong took this secretly back away, only for the gray-robed daoist to notice him right away and holler, “Don’t even dream of running away!”
Qin Dong’s body stiffened up.
Manager He knew that he would have no chance to escape if he didn’t make a move now, so he immediately turned tail and fled without a care in the world.
However, soldiers suddenly rushed into the Compassion Hall. They were led by the vice-commander of West Tiger Barracks, You Longchang.
“General You, take them down,” Fang Chen ordered.
“Yes, young master,” You Longchang bitterly replied.
Without asking any questions, You Longchang marched in with his men to arrest Manager He and his lackeys. Those who fought back were killed on the spot.
The gray-robed daoist stared at Fang Chen in astonishment.
“War God Fang!” Fang Qingyao and his maid, upon release, rushed up to Fang Chen.
“Miss Fang, it seems like luck isn’t on your side.” Fang Chen chuckled.
Fang Qingyao sighed upon hearing those words, but she was more curious to know whether Fang Chen knew beforehand about the corruption happening in Compassion Hall.
“War God Fang, isn’t that Vice Minister Qin?” You Longchang suddenly exclaimed in surprise. He dragged the pale-faced Qin Dong before Fang Chen as he asked, “You even brought Vice Minister Qin along for this operation?”
Qin Dong cursed under his breath, but he knew it was impossible for him to slip away now. Thus, he composed himself and said, “I came here to pay a visit to the orphans and donate some money.”
“Vice Minister?” Fang Qingyao and her maid couldn’t believe what they were hearing. This depraved man is actually a high-ranking official of Great Xia?!
“Vice Minister Qin, I followed you here. Are you certain you’re here to visit the orphans and donate money? You should know Miss Fang and the others are still alive,” Fang Chen said.
“You despicable scum! You tried to sully my young miss!” Fang Qingyao’s maid roared.
A shadow cloaked You Longchang’s face. I knew it! There’s always trouble whenever Fang Chen calls for me! Qin Dong is the Vice Minister of Rites, a second-grade official!
“You can’t trust the words of a mere merchant’s daughter. His Majesty won’t take their words seriously either. War God Fang, there’s no grudge between us. There’s no need to go that far,” Qin Dong said. “As long as you spare me today, I’ll do your bidding from this day onward.”
“General You… there’s no point wasting resources on trash. Let’s deal with them on the spot,” Fang Chen ordered You Longchang, not paying any heed to Qin Dong at all.
Deal with them on the spot? You Longchang was taken aback, but after some hesitation, he still ordered his subordinates to follow through with the order.
Cries of agony ensued, and those from the Compassion Hall were executed on the spot.
Qin Dong’s goosebumps out of fear. He felt a chill rising from his soles to the top of his head, causing him to shudder.
“What a bloodthirsty person he is!” the gray-robed daoist grimly murmured as he reflexively grabbed the little nun and retreated two steps away from Fang Chen.
The little nun shook off his hand with a reddened face.
Fang Qingyao calmly watched as the violence unfolded, whereas her maid was so horrified that she dared not look at Fang Chen.
“War God Fang, I’m done dealing with the people here. You should at least tell me what transpired here, right? What about Vice Minister Qin?” You Longchang asked with a suppressed voice.
Qin Dong eyed You Longchang. You’re following Fang Chen’s orders despite not knowing what happened? You idiot!
“Report that your West Tiger Barracks raided the Compassion Hall because you received a credible tip-off that it’s corrupted and has been kidnapping children and amputating their limbs to solicit donations. As for the rest… it’s best for you not to know,” Fang Chen said.
“All right…” You Longchang nodded.
“War God Fang…” Qin Dong meekly spoke up. “Please consider what I said earli…”
“You keep quiet for now,” Fang Chen said.
Qin Dong nervously shut his mouth.
Fang Qingyao’s maid was worried that Fang Chen would spare Qin Dong, but the earlier scene she had witnessed made her dare not speak up to him.
Just then, a soldier from the West Tiger Barracks anxiously rushed over with a pale face, exclaiming, “War God Fang, General Fang, w-we found a lot of dried corpses!”
“Let’s take a look.” Fang Chen’s face darkened.
Inside an old well in the inner residence were a massive heap of dried corpses. There were people from all walks of life—old, young, male, female… All of them had warped expressions that gave a glimpse into the cruel torture they had been put through before their deaths.
“That goddamned Blood Spirit Cult! So much for preaching fucking kindness!” the gray-robed daoist spat in anger.
“Amithabha,” the little nun recited with a pale face.
“How could this be?!” You Longchang stared at Fang Chen in disbelief.
Qin Dong’s face paled in guilt, but lest he drew suspicion, he feigned shock as well. He looked into the old well and angrily exclaimed, “I would have never thought such atrocities were being carried out in the Compassion Hall!”
Fang Qingyao and her maid had been retching ever since they saw what was inside the well, but they couldn’t help but stare at Qin Dong in utter disbelief upon hearing his words. How could there be such a shameless person in the world?
“They were killed by Xu Hui,” Fang Chen said. “They were the forsaken people taken in by the Compassion Hall. They have no friends or family, so their deaths went unnoticed for the longest time.”
“Xu Hui? You’re talking about Master Xu Hui?” You Longchang exclaimed. “He’s here?!”
“He’s that pile of ashes outside,” the gray-robed daoist said.
You Longchang vaguely remembered seeing a pile of ashes when he first entered. Not in his wildest imagination could he have imagined that it would be that renowned monk of Great Xia. And this is his doing?
“That demon monk must have been practicing demonic art?!” You Longchang roared in anger.
“Keep this matter confidential, lest it stir a panic. General You, I believe you know what to do,” Fang Chen said.
The crowd was taken aback. They had some reservations concerning Fang Chen’s decision, but no one dared to speak against him since he had already made up his mind.
“I understand.” You Longchang nodded. He eyed Vice Minister Qin and asked, “War God Fang, what role did Vice Minister Fang play in this matter?”
“I have no role in this matter!” Vice Minister Qin exclaimed.
His words were partially true. It was true that he didn’t kill anyone inside the well, since he wasn’t a Blood Spirit Cultist and wasn’t practicing their demonic art. However, he was the one who sent many of the vulnerable people here.
“General You, focus on your duties first. Make sure to placate those living here,” Fang Chen said. He paused for a moment before adding, “Take Miss Fang and her maid too. Be gentle. They have suffered a shock too.”
“Yes, young master.” You Longchang nodded.
Fang Qingyao and her maid knew that this was a matter beyond them, so they respectfully bowed to Fang Chen before backing out of the inner residence with You Longchang.
The only ones left were Fang Chen, Qin Dong, the gray-robed daoist, and the little nun.
“Vice Minister Qin, how much do you know about the Blood Spirit Cult?” Fang Chen asked.
Qin Dong’s eyeballs darted around.
The gray-robed daoist harrumphed. “Why are you looking around? Thinking of how you can lie your way out of this?”
Qin Dong’s face stiffened up. He forgot there were two other fellows who could see here.
