"If anyone brings the head of the cult leader Zhang Linchuan from the east, Marquis Wu’an, Jiang Wang, is willing to reward them with ten thousand Prime Stones and a promise to aid with all his might once, provided it does not violate his principles of justice!"

This is undoubtedly one of the most significant bounties among all the countries in recent years.

It’s not that Zhang Linchuan’s worth is exceedingly high.

But rather, the world’s strong are seldom influenced by bounties.

Just like Jiang Mengxiong, if one could kill him, Jinguo would offer countless Prime Stones. But who dares to post such a bounty? Who dares to take it?

Only a heretic like Zhang Linchuan, once identified, is like a rat crossing the street, condemned by all.

And his growth method naturally requires a wide acceptance of followers, necessitating the expansion of doctrines, even if the World Without Life acts as a barrier, some traces are bound to be left behind.

Due to his usual caution and the secrecy of the World Without Life, he manages to hide himself. But the branches in various places have been destroyed, the preaching deities have fled in fear, those who were slow met with beheadings as a bounty.

Like the past aggressive expansion of the Netherworld emissary in Cheng Country’s Fengtai City, openly competing with righteous sects like Ling Kong Palace, such things would no longer happen in the Eastern and Southern Territories.

Once identified as a cult, there is no longer the qualification to grow under the sun.

Jiang Wang had given the matter of dealing with Zhang Linchuan much thought. Thought about it seriously many times.

To deal with anything walking in darkness, no matter how strong, vicious, or cunning it is, simply crush it with overwhelming force, the great sun shining through, naturally breaking the mountains and rivers.

Where can demons and spirits hide?

Before Lin Youxie’s incident, he hadn’t seen the possibility of completely eradicating the Church of Lifeless, unwilling to alert the enemy. Dealing with an enemy like Zhang Linchuan wasn’t something that could be resolved with minor skirmishes. It required an all-in approach to wipe them out in one stroke.

But he did not expect Zhang Linchuan to infiltrate Qi Country and, using strange fate divine skills, replace Lei Zhanqian’s identity... They had long been close, yet he was unaware!

Just like back then at the Maple Forest City Daoist Academy, he had never known that Zhang Linchuan, the senior brother skilled in Thunder Technique and naturally neat-freak, was one of the Bone Tao.

In this world, there are no life-and-death enemies waiting for you to grow.

If not for Lin Youxie, this situation would have been difficult to predict in terms of victory or defeat.

...

In the savage forest, a solitary grave had been erected.

The tomb wasn’t particularly ornate or grand, but it was meticulously crafted in every aspect, clearly made with care.

The genius Green Badge, Lin Youxie, rests here.

No body, no soul, with only clothing and a hat as the tomb...

Even the clothing and hat were retrieved from the Lin family’s old residence.

Buried within the tomb were also original case files she had solved over the years, one of the few marks she left in the human world. The records remaining in Beiyaduwei’s office were just copies — all these records were sorted and sent personally by Zheng Shangming.

Lin Youxie’s funeral was arranged by Jiang Wang himself.

Every detail inside and out was handled personally by him.

He initially wanted to bury Lin Youxie at the Cliff of Celestial Punishment, as the Triple Punishment Palace was the last place this girl wished to visit.

But she had neither truly left Qi soil, nor officially joined the Triple Punishment Palace. Furthermore, as the only heir of the Green Badge Aristocracy since the Martial Emperor of Qi’s era, with her, the lineage had ended, becoming purely historical.

Although she wasn’t much regarded during her life, her disappearance went unnoticed for months. However, the matter of her final resting place still needed to consider the sentiments of the people of Qi and its impact on the country...

This seemed to be a fate destined from her birth.

Zhongxuan Sheng had earnestly persuaded. And the campaign to destroy the Church of Lifeless was also to start from Qi’s Lin Youxie, originating in Deer Frost County, Qi Country, and then sweeping across the world...

After comprehensive deliberation, Jiang Wang decided to erect a tomb for Lin Youxie where the two had once parted.

This also served to inform her, she’s been awaited by an old friend.

Today marked the day of the grave’s completion, the ceremony and funeral music had all dispersed.

Lin Youxie preferred solitude over noise, so he hadn’t invited anyone.

Even those seeking to curry favor didn’t dare provoke him at this time.

Only Zhongxuan Sheng, Shisi, Li Longchuan, Yan Fu, and a few other friends made it as far as paying their respects with a few sticks of incense.

Now they had all departed.

September’s high autumn, bare branches scratched the sky in disarray, while a few crows called out, flying further away.

He stood alone before the grave.

Quietly standing for a long time.

The tombstone was carved by his own hand, using his finger as a chisel, engraving into the stone. After much thought, it only bore the name Lin Youxie, with no prefix or suffix.

Those so-called honors, those so-called remembrances, were burdens to Lin Youxie.

Her life was ensnared in a heavy web of worldly concerns: ideals, relatives, family glory, each weighing heavily. She lived not a moment for herself.

Never with ease.

What remains in Jiang Wang’s memory is only the sound of grinding herbs, the silhouette waving farewell, and the black cat shattered in those clear eyes.

Upon setting a neat and clean tombstone, the name Lin Youxie was simply inscribed.

In this world, there aren’t many who held her dear; it’s hoped she too would have no ties to the human world after leaving.

...

The sound of dry branches breaking gently shattered the mood.

Qingzhuan, busy as of late with matters in Deer Frost County, worriedly walked into the woods: "Marquis, we just received word from Linzi, summoning you to return to Linzi for a court meeting."

The ongoing investigations around Deer Frost County were conducted jointly by the stationed troops and the Patrol Inspection Bureau. In charge from Beiyaduwei’s side was the deputy inspector Qi Huaichang, from Donglai’s Qi Family... This was surely a gesture of control over the situation, and one couldn’t say if there were other implications involved.