After arranging for Huang San to take the blame, I told Boss Chen that he could go home and return tomorrow to renovate the inn, but I was met with a negative answer.
"Mr. Song... Mr. Song, if I leave, won't I incur the wrath of the fox spirit? How about... how about I just find a room to sleep in? At least I'll be safer with you guys, right?"
After the events of the past hour, Boss Chen had become more shrewd and didn't want to leave. After all, if his entire family were to be implicated for some reason, it would be a loss that outweighed the gain.
I pondered his words and felt he had a point. If the Hu family wanted to find out the exact details, they would naturally seek out the closest location to the incident. Without a doubt, that person was Boss Chen, who knew some of the information. Diverting disaster was not my style, even though I had already shifted the blame for this incident to Huang San.
"Alright, then rearrange the rooms. You'll stay with us tonight."
A smile spread across Boss Chen's face, and he turned and went downstairs.
"Huang San, when do you think the Hu family will come looking for you the fastest?"
Huang San frowned and thought seriously for a moment before replying, "It's hard to say. The Hu family is a large clan, with countless disciples who go out to do their work. The Three-tailed Fox was already the biggest boss in Tianhua City. Now that it's dead and the news has spread, I'm afraid some members of the Hu family will arrive before dawn."
"So soon?"
I frowned. I had planned to spread the message the old monk had asked me to convey before the Hu family knew I had killed the Three-tailed Fox. Now, it seemed that message might not be delivered.
Moreover, judging by the methods of the Hu family, even if I were to relay the message the old monk wanted me to deliver, they probably wouldn't believe it. After all, once a fox spirit bled to death, the nature of the situation would change.
"Huang San, do they know about the Three-tailed Fox bleeding to death?"
"They... they probably know! After all, in their eyes, humans are no different from livestock," Huang San gave me an unexpected answer.
I stared blankly at Huang San, somewhat confused as to why he harbored such thoughts. Although this was the Age of Dharma Decline, humans were still the protagonists of the era. If he thought this way too, then I would have to consider whether to continue cooperating with Huang San.
Facing my suspicious gaze, Huang San did not flinch. Instead, he looked directly at me and said, "Young Master Song, you don't need to feel strange about it. You eat chicken, duck, and fish for survival; it's the fundamental basis of life. Similarly, some wild spirits and malevolent beings will take desperate measures in their final moments to prolong their lives. At such times, ordinary people are no different from chickens or fish to them. It's just that in this Age of Dharma Decline, humans are the masters, and all other lives are like ants. Do you understand what I mean?"
Although Huang San's words were not polite, I didn't feel angry. This world was a jungle where the strong preyed on the weak, and humans were no exception. The powerful always lorded over the weak, and the rich always fed on the blood and flesh of the poor. This was the rule of the world, and no one could change it, not even those at the very top.
I grinned. Huang San said, "I know what you mean, but I hope you never step down that path. If you do, I will skin you and dismember you."
I said this very seriously. Huang San had gained an unexpected opportunity and was granted the ability to transform into a human at night. However, even so, there would come a day when his lifespan ended. I might not live to see that day, but I still hoped that when his life reached its end, he would not choose to sustain his meager existence by drinking human blood and committing murder.
"Heh heh... Skinning and dismembering is not a problem, but I hope you live to see that day. Besides, there are eyes watching. When karma reaches a certain level, there will be retribution."
The "it" Huang San referred to was not a person, but the Heavenly Dao, the rules of the world. It was a rule that people couldn't see or touch, and even cultivators only knew of its existence without truly seeing it. Perhaps before the Shang Dynasty, there really were immortals.
This conversation seemed to deepen our bond. Previously, I had always maintained a degree of caution towards Huang San, as I felt he harbored too many secrets in his heart. Perhaps one day, he would reveal them himself.
The rooms upstairs were uninhabitable, so we had to temporarily stay in the remaining rooms and wait until morning.
During our conversation, someone thoughtful not only found me some simple medicine to bandage my wounds but also prepared some food.
After bandaging me, Boss Chen smiled and said, "It's late at night, and there's not much good to eat. I only have some frozen meat to make some grilled meat. Please don't mind it. We'll just make do with this for now, and I'll arrange a feast for you tomorrow."
"That would be great. Make sure it's roast chicken if possible; I like that the most." Before I could speak, Huang San unceremoniously made his request.
"Naturally."
After a simple meal, Boss Chen didn't leave. Instead, he shamelessly wanted to stay with us. I had no choice but to agree, as I had eaten his food and received his help.
Moreover, the room he arranged was a quad room, likely his intention before he arranged the meal. Since he had already gone this far, what else could I say?
After a period of struggle and a full stomach, I felt sleepy. I told Huang San to be alert tonight and lay down on the bed, fully clothed, and fell asleep.
I don't know how long I slept before I was awakened by a blaring alarm. Blinking my eyes open groggily, I saw a scene of red and blue lights outside the window.
Pulling back the curtains, I saw teams of fire trucks heading towards Sun Shenpo's siheyuan, with towering flames rising into the sky. Boss Chen, having drunk quite a bit, was still asleep. However, Huang San, who was sleeping next to me, was nowhere to be found.
My heart sank. Could Huang San have started the fire?
Just as I was pondering whether Huang San had started the fire, the window was suddenly opened. Huang San pulled back the curtains and jumped in from outside. Seeing me staring blankly, he was startled.
"Young Master Song, why aren't you asleep?"
"Asleep? Nonsense! There's a fire and fire trucks outside. Don't tell me you started the fire," I asked suspiciously.
"What kind of person do you take me for? How could I do something so wicked?" Huang San gave me a displeased sideways glance and then explained, "I sensed fox energy nearby earlier, so I went out to see if any of the Hu family had arrived. As it turned out, I saw them setting the fire."
"Setting the fire?" I was taken aback and quickly pressed, "What about the people inside?"
Huang San's face turned grim as he said, "By the time I arrived, the fire had already started, and I only heard screams. I'm afraid..."