The Hell Scroll was the only true work of the great Tang Dynasty painter, Wu Daozi.
Legend had it that the scroll was commissioned by the abbot of Zhao Jinggong Temple during Emperor Xuanzong's reign.
However, Wu Daozi had never seen hell, and thus he hesitated for months, unable to begin.
At this point, a young painter calling himself Huangfu Sheng volunteered to take Wu Daozi's place.
Huangfu Sheng's paintings were praised by the abbot and monks, and he was about to replace Wu Daozi when, the next morning, the young painter was found dead on the street under mysterious circumstances.
That night, Wu Daozi appeared at the temple and, in a single night, painted eighteen volumes of "The Hell Scroll."
Upon its completion, the scroll shook Chang'an.
Everyone who saw the painting felt a chill to their bones and reflected on their sins.
Butchers abandoned their knives and stopped slaughtering cattle, fishermen threw away their rods and ceased fishing.
In and around Chang'an, everyone turned to Buddhism. Zhao Jinggong Temple's fame soared, becoming the foremost Buddhist temple.
Qin Yexuan mused on this story as he traveled.
How did Huangfu Sheng die?
According to the records, the abbot had said, "One who has not seen hell cannot paint eighteen volumes."
This implied that Wu Daozi had killed Huangfu Sheng, and it was from this guilt that he witnessed the sights of hell.
But this was more like baseless conjecture.
Qin Yexuan discussed the story with the mysterious consciousness within him, finally concluding, "I believe the old monk of Zhao Jinggong Temple killed Huangfu Sheng. He entered hell himself, and after seeing it, returned to tell Wu Daozi."
"Meaning, everything Wu Daozi painted were scenes described by the old monk."
"The reason for this analysis is that not long after these eighteen volumes were completed, Zhao Jinggong Temple turned to ashes, and all over three thousand monks perished, including the old monk."
The mysterious consciousness was intrigued, "And what about The Hell Scroll? Was it lost later?"
"The true work was lost; only imitations remain."
Qin Yexuan pondered, "But what I saw just now was definitely the genuine article, for it was able to capture Xu Chunyang within the painting."
Xu Chunyang had completely vanished.
But the Daoist sect remained.
They still had many hidden or secluded top experts.
For instance, Lu Daozi, once known as the foremost sword cultivator.
Qin Yexuan hurried back to the Sun family mansion, only to find it in the process of moving.
It turned out Li Fengzhi no longer wished to live in that house. She had found a villa estate near Chaoge Academy. Sudangxiaoshuo.com
"This is a Li family property. Chang'an Real Estate has many holdings across the province," Li Fengzhi said, holding her son's hand, unwilling to let go for even a moment. "I am the only daughter in the Li family, and this part of the inheritance will eventually fall to you to manage."
Sun Qinglu looked bewildered.
Beside him, Wang Jiaqian was amazed, "The Sun and Li families, two grand clans, will both be inherited by student Sun. He will truly be the undisputed richest man."
Sun Qinglu was unaccustomed to this.
"Mom, that villa is too big, the entire estate is like a campus of our school. Won't it be lonely living there?"
"My dear, it's for safety. Your current worth is simply astonishing. Honestly, I don't even want you to return to school..."
Li Fengzhi had no interest in business matters, so she could only rely on her biological son.
Sun Qinglu's headache grew worse.
Seeing his master return, he hurried over, head bowed, "Sir, I don't want to be the richest man."
Qin Yexuan smiled faintly, "Do you not want to be the richest man, or do you not want the money?"
Sun Qinglu fidgeted, "I, I'm embarrassed to say."
Qin Yexuan smiled thinly, "There are no such moralistic rules among my disciples. Say whatever you're thinking."
Sun Qinglu's face reddened, "I like money, I just don't want to be called the richest man."
Who wouldn't love money, especially for someone like Sun Qinglu, so full of youthful vigor and who had cultivated for years, only now stepping into the mortal world.
Qin Yexuan chuckled, "You mean you don't want the responsibility, only to enjoy the benefits."
Sun Qinglu's face paled, "No, sir, that's not what I meant at all."
"Think it over slowly. For now, your status as the richest man is still useful."
"You still need to handle some matters for the Sun family, spend some time with your mother, and then find me at the school dormitory."
After giving his instructions, Qin Yexuan prepared to leave with Wang Jiaqian.
Li Fengzhi and Sun Qinglu stood by the roadside, followed by hundreds of lawyers and company executives, respectfully watching Qin Yexuan's car depart.
This was the highest form of courtesy.
In the car, Wang Jiaqian couldn't help but curl up and fell asleep from exhaustion.
Busy for two days and one night, dazed and disoriented, having dealt with a haunted house and an underground tomb. She had essentially played a supporting role throughout, but had experienced it all.
To be honest, for an ordinary person, and a girl at that, to have gone through so many supernatural events without collapsing, this Teacher Wang's willpower was truly exceptionally rare.
Qin Yexuan took off his jacket, intending to cover her.
Whoosh!
Wang Jiaqian grabbed his hand, her eyes widening, "It's you, it really is you!"
She touched the jacket, "The coat hanging on the doorknob outside the academy's preparation room was also yours, and you were the one who chased away those unruly students. So, you've been protecting me in secret."
Qin Yexuan smiled calmly, "You finally remember. But don't misunderstand, I was just passing by, so..."
"You didn't peek while I was changing, did you?" Wang Jiaqian gave him a charmingly coquettish glance.
Qin Yexuan said solemnly, "You are my teacher, and I am your student. How could I do such a rebellious thing?"
"Ha, you're so boring. You speak like an old scholar from ancient times."
Wang Jiaqian happily stroked the jacket and fell asleep leaning on his shoulder.
There was no place warmer than beside this young man.
Qin Yexuan opened his phone and saw the messages sent by Jun Mengyao and the others.
"Sir, those identified monsters... have all disappeared!"
The 270 people possessed by monsters had also mysteriously vanished, along with twelve civilians!
The photos sent from the scene were bone-chilling.
Only clothes and shoes were neatly laid out in place. The people, as if caterpillars shedding their cocoons, had turned into butterflies and flown away.
"Someone saw many people being sucked into the clouds naked. We barely managed to control the scene. Those witnesses said they were aliens."
Qin Yexuan's eyes flickered, "Check the twelve missing civilians. Do they have prior records!"
This was easy to check.
Jun Mengyao replied with shock, "Those twelve ordinary people had all been in trouble before. Kidnapping, abusing women, accidental killings, gamblers... they were all the kind of people who, upon release, showed no remorse. What, what is the connection here?"
Qin Yexuan hung up the phone.
It was "The Hell Scroll!"
Those who had disappeared, as well as those possessed by monsters, had all been taken by the eighteen volumes of the hellish depiction.