Chapter 62: The Heart of Gluttony, Funeral in Golden Autumn
[On the tenth day of the tenth month, all things begin to grow into autumn. ]

[You sit under the Minjiang River, forgetting your true self, your heart ablaze with fire, using your broken heart to save your true heart. Your originally fragile heart melts in the red blood fire, and you use pure yin qi and blood to protect your original heart...]

[Finally, a brand new heart was born from the fire of the heart! ]

[The first transformation of red blood, forging a gluttonous heart! ]

【You are creating an incredible miracle. 】

[But... it's not enough! This is far from enough! ]

[You open your eyes, and every inch of your flesh and blood feels extremely hungry. You open your mouth suddenly and swallow everything edible around you, including soil, river water, animal carcasses... You are greedy by nature and have no scruples about eating. Anything you eat can be turned into nutrients in your stomach.]

[The qi and blood are transformed vigorously, continuously feeding the newly formed gluttonous heart. 】

【not enough! 】

[It’s still not enough! ]

[Refining the five internal organs is a path that belongs to the realm of the divine mansion. If you touch it with a mortal body, you will die... Ordinary food cannot support the growth of the gluttonous heart, nor can it protect the heart from collapse when being refracted by red blood. ]

[You suddenly dive into the depths of the river, into a world filled with Tai Sui soil and clear water, and eat like crazy with your mouth open.]

[A feeling of satisfaction from the inside out finally came from the heart. ]

[Shua——A cold white air bursts out from your peripheral vision, and you suddenly open your mouth and swallow it down in one gulp! Boom——]

[Your whole body trembles, and even your Yin Zhu blood cannot resist the frost from within. A layer of frost condenses on your body surface, and countless chills spread throughout your body...]

[You ignored the spread of the cold, like a madman, letting the red blood and the cold collide wildly in your body. You could have waited a little longer, you could have taken it step by step, but you didn't...]

[Two forces collide in your heart. You know that if you continue like this, even if you give birth to a gluttonous heart, sooner or later you will not be able to control your violent blood and energy, and die of a broken heart. But you still choose to go home...]

【Suddenly, the cold air enveloped the heart, and under the guidance of the extremely Yin red blood, water and fire gradually merged.】

[The flesh and blood of the gluttonous heart moved, and the remaining heart fire of the Heavenly Fate Grey Duck Divine Palace in the heart chamber combined with the flesh and blood, slowly giving birth to a duck head. The body gradually extended and turned into the body of an ancient strange beast with a sheep's body, tiger teeth, and a big belly. ]

【“Ah——” A loud and strange long cry, the turbulent blood in the body suddenly calmed down, and the coldness of the white air in the reverse spring also instantly subsided. In an instant, the blood and qi circulated thirty-one times, the same number as the blood and qi tempering the golden bones. 】

[Boom~~]

【Eleven strong and powerful heartbeats echoed at the bottom of the river.】

[The heart of gluttony——accomplished! 】

October, golden autumn.

All things welcome and send off.

"Hurry, hurry, unload this load of stones there."

"Hey, kid over there, I'm talking to you! What are you dawdling for?"

"Everyone, be alert. The governor will come in person today to check on the progress. Be quick when the time comes. Do you hear me?"

Yellow reed mudflats by the Qingyuan Lake.

Groups of people, pale and thin, with sad expressions, numbly repeat the work of carrying and digging again and again. The supervisors, composed of gangs and yamen runners from all over the place, brandished whips, looking ferocious and ruthless.

There were tens of thousands of civilians and only a few hundred supervisors, but they were like sheepdogs controlling a flock of sheep, firmly controlling the progress of the construction.

Half a year has passed.

Regardless of public discontent, Huang Lu'an still started construction.

however.

The construction process of this grandly planned embankment was far more difficult than imagined.

From March till now.

There was only a temporary layer of stone steps on the shore for people to walk on. Cartloads of stones were transported from distant mountains, consuming countless manpower and material resources, but it was like throwing stones into the sea.

The mudflats that were dozens of miles long were much deeper than they had imagined.

It was as deep as the belly of an ancient ferocious beast, and could never be filled no matter how hard you tried.

Some experienced fishermen felt something was wrong and secretly wondered if there was something wrong with the Feng Shui of this place. Fortunately, after half a year of construction, Huang Lu'an had not seen any evil things happen.

But this made life difficult for the common people who were doing corvee labor.

Minjiang Prefecture is located in a plain with more water and less mountains. It was a long journey to transport stones from distant mountainous areas to fill up the dozens of miles of muddy flats. Many people's shoes were worn out, their heels were flattened... and many even broke their legs.

The workable period has been limited.

On the surface, the governor seemed to be as close to the people as his own son, and he often traveled between the mountains and the lakeshore to work with them, but he was adamant about the deadline, and no one could shake his will.

Wait until he leaves.

The supervision team composed of yamen runners and gang members acted arrogantly. Not only did they withhold food, they were also extremely ruthless in urging the workers to work faster. In just half a year, many weak corvées had been worked to death.

"In your eyes, the lives of us lowly people are not lives?" A skinny old fisherman could not help but shouted at the members of the Tianshui Tower gang who were holding long whips.

Pfft~~
This time, what responded to him was not the whip, but the cold blade.

"Who else has anything to say?"

The disciple from the Tianshui Tower looked around with a cold gaze.

Countless people immediately lowered their heads and worked in silence.

No one stood up for the old fisherman.

The governor at least appears to be friendly and caring towards the people, but those gang executioners really don't treat them... as human beings.

The autumn wind blows down. Late October suddenly brings a deep chill.

Even the blood on the ground, which was originally warm, gradually turned cold.

"Work."

"Someone come and take the body and fill the lake."

"Yes."

Huanglutan has returned to its busy state.

Until a group of people came from a distance, and then the noise suddenly broke out.

The governor is here.

The supervisors gathered around, flattering and boasting about the progress of the project. The people kept silent, moving stones and clearing mud and sand...

They no longer have any hope for better days in the future.

Even if the completion of Huanglu'an can really benefit future generations, what does it have to do with their generation?

The body is not dead, but the heart is broken.

If your heart is dead, why bother?
If it weren't for my family...

for a long time.

Amid the people's sarcastic, cold, yet numb gazes, the governor completed today's condolences and left with a large group of people.

crunch~~
Chen Guzhou pushed open the gate.

Walk into the quiet and deserted courtyard.

On the roof not far away, a pair of eyes were watching him silently.

Still wearing that luxurious purple robe.

He has an upright posture and a sword on his waist.

This lord governor never seems to leave his sword. I wonder if it's the obsession unique to swordsmen, or is it because he's afraid of being assassinated?

do not know.

The eyes on the rooftop looked at him silently. He took off his luxurious purple robe and put on a simple cloth robe. The cloth was spotted and even had patches in many places.

It seems that... this governor had long been penniless and had donated all his wealth and gold and silver to the construction of Huanglu'an. He only had this purple robe left for show, so he was reluctant to wear it.

The yard was even more desolate and cold. Not to mention the expensive furniture, there were not even servants or family members to serve.

"Tsk~~hypocrisy."

The man on the roof finally couldn't help himself and sneered.

"You have been silent for a long time, why do you suddenly speak?"

Chen Guzhou didn't even raise his head, as if he already knew that there was someone on the roof.

The man said coldly: "I have been here for a long time."

Chen Guzhou said: "I know."

The man asked, "Since you know this, why do you treat me as nothing?"

"Because I know...you are here to kill me."

Chen Guzhou finally looked up.

Under the sunset.

Sitting on the roof was a swordsman in a yellow shirt. He had no beard and a resolute face. He looked very energetic and young. But the look he gave Chen Guzhou was filled with indescribable resentment and a sense of justice.

When Chen Guzhou looked over.

He stood up suddenly, and a surge of energy pressed over him.

"Ba Dao Men, Lian Shan."

That aura was… Gangqi realm. A Gangqi realm person who was less than 30 years old!

"Lian? Are you the orphan from Wang Fishing Village by the Minjiang River 20 years ago?" Chen Guzhou raised his eyebrows. He remembered it so clearly.

Of course he remembered it clearly.

Over the years, he remembered clearly the name of every person who died on the Green Willow Bank.

'锵'

The long sword is unsheathed.

"today--"

The swordsman from Naha Sword Gate jumped down from the roof, and his sword seemed to cut through the setting sun. "I will kill you for the countless suffering people in Minjiang."

Outside the courtyard.

Suddenly, a sad and mournful music was heard.

Paper money flying.

There were also people burying their dead relatives.

(End of this chapter)