Chapter 14
The Migration Banquet was a great success.
Names of people, shadows of trees, besides the gifts sent by the apprentice's parents, the various wealthy families in the county also sent representatives to congratulate. Although they didn't know each other, it didn't stop them from deciding to send gifts to establish a good relationship with Leon Wei.
Of course, the reason why the wealthy families who could eat without spitting out bones came to congratulate was also because the Lin Family Martial Hall was an affiliated martial hall of the Changying Martial Hall.
"It seems people enjoy hosting various banquets. Besides the lively atmosphere, what's more important is the astonishing gains."
After a sigh, he decided to start refining the Blood Tiger Pill according to the prescription.
"Let me see how different the Blood Tiger Pill I won in the draw is compared to the Vitality Pill of the Changying Martial Hall."
In a secret room in the backyard, everything was piled up there—tiger blood, tiger bones, medicinal herbs—all there. As for the tiger meat, it was given as a gift to those who came to congratulate.
Reciprocity was normal.
Moreover, this gift of tiger meat was quite prestigious.
"I haven't refined pills before, but that doesn't matter. Mix everything in a pot and follow the instructions in the prescription."
He got to work.
He lit the fire, added tiger blood, boiled it fiercely, needing to extract the essence of the tiger blood.
He ground the tiger bones into powder, weighed the medicinal herbs, then continued grinding. After finishing these tasks, he poured the tiger bone powder into the pot.
Stirring with a ladle, he began to fry.
After heating the tiger bone powder, he added the powdered medicinal herbs and continued frying for a while. When it was almost done, with a pot full of tiger blood reduced to half, he scooped several spoonfuls of tiger blood into the pot.
Fry!
Stir-fry!
At this moment, Leon Wei was completely focused.
His concentration was unparalleled, just like when practicing martial arts, absolutely not affected by external factors.
He didn't know how long it took.
The substances in the pot became sticky, turning red. He knew the Blood Tiger Pill had taken shape. Setting down the ladle, he reached into the pot with both hands, shaping the sticky substance into glass bead-sized spheres.
Then, he placed these unconsolidated sticky pills on a plate and placed them in the fire.
After the flames burned them a second time, they solidified, removing impurities.
The process of secondary forging was tedious. He didn't wait but continued to refine the second pot. Fortunately, there were plenty of materials, with ginseng being the most expensive among them.
But luckily, he didn't need any fifty or hundred-year-old ginseng; he just used it as one of the ingredients.
Continuing to fry, add ingredients, fry.
Soon, a strong medicinal scent filled the room. He had to open the windows to let it dissipate; otherwise, he could be suffocated.
After some time, the morning sunlight filtered through the window, like a modest maiden, shy yet full of anticipation, bringing a mysterious warmth and hope to every corner of the world.
This also filled Leon Wei with hope for the Blood Tiger Pill.
In two silk-lined wooden trays were a hundred red pills, all painstakingly refined overnight.
However, not all the pills in them were perfect.
Some Blood Tiger Pills had dense cracks on the surface, and some even split in half.
"Even a master alchemist wouldn't dare guarantee the success of every pill. It's normal to have defects like these."
Defective pills were useless; their medicinal power leaked out through the cracks.
He picked out the defective ones and threw them into the still-burning fire.
Counting the remaining pills, there were only thirty-two left.
He stored these Blood Tiger Pills in a wooden bottle. There was no need for fancy jade bottles; successfully refined pills wouldn't spoil.
He took out a Vitality Pill and consumed it.
"Mmm, the effect is good."
He carefully felt the medicinal power of the Vitality Pill. For an ordinary person to fully absorb a Vitality Pill, it would take at least two to three days of continuous practice, stimulating the body's functions to absorb the pill's power.
It seemed the Lin Family Martial Hall had some tricks up its sleeve.
The production of such pills ensured a continuous emergence of new strength.
He then took one of his Blood Tiger Pills.
"Huh? My pill is even more potent."
As the Blood Tiger Pill entered his body, a trace of its power made his heart race. Compared to the Vitality Pill, it was much better, at least three times stronger. It would take an ordinary person seven to ten days to fully digest and absorb it.
For someone at the Qi and Blood Realm, it would still take around two days.
"The Blood Tiger Pill is quite potent. I need to keep this pill hidden. With my current strength, if people find out I have the recipe for this pill, even being affiliated with a martial hall wouldn't help. The Changying Martial Hall might even come after me."
Leon Wei never underestimated the extent of human greed.
In the face of sufficient benefits, not even friends, let alone close relatives, were safe from being sold out.
Leon Wei took one last look at the recipe, then stuffed it into his mouth. The best way to destroy something wasn't by burning it but by swallowing it. Everything was now stored in his mind.
As long as he didn't speak, no one would know.
Perfect.
In the courtyard, the apprentices were training. Thanks to Jin Ray's personal instruction, Wang Haizhu could already stand on the Floating Cloud Post. Under the guidance of the Acceleration Chamber in their training, progress was faster than normal.
Other apprentices were envious and also wanted to start learning real martial arts like Wang Haizhu.
Leon Wei sat there, sipping tea, quietly observing, nodding in satisfaction. A new martial hall, a new atmosphere; all the apprentices were working hard. Yesterday's Migration Banquet was also an initiation ceremony for the apprentices.
In the past, he naturally didn't want to recruit too many people. However, one had to listen to advice. Han Wei had a point: to run a martial hall, you had to take in apprentices. If you didn't take in apprentices, where would your income come from? They bowed, you accepted. Whether they could succeed depended on their own destiny.
The master leads the way, but the practice depends on the individual.
"Everyone, stop and gather," Leon Wei said softly, and the apprentices lined up in front of him.
Leon Wei took out a wooden bottle and placed it on the table. "This is the Vitality Pill of the Changying Martial Hall. The master of this hall will bestow it upon outstanding apprentices."
"Jin Ray, come forward."
"Master."
Jin Ray respectfully replied.
"Open your mouth."
"Yes."
As Jin Ray opened his mouth, Leon Wei took out a Blood Tiger Pill from his pocket and flicked it into Jin Ray's mouth.
"Practice well and assimilate the pill's power."
"Thank you for the master's gift."
The surrounding apprentices looked at Jin Ray with envy. The eldest senior brother was indeed very lucky, and the hall master loved him dearly.
They called the hall master "hall master."
The eldest senior brother called the hall master "master."
That was the difference.
Leon Wei favored Jin Ray by giving him the Blood Tiger Pill. He also wanted Jin Ray to become the face of the martial hall early on. As the martial hall grew, he couldn't handle everything himself.
In the future... well, let's leave the future for later.
"Hai Zhu."
"Master, I'm here." Wang Haizhu had been eagerly waiting. When he heard the master call him, he immediately ran over, knelt down with a thud, and kowtowed, "Thank you for the master's gift of the pill."
Thud, thud, thud!
He kowtowed several times.
Leon Wei: ...
This kid, I haven't even said anything yet, and he's kowtowing with such enthusiasm.
But it didn't matter. Wang Haizhu was astute, Jin Ray was simple-hearted. The martial hall needed both extremes.
"Hai Zhu..."
"Master, the disciple's mouth is open. Please feed the pill," Wang Haizhu said, opening his mouth wide.
Sigh!
Leon Wei sighed lightly, watching the wish on Haizhu's head, hoping to be treated like the eldest senior brother, with the master personally feeding him the pill and even two white wish points.
Not bad, kid. Can the master not satisfy you?
With a snap of his fingers, a Blood Tiger Pill entered Haizhu's mouth.
Wang Haizhu immediately felt satisfied, cheering loudly. Then he felt a surge of heat in his body, knowing the pill's effects had kicked in. He jumped into the courtyard, stood on the Floating Cloud Post, and began to absorb the pill's power.
Next, he looked at the remaining apprentices.
Just as he was about to speak, their unified wishes left him dumbfounded.
Never before had they been so united.
["Please, hall master, I really want to take the pill (0/1), reward: white wish point*1."]
["I wish the hall master could personally feed me the pill..."]
["I wish..."]
Alright, alright, alright. So, you only have unified wishes when there are good things involved.
Afterward, Leon Wei stood up and said, "Don't envy the eldest senior brother and the second senior brother for receiving the pills. Since you've joined the martial hall, the master naturally treats everyone equally. But I hope next time, you can earn the pills through your own efforts."
"Jin Ray."
"Master."
"Distribute the pills to them."
"Yes, master."
The apprentices cheered as Jin Ray distributed the pills. Their love for the hall master soared.
["Received white wish point +1"]
["Received white wish point +1"]
...
Sixteen apprentices, sixteen wish points.
They were in high spirits.
Jin Ray was tasked with distributing the pills, and as for the remaining three Vitality Pills, Jin Ray would continue to keep them safe. He didn't need those pills; the Blood Tiger Pill was the greatest treasure.
It was also the foundation for transforming the martial hall into a super-large martial hall.
As for himself, he returned to the living room to start drawing lots.
The more points he had, the stronger he became.
"Draw lots."
["Congratulations on drawing: Proficiency in Wave Finger 50"]
["Congratulations on drawing: Proficiency in Blazing Leg 30"]
["Congratulations on drawing: Proficiency in Diamond Seal 60"]
With each draw, his Qi and blood surged, representing his strengthening body as his martial arts improved.
After the draw, he eagerly checked his own data.
["Realm: Qi and Blood Realm, Ninth Level"]
["Martial Arts: Wind Thunder Palm (Perfected), Blazing Leg (Perfected), Wave Finger (Not Initiated 306/500)"]
["Skills: Art of Talismans, Diamond Seal (Initiated 104/1000)"]
"Very good, finally reached the Ninth Level of the Qi and Blood Realm. But my Qi and blood can still be strengthened. It seems I need to learn another martial art to push my Qi and blood to the extreme."
Leon Wei knew that if he practiced the Flesh and Skin Method now, he could enter the second realm. However, he wasn't in a rush. He wanted to lay a solid foundation and achieve true perfection.
With the Blazing Leg now perfected, his leg's Qi and blood were also nearly cultivated.
But nearly wasn't enough.
It wasn't sufficient; it wasn't enough.
He wanted his Qi and blood to fill his entire body.
Others couldn't do it because they didn't have time, but for him, time was just a fart.
He only needed his wishes.
Thinking this, he lifted his leg, lightly tapped the ground, and with a crack, the floor tiles shattered. He couldn't have achieved this level before, but now... it was simple.
"Leon Wei..."
Just then, a voice rang out.
It wasn't Han Wei.
It was Zhang Shan.
Living room.
Two people drinking tea.
After some conversation, Leon Wei understood the reason why Zhang Shan had come to him.
Zhang Shan was an elite disciple of the Changying Martial Arts Hall, just one step away from becoming a true disciple. He needed to complete a task to earn enough points at the martial arts hall, which would allow him to advance. Once he became a true disciple, his status and treatment would naturally be different.
The six martial arts halls had strict levels, each offering different privileges.
Moreover, despite all six halls being located in Ankang County, their influence extended far and wide like a vast network, firmly holding surrounding counties in their grasp. People from those counties who wanted to learn martial arts would not stay locally; instead, they would try their luck at the six halls.
"Leon Wei, I don't have anyone trustworthy at the Changying Martial Arts Hall. I can only rely on you," Zhang Shan said helplessly. If he had to seek help, he could only turn to elite disciples, but would they be willing to assist him?
He was doing this to become a true disciple. If someone thought about it, they might say, "I am still just an elite disciple, yet I am helping you become a true disciple."
It's a bit absurd.
Thinking about it, it can be understood.
Worried that his brother would suffer, yet afraid his brother would pave the way for him.
Leon Wei pondered. He didn't have a good impression of Zhang Shan's name.
Zhang Shan... Zhang San, Li Si?
The names sounded too generic.
Seeing Leon Wei deep in thought, Zhang Shan thought he was hesitating and continued, "Leon Wei, the goal of this mission is to eliminate a traitor from the Changying Martial Arts Hall. The opponent is at the peak of the Qi and Blood Realm. I can handle it myself, but I just want someone to help as a precaution. If you're unwilling, I..."
He interrupted him.
"Zhang, don't overthink it. I'm willing to help," Leon Wei said with a smile.
Zhang Shan's wish was shining brightly in his mind.
[Hoping Leon Wei can help me complete the mission, successfully kill Lu Quan (0/1), reward: 1 golden wish point]
Yes, if he helped Zhang Shan complete the mission, he would receive a golden wish point.
But based on his speculations about the appearance of wish points, it was clear that obtaining a golden wish point was not a simple matter.
He needed to be suspicious; this matter was probably not as simple as it seemed.
With his current strength being quite impressive, when faced with the appearance of a golden wish point, he felt it was necessary to pursue it and secure the golden wish point.
"Leon Wei, really?" Zhang Shan exclaimed.
"Indeed," Leon Wei nodded calmly.
"Haha, I knew Leon Wei was trustworthy. Rest assured, once I become a true disciple, I will definitely repay your help," Zhang Shan expressed his gratitude.
"No need, we are brothers. There's no need for repayment. When do we leave?" Leon Wei waved his hand, knowing that in such situations, one had to speak kindly. Whether or not you need to repay is your business; if someone wants to repay, they will naturally do so.
"Tomorrow, we'll leave tomorrow."
"Alright."
Leon Wei was determined to obtain the golden wish point.
It wasn't easy.
...
The next day, on the official road.
Two horses, two people, moving leisurely without haste.
Leon Wei had met Zhang Shan early in the morning. To travel quickly, they needed horses, and Zhang Shan was responsible for arranging these means of transportation.
"Leon Wei, Lu Quan is extremely skilled in leg techniques. He practices the 'Shadow Follows Form Leg Technique,' which emphasizes speed. As one leg strikes, the other follows like a shadow, repeatedly, making it difficult to defend against," Zhang Shan explained Lu Quan's situation.
Knowing your enemy is the key to victory.
"A master of leg techniques, indeed, can be quite challenging to deal with," Leon Wei acknowledged. A master of leg techniques was truly formidable and hard to handle.
"I heard he also practiced a form of boxing before, but it shouldn't be that great. After all, martial artists like us usually focus on one discipline, either boxing, palm techniques, or leg techniques. Mixing too many disciplines doesn't bring many benefits," Zhang Shan added.
Leon Wei was slightly surprised by this information.
"Why isn't mixing disciplines beneficial?"
"Firstly, our energy is limited, and we can't dedicate too much time. It's better to focus on one discipline rather than spreading yourself thin. Moreover, practicing multiple martial arts can lead to conflicts in Qi and Blood, causing significant harm to the body," Zhang Shan explained.
"What if someone wants to learn both disciplines? Is there a way to resolve this?" Leon Wei had already mastered both palm techniques and leg techniques, and he hadn't experienced the Qi and Blood conflicts Zhang Shan mentioned. Besides, he felt physically robust and energetic everywhere, without any signs of injury.
But why ask?
The reason was simple.
Just in case.
"If someone is determined, they should practice a health-preserving technique. However, the entry is slow, and reaching a high level is also slow. It's essentially a waste of time, so not many fools are willing to do it," Zhang Shan said.
Leon Wei remained silent, thinking, "So, I guess I'm that fool you're talking about. But it's alright; I don't need to practice a health-preserving technique, and there haven't been any conflicts as you described."
The number of people on the official road gradually decreased.
"Leon Wei, let's pick up the pace," Zhang Shan said, urging the horses to speed up.
Leon Wei was about to follow suit when his horse, as if sensing its companion being spurred, accelerated without giving Leon Wei a chance, matching its pace.
Understanding horses made things easier.
In ancient times, the only means of transportation were horses and horse-drawn carriages. Carriages were bumpy, and riding horses could be uncomfortable. However, for the sake of obtaining Zhang Shan's golden wish point, Leon Wei gritted his teeth and endured the discomfort.
...
A hundred miles away, in a rural cottage.
This was the only house nearby, and in the courtyard enclosed by a simple wooden fence, a man dressed in coarse clothes with a full beard, resembling an ordinary mountain man, was chopping wood with precision.
Thud!
Thud!
Each strike was precise and accurate, splitting the wood into four pieces.
Behind the tightly closed door of the house, two pairs of anxious eyes peered at the man outside.
Clip-clop~
Two horses appeared.
The mountain man set down his woodcutter and looked at the unfamiliar men outside the courtyard with a puzzled expression.
"Lu Quan, I didn't expect to find you here," Zhang Shan said angrily.
"Are you mistaking me for someone else? I am not Lu Quan, I am..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Leon Wei leaped up, sweeping his leg horizontally at the man's waist. His perfected Blaze Kick was fierce and powerful, even if the person pretending not to be Lu Quan was indeed Lu Quan, his eyes showed a hint of horror.
The opponent wasn't testing him; they genuinely wanted him dead.
Zhang Shan was a bit confused. He hadn't confirmed if the man was Lu Quan, so why did Leon Wei act so impulsively?
What if it wasn't him? Would they have made a mistake?
Thud!
Their legs collided, a powerful force spreading out.
Lu Quan's expression changed slightly. The opponent was skilled, and his leg techniques were on par with his own.
"Zhang, what are you waiting for? Act quickly, speed up, finish this and we can go back home to rest," Leon Wei sensed something amiss; it seemed the opponent wasn't at the peak of the Qi and Blood Realm.
Instead, he was at the Skin and Flesh Realm.
Even with just this leg collision, there was no clear advantage.
Without saying more, at this moment, Zhang Shan also realized that the man possessed martial skills.
How could a rural man have martial skills?
If it wasn't Lu Quan, then who else could it be?
No need for further questions.
Zhang Shan couldn't believe his eyes. In the brief moments of their clash, he realized something was amiss. His opponent's flesh and skin felt as hard as rock. Striking him was like kicking a boulder.
"Leon Wei, he's reached the Flesh Refinement stage! Be careful!" Zhang Shan cried out in alarm, feeling a sense of dread wash over him. He had been careless.
The gap between the Blood Qi stage and Flesh Refinement stage seemed small, just one level apart. But in reality, the difference in power was immense. For some reason, Zhang Shan had the sinking feeling he had underestimated his foe.
Leon Wei glanced at Zhang Shan. With a name that reeked of cannon fodder, no wonder he seemed destined to die young. If Leon hadn't accompanied him on this mission, Zhang would have certainly been slaughtered. His dreams of becoming a true disciple were just that - dreams.
Lu Quan sneered coldly. "You two idiots are courting death. I knew Soaring Eagle Martial Hall would send someone to kill me. I've been eagerly awaiting to see who would be foolish enough to try. Looks like it's not just one, but two of you."
Ever since betraying Soaring Eagle Martial Hall, Lu Quan knew they would come for him. He also knew they would assume his cultivation was only at the Blood Qi stage. So he laid out bait, waiting to see how many fish he could catch.
"Brother Zhang, if you're going to kill someone, focus. Enough chatter," Leon Wei reminded impatiently. He couldn't be bothered with idle talk.
Leon slapped out his palms in rapid succession, creating a dense barrage of palm shadows. Lu Quan recognized Leon's strength surpassed Zhang Shan's. Not daring to be careless, he swept out his legs in a flash of lightning.
Bam! Bam!
The collision of legs and palms yielded no advantage for either side. So this was the might of the Flesh Refinement stage? Leon Wei could already feel the ache in his hands. When breaking through to that stage, both qi and blood as well as physical power were elevated to new heights.
The longer they fought, the more shocked Lu Quan became. His opponent was clearly in the Blood Qi stage, so how could he last this long against him? Logically, shouldn't he have subdued him in just a few moves?
"Lu Quan, die!" Zhang Shan let out a furious roar as he leapt up from behind, his fist smashing down towards Lu Quan's head.
"Shadow Tracing Kick!"
Lu Quan spun around and soared into the air, his legs alternating in a series of kicks that left behind afterimages. Bam bam! One kick knocked away Zhang Shan's fist, followed by another slamming into his chest. A flurry of kicks sent Zhang Shan flying back, crashing to the ground vomiting blood.
Seizing the opening, Leon Wei shot out a finger, aiming for the exposed small of Lu Quan's back.
Tidal Wave Finger.
Though he had yet to master it, Leon could still concentrate power in his fingertip.
Splat!
The focused energy burst forth, piercing through flesh. The force of the Tidal Wave Finger scattered, causing Lu Quan to let out an agonized scream. He hastily kicked back with his leg.
But in that instant, Leon Wei surreptitiously tore an entry-grade Vajra talisman. Vajra Body, hardening his flesh.
He took the brunt of the kick to his waist, trapping Lu Quan's leg in the process. Seeing the shock and horror on his enemy's face, Leon Wei let out a low growl and slapped his palm towards Lu Quan's knee.
Crack!
Ahhh!
A crisp, crunching sound rang out amidst spraying blood. Lu Quan's leg bent at an unnatural angle, the bone jutting out through mangled flesh. It was a gruesome sight that chilled the heart.
"How is this possible..." Lu Quan cried out in disbelief.
A cold light flashed in Leon Wei's eyes, his gaze fierce. Far from showing any fear, he seemed a bit excited. He had changed, truly changed. With martial power at his command, he was itching to make the blood flow in rivers, to embark on a slaughter.
He even felt, for some inexplicable reason, a hint of pleasure at gravely wounding his foe. Had he become a pervert at heart? Impossible, it had to be the adrenaline. Let it take the blame.
"Die!"
His palms rained down on Lu Quan's chest relentlessly, the robust energy of the Wind Thunder Palm surging into his opponent's body. Even with Lu Quan's Flesh Refinement cultivation, he was not truly invincible.
In an instant, palm prints caved in his chest, the white of bones visible. Lu Quan vomited blood.
Leon Wei viciously struck his throat with a palm, then hooked his fingers into claws, seizing the throat and ripping outward. With a sickening tear, a large chunk of flesh was gouged out.
It wasn't that he was cruel and ruthless, but this was the nature of battle. A fight to the death. It was kill or be killed. To slay your enemy, you had to use any means necessary.
Lu Quan collapsed to the ground, drenched in blood. His mouth gaped as if trying to say something, but only blood gushed out.
Leon Wei raised his foot and stomped down savagely on his chest. Delivering a final blow was normal in battle. Who knew if the enemy was truly dead? Sometimes, they looked down for the count but would erupt in a terrifying frenzy.
Walking over to Zhang Shan who sat on the ground massaging his chest, Leon was at a momentary loss for words.
"Brother Zhang..."
"Leon Wei, I can't thank you enough this time. If not for you, I'd be the one lying dead." The more Zhang Shan thought about it, the more frightened he became. He never imagined Lu Quan had broken through to the Flesh Refinement stage. Those few kicks nearly did him in.
But he had witnessed Leon Wei slay Lu Quan with his own eyes. It was truly horrific, those domineering techniques. If it had been him, he definitely couldn't have done it.
"It was fate, and the Heavens' will for you to complete this mission and become a true disciple. Otherwise, we would never have met," Leon Wei said.
"You're right," Zhang Shan replied. He could see it clearly now - the Leon Wei before him was a ruthless man. He absolutely could not offend him in the future and had to stay on good terms. Recalling those brutal methods just now...a chill ran down his spine the more he thought about it.
Creak!
"Who's there?" Zhang Shan was instantly on alert.
Leon Wei looked towards the hut. The wooden door swung open as an elderly woman and a young village woman emerged, their faces full of dread. Seeing Lu Quan's corpse on the ground, the old woman grabbed a broom and started beating the body.
"You despicable scoundrel! You killed my son and seized my daughter-in-law! You've finally met your end. The Heavens have opened their eyes!" The old woman wailed tearfully, snot and tears streaming down her face.
Zhang Shan breathed a sigh of relief at this sight. These two were just ordinary people. It seemed in order to hide himself, Lu Quan had assumed a false identity, not only taking over someone's mother but their wife as well. Truly wicked to the core.
After beating the corpse for a while, the old woman ran out of strength. Wiping her eyes, she said, "Thank you, brave warriors, for avenging my son. We are poor and have nothing to repay you with except this..."
As she spoke, she reached into her bosom for something.
Bam! Bam!
Before she could take it out, Leon Wei decisively struck. His palms shot out, one slamming into the old woman, the other into the young woman. In an instant, the two figures were sent flying, smashing into the earthen wall, breaking open a huge hole and crashing through it.
"Ah..." Zhang Shan stared at Leon Wei in shock, his face full of confusion. "Leon Wei, you..."
He was stunned, dumbfounded. Those people weren't doing anything, why suddenly kill them? This...this was too much...
"Come out, stop hiding," Leon Wei called out, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
Zhang Shan jolted in realization and quickly looked around. There were still others lying in wait.
Sure enough-
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sound of arrows slicing through the air reached their ears. Leon Wei grabbed Zhang Shan and quickly tumbled to the ground in front of Lu Quan's corpse. Seizing the dead man's ankles, he swung him around like a giant pinwheel. The incoming arrows all embedded themselves in Lu Quan's body.
If Lu Quan had any spirit left, he would certainly be howling in rage. Even in death he couldn't rest in peace!