Chapter 242

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

After leaving Jiangning City, they traveled north by carriage all the way.

Compared to the humid air on the eastern coast, the further north they went, the drier it became.

Especially compared to the east, the strange legends in the north were even more widespread.

But "why is this place full of nothing but snake demons and fox immortals?"

After spending a long time together, the original few martial arts experts would also chat.

They were all Court Tribute officials, serving year-round around the capital; faced with the completely different survival environment in the north, they were all somewhat at a loss.

Just like the strange matters Ren Chengzhou mentioned just now, they were all legends from towns they passed through; every commoner living in this region could familiarly recount one or two.

"Perhaps it's related to the northern environment; here the mountains are high and forests dense, wild beasts often appear, and by luck obtaining opportunities, they become the demons and monsters in the commoners' mouths."

In reality, it might just be simple mutation, similar to snakes that should be a few meters long growing to dozens of meters; the visual impact alone is enough to be scary.

Ren Chengzhou had read many biographies and legends along the way; the northern region often produced such rumors.

"When we lodged in towns earlier, we even bought a piece of Polygonatum claimed to have thousand-year medicinal properties.

According to the pharmacy, such medicines have frequently appeared in mountain forests in recent years; perhaps it is precisely because they are strange that there are rumors of demons and monsters."

Spiritual Qi Revival: plants first, then animals, and humans last.

And plant mutation is difficult; to give birth to spiritual wisdom requires even more the right timing and conditions. Animals don't need such trouble; just swallowing a spiritual herb works, the most common result being a body size much larger than normal.

Shen Yao finished speaking, picked up the teacup to the side, and poured a cup of warm water to moisten her throat.

"In another half hour the carriage will reach Lin'an City; I heard there are snake demons haunting there."

Snake demons again! Who knows how many snake demons they've slain along this journey!

……

Lin'an City, a city in the north of Jiang Guo, its unordinary point is that this city often has rumors of spirits and monsters; big ones like demon snakes and tiger roars, small ones like wronged souls and vengeful ghosts; almost every few days there is fresh news.

Shen Yao and Ren Chengzhou's party stayed at an inn in the city; not even one night passed before they heard of a haunting in a household in the city, the describer speaking vividly, as if they had seen it with their own eyes.

A family of five sat in the inn's main hall eating, with various exclamations drifting by their ears.

Those were the people who kept chiming in after hearing the news; there must always be an audience to keep the story going.

"... Li Yuanwai spent a huge sum this time, saying he wants to invite a master with profound arts to help.

Five hundred taels, a full five hundred taels; whoever can drive away the wronged ghost in the residence gets it."

The speaker was a young man, ordinary in appearance but with clear, bright eyes, looking very shrewd.

"Yue San, this money you have the life to take but not the life to spend; who in Lin'an City doesn't know the situation with Li Yuanwai's household? That man is addicted to lust and greed; they say it's a wronged ghost, but I think it's more like a vengeful ghost, coming back for revenge."

Someone at the same table added in a low voice, successfully hooking the interest of a circle of people around them.

"Hmph, what nonsense; Li Yuanwai taking concubines is mutually willing.

Besides, whichever concubine dies, Li Yuanwai even gives an extra hundred taels of silver to the other party's ancestral home as compensation; how can that count as Li Yuanwai being bad? Clearly those concubines married in have thin blessings, unable to endure Li Yuanwai's goodness."

Someone belittles and someone praises; this is the viewpoint conflict normal people would have.

Although they ate and drank at the same table, it didn't stop them from bickering with each other; everyone had their own views, to say they were bizarre would not be an overstatement.

Shen Yao finished breakfast, called the inn's shop assistant, "Trouble you, little brother, to go to the nearby tea house and invite a storyteller who can tell tales; price is not an issue."

The shop assistant had served guests here year-round; what kind hadn't he seen? Guests like Shen Yao inviting storytellers were common.

Laughing heartily, he let Shen Yao go back to her room and wait; he personally ran the trip, guaranteeing the matter would be handled properly.

Soon, the storyteller was brought by the shop assistant; Shen Yao was also not stingy with reward money.

Same as in Jiangning City, what Shen Yao and the others wanted to hear were strange matters.

Humans, what they yearn for most are these magical and magnificent legends.

The storyteller was unfazed, bowed respectfully to the few people, and opened with the very story about the Li Mansion haunting that Shen Yao had just heard at breakfast.

The storyteller told it in more detail, including how Li Yuanwai made his fortune, how beautiful the dozen or so concubines he brought back were, why the Li Mansion frequently had deaths... in short, this was a large-scale serial drama story.

"Li Yuanwai's reputation in Lin'an City is mixed good and bad; it's not a family one can't survive marrying into; he wouldn't easily marry off his daughter there.

But every time the Li Mansion has an incident, Li Yuanwai waits three years before marrying again."

The storyteller held a paper fan, tapping it against his palm repeatedly.

Shen Yao asked curiously, "The Li Mansion had an incident yesterday; from the storyteller's meaning, the Li Mansion will have another incident in three years?"

The storyteller nodded, "Correct, guest may not know; the Li Mansion has had incidents for over twenty years; the commoners of Lin'an City are all very clear on this."

Shen Yao looked thoughtful; Ren Chengzhou said this matter was actually never reported to officials? Every three years a woman in the Li Mansion's back courtyard dies tragically; any clear-eyed person knows it's strange.

"Hmph, not hiding it from the guest; officials were naturally reported to, but the people committed suicide."

It really was suicide; what could the magistrate's office do? They couldn't exactly convict the Li Mansion.

Besides, the Li Mansion also gave generous compensation; except for some stubborn families who refused to let it go, most would choose to settle peacefully.

The storyteller finished these, then mentioned that every time the Li Mansion had an incident they would invite masters with profound mana to dispel misfortune; unfortunately, none worked, and when three years arrived, people continued to die.

What those people said at breakfast about wronged ghosts and vengeful ghosts was just them running their mouths; the Li Mansion has no ghosts, otherwise why would Li Yuanwai live there for decades and still keep taking in people, adding to the household.

Shen Yao: ……

Shen Yao feels there's something fishy here; it sounds somewhat like a demonic cultivator's methods. Borrowing life? Seeking wealth or seeking offspring? If there's a chance, she can go to the Li Mansion to investigate thoroughly.

The Li Mansion matter in the storyteller's mouth was just a story; telling it could both please guests and make him money; after this topic was done, the storyteller started telling other strange matters.

Like what scholar and ghost's unfinished romance, scholar and fox demon's different paths; in short, all related to scholars, and the content involved was all erotic.

Perhaps because Shen Yao's side still had a child, the storyteller ultimately restrained himself a bit; some content he only touched on, and more was still letting people enjoy themselves.

After the storyteller left, time came to noon, and Shen Yao called the shop assistant to bring food.

A full table of dishes complete in color, fragrance, and flavor, Shen Yao and the others also agreed on the route for going out in the afternoon.

Everywhere they went, whether shopping or sightseeing, they would not miss it.

Considering that the five members of the family were interested in different places, they usually split into two groups.

Shen Yao went together with Ren Yangzuo and Ren Yangjue, while Ren Chengzhou and his son Ren Yangyao went to browse the local bookshop.

……

Lin'an City was bustling; Shen Yao first browsed a jewelry shop, then went to a silk store, and also did not forget to spend money on some novel little trinkets.

Ren Yangzuo and Ren Yangjue were both childish in nature, unlike Ren Yangyao's steadiness; they preferred running and jumping around everywhere with laughter.

Coming out with Shen Yao was also because Shen Yao often went out, unlike Ren Chengzhou, who could sit in the bookshop all day, famously able to endure sitting still.

"What do you like? Mother will pay, don't be polite."

Shen Yao looked at the children each holding a mask, then pointed to the other things on the stall.

They were all handmade little dolls or small toys; though not as rich as in modern times, the categories were also abundant.

Ren Yangzuo and Ren Yangjue liked these little trinkets the most; wherever they went they would buy buy buy, until Shen Yao spoke up to stop them.

This time was no exception; the two little ones first exchanged glances, then bought them one by one.

They also smartly bought different kinds of little trinkets, striving for one plus one greater than two.

Shen Yao: ……

After Shen Yao waited for them to finish buying and paid to leave, when passing by the medicine shop she did not forget to ask if there were any miraculous herbs; generally medicine shops had them, but things like ginseng and Spiritual Wisdom were all bought up and collected by the great households in the city.

Spending three thousand taels of silver to buy two successfully mutated herbs, Shen Yao carefully sensed the spiritual energy drifting from them, and nodded in satisfaction.

Not bad, counted as picking up a bargain.

Returning to the inn in the evening, Shen Yao saw Ren Chengzhou sitting in the room reading, and smilingly asked if he could discern anything; unexpectedly Ren Chengzhou said with a serious face, "That Li Yuanwai was a laity disciple of a Dao Guan when young."

But he only stayed at the Dao Guan for five years; when he reached the age for marriage he returned to secular life.

Saying he returned to secular life was not quite right, because a laity disciple was only slightly stronger than a registered disciple; overall, after this person left the Dao Guan, to the Dao Guan he was not considered any loss.

Dao Guan? "Which Dao Guan?"

Shen Yao blinked her eyes, and simply sat directly down in front of Ren Chengzhou.

Ren Chengzhou pointed toward the city outside, and said the Dao Guan had been abandoned fifteen years ago; the Daoists inside had unknown whereabouts, "just an unnamed wild Dao Guan."

Shen Yao smiled, "Why bring up the Dao Guan?" As far as she knew, because of the Former Emperor's seeking immortals and asking the Dao, Ren Chengzhou most disliked those 'masters' who flew the banner of Dao Guan and Buddhist temples.

"Feel it's strange, and this Li Yuanwai's business is surprising."

Ren Chengzhou put down the book in his hand; mentioning that Li Yuanwai initially relied on his wife to build his fortune, later his wife had an accident, and after the mourning period Li Yuanwai began taking concubines in Lin'an City to continue the family line; unfortunately until now, Li Yuanwai still had no offspring under his knees.

Shen Yao listened without changing expression, "Associating with the matter of Li Yuanwai's family," truly no wonder someone would let their imagination run wild.

And Dao Guan and Buddhist temples were both the places most likely to possess cultivation inheritances.

Decided, tonight to sneak into Li Yuanwai's mansion to see exactly what the situation was.

After darkness fell, midnight Zi Hour.

Shen Yao got up from the bed; before leaving she did not forget to make a hand seal to protect the inn's relatives.

Whoosh—

Like a gust of wind, Shen Yao flipped into the mansion, stepping lightly as she groped into the back courtyard.

Li Yuanwai's mansion still hung white banners; yin resentment qi in the air appeared and disappeared.

"This Li Yuanwai is more ruthless than I expected," not simply borrowing life to seek wealth and children, but wanting both power and wealth to gain the Daoist's long life.

Making hand seals, Shen Yao, having transmigrated through many worlds, still had the arts of fortune-telling.

Simply calculating that this Li Yuanwai had used the Li Substitution for Peach Death technique, not forgetting to choose women of special fate for the Borrowing Life Technique; Shen Yao clicked her tongue twice in her heart, and simply turned invisible to go to Li Yuanwai's storehouse that he had worked hard for many years.

Making a trip here, cannot come for nothing; besides, there was a lot of resentment qi here, and she was just idle, might as well count it as doing good deeds.

The storehouse Shen Yao groped into was very large, with all kinds of crates inside.

Simply not opening to look, Shen Yao directly swept them all into her storage bag with one hand; the storage bag was then thrown into a corner of the space to take root.

Taking out Yin Spirit Wood twice as large as before, Shen Yao made hand seals with one hand, mobilizing the mansion's yin resentment qi to gather all the resentment and nurture it.

To speed up progress (mainly because time was tight and the mission heavy, not wanting to drag), Shen Yao also took out some yin-attribute spirit pearls to supplement.

Soon, the entire back courtyard of Li Yuanwai's mansion was filled with yin wind gust after gust; if not for Shen Yao having already laid a boundary array when entering, the commotion of Li Yuanwai's mansion would probably have startled the neighbors left and right.

After all, with Li Yuanwai's wealth, the place he could live in was either rich or expensive.

Several blurry shadows appeared before her eyes, becoming more and more solid by relying on the Yin Spirit Wood.

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow, simply saying she just happened to pass by, saw there was an unjust matter inside the mansion, and thus came out to help.

"Next is up to yourselves; only this one night, at dawn tomorrow, grievances and grudges mutually cancelled."

Some grudges can be avenged, but there is no need to sacrifice one's life for generations.

Reincarnation; who knows, might catch the Spiritual Qi Revival and directly cultivate the Dao; staying here to perish together with Li Yuanwai is the worst of the worst strategies.

The souls carrying resentment bowed respectfully to Shen Yao, their benefactor, then turned and headed toward the residence of the mastermind to kill.

Shen Yao did not follow; she thoughtfully guarded the rear for them, and also did not forget to take away all of Li Yuanwai's property.

Busy for a little night; when dawn came, Shen Yao withdrew the protective barrier and floated back to the inn.

……

"Sigh, heard? Li Yuanwai's mansion had an incident!"

"Real or fake?"

"A relative who works at home said Li Yuanwai ran to the government office early this morning to surrender and confess, admitting all the wicked deeds he did over these years."

"What did he say at the time? Li Yuanwai's mansion has a vengeful ghost, really has a ghost!"

"Ghost? What are you afraid of? Do no wicked deeds, fear no ghost knocking at the door."

「……」

Chattering away, Shen Yao and the others went downstairs to eat, and had just sat down when they heard news that something had happened at Li Yuanwai's Mansion.

Even the shop assistant who served them said Li Yuanwai's Mansion was in a terrible state.

Not only did Li Yuanwai surrender himself to the authorities, but the Li family's wealth had been lost seven-eight-eight.

「As expected, one cannot do underhanded deeds — it's not that there's no retribution, the time just hasn't come yet. 」

Ren Chengzhou finished speaking, then glanced at Shen Yao beside him, placing the ladled soup before her, 「Madam, this store's soup is delicious; you were tired from last night's toil, so you should properly nourish yourself. 」

Shen Yao: ……Huh?!!!

Shen Yao met Ren Chengzhou's beautiful peach-blossom eyes, her gaze surprised.

Discovered? As expected, she couldn't conceal it, though she hadn't intended to conceal it either.

Smiling, she hummed in agreement and nodded, 「Sir, are you heartache for me? 」

Then next time's operation, why not go together? Just right to have a helper, her rearguard work could be faster.

「Husband and wife are one body, so naturally there is heartache, 」 especially since his own lady was kind-hearted, he worried very much.

As for the three little ones' parents acting mysterious at the table, they weren't very clear on it, and they were eating with their bowls and chopsticks especially happily.