Chapter 230: The Old Fox Casts a Hexagram

The group returned to Yujing Village, and Zhou Leizi spotted Wan Yun, letting out a strange chuckle: "Inspector Wan is back! Did your own Fu Zhanglu personally step in to save your life?"

Here it comes again... Wan Yun's old face turned bright red.

Di Youzhi coughed lightly twice.

But this oaf Zhou Leizi paid no mind at all; his big mouth flew open and shut, eager to vent his own satisfaction first.

"Inspector Wan, you can't wrong us again this time. It wasn't us who started trouble; it was the Shanhe Office trying to kill us."

"We wanted to unite with that beautiful female Zhanglu just like you do, but she looks down on us."

"I suppose our status is too low; at least someone of your standing earns her special attention."

"Hey, after all that talk, did that female Zhanglu who favors you actually save you?"

Only then did Di Youzhi curse: "Is your mouth the only thing that can turn over? I told you to boil water; is it ready?"

"It's ready."

"Then hurry up and fetch it to wash Inspector Wan and Lord Xu!"

"Yes." Zhou Leizi strode off with head held high, feeling thoroughly refreshed all over.

The brothers under Wan Yun's command wished they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Yu Yunhang stepped up at the right moment to ask the two inspectors: "My lords, how shall we arrange things for tonight...?"

Xu Yuan spoke up immediately: "Please, Lord Wan, give the orders."

Wan Yun breathed a sigh of relief, secretly grateful that these two had diverted the embarrassing topic just now.

Before, my heart was truly blinded by grease!

Brother Xu is such a good person.

Wan Yun asked himself: if the roles were reversed and he were Xu Yuan, he could not be so magnanimous and still go save someone.

Even if he saved someone, he would surely mock them harshly, making sure Xu Yuan had no way to save face.

But this person saved the lives of him and his brothers.

Not a single harsh word, and he even proactively helped him out of the predicament.

Repaying kindness with virtue!

Wan Yun had already decided: upon returning, he would secretly advise Lord Xie to win over Brother Xu; they must not let the relationship grow any more strained.

It wasn't just because Brother Xu owed him a debt this time, but also because... with talent like this, if you make him an enemy, Lord Xie won't be able to stay at the Zhan Cheng Office.

"It's too late to set up camp," Wan Yun said. "Discuss with the villagers to clear out some houses; we'll make do for one night. Brother Xu, what do you say?"

Xu Yuan nodded: "Do as Lord Wan says." He added: "Have the brothers give them some silver as payment for lodging. After going through this, the villagers are terrified; we must be gentle."

Xu Yuan had promised Tian Jing and the Jiao to take care of the villagers.

Wan Yun raised his thumb: "Brother Xu thinks more thoroughly after all."

Yu Yunhang went off immediately.

Wan Yun pulled Xu Yuan aside and sighed: "I didn't understand before why Shi Bading was so obedient to you, brother. Now, I..." He patted his chest: "I am obedient too!"

Xu Yuan gave a sheepish smile.

Thinking back, not long ago he had specifically run back to bring people to watch the spectacle and shame him...

This foolish younger brother seems unworthy of such praise.

But since you praise me so, if I don't admit it, that would be slapping your face.

I cannot do that!

So let the past blow away with the wind; the old matters are a closed chapter!

Yu Yunhang returned quickly, offering an apologetic smile to Xu Yuan: "My lord, the silver..."

Xu Yuan suddenly remembered everyone's money was on his person; he was just about to take out his money when Wan Yun grabbed his hand, very hard!

"How can you, brother, pay for this? I will!"

"This..."

"If you are still so polite, it means you look down on me!"

"Alright then."

Wan Yun took out all the silver from his chest, totaling over seventy taels.

One fifty-tael silver note, the rest loose silver.

"The excess, give it to the brothers for drinking upon our return to Huicheng. Consider it..." Wan Yun sighed: "my apology to the brothers."

"Thank you, Inspector!" Yu Yunhang took the silver and left with a grin.

That night, they simply slept; after dawn the next day, everyone checked the almanac. Today forbade:

Loud noises, gluttony, executions, and gazing at the moon.

The entire Quhui Office tidied up and prepared to return to Huicheng.

Xu Yuan ordered Lang Xiao Ba: "Go fetch the village head."

The village head of Yujing Village was an old man in his fifties.

He came as ordered, but his attitude was very cold.

They could not distinguish between the Shanhe Office and the Quhui Office.

Even though the Quhui Office had given them money yesterday, they still harbored resentment and wariness toward the government offices of the court.

Xu Yuan took out one of his own calling cards and handed it to him.

Xu Yuan never felt he needed such a thing.

It was Yu Yunhang who had prepared it.

"I am Xu Yuan, Deputy Inspector of the Quhui Office."

"If the village encounters any difficulties in the future, send someone to the Zhan Cheng Office; I will certainly do my utmost to help."

The village chief took the name card and merely bowed stiffly: "I'll remember it."

The old man didn't thank them; he didn't believe these official masters had any good intentions.

Xu Yuan didn't explain further, waved him off, and then joined the main force of the Purification Office as they marched back to Zhan City.

Xu Yuan knew well: Tian Jing and Jiao had already left, but they would return later to secretly inform these villagers that if they had trouble, they could seek help from Master Xu.

……

Tian Jing and Jiao traveled through the night and now arrived within Ghost Wushan.

Tian Jing paid a visit to Bai Laoyan.

Upon hearing of Xu Yuan, Bai Laoyan also sighed—how strange that they had still forged a "fate" from here!

Bai Laoyan then led them to Guanghuo Street.

Jiao transformed into a large red-horned serpent, coiled around Tian Jing's body.

Just before reaching Old Crow Mouth, a black fox dressed in a Daoist robe suddenly walked toward them.

The old fox walked with hands clasped behind his back, moving slowly and unhurriedly.

Bai Laoyan had benefited from Xu Yuan's connection and had once met the fox.

He immediately stepped aside respectfully, bowed and clasped his fists: "Please, Elder, go first."

Tian Jing also stepped aside to let the path clear.

The black fox grunted, passed by, then suddenly narrowed his eyes and turned to stare at Tian Jing.

Tian Jing felt uneasy.

A deep intuition stirred: those eyes had suddenly grown as vast as sun and moon, gazing down upon him from the highest heavens!

This old bastard—unfathomably deep!

The old fox stopped, turned, and asked: "Why have you come to Ghost Wushan?"

Tian Jing thought it was directed at him, puzzled—how could this fox know him?

Then he heard Jiao on his back answer: "We're moving here."

Jiao looked at the fox with caution.

The old fox frowned: "How did you escape from that girl?"

Tian Jing turned pale—what was this old fox? He knew…

Jiao gently tapped his shoulder with a small claw, signaling him not to worry.

Jiao raised his head and asked the old fox: "What do you want to know?"

The old fox snorted: "I cast a divination—you shouldn't survive this calamity."

Jiao replied: "A noble patron is aiding us."

The old fox grew even more puzzled, turned to Bai Laoyan, and said: "You two speak vaguely—tell me plainly."

Bai Laoyan hesitated, then decided to answer truthfully: "It was Master Xu who saved them."

The old fox paused: "Again… him?"

Tian Jing and Jiao were secretly astonished—this unfathomably deep old fox also knew Master Xu?

The old fox waved a paw: "Since you're moving in, visit more often."

"Understood," Jiao replied.

Only Jiao merited such a courteous word from the old fox; neither Tian Jing nor Bai Laoyan had the standing.

(End of Chapter)