Chapter 302: Suicide (Debt 13)

Xuanguang County borders Shanhé County and lies at the foot of Ghost Wushan.

It was named for its production of "Xuanguang Bamboo Paper."

Shanhé County sits at a major mountain pass of Ghost Wushan, partially encircled by the mountain.

Thus, there is much mountainous land but few fertile fields, and livelihoods are hard.

Only two townships in Xuanguang County lie at the mountain's base, on flat terrain, and the county has several special products, making it far wealthier overall than Shanhé County.

Xu Yuan still remembered how, as a child, families on Tiaoshi Street would be overjoyed if their daughter married into Xuanguang County.

When the daughter left for marriage, if the mother cried from reluctance, the father would scold her: "Your daughter's going to enjoy fortune—why cry like that?"

One major duty of the Purification Office's City Bureau is to patrol and guard all counties in the prefecture.

Each county typically has only one "County Official" dedicated to supernatural affairs.

In Shanhé County, the former County Official was so capable he overshadowed the County Captain.

The result was… he died in the case of the "Fudong Evil Spirits" uprising.

The entire county yamen was left with only the County Captain as a "survivor."

Shi Bading told Xu Yuan the specifics: "... Xuanguang County is rich, so their County Official hired two 'Assistant Officers,' both cultivators who've entered the gate but remain unranked.

I heard that although both are unranked, they took the post purely for the money—each gets at least fifteen taels of silver per month.

Tsk tsk, a county yamen really does splurge."

The so-called "Assistant Officers" are those who assist the magistrate.

In large counties, even ordinary Yamen Runners often have several such people trailing them.

They are also called "White Servants," unpaid.

But of course, they aren't truly exploited for free—following official duties brings them benefits.

Paying fifteen taels of silver monthly to Assistant Officers is indeed a massive expenditure.

They've at least entered the gate, and this post has no imperial appointment, so they must be paid more.

Lang Xiao Ba chimed in from the side: "This County Official… I recall him—he came to the Bureau two years ago."

Lang Xiao Ba smirked, gleeful: "He had a high opinion of himself—he thought Xuanguang County, with him and two Assistant Officers, could handle any problem.

I remember he came to report, but his tone made it clear: if your Purification Office has nothing urgent, don't come nosing around Xuanguang County.

The Head of Discipline drove him out in rage—heehee, why isn't he so bold now? Why is he sending a plea for help?"

Xu Yuan read the official document.

It stated that since seven days ago, Xuanguang County had begun seeing bizarre cases of suicide.

First, a butcher suddenly slit his own throat with a boning knife in front of his pigpen at night.

Then he collapsed into the pigpen.

The next morning, neighbors found him—his upper body had been devoured by several fat pigs.

Then came a respected local gentry, with many descendants and vast wealth, who loved attending opera performances and had repeatedly funded poor scholars at the county school.

He was a man with no regrets, already enjoying his twilight years.

Yet he suddenly, on the day of the Forbidden Ascension, gathered his entire clan and, before their eyes, leapt onto the garden's artificial hill.

Then, before over one hundred thirty men, women, and children of his clan, invisible evil spirits plucked out his eyeballs, then devoured his scalp and facial skin!

Only a bare, hairless skull remained!

His body's flesh was untouched.

Then came a chaste widow—not some self-proclaimed one, but one officially certified by the court, with a chastity arch erected in her honor.

After her husband's death, she adopted a nephew from her clan to carry on his lineage.

Though a widow with an orphan, her household had considerable wealth and high local standing, with no lack of food or clothing.

Yet she suddenly threw herself down a well.

The County Official, with his two Assistant Officers, began investigating—after one day, one Assistant Officer suddenly left alone at night, ran madly into Ghost Wushan.

And never came out.

On the second day, the other Assistant Officer, before the County Official's eyes, swallowed a poisoned gallbladder—and within a cup of tea's time, bled from all seven orifices and died.

Terrified, the County Official hid inside the county yamen and sent a plea for aid to the Purification Office.

From this document, Xu Yuan could only grasp the general situation.

The full details must be uncovered only after arriving in Xuanguang County.

After some thought, Xu Yuan said: "Di Youzhi and Qin Ze will come with me."

Shi Bading also wanted to go—he hadn't piggybacked on Xu Yuan's glory in a long time and missed the easy wins.

Xu Yuan told him: "Old brother, stay in the Purification Office—help Fu Jingyu and recruit several more squads."

Fu Jingyu has never led a team alone; he's calm, but Xu Yuan must consider his old friend's needs.

And now with Qu Shengqian, we're short two Captains.

Recruiting Captains isn't the issue—but if I'm not in the Purification Office, I fear He Youxing will sabotage us behind the scenes.

That's where Shi Bading must mediate.

Shi Bading clicked his tongue: "Fine, I'll stay."

Before leaving, Xu Yuan went specifically to Xieliu Alley to inform the two foxes: "You two will come with me.

Xuanguang County lies at the foot of Ghost Wushan—you're familiar with the mountain's evils; you may be needed."

The fox sisters pouted, their faces screaming "We don't want to go," but under Bai Hu's gaze, they reluctantly nodded.

Leaving Baiyue Pavilion, Xu Yuan rubbed his chin thoughtfully: Why are these two foxes helping so much?

Master Xu had long suspected something.

Bringing them along this time was a test.

"What scheme does that old fox behind them truly have?"

Xu Yuan gave instructions regarding the household matters, then set off for Xuanguang County with Di Youzhi and Qin Ze.

Riding their horses at a gallop out of the city, Xu Yuan turned back and used "Gaze at Fate" to look:

In the vast wild grass on the left, two familiar fox fates, separated by a distance of two li, were following the team's footsteps closely.

Xu Yuan nodded inwardly; the fox sisters were indeed obedient.

By mid-afternoon, Xu Yuan's team entered Xuanguang County town.

Even from the newness or oldness of the city walls and gates, one could see this place was wealthier than Shanhe County.

County soldiers guarded the city gate; after verifying the Purification Bureau's badge, they respectfully led them to the county yamen.

The county magistrate, appearing to be in his early thirties, was named Yao Qingyuan.

He stood with that once-arrogant county official, named Nan Hu, at the main gate of the county yamen to welcome Xu Yuan.

Yao Qingyuan merely made a brief appearance, exchanged a few polite words with Lord Xu, then pointed to Nan Hu: "Regarding the strange case, Lord Xu and Lord Nan should discuss and handle it. This official has public duties and will not keep you company further."

Then he nodded to Xu Yuan and turned to leave.

After learning Xu Yuan was from Shanhe County, Yao Qingyuan felt a sense of superiority, so regarding the matter of hosting Lord Xu, he was somewhat "acting according to his heart."

(End of this chapter)