Chapter 362: Master of Law (Combined)

Xu Yuan took Shi Bading, and Zhu Zhanlei took Miao Yu, sending each of them back to their respective homes.

"Zhanlei."

Xu Yuan called out, and Zhu Zhanlei turned around: "Hmm?"

Xu Yuan had originally wanted Zhu Zhanlei to explain to his sister that he truly did not intend to go to the White Moon Pavilion.

But on second thought, if that boy went to explain, Zhu Zhanmei might believe him even less.

"Take good care of Old Miao, and tell your sister thank you for me."

Zhu Zhanlei made a "rest assured" gesture and left.

Xu Yuan sent Shi Bading directly home, then returned to the Nancheng Patrol Station himself.

"Where is Zhou Leizi?"

"I will go call him for you."

Before long, Zhou Leizi arrived.

Xu Yuan briefly recounted the encounters on the road, then produced that object: "Take a look at this."

Zhou Leizi examined it carefully, then scratched his forehead and said, "My lord, I can only confirm that this 'seed' originates from the Farming Method.

But this level far exceeds my own.

Therefore, I cannot see the deeper mysteries.

As for why this thing drained an entire rice field and created a strange creature, your subordinate has even less understanding."

Xu Yuan listened with his brows furrowed tightly.

"A seed created by the Farming Method?"

That meant there was a "culprit" behind the incident in that village!

Xu Yuan had originally thought that since the village was not far from Ghost Wushan, it was a malevolent spirit from the mountains that had escaped.

But now it seemed someone had secretly done this, and the reason for using this seed was precisely to disguise it as a malevolent spirit from Ghost Wushan.

Xu Yuan waved his hand lightly: "Very well, you may go down."

"Yes." Zhou Leizi withdrew.

Xu Yuan exhaled a ball of fire, burning that object to ash.

Afterwards, he took out the memorial tablet and informed Jiao of this situation.

He asked Jiao and Tian Jing to take those few cows back, and to secretly watch whether anything else was also eyeing these cows.

Or perhaps, some hidden hand still lurked within the bodies of these cows.

After closing the memorial tablet, Xu Yuan thought again; that village could not be left unattended.

The village was named "Xia Po Village."

Xu Yuan considered who to send... but if someone from the Pollution Removal Bureau went, the hidden culprit would surely become alert upon noticing a stranger in the village.

It would be best to investigate secretly under the guise of a passing merchant caravan.

But a merchant caravan cannot stay long; one or half a day is not enough to discover anything, and staying longer would be very suspicious.

Xu Yuan suddenly thought of those two little foxes.

They were malevolent spirits; revealing their true forms, they could guard outside the village indefinitely.

But Xu Yuan had a vague, ominous premonition in his heart: he must go to the White Moon Pavilion.

Could it be that fearing something brings it about? If he went to the White Moon Pavilion, would he just happen to run into Zhu Zhanmei?

But if he did not send the two foxes, then there was only one choice: the den of yellow weasels at Little Yu Shan.

Making a trip to Little Yu Shan was simply too far.

Xu Yuan shook his head; how could it be so coincidental? I haven't gone to the White Moon Pavilion in several months, yet I am met by Zhu Zhanmei on this very occasion?

And why should I feel guilty?

What's wrong with me going to the White Moon Pavilion?

Lord Xu constantly encouraged and bolstered his own courage—after several attempts, he finally went out and headed toward Xie Liu Lane.

Bai Hu had been somewhat bored these past few days.

Having lived for far too long, she found human festivals utterly uninteresting.

There was no business during the New Year period; not earning money meant losing money.

Such a large courtyard, the daily rent is quite high.

Therefore, Bai Hu did not like this festival.

The fox sisters, however, were celebrating the New Year in a human city for the first time, feeling both nervous and excited.

Today, the two of them were just preparing to go out and play when guests arrived in the courtyard.

The two little foxes fell silent as if frozen by cold, hiding behind the rockery in the fish pond, daring not to show themselves.

This woman is so fierce.

Last time she came, she beat out both Zhu Zhanlei and Miao Yu, two paying customers!

Such a fierce woman will surely never marry.

Who would dare want her?

The fox sisters hugged each other affectionately.

It is good to be us sisters; we are gentle and obedient, and we know many tricks.

Whoever marries us in the future will surely be so happy they live thirty years less!

Bai Hu had not expected Zhu Zhanmei to come.

Moreover, Zhu Zhanmei did not pay money; she ordered everything that was the most expensive.

"My little brother still has silver deposited here," Zhu Zhanmei said with a calm expression. "Just deduct it from there."

Bai Hu understood immediately; this was a move to spend all the money so her little brother would never have any lingering thoughts again.

However, Bai Hu had rolled through the mortal world for hundreds of years; what kind of guests had she not seen?

She neither deliberately sought to please nor intentionally opposed.

They simply chatted idly, one sentence, two sentences, and slowly Zhu Zhanmei went from being absent-minded to having a spark of interest aroused; unconsciously, the two found more and more topics to discuss.

Finally, quite smoothly, the two women found a shared hobby.

Soon, a chessboard was set up, and they began to play.

Moreover, their skill levels were truly evenly matched.

Bai Hu was cunning and calculating, while Zhu Zhanmei possessed extraordinary talent.

After several games with wins and losses for both sides, they both shouted that it was thoroughly satisfying.

The two started another game; Zhu Zhanmei moved first. As soon as she placed a stone, a maid came in to report, "The person from the Purification Bureau has arrived."

Zhu Zhanmei froze in surprise.

Bai Hu frowned. "Tell him I have guests here."

"He said he is not looking for you, Miss."

"Here to find those two little girls again?" Bai Hu muttered, then waved her hand. "Just tell him not to disturb us."

"Yes."

Bai Hu continued playing chess but noticed Zhu Zhanmei was absent-minded; she made several blunders in a row, and the situation deteriorated greatly.

Bai Hu, with her sharp mind, pressed her lips together in a smile and asked, "Do you know him?"

Xu Yuan was led in; the maid brought him to the residence of the fox sisters.

The two sisters sat on either side of the table with gloomy faces. "My lord, what bitter task do you have for us this time?"

Xu Yuan seemed to hear none of their complaints and spoke of the matter at Xia Po Village.

The two foxes' eyes rolled; it was outside the city, and no one would supervise us!

"Very well, we shall set off immediately."

After all, we will go.

Then we can play around casually for a few days, return and report that we found nothing, and this great villain won't know either.

Xu Yuan then said, "You must work with dedication. This official will dispatch the Dead Corpse Sparrows to supervise you."

"Ah?!"

The poor sisters were dumbfounded: Is this great villain cursed to us?

Did he see right through our thoughts?

"Since my lord can command the Dead Corpse Sparrows, why not have them watch that village?" the older sister asked.

"That flock of dead birds is rash and stupid," Xu Yuan said. "They are far inferior to the two of you in cleverness. Therefore, this heavy burden must be entrusted to you; only then can this great lord feel at ease. Do not betray this great lord's expectations!"

However, this praise and encouragement had no effect whatsoever.

The two sisters still felt aggrieved and wanted to cry.

Xu Yuan, of course, could not command that flock of Dead Corpse Sparrows; he was merely bluffing the two sisters.

"Very well, set off quickly." Xu Yuan stood up and walked out.

Passing by Bai Hu's bamboo cottage, he glanced toward it as if by ghostly will, and behind the white gauze curtain of the bamboo cottage, he saw a pair of beautiful and familiar eyes.

Xu Yuan stopped in his tracks; finally, he believed it: in this era where strange phenomena ran rampant, everything was just such an eerie coincidence.

Having truly been seen, Xu Yuan was quite open about it; this official came here for official business anyway.

The Zhu Zhanmei behind the window seemed to bid farewell to Bai Hu, then pushed the door open and came out, walking the same path as Xu Yuan.

Bai Hu leaned against the doorframe, waving with a smile to bid Zhu Zhanmei farewell.

She thought with no small amount of pride: Another patron added for the future.

Zhu Zhanmei and Xu Yuan walked shoulder to shoulder all the way to the outside of the White Moon Pavilion.

The two did not speak a single word along the entire way.

After coming out, just as the door of the White Moon Pavilion behind them closed, Zhu Zhanmei suddenly looked up, glanced at Xu Yuan with a half-smile, and said, "No wonder you all like coming here; staying with a woman like this is indeed joyful, and time and silver slip away unnoticed."

Xu Yuan opened his mouth to say, I actually do not like coming here; I have official business to attend to.

But Zhu Zhanmei gave him no chance; the smile on her face suddenly vanished, and she asked, "You know this woman is a malevolent spirit, right?"

Xu Yuan was actually surprised; he could see it because he possessed the ability of "Gazing at Fate."

How did this Zhu Sanya see it?

This woman is not simple.

"She is a thousand-year-old white fox." Xu Yuan nodded and admitted it.

"Then why did you not tell Miao Yu and my little brother?"

Xu Yuan could not answer this question.

Not capturing the white fox was due to the "tacit understanding" between the three Yamen of the city's strange affairs and the malevolent spirits.

As long as the white fox did no evil, she must be tolerated to live within the city.

But since Miao Yu and Zhu Zhanlei had both become regular patrons of the white fox, Xu Yuan, knowing the white fox's identity, did not tell them...

Xu Yuan had once told Fu Jingyu the white fox's identity.

Initially, he did not tell Miao Yu because at that time, Lord Xu found this Shanhe Bureau Law Enforcer very displeasing.

This Law Enforcer was thinking of "subduing" Xu Yuan and cultivating him into his own right-hand man.

When Miao Yu spent money at the White Moon Pavilion, Xu Yuan secretly watched the show, finding it quite delightful!

After several subsequent hardships where they aided each other, their relationship improved; Xu Yuan worried that if he truly spoke out... he feared Lord Miao would be so ashamed he would crash into the south wall.

So he simply pretended not to know.

As for deeper reasons...

Xu Yuan felt there was an unspoken understanding between him and Bai Hu: Xu Yuan would not expose her, and she would continue to earn silver from Miao Yu and Zhu Zhanlei.

Bai Hu tacitly permitted Xu Yuan to command the two little foxes.

Yes, it was Bai Hu who was "selling her grandchildren for glory."

After Zhu Zhanmei asked and found Xu Yuan did not answer for a long time, she turned her face away and said, "If it is inconvenient to speak, then forget it."

Xu Yuan felt he could tell the truth, but between him and Zhu Zhanmei, they did not yet seem familiar enough to explain such matters by breaking them open and grinding them down in detail.

Thus, he felt somewhat at a loss.

After hesitating for a moment, Xu Yuan gave an answer: "I will tell you the truth in a while."

"Oh." Zhu Zhanmei responded softly.

In her heart, she was truly speechless; you could have at least made up a reason, what kind of answer is this?

But suddenly she thought: Is it that he cannot say it, yet does not want to lie to me?

Zhu Zhanmei's cheeks could not help but grow hot; feeling somewhat guilty, she slowly lowered her head... unfortunately, she could not see her own toes.

Zhu Zhanmei was a valiant female general who dared to love and dare to hate.

She almost never walked with her head down.

Arriving at an intersection, Xu Yuan clasped his fist and bid farewell to Zhu Zhanmei: "Sister of the Zhu family, I take my leave."

Zhu Zhanmei had already regained her capable and brisk demeanor, returning the salute and saying, "Farewell."

Walking out four or five paces, she unconsciously slowed down and hesitated before turning back to glance once.

Xu Yuan had broad shoulders and a wide back, his posture heroic, walking away with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger.

Zhu Zhanmei rolled her eyes at herself and muttered to herself: "What is there to look at..."

She could not help but glance again.

Xu Yuan suddenly remembered that he had not yet thanked Zhu Zhanmei regarding the red envelope matter.

And he should also return that silver to her.

So Xu Yuan turned around, preparing to catch up with Zhu Zhanmei.

With this turn, he happened to collide with Zhu Zhanmei's second glance.

Zhu Zhanmei's face instantly turned red; she rushed forward quickly, as if fleeing.

Xu Yuan found it strange and hurriedly chased after her: "Sister of the Zhu family, please wait."

Zhu Zhanmei ran even faster.

"Hey, Sister of the Zhu family!"

The more Xu Yuan called, the faster she ran; the more he chased, the faster she went.

Xu Yuan stopped chasing and scratched his head, utterly bewildered.

In the end, Xu Yuan did not manage to thank her in person and return that silver.

Because Zhu Zhanmei left Zhan City the very next day and returned to Luo City.

This time, she had come to escort her younger brother.

The entire Zhu family, from top to bottom, was very uneasy about this unreliable younger brother.

Afterwards, the city remained calm for several days, and Xu Yuan also sent Zhang Laoya back to the Old Market of Little Xiao Xi Miao, guarding that shop.

Next, Xu Yuan had to supply goods simultaneously to Little Xiao Xi Miao and Guanghuo Street, causing him to feel a bit of pressure.

Tian Jing had already taken Black Sister and the others away.

The dragon told Lord Xu in a report: This group of big black cows was extremely popular in Gao Family Village and Wang Xiang Village.

The villagers in the mountains also farm, so of course they need plow oxen.

Moreover, Old Baiyan had specifically taken Black One; when not plowing fields, Black One was his mount.

Old Baiyan rode the cow around the mountains all day, feeling extremely imposing.

After saying a long passage, only one sentence was useful: No one had been discovered secretly watching these cows, nor was there any sign that they concealed any hidden moves within their bodies.

This report was now completely used up...

Xu Yuan sighed and prepared to secretly open a gap, allowing the Ping Tian Society members to enter Zhan City again.

The fox sisters kept watch in Lower Slope Village; every day, one would return to Huicheng to report once to Lord Xu.

Every time it was just two words: Nothing.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, a team from the Southern Office entered the city.

Leading the group was Yan Lao.

Among the accompanying personnel, there was also a short, stout woman.

Yan Lao went directly into the Zhan City Office, where Shi Bading hurriedly welcomed him.

Yan Lao instructed him: "Go and call Xu Yuan and the others back; I have matters to announce."

"Yes!" Shi Bading went off excitedly.

What else could this be? It must be announcing that my brother is promoted to Master of Laws.

He did not notice that when he turned and ran out quickly, a trace of mockery flashed in the eyes of the short, stout woman behind him.

Xu Yuan was soon found; all the city patrols were present except for Sang Yizi.

Yan Lao took out the imperial appointment document: "Xu Yuan, from this day forward, you are the Master of Laws of our Purification Bureau's Zhan City Office!"

Xu Yuan bowed forward and received the document with both hands: "Thank the court for valuing me highly! Thank my lord the Commander for promoting me!"

Yan Lao smiled and pointed to the short, stout woman beside him, saying, "This is Gao Wanli, a Sixth-Rank Artificer Cultivator. She is your deputy, the Deputy Master of Laws of the Champa Office."

Xu Yuan politely clasped his hands in a bow: "My lord Gao, I hope for your full assistance in the future."

Gao Wanli sat motionless, eyeing Xu Yuan coldly: "I've heard Lord Xu is quite capable; I look forward to seeing more of your skills in the future."

Xu Yuan and the others frowned inwardly; this one seemed to have ill intentions.

Gao Wanli was not polite, and Xu Yuan had no habit of offering a warm face to a cold backside; he set his face sternly, lowered his hands, ignored the woman, and began a serious conversation with Yan Lao.

At noon, Xu Yuan hosted a welcome banquet for Yan Lao, but Gao Wanli did not attend.

Since those present were all allies, Yan Lao spoke the truth: "The Commander recommended you as Master of Laws of the Champa Office, but this Gao Wanli intervened, wanting to seize the position.

Her excuse was that you were too young and lacked sufficient seniority in the Filth-Removal Bureau.

Gao Wanli's family holds considerable power, and she is a Sixth-Rank Artificer Cultivator; in this era, Artificer Cultivators are regarded as a step above.

Thus, the matter remained deadlocked for a time.

Later, a high official suddenly appeared in the court, went to the General Bureau, and spoke a few words on your behalf.

The Commander investigated and found that the high official did so to repay a favor owed to the Zhu family."

Xu Yuan suddenly understood; no wonder Zhu Zhanmei said the Zhu family had returned his kindness—it was settled here.

"Gao Wanli only ended up as Deputy Master of Laws; she must be unwilling to accept it. In the future, she will likely cause trouble. The Commander said you need not fear her; just do your duty wholeheartedly."

Xu Yuan nodded.

Yan Lao added, "By the way, this Gao Wanli is a New Artificer."

(End of this chapter)