Chapter 387: Divine Official

Xu Yuan returned to the ancestral hall, where A Sheng and A Niu had already eaten half of the dried apricot.

The two children immediately hesitated to eat more, carefully putting it into their pockets and pressing down on the outside with their hands.

Xu Yuan stood outside the door and looked at the two children.

Under the Gaze of Fate, they were still living beings.

Moreover, their "fate" was as pale as paper and as thin as a hair.

It floated above their heads, swaying gently.

It seemed it could be extinguished at any moment.

Xu Yuan sighed inwardly; once the restrictions of the Gui Sect Village were lifted, he would find a way to take care of them.

The two children now truly had "thin fate"; with even the slightest storm, they would be drowned in this sea of human suffering.

Xu Yuan beckoned to them with a kind expression, saying, "Do not be afraid; I only wish to ask you a few questions."

At this age, the two children were in that stage of understanding yet not fully understanding.

They flinched, but only after the female Captain offered some comfort and encouragement did they cease to fear Xu Yuan.

"What exactly happened yesterday? I know you have already told Grandfather the Village Head, but can you tell me again?"

The two children pressed their lips tightly together, unwilling to speak again.

Yesterday, Grandfather had returned, and afterwards, only the two of them remained of the family.

The female Captain produced two more candies, and only then did the older brother, A Niu, slowly recount the events of yesterday again.

"... My father thought it unlikely, but Grandfather was very certain, gave him a slap, and urged him to go quickly.

Grandfather was very anxious; in the past, Grandfather had a very good temper and never hit anyone.

After Grandfather and the others left the courtyard, they could see that stretch of the river channel. Inside the house, I heard Grandfather say strangely: 'How is it that in such a short while, that gold prospector has disappeared...'

I saw from the window that Grandfather and the others ran toward the river, and Grandfather's face was covered in Jin Guang..."

Xu Yuan simply listened quietly, neither urging nor interrupting.

Certain details that were not quite normal, My Lord Xu, also noted one by one in his heart.

After A Niu finished speaking, Xu Yuan confirmed: "You are saying Grandfather was very irritable yesterday?"

A Niu and A Sheng nodded together.

A Sheng said, "Grandfather has never been like that before... so scary, his face twisted into a lump."

Xu Yuan nodded and asked again: "When he entered the door, was there Jin Guang on his face?"

A Niu thought for a moment and shook his head: "No, or perhaps... it was the sun shining?"

Xu Yuan asked a few more selected questions, then had the female Captain take the two children away to play.

Xiang Qinghuai had been accompanying My Lord Xu the whole time.

After the questioning, Xiang Qinghuai could not help but ask: "Did you find anything?"

Xu Yuan frowned: "I always feel... that the four Golden Men from yesterday, especially that old man Chen Baonian, were somewhat different from the later Golden Men who were infected."

Xiang Qinghuai reminded him: "Have you checked those in the village who have turned back into humans?"

Before Xu Yuan slew Zhao Xianze and the others, he had already used the Gaze of Fate to look.

Their "fate" was strange; it was still a human fate, but a black yin qi was condensed within it.

For instance, Zhao Xianze, because he held an official post, had a green fate.

Under Xu Yuan's Gaze of Fate, it was three fingers wide.

But hidden in the middle was a black yin qi about one finger thick.

The yin qi was well wrapped by the person's "fate."

Not a trace leaked out.

After daybreak, not a shred of evil spirit qi was visible on Zhao Xianze and the others!

Xu Yuan thought for a moment, then summoned the old Village Head: "Old sir, please go and gather the entire village."

The old Village Head shivered in fright: "But they, they all..."

Xu Yuan waved his hand: "Old sir, rest assured; during the day they are still living beings." Xu Yuan added: "Here is what we will do; I will have Lang Xiao Ba lead a squad of Captains to follow you and protect your safety."

Only then did the old Village Head breathe a sigh of relief.

After they left, Xiang Qinghuai asked: "What are you going to do?"

"The old Village Head does not remember exactly where that young man's family lived back then. But someone among the villagers might still remember; I must ask again."

Xiang Qinghuai also saw through to something and said: "You are guessing that the villagers are normal people during the day, perhaps even not remembering that they turned into evil spirits last night?"

"Exactly."

The old Village Head went home to fetch his gong, walking and beating the gong while shouting as he went.

In the past, this was how he gathered everyone for meetings.

When the gong sounded, the villagers came out one by one, yet trouble still arose.

Several neighboring households started fighting!

"What are you doing?" the old Village Head roared.

Seeing that everyone still looked human, his courage grew.

The men of those households were all bruised and swollen from fighting, glaring viciously at each other, yet refusing to state the reason.

"You ask him!"

"You know in your own heart what you did!"

"What did I do? I should be asking what you did!"

They accused each other, yet none would say why they were fighting.

The old village head was utterly baffled and looked at Lang Xiao Ba. Lang Xiao Ba spread his hands: "I don't know either, but whenever I can't figure something out, I go ask my lord; he surely understands."

Lang Xiao Ba was extremely certain about this.

The old village head was puzzled: "According to you, Lord Xu is not only a good official but a divine official!"

He knows everything.

Of course, the old village head didn't believe it, but Lang Xiao Ba had the Captains under his command hold the fighters, then forcibly dragged the old village head back with him to ask my lord what exactly had happened.

Xu Yuan was just about to go out and question the villagers when the old village head and Lang Xiao Ba entered. Lang Xiao Ba explained the matter, then stared wide-eyed at my lord: "My lord, what do you say is the reason they started fighting?"

Xu Yuan casually replied, "They all suspect their neighbors stole their gold."

But since we confiscated the gold yesterday, what remains in their homes is privately hoarded, so they dare not say it openly in front of the old village head and you."

The "gold" in their homes turned into flowing water last night and was extinguished by the Door Gods at the entrance of the ancestral hall.

But the villagers knew nothing of this; when they woke up today and secretly looked: Where is my gold!?

Thus they became suspicious, recalling any friction they had with neighbors in the past, and concluded: They must have stolen my gold!

Upon hearing this, Lang Xiao Ba and the old village head thought: It makes perfect sense.

Lang Xiao Ba looked at the old village head, as if to say: See, I told you my lord would definitely know, yet you didn't believe me; you truly are an old fool!

The look in the old village head's eyes toward Lord Xu was also completely different; originally it was pure gratitude, but now it had become half gratitude and half awe.

Xu Yuan went out with the two of them, and the villagers had by then gathered almost completely.

In the middle, several more families started fighting...

Fortunately, the Captains stopped them in time.

Xu Yuan had the old village head conduct the questioning; the villagers were quite cooperative, pondering deeply.

Xu Yuan then whispered a few words to the old village head.

The old village head then announced loudly once more: "Lord Xu has said that whoever can provide a clue will be rewarded with five hundred taels of silver!"

The villagers were even more moved.

Although they had snatched that gold yesterday—wasn't it all stolen anyway?

This reward of five hundred taels of silver was especially tempting.

The reason Xu Yuan set the price so high was that after they snatched the gold yesterday, their "appetite" had likely grown.

Besides, no matter how much reward is given, it can all be taken back in the end.

(End of this chapter)