Chapter 387: Divine Official

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

The two children immediately hesitated to eat more, carefully stowing the remainder in their pockets and pressing their hands against the fabric.

Xu Yuan stood outside the door and watched the two children.

Under his Sight of Fate, they were still living beings.

And their “fates” were as pale as paper, as thin as hair.

They floated above their heads, swaying gently.

As if they might extinguish at any moment.

Xu Yuan sighed inwardly; once the curse binding this Ghost Gate Village was lifted, he would find a way to care for them.

These two were truly “thin-fated”—a single ripple of misfortune would drown them in this sea of human suffering.

Xu Yuan waved to them, speaking gently: “Don’t be afraid. I only have a few questions for you.”

At their age, children are just beginning to understand things, yet still lack full comprehension.

They flinched slightly, but after the female Captain soothed and encouraged them a few times, they no longer feared Xu Yuan.

“What exactly happened yesterday? I know you’ve already told the village head, but could you tell me again?”

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

Yesterday, Grandpa came home once, and afterward, only the two of them remained.

The female Captain pulled out two candies again, and only then did the older boy, A Niu, slowly recount the events of yesterday.

“...My father thought it unlikely, but Grandpa was certain—he slapped him and urged him to hurry off.”

Grandpa was frantic. He’d always been gentle, never once hit anyone before.

After they left the courtyard, they could see that stretch of river. I heard Grandpa say something strange: ‘How could this man who was panning for gold vanish in just a moment...’

I saw from the window that Grandpa and the others ran toward the river—Grandpa’s face glowed with golden light...”

Xu Yuan listened quietly, offering no prompts or interruptions.

He mentally noted every unusual detail.

When A Niu finished, Xu Yuan confirmed: “You’re saying Grandpa was unusually angry yesterday?”

A Niu and A Sheng both nodded.

A Sheng said: “Grandpa had never acted like that before... It was terrifying—his face twisted into a lump.”

Xu Yuan nodded, then asked: “When he came through the door, was his face glowing with golden light?”

A Niu thought, then shook his head: “No. Or maybe... it was sunlight?”

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

Xiang Qinghuai had stayed with Xu Yuan throughout.

After the questioning, Xiang Qinghuai couldn’t help asking: “Any findings?”

Xu Yuan frowned: “I feel... those four golden men yesterday—especially the old man Chen Bao—were different from the later ones who became corrupted.”

Xiang Qinghuai reminded him: “Have you checked the villagers who returned to human form?”

Before killing Zhao Xian and the others, Xu Yuan had used his Sight of Fate on them.

Their “fates” were strange—still human, yet infused with a thick black yin energy.

For example, Zhao Xian, holding an official position, had a blue fate.

Under Xu Yuan’s Sight of Fate, it was three fingers wide.

But within it lay a black yin energy, about one finger thick.

The yin energy was perfectly contained within the “fate.”

Not a trace leaked out.

Yet at dawn, not a single trace of evil aura remained on Zhao Xian and the others!

Xu Yuan thought for a moment, then summoned the old village head: “Elder, please gather all the villagers.”

The old village head trembled: “But they—they’re all...”

Xu Yuan waved his hand: “Don’t worry, Elder. By day, they’re still living people.” He added: “I’ll have Lang Xiao Ba lead a squad of Captains to accompany you for your safety.”

The old village head finally relaxed.

After they left, Xiang Qinghuai asked: “What are you planning?”

“The old village head doesn’t remember where the boy’s family lived back then. But someone among the villagers might. I need to ask again.”

Xiang Qinghuai had noticed something too: “You suspect that during the day, the villagers are normal—even unaware they became demons last night?”

“Exactly.”

The old village head returned home, fetched his gong, and walked while striking it and calling out.

He had always summoned the villagers this way for meetings.

As the gong rang, villagers opened their doors one by one—but trouble erupted immediately.

Several neighboring households had begun fighting!

“What are you doing?” the old village head bellowed.

Seeing them still in human form, his courage returned.

The men from those households were all bruised and swollen, glaring hatefully at each other, yet refused to explain why.

“Ask him!”

“You know what you did!”

“What did I do? I’d like to know what you did!”

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

The old village head was baffled, turning to Lang Xiao Ba. Lang Xiao Ba spread his hands: “I don’t know either. But whenever I’m confused, I ask the Lord—he’ll understand.”

Lang Xiao Ba was utterly certain.

The old village head mused: If that’s true, then Xu Yuan isn’t just a good official—he’s a Divine Official!

He knows everything.

The old village head didn’t believe it, but Lang Xiao Ba ordered his Captains to hold the fighters in place and forcibly dragged the old man back to question the Lord about what was happening.

Xu Yuan was just about to step out and question the villagers when the old village head and Lang Xiao Ba entered. Lang Xiao Ba explained the situation, then stared at the Lord: “Lord, why did they start fighting?”

Xu Yuan replied casually: “They all suspect their neighbors stole their gold.”

“But we seized the gold yesterday—they still have hidden stashes, so they dare not admit it in front of you or the village head.”

The “gold” in their homes had turned to water last night and flowed out, extinguished by the Door God at the ancestral hall’s entrance.

But the villagers didn’t know that. When they woke today and secretly checked: Where was my gold?!

So they grew suspicious—any past grudges with neighbors must mean they stole my gold!

Lang Xiao Ba and the old village head nodded: It made perfect sense.

Lang Xiao Ba glanced at the old village head: See? I told you the Lord would know. You still didn’t believe me—you’re an old fool!

The old village head now looked at Xu Yuan with entirely different eyes: gratitude remained, but now mixed with half awe.

Xu Yuan stepped out with them; the villagers had gathered by then.

A few more households began fighting again...

Fortunately, the Captains intervened promptly.

Xu Yuan had the old village head question them; the villagers were cooperative, straining their memories.

Xu Yuan whispered a few more instructions to the old village head.

The old village head raised his voice again: “Lord Xu says: whoever provides useful information will be rewarded five hundred taels of silver!”

The villagers were deeply stirred.

True, they had looted the gold yesterday—but wasn’t it all stolen now?

Five hundred taels of silver became irresistible.

Xu Yuan offered such a high reward because, after looting the gold, their expectations had likely risen.

Besides, no matter how much he offered, he could always reclaim it later.

(End of Chapter)