Chapter 42: Purification Bureau

"Don't run around these next few days; your Second Uncle will likely come looking for you. Besides... the matter at Seven Grain Platform probably isn't settled yet."

"Are you referring to the Pingtian Society?"

The stepmother shook her head: "The Pingtian Society might not find you for a while. But with such a major incident and so many deaths, the Purification Bureau will definitely investigate."

Xu Yuan nodded.

The Purification Bureau is subordinate to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

It is the department of the Great Ming dedicated to investigating and handling various evil spirits and strange events.

Along with the Demon-Extermination Army and the Shanhe Office, it forms the Great Ming's "Three Zhancheng Yamen of Strange Affairs."

The jurisdictions of the three overlap to some extent—this situation is widespread among the various yamen of the Great Ming, leading to frequent buck-passing; when there are benefits, everyone rushes forward, but when there are troubles, they all shift the blame.

The Shanhe Office is subordinate to the Canal Office and is responsible for resolving all strange events related to the canal, ensuring its smooth operation to the greatest extent possible.

Among the three, only the Purification Bureau was truly established for evil spirits, and naturally, it is more professional.

Since two hundred years ago, the power of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau has expanded rapidly.

And their greatest task every year is to determine the "Imperial Calendar"!

After finishing the meal, Xu Yuan voluntarily went to wash the bowls.

The stepmother returned to her room and told Xu Yuan, "Go to bed early. You'll stay in your room; I've made the bed for you."

Xu Yuan called her back, grinning: "Do me a favor."

"Speak."

Xu Yuan took out the Three-Eyed Hand Cannon and that "Secret Mechanism Cannon Powder Formula": "Fix it. Also, make some cannon powder."

Lin Wanmo looked at the Three-Eyed Hand Cannon with a hint of displeasure in her eyes, but for Xu Yuan's sake, she picked it up and fiddled with it for a moment; seeing the name "Chen Wutong" on it, she frowned almost imperceptibly.

Xu Yuan then took out the Saintess's hammer: "I won't let you work for free; this is for you."

The stepmother had no illusions about what kind of gift her "rebellious son" could give her—look, first of all, the gift's appearance was well-chosen: he gave a hammer.

She glanced casually, her eyes lighting up as she sensed something extraordinary, and couldn't help but take it to examine it carefully.

"A very fine artisan-cultivator's original work; it's more than enough for anything below the Sixth Grade." Then she accepted it without hesitation.

This item was a pearl cast into darkness in the Saintess's hands; she lacked the ability to unleash its power.

"This gun can be repaired, but I'm not very skilled in this area; it will take a few days." The stepmother agreed. As for that "Secret Mechanism Cannon Powder Formula," she only glanced at it roughly before becoming secretly wary: "What are you doing with this?"

I just warned you not to refine cannon powder inner pills again.

Xu Yuan slapped the Three-Eyed Firearm on the table: "To use with this."

"Really?"

Xu Yuan grew impatient: "Can you not make it?"

"Hah!" The stepmother let out a cold laugh; what difficulty could there be in this?

But the stepmother truly thought it was for use with the Three-Eyed Firearm, completely failing to realize that this kind of cannon powder was for artisan-made large cannons.

Lin Wanmo was not skilled in creating firearms and cannons, which is why she made such a mistake.

But Lin Wanmo would not make a lot for Xu Yuan; at most, enough for about twenty shots.

Even if this boy continued to strengthen the cannon powder inner pills behind her back, the harm would be limited.

"Then I'll wait." Xu Yuan's need for the two items was not urgent, and then the two of them returned to their respective rooms to rest.

Xu Yuan's bed sheets and quilts were all freshly washed. Lying on them brought a wave of comfort; compared to the broken wooden planks and dry straw at Seven Grain Platform Town, it was a world of difference.

"Home is still the best." Xu Yuan let out a long sigh, rested for a while, and took out the iron box.

Inside was enough cannon powder to weigh twenty jin.

Xu Yuan consumed it all in one go.

The inner pill, originally the size of a mung bean, rapidly grew to the size of a longan.

Estimating, its properties could be used about fifteen times.

However, if one wanted to increase the power, that was uncertain.

The night in the city was much more "quiet" than in the town. Throughout the night, Xu Yuan heard strange noises only twice.

As soon as dawn broke, the entrances to the east and west alleys became lively.

Uncle Mao Si had tidied up and opened the door very early, displaying the various small pieces of furniture he had crafted at the entrance.

Aunt Wang's folded-basket shop was doing good business at this hour; two large basins of folded-basket dishes were placed at the entrance, with a stove burning underneath, bubbling and steaming.

Beside it stood a large basket containing baked flatbreads.

One portion of dish and four flatbreads cost only fifteen wen. Laborers and porters coming to eat came in an unending stream.

Xu Yuan slept until the sun was high before getting up; he looked at the Imperial Calendar on the wall. Today's prohibitions: night travel, bathing, sacrifices, and building temples.

No wonder the stepmother didn't call him to get up.

By rights, today should have been for visiting father's grave, but sacrifices are prohibited today.

Xu Yuan wiped his face with a wet cloth, not daring to truly wash.

Bathing is prohibited—better to be cautious.

Just as he finished tidying up, someone knocked on the door: "Is anyone home? We are looking for Xu Yuan."

Xu Yuan went to open the door; outside stood a Zhancheng Yamen Runner, followed by a man and a woman.

Xu Yuan's gaze lingered for a moment on the man.

This man's fate pattern was a brilliant gold:

The Great Yin Guarding Fate Pattern!

This person was naturally cut out for the Purification Bureau.

The Zhancheng Yamen Runner looked unwilling; no one in the yamen wanted to come to this River Worker's Alley.

"I am Xu Yuan. Is there something you need?"

The Zhancheng Yamen Runner stepped aside: "These two my lords are looking for you."

Both wore black satin robes with sword sleeves; dragon patterns embroidered in red silk adorned their collars and cuffs, differing only in that the man's cuffs bore three cloud patterns while the woman's bore only two.

Almost everyone in Great Ming knew: these were the uniforms of the Filth-Exorcising Bureau, their identities self-evident.

Xu Yuan thought to himself that his stepmother had indeed guessed correctly; they had arrived very quickly.

The man, who took the lead between the two, pointed toward the courtyard: "Come inside to speak."

The Zhancheng Yamen Runner stood at the door, smiling ingratiatingly: "Two my lords, then I..."

The man did not make things difficult for him, waving a hand: "You are no longer needed; return to the yamen."

The Zhancheng Yamen Runner bowed and hurried away.

Xu Yuan ushered them in and pretended in the main hall to prepare tea for guests, yet he could not find any tea leaves no matter how hard he looked.

The man said, "No need to trouble yourself; we are only here to ask a few questions and will leave once done."

Xu Yuan sat down as well: "My lord, please ask."

The man proceeded methodically, first taking paper and brush from his sleeve and arranging them in order on the table, ensuring the sequence remained undisturbed, ready to record.

Then, from his other sleeve, he took out his waist token: "Please take a look; this is the token proving my identity."

"I am Fu Jingyu, Third-Rank Mountain-Moving Captain of the Southern Jiaozhi Branch of the Filth-Exorcising Bureau."

He beckoned to the accompanying woman: "Song Lu, show him your waist token as well."

Song Lu helplessly took it out.

Then Fu Jingyu asked Xu Yuan: "Have you verified and confirmed it?"

Xu Yuan: "Confirmed; the identities of both are without issue."

"Good." Fu Jingyu put away his waist token, picked up his brush, and began the interrogation: "Xu Yuan, how did Qiao Ziang die?"

Requesting monthly tickets!

The rankings have climbed up several spots again, hehe, thank you everyone!

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(End of this chapter)