Chapter 218: You Need to Learn Physiognomy

Chen Wuji unintentionally discovered another side of Zhang Lao.

This Old Master...

A bit overly temperamental.

He actually went out of his way to study the Physiognomy Technique just to tell who could be charged more and who could be let off; it's really a bit convoluted.

Although many skills don't burden one, when another field is already vast and boundless, perhaps impossible to master in a lifetime, yet still diverting energy to learn a side skill seems somewhat superfluous to Chen Wuji.

But the Old Master said so, and Chen Wuji still complied.

First, let's see what's going on.

From the top of the dusty medicine cabinet, he pulled out the Old Master's treasured ancient book; Chen Wuji rummaged through the bamboo slips for a while before finding the Physiognomy Technique.

After glancing at it a few times, he suddenly realized this thing didn't quite match his understanding.

The text is extremely brief, written like a catchy rhyme, and reads quite smoothly.

It's a bit too simple.

"Old Master, is that all there is to the Physiognomy Technique?" Chen Wuji asked doubtfully.

Zhang Lao finally finished handling that Mountain Ginseng, carefully placing it into the box without looking up, and said: "For us, having that much is enough; you're not going to tell fortunes for people, so why learn something so complicated?"

Chen Wuji understood; it turned out just learning this bit was sufficient.

After gathering the other bamboo slips and putting them back, Chen Wuji held the bamboo slip and began reading it right there.

With just this bit of material, reviewing it two or three times would let him memorize it easily; it's not troublesome.

At noon, Chen Wuji had a meal with Zhang Lao and Xiaoyu, then set off for the Xianya.

At the Xianya gate, Chen Wuji saw Chen Xingyuan gazing at the Xianya walls, chin in hand, frowning with worry; he walked over, followed Chen Xingyuan's gaze, and asked: "What are you looking at?"

Chen Xingyuan turned his head, lowered his voice, and said: "Looking at the magistrate's fate."

"You're not planning to use the magistrate's head again, are you?" Chen Wuji asked in surprise.

Chen Xingyuan's face darkened: "I'm not that eager to borrow the magistrate's head; your words make me think you want to borrow my head."

"Then why are you here looking at the magistrate's fate?"

"You don't know?"

"What should I know? The magistrate leading refugees in fundraising?"

"Exactly, you already know that, yet you can't guess? Countless people in the city are eyeing the magistrate's head; as Chief Constable I must take responsibility for that, but the Xianya has only a few people and the walls are so low—I truly don't know how to protect the magistrate." Chen Xingyuan said dejectedly.

Chen Wuji chuckled: "Why not first consult the magistrate?"

"I already consulted, and the magistrate told us not to worry, just do our jobs—but you think I'd dare?" Chen Xingyuan's face was grim as constipation, feeling he might kick the bucket any moment.

"Just do what the magistrate says; since the adults don't treat it as a big deal, why are you getting worked up?"

Chen Xingyuan firmly said: "No, Yunan City finally got an official who actually does things; I can't let him get hanged so soon—at least… we need to get Weng City built."

Chen Wuji:...

He's a good subordinate, even thoughtfully arranging the shortest possible survival date for Magistrate Qin.

"Is the magistrate at the Xianya?" Chen Wuji asked, shaking his head with a wry smile.

"Yes, you want to ask about the MilitaryHouseholds?"

"Mm."

"Come on, come on, I'll take you; along the way I'll ask the magistrate a couple more questions—obviously it's his own life, why does he treat it so lightly? This is fishy."

Chen Wuji asked in surprise: "What's off about it?"

Chen Xingyuan took a deep breath: "I suspect Magistrate Qin came here seeking death, to accomplish a grand deed before dying, then slip away, gaining posthumous fame."

Chen Wuji's mouth twitched slightly.

He had thought this clan brother would come up with some remarkable discovery.

Just that?

He seems to be looking down on the magistrate a bit too much.

With Magistrate Qin like that, would he be someone seeking death?

The two spoke in low voices and hurried into the Xianya.

Upon reaching the rear hall, Chen Xingyuan went in first to make a report, then brought Chen Wuji inside.

Magistrate Qin, who had nearly driven Chen Xingyuan to despair, was strolling in the courtyard with birds, a bowl of wine before him, and three wine jars at his feet.

Seeing those wine jars, Chen Wuji already felt something in his throat and eyes.

Memories of not yet being dead were frenetically assaulting him.

"Brigade Commander Chen, hurry over, hurry over—today we have fine wine!" Magistrate Qin saw Chen Wuji, instantly beamed, tossed the bird cage aside, and shouted for servants to quickly prepare food and drink.

Chen Wuji's face instantly turned black as night.

Magistrate Qin, seemingly oblivious, rose enthusiastically and grabbed Chen Wuji's arm: "Brigade Commander Chen, as the saying goes, 'wine with a true friend makes a thousand cups too few'; I've roamed countless wine gatherings, and only you can truly keep me company—only you! We are heaven‑destined wine‑soulmates."

"I just obtained this fine wine from the city's gentry yesterday; it's the Golden Jade Excellent Spring wine that countless people in the Capital drink while wailing—you're blessed to have a taste today!"

Chen Wuji didn't want that blessing at all.

He hadn't even touched a drop, yet his mouth was already about to foam.

"Magistrate Qin, I came today concerning the MilitaryHouseholds," Chen Wuji said, clasping his fists. "Let's postpone the drinking; having held the rank of Brigade Commander for a while, I ought to first meet the MilitaryHouseholds."

Saying that, he subtly gave Chen Xingyuan a glance.

"Brother, hurry and save me."

"If I drink this today, I fear I'll die even faster than Magistrate Qin right here."

"This guy is utterly beastly."

Chen Xingyuan stood ramrod straight, eyes on nose, nose on heart, as if he hadn't heard a thing.

"I've already settled the MilitaryHousehold matter for Brigade Commander Chen; we'll look tomorrow, we'll look tomorrow. Now that there's no military business, what could be more important than drinking?" Magistrate Qin laughed.

Chen Xingyuan suddenly spoke, "May I ask, sir, are you truly not afraid of death?"

The Qin County magistrate raised his eyebrows, looked at Chen Xingyuan and Chen Wuji, "You two... want to... kill me?"

"Sir, you have extorted money from the wealthy in the city; they certainly aren't willing to accept it!" Chen Xingyuan cried out sadly, "You say you've reached this critical juncture, how can you still have the mind to drag the Brigade Commander into drinking?"

The Qin County magistrate looked at Chen Xingyuan somewhat bewildered, "Me, why not?"

Chen Xingyuan:?

"Constable Chen, how many bailiffs does the Xianya have?" the Qin County magistrate asked.

"Three hundred and six people."

"Three hundred people guarding such a large Xianya, do you think they could kill me?"

"Yes, they could; how could they not?"

"......"

The Qin County magistrate suddenly lunged forward, only to hear a clang, Chen Wuji and Chen Xingyuan turned their heads toward the sound, and the magistrate's figure had vanished from beside them.

Chen Wuji scanned his surroundings, suddenly sensed something, and abruptly looked up toward the eaves.

Only saw the Qin County magistrate leaning sideways, lying on the eaves, his left hand pressing a Knife, his right hand holding a jug of wine.

"Now, still able?" he asked, taking a slow sip of wine.