Chapter 36

The old man surnamed Ji laughed.

"I was just about to do that."

However, the wealthy-looking old man surnamed Pan didn't seem very interested, rolled his eyes, and said.

"Are you here to meet friends or to play chess? I have been busy to death, and it's rare to steal half a day of leisure to play some chess for entertainment. You still want to introduce someone? I don't think it's necessary, right?"

However, the old man surnamed Ji suddenly asked.

"Old Pan, tell me the truth, do you believe there are gods in this world?"

The fat old man surnamed Pan was stunned upon hearing this.

"Believe, why wouldn't I?"

He stretched out his finger and pointed outside the courtyard.

"There is a Chenghuang Temple right next door, and it is very efficacious! Otherwise, the incense wouldn't be so prosperous, and so many people wouldn't come to worship."

The old man surnamed Ji smiled very mysteriously.

"Then you should see this young man even more!"

The fat old man surnamed Pan was startled upon hearing this.

"Oh, what do you mean by that?"

The old man surnamed Ji stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the bustling Chenghuang Temple outside the wall, and said.

"Because I once dreamed of the City God descending to the mortal world. He was shining with golden light, dignified and solemn. When I saw that young man, I couldn't help but be shocked. He actually looks quite similar to the divine person in my dream, so I said..."

"Pfft... haha." The old man surnamed Pan couldn't help laughing. He pointed at the old man surnamed Ji, laughing so hard he almost got a cramp.

"Old Ji, oh Old Ji, I didn't expect you to have this trick up your sleeve, quite good at making up stories, haha!"

The old man surnamed Ji was somewhat helpless from the laughter and had to accompany him with a smile.

"Perhaps it is because I am old and was just babbling in my sleep, but you will understand when you see this person. Even if he is not a god reincarnated, his bearing is better than the immortals of this world!"

The fat old man surnamed Pan finally became interested.

"Oh? Since you put it that way, I would like to see him too. Where is that person?"

The old man surnamed Ji smiled, as if saying, I was waiting for you to say that. He turned and shouted toward the archway of the small courtyard.

"Daozuo, come over here. Uncle will introduce you to two great figures!"

As he spoke, a middle-aged man who looked like a scholar walked over, followed by a young man in white, graceful and elegant, with the bearing of an immortal!

Seeing this, the middle-aged man surnamed Feng couldn't help but praise inwardly, what a fine demeanor.

Even the fat old man surnamed Pan couldn't help but nod secretly, thinking to himself, what a dragon among men, no wonder Old man Ji praised him so much.

The person who came was none other than Huang Daozuo and Su Yuanshan.

After having a drink at the restaurant and letting the old woman go home to wait temporarily, Huang Daozuo dragged Su Yuanshan along, saying he was going to visit his elderly and frail uncle.

Su Yuanshan didn't want to go, but couldn't resist Huang Daozuo's enthusiasm, so he went.

But after seeing the old man, he realized that this was no elderly and frail man; he was more like a spirited old man. Looking at his physical condition, some would even believe he was a middle-aged man.

Then this old man was even harder to refuse than Huang Daozuo, saying he was going to meet two chess friends and insisted on dragging them along.

Su Yuanshan had already developed deep vigilance toward this uncle and nephew, and had already made up his mind: one game! At most, he would watch one game of chess and then leave, ignoring their enthusiastic invitations.

Seeing Huang Daozuo, the middle-aged man surnamed Feng smiled and cupped his hands.

"Little Brother Huang, I was wondering where you were sent by the Magistrate, so you came to the neighboring county!"

The fat old man surnamed Pan rolled his eyes, speaking in a sarcastic tone.

"Good, very good, Huang Daozuo. You uncle and nephew didn't even say hello before running to my territory to investigate. What is your intention?"

Huang Daozuo hurriedly apologized with a smile.

"Uncle Pan, how would your nephew dare to investigate in your territory? I just came here to visit relatives and friends."

The fat old man surnamed Pan snorted coldly.

"The ghost would believe that! Neither of you uncle and nephew is any good; nothing good ever happens when you come here."

The old man surnamed Ji laughed.

"I think you old guy are just feeling guilty."

The fat old man surnamed Pan glared.

"Who is feeling guilty? I have a clear conscience in everything I do. Fine, fine, fine, I can't out-talk you, let's not talk about it then."

He seemed somewhat stifled, rolled his eyes, and glanced at Su Yuanshan.

"Who is this...?"

Huang Daozuo: "His surname is Su, given name Yuanshan!"

The old man surnamed Pan snorted coldly.

"I didn't ask you!"

Huang Daozuo smiled awkwardly, his gaze turning to Su Yuanshan.

Su Yuanshan was quite natural and poised, merely cupping his hands and responding faintly.

"My surname is Su, given name Yuanshan!"

The fat old man surnamed Pan gave a light "Oh," and seeing that Su Yuanshan did not kneel and his attitude could not be considered respectful, he felt a bit displeased and asked again.

"Where is Young Master Su from?"

Su Yuanshan was slightly stunned.

He was the City God, how could he have a place of origin?

This was not easy to answer, so he could only make it up on the spot.

"I am from Nanzhou Zhen."

The middle-aged man surnamed Feng beside him smiled.

"I didn't expect such a brilliant person to be a villager under Magistrate Pan's jurisdiction. Truly gratifying! We are all one family, everyone is one family, haha!"

Su Yuanshan looked at the old man surnamed Pan, his heart stirring. From his words, he seemed to be able to tell that this old man had an extraordinary background.

But the fat old man surnamed Pan never looked at him again, just tapped the chessboard and said to the old man surnamed Ji.

"Come, come, come, let you and me finish a game quickly. I have to attend the sacrificial ceremony later as the finale guest, I don't have time to pay attention to you anymore."

The old man surnamed Ji stroked his beard and smiled.

"Old Pan, is the Huangliang County Magistrate Wang Youcheng the one presiding over the Chenghuang Temple sacrificial ceremony this time? I heard his reputation in this Huangliang County is not very good!"

The fat old man surnamed Pan rolled his eyes upon hearing this and said unhappily.

"Nonsense, what's wrong with Wang Youcheng? He is honest as an official, diligent in government, and loves the people. I think you old guy are just jealous!"

The old man surnamed Ji was not annoyed upon hearing this, just laughed.

"I almost forgot, he is your proud student. No wonder you jump up like someone stepped on your cat's tail as soon as he is mentioned, haha!"

They were chatting idly, but Su Yuanshan's gaze crossed the white-painted courtyard wall to the Chenghuang Temple outside the city.

He saw red walls and green tiles, painted beams and carved eaves. On the temple, there were five ridges and six beasts, lifelike, and wind chimes hung at the corners of the eaves, swaying with the wind.

Smoke rose in the sky, all produced by the incense and candles lit by devout believers.

Su Yuanshan tried his best to restrain the aura on his body, not letting a single bit of his divine aura leak out.

He could sense the various underworld gods in the temple.

The civil and military judges, the day patrol, the night patrol, the Chicken God, the Dog God, and the underworld officials and ghost servants belonging to the six divisions: the Longevity Division, the Speed Report Division, the Inspection Division, the Reward Good Division, the Punish Evil Division, and the Increase Salary Division.

When he listened intently, a chaotic sound seemed to ring in his mind, as if someone was talking to him loudly.

"City God, please bless me with a promotion!"

"City God, please bless me with a great fortune this year! I, Niu San, will definitely not forget you!"

"City God, this old man is full of illnesses, it hurts to death, I have no strength at all, I can't do any farm work. I beg the City God to bless this humble person's body to get better soon!"

"I beg the City God to bless my whole family to be safe and sound, without disasters or difficulties."

"I beg the City God to bless this humble student to pass the autumn examination next year and have a smooth official career!"