Chapter 41

"Langya Prefect Pan Daosong, failing to teach well, has the suspicion of dereliction of duty, is sentenced by the Increase Salary Division to have three years of salary reduced, as a warning to others."

"Neighboring County Prefect Ji Yun, Cloud Cavalry Lieutenant Feng Jinchen, and County Assistant Huang Daozuo are loyal to their duties, their feelings are commendable, and they are sentenced by the Reward Good Division to be rewarded with one year of official career, so ordered!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Youcheng's face turned pale, and he directly collapsed. He was already forty-five years old, and having fifty years of life reduced by Su Yuanshan was equivalent to being directly sentenced to death.

The City God lets you die at the third watch, who dares to keep you until the fifth watch? This is the absolute authority of a god!

Pan Daosong also heard his face turn gray and white, sighed long, and bowed his head to accept the punishment.

…………

The night was like ink, and the lonely lamp was like a bean.

On the official table covered with gray cloth were brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, documents, and files.

Placing the brush on the white porcelain brush rest, Su Yuanshan couldn't help but pound his old waist.

Dealing with all the files left by the previous County City God wasted him a lot of time. Su Yuanshan hadn't left the room for three days. Such a diligent work attitude made the civil and military judges and a group of underworld officials and ghost servants feel admiration.

After all, even gods need rest.

There are really not many who are as diligent as Su Yuanshan.

Suddenly, a white shadow flashed, and a little fox appeared in his sight. The little fox had snow-white fur and lively eyes. It jumped lightly onto the desk, rubbed against Su Yuanshan's sleeve as if to please him, and its tail wagged gently.

Su Yuanshan couldn't help but smile. Compared to before, the little white fox had become much closer to him.

Su Yuanshan poured a cup of tea and took a light sip. Although the desire for food and drink was no longer necessary for him, he still maintained the habits he had when he was a human, such as eating and drinking, which were no longer necessary for survival.

He glanced at the little white fox and said faintly.

"You're back? Any clues from this trip?"

The little white fox raised its small head and spoke in human language.

"Reporting to the Prefecture Lord, Xiaobai has found out clearly. The reason Magistrate Wang abducted the women was because he was bewitched by a great demon. Those young girls were originally the birthday gift that great demon offered to the White-Browed Demon King!"

Su Yuanshan seemed a bit surprised upon hearing this, his pupils shrank, and he asked with a frown.

"White-Browed Demon King? Him again? That tiger demon?"

The little white fox nodded.

"That's right. I don't know what kind of opportunity that tiger demon got, but his cultivation has soared recently, and he has already been promoted to the terrifying Cloud Heaven Realm and gone to occupy the mountain as king.

I heard that even the nearby Mountain Gods and Land Deities have fled because they fear him, let alone the other small gods. He wants to arrest them, he wants to kill them, and he calls them around like pigs and dogs."

Su Yuanshan's brows furrowed even tighter.

"This demon is so rampant, why hasn't any god gone to clear him out?"

The little white fox seemed helpless.

I heard that several divine soldiers have gone to clear him out several times, but they all returned without success and were defeated. After several times, no god was willing to go. The great immortals and gods disdained to go, and the small gods couldn't beat him, so in the end, they let him be.

Su Yuanshan gave a light "Oh."

"Where is the land he occupies now? Which mountain is it on?"

The little white fox sighed.

"It is not within your jurisdiction, so I am afraid that you, Prefecture Lord, cannot do anything about him for the time being."

If it is outside his jurisdiction, he cannot use his authority as the County City God. Once he faces a demon king in the Cloud Heaven Realm, he really doesn't have much chance of winning.

After some calculations, Su Yuanshan had to temporarily suppress the tempting idea of destroying the White-Browed Demon King.

However, his lackey can be dealt with.

At this thought, Su Yuanshan asked.

"What kind of demon is that guy who acts as a tiger's lackey? How dare he be so bold?"

Only heard the little white fox answer.

"It's a centipede demon!"

Su Yuanshan was startled.

"Centipede demon?"

"That's right, a very large centipede demon. Xiaobai was discovered when tracking him and almost didn't come back. Fortunately, he treated me as an insignificant little demon and didn't pay attention to me."

Thinking of the previous experience, the little white fox felt a chill down its spine and cold sweat flowed.

Su Yuanshan said faintly.

"Is the centipede demon causing trouble in the human world? It really is self-inflicted and cannot be lived."

He paused and asked again.

"Does your mother have any news? Have you been to the Jinxu Secret Realm recently?"

The little white fox was about to answer when it heard a chaotic sound of footsteps outside, followed by a knock on the door.

Su Yuanshan looked confused, exchanged a glance with the little white fox, used a small invisibility technique, and walked toward the door.

Before stepping out of the courtyard gate, he heard someone talking outside.

"Who is disturbing people's dreams early in the morning?"

"Are you the temple keeper of the Chenghuang Temple?"

"Exactly, who are you... pilgrims?"

"Open your eyes wide and look carefully at who I am!"

"Ah... you are the County Assistant, this humble one has eyes but doesn't recognize you."

"Hehe, you still have some discernment. Come, come, come, let me introduce you. This is the Imperial Envoy from the Imperial Capital. Hearing that our county has descended with auspicious signs, the City God has manifested, protecting the borders and the people, and punishing evil officials, the Dragon Heart is very happy, and specially sent Eunuch Zhao to come and confer, so as to highlight the merits of the City God.

Why don't you open the door quickly, what are you waiting for?"

The temple keeper responded repeatedly, "Yes," opened the door, and welcomed the group into the temple.

The leader was a man holding a whisk, with fair skin and a big belly. Although his face was delicate, he clearly lacked male characteristics.

When asking the temple keeper about things, his voice was sharp and delicate.

His eyes opened and closed, deep and bright, revealing his inner alertness.

He was dressed in gorgeous eunuch attire, wearing a phoenix crown woven with gold and silver threads, a beautiful jade necklace hanging around his neck, and exquisite gold bracelets and jade rings on his wrists.

It would be more accurate to say that he was a man, but his feminine temperament was more prominent.

"Did you see the City God manifest with your own eyes?

If there is any false report, I will poke it to the Emperor, and I will definitely convict you of the crime of deceiving the monarch, and I will definitely exterminate your nine clans!"

"Eunuch, please see clearly, how would we dare to talk nonsense, this is all seen by the villagers with their own eyes."

"That's very good, take me to the main hall to worship the City God quickly."

As he spoke, the temple keeper led the group and walked away, seemingly completely unable to see Su Yuanshan and the little white fox standing at the entrance of the main hall.

"Let's go back."

Su Yuanshan greeted the little white fox to return to the main hall and sat on the divine altar, just hidden in the majestic and solemn City God statue.

Then he saw this group of people walk in.

The feminine man led the group to bow to Su Yuanshan three times, and then took out a golden imperial edict, gently unfolded it in front of the City God main hall, and read: "By the order of heaven, the Emperor's edict says: There is the City God of Nanliang County, who protects the people, has both virtue and ability, and has outstanding merits.

His virtue is like the wind, harmonious and holy and bright.

Specially conferred as 'Duke Ande', bestowed with ten bundles of sandalwood, eight boxes of red candles, and one hundred catties of incense oil, to highlight his merits. I, the Emperor, confer this, and he shall enjoy the incense of the human world forever."

I don't know when, many people had gathered outside. The believers were devout. When they heard the imperial edict read by the envoy, they seemed even happier than Su Yuanshan.