Chapter 1625: Heaven's Mandate Seven Sons' Monster-Hunting Record 16

Min East City, a remote city with extraordinarily intense clan beliefs, but it happens to be a necessary route between two countries, so the court also pays close attention to the city's anomalies.

It is said that since several months ago, Min East City often has wailing sounds and ghostly hauntings; the ghosts like to go to places where celebrations are held to join the fun, and they also eat people.

Seven people, plus Bai Shi Yun who insisted on following, walked outside the city; Yang Yu held a letter sent by the garrison cavalry, speaking as they walked.

Within Min East City, each clan has its own punishment hall and does not submit to the court's jurisdiction; last year the county magistrate was transferred away, and only supervisory officials were set up in each punishment hall.

Yu Yang put away the letter, then said: 'The one who will come to greet me at the city gate later is the supervisory official of the Gu Family clan's punishment hall.'

After listening for a while, Jing Xingcan curiously asked: 'If the clans' punishment halls have conflicts, who has been in charge of them all these years?'

Yang Yu shook his head, then took out a fan from his waist, looking suave and debonair, 'I don't know; maybe the punishment halls don't even bother having conflicts.'

He also asked Rong Zixu, 'Senior Brother, since there's no government office this time, where will we stay?'

Jin Chen: 'Just pick a random lucky family's home!'

Rong Zixu: 'An inn.'

Jin Chen: '... Do we have money?'

Old Man, pinching the door like that, we have funds?!

Rong Zixu caught the meaning in Jin Chen's words, then helplessly added: 'Even if we stay, this outward mission has no limit on travel expenses.'

Heaven oh, is it the master's great compassion or the senior brother paying out of pocket? Yang Yu was shocked, flapping his fan twice in fright.

Rong Zixu: 'All expenses for this mission are covered by the court.'

'Senior Brother, you should have said so earlier.' Gong Siyue immediately perked up, 'Then I and Xiao Wu won't be polite.'

Xu Qie smiled, pursing her lips, somewhat expectant: 'I don't know how many rare things Min East City has.'

The court's Bai Shi Yun: '......'

He quietly folded the other letter he had received, then said to Chang Wuming: 'Brother Wuming, I have traveled south and north for many years, and I have heard a bit about this Min East City.'

These days, Bai Shi Yun only spoke with Chang Wuming while rushing on the road; Jin Chen himself was still busy getting along with his wife, and couldn't constantly watch him, yet his relationship with Chang Wuming had improved considerably.

Chang Wuming glanced at him sideways, silently expressing doubt, then listened as Bai Shi Yun seemed to recall.

There is a rumor that after the county office moved away last year, it's because the citizens of Min East City are so strange that it frightened those officials and clerks.

How strange. Chang Wuming's usually expressionless face furrowed his hard eyebrows, 'Officials actually fear the common people.'

He didn't understand, so he instinctively looked at Rong Zixu, out of habit and nature; just as Bai Shi Yun was about to explain, his mouth twitched, and he instead wanted to see what Rong Zixu could say.

Rong Zixu pondered for a moment, stopped at the city gate, glanced at the several plaques side by side, and said softly: 'Clan beliefs often come with tradition and oppression.'

'Each clan also has different rules; there are plenty that do not trust the court, and if they grow numerous, they inevitably threaten the court's position.'

While saying this, the three garrison soldiers who came to guide them, wearing light armor, met the group; the leader stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting.

'Just call me A Da, honored immortals.'

As A Da rose from his bow, he glanced at Bai Shi Yun without a trace, slightly nodding as a greeting.

Unlike the arrogant imperial envoys of West Ling City, the garrison of Min East City deeply believes that the city's anomalies are likely due to ghostly hauntings.

Rong Zixu inevitably doubted: 'Although talk of ghosts is common, hardly anyone has actually seen them; how can you all believe so firmly?'

Jin Chen guessed: 'Could it be that you've run into ghosts?'

A Da shook his head with some bitterness: 'In Min East City... what couldn't happen?'

'Compared to... it would be better to just bump into a ghost.'

A Da wanted to speak but held back, then bowed again in apology: 'Because of my position I dare not speak more; perhaps you honored immortals will know tomorrow.'

'Still being mysterious... hiss!'

Jin Chen was walking normally when he suddenly tripped over something: 'What is this?'

He kicked it, and a piece of gold wrapped in yellow paper flew out from the roadside.

Rong Zixu supported him, furrowed his brow, and asked: 'Did you sprain your ankle?'

'No.' Jin Chen then took hold of Rong Zixu, puzzled, squatted down, picked up a branch, and probed that half-fist-sized piece of gold.

'Who dropped this? And why is it wrapped in unwritten talisman paper?'

'There's some here too!' Jing Xingcan also found several pieces on the other side of the road.

Jin Chen squatted on the ground, looked up at A Da whose expression had changed slightly, and asked tentatively: 'Is wrapping gold in talisman paper also a custom of Min East City?'

A Da opened his mouth, seeming to hesitate, then only softly urged: 'Honored immortals, dusk is approaching soon; perhaps you should first go to the inn to rest.'

Jing Xingcan hoped to look at Rong Zixu: 'Senior Brother, can we pick up the gold by the roadside?'

Rong Zixu felt embarrassed: 'No.'

'All right.' Jing Xingcan clapped his hands regretfully, then Gong Siyue laughed and pulled him up: 'Xiao Liu usually likes to buy snacks, so he must be hungry again.'

'Exactly.' Jing Xingcan rubbed his stomach.

Jin Chen stood up again, suddenly noticing several gazes coming from the corners on both sides of the road.

He warily took a few quick steps, pushed aside the bushes, and saw several cold, stubborn, sickly gazes—men, women, old and young—standing motionless in the corners.

The Heaven's Mandate Seven Sons, who had just been chatting, immediately fell silent and went on guard, looking back.

Jin Chen followed their gaze to the gold on the ground, seeming to regret that he hadn't picked it up.

There's a problem…

Jin Chen rubbed the fingertips that had touched the gold, committing several different-looking talisman papers to memory.

Rong Zixu, meanwhile, was looking at the people standing in different corners; their expressions were much the same, all stubbornly wanting to see something happen, but their clothing was distinctive and different, likely a way to distinguish which clan each person belongs to.

After the two groups stared at each other for a while, the people in the corners left first, and the gold remained untouched.

'How come the locals here also seem quite strange.'

Xu Qie exclaimed in surprise: 'Ordinary people wouldn't have such a gaze.'

At this moment, all seven had the same thought.

Min East City, it seems, will be even more troublesome.

Walking further into the city, just as they were about to enter Ke Zhan, several women in deep red clothes, each holding a vegetable basket, smiled and came over to greet them, warm and generous.

"Are you folks travelers from afar? You've arrived just in time for a good occasion!"

The woman lifted the red cloth covering the vegetable basket and shoved several invitation cards into their hands, saying, "Tomorrow at dusk is my son's wedding; you travelers from afar, come join the festive cheer!"

"And our family too! Our younger son is also getting married! It's today at dusk, less than two hours away—travelers from afar, remember to come!"

The women were extremely enthusiastic, their voices loud; Rong Zixu didn't even have time to refuse before, upon touching the invitation, he suddenly felt a heavy yin aura.

The seven of them slightly changed expression, and in unison accepted the invitation.