Chapter 61: Evil Aura in Yushan (Launch Date Changed to April 10th)

Xu Jia saw the Evil Master's Dharma Altar over there and let out a cold laugh, instructing Niu Congcong, "The evidence is ironclad now. Since you have connections in the yamen, go report it to the government. He says I am a Licentious Offering, but I shall be the one to smash him first!"

Seeing this act of manipulating a human body from afar, Niu Congcong already believed it was a Murderous Secret Curse. If one could do as they pleased and manipulate others to kill from a distance, what traces could possibly be left behind? "Fine, I'll go report it to the officials right now! My family has connections; the Criminal Official is my great-uncle." Niu Congcong ran out, calling for Sha Erzhu to carry him on his back as they sprinted away.

Come to think of it, he had been practicing spirit communication daily and not sleeping well, so he really had lost some weight.

Xu Jia secretly thought, "Could it be that he isn't your seventh great-uncle?"

Immediately, he gave Liu Wenpo an instruction to walk all the way to the City God Temple to file a complaint in the underworld. Then, he erased the traces of his spellcasting.

On the other side, Zhang Zhenji, who had been persuaded by Xu Jia to return to Shanju Guan for a look, discovered "clues" upon arriving in the vicinity of Yushan.

Because the Earth Qi of Yushan had changed; it was completely different from when he had descended the mountain the year before.

Previously, Yushan was shrouded in clouds and mist, but they were auspicious clouds and lucky mists, with gentle, rosy light. Now, although it was still shrouded in clouds and mist, they were gray clouds, permeated with an Evil Aura.

From this, Zhang Zhenji judged that his sect had suffered a disaster, transforming into a "dangerous place of jackals, tigers, leopards, demons, and ghosts."

This kind of change in Earth Qi is something an ordinary person cannot see, but Zhang Zhenji possessed an innocent heart, compassion like a Buddha, and a sincere, straightforward nature, known as the most rare cultivation seed in a hundred years at Shanju Guan.

However, it was precisely because his nature was too good and he did not understand the evil of the human heart that the Master of Shanju Guan had sent him to the City God Temple to experience the ways of the human world.

"How could it be like this?" Zhang Zhenji was momentarily bewildered. Although he had the heart to charge in, his reason told him that this would not save his sect.

The only plan for now was to return to the City God Temple to bring reinforcements. Even if the County City God could not handle it, there was still the Prefecture City God above; this matter could definitely be resolved! He immediately turned and left.

Not long after Zhang Zhenji left, a ghost demon patrolled to this spot, sniffed the air, but did not harbor much suspicion.

……

Niu Congcong acted with lightning speed and found his great-uncle.

The foundation of the county yamen consisted of six offices; the clerks assisted the County Official in maintaining operations, and the likes of the bailiffs were managed by these clerks.

In Yushan County, there was a saying about the Deer County Official, the Bear County Commandant, and the Fox County Assistant, with the six offices under their command: the Criminal office was a jackal, the Household office was a wolf, the Personnel office was a dhole, the Works office was a flying ant, the Rites office was an old cat, and the Military office was a thin dog.

This meant that the County Official could not control the people below him. The Bear County Commandant referred to him being as sturdy as a bear, a proper Martial Scholar by origin; the Fox County Assistant was cunning and treacherous; the Criminal, Household, and Personnel offices were lucrative posts, banding together—the Criminal office managed the prison, and those who committed crimes had to pay bribes; the Household office managed taxes and was naturally as fierce as wolves and tigers; the Personnel office managed appointments and colluded with them, manipulating things together.

The Works office managed construction projects, thus corroding the pillars like flying ants; the Rites office managed sacrifices and education, and once fed, they were too lazy to move, thus resembling old cats; the Military office... in a small county yamen, how could one raise an army? Everyone was like a thin dog, unable to scrape up any profit and having no opportunity for advancement.

Niu Congcong's great-uncle managed the Criminal office, handling lawsuits and the prison; his status was actually quite high. Although the Yamen Runners and Kuaikuai were not under his direct command, he still held a position of great standing.

Seeing Niu Congcong run over, he first smiled, then pretended to scold him: "Is this county yamen a place you can just walk into?"

"Great-uncle! I want to report a crime!"

This Criminal Official was surnamed Zhang, named Zhang Liwen; he was the uncle of Xiaopangdun's mother, the younger brother of his grandmother. He looked to be in his forties, with a vertical furrow between his brows, sporting a beard, and having sharp eyes, looking somewhat "impartial and incorruptible."

"You want to report a crime? Did something happen to your family?" The Criminal Official's expression changed drastically.

Niu Congcong said, "No, it's an Evil Sect. We discovered traces of an Evil Sect! A rebellious Evil Sect!"

"Watch your tongue!" The Criminal Official covered Niu Congcong's mouth: "What is the situation? Tell me in detail."

Niu Congcong then recited the story he had thought up on the way: that his classmate of ten years had suddenly died and then come back to life; he went to visit and only then learned that there was such an Evil Sect harming people. He omitted the part about practicing magic and only spoke of the two of them searching for traces, discovering a place where sacrifices were made to harm people, and also the matter of Liu Wenpo mincing children into stuffing to make food for others to eat...

The Criminal Official said, "Eating people is nothing, but why didn't your classmate come to report it in person, but you came instead?"

"Because you are my great-uncle!" Niu Congcong said, "Naturally, I came to use your connections."

The Criminal Official was speechless, then said, "You are quite bold, daring to investigate an Evil Sect. Do you know what kind of Evil Sect it is?" "It seems to be called the Longevity Sect."

"What?" The Criminal Official shrank back: "Why would I want to provoke them?"

"No, no! I still want to live until I retire."

"Ah? Great-uncle, we have already offended them. They might come to wipe out our entire family tomorrow!" Niu Congcong channeled the Soul-Bewitching Technique, his face showing distress.

"No, absolutely not! How much is this salary? Why deal with such a life-threatening matter?"

Eh? It failed! Try again! "But Great-uncle, if you don't help me, who else will?"

"Your father, your father Niu Dafu does business in Jiujiang and knows quite a few officials. As for us minor clerks, we have no ability, and even if we reported it, there's no possibility of promotion."

Failed again, try again! "Poor grandmother of mine who passed away! She loved me the most..."

The Criminal Official had a headache: "Alright! Alright! I will do as you ask!"

Success! Niu Congcong did not know if the Soul-Confusing Technique had taken effect or if his own rhetoric had worked.

The Criminal Official agreed to help.

Although a Criminal Official is not considered a high-ranking official, he received a salary and held power in the yamen, so ordinary Soul-Bewitching Techniques were difficult to use on him.

But at least for Niu Congcong, a close relative, his defenses were lowered significantly.

"I'm really afraid of you! An Evil Sect causing trouble is a major matter. I cannot make the decision; I must report it to the County Commandant."

Matters involving force were all handled by the County Commandant.

The County Commandant was surnamed Chen, named Chen Sansheng, about thirty-some years old, with a thick waist and a face full of coarse flesh. In the Commandant's office, a young woman from the Cuichun Pavilion was leaning against Commandant Chen like a bundle of firewood. On the table, where case files should have been, there were now wine and dishes.

Seeing the Criminal Official arrive, he did not stop, teasing the young woman until she twitched and trembled.

"Zhang Liwen, you aren't in the yamen office bickering over lawsuits, what are you doing coming to my office?"

Zhang Liwen said respectfully, "Lord Chen, we have discovered traces of the Evil Sect, the Longevity Sect, operating in this county."

The County Commandant was startled and loosened his hand that was molesting the young woman: "You go back to the Cuichun Pavilion first; I'll call you when I have time."

The young woman pouted coquettishly: "Lord Chen, I am just a handkerchief you've used, to be tossed aside at any time. If I go back like this, the madam of the pavilion will surely scold me."

"Stop pretending to be a decent woman, you whore, you just want money, right! Could I possibly owe a prostitute's debt?" He tossed out a silver ingot, about seven or eight taels: "Go, you slut."

The young woman smiled at the sight of money, wiggling her bottom as she giggled out of the office. The pimp who had been waiting early on carried the young woman on his back and walked steadily and swiftly toward the Cuichun Pavilion.

"That Chen Pizi has such a strong grip, he pinched me until it hurt. This is truly hard-earned, shitty money."

PS: The second chapter might have to wait until tomorrow afternoon. I have a funeral tomorrow morning and can return to Nanchang in the afternoon. Originally, I was going to launch on April 1st, but I might need to make some adjustments, so I changed the time. The free period will be ten days longer. Although launching a day early means earning money a day early, I still hope to present it to everyone in a better way.

Recommending a book, the author is Dugu Huan! He is also an author with ten thousand subscriptions.

(End of chapter)