Chapter 173

Lin Jue subconsciously took a few steps back, realized there was no threat, and hurriedly walked up, asking:

"What's wrong with you?"

"Don't know... vomit... maybe... vomit... maybe I drank unclean water... and ruined my stomach..."

The waiter lay on the ground, vomiting sour water and filth while saying to him.

But looking closely, those sour water and filth actually contained some white insect eggs the size of peanuts, as well as some earthworm-like insects, which looked quite disgusting.

Lin Jue moved away from the things he vomited while patting his back, observing carefully at the same time. After he felt better, he helped him up and said:

"Your body is weak, don't work for now, I'll help you down to rest."

"Many... many thanks... vomit..."

The waiter was vomiting incessantly and couldn't even walk steadily.

After those insects landed on the ground, they were still twisting on the ground, like some small snakes.

Even Lin Jue couldn't bear to look.

Only the fox didn't feel anything disgusting or afraid, just felt novel, novel that a person's belly could grow so many insects and could vomit them out, so it tilted its head and leaned over to look carefully. When the waiter opened his mouth, it immediately jumped backward, easily jumping several feet away. After the waiter finished vomiting, it carefully leaned over to look again.

Fortunately, it loved cleanliness and even had some mysophobia, avoiding the things on the ground when stepping.

Lin Jue helped the waiter downstairs and let him rest.

He thought in his heart, not knowing if this was the waiter's illness alone, or if the whole city was like this.

Because it was a bit late, there was no one in the lobby downstairs, and the inn door was closed. Lin Jue thought for a moment, simply returned to the room to pick up his important luggage, opened the door, and walked out, not forgetting to say to the waiter:

"This matter is a bit strange, I'm afraid it's not an ordinary disease. You stay here, wait for me to go out and take a look."

"Curfew... vomit..."

The waiter still wanted to remind him of the curfew, but the Daoist had already walked out, only the fox stopped at the door, curiously looking at him one last time.

With a squeak, the door closed.

Outside, it was deep in the night, the moon was full and then waning, there was no one on the street, and no night patrol had been encountered yet. The surrounding residential houses were almost all without lights, cold and quiet.

Lin Jue held his sword and walked alone on the street.

The fox seemed to be in tune with him. Although it walked with him, it walked on the roof ridges, jumping between houses, looking at the residential houses and streets in the city from a high place.

And its posture was light, even if it stepped on the tiles, it didn't make any sound.

After it jumped from the edge of one roof to another, not knowing what it saw, it lowered its head and called out to Lin Jue in a low voice:

"Ying~"

There was a curfew here.

Lin Jue didn't want to attract attention, so he immediately walked into the small alley, hiding his figure with the help of the dark corners.

A little bit of fragmented footsteps suddenly came from ahead.

The footsteps came from far to near. With the moonlight, two night-patrolling bailiffs could be seen walking by. They had swords hanging at their waists and lanterns in their hands, but looking at their floating footsteps, they probably didn't have any skills.

The two walked and chatted.

"Third Shixiong Li..."

"What's wrong?"

"Why do I feel a bit cold?"

"A bit cold? Is it the night wind blowing? Or are you getting old and your body is not working?"

"Don't know, besides being cold, I'm also a bit weak, and my stomach is churning, straight bubbling with gas, don't know what's going on."

"Guess it's a cold, endure it, anyway, we only walk this once every night. If you really can't endure it, let's go back, it's just a formality anyway, and I won't tell the County Magistrate."

"..."

The footsteps of the two went further and further away, and the conversation also gradually went away.

The Daoist then walked out.

But immediately after, as if a chain reaction had occurred, lights were lit in several households in the surrounding streets and alleys. Although the light was weak, it was eye-catching in the night.

Listening carefully, the sound of vomiting came from all around.

The plague had probably really come.

What kind of plague was this, actually vomiting insects?

Lin Jue was stunned for a moment, then looked up at the roof.

"Woo?"

The fox jumped down in confusion to listen to him speak.

"It seems that there is really a plague here. We must go back and inform the Third Shixiong Brothers, and let them rush over quickly. At the very least, we must let the Fifth Third Third Shixiong rush over quickly."

Lin Jue said to it:

"But you know, even if I take the Spirit-Traveling Pill, I'm not as fast as you. Only you can rush back the fastest."

"Hmm?"

"Can you find the Third Shixiong Brothers and the others?"

"Can find!"

The fox spoke again rarely.

"This matter is of great importance, and it needs someone capable to take it. Are you willing to help me with this big favor?"

"Willing!"

"But this journey is very long and has many mountain roads. There may be Yaoguai and ghosts on the road, and there may be traps set by hunters. Aren't you afraid?"

"Not afraid!"

"Very good! Gifted, both courageous and responsible, if you don't become a great demon, who will? But you are still young, so be careful on this journey, and avoid people, gods, Yaoguai, and ghosts more."

"Will be careful!"

"Remember this place is called Cuiwei." Lin Jue did not forget to exhort it.

"Called Cuiwei!"

"Go!"

"Gone!"

The fox seemed to know that the matter was urgent, or it couldn't judge, but could distinguish from Lin Jue's emotions, so without hesitation, after speaking, it turned around and disappeared into the night.

Lin Jue thought for a moment, then walked back to the inn.

Just arrived at the inn door, he hesitated again.

A moment later, he turned around and walked toward the Chenghuangmiao.

Although the two divine officials he met this evening left a very bad impression on him, and he extremely didn't want to deal with them again, which also affected his perception of the local City God, he still decided to go there—

If the plague ghost was still in the city, this city was a bit bigger than Qiuru and Biluo. With his own strength, it was almost impossible to find it. Only a local god like the City God had such ability.

Not long after, he arrived at the Chenghuangmiao.

The temple gate was already locked.

Lin Jue looked at the house next to the temple courtyard. He could see someone living inside through the door, but he didn't go to wake up the temple keeper to open the door, which was too time-consuming and required explanation, so he walked straight forward.

"Harmony is the same as things."

The Daoist's figure actually easily passed through the door.

Then he walked in quickly and entered the main hall.

Pointing with his finger! Lighting technique!

The room suddenly lit up with bean-sized lamp fire, illuminating the whole hall.

On both sides of the gate were Dharma-protecting statues, and in front was a long divine platform, with the City God standing in the middle, slightly taller than ordinary people. Beside him were two auxiliary officials and two military officials, whose statues were about the same size as ordinary people, and on the edge were some small statues of petty officials only two or three feet high, among which were the two fat and thin divine officials guarding the south gate.

In front was an incense burner and a few clay squares, with some incense sticks inserted.

Lin Jue looked left and right, didn't see any complete incense sticks. In an emergency, he picked up three unburned incense sticks, lit them, and offered them, without saying a word of nonsense:

"I am a Daoist from Mount Yishan in Huizhou, ancestor is the Mountain-Moving Daoist, master is the Yunhe Daoist. I have an urgent matter, which concerns the livelihood of all the people in the city. Please ask the Cuiwei City God to come out and see me!

"Please ask the Cuiwei City God to come out and see me!

"Please ask the Cuiwei City God to come out and see me!"

He shouted three times in a row, and there was no movement at all.

Lin Jue frowned and didn't stop.

"Please ask the Cuiwei City God to come out and see me!

"Please..."

He shouted three more times, and there was still no response.

There wasn't even a breeze.

Lin Jue's brow frowned tighter and tighter.

Asking the Yili Divine Lord wasn't this difficult.

After a moment of contemplation, with a hiss, he pulled out his long sword.

The sword edge swept, reflecting a wisp of bright sword light, as if it had cut a path on the dark wall behind, but in fact, it only drew a mark on the City God's hem.

"Is the Cuiwei City God here?"

"Hoo!"

The divine being finally had a response. The wind suddenly rose in the temple, blowing the green smoke on the incense burner, blowing the red dots of the incense sticks bright, and blowing the flame on the oil lamp to sway, and the shadows of the statues on the wall swayed incessantly.

In a trance, the statues in the temple all changed. The stiff edges and colors became soft, the bodies and facial features became vivid, and in the blink of an eye, several drunken divine beings wearing official robes appeared above.

An auxiliary official looked down and saw the City God's robe was broken, and was immediately furious. He raised his hand and pointed at the Daoist below with drunkenness:

"Who is below? How dare you destroy the City God statue!"

"This poor Daoist is Lin Jue, a Daoist from Yishan, with an orthodox Lingfa Sect inheritance, cultivating Yin-Yang Lingfa. I have an urgent matter to call the City God, but the City God has not arrived for a long time, so I had to take this last resort."

"Bold! What urgent matter could make you break into the Chenghuangmiao in the middle of the night to call the City God? Do you know that it is already midnight, and today is the god-rewarding ceremony in the West City, and the City God is watching a play and drinking with the divine officials in the temple?"

"Don't talk about these." The Cuiwei City God waved his hand, also drunk. "If there is really an urgent matter, visiting in the middle of the night is not impossible, but this official also wants to ask, what urgent matter could make you not even willing to offer a stick of incense, and pick up the remaining incense offered by others to offer to this official? Could it be that in your eyes, this official only deserves to pick up other people's residual incense?"

"Hmm?"

Lin Jue couldn't help but look up, staring straight at the several divine beings on the platform—

These divine beings had no virtue!

Originally, hearing the Cuiwei City God speak, he thought he might be upright, but he didn't expect that, speaking to the end, it was just changing the knife to be softer.

The Daoist couldn't help but take a deep breath.

In fact, when he pulled out his sword, he had already thought about how to explain to the divine being, but at this time he understood that these words were useless, and he didn't want to say them anymore. Fortunately, he had another way of speaking.

So he immediately gripped the long sword in his hand and said in a deep voice: "You group of muddled officials and mediocre gods! You are about to die and don't know it yet!"

"Bold! How dare you insult a divine being!" The City God in front said. "What about dying?"

"Do you know that a plague broke out in the city tonight?"

"Plague in the city?"

The several divine officials on the platform looked at each other.

Although the Cuiwei City God was drunk and confused, he also knew that a plague was not a small matter, so he looked at the divine official beside him and immediately closed his eyes on the divine platform. A moment later, he opened his eyes again.

At this time, his drunkenness was obviously a bit sober.

But his anger didn't decrease much.

"So what if there is a plague? If the heavens decree a plague, it is Lord Tianweng's decree, what does it have to do with this official? If the plague arises from the earth, then people naturally cure the plague themselves. What does it have to do with you coming to find this official?"

"Could there not be a third possibility?" The Daoist held his sword high and looked at the divine being.

"What, what possibility?"

"When I entered the city at twilight today, I met the divine official guarding the city. I told them that I heard plague ghosts were coming from the southeast, and asked them to pay attention to prevention and report to you at the same time. Do you know?"

"..."

The City God was immediately stunned.

Suddenly remembering that tonight at the god-rewarding ceremony of the big family in the West City, when many divine beings were watching plays and drinking, two small divine officials did mention it to him at the banquet. However, when drinking, drinking was naturally the priority. At that time, both the City God and the divine officials were drunk, so naturally, they didn't take it to heart.

At this time, his back suddenly felt numb.

"Don't say any more. You and I both know that even if it is an ordinary plague, whether it is sent by the heavens or arises from the earth, if the people die too much, your incense will also become less. If the people are angry and blame you, it is entirely possible to smash your statue and temple! What's more, if this kind of thing is discovered by the heavens, you will definitely be dismissed from your post!"

Lin Jue didn't want to delay time, just wanted him to find the plague ghost quickly and notify the City Gods of other counties quickly, so he said quickly:

"There is still a way to make up for it now!"

"W, what way?"

The City God didn't know when he had become panicked.

The auxiliary and military officials behind also looked at each other.

Only heard the Daoist below say:

"First, immediately send out all the divine beings under your command to search the city. If you can find the plague ghost, it will be making up for your mistakes. Second, this plague ghost not only wreaks havoc in Cuiwei, you must immediately report to the Plague God in the heavens, and notify the City Gods of the surrounding counties at the fastest speed. Even if you can't find the plague ghost, if you can help them prevent the plague, it can be considered a merit. If you can think of a way to dream and help the County Magistrate eliminate the plague and save the people of the city, it is not only a merit, but may also gather more incense for you."

"..."

On the divine platform, the divine being's face turned green and white.

What this Daoist said made sense, and it was true that it should be done this way, but the feeling of being grabbed by the ears to do things was really uncomfortable.

"This official naturally knows!"

"I don't care if you know or not, anyway, I will inform the Daoists of the Fulu Sect here and ask them to report it upward." Lin Jue didn't have any politeness anymore. For such divine beings, speaking like this could make them listen.

"You..."

"Farewell!"

The City God still wanted to say something, but the Daoist had already turned and left.

Divine beings have no virtue, so naturally, there is no need to respect them.