Chapter 225: The Suspicious Case of the Ancient Village

"That village is called Erbeiwan."

Bringing several people into the hall of the Xuan Priest, Master Yulongzi picked up a file on the desk and handed it to Li Yan.

"All the information is here. The disciples sent couldn't find the reason and could only record the situation carefully."

"That village is a bit special, and this matter has spread to everyone. If it is not handled early, the trouble will only be greater..."

Li Yan raised his brows. "How is it special?"

Master Yulongzi shook his head helplessly. "That village is in Zigui County, five miles east of the city. At the entrance of the village, there are two stone tablets, one engraved with 'Qu Yuan's Residence' and the other engraved with 'Song Yu's Residence'."

Li Yan was stunned, then nodded. "It is indeed special."

"Yes." Master Yulongzi became even more helpless.

"So it's been a long time, the literary vein in the village has long been broken, and no scholar has been produced in the past hundred years, but the location is very critical."

"There are literati and ink guests who go there to cherish the past all year round, and it is close to some Tu people's mountain cities. If the Earth Temple is demolished and evil gods are worshipped, it will be a joke if it spreads out."

"Right now, those villagers who collided with the Chenghuangmiao are all locked up in the government prison. If you only convict people but don't deal with the problem, you will know what kind of criticism it will cause if you think about it."

"Daoist, don't worry, we will do our best."

Li Yan nodded and picked up the file to check.

Just as Master Yulongzi introduced before, the village planted seedlings continuously, all of which withered strangely.

Whether it is Feng Shui or disaster-dispelling rituals, there is no effect, and various divination techniques cannot see the reason.

Later, a wandering Daoist entered the village and released rumors everywhere, saying that this was the loss of virtue by the imperial court and the disaster sent by Heaven.

The village head was afraid and sent people to catch him, but the Daoist disappeared into the Qu Yuan stone tablet in broad daylight.

The villagers were panicked, thinking it was a warning from the Three-Lü Grand Master.

That night, someone dreamed of the Daoist again, saying that the disaster in the village originated from the Earth Temple. Someone directly smashed the Earth statue and found that it was full of human blood and internal organs!

The villagers were even more panicked. I don't know who bewitched them, they ran to Unlike Yichang City to attack the Chenghuangmiao.

"This is clearly a monster making trouble!"

Li Yan shook his head slightly and handed the file to Wang Daoxuan. "Daoist, look at whether the situation you encountered at the beginning is the same?"

When he heard about this at the beginning, Wang Daoxuan said he had seen it and prepared overnight.

Wang Daoxuan took it and looked at it, stroked his beard and nodded. "It's very similar, but the specific situation needs to be checked after arriving."

Master Yulongzi on the side was curious after hearing this. "Daoist friend, have you seen this method?"

Wang Daoxuan nodded. "I was traveling around the world and passed through Jiaozhou, and I saw this matter. It was a wood charm making trouble."

"Wood charm is a wood essence charm. Some villagers built houses and cut down an old tree for a thousand years in the nearby mountains. The wood charm retaliated, causing the grass and trees to wither, and also killed several people in succession."

"My magic is not refined, and I couldn't find the reason at all. It was a water master from the Meishan Sect who passed by this place and caught and killed the wood charm."

"Wood charm?"

Master Yulongzi frowned. "Wood charm making trouble should have Yin energy residue, but there was no discovery at that time."

When Li Yan and others were in Yunyang, Lin Yu, a rich young master from Jiangzhe, had manipulated "wood guests" to spy.

But "wood charm" and "wood guest" are two completely different things.

"Wood guest" is a mountain essence monster, with a physical body, more similar to the natural alien species like the cockscomb snake. In some places, it even communicates with people and exchanges mountain spirit wood for food.

And wood charm is an old tree becoming an essence.

The old tree is the main body, and the soul transforms into an essence charm to wander around.

And wood charm has a characteristic, that is, it is not afraid of sunlight and likes to appear in broad daylight, which is the so-called "wood charm walks in the morning, mountain ghosts are startled at night."

Sometimes people entering the mountains will encounter ghost walls during the day, with thick fog, unable to distinguish east, west, north, and south, which may be caused by this thing.

They are usually gentle in character, and casting ghost walls is mostly to prevent people from approaching their main body.

But once the main body is destroyed, it will carry out bloody retaliation.

Li Yan said coldly, "Someone is involved, trying to use evil words to disturb the hearts of the people, naturally they will erase the traces. As long as this person is caught, the problem will be solved."

"That's true."

Master Yulongzi smiled bitterly. "The elites of the Law Enforcement Hall have all been transferred away, and the disciples sent to check are inexperienced, so we have to rely on everyone to help."

"Easy to say."

Li Yan smiled slightly and changed the subject. "Daoist, we also have something to ask you for help. We need to refine magic artifacts and lack some treasures and spiritual materials. I don't know if there are any in the Chenghuangmiao?"

"What do you need?"

"Mountain demon fur and lichen."

Li Yan asked casually. After all, these things are rare, and the strength of the Unlike Yichang Chenghuangmiao is average.

Who would have thought that Master Yulongzi nodded without hesitation. "These two things happen to be in the Unlike Yichang Chenghuangmiao."

As he spoke, he smiled. "Unlike Yichang is a place that connects to Shennongjia above and connects to the wild mountains of Xiangxi below. Many places are untouched, and there are many mountain essence monsters and various spiritual objects."

"Last autumn, a mountain demon caused havoc in Xingyang County, abducting women into the Shennongjia mountains. At that time, the elite of the Law Enforcement Hall were still around, and they took a demon hunter from the Meishan Dharma Sect with them to enter and capture it."

"The mountain demon's skeleton was taken by that Meishan disciple to craft a Dharma artifact, but its skin and fur were left at the Chenghuangmiao and haven't been sold yet."

"As for 'lichen', it was sold to us by a treasure-seeking mountain traveler, used to exchange for some magic artifacts."

"That's great!"

Upon hearing this, Sha Lifei was immediately happy.

These two spiritual materials can be used to configure medicine powder to eliminate odors. Lin Yu had already passed the production method to him. With this thing, using gunpowder to deal with sorcerers is ten-to-nine stable.

"Please follow me, everyone."

Seeing the expressions of several people, Master Yulongzi was happy in his heart, enthusiastically took them to the back hall of the City God, opened the warehouse, took out two boxes, and handed them directly to Li Yan.

"These two spiritual materials cost two thousand taels in total. I won't ask for more, just take back the cost."

"Don't worry, everyone. I dare not say anything else, but at least in the Unlike Yichang Chenghuangmiao, all spiritual materials and magic artifacts will be discounted for you."

"Thank you, Daoist."

Li Yan and others hurriedly bowed to thank him.

This matter is very helpful to them, and they can save money if they can.

And Master Yulongzi was also very happy. A few spiritual materials are not that important to him. As long as the situation in Unlike Yichang is stabilized, and when the imperial court settles the chaos in the future, that is the time of harvest.

For a time, both sides were very satisfied.

Li Yan smiled and bowed. "Senior, please send someone to follow us to the government office to ask about those people, maybe we can get more information. Then we will set off."

"Coincidentally, I was just about to say this."

Master Yulongzi stroked his beard. "Last night, the Commandant's Office followed the traces to pursue, but those remnants of the Longxiang Army had already run into the nearby mountains along the East Gate and disappeared."

"The Commandant's Office came to the door this morning, asked some things, and said they would send someone to follow your actions, maybe they can fish out those remnants."

Li Yan frowned after hearing this and immediately refused. "The Commandant's Office has too much official energy, I'm afraid it will startle the monsters, which is inconvenient."

"It doesn't matter."

Master Yulongzi smiled. "They will only send a company commander, disguised as a follower, and will not hinder things."

"And, Erbeiwan is in the territory of Zigui County, close to the Tu people's mountain caves, and the folk customs are fierce. In some places, the people even pretend to be river bandits to rob during the slack season."

"And from Unlike Yichang to Zigui, you need to pass through Xiling Gorge, which is the most dangerous waterway in the Three Gorges. Few people there can speak official language. Without help, I'm afraid you won't even be able to ask the way."

The words have been said to this point, and Li Yan has no reason to oppose.

Moreover, looking at the situation, the Commandant's Office already has a plan. According to their nature, even if they oppose, they will secretly follow.

Thinking of this, Li Yan gave Sha Lifei a wink.

Sha Lifei suddenly understood.

They had also discussed the countermeasures for this situation.

That is to borrow strength to fight strength!

Whether it is the Commandant's Office, the Law Enforcement Hall, or the Dharma lineage, as long as there is a need, they can borrow strength.

As long as the goal can be achieved, everything is easy to say.

Sure enough, in less than half a stick of incense, someone asked to see him outside, and then was led into the Chenghuangmiao by the Daoist boy. The visitor was a middle-aged man, with a decent face, medium height, broad shoulders and a thick waist, wearing coarse cloth clothes, wearing a bamboo hat, carrying a fishing rod, looking like a fisherman.

He was full of smiles, and as soon as he entered the door, he bowed. "Commandant's Office Company Commander Yuan Kejian, greetings to everyone."

Seeing this, Li Yan and others secretly praised in their hearts.

Many people in the Commandant's Office have a sense of officialdom.

That is a habit formed over many years, suppressing ordinary small people with power, and treating people in the martial arts world as thieves and bandits, sneering at them.

There was once a funny segment in the martial arts world, saying that these people in the Commandant's Office, even if they were disguised, liked to wear official boots.

And this person wore tattered straw hemp shoes, and even his hands and feet were deliberately made dirty, no different from ordinary fishermen.

"Greetings, my lord."

Li Yan and others also bowed slightly.

"Eh~"

!

This Company Commander Yuan hurriedly waved his hand, full of smiles. "I think the Daoist has already told everyone. I am just following and will not hinder everyone's affairs. Just call me Brother Yuan."

"My lord is joking." Li Yan just smiled faintly.

Since the other party said so, they wouldn't really do it.

Those who can become a company commander in a place like the Commandant's Office are no good people. Smiling tigers, old Yin people, are everywhere.

Company Commander Yuan laughed and didn't say anything more.

Master Yulongzi pretended to be confused and didn't see this awkward atmosphere, stroked his beard and smiled. "Company Commander Yuan came just in time. Li Li Shaoxia and others want to go to the government office to ask for some information, and this matter needs your help."

"That is natural."

This Company Commander Yuan didn't talk nonsense, took Li Yan and others out of the Chenghuangmiao, and headed to the Unlike Yichang Government Office.

Just after leaving the street, I saw a fight.

I saw several men in coarse clothes and red belts around their waists, carrying knives, guns, and sticks, rushing into a tavern.

Clatter!

The window on the second floor of the tavern suddenly shattered.

An old man broke through the window and fell to the ground, rolling to unload his strength. After getting up, he wanted to escape.

Just then, a peddler carrying a box beside him suddenly pulled out a shoulder pole, stepped forward, and shook it horizontally.

Seeing this, Li Yan's eyes lit up.

Good Six-Harmony Spear!

Only hearing a bang, the old man was hit in the head, fainted to the ground, and had no movement.

A group of men hurriedly stepped forward and tied him up.

The man disguised as a peddler then picked up the stick and bowed to the surrounding people, saying loudly, "Everyone, don't be afraid, this person is a Green Forest killer who sneaked into Unlike Yichang City to make trouble."

"We, the Shaanxi Shaanxi Shen Quan Hui, are ordered to capture him, and we must return peace to one side!"

"Good!"

The surrounding people cheered one after another.

Whether it is Han or Tujia, it is the same.

They have lived in the city for many years, so how can they not feel the recent abnormality? Some people are afraid in their hearts and have decided to move their families to Hankou.

The Shaanxi Shaanxi Shen Quan Hui's move at this time can indeed stabilize the hearts of the people.

Company Commander Yuan saw this, shook his head and smiled. "Li Li Shaoxia must have already seen Lei Zhen, who is an old senior in the Ezhou martial arts world, a person whose words can shake one side."

"The Unlike Yichang Shaanxi Shaanxi Shen Quan Hui originally had some sects that had friendships with the Tu chieftains and wanted to eat on both sides, which caused such chaos."

"Last night, Lei Zhen summoned people overnight and scolded them. No one dared to have any objections. If the Shaanxi Shaanxi Shen Quan Hui makes a full move, at least Unlike Yichang City can be much calmer, and we can also catch our breath."

Li Yan was somewhat surprised, raised his brows and said, "Company Commander, will your Commandant's Office also lack people?"

Company Commander Yuan was silent for a while, the smile on his face gradually disappeared, and he said in a deep voice, "Li Li Shaoxia is a person in the martial arts world, and it is understandable that he can't get used to the style of the Commandant's Office, but now it is related to the national fortune."

"The Great War is imminent, and the Commandant's Office must go first. More than a hundred of our brothers sneaked into the Tu chieftain's mountain village to spy on information. Now less than half are alive, all of whom are good hands who can be taken out on weekdays."

"If this official can catch the remnants of the Longxiang Army, their pensions can also be generous."

The voice was calm, but his eyes were slightly red.

Li Yan was silent for a while and nodded. "Company Commander Yuan, don't worry, those people can't escape!"

The chaos on the street is not just in one place.

The Shaanxi Shaanxi Shen Quan Hui almost came out in full force. Some hiding methods in the martial arts world can be hidden from ordinary people, but they cannot be hidden from them.

Many Green Forest people were found and besieged and captured.

Some resisted desperately,

Some were beaten to death on the street.

Under the shadow of war, how can there be any mercy.

Of course, there are more people who sensed that the wind was wrong, disguised themselves, and fled towards the city gate.

Li Yan and others didn't care about watching the fun and came to the Unlike Yichang Government Office.

It is said that there are people in the government office to do things.

Company Commander Yuan said a word at the door, and a head catcher appeared, full of diligence, and took them to the Unlike Yichang prison to pick up people.

This was Li Yan's first time in a prison.

This kind of place has never been a good place.

Many fierce ghosts and evil souls are formed because of extreme emotions plus Yin Sha Qi. If the prison is not laid out, it is no different from a ghost-raising cave.

Therefore, every prison has a special layout.

At the entrance of the prison, a Bi'an is carved on the stone door frame.

Big eyes round, fangs ferocious, in charge of punishment and prison.

On the brick carvings in the corner of the wall, it is not the common auspicious flowers blooming, but recessed charms filled with cinnabar.

It looks very fierce.

Unlike Yichang is located by the river, all prisons are dark and humid, plus the inferior and pungent candlelight, the air is turbid and uncomfortable.

Obviously, the jailers also know that this matter is not small.

Any mistake will be used as a handle.

Therefore, the people of Erbeiwan who were locked in, although they lived uncomfortably and ate even more disgustingly, at least they were not beaten.

They are all ordinary people, their heads were hot for a while, and they were incited to make trouble. They had only been locked up for two days, and they were already regretting in their hearts.

Pressing fingerprints, picking up people for interrogation, the government office head catcher is familiar with the road.

"Wronged, wronged!"

A thin man shouted injustice as soon as he came out.

"What's wrong?"

The government office head catcher had a fierce face and scolded angrily, "Cheng San, where did you get the dog's courage? Dare to commit arson and attack the Chenghuangmiao."

"Now you know you're afraid?"

"Woo woo woo~"

"What are you crying about! These lords have something to ask you. If there is half a lie, just wait to rot in this prison!"

The words were fierce, but there was a clear intention to excuse.

The two must have known each other before.

Li Yan was too lazy to pay attention and asked carefully.

This question really yielded some clues...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 226 =====