Chapter 50: The Ghost Eyes with a Problem

The County Magistrate of Shanghe County is named Chen Hou, and he is also an Internal Affairs Disciple of White Camel Manor.

When Ouyang Fei brought Song Cheng to arrive, Chen Hou had already set out wine and food in the pavilion of his residence.

The three sat in the pavilion, talking and eating.

Chen Hou did not bring up matters like "who killed Shi Yi," but simply said directly: "I had intended to report this matter up, but the Ghost Tide sealed the city, otherwise I would not have gotten to know Brother Song.

Now that Shi Yi is dead, this matter is considered over.

Shi Yi was a small character.

Brother Song is the true talent."

Song Cheng said: "Brother Chen, it was luck, just luck. I laid a foundation by practicing White Snake Strength for many years, and it just happened to fit the Flicking Willow Strength of the Ruyi Chamber of Commerce."

Chen Hou laughed: "Even so, it is still remarkable.

Practicing martial arts truly requires talent.

People like Ouyang Fei and me are not good enough; we only became Internal Affairs Disciples because we have some connections. Those who truly have a future are the Inner Sect Disciples."

Song Cheng smiled: "Brother Chen, it is not for me to say, but isn't being a County Magistrate better than drifting in the jianghu?"

Chen Hou and Ouyang Fei looked at each other and laughed out loud.

Song Cheng put on a look of astonishment.

Ouyang Fei was already quite tipsy by this time, so he simply sat down beside Song Cheng, patted his shoulder, and said: "Brother Song, I truly believe you are not a jianghu person."

After finishing, he waved his hand and said: "Those who practice basic forms do not count as jianghu people.

True jianghu people walk among princes and nobles, can resist an army, and are unmatched by ten thousand; their methods are mysterious and strange, so calling them a Land Immortal is not an exaggeration.

As for their lifespan, it can even exceed that of an ordinary person by double, or even triple."

Song Cheng nodded deeply.

Chen Hou agreed: "Not to mention anything else, just being able to live for two hundred, or even three hundred years, is truly tempting. Who would complain about living longer?"

Song Cheng nodded, indicating his agreement.

Ouyang Fei said with a gloomy expression: "We do not have the aptitude, which is why we need to go out and busy ourselves with worldly affairs; this means we will never be able to reach the path of the strong in this lifetime.

However,"

his tone shifted, and he continued, "I think Brother Song can."

Just as Song Cheng was about to speak, Ouyang Fei waved his hand and said: "Since Magistrate Chen and I have already formed a bond of goodwill with Brother Song, we do not want to become enemies. Just don't forget us when Brother Song becomes successful in the future."

Song Cheng said: "If I am lucky enough to succeed, I will certainly not forget today."

The three continued to drink wine.

As they drank, Song Cheng suddenly felt an inexplicable soreness in his eyes.

It was a burning sensation brought on by the cold air receding and the blood rushing back.

He could not help but rub his eyes, and suddenly he saw Chen Hou and Ouyang Fei beside him looking at him in extreme astonishment.

Before he could ask, he felt a heat in his eyes, and two streams of hot liquid fell from his eye sockets.

He raised his hand to wipe them.

He looked.

It was blood!

He had shed two lines of blood! Ouyang Fei looked at Chen Hou in shock.

Chen Hou shook his head repeatedly and scolded angrily: "What kind of nonsense are you thinking?!"

After saying this, Chen Hou snatched the wine cup from in front of Song Cheng, drank it directly, and then said: "I didn't poison it! I would have to be sick to poison Brother Song!

If I wanted to poison Brother Song, would I even set up a banquet?"

Having said that, the County Magistrate added nervously: "Brother Song, what on earth is wrong with you?"

Song Cheng only felt his vision suddenly blur, followed by a sensation similar to being nearsighted.

This "nearsightedness" was not the kind with a fixed prescription, but rather one that fluctuated up and down like a roller coaster.

Everything before his eyes swung rapidly between blurry and clear, and the intense dizziness it brought could drive a person mad.

Song Cheng closed his eyes and raised his hand to support his forehead.

No sooner said than done, in just a few dozen breaths, the discomfort subsided. He opened his eyes; his vision was slightly blurry, but he had no trouble seeing things.

Song Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the two men, whose favorability ratings were at eighty and ninety respectively, saying: "I might just be tired from these past few days, it's nothing."

The banquet broke up.

The County Magistrate arranged for a carriage to take Song Cheng back to the Ruyi Chamber of Commerce.

When the chamber's servants saw the Magistrate's carriage arrive, they hurried to welcome it, but when they saw that the person stepping out was actually the son-in-law, their jaws nearly dropped in shock.

Song Cheng greeted them and quickly returned to his courtyard.

At this time, Tong Jia and Ying'er were treating the wounded; Ling'er and the Steward were running around everywhere; the Young Miss was also busy.

The courtyard was quiet.

Song Cheng lay on the couch, looked down at the trace of blood still staining his collar, and fell into deep thought.

His eyes were given to him by Yun E.

These were not true flesh-and-blood eyes, but eyes brought about by Yun E's supernatural power.

Just now his eyes bled, and even now his "vision is slightly blurry"—could this mean that something happened to Yun E? He thought back carefully.

These ghost servants attacking the city recently did not look like anything Yun E would stir up at all.

So, where was Yun E?

A weak, newborn Taboo can only be suppressed by a powerful, ancient Taboo, so is Yun E unable to come out at all? And the reaction of his eyes just now might just indicate that Yun E is about to be swallowed.

Once something happens to Yun E, he will become blind again.

However, Song Cheng did not know how a Taboo is swallowed.

And the above was merely his speculation.

At night, the bright moon hung in the sky, illuminating the entire small Shanghe County brightly.

After An Daxiaojie returned, Song Cheng discussed the events of the Daytime with her.

"The matter of the ten thousand taels is resolved," Song Cheng concluded at the end.

An Chenyu looked at him with soft eyes and said, "The County Magistrate met me this afternoon and already spoke of this matter. Perhaps... the Ruyi Chamber of Commerce is just a small cage that cannot contain—"

Before she could finish, Song Cheng shook his head and said, "It won't be."

An Chenyu was stunned for a moment, meeting his gaze.

Song Cheng said, "I want to turn this place into my home; the road can be traveled far, but a home should not change, nor does it need to change."

An Chenyu lowered her head slightly, nodded, and smiled, "Then stay; I also hope you stay."

After speaking, she added softly, "Little Song, you have done so much; I should have given myself to you, become a true husband and wife with you, and borne you a child. But, give me a little more time to prepare myself to be a true wife."

Song Cheng was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "That's fine, An Jie."

After saying this, he added, "An Jie, I want to know more information about the Ghost Disaster; I want to know everything."

An Chenyu nodded and then began to speak slowly.

She was determined to be a great merchant who would allow her family to complete a class transition, so she naturally studied such "heavenly timing" matters extensively. At this moment, she recounted everything in detail, even telling Song Cheng the local rumors she had heard while traveling to various places for business in the past, exactly as she had heard them.

As they spoke, they did not realize it had grown late into the night.

An Daxiaojie trimmed the red candle and continued speaking.

Song Cheng, meanwhile, was silently memorizing it all.

The reality that An Daxiaojie described slowly combined with his own understanding of the "Avici Hell" in his mind.

Song Cheng's understanding of the Taboo increased further: since it is the place of no-interval for the dead, there is always a time when Yin energy surges, and the Taboo takes advantage of this time to expand its "territory"—the larger it expands, the stronger it becomes. This is quite similar to how humans expand their territory; is the imperial dynasty occupying the incomparably prosperous Huangcheng also for the sake of opening up the largest Filling Yin Land?

Both humans and Ghosts are like this.

Then... was Yun E truly surrounded and about to be swallowed?

He could deal with ordinary Ghost servants, but he was still unable to deal with a Taboo.

He could not help Yun E.

Perhaps, this time, he had to prepare himself mentally to become blind once again.

(End of chapter)