Chapter 336: Ask the Authorities to Step In?

This Soul‑Capturing Envoy…

Aunt Wang was about to launch into a tirade, but before she could finish, Li Ping hurriedly cut her off: "Uncle, aunt, and everyone, our Zhang Family Village is just an ordinary little mountain village, we have no remarkable figures; at most we can deal with some fierce beasts. How could we possibly handle demons? So, what should I do?"

Are we supposed to just watch De Ben of our family have his soul devoured by the Beast: Tiger Demon that has occupied Shizi Ling?

Not to mention Aunt Wang, even she, as De Ben's daughter‑in‑law, is extremely dissatisfied with the Soul‑Capturing Envoy's actions; it's as if they're pushing De Ben of their family into a fire pit.

Although she dearly wishes to see De Ben again, the price of seeing him again would be that De Ben becomes the Tiger Demon's meal on Shizi Ling, without even a chance to be reborn.

She would rather never see De Ben again!

It's not just resentment toward the Soul‑Capturing Envoy; if that envoy appeared before her, she would already have a heart set on striking the envoy.

But.

She knows clearly that the King of Hell is easy to meet, but little ghosts are hard to provoke; if Aunt Wang were to keep berating the Soul‑Capturing Envoy, who knows whether he would hear it or hold a grudge, especially after a hundred years have passed for Aunt Wang.

No one can guarantee that this Soul‑Capturing Envoy would deliberately target Aunt Wang.

She certainly doesn't want Aunt Wang to wade into murky waters and suffer an unforeseen disaster.

"De Ben's daughter‑in‑law, if it were other matters, I might have a few words to offer you, a suggestion, but this…"

The assorted aunts and uncles of Zhang Family Village, upon hearing Li Ping's question, all gave a wry smile and sighed:

"That ferocious tiger that has occupied Shizi Ling has probably been there for over a hundred years; if they hadn't taken an interest in us, we would already be thanking the heavens. How could we possibly have the skill to give you advice and deal with that tiger?"

Although none of them have personally witnessed the might of the Beast: Tiger Demon or other demons, they are still well aware of the monsters' ferocity from numerous rumors.

Let alone the whole village—men, women, old and young—rushing to the front, even the people of neighboring villages, all stepping forward, they still would have no way to deal with the Tiger Demon that has seized Shizi Ling.

They might even become the Tiger Demon's food!

They are eager for Zhang Deben to become the new Mountain God of Shizi Ling, but if attaining the Mountain God position for De Ben requires them to pay with their lives…

It's not impossible, but the odds of success are still very low.

Less than one percent!

Let alone.

They have no confidence in dealing with the Tiger Demon that has occupied Shizi Ling for over a hundred years.

Li Ping, looking lost, said: "What should we do? Should we just let that Tiger Demon devour De Ben's wandering soul, leaving De Ben with no chance of rebirth?"

I told you, my uncle is just an ordinary person; how could he suddenly become a Mountain God? I even suspect that my skill, Soul Salvation, reflected through the Guimen Guan, might have taken effect!

Wang Ping'an couldn't help but sigh inwardly, though a hint of disappointment lingered in his heart.

If.

If his skill, Soul Salvation, could truly help the dead become a Mountain God or other deities—even obscure ones—many still yearn for it.

He can't even imagine the terrifying consequences if the matter were to spread.

Liu Dongzhu suddenly spoke: "Aunt, why not ask the authorities to step in?"

Wang Ping'an saw his own aunt in a dilemma, fearing that the Tiger Demon occupying Shizi Ling would devour his uncle, leaving his uncle not only unable to continue as the Mountain God of Shizi Ling but also without any chance of rebirth.

He was contemplating whether he should act himself, eliminate the Tiger Demon that has seized Shizi Ling, and let his uncle peacefully remain the Mountain God of Shizi Ling.

He didn't expect his mother to say such a thing!

He was very curious why his mother would think of asking the authorities to intervene!

"Dongzhu, would the authorities even care about this?"

Li Ping asked, puzzled.

Ask the authorities to step in?

It was something she had never considered; Shizi Ling lies far from the county seat, a remote, impoverished mountain, and apart from the yearly tax collectors the authorities reliably send, their presence is otherwise never seen.

Whether it's Zhang Family Village or the other villages around Shizi Ling, any trouble they encounter is handled on their own.

Relying on the authorities to help them?

That's almost impossible!

"Aunt, if we merely rely on the authorities to deal with the Tiger Demon that has seized Shizi Ling, it's virtually impossible!"

Liu Dongzhu smiled; from the earlier conversation, the Fox Demon has occupied Shizi Ling for over a hundred years, yet the authorities remain indifferent. She doesn't believe the authorities are unaware of this; they simply don't want to intervene.

"Then why did you, Dongzhu, say to ask the authorities for help?"

Li Ping asked, confused.

"Aunt, you just need to tell the officials about my uncle becoming the Mountain God; I think, even if the officials don't want to help us deal with the Tiger Demon occupying Shizi Ling, others will help!"

Liu Dongzhu gave an explanation; as soon as she finished speaking, her aunt's face was full of confusion, clearly not grasping her meaning, so she explained again:

"Aunt, regardless, my uncle is the Mountain God of Shizi Ling; even if he's an obscure deity, he's still a deity. The officials might someday need to request his aid."

Helping my uncle deal with the Tiger Demon that has seized Shizi Ling is also helping themselves!

This novel you

Their Hutou Gou had a Land God; during that period, officials from Qingyang County frequently came to their Hutou Gou, and whenever there was any good news, they would think of Hutou Gou.

It made her clearly understand that these people would often visit Hutou Gou, granting one benefit after another, because later they might request the Hutou Gou Land.

They're building relationships in advance!

There are good methods in the court; the principle holds both in the world of the living and the underworld.

Li Ping asked, startled and doubtful: "Will this work?"

"De Ben's daughter‑in‑law, whether it works or not, at least it's a method!"

Before Liu Dongzhu could speak, an elder of the Zhang clan suddenly said: "Just have your Chengyong run to the county office and tell the officials there; even if it's useless, at worst it's a wasted trip!"

He could probably guess the purpose behind Liu Dongzhu's suggestion, though it was hard to state outright.

"Fine, I'll have my Chengyong run to the county town right now!"

Li Ping didn't waste a moment, got up, and went to find Zhang Chengyong.

My mother…

Wang Ping'an also instantly realized, guessing his mother's intentions, and said: "It's better to rely on oneself than to ask others; even if one invites an expert from the county office, it may not necessarily be able to solve the Beast: Tiger Demon occupying Shizi Ling."

We still have to rely on our own family!

Upon thinking of this, a flash of sharp light flickered in the depths of Wang Ping'an's eyes and vanished instantly; he was very curious, wondering just how powerful this Beast: Tiger Demon, which might have several hundred years of cultivation, could be.

If he were to slay it, he didn't know how much Merit he could gain.

(End of chapter)