Chapter 378: Is It Him?

"It can't be De Ben's handiwork, can it?"

A member of the Zhang Family interrupted.

He had been bustling about at Zhang Deben's house these past days, witnessed with his own eyes the scene of the Du Family circling in place at Zhang Deben's house last night, and was reminded by Yu Die, suddenly recalling it.

"No, it's not De Ben!"

Li Ping shook her head in denial.

Zhang Chengze, puzzled, said: "Mother, how could it not be my father? Don't forget, yesterday Second Aunt and her family were brazenly arrogant in our house, and soon they were taught a lesson, circling in place. If it weren't my father, who else would have taught them?"

'I knew it, yesterday it was my big brother's handiwork, making me walk around in circles over and over, my whole body nearly exhausted and dehydrated. He's truly not a good thing; just after becoming Shizi Ling's Mountain God, he toys with me like this!'

Zhang Guilian muttered under her breath, having already suspected that the one who toyed with their family last night was likely Zhang Deben. In the whole Zhang Family, aside from Zhang Deben, no one else possessed such ability to make their family circle in place. It had been mere speculation then, but now hearing Zhang Chengze admit it outright, how could she not be angry? She harbored resentment, saying:

'Du Guan, that old fool, is useless; he even pried open a coffin and took the Mountain God Token, yet he could still be captured. Tell me, if he were useless, why would you steal his Mountain God Token?'

"Is it Zhang Deben?"

Yu Die's eyebrows twitched slightly, a myriad of tangled thoughts surfacing in her mind. After a short while, she shook her head and, making a silent guess, said:

"No, it couldn't be him!"

The Ghost-Blocking Wall Technique is not a powerful spell; it's merely an unorthodox, fringe method. Any cultivator who has crossed the cultivation threshold and obtained the Ghost-Blocking Wall cultivation method can, if willing to spend a little time, learn it quite easily.

Zhang Deben is a Mountain God; knowing the Ghost-Blocking Wall Technique is not outlandish.

But the problem is that Zhang Deben has only recently become a Mountain God, still merely a sealed deity of the Underworld, and has not yet received the Mountain God Token of Shizi Ling, so he is not truly a Mountain God.

He cannot wield the divine power belonging to a Mountain God; even the Ghost-Blocking Wall, being a fringe technique, Zhang Deben could not manifest.

Let alone.

The Ghost-Blocking Wall Technique before her, bluntly speaking, was already nearing the pinnacle in her eyes; few cultivators can cast Ghost-Blocking Wall in broad daylight, and manage to do so while the outside is noisy yet nothing is heard inside.

Thus, the power of this Ghost-Blocking Wall Technique—no, its terrifying nature—could not possibly be achieved by someone like Zhang Deben, who has just become Shizi Ling's Mountain God.

Suddenly,

A silhouette flickered in Yu Die's mind, murmuring, "Is it him?"

She couldn't help recalling how, out of nowhere in Shizi Ling, someone rescued her from Hu Hui's sharp claws, dealt with Hu Hui's hand, and without hesitation handed her the Mountain God Token.

"At first I also suspected it was your father's handiwork, after all your father became our Shizi Ling's Mountain God and should have divine abilities. The Du family had the nerve to cause trouble at our house, so it was fitting for your father to deal with them!"

Li Ping snorted, glanced sideways at Zhang Guilian, and saw her flattery‑laced smile, as if she didn't understand the meaning of her gaze. One could only say Zhang Guilian's skin was unusually thick; Li Ping even wondered whether Zhang Guilian had been taken in by her man's parents, and said:

"Last night I asked your father about this, and he said he didn't do it!"

According to what her man said in his dream last night, he only held the title, and before refining the Mountain God Token, he was just an ordinary ghost, with no mystery at all.

Although she hated the deeds of Zhang Guilian's family, she had no way to deal with them and could only watch them swagger.

"Not my father?"

Zhang Chengze's face was full of puzzlement; it was hard for him to believe, but these words came from his mother. He could doubt anyone, but he absolutely could not…

"Mother, if it wasn't my father, then who was?"

"Indeed, our family are just ordinary hunters, never knowing cultivators; apart from my father, who else would use a technique against the Du father and son?"

Zhang Chengyong echoed.

"I think I know who it is!"

Yu Die suddenly spoke, seeing everyone's gaze turn to her, and without beating around the bush, said directly: "Second Brother Zhang, do you still remember what I told you yesterday?"

"Yesterday's words?" Zhang Chengyong was first stunned, then recovered, exclaiming: "Madam Yu, the one you mentioned to deal with the Du father and son, could it be the mysterious person who once saved your life in Shizi Ling?"

Yu Die nodded.

"But who is this mysterious person?"

Zhang Chengyong asked in confusion.

Yu Die was speechless.

"Is it him?"

Liu Dongzhu saw a silhouette flash in her mind.

"De Ben's daughter‑in‑law, De Ben's daughter‑in‑law!"

A Zhang Family member rushed over.

Li Ping exclaimed in surprise, "Facai, what's wrong?"

"De Ben's daughter‑in‑law, the County Magistrate, the County Magistrate has arrived, you go welcome them quickly!"

This novel you have reached

Zhang Facai said excitedly.

"The County Magistrate has arrived?"

Li Ping was startled instantly.

Not only Li Ping, but the other Zhang Family members around wore shocked faces; their Zhang Family Village lies in a remote, impoverished mountain region, and throughout the year, apart from tax collectors, few officials ever come to their village.

As for the County Magistrate?

He has never come before!

Zhang Chengze subconsciously turned to Zhang Chengyong, muttering: "Why would the County Magistrate leave the county seat and come to our Zhang Family Village?"

"Brother, don't look at me; you don't know how I could possibly know?"

Zhang Chengyong forced a wry smile; he frequently traveled between the county seat and Zhang Family Village, and in the county he had a circle of senior brothers, giving him some connections, but the County Magistrate was beyond his reach.

Yu Die, pondering, said: "I think your County Magistrate's visit to your Zhang Family Village this time is aimed at your newly appointed Mountain God of Shizi Ling!"

"Targeting my father?"

Zhang Chengze was startled, about to ask Yu Die about the County Magistrate's purpose.

Is it good or bad?

Yu Die, as if she had anticipated, said: "It should be a good intention!"

"Good intention?"

Zhang Chengze instantly breathed a sigh of relief; he hadn't forgotten the one absurd condition after another Luo Liang had set out yesterday, and he was quite worried that a County Magistrate who appears only once every few decades suddenly rushing to Zhang Family Village must have the same purpose as Luo Liang.

Li Ping said directly, "Alright, Chengze, no more nonsense, let's hurry to welcome the County Magistrate, and don't keep the County Magistrate waiting!"

"Alright!"

Zhang Chengze rose, about to summon everyone to go welcome the County Magistrate—cannot lose propriety—when his peripheral vision caught the Du father and son still locked in a dragon‑tiger clash, and he worried:

"What about that father‑son pair?"

Yu Die said, "No need to worry. The one who cast the spell on that father‑son pair is no ordinary person; anyone who has undergone his ghost‑wall technique, even cultivators, find it hard to escape. As for them? They'll probably be stuck for three days and three nights!"

(End of chapter)