Yinshan Record

Chapter 12 Divination Demon
Su Che placed the items he obtained from Kulin Zen Temple in Changying Treasury in Shanyin County, a decision he made after considering it last night.

"Although I don't know what this thing is, it is obviously very important to that one-eyed monster, otherwise he wouldn't have come back to me after suffering a loss."

"There's no such thing as being a thief for a thousand days and guarding against thieves for a thousand days. That monster must have the ability to sense my broken body. Rather than wasting the treasures I got from Huang Tiandao on my body, I should find the best use for them."

So Su Che made a list for himself.

What is the most important thing right now?
Spiritual practice.

Having found a direction in cultivation, with the sword box in hand and the methods of the "Ding Tian Jun Sword," it's impossible to become an expert overnight or achieve results in a short time, but it's still a step-by-step process of moving forward.

Therefore, spiritual practice can be temporarily put aside.

What is the second question?
That means I must do a good job as the county magistrate of Shanyin County.

In life, in work, and in officialdom, the first thing is to grasp the key points.

What is the key to being a good county lieutenant in Shanyin County?
How to get along with the demons around you.

If I can handle them, then I, as the county constable, can act with complete freedom.

If not handled properly, it could even affect one's core interests.

That is, spiritual practice.

Whether the person at Kulin Temple said it was bad luck or just a coincidence, the relationship between the two sides is now somewhat awkward.

Therefore, it is the next key area to be addressed.

What about those trivial, insignificant things next?
That was the case of the theft of the treasury silver.

If two taels of silver are lost every day, and Magistrate Jiang and Registrar Tian each contribute a little, the sum will be raised.

Su Che flipped through the case file once.

I don't have a criminal investigation background, and among so-called detective novels, the only one I've read in its entirety is Neil Gaiman's "A Study of the Green Letter," which is a Cthulhu fanfiction based on Sherlock Holmes and belongs to the fantasy genre.

This case may also involve so-called demons and monsters, which connects to Kyogoku Natsuhiko in the East, and I have even less to say about it.

"Therefore, we need to combine these two things into one. If the treasury silver case is not solved, it's just a minor issue. Even if the people below are willing to use chrysanthemums to transport the silver, they're just making a meager living. Old Jiang and Old Tian are the real scourge."

"The situation in Shanyin County is already very clear. It is their true nature to oppress the people, and they will stay as far away as possible from demons and monsters. We need to find a way to make them stand against each other so that things can get done."

If that one-eyed monster could turn the Changying Warehouse in Shanyin County upside down, and ideally empty the dilapidated warehouse completely, it would be a great help to me.

Su Che did not call the pageboy, but changed into a blue robe that scholars were used to wearing, and waited for the yamen runner to return at the entrance of the county government office.

The case of the treasury silver is one thing, but the old woman's matter cannot be ignored.

"This humble servant greets Your Excellency, the County Commandant."

Not long after, the constable Zhang San returned with a ruddy complexion.

"How much silver did the Qi family give you?"

Su Che could tell from his demeanor that he would be returning with a full load this time.

Given the prevailing atmosphere in Shanyin County, expecting a yamen runner to be pure and untainted by the corruption is simply insane.

Zhang San blushed, wondering what the newly appointed county magistrate was up to.
The reason they asked me to teach that old woman a lesson shouldn't be because they resented me for taking money from someone else.

Could it be that you want me to share some of the silver the Qi family gave me with him? I heard he comes from a wealthy family and probably wouldn't care about this money.

He was also quick-witted and knew that he couldn't keep Su Che waiting too long, so he immediately revealed the truth.

"Your Excellency, the young master of the Qi family gave me one tael of silver and also made an appointment to treat me to drinks."

One tael of silver is equivalent to a thousand coins. Hehe, the Qi family is quite generous. A small business like tung oil trading can't afford such generosity.

"Go back and change into these clothes. If anyone asks, just say I asked you to come with me for a walk, to act as my personal attendant." "Understood. Don't mention the old lady of the Qi family beating the grievance drum to anyone. But if Magistrate Jiang or Registrar Tian ask..."

"You're smart to think of this. If Magistrate Jiang and Registrar Tian ask, just tell them you were dozing off when the sound of the grievance drum woke you up and you happened to see the newly appointed County Lieutenant Su chasing after that old woman."

"I was the one who drove him away, understand?"

"I understand, I'll go change my clothes right away."

Su Che looked at Zhang San with great satisfaction. As the saying goes, there is bound to be a beautiful flower within ten steps. He was thinking about Lu Qianhou and Wang Po yesterday, and now there is a ready-made candidate.
Before long, Zhang San changed his clothes. He had a yellow cloth wrapped around his head and was wearing a hemp garment, looking quite like a servant.

"Young Master Su, shall we head south?"

"Yes, go south. Do you believe in Taoism?"

“My family has been worshipping the Celestial Master since my grandfather’s time.”

"I also believe in Taoism," Su Che said casually. "I don't recall there being any Taoist temples in this county. Where do you usually go to worship the Celestial Master?"

“There are indeed no Taoist temples in Shanyin, but since the year before last, a Taoist master from Huangtiandao has been coming here to cure diseases with talisman water. He usually lives in the City God Temple.”

Huang Tiandao's people? Then I should find an opportunity to pay them a proper visit.

"You should know most or less about the Qi family's affairs, right?"

"what?"

"I would also like to ask you to answer my question."

“A petty person will speak without reservation.”

"Shanyin County isn't very big, and there are only a few people in the town. If someone's family is really being haunted by monsters, it shouldn't be hard to hide it from others, especially since you're a yamen runner. Tell me, what have you heard about this?"

"My lord, you have a wonderful plan."

Zhang San first offered a small compliment, and then continued.

"The Qi family in the south of the city is not actually famous. Their tung oil business is just a small-scale operation, barely enough to make ends meet. But three months ago, a strange thing happened to them."

It seems that the monster entered the house about three months ago.

"Their wife seemed to have changed overnight. She talked nonsense for several days, and then she started to dress up."

"It's normal for ordinary people to dress up, but his wife's makeup is designed to look like a man's."

I get really interested when you talk about this.

"What do you mean by 'going for a man'?"

"I started dressing like a man, changing my clothes, shoes and hats, and dressing myself up as a handsome young man every day."

That could also be because her husband wanted to try something different.

“If it were just that, it wouldn’t be so strange. But after she dressed up as a man, she went to the streets every day to tell fortunes and interpret characters,” Zhang San said mysteriously. “And she was very accurate.”

"You've had it done too?"

Zhang San nodded very solemnly.

Is it accurate?

"Very accurate."

"Then we should definitely go and meet them."

(End of this chapter)