Yinshan Record

Chapter 442 Parting Gift: The Traitor is Me (Part 1)

Regardless of the size of a city, the area near a temple is usually the most bustling place.

There's a simple economic theory behind this: everyone encounters difficulties, and praying to gods and Buddhas is arguably the simplest yet most useless way to solve problems.

A sense of wishful thinking, believing that there is some unseen force that can help them get through difficulties effortlessly.

It's nothing more than burning an incense stick and kowtowing a few times.

This is true even in a world without gods or Buddhas, let alone in this world where a true god is in charge.
The City God Temple in Cizhou was built to be quite grand. After all, this person was theoretically the City God of a prefecture, and his position was second only to the City God of Jiankang. In terms of the divine way, he was a regional governor.

However, Su Che knew that the current Cizhou City God Temple was only superficially impressive; in reality, there was no true god residing there.

The gods are connected to the state of the world and people's hearts. The current state of the Great Liang is not a recent phenomenon. The city god who was in charge of Cizhou disappeared decades ago, and no one has been able to take up the position of city god since.

Even a ghost cultivator like Madam Xue, who aspires to the path of divinity, is eyeing the position of the Canglang Water God, which shows just how dangerous the position of the City God of the State truly is.

The public resentment was immense, and hastily ascending the throne would inevitably lead to self-destruction.

However, although the Cizhou City God Temple has no real god presiding over it, there are still imperial guards on duty every day, just in case some evil spirits take advantage of the fact that the City God's position is unclaimed to cause trouble and harm the people.

Of course, none of this mattered to the devout people; the Cizhou City God Temple was still thriving with incense offerings and bustling with business at its entrance.

Su Che felt that even if you were to announce to the world and clearly tell the people that there was no true god presiding over the Cizhou City God Temple, it would not affect the prosperity of the place.

Firstly, the Liang Dynasty court has lost much of its credibility, and secondly, there may be more people who are here with the intention of supporting a neglected party.

What if the official proclamation is wrong, and there really is a City God of Jiankang Prefecture? Wouldn't that be a huge windfall?

Such is the nature of human nature.

As Su Che entered the City God Temple, the guards who had been keeping watch there came up to pay their respects.

"This humble servant pays his respects to the Judge of the Court of Justice."

The guard responsible for watching over this place was short and stocky, with a very upright appearance. He possessed a cultivation level of Rank 7, which meant he had already transcended the mortal realm and was on the verge of cultivating true immortality through the illusion of reality.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Su Che said something.

"I don't dare to do this in a humble position."

"The brothers who were supposed to be off duty tonight can all rest. I have some loose ends to take care of here."

"Yes, Li Xing, I'll take my men and retreat now."

"There's no need to rush. Let's wait until sunset before we leave."

Su Che gently patted his shoulder.

Do it with your heart.

"I humble my position and take orders."

The imperial guards agreed, and Su Che left the City God Temple in Cizhou.

Why does the little fox always choose such important places for its gatherings? Why doesn't it go to the City God Temple in Jiankang? Legend has it that the City God there is comparable to an immortal.

Today, Cizhou City exudes an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

Perhaps another day we can find a suitable candidate and appoint a few City Gods.

Su Che looked at the pedestrians and shops on the streets of Cizhou. The world and people's hearts were so corrupted. The human world and the divine path were already in such a state. What would the ancient heavenly court that Zhongyuan wanted to revive be like?
Young Master Su walked without stopping, but when he came to a fruit stall, he casually asked for a bag of freshly picked tangerines.

The direction he was heading was Wang Jian's residence in Cizhou City.

Before even reaching the Langya Wang clan's villa in Cizhou, the streets had already been completely cleared, with Wang clan's private soldiers, clad in black armor, standing everywhere. Each of them led a fine steed, with quivers and bow cases visible on the saddles, their fiery red parasites gleaming like flames.

Several sharp-eyed Xuanjia knights spotted Su Che and each of them cautiously took a few steps back, not daring to provoke him.

They had all witnessed the power and prestige of Young Master Su and knew that it was best not to clash with him in their small territory of Cizhou.

Some quick-witted individuals rushed forward to greet him, while others with nimble legs ran inside to inform Wang Jian. "This humble servant greets Lord Li Xing."

"Moving?"

Su Che's eyes swept across the knight's face, which showed a hint of shame.

With a formidable enemy at hand, the private army of the Langya Wang clan is the strongest force in Cizhou City on the surface. Now that the enemy's advance is still far away, they are already planning to desert.

Anyone would feel a little ashamed.

"Haha, I was wondering why there were two magpies chattering at the door this morning. It turns out it's Brother Su. I apologize for not being a good host..."

Wang Jian's voice was cheerful and unrestrained, as if the news from Jiankang had granted him a pardon. Indeed, this Chief Clerk Wang was not particularly talented, and it was really asking too much of him to stay in Cizhou.

"I heard you were leaving, so I went and bought you some oranges."

Su Che handed the bag of oranges to Wang Jian, looking at him with suspicion on his face.

These oranges were just ordinary oranges, of course. Young Master Su didn't want to try to get something for nothing by saying something like, "Don't move around here, I'm going to buy some oranges."

He simply wanted to meet Wang Jian.

"Ah, the feeling of feet evokes emotion, the feeling of feet evokes emotion."

Wang Jian carefully accepted the orange that Su Che handed him with both hands.

"Is your wife alright?"

Wang Jian froze, his hands holding the oranges still.

"Ah, Brother Su, what do you mean by that..."

"Some things are known only to heaven, earth, and me." Su Che smiled and said, "No other meaning, just that we are old friends, and I've come to see you off."

"But my wife is still nowhere to be found. Please keep a close eye on her, Brother Su..."

“I’ve remembered that trip to the East China Sea.”

Su Che gently patted Wang Jian's shoulder. Although he didn't use any magic power, he still managed to make this member of the Langya Wang clan feel weak in the knees.

"I will definitely repay this kindness in the future."

"There must be some misunderstanding here..."

"Misunderstanding? What do you mean by misunderstanding?"

Su Che leaned forward and whispered in Wang Jian's ear.

"Taking away Prince Wuling and me, Su, are trivial matters. But colluding with the demons of the East Sea, I wonder if you have too much courage or if the Wang and Xie families are simply throwing away their good lives and can't think straight?"

Wang Jian's face turned as red as a pig's liver. He took several steps back, his eyes trembling as he dared not look at Su Che.

They've been tricked; they really are the demons of the East Sea.

Looking at Wang Jian's performance at this moment, Su Che finally felt completely confident.

Madam Xie had connections with the demon clan of the East Sea, and Wang Jian was fully aware of this throughout the entire process.

He's truly a fool, not worth discussing anything with.

How could Madam Xie, such a shrewd person, have dragged Wang Jian, this good-for-nothing, into this mess?

There is a way to die.

"May your journey be long and prosperous, Brother Wang. We'll have plenty of time to reminisce about the past later."

Su Che bowed with his hands clasped and swaggered away.

(End of this chapter)