Yinshan Record

Chapter 57 If it's not possible, then let's try.
Su Che returned to the county government office under the cover of night, and of course, he did not forget to take advantage of the Azure Emperor's wine cup to study the "Zhou Jue Yin Tian Secret Manual" properly.

After absorbing all the streams of imperial essence, the number of talismans in his sea of ​​consciousness increased from seven to twelve.

Although his training speed had slowed down, Su Che felt that he could still complete Yu Lizi's requirements before the deadline.

Condensing twenty-one talismans is not a difficult task.

After another night of training, Su Che, with thick dark circles under his eyes, went to pay his respects to Commander Shi.

The sun rises, and the clouds part to reveal a vast expanse.

Commander Shi was practicing his internal energy in the courtyard of the county government office, with two imperial guards dressed in qilin robes standing beside him, their hands on their swords.

A locust tree, so large it takes two people to encircle it, stood there, its canopy like a pavilion, shading the rising sun from Commander Shi.

Su Che couldn't help but think of a question: this Commander Shi looked to be a master of around the sixth rank, while the two guards beside him were only around the eighth rank.

With such a protective law, who is actually protecting whom?
Shi Chibao was nearing middle age and practiced his skills diligently every day. He was very familiar with the rules within the Imperial Guard.

Getting promoted often requires the help of others, but to do a good job and stay in that position steadily, you still need to have good health and good skills.

"Is County Magistrate Su very tired lately? He looks so exhausted."

"I've been busy reviewing case files lately, and my health is really failing me."

Shi Chibao looked at the young man in front of him who seemed unsteady on his feet and had dark circles under his eyes.

You can't be this tired from reading case files, you must have had some intense exercise tonight.

Sigh, when you're young you don't know how to take care of your health, and when you're old you regret it.

"Alas, County Magistrate Su should take better care of his health."

Shi Chibao picked up a cup of ginseng tea from the side and took a sip: "County Commandant Su, about the matter I mentioned last time, I wonder how your preparations are going?"

"what?"

"It's about investigating those people in Shanyin County who are secretly colluding with evil spirits."

Shi Chibao glanced at Su Che.

"I am still investigating."

"No need to check."

Shi Chibao let out a long sigh, leaving Su Che wondering what this Imperial Guard Commander was really up to.

"Look at this, I was actually thinking of doing my brother a favor and asking Su Xian to help with household expenses, but who would have thought that something like this would happen."

Shi Chibao handed over a piece of yellow silk, which was covered in ink stains and had been stamped.

Su Che quickly glanced through the silk letter.

The person who wrote the letter was Yu Ze, the Imperial Censor who was in charge of the governorship of Cizhou. Yu Ze's letter on silk contained about two and a half things.

First, the imperial guards will be arriving in Shanyin County soon, so please have the prefectural commander make preparations to receive them in advance.

Secondly, he, Yu Zhongcheng, is leading three thousand armored soldiers and is expected to arrive at Shanyin County in three days. He asked Commander Shi to make preparations in advance for the food and supplies for the men and horses along the way.

The other half of the matter is that the imperial court, specifically Vice Minister Yu Ze, has already finalized the list of those in Shanyin County who are believed to be communicating with demons.

The first one was the county magistrate who had not yet taken office; he had been sentenced to death by hanging and was to be executed in the autumn.

Another family was the Jiang family, who had long occupied Shanyin County. They colluded with the great demon Qingfuzi of Xuanshan, committing heinous crimes. Magistrate Jiang and his two sons were sentenced to beheading, the other men were exiled, the women were sent to the brothel, and all their property was confiscated.

The reason this matter is described as "half a matter" is mainly because the length of Yu Zhongcheng's letter on silk was pitifully short.

"Originally, the Jiang family was involved with the great demon Qing Fuzi, and the Tian family had an unclear relationship with the great demon Yu Tu Jun. Our Imperial Guards had already investigated and found out about this seven or eight years ago. However, since Lord Yu has already set the tone, we should not go beyond this framework."

Shi Chibao looked at the locust tree growing in the county government office, wondering which county magistrate had planted it during his term, probably to bring good luck.

“County Commandant Su, we still need to discuss the arrangements for welcoming Eunuch Feng.”

Shi Chibao said.

All of the above was just a prelude for Master Shi.

Yu Ze's rebellion had nothing to do with Su Che, the county magistrate.

Commander Shi wanted what was behind him.

The matter of welcoming Eunuch Feng could be considered a big deal or a small one.

If it's done well, everyone will be happy. If it's done poorly, pushing Su Che out will leave Eunuch Feng with nothing to say. Thinking of this, Shi Chibao could only sigh.

My official position is supposed to be about slaying demons and catching ghosts, which is easy to deal with, but in the end, it's these superiors who really make things difficult for me.

Alas, what is an official? He's nothing more than a corpse with a mouth under an official's hat.

Shi Chibao inwardly grumbled about the imperial court, but his face remained smiling.

"What does Magistrate Su think?"

"I will do my best to handle this, but Eunuch Feng will be arriving soon, and there is such a big case in the county. I am really at a loss."

“These things are easy to discuss. The men that Eunuch Feng brought this time have changed. There are no longer the original three hundred men. He only brought fifty riders, and they are stationed outside the city and will not enter the city.”

Shi Chibao said with an air of commonplace composure, “But since Eunuch Feng is coming to the city to oversee the overall situation, he probably won’t have many attendants. We just need to give him a proper welcome.”

Fifty people.

Su Che didn't know what to say.

Since it concerned the arrangements of a high-ranking official of the third rank, this eunuch Feng arrived with fifty riders.

Eunuch Feng, you're not just incapable, you're truly capable!

"I understand, I will immediately order someone to carry it out."

"County Commandant Su."

"Please speak, Your Excellency."

"Is there something unclean about the ground in Shanyin County?"

Su Che had no idea what Commander Shi was talking about. Of course, Shanyin County was unclean; monsters had built cities in the mountains. If this place were peaceful and prosperous, why would everyone be gathering here?

"Several martial arts practitioners dressed in black died near the City God Temple last night. A few days ago, a martial arts practitioner also died on the road. If County Magistrate Su has any activities planned in the next few days, you should be extra careful."

"I understand, I understand."

Su Che nodded in agreement.

As the two were talking, a hurried imperial guard rushed in from the outside.

"Your Excellency, Eunuch Feng's cavalry has arrived outside the city gate. We should greet them immediately."

"We've arrived? So fast..."

Shi Chibao swallowed hard.

"Hurry up, get everything tidied up."

Outside Shanyin City, a man wearing a black gauze official hat, cloud-patterned shoes, and an indigo-blue python robe, with a warm white jade pendant hanging at his waist.

He looked like a young man, but a few strands of gray had crept up his temples.

He rode a magnificent black horse, with a large cloth bag hanging on the left side of the saddle, from which drops of filthy blood dripped onto the ground.

"This is Shanyin City. It's quite unremarkable."

He wore a hideous mask that covered the lower half of his face.

Behind him were fifty black-armored knights, dressed in dark lion-man heavy armor, with smooth, calm masks beneath their helmets.

The warhorse beneath him was as dark as the night, with a quiver of arrows hanging on each side of the saddle, and a clump of parasites at the rear of the saddle swaying in the air like wildfire.

"You all have worked hard on this search of the mountains."

The leading eunuch glanced at the black-armored knights behind him.

The elite military force of the Great Liang, "Wuyundu," consists of elites selected from the border troops, each possessing a cultivation level of the seventh rank.

"I only wish to devote my utmost loyalty and wisdom."

The riders responded with a resounding roar. Although their voices were not loud, their deep and chilling tone was still terrifying.

"Okay, let's set up camp."

Feng let out a long laugh.

After galloping all the way, breaking through the Xuan Mountain, and beheading the great demon Qing Fuzi, one should feel a moment of exhilaration.

(End of this chapter)