Yinshan Record

Chapter 83 Catching a turtle in a urn
The centurion of the Imperial Guards saw Su Che from a great distance.

The centurion had already seen the appearance of this young master Su San, and it was absolutely no problem to describe him as handsome, dashing, and debonair.

What's even more lamentable is that while the exterior is beautiful, the interior is... something else entirely.

To the centurion's surprise, Young Master Su was seen with his arm around a burly man, looking quite intimate.

Is this a change of taste?

The centurion fell into deep thought, but as he pondered, the more he looked at the big man, the more suspicious he became.

Its demonic aura was concealed, while its essence was exposed; it was clearly a seventh-rank demon who had undergone transformation and rebirth into human form.

No, someone who can conceal their demonic energy to such an extent is definitely not a prodigy with only seventh-grade cultivation.

Even higher.

The centurion waved to the guard beside him, who immediately covered his sleeve with his own. The two clasped hands and exchanged gestures under the cover of their sleeves.

Many years ago, a high-ranking official in the Imperial Guard, who had started as a livestock trader, modified the hand gestures that livestock traders used to haggle over prices into a sign language system. Thanks to this predecessor, the Imperial Guard members can now spend less money than others when buying cattle and horses.

The centurion's gestures were clear: the matter involved the deputy commander of the criminal justice department, and the other side had a powerful demon. He needed to quickly consult Eunuch Feng for instructions.

The imperial guards' qilin robes were already conspicuous, and coupled with the dangerous aura that a centurion of the imperial guards had cultivated over many years of professional service, Su Che spotted him at a glance.

“Brother, wait a moment. That’s my friend over there. I’ll go and greet them.”

Old Song, the coffin shop owner, had already finished greeting the martial arts figures who came to say hello, and stood aside listening to the conversation between Su Che and the bull demon, who were like brothers.

Liu Yidao, Yue Buqun, and now Zuo Lengchan has appeared. Song Qi felt that the person in front of him was somewhat problematic.

While others may only have one incarnation, this one is practically a thousand-faced gentleman.

Su Che walked over and greeted the centurion.

"This humble servant greets you..."

The commander of the Imperial Guards, unsure of Su Che's temperament, immediately prepared to clasp his hands in a salute.

"Haha, we're brothers, why be so polite with me, Zuo Lengchan? The Three Mountains and Five Peaks are all one."

Su Che walked over and grabbed the sleeve of the centurion.

"Did you see that over there?"

"I have already informed Mr. Feng and Mr. Shi, so please rest assured."

Su Che admired him in his heart. No wonder he was a professional. He could understand the meaning behind the words and arranged everything for him without saying a word.

"Give me some face, is it alright if I take him with me?"

"It's all up to you."

Old Niu listened intently, thinking to himself how much influence the Northern Mang Ghost Ancestral Palace had. Despite being a force from the Northern Wei, it could actually command the respect of the Liang imperial guards.

It must be really comfortable for people up here.

Old Niu suddenly recalled his arduous path of cultivation, and sorrow welled up in his heart. All his unspoken words turned into a sigh.

"Brother, it's all settled."

Su Che walked back and waved to the bull demon.

"Brother, what a big face! That's a centurion of the Imperial Guards! I heard back in the mountains that these people eat cattle without spitting out the bones."

"It's just a small matter. These are all rumors from outsiders. Actually, they are very funny and have a very pleasant way of speaking."

Su Che said something to Song Qi.

"Mr. Song, I'll be going now."

Why are you leaving? You haven't given me the Xuan You Dao Zhen Dan yet.

Old Song, the coffin shop owner, was about to call out to Su Che, but when he saw a guard dressed in a Qilin robe staring fiercely at them from the other side, he temporarily stopped himself.

Anyway, the Xuan You Dao Zhen Dan comes in pairs. Without the Xuan You Dan in his own possession, the Dao Zhen Dan in Liu Yidao's hand is of no use.

The armored soldiers, having received orders from the imperial guards, naturally made way for Su Che, who then led the old ox towards the city.

The two walked and talked. "Brother, why didn't you stay in the city? What are you doing out here?"

The old ox looked around, his brows furrowed.

"Sir, is someone following us?"

"Have it?"

"Two figures are watching us from behind..."

"Oh, it's nothing, it's normal, everything's normal. Why aren't you staying in the isolated city?"

"There's no one left in Duju City. Some time ago, the Black Mountain Monster invited all the demon kings to a gathering, saying there were some changes. Lord Dushan didn't go at the time. Later, those demon kings all joined forces with the Black Mountain Monster, so Lord Dushan abandoned his family business, and Duju City fell into the hands of the Black Mountain Monster."

So that's how it is. Su Che guessed that the Black Mountain Monster probably used some means to unite or control the demon kings of Xuan Mountain. Dushan Jun had been in contact with the Buddhist sect, and he would take the lead in running away whenever he encountered such a situation.

"Then they started talking about some kind of sacrifice, arresting people everywhere. Everyone who was in charge of the city was arrested, some were skinned alive, some were tortured to death. When I saw that things were going badly, I took my men and found a chance to sneak out."

Old Niu frowned and asked, "Why do I feel like there are more people watching us again?"

"It's normal, everything's normal. Let me take you to find a place to rest first."

"No need to rest, sir. I'll also tell you something: the Black Mountain Monster is going to sacrifice all the living people in the entire Shanyin County. He's deliberately driving people into the county town. Shanyin County is not a place to stay for long."

"is it?"

Su Che thought about it carefully and realized that the two parts matched up.

A mad demon attacks humanity, and a demon king suddenly unites.

The most reasonable explanation is that the Black Mountain Monster, the demonic spirit of this old lion, is preparing to use a grand and bloody ritual to complete the control over the old lion's remains.

The attack on the surrounding area was just the beginning of the plan; he needed a centralized location for the sacrifice, and Shanyin County was much more suitable than Duju City.

As for the other demon kings in Xuanshan, they have probably all been brought under his command by either coercion or enticement.

Looking back now, the farce of the ghosts entering the pagoda at Kulin Temple may have followed the same logic: by sacrificing the ghosts, he achieved some kind of goal.

No wonder the Yin-Yang Dharma King forbade his subordinates from participating in this matter, and Lady Xue, who aspired to become a righteous god, avoided him like the plague.

They should either know or guess the problem.

"Sir, you've taken the wrong road. The county government office is just ahead."

"It's normal, everything's normal. I'm the one with more face, let's go inside and rest."

As Su Che spoke, he bowed to the three people standing in front of the county government office in turn.

"Greetings, Lord Feng, Grand Chancellor, and Chief Justice."

Feng Buxing, Yu Ze, and Shi Chibao were already waiting at the entrance of the county government office.

"Truly, heroes emerge from among the young." Yu Ze looked at Su Che and praised, "With such capable soldiers as Shi Tixing and Su Lixing, I can rest easy."

Shi Chibao glanced at Su Che and found that this young master Su was quite well-mannered, with a grateful look on his face. He cursed him inwardly as a slippery fellow.

The Great Liang Dynasty had a long-standing tradition of valuing civil officials over military ones, and veteran soldiers and elite troops often spoke with a hint of cursing.

The Su family of Duling was a military family in Yongzhou, and they were somewhat at odds with powerful families in the court, such as the Yu family of Yingchuan. Yu Ze may not have meant any harm in his words, but saying such things at such a critical juncture still made people think that this Censor-in-Chief was not very competent.

"Put it on."

At Feng Buxing's command, imperial guards immediately attached fire-elemental spirit ropes forged from red copper to the bull demon's body.
This thing is similar to the yellow rope of Young Master Su, but it is more domineering. It can imprison the energy of demons and monsters. Once it is trapped and killed, even a fifth-rank great demon will have to obediently lie down.

"Hey, what's going on?"

Upon seeing this infamous instrument of torture, the bull demon immediately turned away, but its eyes were fixed on Feng Xingbu.

“It’s normal, it’s all normal,” Su Che said from the side. “These are all routine procedures, just bear with it.”

Seeing this, the bull demon knew perfectly well that he had been tricked.

He was a true hero after all; his eyes were bloodshot as he choked back his neck and shouted.

"I have secrets, I'm going to inform on someone! Don't do anything, don't do anything, I have more confidential information to report!"

(End of this chapter)