The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 31 Demon Pill
Even without his official hat, Magistrate Fang's temples were still soaked with sweat, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down but he couldn't make a sound.

He couldn't help but look at his hands—those soft hands that had once intertwined with his fingers, which in the past often made him feel as if he were seeing his deceased wife. But now, the tender touches in his memories had become the spitting of a venomous snake.

He dared not imagine what would have happened if the Taoist priest's cultivation had been slightly inferior, preventing him from seeing the heavenly secrets earlier, or if the Taoist priest had been more hard-hearted and had not made a special trip to come.

Because every word of Du Yuan's previous instructions was etched into his heart—he was the parent of a county, and the lives and well-being of more than ten thousand people were in his hands!
Du Yuan also asked him if, after spending so much time together, he really hadn't discovered any problems at all.

The answer is, in fact, yes.

For example, many doctors said that his mother's chronic illness was incurable because it was caused by the excessive hardship and toil she endured in her early years so that her son could go to school.

But ever since she—no, it—came, my mother's chronic illness has not only been greatly relieved, but she has even regained the strength of a young adult.

However, he also noticed the occasional sickly flush. But after asking the doctor and being told that he was fine, he didn't investigate further.

For example, every night he would find its body unusually cold, sometimes even like raw iron. But he still ignored it after hearing it say that its parents were cruel and had beaten and punished it so much that it had developed a chronic illness.

For example, it clearly enjoys drinking alcohol, but it has an absolute aversion to realgar wine, like the plague.
All of this made Magistrate Fang feel increasingly ashamed.

There were many suspicious points, but he never investigated them thoroughly.

This is truly a disgrace to the people of Qing County and to His Majesty!

After his sore throat flared up again, Magistrate Fang suddenly remembered the Emperor's guidance he had received in the Golden Palace years ago.

Looking at Du Yuan again, an idea suddenly popped into his mind.

If such a highly accomplished Taoist priest could be valued by His Majesty and appointed as the National Preceptor, wouldn't that be a blessing for all the people of the world?
In this way, I will not have failed the Emperor's great favor.

Thinking of this, Magistrate Fang knelt down before Du Yuan again and said:

"Master Daoist, I know my sins are grave, so I intend to imprison myself in the capital to confess my crimes to His Majesty. But you are different, Master Daoist. You are a highly accomplished Daoist with great supernatural powers. I humbly request that you escort me to the capital with you."

"At that time, this humble official wishes to request that His Majesty grant him an audience with the Taoist priest!"

Are you sending me to Beijing?

Although Du Yuan's plan was indeed to make herself more and more widely known so as to complete her ultimate plan of returning home.

But the problem is, at this point, it's a situation fraught with danger.

Kyoto, a place teeming with demons and monsters, is not a place I could easily set foot in.
Du Yuan was a cautious person. He went to the execution ground earlier for two reasons: first, he was already in the game, and to be on the safe side, he had to use this opportunity to ensure his safety; second, he deliberately tested the knife with another person and only dared to move forward after finding that it really couldn't hurt him.

Du Yuan would definitely not be willing to go to Kyoto now.

Because Du Yuan couldn't afford to lose, he didn't know if he could ever go back, but he knew that if he died, he would truly lose everything.

At that time, who will be able to take care of the elderly in the family in my place?
Therefore, Du Yuan immediately shook her head and said:

"This humble monk has no interest in this matter; Your Excellency, please do not try to persuade me further."

The magistrate was extremely anxious. In all these years, he had only met one truly accomplished master, Du Yuan. He figured the Emperor's side was probably much the same. Under such circumstances, how could he let such a highly skilled and righteous master as Du Yuan leave?

"Daoist Master, please do this for the sake of all living beings!"

Du Yuan raised her voice and said:
"This is precisely for the sake of all living beings!"

Its cry was like the cry of a crane piercing the clouds, startling the swallows perched on the beams into a flurry of flight.

The magistrate of Fang County was also stunned.

Then, with a bitter expression, he thought, "Does His Majesty really not have this destiny?"

"Master, are you really not going to Kyoto?"

Du Yuan looked at him and said:
"It may or may not. The outcome is not up to me, but rather to where this world's turmoil is headed and how it will be resolved!"

Magistrate Fang's mouth opened and closed repeatedly.

He sensed something in those words, something that terrified him.

This gave rise to an extremely rebellious thought—perhaps the calamities of this world are no longer something that a mere emperor can control!?
The thought startled him, and he quickly lowered his head. Yet, he couldn't help but let it sink deeper into his heart.

After much deliberation, Magistrate Fang made a difficult request:

"Master, you are a reclusive sage, while I am but a mortal. I do not know what you have seen, nor do I understand what you say. But may I ask you, if it comes to a critical moment, to help the people?"

Du Yuan chuckled and patted his shoulder, saying:
That's why I said you would be a good official.

After saying that, Du Yuan earnestly gave him instructions:

"That's right, don't forget what happened today. Otherwise, you won't escape your fate!"

"The corrupt official shall remember this!"

After nodding, Du Yuan said to him, "You don't really need to imprison yourself. After all, you've already learned your lesson, and no one else has suffered."

He also gained some extraordinary abilities.

He wanted to say more to Magistrate Fang.

Du Yuan waved her hand to stop him, saying:

"Besides, what will happen to Qing County if you leave?"

Magistrate Fang had nothing more to say and could only repeatedly bow in respect.

Not long after that.

A commotion arose from the people not far away.

It turns out that the people who went to the mass grave outside the city have returned.

They not only brought back the decapitation sword, but they also dragged back the carcass of the giant python.

Such a huge python, being a demon in disguise, naturally attracted crowds of people eager to see it.

When Du Yuan arrived after hearing the news.

The crowd hurriedly shouted:

"The Taoist priest is here! Make way for him!"

A wide road suddenly appeared from the crowd. Du Yuan thanked them and went inside.

This python was about 23 feet long. It doesn't sound like much, but when you actually saw it, it was quite eye-catching.

Fortunately, there were quite a few onlookers, so the python was dragged back without much trouble. At this moment, Du Yuan was completely surrounded by a crowd of people. Some even dared to poke the snake's body with bamboo poles.

Magistrate Fang did not come over, because this monster was somehow related to him.

Du Yuan stood before the corpse, curiously examining the monstrous body.

Suddenly, Du Yuan pointed to a spot and said:
"Come on, cut it open here!"

Immediately, a wealthy martial artist drew his sword and stepped forward, but the skilled craftsman's finely crafted waist knife, made of good iron, slipped and flew across the dead python's scales, producing sparks.

This startled everyone, causing them to fall silent.

They all immediately looked at the neatly severed head and neck of the monster, and finally looked at Du Yuan in amazement.

The Taoist priest so easily killed this monster from a distance!

Du Yuan smiled and shook her head, saying:
"Use that guillotine!"

Wu Dadao suddenly realized and stepped forward. Five thousand taels was no small sum, and Qian Youcai naturally didn't have that much on him, so the knife was still in his hands for the time being.

The deposit has already been paid.

After spitting on each of his hands, he shouted and stabbed with the decapitation blade.

Completely different from what was expected, this time, the scales that could render even a finely forged waist knife ineffective actually slid into the decapitation blade as easily as cutting tofu.

Seeing this, Qian Youcai immediately straightened his chest.

No wonder the Taoist priest praised this knife; it was definitely worth the money!

Meanwhile, Wu Dadao nearly collapsed on the demonic python due to exhaustion.

Fortunately, he managed to stay calm in time and didn't make a fool of himself.

With an awkward smile, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately reached into the cut and pulled out a rather round and clear bead.

The bead had already rolled into Wu Dadao's palm, and everyone craned their necks to look at it, only to find that the bead actually shone with a moon-like radiance under the bright sunlight.

Unlike the foul-smelling corpse of the demonic python, this bead has a refreshing fragrance!
After examining the beads with surprise for a moment, Wu Dadao hurriedly wiped his hands and the beads and presented them to Du Yuan with both hands:
"Taoist Priest!"

After Du Yuan took it, she held up the bead and smiled at everyone:

"It seems that this wicked creature has actually cultivated something. Come, everyone, please take a look. This is the wicked creature's demon core!"

The crowd, who were already eagerly waiting, moved even closer to get a better look.

To their surprise, Du Yuan suddenly asked them:
"May I ask you gentlemen, who can fetch a bowl of clean water for this humble Taoist priest?"

(End of this chapter)