Fu Leisheng quietly left, following the direction in which Chen Shi had gone.
Chen Shi reached the governnt hall by following the cries of the Black Pot. Hanging high in the hall was the Bright Mirror, the place for ascending to the court to interrogate criminals. Being there, he felt a sense of oppression attack him, causing internal panic. The cases he had previously committed unfolded like a scroll in his mind, vivid and clear.
Chen Shi broke out in cold sweat, nearly ready to kneel on the ground and confess all the cris he had committed over the past two years.
"This governnt office, such an impressive setup!"
He suppressed the palpitations in his heart and surveyed the layout of the governnt office.
Apart from the County Magistrate’s desk and chair, there were also two rows of interrogation batons, regular punishnt sticks and caning rods, and so Xiu Chun Sabers and other weapons. These items were all branded with runes and outlined in cinnabar. Because of frequent use, they emitted an aura of solemnity.
Outside the door, there was also a large drum, with talismans painted on the drum surface. The presence of those who had beaten the drum to declare their grievances lingered, adding to the sense of oppression.
With so many items, a single one wouldn’t cause Chen Shi to feel panic, but the sheer quantity, when gathered together, made criminals confess involuntarily.
The Black Pot seed unaffected and was calling out toward a table on one side of the hall. Chen Shi looked over and saw the Ten Thousand Soul Banner placed on the altar table, still with incense burning.
This treasure had a great attraction to him, as if it were an exceptionally delicious dish, tempting him to devour the wronged souls within the Ten Thousand Soul Banner.
"If I were you, I would never steal the Ten Thousand Soul Banner."
Fu Leisheng’s voice ca, and Chen Shi’s hand, reaching for the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, paused. He turned around, puzzled, and asked, "Mr. Fu, what do you an by that?"
Fu Leisheng smiled and said, "The Ten Thousand Soul Banner serves as the Magical Treasure that defends Xinxiang County, made from the wronged souls of the decapitated people from past generations. Throughout history, the number of extrely vicious people who have died in the east market is uncountable, and their souls have been collected into this banner. Thus, the power of the Ten Thousand Soul Banner is imnsely significant. When facing enemies, even powerful Divinity Transformation and Refining God experts would not be a match if the County Magistrate were to deploy this banner. This treasure is so important that if you take it, there will be no place for you in the entire West Bull New Continent."
Chen Shi withdrew his hand, reluctantly taking one last glance at the Ten Thousand Soul Banner.
He wasn’t greedy for the power of the Ten Thousand Soul Banner; rather, there was a thought in his heart, a burning desire to possess this item. However, after hearing Fu Leisheng’s words, he dismissed the idea.
Seeing him withdraw his hand, Fu Leisheng also secretly sighed in relief and said, "County Magistrate Geng has recently taken office and hasn’t had the chance to perform the Sacrificial Refinent of this treasure. But during the vacancy of the County Magistrate, the County Magistrate managed the Ten Thousand Soul Banner. The County Magistrate will soon arrive here; we should leave quickly to avoid further complications."
Chen Shi followed him, and the two n and the dog quickly left the governnt office.
Chen Shi glanced at Fu Leisheng, feeling quite favorable toward this private academy teacher.
Fu Leisheng, for the sake of these students’ lives, had boldly entered the governnt office. His return must an he planned to eliminate the County Magistrate and his wife, not as despicable as Hu Feifei had described.
"Mr. Fu is only a Scholar; how could he possess such strength?" Chen Shi wondered.
Fu Leisheng sighed, "In one month, two County Magistrates have died; who knows how long the next one appointed by the court will last. Xinxiang County, truly a cursed place for County Magistrates."
Chen Shi thought for a mont; the deaths of these two County Magistrates seed to be related to him.
The previous County Magistrate Zhao was because the Zhao family had fallen, and the reason for the Zhao family’s downfall was that his grandfather had eliminated Governor Zhao.
This current County Magistrate Geng was simply killed by himself.
"Mr. Fu, has the court appointed an Evil Spirit as County Magistrate, has the court decay reached such an extent?" Chen Shi asked.
Fu Leisheng glanced at him, "To be able to say such a thing, you will eventually be another guest on the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, destined to be beheaded."
Despite saying this, Fu Leisheng sighed and added, "Is the court rotten? Heh, it’s more than that. This is clearly a national decay!"
Chen Shi glanced at him, feeling he had the potential to be beheaded alongside him.
They returned to Wencai Academy, where they saw Hu Feifei bullying a big white goose, grabbing its neck, plucking its feathers, with a few other dejected big white geese standing in the corner, probably just beaten.
"Feifei holds grudges!" Chen Shi inwardly shivered.
He, like other students, had once attacked Hu Feifei and feared being revenged by this fox spirit.
Fu Leisheng didn’t act until the fox spirit had beaten them, then finally he revealed the Golden Core, whose radiant light illuminated the surroundings, breaking the talismanic magic on each white goose, returning them to normal.
Being rely youths, they were frightened into hugging each other and weeping bitterly, and so even thanked Fu Leisheng with a bow.
Fu Leisheng laughed and said, "We are all cultivators, turning into a goose is a small matter, why cry over it? You might encounter far more than this in the future."
The students’ faces turned ashen.
"Don’t go ho just yet, the County Magistrate will co by soon, and I’ll have the governnt officials send you ho."
Fu Leisheng said, "Children from the countryside should stay at the academy overnight. The teacher saved your lives, tomorrow have your families send so silver coin here to express gratitude. Understand?"
The people hastily nodded, adhering to his arrangent.
Soon after, a robust male voice was heard outside the academy, saying, "Mr. Fu, Zheng Shiyun has co to visit."
Fu Leisheng smiled and responded, "It’s County Magistrate Zheng."
He went to et him and heard Zheng Shiyun say, "Zheng is incompetent. I have been investigating the evil spirit that steals children, but didn’t anticipate that the evil spirit, under my very nose, devoured the County Magistrate and his wife, mimicking them, nearly causing harm to these children. Fortunately, Mr. Fu was here to slay the demon and eradicate evil, preventing a great disaster. Are all the students safe?"
Fu Leisheng replied with a smile, "They are all safe. The evil spirit devoured the magistrate and his wife and disguised itself as County Magistrate Geng, intending to breed in my Xinxiang. But fortunately, County Magistrate Zheng keenly detected the evil spirit’s weak point. The elimination of these two evil spirits and the rescue of so many children is all thanks to County Magistrate Zheng. What rit do I have? I was rely assisting County Magistrate Zheng."
Zheng Shiyun, all smiles, said, "Mr. Fu, your nobility is comndable. If not for your assistance, how could Zheng have solved this major case? I must report to the court to comnd you!"
Fu Leisheng quickly replied, "No need, no need. I’ve made no contribution worth ntioning, how can I claim any rit? I’m rather ashad. County Magistrate Zheng, look at my Wencai Academy, it’s in disrepair. The children are terrified of the buildings collapsing when they co to study. Perhaps the county could allocate a bit..."
Understanding his hint, Zheng Shiyun took out a small bag of silver, and also had the accompanying governnt officials hand over all the silver coins they carried, handing them to Fu Leisheng, saying, "I’ve just slain those two evil spirits and ca in haste, I only have these few dozen silver coins. Mr. Fu, if this is too little..."
Fu Leisheng quickly accepted the silver and laughed, "Not at all, not at all."
"Then these children..."
"Please trouble County Magistrate Zheng to send them to their respective hos."
Zheng Shiyun, overjoyed, ordered the officials, "Beat the drums and gongs, send these children back ho one by one, let the whole city know of our governnt office’s righteous deeds!"
Everyone agreed, taking the children who had just cald from their fright.
Fu Leisheng was overjoyed and sneakily went to count his money.
Hu Feifei moved closer to Chen Shi, causing him to tense up imdiately. Hu Feifei laughed and said, "Brother Chen, I’m not a tigress, what are you afraid of? You should be very grateful to today. Without and Mr. Fu, you all would have died in the governnt office."
Chen Shi looked toward Fu Leisheng and whispered, "I don’t think Mr. Fu is greedy. He risked his life to save us in this righteous act, his greed is just an act."
Hu Feifei burst into laughter and said, "You’ve been tricked! His rescue was genuine, but so is his greed. Have you ever visited his house? It’s much more luxurious than this academy!"
After counting the money, Fu Leisheng approached, saying indifferently, "Loving money and performing righteous deeds are not contradictory. A gentleman loves wealth and attains it in the proper way. All the money I earn doesn’t compromise my conscience."
He handed a small bag of silver to Chen Shi, saying, "This is yours."
He gave another small bag to Hu Feifei, saying, "This is yours. Both of you perford righteous deeds tonight, and should rightfully accept this."
Chen Shi, puzzled, asked, "What do you an, Sir?"
Fu Leisheng said, "To take its wealth does no harm to one’s virtues. This is a teaching of our master."
Chen Shi was sowhat confused and thought, "Isn’t the aning of this saying that after killing an enemy, looting their gold and silver does not harm one’s moral character? How has Mr. Fu interpreted it this way?"
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