The County Magistrate's head rolled on the ground, devoid of any breath, his body slumped over the desk, unable to turn back and glance at the words "Upright and Resplendent."
Shao Po's legs trembled violently. Experiencing sudden upheavals in a single day, he couldn't withstand the shock, his vision went black, and he fell to the ground fainting.
It was the second day of the new year, the county governnt was empty, not even a governnt official was present. Only the county jail housed a few, but they were too far to hear anything.
Chen Yi calculated with his fingers; not only the County Magistrate, but also the County Magistrate and Chief Clerk had t their end.
"What about the account books?"
Though the people were dead, if the account books remained, the succeeding County Magistrate might continue the entanglent.
Chen Yi soon detected a sll of smoke wafting towards him. Taking a look, he saw thick black smoke billowing from the Records Room.
It seed to have been thoroughly incinerated.
Raising his eyes to look at the bloody words, this hero had killed cleanly and neatly.
No need for him to intervene anymore.
Chen Yi casually rolled up his sleeves, pleased at the leisure, gazing at the na "He Taixiong," he recalled the blade-wielding man he had seen at the inn.
Back then, when he and Yin Tingxue went upstairs, the shopkeeper had brought a jar of wine to reward the man... so that's how it was, a mory flashed across his mind, Chen Yi nodded slightly.
"I wonder what Min Ning would say if I told her?" Chen Yi muttered to himself.
It seed she too was the type to leave behind bloody words and leave gracefully.
If it were himself, he certainly wouldn't leave any words, Chen Yi shook his head with a wry smile, though he didn't consider himself a good person, he wasn't entirely bad either, having long been influenced by Min Ning, at this mont he couldn't help but clap his hands in approval; sotis, one admires those different from oneself.
An eerie wind rose suddenly.
"Po'er... I died... so tragically!"
An old, intermittent voice sounded, faint and unclear.
Chen Yi silently recited a spell, turned his head, and saw a dim ghostly figure crawl upon Shao Po, with blood tearing from its eyes and its lips quivering, a resentful spirit ford from the ghostly energy released from the head on the ground.
Only those with deep obsessions beco ghosts after death, with their spirits lingering.
A promising future was interrupted by a mysterious hero, could the resentnt not be deep?
County Magistrate Wei hissed fiercely into the ears of the unconscious Shao Po, "Revenge, avenge uncle, kill, kill whoever killed , he escaped, escaped that way, he went south..."
The remaining words seed stuck in the throat, abruptly cut off.
"Tch, trying to cause trouble?"
Only to see an invisible hand grip the throat, the limbs of the ethereal spirit flailing wildly, its ghostly energy swirling.
The Taoist casually crushed it; a ball of golden fire ignited at the spirit's limbs, its eyes bulged wide, attempting to struggle, yet unable to speak, it was swiftly obliterated in the flas.
Chen Yi clapped his hands, turned to glance at the bloody words.
The rough and forceful calligraphy still stood, its dark red hue contrasting sharply with the Upright and Resplendent plaque.
How could such a hero be entangled by a wicked ghost?
Stepping out of the county governnt, he suddenly felt a surge of boldness, laughing silently.
People aspire to be heroes; I aspire to be an immortal!
...
"I am the Loyal and Righteous God of War, Lord Guan, terrifying all wicked ghosts."
In the alley, a child wearing a red face mask playfully chased and toyed with other children.
"Wow, we're all ghosts!"
"Spare us, Lord Guan, spare us!"
Releasing their pent-up energy, several children suddenly beca rowdy, the previously gloomy alley now brimming with lively chatter.
"Little Seven, Little Seven help , Little Seven co quick!"
The oriole Little Seven was just about to intervene when suddenly a large hand reached out and grabbed it.
Chen Yi caught this restless and morally driven creature, scolding, "Now that everything is settled, why are you still hanging around here? Hurry back to Fengqing Mountain, everyone's worried that Banshee has taken you away."
Little Seven, unable to break free, simply laid still, opened its beak, and shouted, "I'll go back tomorrow, tomorrow."
Yin Tingxue leaned over and said, "Don't make it difficult for it."
Chen Yi casually tossed it aside, then smiled at Yin Tingxue, saying, "The people are dead, but it wasn't by my hand."
Yin Tingxue hesitated, puzzled.
Couldn't it be that County Magistrate Wei suddenly realized and hanged himself?
Chen Yi slowly articulated, "The world does not lack heroes."
Yin Tingxue realized the implication, enlightened.
In this world, there are always so righteous people who act without concern for the cost or consequences, placing their lives at risk for justice. Yin Tingxue thought that more of such people would be better, rather than encountering them only occasionally, but common sayings have it that good people do not live long, and such people often et unfortunate ends.
Thus, her brow slightly furrowed in concern.
Chen Yi smiled at her and said, "I've tidied things up for him."
Yin Tingxue's eyes brightened, she glanced at Chen Yi, wanting to say sothing, but in the end, she nodded emphatically, "Mm!"
Suddenly, she felt she liked Chen Yi even more today than yesterday.
Not far away, Mrs. Yan walked over with a bowl of rice in her hands, softly saying:
"Taoist… our family can barely make ends et, we have no money to repay you, so we gathered so grains from the neighbors and ca to repay you as best as we could..."
Chen Yi turned his head, taking a glance,
The bowl of rice was mostly white and glossy, piled like a small mountain. It was mixed with so yellow millet, green beans, and a small piece of bacon on top.
Mrs. Yan's expression was especially embarrassed, her untidy face tinged with a bit of red. She hastily said:
"If the Taoist is not satisfied, na your price, and I will do my best to repay each year. Such a great favor, even if it takes until my next life becoming an ox or horse, I would have no complaints or regrets."
Chen Yi stared at her for a mont, then suddenly laughed and said, "This is enough."
After saying this, he accepted the bowl of rice along with the chopsticks.
Mrs. Yan bashfully retreated, then turned around to scold the children not to play too rough.
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