24 Chapter Heading to

"Who has the County Lord invited to discuss the matter?" Yi Chen asked, furrowing his brow.

"There are Spirit Wind View, Huanzhen View, Marvelous Moon Convent, and Moon Wheel Temple, four families. Besides that, the County Lord also posted notices, offering a high reward for experts from all over to discuss and resolve the matter," Chief Zhang replied.

"A high reward? How much?"

With keywords acquired, Yi Chen's eyes lit up.

For him, no amount of money was ever enough.

Qing Yunzi had already started cultivating the "Supreme Spirit Flying Pure Yang Origin Taoist Scripture." This stage of converting essence to qi required substantial nourishment.

Reliance on just meat not only affected his cultivation progress but even the quality of the Pure Yang true force would contain more impurities than others', necessitating more time for refinement.

Because of the blood-red mark on his body and the matter of the old Heavenly Master's jade token, Yi Chen did not have much time to delay; he urgently needed to make a trip to Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Firstly, as entrusted by others, he needed to serve those people well.

Secondly, it was to inquire about some intelligence regarding Yin Manor along the way.

Know thyself, know thine enemy, and you will fight without danger in many battles.

Only by understanding what exactly Yin Manor was could he rid himself of it, or even dismantle that dilapidated house.

Once Qing Yunzi had fully transformed all his Pure Yang true force, stabilizing his cultivation realm completely and possessing the ability to protect himself, he could set off with peace of mind.

The difference would just be a month or two.

Chief Zhang at this moment wished he could slap himself.

He had been careless; he had actually forgotten to mention the most important thing.

A master unsatisfied with his salary is unbeatable when he is fully paid.

He still remembered the last time he had invited the master to make a move; before he handed over the banknotes, even the tea leaves were crude stems, drinking a mouthful felt like it was grating on the throat.

After pulling out the banknotes, the master switched to premium buds...

He had an epiphany.

Immediately, he began to speak about the main point: "The County Lord has offered a reward of three thousand taels of silver to resolve this matter."

"Each expert invited can receive two hundred taels as travel expenses, and Master, you can take this amount," Chief Zhang said, wagging five fingers.

"Five thousand taels? In cash? The County Lord is generous; we'll set off right away," Yi Chen's eyes shone even brighter.

Chief Zhang: "..."

"It's five hundred, five hundred taels, Master. Please, come to your senses..."

"Oh." The light in Yi Chen's eyes vanished.

It seemed the County Lord was not an easy mark.

"So, Master, about the County Lord's invitation, are you going or not?" Chief Zhang could not help but ask.

Yi Chen pondered for a moment, then decided to go on this trip.

While the evil spirit that had slain over two hundred people in one night certainly was powerful, this time the County Lord of Fengyun County had gathered all the cultivators of high ability within the county. If worse came to worst, he could just frown like some powerful figure and retreat to the back of the crowd.

He still had five points of Origin Point saved up for flexible responses, not yet added.

If he encountered an irresistible danger, he could just add those points to agility, and wouldn't he just take off?

On the grasslands, when a flock of sheep is being chased by wolves and fleeing everywhere, as long as you run faster than the slowest sheep, your chances of survival greatly increase.

Without a doubt, he was very fast.

That is unless the evil spirit was not as strong as he imagined.

Uh...

Why bother with chivalry and standing shoulder to shoulder against malevolent heretics? When the time came, he could look for the opportunity to deliver the final blow. Wouldn't that be splendid?

Moreover, he was quite eager to see the methods of his peers.

Yi Chen narrowed his eyes, thinking of a possibility. Upon reflection, it was indeed necessary for him to meet and interact with the influential forces within Fengyun County's borders to deepen their understanding of him.

After all, he was not as kind-hearted as his master, Bai Yunzi.

"Disciple, lead the way," Yi Chen commanded with a wave of his hand, making his decision on the spot.

Go, I absolutely must go this time.

He remembered that the county magistrate still owed him a final payment of three hundred taels that had not yet been settled. Last month, completely engrossed in cultivation, he had almost forgotten this matter.

What about the promised feast and thank-you gift?

….

….

Half an hour later, Yi Chen stood in front of the east gate of Fengyun County.

The city gate was adorned with a Bagua mirror as large as a grinding plate, now covered in cracks.

This mirror, known as the Bagua Evil-Repelling Treasure Mirror, was a magic artifact crafted by cultivators from the Imperial Astrological Bureau. It had a restraining effect on common malevolent spirits, and was typically installed at the city gates of larger towns.

With this treasure mirror in place, malevolent spirits of the wandering and resentful levels could absolutely not enter through the city gates.

As for the city walls, they were built solidly with the incorporation of special positive materials like Zhu Sha, which would make malevolent spirits shake their heads in dismay.

Thus, the city was naturally much safer compared to the wilderness.

The iron-armored corpse that had caused a major disturbance in Qingyuan Town couldn't even enter the gates of Fengyun County.

And that was why property prices in Fengyun County were so high….

Within the county, the officials were truly esteemed, their leg hair thicker than the waists of commoners.

But now, the Bagua Evil-Repelling Treasure Mirrors at all four city gates of Fengyun County were shattered.

Completely ineffective.

This indicated that at least a fierce-level or higher malevolent spirit had infiltrated the city. No wonder the county magistrate was acting as if his backside was on fire, hastily summoning all the notable cultivation forces within the county.

"Hiss, the property prices are going to fall."

Yi Chen felt his Dragon-Slaying Sword on his back and strode into the city through the gate.

Since I've come, then I must be at peace.

At worst, I'll just have to run a bit more.

The remaining payment from last time, and the five hundred taels for travel expenses this time, I'm determined to get them!

Roads can make a poor man rich. In some time, I've got to travel far again; should I beg for food along the way, or should I perform on the streets, breaking rocks on my chest?

Life is not easy; should a Taoist sell his skills?

Although I'm capable of doing so, I can't lose that much face.

Chief Zhang, following behind Yi Chen, noticed the direction he was heading and hurriedly said, "Master, you're going the wrong way. The yamen is not in this direction."

"I know, but aren't you hungry?" Yi Chen replied.

"Well, I am a bit, but the county magistrate and the others are already waiting."

"They won't die if they wait a little longer. If we go to Wang Yuanwai's residence for the investigation now, the victim won't survive anyway. Why rush there so early?"

Chief Zhang suddenly felt that Yi Chen's words made impeccable sense and was at a loss to object.

"Then, Master, let me treat you to beef noodles. I know a noodle shop where the beef noodles are extremely delicious. My treat, and after eating, we'll hurry over."

"???"

"You're inviting me, a Taoist, to eat beef? Are you looking for trouble?" Yi Chen casually picked a noodle shop, sat down with an air of authority.

"Keep it simple, let's start with eight bowls of mutton noodles to fill up."

"And add two eggs to each bowl."

"Eating too much in the morning is not good."

After spending the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, in the painful company of Chief Zhang's wincing and the joyful waving off of the shop owner, they left the shop and finally headed towards the yamen.

By this time, the sun had already risen, and although there were few pedestrians on the city streets, those seen were hurrying along, suggesting that the news of the Wang family's annihilation had already spread.

Outside the yamen, a chubby middle-aged man in a green official's robe stood at the entrance, looking around.

Yi Chen's gaze inadvertently met with the chubby middle-aged man's.

After confirming the look in each other's eyes, they understood they were birds of a feather.