The Stirring of the Earth Soul, an Ominous Premonition!

The Agriculture Official has the responsibility to encourage farmers to ensure a good harvest. During the Harvest Festival, the weather in not only Gucheng, but also throughout the entire Nanyang County will be adjusted accordingly.

The county-level Agricultural Supervisorate oversees a wide range of weather conditions, and if there are occasional oversights in details, the lower-level Agricultural Official are responsible for fulfilling their duties.

These past two days, Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui have been inspecting and patrolling Anping Town.

After wandering around Anping Town, we finally arrived at the village chief's house.

The statistics on the harvest and the payment of taxes were not matters for Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui; they mainly just asked about the situation casually.

The village chief was over fifty years old. Upon seeing the two, he showed no restraint and chatted casually with them as if they were young men.

"This year, like every year, Gucheng has Favorable Weather and Bumper Harvest."

"As long as you are willing to work hard in the fields, anyone can support a family and have enough to eat."

"But there are always those who are lazy and good-for-nothing. Take 'Huang Silang' from Group Six for example. He's always lazy and good-for-nothing, living off his parents. Even during the Harvest Festival, he doesn't know how to help with the work at home."

"Last year, his parents were in their seventies and eighties, too old to work, and they were about to watch the Yuan Rice rot in the fields. It was only thanks to the help of the villagers that they were able to harvest it. This kid didn't even know how to thank them; instead, he said everyone was worrying for nothing... Hey, this year no one is willing to help, and he's just lying at home again, refusing to work, saying that the imperial court will provide them with relief grain..."

"That relief money was meant for his elderly parents! He's a perfectly capable man in his thirties, yet he said such a thing—it's utterly shameless! Alas, Old Huang is truly cursed to have such a son!"

The village chief's words infuriated Shen Zhui, who immediately asked, "May I ask where Huang Silang's house is?"

He's not home.

"Where is it?"

"Look, they're playing dice right there in the Niu Family Courtyard up ahead."

Shen Zhui immediately stood up. "There are actually people who dare to gamble together! This is outrageous! Brother Zhao, let's go!"

"Here he comes." Before leaving, Zhao Xing used the Five Elements Observation to look at the village chief. Although he had been staring into the chief's eyes with his Bright Eyes while the chief was speaking, he still took another look.

He glanced down at the almanac again but found nothing unusual. Then he patted the little Mountain Cat and followed with the Dharma Protector Straw Figure.

"You're Huang Silang?"

As Shen Zhui and Zhao Xing arrived at the location, they saw a disheveled man with messy hair and unfocused eyes emerge from the Niu Family.

They had seen the roster and portraits from the village chief and recognized the man as Huang Silang at a glance.

"No, you've got the wrong person." Huang Silang muttered and started to walk forward.

"Stop right there!" Shen Zhui shouted. "Why are you running?!"

Huang Silang stopped in his tracks. He could tell from the two constables that he was recalling his past petty thefts and wondering which one had been discovered.

"Come with us." After confirming that it was the right person, Zhao Xing got back into the car.

Huang Silang also tried to climb onto the carriage, but was kicked off.

"Ouch~" Huang Silang fell to the ground.

It wasn't Zhao Xing or Shen Zhui kicked it, but the Mountain Cat.

It was breathing out air, looking very unhappy.

This person stinks horribly; it doesn't want Huang Silang to come into the carriage.

"You should just walk," Shen Zhui said.

Huang Silang objected. "Sir, it will take at least an hour to get to the county town. Won't I be exhausted?"

"I'm not going to the county town, I'm going to your house!"

Huang Silang's eyes First-Turn: "Sir, you're not arresting me? I haven't done anything wrong?"

Shen Zhui was so angry he laughed, "Don't you know whether you've done anything wrong or not?"

Huang Silang chuckled and said, "No offense, no offense... then I'll be going."

"Stop right there! Did I say you could leave?!"

"Your parents are both in the fields. As their son, you should take on these heavy chores..." Shen Zhui patiently explained the principles to them.

Huang Silang's face showed impatience, clearly indicating that he hadn't listened at all.

He's heard these things so many times he's practically worn out.

Shen Zhui spoke for a quarter of an hour, but Huang Silang remained silent.

Zhao Xing tugged at Shen Zhui: "Brother Shen, you go into the carriage first. I'll talk to him. I'm the Agricultural Official, and it's my duty to encourage agriculture."

Shen Zhui nodded and got into the carriage.

Zhao Xing stared at Huang Silang and said, "Why don't you help your parents harvest the Yuan Rice?"

"I'm lazy."

"..."

You're quite self-righteous about it.

Seeing that the two men weren't after him, Huang Silang became even more confident. "If you, sir, have pity on my parents, why not give them some money? Or perhaps help my family harvest their Yuan Rice..."

A shameless person is invincible; there's no point in talking to such a person.

Zhao Xing lashed him with his whip. "Come on, get to your family's fields!"

"Ouch, why are you hitting me? Hey, stop hitting me, stop hitting me..." Huang Silang saw that Zhao Xing was not joking, so he immediately shrank back and led the way.

We arrived at the field.

Sure enough, there were two old men working in the field.

Huang Silang stood on the edge of the field, unmoved.

Zhao Xing didn't waste any words with him. He casually made a Repeating Straw Puppet next to him, then took a whip from Shen Zhui and handed it to the straw figure. "Watch him harvest the Yuan Rice. If he doesn't do anything, give him a lash."

"What?!" Huang Silang protested, "You're meddling too much! Whether I farm or not is none of your business... Ouch! Someone's being hit! The officials are hitting people!!"

Huang Silang lay on the ground, crying out in anguish.

A neighbor heard the commotion and came to investigate, and immediately burst into laughter.

"Well played!"

"Pah, shameless!"

"It's Huang Silang. The official must have a reason for beating him."

When Huang Silang's parents saw their son being beaten, they rushed over, but before they could plead for him, they were stopped by the neighbors.

The neighbors couldn't stand it anymore, which shows how bad Huang Silang's character was.

"Are you in or not?" Zhao Xing squatted down and asked. "If you do it, you'll only have to work hard for a day or two. If you don't, I have plenty of ways to torture you."

"The two of us are the highest-ranking officials in this area. You can't sue us, understand?"

"I'll do it, I'll do it." Huang Silang got up. He was in so much pain that he couldn't bear it anymore. Seeing that no one was speaking up for him, he immediately realized the reality.

Huang Silang quickly rolled up his trouser legs and went down into the field.

He was forced into "labor reform" by Zhao Xing.

Before long, Huang Silang started groaning and complaining about how hard and tiring it was.

Zhao Xing didn't tolerate him either.

Tired and sleepy? Here comes the Sleepy Bug, instantly reviving Huang Silang.

Want to slack off? The Repeating Straw Puppet will just give you a lash.

Zhao Xing also made seven or eight straw figures to guard the four corners of the field.

If Huang Silang tries to escape, he will be caught and brought back immediately.

Zhao Xing's move was definitely a case of using physical methods to persuade farmers.

However, no one in the neighborhood objected; they all applauded.

Many people even put down their own work to watch the rare scene of Huang Silang Yuan Rice.

"Si Lang, your posture is wrong. If you don't bend your back, you'll get tired easily."

"Silang, aren't you tired? Your parents have been doing this for over ten years."

"Huang Silang, there are bloodsucking worms crawling on your leg..."

Huang Silang's foot trembled, and he hurriedly reached out to touch it, only to find that there was no such thing. He immediately realized that he had been tricked, so he glared angrily at the child.

"Snap!" The whip struck Huang Silang's back.

"Damn it!" Huang Silang cursed inwardly, but had no choice but to continue working.

He tried to escape, but found himself surrounded by scarecrows.

Moreover, the more he worked, the more energetic he became, and he couldn't stop even if he wanted to. In order to avoid this torment, he had no choice but to work diligently.

By dusk, Huang Silang had become much more obedient, and even knew to put on a show in front of the two adults, helping his parents home.

"Brother Zhao, your method is really effective." Shen Zhui smiled as he watched this scene.

"It's no use. We'll leave in a couple of days, and he'll be back to his old ways." Zhao Xing lay in the car petting the cat. "Unless we can keep pushing him, work hard for a year or two, and have someone as patient as Brother Shen explain things to him from time to time, maybe we can change him."

"Is that so?" Shen Zhui said thoughtfully. "If I ever have the opportunity to govern a region in the future, I will definitely try the method you mentioned, Brother Zhao."

After dark, the two did not return home, but stayed at the village chief's house in Anping Town.

The next morning, the two continued their patrol in Anping Town.

During lunch, I asked the old village chief about Huang Silang.

"Huang Silang? He went to the Niu Family Courtyard during his lunch break."

"You went to the Niu Family again?" Shen Zhui's eyebrows shot up.

"Yes," the old village chief said with exasperation, "Sir, you kindly allowed him to rest at noon, but he even used that rest time to play. He doesn't have much money to begin with, and he still gambles... What a waste!"

"Where did he get the money?" Zhao Xing asked.

"I gave his mother a tael of silver to buy medicine." Shen Zhui's eyes blazed with anger. "That Huang Silang is truly despicable! Niu Gui is despicable too. I warned them yesterday to stop playing around, but he didn't listen?!"

Niu Family Courtyard.

"Big! Big! Big!"

"Open! Two, three, four, small!"

"Ugh, I lost again! What damn bad luck!"

Huang Silang was disheveled and dirty. He took off his shoes, rubbed his feet, and then smelled them.

He then pulled a silver coin from his boot and slammed it on the table. "Niu Gui, keep going! I'm going to beat you to a pulp today!"

Niu Gui said, "Si Lang, you only have this one left. I think you should keep it. Besides, don't you have to work in the fields this afternoon?"

"You want my pity? Keep going, keep going, hurry up!"

Seeing this, Niu Gui smiled slightly, "Alright, let's do it!"

The dice spun inside, producing a mesmerizing sound.

Huang Silang's gaze followed the dice cup as it moved up and down.

"Clang!" As the dice cup hit the ground, Niu Gui placed his hand on it. "Big or small?"

"Big!"

"Open, one, one, two, little Shiro, you've lost again!"

Niu Gui smiled and accepted the silver coin.

"Damn it!" Huang Silang slapped his thigh, stood up, and left the gambling table. The other gamblers continued.

He lost all his money, but he didn't leave. Instead, he found a place outside the courtyard to sit down and rest.

According to the rules, anyone who comes in to play can get a free meal at the Niu Family.

Huang Silang closed his eyes and fell asleep shortly afterward.

The door of the Niu Family's house was knocked open.

Someone hurriedly reported that government officials had arrived.

"Officials? What officials? They're just a few minor clerks. I'll go take a look; you all continue."

Niu Gui calmly ran to the door.

There stood a young man at the entrance, wearing two Iron Ruler at his waist, Palm Fiber Hat his head, and Cloud Stepping Boots.

Beside him was a boy dressed in Hemp Garb, and another person who was wearing a raincoat and a straw hat even though it wasn't raining.

"Shen Martial Office and Zhao Shennong, what brings you here?" Niu Gui recognized the two men as soon as he opened the door.

"Didn't I tell you all yesterday not to gamble?" Shen Zhui. "Did you take my words as a joke?"

Niu Gui's expression remained unchanged, but he did not deny it. "It's all just small-scale stuff, just neighbors playing around... You can't interfere so much."

"Alright then, please invite me in to play a few rounds as well."

"You're joking. We're just common folk, how could we dare to play with you?"

"Niu Gui, are you going to invite us in or not?" Zhao Xing asked. "We're just coming in now to take a look around. If we ask for permission before coming in, it won't be so easy to get away with it."

Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui both possess cultivation and had never been to the Niu Family before. Now, they need Niu Gui, the master, to invite them in before they can enter.

Of course, if Shen Zhui carries a different type of Execution Decree and Arrest Decree issued by the County Office, then permission is not required.

"Alright, gentlemen, please come in." Seeing that the two men were adamant, Niu Gui had no choice but to say, "Please come in."

With the invisible barriers gone, Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui stepped across the threshold and entered the Niu Family Courtyard.

The Niu Family was a large household with many fields. At this moment, outside the main hall, many Rice Guest were taking a break. Some of Rice Guest had also gone inside to play a few rounds after receiving their wages.

When the officials entered, no one was afraid; some even muttered complaints, saying it was affecting their luck.

"Sir, it's just a small game... there's not much money on the table."

Before Niu Gui could finish speaking, Shen Zhui suddenly drew his ruler knife, and with a flash of light, the gambling table was split in two.

With a "crash," the copper coins inside fell to the ground.

Niu Gui's face changed, and he was so frightened that he dared not utter a sound.

His table was made of hardwood and had a mechanism, yet it was cleaved open from a distance.

Niu Gui thought Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui were just ordinary minor officials, and he ignored yesterday's notice.

Now that I see it, these two are not to be trifled with.

"Take the stolen money and go to the town's military officer to receive your punishment," Shen Zhui said coldly.

"Yes, I accept the punishment." Niu Gui's attitude changed immediately.

Shen Zhui didn't make things difficult for him. Indeed, the money wasn't much; it was only enough to fine Niu Gui without putting him in jail.

As for the remaining gamblers, a routine inquiry and their departure are sufficient.

"Where is Huang Silang?"

"There it is."

Hearing the familiar voice, Huang Silang, who was in his sleep, shuddered and opened his eyes, immediately seeing the evil star.

He immediately tried to escape from behind, but it was too late.

"Hmph! You are a disgrace to being a son!" Shen Zhui furious just looking at this man. His parents were in poor health and worked in the fields at their advanced age, while he was gambling here?

He even gambled away his mother's medicine money. Is he even human?

"Shen Martial Office lost this." Niu Gui carefully returned the money.

Zhao Xing, on the other hand, was questioning the strangers outside the hall.

"Who are they? They don't look like they're from this village."

Anping Town is not large, and there are even fewer households in Group Six. Zhao Xing has a general idea of who is in the group, since he used to come to Anping Town often, but he only came less often after the Minor Heat term.

"Zhao Shennong, this is Rice Guest I invited from Three Bays Town. It's harvest time now," Niu Gui said with a smile. He also recognized Zhao Xing; the minor official in Agricultural Official was more diligent in going to the countryside than the military officials.

Rice Guest are farmers who travel to various places to help large households harvest their Yuan Rice.

"Oh, what are their names?" Zhao Xing casually pointed to the two people.

"I am Chen Deshun." The middle-aged man bowed slightly. He had an ordinary appearance, prominent cheekbones, thick hands and feet, and his legs were covered in mud. He pointed to the woman next to him, who had a yellow leather belt and a headscarf. "This is my wife, Wu Chenshi."

"Greetings, Your Excellency." The woman also cupped her hands in greeting.

Both of them fit the image of Rice Guest, Zhao Xing nodded and turned to Niu Gui:

"Niu Gui, stop doing things that cheat people in the future."

"Yes, yes, I won't dare to do it again." Niu Gui nodded and bowed. "I'll go and accept my punishment right away."

After Zhao Xing, Shen Zhui, and Niu Gui left, the middle-aged man and woman inside the courtyard wall stared at the outside with flickering eyes.

"Is he Zhao Xing?"

"Hmm." Chen Deshun nodded, his simple and honest eyes turning cold.

"Quite handsome." The woman licked her lips. "Indeed, he is dashing and has an extraordinary air about him."

"You got forty-two points of spiritual talent, and you're like that too," Chen Deshun snorted.

"I really hope we can catch him and bring him back soon." A lewd glint flashed in the woman's eyes. "It would be best to catch a few more handsome ones like him. I've been holding back for over ten years. I'm going to have some fun on the way."

"Go back..." A hint of longing appeared in Chen Deshun's eyes. "If I can go back smoothly, I will make up for the past ten years."

Shen Zhui escorted Niu Gui to the village entrance, handed him over to the military officer on routine patrol during the Harvest Festival to pay the fine, and then quickly returned.

Huang Silang was led to the field by the First Tier straw figure, while Zhao Xing sat in the carriage, somewhat uneasy.

"Brother Zhao, what's wrong?" Shen Zhui asked, noticing Zhao Xing's furrowed brows.

"I'm a little uneasy," Zhao Xing said.

"Something's not right?"

"I don't know," Zhao Xing shook his head.

There was no basis for this, and the Evil Aversion Almanac remained silent.

"Could it be that there's something wrong with this Niu Gui?" Shen Zhui asked in a deep voice. "Is there a demon nearby?"

Zhao Xing shook his head again. After entering the Niu Family's gate, he used the Five Elements Observation to check everything. Niu Gui was perfectly normal, as were everyone else in the Niu Family Courtyard.

Bright Eyes didn't find anything special either. Ever since leaving the city, he had been using his observation skills whenever he saw someone.

There was nothing unusual about it; it was just a vague feeling.

"Am I going through too much of a deduction with Old Chen and becoming a bit obsessed, seeing everyone as someone from the Profound Heaven Sect?" Zhao Xing wondered to himself.

Even if he were to actually encounter a member of the Profound Heaven Sect, he wouldn't be able to tell, because the Profound Heaven Sect's concealment methods Gao Ming. These were concealment techniques passed down from the ancient sect Profound Heaven Sect, and they also possessed methods to shield against Evil Aversion Almanac; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to remain hidden for over a decade, making them so difficult to find.

Logically speaking, even if I stood in front of a real Profound Heaven Sect demon, I shouldn't have discovered anything.

But where does this feeling come from?

"The 'Earth Soul' among the Three Souls is the Karma Soul, and this feeling is very likely caused by the Earth Soul's influence."

Since neither the almanac nor magic could explain the origin of this feeling, Zhao Xing decided to look for the cause from another angle.

"Brother Shen, you drive, I'll take a nap first."

After pondering for a moment, Zhao Xing closed his eyes and began to Entering the Dream.