Zhong Wuwei saw his last lifeline disappear and hurriedly asked, "Why is that? The government office certainly won't let Master Zhou work for nothing this time. The prefectural government will surely send a generous gift."
"It's not a matter of payment. It's just that the corpse that came back to life should be some kind of spectral creature, like a Corpse Drought Demon. I can't deal with it!"
Master Zhou flatly refused, paying no heed to the generous gift Zhong Wuwei had mentioned.
Then he hesitated before saying, "However... if Chief Clerk Zhong is willing to pay a truly generous price, I can write to my senior brother and see whether I can persuade him to act. My senior brother's abilities far surpass mine."
Zhong Wuwei, who had looked utterly despairing at Master Zhou's refusal, now saw hope flare up across his face.
"Of course! Whatever is needed, our county government office will provide its full support."
Zhong Wuwei knew that hiring a cultivator to act would inevitably cost a fortune, but compared with his own life, worldly possessions could still be abandoned.
If that doesn't work... I can just skim a little more over the next few years.
Once he had made up his mind, Zhong Wuwei hurriedly nodded in agreement.
"Wait..."
Old Master Qian suddenly interrupted.
Seeing the puzzled look on Zhong Wuwei's face, Old Master Qian smiled and said, "Chief Clerk Zhong, even if we invite Master Zhou's senior brother to act, it will still take some time."
"But before then, someone still needs to investigate the exact situation at White Cloud Temple."
Zhong Wuwei scratched his chubby face and asked, "But with White Cloud Temple in this state, wouldn't anyone who went there simply die?"
"Don't we still have Constable Kong? His martial prowess is extraordinary. I hear he even killed a cultivator in the street yesterday. If he goes, there shouldn't be any major problems."
Upon hearing this, a smile slowly spread across Zhong Wuwei's face. He said loudly, "Old Master Qian, what an excellent suggestion!"
Kong Wu was nominally his direct subordinate, but everyone in Qingshan County knew that Kong Wu belonged to the county magistrate.
Zhong Wuwei had served as chief clerk of Qingshan County for more than twenty years. His connections had long spread throughout the entire county, and even the low-ranking clerks were his people.
The previous county magistrates had basically all been reduced to figureheads by him, unable to accomplish anything.
But the current county magistrate was unwilling to be a mere ornament. He had supported Kong Wu in an attempt to drive Zhong Wuwei out, and this was something everyone in the government office could see clearly.
Thus, Zhong Wuwei did not think highly of Constable Kong, but unfortunately, he had never found a way to deal with him.
But now, a golden opportunity lay right before him.
As long as Kong Wu was eliminated, what could the county magistrate, a lone commander, possibly use to fight him?
"Chief Clerk Zhong, why don't you have lunch at my place? As it happens, I recently invited a master chef from the prefectural capital."
"Hahaha, then I'll accept your kind invitation."
Zhong Wuwei laughed and agreed. He then called in the young constable who had delivered the message and gave him a few instructions.
The young constable left the Qian residence, grumbling and cursing as he made his way to the county government office under an umbrella.
Those masters were feasting and drinking their fill, while he had to run errands through the rain—and they were not even giving him any reward.
"Oh, Tie Zhu! You've come to the county office in this heavy rain?"
The moment he entered, he saw Skinny Monkey squatting beneath the eaves and calling out to him.
"Don't even mention it, Brother Skinny Monkey. We're just born to toil. The masters are drinking and eating meat over there, but who else is supposed to run errands and do the work if not people like us?"
"Chief Clerk Zhong drafted you again, didn't he?"
Tie Zhu nodded helplessly and asked, "Sigh, what rotten luck. Brother, has Constable Kong arrived?"
Skinny Monkey nodded and said, "He's inside. What is it? Something up?"
Tie Zhu nodded, a trace of conflict stirring in his heart.
When Zhong Wuwei had just ordered him to deliver a message to Kong Wu, he had specifically instructed Tie Zhu not to mention anything about Captain Li's group. He was simply to tell Kong Wu to go investigate White Cloud Temple.
Having understood the whole situation, how could Tie Zhu fail to see that Zhong Wuwei was plotting something nasty and wanted to set a trap for Constable Kong?
Kong Wu was usually very good to the constables. Whenever something happened, he would lend a hand, and he had an excellent reputation.
But when immortals fought, lesser demons suffered. If he told the truth and let Kong Wu learn what had really happened, then Kong Wu might refuse to go to White Cloud Temple—and Tie Zhu would not be able to escape Chief Clerk Zhong's wrath.
As he was pondering, Skinny Monkey stood up and said, "Come on, I'll take you over."
Tie Zhu, who still had not figured out what to do, was dragged inside just like that.
After he stumbled through the matter Zhong Wuwei had instructed him to convey, he lowered his head, so ashamed that he wished the earth would swallow him.
In the end, he still did not reveal the truth.
Kong Wu fell silent for a moment before saying, "Understood. Go back. I'll go investigate tomorrow."
Tie Zhu gave a low hum, turned around, and walked out.
The moment he stepped through the door, a hand landed on his shoulder.
When he looked up, he saw Skinny Monkey regarding him with an unusually solemn expression.
Kong Wu and Skinny Monkey had both seen how Tie Zhu had acted just now. How could they not know that there was certainly more to the matter?
"Constable Kong sympathizes with you and won't dig into it, but we came from the same village. What is it that you can't tell me?"
Tie Zhu opened his mouth, but in the end, he gritted his teeth, pulled Skinny Monkey to a deserted spot, and told him the whole story in full.
Inside the room, Kong Wu rubbed his chin and muttered, "These people... they finally couldn't hold back anymore?"
Although he did not know exactly what had happened at White Cloud Temple, judging from how Tie Zhu had not mentioned Captain Li's group even once, things were certainly not looking good.
It was entirely possible that the entire group had already met with disaster.
To wipe out so many constables...
Could it be?
Kong Wu raised his brows and subconsciously broke into a smile.
Here come the walking attribute points?
At that thought, Kong Wu immediately found it hard to sit still.
The sensation from strengthening himself with attribute points yesterday still lingered in his heart, leaving him craving more and wishing he could set out immediately.
"Constable Kong!"
Skinny Monkey hurriedly entered. He first glanced outside, then carefully closed the door. Only after walking closer did he lower his voice and say, "Constable Kong, you really shouldn't go to White Cloud Temple! Chief Clerk Zhong wants to harm you."
Kong Wu shook his head and said righteously, "We can't just leave the case there. If I don't go, who else in the entire county office can?"
He was definitely going. Otherwise, what if his attribute points ran away?
Skinny Monkey said anxiously, "Constable Kong! You can't go! There's... a spectral creature there!"
A spectral creature?
The moment Kong Wu heard those words, he stood up.
Seeing this, Skinny Monkey let out a long breath.
It seemed that even Constable Kong was wary of spectral creatures... Wait, what are you packing your things for?
"Constable Kong... what are you doing?"
"If there really is a spectral creature causing trouble, we can't let it run rampant and endanger the common people. I must go there at once!"
Big brother, you're not some Taoist priest or Buddhist monk. Is there really any need to be this eager?
Helpless, Skinny Monkey continued, "I heard that the more than twenty men Captain Li took with him are all gone. This isn't something ordinary bandits or petty thieves could have done. It must be a ferocious specter! Constable Kong, let's find an excuse and turn down this assignment, shall we?"
A ferocious specter?
Kong Wu subconsciously glanced at the Zhanmadao wrapped in white cloth and resting to one side.
That's exactly what I'm here to hack apart!
Before you continue