The Black Aura Rises Again

After returning from the county seat, Fang Ming had gained a great deal. When he returned to the Land God shrine, a flash of red light brought Li Dazhuang back to his senses. He only remembered the Land God appearing in a dream the night before and asking him to assist with a divine ability. That morning, he had prayed devoutly before the statue, and before long his head had begun to swim. It seemed he had fallen asleep.

Looking outside now, he saw that it was nearly night. The revered deity must have finished what he had gone to do, so Li Dazhuang lit some incense and bowed respectfully.

His stomach was ravenous. He took a dozen or so coins and went to buy wine and meat. As he walked, he wondered whether he should bring his wife over, too. After all, the township was better than the village, and a better place for her to carry their child. The Land God had said the night before that half the incense money would be his wages! That would be more than enough to support his family.

Tending the few acres of poor land his family owned kept them barely half-fed all year long. It was nothing compared to the carefree life of serving as a shrine keeper. This Land God shrine really was different from the one in the village. It even had a merit box to collect incense money, and there was always something to gain each day. It was far better than farming.

But would bringing his wife here offend the Land God? Li Dazhuang couldn't make up his mind. In the end, he didn't dare bring her over. Instead, he planned to take some food and money back to her. She was used to living in the village, after all, and moving without warning wouldn't be good.

Along the way, the townsfolk greeted him with smiles. "Good day, Shrine Keeper Li!" "Haven't seen you for a few days! When will you come by my house?" Li Dazhuang smiled and replied to each of them. He couldn't have felt more comfortable.

At the butcher and wine shop, the owner initially refused to take his money. In the end, Li Dazhuang had to force it into his hands before he would accept it. The shopkeeper carefully cut him some fine meat and added extra wine before wrapping it up and handing it over. Li Dazhuang grinned so widely his mouth nearly split, then took it and headed back.

At that moment, Li Dazhuang failed to notice the shadow lurking in the darkness at the street corner, watching his every move. The shadow was extremely wary, while Li Dazhuang paid little attention to his surroundings. It followed him all the way back to the Land God shrine, watched for a while longer, and only left after confirming that Li Dazhuang wasn't coming back out.

The shadow took a winding route, doubling back several times before slipping through the back gate of a grand residence. The gatekeeper seemed to know him. After looking around and making sure no one was there, he immediately opened the gate a crack and let the shadow slip inside.

The shadow seemed quite familiar with the residence. When he reached a certain spot, an old man appeared. The old man nodded and asked, "Were you spotted?"

"Heh! You don't trust my skills?" The shadow's voice was hoarse as he said with a cold laugh.

"This is just a precaution. That man isn't easy to deal with, and there's a god behind him, too. Good that you weren't spotted. Come with me." Steward Zhang spoke at an unhurried pace, then led him to the study. The shadow said nothing, seemingly wary of the situation as well. He followed the steward inside and saw a middle-aged woman with a haggard face, dressed in mourning clothes. He bowed to her and said, "Madam Zhang."

The woman was Zhang-shi. She coughed and asked, "Did you learn anything from watching him today?"

The lamplight fell on the shadow, revealing a tall, thin man with a pointed mouth and a face like a monkey's. He wore tight black clothes, and there was nothing upright about his bearing.

The man said, "I followed him and saw him leave the township early in the morning. The area around him was too open, so I didn't dare get close. I trailed him from a distance and saw him enter the county seat. He ate at the Welcome Inn, wandered around for a while, then went to Whitewater Abbey before returning. Finally, he bought wine and meat from the Zhou Family's shop and went back to eat and drink. He hasn't come out again."

"Whitewater Abbey!" Steward Zhang exclaimed from the side.

Zhang-shi murmured, "Mm," apparently ignoring Steward Zhang's cry. "You did a good job. Go to the accounts office and collect three taels of silver as a reward... You may leave."

The man thanked her for the reward and went out.

After a moment of silence, Zhang-shi asked, "Can this man be trusted?"

Steward Zhang reported, "Though he's accustomed to petty theft and other shady dealings, he has a decent reputation in secret. The master brought him under his thumb back then and still holds something over him. He can be trusted."

Zhang-shi nodded, then asked, "You were startled when he mentioned Whitewater Abbey. Why?"

Steward Zhang gave a bitter smile. "Madam, on the day the master passed away, he was just about to write a letter for me to deliver to Whitewater Abbey!" He then explained in detail how Zhang Huaizheng had fallen out with the Land God.

Zhang-shi was startled. "We paid a large sum to bring in the county coroner to examine the master's body. The coroner said it looked like a sudden illness, but the heart had been damaged, as though a sharp weapon had pierced it. There were no wounds on the outside. He suspected foul play, but couldn't figure out how it had been done. We were baffled. We investigated in secret, and all the signs seemed to point to... Could it be that this wasn't the work of a person, but..." She stopped there, consumed by anger, but knowing how dangerous the matter was, she didn't say the rest aloud.

Steward Zhang's face darkened. "This matter may well be connected. I'm willing to go to Whitewater Abbey myself, explain what happened, and ask Daoist Baihe to come and investigate!"

Zhang-shi's heart tightened. She knew how serious this was. It could easily end with him "dying of an untreatable illness," just like her husband. Steward Zhang might be a little greedy in ordinary times, but in a critical moment, he remained utterly loyal. He was far better than those relatives of hers had ever been.

Moved, she said, "I... truly owe you for this. I've seen how loyal your family has been. The position of steward in the Zhang Family will remain in your family's hands forever. There's no time to lose. Take a fast horse and hurry into the county seat before the gates close!"

Steward Zhang knocked his head hard against the floor and said, "Madam, I'm off!" But he smiled bitterly to himself. It wasn't that he didn't want to hide. His family had long shared the Zhang Family's fortunes and misfortunes. He had no choice but to risk his life for them!

He took his leave. He knew a little about horsemanship, so he mounted a horse and rode toward the county seat.

Zhang-shi looked in the direction of the county seat, her hands clenched tight.

Neither Zhang-shi nor Steward Zhang knew that Fang Ming was standing nearby, listening to their conversation. He also watched as Steward Zhang rode away.

This calamity really isn't so easy to avoid! Fang Ming looked toward the Zhang Family's estate and murmured to himself.

As the Land God, he was connected to the fate of the land and could sense what was happening. The Zhang Family's little schemes had long been plain to him. He simply had other plans and hadn't acted yet.

In his eyes, gray-black aura had gathered above the Zhang Family once more, rushing toward him.

But this aura was roughly half as strong as it had been last time. He knew this was because his own power had increased.

The calamity was still the same one as before, but its effects naturally differed depending on whom it struck.

For him, when he had been a Subordinate Eighth Rank god, this would have been a catastrophe. But now he had taken control of Qingxi Township and risen to the rank of Principal Eighth Rank. The black aura was half as strong, and he could withstand it head-on.

If he rose a few more ranks, it would probably feel like a breeze brushing across his face, hardly affecting him at all.

He also knew that calamity aura couldn't simply be avoided. Even if he acted now and killed Zhang-shi and Steward Zhang, that would only suppress it temporarily. After some time, their Fortunes would become entangled with it, and it would erupt alongside some other calamity, making the disaster even worse.

It was better to let it erupt now. Once he endured this trial, the gray-black aura would naturally disperse.

He turned and ordered, "Xie Jin, send two Yin Soldiers to guard this place day and night. Report back immediately if anything happens. No mistakes!"

Xie Jin stood behind Fang Ming. He accepted the order solemnly and went off to make arrangements.

Fang Ming returned to his Divine Domain and summoned the various departments to the study.

He Dong and the others were all there. After greeting Fang Ming, He Dong handed over the accounts. Fang Ming checked them one by one and, finding no errors, said, "Very good. Your care and diligence are clear to see!"

He was secretly pleased. Their earlier system had now been running smoothly for some time. Each day, He Dong calculated the accounts, while Guo Sheng, Zheng Kuan, and Wang Liulang collected Divine Power and helped believers fulfill their wishes. Fang Ming only needed to expend Divine Power and check on things from time to time to keep the incense operation running. It saved him a great deal of time, which was how he'd been able to visit the county seat that day.

He looked at the subordinates below him and knew he couldn't keep using them without compensation, or resentment would easily take root. He said, "The four of you have worked hard handling this. I'll pay you a monthly stipend. Well... let's start with thirty copper coins a month."

He Dong led the others in bowing and said, "My lord saved us from peril and spared us the fate of having our souls scattered. We're overwhelmed with gratitude. We only ask to do our utmost for you, my lord; we seek no stipend."

Fang Ming waved his hand and said with a smile, "Even so, I can't let you labor without compensation. That wouldn't be proper, either. We'll settle it this way for now. As for the others, the Yin Soldiers will receive rewards for beheading enemies. The remaining clerks and laborers won't receive a stipend for now; they'll be rewarded according to their merits!" It had to be said that Fang Ming was still quite stingy with Divine Power.

He Dong led the others in thanking him.

Fang Ming saw the happiness on his subordinates' faces and knew this would spur them to compete in doing their best and strive for his cause. With something to look forward to, they would put more energy into their work as well.

He waved for his subordinates to leave, then lowered his head in thought. He could withstand the Zhang Family's calamity now, but he would still suffer some damage, and it could affect his foundation. It would be better to grow stronger and reduce the losses. Having learned about the county's situation this time, he already had a few ideas.

But there was no need to discuss them just yet. He went to a small courtyard reserved especially for He Yuqing. It was very quiet and elegant.

He knocked on the door, and a young man opened it. This was one of the two who had previously been appointed as a servant and assigned to attend He Yuqing. Seeing Fang Ming, the young man bowed deeply and said, "Have you come to see the gentleman, my lord? I'll go and inform him at once!" He kept his back slightly bent as he hurried off to deliver the message.

Fang Ming smiled. Ignorance had its perks: the young men were unafraid. After spending some time there and learning what became of ordinary ghosts, the two had grown more and more respectful toward him. Still, he hadn't even learned their names. That was what came of being in such a different position.

Before long, He Yuqing came out and greeted him. "Has the revered deity come to enjoy tea and a game of chess?"

Fang Ming smiled and nodded. The two entered the courtyard and went to a small pavilion, where two servants had already set out tea utensils and a chessboard. He Yuqing had requested them, and Fang Ming had created them with Divine Power.

He Yuqing brewed the tea. Fang Ming picked up his cup and took a sip. The fragrance was indeed delightful, though that was about all he could say. He didn't know much about the art of tea, but watching He Yuqing brew it was truly a pleasure. He was a master at it.

After they finished their tea, they began to play chess. It was Go, which existed in this world as well, but there was no Chinese chess. Fang Ming wondered whether he might invent it someday.

Previously, Fang Ming had been constantly occupied with fulfilling the wishes of those who offered incense. Now that he had delegated the work, he finally had some free time. There were few pastimes in this world. For literati, they amounted to drinking tea, playing chess, composing poetry, or watching music and dance performances and admiring beautiful women.

As for Fang Ming, Pearl was the only one who could barely count as a beautiful woman, and she didn't know how to sing or dance. Besides, he couldn't bring himself to do anything so extravagant and indulgent. Divine Power was precious, after all. How could he waste it that way?

All he could do was come to Mr. He's place to enjoy tea and play chess. He didn't know the first thing about Go, but after He Yuqing's instruction, he could now manage a guided game, with He Yuqing leading him through each move. Fang Ming had a bit of a knack for Go, though, and had gradually grown to enjoy it. He'd gotten into the habit of thinking while he played.