Meeting

The group arrived at a large temple. Above the entrance was a plaque with three large characters, "City God Temple," written in a vigorous, impressive calligraphy.

Wang Da Niu couldn't read. After being pushed into the temple, he suddenly found himself in a different place. The sky seemed covered by a thin film, hazy and indistinct, but his heart settled. The panic from just having died vanished.

The Squad Leader escorted Wang Da Niu to a spot where he saw a Clerk greeting the Squad Leader. "Squad Leader Li, you're back! And you've brought a wandering soul. This is the third one today, what good luck!" This didn't mean the Squad Leader had brought back three, but that there were only three in total. Fang Ming didn't have this policy, so his fate was obvious. Wang Da Niu was lucky to have arrived now, wasn't he?

Squad Leader Li replied with a few words and brought Wang Da Niu to a side hall that resembled a courtroom, grand and imposing.

Wang Da Niu had never experienced anything like this. As soon as he entered the hall, he knelt.

At this moment, a voice came from above: "Who are you? Where are you from? What was the cause of your death? Speak the truth!"

Wang Da Niu was stunned, having never imagined such a spectacle after death. Squad Leader Li kicked him again, and he came to his senses, saying, "This humble one is Wang Da Niu, from Stone Village in Anmin Township. Today, I died saving the young son of Gou Wa's family from drowning..." He explained his story, stammering and stumbling, but he managed to make himself clear. "Is this true?" the voice from above asked again.

"I wouldn't dare lie to you, my lord!" As Wang Da Niu kowtowed, he secretly glanced up. He saw a young man dressed as a Clerk sitting behind the official desk.

This young man was Guo Sheng. He recorded Wang Da Niu's words and then ordered, "Bring the village registry of Stone Village!"

He was now a Record Keeper Magistrate, holding significant power and importance. Once he gave the order, Servant Soldiers would fetch the books.

Guo Sheng flipped through the accounts, searching for records. After looking, he asked Wang Da Niu some questions about his family. Seeing that his answers were correct, Guo Sheng spoke kindly, "Your family is indeed a devout believer of the former Earth God and the current City God. Your incense and fire offerings are abundant! On your personal account, there are still eighty-seven strands of incense and fire remaining. You have two choices..." He explained the rules Fang Ming had established, one by one.

Wang Da Niu didn't understand at first. However, he knew of the Earth God, who was very responsive and worshipped by every household in his village.

Fang Ming's divine powers of healing illness and granting children were closely related to the lives of ordinary people and were very popular, especially in the countryside.

Stuttering, Wang Da Niu asked, "Where... where is this place? Who are you? Are you subordinates of the Earth God?"

Guo Sheng's expression turned serious. "This is the City God's Law Domain. We are all subordinates of the Earth God, and now we should respectfully call him the City God!" Guo Sheng was quite patient and explained the entire story to Wang Da Niu. Finally, he advised, "I see your family's incense and fire offerings are sufficient. I suggest you preserve yourself first!"

Wang Da Niu thought for a moment and finally transferred fifty strands of divine power to his parents' and siblings' accounts, keeping the rest of the incense and fire for himself.

Guo Sheng nodded, wrote down the accounts, and said, "Hmm, ten strands for your parents and siblings each. After deducting expenses, that's nine strands per person. You have thirty-seven strands left. Deducting half, let's say you have nineteen strands!" This was the power of a Clerk. When it came to things that couldn't be divided, he had the final say. For instance, this time it could have been eighteen strands, but Guo Sheng, considering his filial piety, added one strand.

He carefully wrote everything down, stamped it, and signed it. He then handed the document to Wang Da Niu, saying, "If you confirm it's correct, then press your thumbprint and sign."

Wang Da Niu couldn't read, so he could only kowtow and make a red handprint.

Guo Sheng nodded. His subordinate brought nineteen large coins. Guo Sheng took them, tossed them, and the coins flew into Wang Da Niu's body. Wang Da Niu felt a surge of warmth spread throughout his body. To outsiders, his soul seemed to have solidified considerably.

"Wang Da Niu, you have fifty-two days to live within the City God's Law Domain. Someone will escort you to your new residence after you leave. During these days, the City God's court is short-handed and is recruiting. I see you are strong and healthy, so don't miss the opportunity to enlist as an Yin Soldier. Remember this, remember this!" Guo Sheng was kind-hearted and gave him another piece of advice.

Wang Da Niu kowtowed and withdrew. Outside, he saw an old man, cunning and lecherous, wearing the uniform of a Servant Soldier. Wang Da Niu's legs felt weak, and he knelt again, saying, "Old Clerk He, I saw you when you last came to our village! I didn't expect you to be here too!"

"Stop calling me Clerk. I am just a Servant Soldier now!" the old man said with a wry smile. This old man was He Dong. He had leaked classified information last time and was demoted to Servant Soldier. Despite several subsequent promotions, he was ineligible due to his criminal record.

By now, people who joined after him had official positions, while Guo Sheng, who was once his subordinate, had become his superior. Although the Four Great Families and other subordinates showed him some care and support out of old acquaintance, that was all.

He Dong led Wang Da Niu through several turns out of the main hall, as if entering the wilderness. After walking for nearly two hours, they arrived at a village. Fields had been cultivated on all sides, and fruit trees laden with fruit were everywhere. Wild pheasants and rabbits occasionally darted across the path, completely different from the outside world, which amazed Wang Da Niu.

He Dong, familiar with the route, led Wang Da Niu into the village and stopped in front of a relatively grand house.

Wang Da Niu looked around as they walked. The village was built very large, capable of housing several thousand people, but there were very few residents. He hadn't seen many people along the way, making it feel rather empty.

He Dong entered the house and greeted them familiarly, saying, "Sister-in-law Guo, your health has improved considerably lately!"

"Not at all, not at all. It's all thanks to Sheng'er's filial piety. I'm idle, so I asked the lord for this job!" This person was around fifty years old, not young, and was precisely Guo Sheng's mother.

Guo Sheng, as a Clerk, received a monthly salary of thirty large coins, which he naturally brought home to support his mother. Mother Guo received daily sustenance, but this additional divine power could also replenish her soul. Over time, her health naturally improved, and her complexion became more radiant than before her death.

After Fang Ming established several villages in the City God's Law Domain to accommodate believers, he moved the elderly and infirm from Qingshan Village there. They were all supported by Fang Ming. Theoretically, unless external forces intervened or Fang Ming cut off their support, they could live to the limit of their soul's lifespan, which Fang Ming estimated to be around a thousand years. Naturally, he couldn't let them remain idle. They had all moved there to serve as the backbone, managing the villages and believers.

Madam Guo was Guo Sheng's mother. With her son's elevated status, Fang Ming also granted her the title of Township Chief, allowing her to select a few from the elderly and infirm as her subordinates to manage this township together.

Mother Guo chatted with He Dong for a while before saying to Wang Er Niu, "As for the houses in this village, you can live in any that are unoccupied. The fields outside are also yours. Go and claim ten mu of land, then come tell me, and it's yours. Also, you can freely take fruits from the trees and hunt wild rabbits and pheasants."

"There's only one thing. Whenever there's an important matter, I will ring the bronze gong in the center of the village, and you must gather in the central square upon hearing it to receive instructions. Of course, you can choose not to come, but if you miss an opportunity, don't blame me!"

"Ah! So the houses and fields are all mine?" Wang Da Niu's eyes widened in disbelief. These things were the dreams of his entire family. After death, they were obtained so easily?

"Heh heh... They are all yours. You're a lucky boy. I find you quite likable, so I'll let you claim an additional ten mu of land outside!" Mother Guo was amused by the simpleton, but inwardly, she felt a little pity. These things were good, but only those who existed could enjoy them. Once their souls dissipated, they would naturally be returned to the village for future generations.

Fang Ming knew that if believers and wandering souls were kept idle, it would easily lead to trouble. Therefore, the villages he established were surrounded by fertile fields with abundant produce. A mere show of effort would yield a harvest in about ten days. Furthermore, there were fruit trees and wild game outside, and a little hunting could yield ten times the harvest of the human world.

These items could all be eaten, satisfying their physical desires. However, they were manifestations of the Law Domain's power. Although they tasted the same and eating them brought a feeling of fullness, in essence, the Law Domain's power merely passed through their bodies and would eventually dissipate.

No matter how much they ate, it wouldn't extend the lifespan of their souls by even a moment.

When Fang Ming hosted banquets for his subordinates, the ingredients used were manifestations of divine power with infinite uses. They could replenish consumption and enhance spiritual power, so his subordinates considered a banquet hosted by their lord a joyous occasion.

In any case, accomplishing this task only required modifying the settings of this Law Domain, which didn't consume much divine power. Fang Ming didn't mind satisfying the material desires of these wandering souls before their demise.

Mother Guo vaguely understood the difference. Since there were few newly deceased believers now, giving more or less made no difference within her authority. She decided to let this simpleton enjoy himself for a few more days...

Mother Guo's gaze was filled with pity, but Wang Da Niu paid no attention, only grinning foolishly to himself...

Meanwhile, at White Water Temple, a distinguished guest had arrived.

"Master... weren't you supposed to be guarding the mountain gate? How did you...?" Yuheng looked at the person before him with disbelief.

Could it be? Has something happened at the mountain gate? he thought, startled.

"Foolish child, don't overthink things. Your Martial Uncle Qinghe has returned. With him guarding our sect, I can naturally come out!"

This Daoist priest, appearing middle-aged, was Daoist Master Qingxu.

"So that's how it is... Huh? Since Li Heibao has been eliminated, why haven't I heard any news?" Yuheng suddenly understood, then murmured in confusion.

True Person Qinghe had been invited to Linjiang Prefecture to eliminate Li Heibao. Since he had returned to the mountain gate, the mission must have been a success. Such a significant event should have spread throughout Wenchang Prefecture, a neighboring prefecture, by now.

As soon as this matter was brought up, Qingxu's expression shifted. "This is a long story..." he said, then glanced at the old Daoist priest White Crane. Startled, White Crane quickly bowed and withdrew, leaving the room to the two of them.

"Although White Crane is a disciple of my lineage, this matter is not to be spread. I will compensate him a little later..." Qingxu remained still, but a breeze swept through the room, sealing the doors and windows.

Yuheng was shocked. He knew his master hadn't just closed the doors and windows, but had also set up a barrier. Unless one was a rank higher than a True Person, they wouldn't be able to eavesdrop undetected. With such precautions, whatever was about to be said must be of great importance.

As expected, what Qingxu said next left Yuheng stunned on the spot.

Thanks to Wang Feng Zihai for the reward, Huanyun plagiarized.