The master and disciple finished dealing with the aftermath outside the thatched hut. Dusk was falling.
They retraced the desolate path they had taken earlier, and by the time they reached the county town, the lamps were already lit.
A gray gloom hung over everything. Only a few lights glimmered in the direction of the Post House.
The two headed toward the candlelight. Before they had even reached the entrance, they could hear the hubbub inside the main hall, loud and clear even through the door.
"What do you mean, they're missing? Two grown men, in broad daylight—how could they just disappear?"
It was the county magistrate's voice, sharp with alarm and frustration, its final syllable pitched high.
Zhang Qi's aggrieved voice followed: "This humble servant doesn't know either... Maybe they haven't necessarily disappeared. Perhaps some demon snatched them away..."
"Bullshit!"
The county magistrate's voice shot up as he berated him furiously: "What demon would dare lay a hand on the Daoist masters from Clear Wind Temple? Are they looking to die?"
The room erupted into overlapping chatter. The Assistant Magistrate, the secretary, the postmaster, and Zhang Qi all spoke at once, their voices tangling together until no one could make out what anyone was saying.
The clink of cups and bowls being moved occasionally cut through the din. There were clearly quite a few people inside.
Shen Hui and the Old Taoist had just stepped onto the stairs when the tall, thin "door guardian" spotted them. His eyes lit up at once.
He turned and rushed inside, shouting at the top of his lungs, "They're back! They're back! The two Daoist masters are back!"
The other guard, a shorter, plumper man, reined in his arrogant stance, bowed, and stepped aside to let them pass.
The tall, thin guard had barely gone inside before a crowd came pouring out.
At the head of them was Magistrate Wang, followed by the Assistant Magistrate, the secretary, and the postmaster. They crowded together in a jostling throng.
The moment Magistrate Wang saw the Old Taoist, the tension in his face melted away.
He hurried forward and reached for the Old Taoist's sleeve.
The Old Taoist shifted slightly, calm and unruffled, and the magistrate's hand met empty air.
The magistrate was quick-witted. He twirled his hand in midair and turned the gesture into an invitation, showing no trace of embarrassment as he chuckled.
"Master, you've finally returned! I've been waiting ages. You were gone all afternoon, and I've been on pins and needles, afraid the two of you thought I, Wang, had treated you poorly..."
He rambled on about "worry" and "concern," his voice loud, but his sincerity was about as thick as a sheet of window paper.
Zhang Qi poked his head out from the crowd, staring at the master and disciple in confusion. "Daoist masters, which shop did you visit? This humble servant went around Confucian Temple Street several times, but how come I didn't see you even once..."
Before he could finish, the county magistrate impatiently waved him away. "Go on, go feed your horse."
Zhang Qi froze. "But there aren't any horses. Isn't that a mule?"
The county magistrate glared at him. "Then go feed your mule!"
Zhang Qi tried again. "But this humble servant already fed it just now..."
The county magistrate's face darkened, his tone growing even more impatient. "Then get lost and shovel manure!"
Zhang Qi was about to say something else, but the postmaster grabbed him by the collar and dragged him away.
He looked back as he left, muttering something full of grievance, but no one could make it out.
After sending Zhang Qi away, the county magistrate turned back, his smile returning as he led the master and disciple inside.
As they walked, he made a show of asking after their health, but never once asked where they had been that afternoon.
Shen Hui watched him coolly, finding the whole thing amusing.
Once everyone was seated, the county magistrate hurriedly ordered his servants to prepare a feast. He even poured the tea himself and handed it over with a smile.
"I'm truly ashamed. I should have held a welcoming feast for you last night, but a few trifling matters kept me tied up, and one delay led to another. I hope the two Daoist masters won't hold it against me."
Shen Hui took the teacup, watching the magistrate bow and scrape as he inwardly scoffed.
He wondered whether the magistrate had really been tied up with trivial matters, or whether he was afraid the two of them would quit the job, and had rushed over to apologize over a feast.
The magistrate personally raised his cup and first toasted the Old Taoist, smiling broadly. "I hear that the two of you went to the Liu Family Old Residence last night and wiped out all the evil spirits in the blink of an eye. Master, your Daoist arts are indeed profound, just as your reputation claims!"
The Old Taoist chuckled, raised his cup, and took a sip. "This poor Daoist merely watched from the side. My disciple did the fighting."
The magistrate's gaze shifted at once to Shen Hui, his eyes full of surprise.
He raised his cup and came over, showering him with praise. "My, a great master truly produces a great disciple! Young Daoist, you're so young, yet already so capable. You're a hero among the youth! Come, come, this humble official offers you a toast!"
Shen Hui smiled and raised his cup in return, though he knew exactly what was going on.
The magistrate had surely already questioned the two constables and knew all about what had happened the night before. His surprise now was entirely an act.
Still, Shen Hui couldn't be bothered to expose him. He simply went along with it, offering the usual polite replies: "You flatter me, Magistrate," and "It's only a minor skill."
Just then, a servant came in to report that the food was ready.
The magistrate immediately ushered everyone to the table, gesturing as he went.
"This feast was specially ordered from Fortune Restaurant. It can't compare with the delicacies of the capital, but it's among the best Qu County has to offer. And this wine is Bamboo Leaf Green from the south. It goes down smooth and is very nourishing..."
The dishes were plentiful: chicken, duck, fish, and meat covered the table. Though prepared by local cooks, they were delicious and pleasing to the eye.
The magistrate was attentive, serving food one moment and urging them to drink the next. He never stopped talking, praising the Old Taoist over and over, then praising Shen Hui over and over.
The Old Taoist remained neither warm nor cold, occasionally responding with a word or two, but mostly keeping his head down and eating.
Helpless, Shen Hui had to keep the conversation going on his master's behalf.
Though he didn't say much, every word hit the mark. He occasionally cracked a joke or two, and his quips flowed one after another.
Even the Old Taoist couldn't help laughing and drinking a few cups. His face flushed slightly, and he gradually grew more talkative.
After several rounds of drinks, the county magistrate's face was glowing red, and his words began to run together.
One moment he was clutching Shen Hui's hand and calling him "a young hero indeed"; the next he was talking about his own unmarried niece, saying she was as beautiful as a flower.
Shen Hui didn't take the bait. He merely listened with a smile.
After a few more cups, the county magistrate finally couldn't hold on. He slumped in his chair and began to hiccup.
Seeing this, Shen Hui called over several servants and had them help the county magistrate, the Assistant Magistrate, and the others away one by one.
Once most of the people had left, the main hall fell quiet, leaving only the master and disciple.
Shen Hui rose and walked with the Old Taoist toward the rear courtyard.
When they reached the courtyard, Shen Hui saw the Old Taoist to his room to rest, then turned and headed for Scholar Li's room.
He pushed the door open. The room had been cleaned thoroughly, the bedding replaced, and a pot of tea and several plates of pastries laid out on the table. Someone had clearly arranged everything ahead of time.
As for where Scholar Li had gone, not a single person in the Post House had mentioned it.
Shen Hui sat at the table and slowly drank a cup of tea.
The tea was old and a little bitter, but it helped sober him up.
He set down the cup and looked around.
First, he closed his eyes and regulated his breathing for a while. Once the qi within him had settled, he focused inward and silently tallied the cultivation points he had gained that day.
Ever since leaving the mountain, each time he eliminated an evil creature, the number of cultivation points within him had increased.
The Yin Ghost at the Liu Family Old Residence and the Evil Cultivator from Qishan Sect today had brought his total to nearly six hundred points.
Strangely, though, this time he had not received a draw from the Corpse Liberation Wheel.
That was different from what he had expected.
He had thought that killing any cultivator would earn him one draw, but in practice, that was not the case.
So, the key might not be whether I kill someone?
Or was there some difference between those two kills?
Shen Hui fell into thought.
Their cultivation levels were different, their Daoist traditions were different, and there was quite an age gap between them...
Looks like I'll have to find a few Evil Cultivators and try using the controlled-variable method when I get the chance.
As for these cultivation points...
He'd better save them for now. If nothing else came up, he'd prioritize raising his cultivation and reach Foundation Establishment as soon as possible.