What If One Death Goes Unnoticed, but a Pile of Them Die?

Watching the Wang family's old servant hurry away with the money, Cui Lang's lips curled into a faint, barely perceptible smile.

He had long considered reporting Zheng Fengyun and Constable Li. Through Xiao Yu, it seemed the county magistrate was not on the same side as Zheng Fengyun and the others, but who knew whether there were other officials in the county colluding together?

Moreover, officials in the county were colluding with demons, and the county magistrate could hardly escape blame. Perhaps he would not truly deal with them at all, choosing instead to help cover it up so as not to be implicated himself.

The best solution, then, was to bypass the county yamen and report the matter directly to the prefectural yamen.

But Cui Lang had previously been unable to find anyone to deliver the message. He could not possibly entrust such a matter to some random stranger. The Wang family's old servant, however, gave him a glimmer of hope.

"I wonder whether the Wang family's old servant can reach the prefectural city safely, and whether the people there will believe him and send someone to investigate."

Humming a little tune, Cui Lang bought a slab of braised beef and strolled home.

"Brother, why did you even buy braised beef? Did you know a matchmaker was coming today, so you're happy?"

Cui Ling took the braised beef and carried it toward the kitchen, speaking with a smile.

"Huh? A matchmaker came?" Cui Lang froze for a moment.

Sure enough, becoming a constable was different from before.

Back when he was an executioner's son, forget matchmakers taking the initiative to visit—when his father went looking for matchmakers, they all said it would be difficult.

"That's right. The matchmaker said she's Ma Yuanwai's granddaughter from Crouching Ox Township. She also said she has seen you and is very satisfied with you."

"As for the betrothal gifts, just a token amount will do. Ma Yuanwai is willing to provide a large dowry. There are thirty mu of fertile fields alone."

Cui Ling was happy for her elder brother as well. At last, he was going to bring a sister-in-law home for her.

The moment Cui Lang heard it was Ma Yuanwai's granddaughter, the smile vanished from his face.

When he had gone with Zhao Changshan to Ma Yuanwai's home to ask about Ma Yuanwai's younger brother, he had indeed seen Ma Yuanwai's granddaughter.

How should he put it? The cloth needed to make one outfit for Ma Yuanwai's granddaughter would be enough to make three for his little sister!

He wanted a wife to warm his bed, but he truly could not stomach the bowl of rice that came with a rich woman.

Cui Lang said seriously, "Xiao Ling, if the matchmaker comes again, tell her Father has only just passed away. How could I marry?"

Cui Ling deftly sliced the beef. "Brother, I told the matchmaker that. She said you can get engaged first and choose an auspicious day next year to formally bring her into the family."

"That won't do either!" Cui Lang refused flatly. "I'm at a crucial stage in my martial cultivation right now. How can I divide my attention by getting married? Tell the matchmaker to thank Ma Yuanwai for his kind intentions and have him find another good match for his granddaughter."

As a martial artist, it was perfectly reasonable for him to devote himself wholeheartedly to the martial path, wasn't it?

"Xiao Ling, how is your cultivation technique practice going? Have you felt qi yet?" Cui Lang hurriedly changed the subject, refusing to let Xiao Ling continue talking about marriage.

Cui Ling shook her head. "No. Brother, is my aptitude too poor? Maybe I should just forget it."

Cui Lang comforted her, "Maybe this cultivation technique just doesn't suit you. Don't give up yet. Treat it as getting familiar with things in advance. Later, I'll find you more cultivation techniques. There will always be one that suits you."

Over the next few days, Cui Lang left early and returned late every day, looking as though he were extremely busy.

In truth, he spent half the day shooting the breeze with Zhao Changshan, drinking a little by the roadside, then buried himself in cultivation when he returned home at night. He did not even go near any of those important people's residences.

He also noticed that someone was always following him, but he pretended not to see.

Soon, five days passed, and Zheng Fengyun summoned Cui Lang to the office again.

"Cui Lang, how has your investigation gone these past few days? Do you have any suspects?" Zheng Fengyun looked anxious.

Cui Lang shook his head. "Magistrate Zheng, this subordinate has investigated earnestly these past few days. I did not even have time to practice or drink, but this subordinate is truly dull-witted and has not discovered anyone with an improper connection to demons."

"Whenever everyone mentions demons, they gnash their teeth in hatred. No one speaks for demons, so they could not possibly be colluding with them."

Zheng Fengyun watched Cui Lang spout nonsense without batting an eye. Did Cui Lang really think he did not know what he did every day?

Investigated earnestly, my ass!

"Cui Lang, I told you before: if you uncover results, I will certainly reward you. I might even recommend you to become a constable."

"People always strive to climb higher. Though the copper-badge constables in our county are only ninth-rank officials, they hold considerable authority. Their salary is several times what you earn now, and they can learn many profound cultivation techniques and martial skills."

"As for evidence, if you put your mind to it, there will always be a way to find some, won't there?"

Cui Lang knew perfectly well that Zheng Fengyun was plainly telling him to falsely implicate Constable Li.

"Magistrate Zheng, this subordinate truly wishes to become a constable, but I really found nothing. This subordinate cannot simply frame others at will."

"This subordinate has failed in his duties. I ask Magistrate Zheng to punish me."

Once the prefectural yamen sent people over and arrested Constable Li, all Cui Lang had to do was reveal his Essence Gathering realm strength. Wouldn't the position of constable be his for the taking?

Zheng Fengyun stared at Cui Lang for a long while before snorting coldly. "You can't even handle such a trivial matter, yet you want to become a constable?"

"Did you think that killing two demons was enough to make you smug?"

"Get out!"

Cui Lang turned and walked out without the slightest hesitation.

Zheng Fengyun lifted the teacup beside him and took a sip. Constable Li had chosen well this time. Cui Lang kept his mouth shut tight and was indeed worth using.

Taking three Blood Pills from his robe, Zheng Fengyun tilted back his head and swallowed them, then sat cross-legged on a cushion and began refining them through cultivation.

After a while, he suddenly gave a muffled groan, and an unnatural flush rose to his face.

"Just a little short every time!"

He had already attempted three times to condense a martial golden core and break through to the Core Embrace realm, but every attempt had failed. It left him exceptionally irritated.

"Even taking three at once isn't enough. If I take ten at once, I'll definitely succeed."

Ten Blood Pills would certainly provide enough qi and blood to support him in condensing essence into a core.

If he successfully broke through to the Core Embrace realm, then added his previous merits in slaying demons and greased a few palms above, the position of county magistrate of Cloud Mountain County would surely fall into his hands someday.

Then everyone in Cloud Mountain County would obey his orders, and the Blood Pills he received each month would certainly be even more plentiful.

Cui Lang left the county commandant's office. After walking some distance without noticing anyone following him, it seemed Zheng Fengyun had finally put him fully at ease this time.

A few more days passed. Sure enough, Zheng Fengyun did not summon him again. Constable Li did seek Cui Lang out once, saying the matter had already been suppressed and telling Cui Lang not to worry. Little did he know that Cui Lang had long realized the two were putting on a double act and had never worried in the first place.

But he soon noticed something was wrong. It had nearly been ten days. Even if the Wang family's old servant had traveled on foot, he should have reached the prefectural city by now. Why had no one from the prefectural city come to investigate?

"Could it be that the Wang family's old servant went to lodge a complaint, but the people in the prefectural city simply did not believe him?"

If a beggar went to the prefectural yamen to lodge a complaint, perhaps he would be driven off by the yamen runners before he could even get close.

Or perhaps they considered it a trivial matter and simply did not take it seriously.

"They can cover up the death of one female demon, and the prefectural yamen will not care much. But what if several more demons die, and more people go to the prefectural yamen to lodge complaints?"