A Few Coins a Month—Why Risk Your Life?

Behind the county yamen.

Cui Lang forced down the discomfort in his heart as he looked at the half of a corpse before him.

The corpse's two legs were gone, as if they had been torn off alive. There was also a huge hole in its chest, and all its internal organs had vanished.

Cui Lang could not help asking, "Constable Li, what demon harmed Zhang Si?"

Constable Li clasped his hands behind his back. "Demons? Where would demons come from? This was clearly the work of criminals, deliberately staged to make people think demons were causing trouble."

Zhao Changshan immediately chimed in, "Brother Cui, you lack experience. This was the work of criminals, absolutely not demons."

"The County Lieutenant just led people to slay demons. There is no way any demons would dare appear again so soon."

Cui Lang understood at once. Even if it really was a demon, they could not say so.

Zhao Changshan turned to Constable Li. "Constable Li, could you arrange for someone else to handle this case? Cui Lang has only just arrived and has no experience."

Constable Li said blandly, "Since Cui Lang has become a constable, he must fulfill his duties."

"No one has experience in the beginning. Handle a few cases, and you will."

"You two must solve this case properly. Three days means three days."

After Constable Li left, Cui Lang looked at Zhao Changshan. "Brother Zhao, does Constable Li mean for the two of us to hunt demons?"

The last time Zheng Fengyun had led a team to hunt demons, two constables had died. This time there were only the two of them. Was that not practically inviting the demons to an all-you-can-eat feast?

Zhao Changshan shot Cui Lang a sidelong glance. "Brother Cui, don't worry about this. I'll take care of it. I'll bring you somewhere good in a while, and we'll close the case tomorrow."

Cui Lang watched Zhao Changshan warily. "I really have no money left."

"What kind of thing is that to say?" Zhao Changshan was displeased. "Did I say I was making you spend money?"

"Go home and tell your family you're drinking with everyone tonight to celebrate, so you won't be going back. We'll meet at the east gate in a while."

Cui Lang did not know what Zhao Changshan intended, but he still went home to tell his younger sister.

"Brother, you're treating today, right? Take all this money with you." Cui Ling emptied the money pouch and handed the coins to Cui Lang. "Knock when you come back tonight. I'll hear you."

"You look so spirited in that outfit."

Cui Lang quickly pushed the money back. "Don't give me any money. I'm not treating today. Once I get my salary, I'll treat everyone else to drinks."

If Zhao Changshan saw that money, it might not stay in his hands.

"You don't need to leave the door for me tonight either. We might drink all night. Don't worry, we won't be going to any shady places."

Only then did Cui Ling put the money away. "Then come back for breakfast tomorrow morning. Don't drink too much. It's bad for your health."

Since her elder brother would not be home for dinner tonight, there was no need to buy meat. A pot of coarse rice porridge would do.

Cui Lang watched his sister shut the door properly before heading toward the city's east gate.

"Over here."

As soon as Cui Lang reached the gate, he saw Zhao Changshan pushing a handcart and waving at him. A straw mat covered something on the cart.

"Brother Zhao, what are you doing with this handcart?"

Zhao Changshan directly handed the cart to Cui Lang. "Why ask so many questions? Push it and follow me."

After they left the city gate, there were hardly any pedestrians on the road. Only then did Cui Lang lift the straw mat and see an oiled-paper parcel, several apples, and a pickaxe.

"Brother Zhao, there's no one else around now. Can you tell me?"

"You think these things can catch demons?"

Zhao Changshan plopped down onto the handcart. "I'm exhausted. Let me rest a bit. We'll switch later, and I'll push you."

"These things can catch jack shit of a demon. We're not here to catch demons either."

Cui Lang frowned. "Not catching demons? Brother Zhao, then how are we supposed to answer to Constable Li?"

Zhao Changshan lay back leisurely on the cart. "A man of the mountains has his own clever plan."

"Push forward, toward the river. Call me when we get there, and I'll switch with you."

Cui Lang pushed the cart with his head down. After walking for nearly two hours, they finally reached the river just as the sun slanted westward.

"Brother Zhao, we're here. Switch with me. It's your turn to push me."

Zhao Changshan sat up. "Push what? We're here. Grab the things and follow me."

Cui Lang: "..."

Seeing Cui Lang's unfriendly look, Zhao Changshan gave an embarrassed smile. He took the pickaxe himself, climbed down, and pointed toward the woods not far away. "Come on. We're going there."

Cui Lang followed Zhao Changshan into the woods in a fog of confusion. He watched Zhao Changshan place the apples before a mound of earth, then open the oiled-paper parcel to reveal several steamed buns.

"Brother Zhao, are you here to offer sacrifices to your ancestors?"

Asking the ancestors for protection with a few steamed buns? Not even a scrap of meat?

Zhao Changshan lowered his head and bowed. "What ancestors? Buried here is a servant who just died. No family, no relatives."

"We'll dig him up and use him to close the case."

Cui Lang stared at Zhao Changshan in shock. "You mean pin Zhang Si's death on this corpse? And just ignore the demon?"

This was how Zhao Changshan planned to close the case tomorrow?

Zhao Changshan leaned on the pickaxe. "Brother Cui, it's your first day on the job, so I'm saying a few extra words to you."

"You think I don't want to deal with demons causing trouble? I have to be capable of dealing with them first."

"You saw it today too. Constable Li had no intention of making a move, nor did he send anyone else to help. With just you and me, do you think we can handle demons?"

"We only earn a few taels of silver a month. Why risk our lives?"

The County Magistrate, the County Lieutenant, the constables—every one of them was stronger than the two of them. Those people were unwilling to deal with it, so how could they?

Besides, they lived in the city. Ordinary demons would not dare enter it.

Cui Lang finally understood why his former self's father's death had been wrapped up so hastily. This was how the county constables had always handled cases.

Seeing Cui Lang standing there in silence, Zhao Changshan tried persuading him again. "Brother Cui, you heard what Constable Li said today. The case must be closed within three days."

"If it isn't closed, think about what will happen to you and me."

"Don't look at me like that. This is how everyone handles cases involving demons. You'll get used to it slowly."

"Rest there for a while. I'll dig him out. Once it gets dark, we'll find somewhere to spend the night, then return to the city tomorrow morning to report back."

"Later, we'll find him a good spot with fine feng shui and bury him there. Maybe in his next life, he'll be reborn into a good family and won't have to sell himself as a servant again."

Cui Lang watched Zhao Changshan dig at the grave with grunts and heaves, standing silently to one side.

The sun sank completely, and the sky began to darken. Zhao Changshan had also fully dug open the grave and was resting beside the pit.

Suddenly, he stared blankly at a spot more than ten meters behind Cui Lang. A shapely married woman carrying a basket was passing by.

The woman stopped and gently beckoned to Zhao Changshan.

Zhao Changshan pointed at his own nose. "You're calling me? Miss, have you run into some trouble?"

"Then you found the right person. I love helping women like you, lonely and without anyone to rely on."

Hearing the commotion, Cui Lang turned around as well and saw the woman beckoning.

At this late hour, with no village ahead and no inn behind, why would a woman come to the riverside?

Then thunder suddenly rumbled in the sky, and a bolt of lightning streaked across it. Cui Lang saw that the woman's skin was deathly pale, and blood was streaming from her eyes!