Setting Fire to Seize Wealth, Tagalong Insect Takes the Field

Fang Shu walked out of the room and saw Li Hou'er waiting outside.

As soon as Li Hou'er saw him, he immediately greeted him:

"Brother Fang, come on, my dad's got something planned, he sent me to find you, and Uncle Yu will be there to discuss it too."

Upon hearing this and noticing the other person's expression, Fang Shu immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He nodded in acknowledgment, indicating that the other person should continue talking as they walked.

Upon reaching the dining hall, the two found their second uncle Yu Le, without much difficulty.

Seeing his second uncle with his own eyes, Fang Shu felt a huge weight lifted from his heart.

Li Hou'er pulled the two of them to a corner before speaking:

"The Paper Workshop burned down, and the neighbors there were either injured or killed, leaving them all homeless and destitute."

The other party spoke mysteriously, "My father has already inquired beforehand. This Paper Workshop burned down, and it won't be rebuilt on the same spot. Instead, it will be rebuilt as a large brick and tile house."

They also said that as compensation, the original residents of Paper Workshop would have priority in purchasing the property. And since Fang Ge'er and I are both from the Solitary Gu Hall, our families are definitely eligible.

My dad said that if we agree to this, and get two or three more families on board, we can finally have a whole courtyard house!

Li Hou'er clicked his tongue and said, "By then, with houses and buildings, we'll all be well-off families in Guling Town!"

Upon hearing this, Second Uncle Yu Le's eyes first lit up, then his brows furrowed.

He squatted by the stove, exhaled a puff of smoke, and sighed softly:

"Brother Li is well-informed; it's probably true."

This was indeed an opportunity. You see, every tiled house in the town had a name and a place; they weren't easily sold, and even money couldn't buy them.

In this town, building a house is easy, but acquiring land is not. Where will the money come from...?

Upon hearing this, Li Hou'er's joy turned to hesitation. He muttered, "Right, my dad's so stingy, where did he get the money?"

Then Li Hou'er scratched his head, gave a sheepish smile, and said, "I've delivered the message, Uncle Yu, Brother Fang, just remember it, okay?"

Immediately, this fellow quickly left the dining hall and strode excitedly towards the outside of the dojo. It seemed he was going to ask the talisman master Li Yuan how much wealth they had, especially after it had been burned down.

In an instant, only Fang Shu and his second uncle remained by the stove.

Fang Shu then began to inquire carefully:

"Second Uncle, what exactly happened in the Paper Workshop? Why was the whole street burned down?"

Second Uncle Yu Le shook his head and cursed, "Bah! What a terrible thing!"

Then, the other party gave a detailed account of the fire at the Paper Workshop mill.

It turns out that a strong wind blew up in the area where Paper Workshop is located last night.

It's autumn now, and the weather is dry. For some reason, a fire broke out at one of the Paper Workshop.

A fire at the Paper Workshop would have been a minor incident, something that happens every year. But for some reason, this time, aided by the strong winds, the fire quickly spread throughout the entire Paper Workshop.

And coincidentally, that very night, the ditches in the Paper Workshop were completely blocked by fallen leaves and stones blown in by the strong wind. In order to clear the blockage, the people in the market simply cut off the water supply to the Paper Workshop.

When such a large fire breaks out, even if the neighbors in Paper Workshop wanted to put it out themselves, they would have no water available.

They wanted to ask people from the market to help put out the fire, but the firefighting team from the market did come. However, they completely ignored the Paper Workshop and quickly pulled down a row of paper mills near the tiled-roof area. Then they dispatched men to protect the tiled-roof area.

The people in the Paper Workshop asked them to put out the fire, but the firefighting team demanded a departure fee and a water fee, insisting that they pay first before putting out the fire.

In this way, amidst the buck-passing, the entire Paper Workshop, with its Thousand Commander households, was burned to ashes, leaving behind only a desolate white wasteland, resulting in heavy casualties.

Second Uncle Yu Le, with his pipe in his mouth, said:

"It's not completely burned yet; you can still see some embers if you go over there."

After listening, Fang Shu looked at his second uncle.

Second Uncle grinned, seemingly knowing what he wanted to ask, and said proactively, "Don't worry about us, kid. Ever since those Black Tiger Hall people started causing trouble in Paper Workshop..."

"Your second uncle here has already packed up and is sleeping on the floor in the dining hall."

Second Uncle Yu Le said with a smug look on his face:

"There are only some bottles and jars left at home, and we're too lazy to go back and check them. Once this is all over, I'll just rent a paper house."

Fang Shu hearing this, Fang Shu raised an eyebrow, a wide smile immediately spreading across his face, and said:

"As expected of my second uncle, experience really pays off."

"Of course, a wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall." Second Uncle Yu Le was even more beaming when he heard this.

The uncle and nephew continued their conversation, and Fang Shu learned even more.

According to the neighbors in the Paper Workshop, Fang Shu happened to know the owner of the paper house that was the first to burn down.

That was the old man's house where Su Qingao was staying.

"Tsk tsk, that old man, he was all radiant just a few days ago, saying he originally hoped to die in his paper house, but who would have thought that God wouldn't take him. So he simply sold off all his possessions and plans to move to Wind-Moon Bridge in a few days to live a carefree life for a few years before dying there."

Second Uncle Yu Le clicked his tongue in disapproval:

"Unexpectedly, this bastard's jinx came true; he really did die in the house."

"Such a coincidence?" Fang Shu's expression immediately turned strange upon hearing this.

Second Uncle Yu Le glanced at him and said gloatingly, "Yes, it's such a coincidence. Of course, some people say that the girl surnamed Su started the fire herself."

Some people said they heard the old man's wailing at night, a mournful sound like a pig being slaughtered. Because everyone was used to their arguing, no one paid any attention.

My second uncle shook his head and said, "Now that I think about it, that old man was probably burned alive."

Upon Fang Shu remained unmoved, only finding it amusing.

However, his gaze immediately sharpened as he recalled that when he dealt with Cheng the Jar, he had overheard the man plotting with others outside Cheng's house.

Considering the Black Tiger Hall incident mentioned by my second uncle, it's likely that the seeds of this fire in Paper Workshop were sown a year ago.

Fang Shu's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself, "So, Su Qingao not only killed her husband and burned down the house, but she might also have been a henchman of the Black Tiger Hall, taking Cheng the Jar's place?"

A strange thought suddenly occurred to him.

Speaking of the last time he killed Cheng the Jar, he quietly made a fortune and even obtained a mineral vein map.

"I wonder how much wealth Su Qingao?" Fang Shu wondered to himself.

He then inquired about Su Qingao's whereabouts.

All I heard was my second uncle Yu Le, say:

People from the market town have been sent to look for her, and a reward has been offered. Some people say they saw her fleeing out of town.

Now, not only have a bunch of people from the Paper Workshop gone out of town to search for her, but a pack of hyenas in the town have also run out, wanting to capture the girl for the reward. Even the Black Tiger Hall has feigned concern by sending people out, saying they'll bring the girl back to hold her accountable.

My second uncle shook his head and sighed, "I think that girl, whether she gets caught or not, won't have a good ending."

Su Qingao has committed such a crime. Once she is caught, even if she is completely innocent and innocent, the Black Tiger Hall will not let go of this scapegoat. They will most likely execute her in a public manner so that the neighbors in Paper Workshop can vent their anger!

However, if the other party is not captured, even if a mortal who has not yet entered the Dao has prepared some methods, he can survive the day in the wild, but he cannot survive the night.

After all, even those Immortal cultivator who have attained enlightenment would not choose to spend the night in the wild unless absolutely necessary.

Now, Fang Shu's thoughts intensified.

It should be known that Su Qingao had absconded with the old man's family fortune spanning several generations, which should amount to at least tens of thousands of Talisman Coins.

Once this woman is captured, setting aside the reward, the wealth on Su Qingao alone will be enough to make a small fortune.

The most urgent task right now is to act quickly!

Before the Paper Workshop neighbors and the town's hyenas could succeed, Fang Shu found Su Qingao in the wild.

As for how to find Su Qingao, Fang Shu had a brilliant plan.

After he quietly bid farewell to his second uncle, a small insect flew out from his sleeve, circled in front of him, and hovered for a while.

This insect is the Tagalong Insect, a type of Gu worm that Fang Shu refined in his spare time.

It can act like a hunting dog, searching for the scent of thieves and even actively leaving a brand on them to track enemies at all times, making it quite ingenious.

Aside from the Sleepy Insect and the Tagalong Insect, Fang Shu has already mastered refining the seven Unranked Gu worms related to firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea. Only the "Breath-Holding Insect" is currently under analysis, but it won't be long before Fang Shu can master it as well.

Clutching the Tagalong Insect, he was invigorated and immediately strode towards the Paper Workshop.

Even the poor neighbors in the Paper Workshop dared to join in this kind of harmless excitement, so Fang Shu naturally wanted to join in too, even if it meant making a wasted trip.

Perfect, this matter can also allow him to test whether the Tagalong Insect is really as miraculous as described in the book of sorcery.

However, before stepping out of the dojo, Fang Shu looked up at the sky again to confirm that it was still morning and there were still several hours until sunset.

Although he was there to join in the fun, he didn't plan to spend the night in the wilderness. Once night fell, even if he came away empty-handed, he would return promptly to avoid encountering ghosts while wandering the streets at night.

Continue straight ahead.

Fang Shu returned to the Paper Workshop with practiced ease.

The once densely packed paper houses have now turned into piles of ashes, and even now, smoke continues to rise, forcing passersby to cover their faces with cloth.

Seeing Fang Shu followed suit, taking a face towel from his sleeve and covering his face.

He first went to the location of his own paper house, looked around, and found that his house had also been burned to the ground, looking just like a pile of ashes left over from burning paper during a grave visit.

As we ventured deeper into the Paper Workshop, bursts of weeping echoed through the Paper Workshop, a cacophony of voices from the old and the young, men and women.

Besides the cries of distress, there were also people dressed in black robes and hats banging drums and gongs, shouting, "Don't gather in crowds! Don't gather in crowds!"

"Those who want to settle in the shantytown to the west can go now; there's no point in staying here any longer."

But the refugees in the Paper Workshop, upon hearing this, not only failed to respond with gratitude, but immediately began to curse, "Bah! Don't even think about driving us away!"

"You're the ones who burned down this Paper Workshop!"

The crowd pushed and shoved, and clashes broke out frequently.

Fang Shu took in these scenes but didn't pay much attention. Based on his memory, he wandered around for a while and then arrived at the paper house where Su Qingao and the old man lived.

When he arrived at his destination, he realized he was too late.

Unlike other places where ashes were piled up like grave mounds, here all the ashes had been dug out, and even the foundation had been hollowed out.

Clearly, the others had already searched every inch of this place.

Even the charred corpse in the center of the ashes, still sitting with its body hunched over, had its chest ripped open and its teeth smashed and pried out, making it extremely unsightly.

Even now, children from the Paper Workshop are still searching through the foundation pit, like little chicks pecking at rice.

And there were children making a ruckus, whipping the mummified corpse with tree branches they'd found somewhere.

Dust billowed everywhere. Fang Shu covered his face and went over to examine the traces.

When he looked around, he saw unfamiliar faces, some leading sleek, glossy wolfhounds, others running into the ashes themselves, heads bowed, sniffing the food.

These people occasionally muttered, "Damn it! Looks like we're late."

They then carefully removed shards of pottery, porcelain, or strips of cloth from the objects in the pit that were not yet completely burned, and hurriedly left, heading out of the town.

Fang Shu were mixed in.

Instead of hastily picking up the items and leaving, he carefully searched through the clutter. Ordinary items, even if they retained a scent, might not necessarily smell like Su Qingao's.

After searching for a while, his eyes suddenly lit up and his attention fell on the charred corpse.

Snap! Just then, a child shouted and stomped on the charred corpse's neck, kicking it around like a ball.

Fang Shu keenly noticed that a few traces of blood remained in the spine of the charred corpse's severed neck, indicating that it was not completely charred.

So he had a sudden thought, and immediately shook out his Tagalong Insect, which first crawled into the charred corpse's chest, and then into its charred head.

Only after the Tagalong Insect had memorized the scent of the charred corpse did he summon the Gu worm back.

"The scent left by Su Qingao was hard to detect, but the old man's scent remained."

Fang Shu thought to himself, "This woman spends every day with the old man; she might even have his scent lingering on her!"

Although such indirect aura is extremely easy to extinguish, and Su Qingao only needs to do a little bit to make the Tagalong Insect clueless, he can only try it now.

After putting away the Tagalong Insect, Fang Shu left the Paper Workshop.

Afterward, he did some simple shopping in the market and made some preparations before heading out of town and into the countryside.

In the vast mountains and forests.

When Fang Shu reached a secluded spot, he took out the Fox Fur from his robes, gave it a gentle shake, and it transformed once again into a six-foot-tall gray fox.

Buzzing!

A bee-sized insect also flew up and hovered above the gray fox's head.

An insect and a fox, as if playfully chasing each other, wandered around the mountains and forests.

Next.

Fang Shu encountered many people leading dogs and riding hawks in the wild. Most of them were ordinary people, and a few were Immortal cultivator who had entered the Dao. They all maintained restraint among themselves and there was no conflict. They were obviously also searching for Su Qingao.

However, judging from their appearance, none of them had accomplished anything.

Fang Shu followed closely Tagalong Insect, traversing forests and rivers, climbing mountains and descending valleys, covering the entire mountainous region within dozens of miles of the market town.

As the sun began to set, he felt discouraged, thinking that this trip had probably been a waste of time, and decided to turn back home.

As a result, when the Tagalong Insect was passing by a certain place, it suddenly changed direction and rushed straight towards a certain direction.

Fang Shu immediately perked up.

But when he quietly followed and hid in the grass, he discovered that the one being followed and targeted was not Su Qingao, nor even a person, but a fat, shiny rat.

The mouse had a red tail and moved around intermittently, but its direction was very clear; it was running towards a certain place.

This surprised Fang Shu Shuxin.

But he still chose to trust the Tagalong Insect and followed the fat rat all the way to a river valley about thirty miles from the market.

After running to the riverbank, the fat rat didn't stop. It nimbly jumped down from the river valley and disappeared from Fang Shu's sight.

This made Fang Shu's heart tighten, and he thought that the other party had discovered him and jumped into the river.

As a result, his Tagalong Insect swayed around in a circle on the river and then disappeared from sight.

Fang Shu immediately. He moved to a different spot, hanging downwind on the riverbank. Looking to the side, he noticed a recessed crevice in the rock face.

A gentle river breeze blows.

A faint, painful groan from a woman was carried by the wind to Fang Shu's ears.

That voice, whose else could it be but Su Qingao's!