Su Che quickly crossed the desolate streets.
The shops on both sides of the road had already put up their doors, and the newly affixed seals were as vivid as paper money left on the ground after a funeral.
The city was almost deserted, except for the patrolling soldiers and the people who were hurriedly leaving their homes.
Adults, helping the elderly and children, packed their bags, the cries of children mingling with the barking of dogs, rising and falling in waves.
At the entrance of the county government office in Shanyin County, you can still see the admonitory stone inscribed with "The common people are easy to oppress, but Heaven is hard to deceive." However, the plaque of the county government office has been removed, and the six gates are open, showing a sorry state of being deserted.
There wasn't a single person left in the county government office; not even tables and chairs remained. Everything that could be taken was gone.
Su Che turned left and right, and finally bumped into a few Imperial Demon Hunters in front of the warehouse. They were there holding a book and taking inventory of a pile of supplies.
" Judicial Punisher Su."
The group of Imperial Demon Hunters were doing accounts there when they saw Su Che arrive, and they all hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects.
Those who need to move chairs should move chairs, those who need to boil water should boil water, and those who need to pour tea should pour tea.
"Are you doing the bookkeeping?"
Su Che flipped through their account books, glancing around a few times.
"Reporting to Judicial Punisher Su, we are currently reviewing and reconciling all expenditure records for Shanyin County."
Of course, it costs money for the Imperial Demon Hunters to do their jobs. Not to mention the food and supplies for the people and horses, the swords and spears used to capture demons and the Talismanic Arts used to exorcise ghosts—all of these things cost money.
Given the massive Motion and Stillness caused by the Black Mountain Freak, the resources invested by the Imperial Demon Hunters must be substantial.
"What's going on? Where are Vice Minister Yu and Captain Shi?"
The Imperial Demon Hunters glanced at Su Che and said cautiously.
"Not long after Li Xing left, the imperial court issued an edict stating that Vice Minister Yu had failed in his duties and was being relieved of his post as Acting Vice Minister of the Censorate, and ordered to return to Jiankang to await further punishment."
Su Che smiled upon hearing this.
The Yingchuan Yu Clan is a powerful family with ties to the imperial family, and Yu Ze is an outstanding member of the younger generation of the Yingchuan Yu Clan. Dismissal? Awaiting further punishment?
These are all just tricks to deceive people.
"With Vice Minister Yu gone and a new Vice Minister yet to take office, we are most afraid of something major happening at this critical juncture. That's why Captain Shi has gone to Ci Prefecture to take charge of the overall situation."
Both seem reasonable, but what in this world is truly reasonable?
When was the imperial court's decree to abolish Shanyin County issued?
"So, Lord Justice already knew. The decree to abolish Shanyin County was issued together with the decree to dismiss Vice Minister Yu. We were quite surprised at the time, as the court hadn't abolished any prefectures or counties for a long time."
Want to go together?
"Stop doing the books."
Su Che put the ledger aside.
"Pack your things, let's go to Ci Prefecture immediately."
The leading Imperial Demon Hunters looked at his rising superior.
" Judicial Punisher Su, you don't know this, but this task of organizing the account books was personally assigned by Captain Shi. He instructed us..."
"Don't you know?"
"Know what?"
"Didn't you notice the previous earthquake?"
"Reporting to the Justice Minister, since the incident at Mystic Mountain, earthquakes have become commonplace in Shanyin County. We officials have long since become accustomed to them."
"Yes, the affairs of the court are of utmost importance. We cannot let this small disturbance disrupt our original work..."
Su Che looked at them and said slowly, word by word, "Remember what I'm about to say. Tell Captain Shi everything exactly as it is, and have him report it to the court immediately."
How ridiculous!
"With the Yin-Yang Realm gone, the Buddhist School, having received the decree from the Mysterious Capital Palace, can preach in Guobei County, with the Dharma Radiance Tathagata. Elder Sin Dragon has emerged, rushing eastward into the sea, causing cold currents and upheavals along the way, resulting in crop failures. The Yin-Yang Dharma King has disappeared without a trace. This matter must have been orchestrated by Yuwen Rui, the Grand Tutor of Northern Wei, with the intention of weakening our national strength and causing the Northern Expeditionary Army to fail."
Su Che finished speaking in rapid succession.
"Did you remember?"
"Ah..."
The Imperial Demon Hunters panicked upon hearing this.
They weren't considered important figures among the Imperial Demon Hunters, otherwise Shi Chibao wouldn't have kept them here to settle accounts.
The amount of information in Su Che's words was too much; those who reacted quickly had already started taking notes, while those who reacted slowly were already somewhat confused.
"Lord Li Xing... Lord Li Xing, this matter is of great importance. You should personally speak with Captain Shi and then jointly report it to the court."
"One of the Imperial Demon Hunters said cautiously, glancing around cautiously," he said.
"Let's... let's just forget about it."
Su Che was in a bad mood and didn't want to say anything more to them.
"Get it done right away, I have other important business to attend to."
"This..."
"I'm going to hunt down Yuwen Rui, the Grand Tutor of Northern Wei. If you can't deliver the message, you can come with me to kill this old scoundrel."
"Let's... let's just keep the work we have on hand..."
" The Imperial Demon Hunters has its own internal laws: disobeying orders is punishable by death; delaying military operations is punishable by death; and those who cower in fear will be castrated and enslaved. According to the official system, as the Imperial Demon Hunters in charge of criminal law, I am in charge of all laws and regulations within the Thousand-Household Office."
Su Che looked at the group of people in front of him.
Which charge will you choose to plead guilty to?
Several Imperial Demon Hunters immediately knelt down.
"Your subordinate will take care of it immediately, please rest assured, Sir."
"If only we had done this earlier, you can go now."
The Imperial Demon Hunters dared not delay any longer and immediately made a mess of things. After hastily tidying up the writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones on the table, they bid farewell to Su Che and packed their things to go to Ci Prefecture to report to Shi Chibao.
Lu Bai stood at a distance and watched the entire scene unfold.
After the Imperial Demon Hunters had gone far away, Su Che remained seated in the courtyard of the Shanyin County Office, his eyes closed and silent.
"Young Master."
Lu Bai stepped forward. "When do we set off?"
"Set off? For what purpose?"
Su Che had already cultivated to the Sixth Grade Realm the Mystic Gate realm, and his soul was powerful. As long as he practiced breathing exercises, he would be full of energy and didn't need much sleep. However, he felt more tired than ever before and just wanted to get a good night's sleep.
"Chase down Yuwen Rui!"
This Lu Bai.
Su Che smiled slightly.
"Sit down. We've been brothers through Life and Death. There's no need for these formalities anymore."
"Even in front of outsiders, what needs to be done still needs to be done."
Lu Bai took a chair from the side and sat down opposite Su Che.
I feel a little upset.
"This subordinate can see that."
" Old Lu, what do you think I should do now?"
"I don't quite understand what you mean, young master."
"I've been thinking about something, can you give me some advice?" Su Che rested his head on his wrist.
"When I told Yu Ze that we were going to investigate the Yin-Yang Realm, did he know that Shanyin County was going to be merged into Guobei County?"
Lu Bai remained silent.
"Forget it, these things aren't important." Su Che looked at Lu Bai: "Many people want me dead, but even more people want me alive."
"This incident taught me a lesson."
Su Che looked at Lu Bai: "Do you have any ideas?"
"This humble servant has no particular thoughts. Wherever Young Master goes, this humble servant will go. The world is so vast. From the Yellow Heaven Dao Court beyond the Nine Heavens to the Ghost Ancestor Palace in Beimang, as long as Young Master has a place to stand, there should also be a place for me, Old Lu."
"Okay," Su Che laughed, "Then let's do what we want to do from now on."
Book club group number: 979102562. Everyone, come and urge me to update! We'll also be releasing setting information and bonus chapters in the group.