When the Fruit Brought Change

According to Great Liang law, after the third watch, no one was allowed on the streets unless there was a grave matter at home.

If anyone dared to wander about at night, they would be violating the king's laws and earn themselves a sound beating.

To the people of Shanyin County, even if the sky were falling, they would not dare barge through the curfew.

This was not because everyone knew, feared, and obeyed the law.

It was because compared with the county yamen's street patrols, far more terrifying things prowled the streets in the darkness.

Thus, Shanyin County had somehow developed the "simple and honest" custom of leaving doors unlocked at night.

A wooden door could not keep out the things that were truly dangerous.

And thieves who dared roam at night often ended up among the missing.

So what difference did it make whether the door was locked or not?

Su Che tucked the Azure Emperor Cup into his sleeve, concealed it away, and raced onward using the method of the Mirage Shadow Origin Sword.

Shanyin County's gates had already been shut, but while the city walls could stop petty thieves, they could not stop Deputy Magistrate Su.

A wall five or six meters high was not something a ninth-rank sword cultivator could scale with a few leaps.

So Su Che simply used his mouth.

"Open the gates! Open the gates!"

At his shout, several dark heads poked out from atop the gatehouse.

"Who's hollering down there? If you want a beating, go to the county yamen tomorrow and ask for one yourself. We men aren't going to indulge you tonight."

"Which inspector is on duty tonight?"

Shanyin County had three inspectors in total. One was responsible for the eastern part of the city, one for the western part, while the third, being rather unlucky, was assigned to the villages and hamlets outside the city.

They were all inspectors, but the opportunities for profit were as different as heaven and earth.

The city defenses were normally rotated among the three of them as well.

"You asking so clearly because you're one of your godfathers—"

The man answering from the gatehouse finally caught on. He coughed twice, then asked suspiciously.

"May I ask who you are?"

He muttered inwardly, Don't tell me it's some demon immortal passing by who has taken offense at us.

You're a properly enlightened demon immortal. The wall is only a dozen feet high—you could simply fly over it. Why play verbal games with me?

"I am this county's deputy magistrate. Open the gates, quickly."

Su Che felt that Shanyin County's local customs were truly something else. Every person he met seemed sharp-tongued and fond of banter.

"Oh! It really is Deputy Magistrate Su. We lowly men were blind as dogs. We'll open the gates for you right away."

Before long, the yamen runners opened the city gates. Eight of them knelt in separate clusters, looking entirely willing to accept punishment.

"Get up, all of you."

Su Che had no desire to punish them over a few loose words.

If he wanted to establish authority, he only needed to behead a few great demons and fierce ghosts. There was no need to torment these suffering folk.

Guarding Shanyin County's gates at night was a task that sorely tested one's nerves. Daring to curse at whatever stood below the gates calling for entry already counted as courage.

"We have committed an offense and insulted you, my lord. We dare not rise."

These fellows were really putting on airs now.

Su Che frowned.

"Too much nonsense. If you don't get up, every last one of you will report to the yamen tomorrow for fifty authority-stamping blows."

The yamen runners unlucky enough to be assigned gate duty scrambled to their feet in a disorderly fashion.

Su Che looked toward the county yamen. Now that Young Master Su had properly stepped into the path of cultivation, his ears and eyes had become keen, and he could faintly hear some commotion from that direction.

"What's going on? Why is there such a racket over there?"

He asked one of the gate guards.

"You don't know yet, my lord?" The lead yamen runner had met Su Che before and knew that Deputy Magistrate Su was not the sort of superior who liked making trouble or lecturing people for no reason, so he gathered his courage and spoke.

"Tonight, a demon wind came from who knows where and blew the roof clean off our county yamen treasury. Silver, copper coins, and all sorts of things scattered across half the city."

Su Che understood what had happened.

He had told Registrar Tian to put the arm One-Eye had dropped into the Ever-Provision Treasury. Judging by the present situation, its owner had come to reclaim it.

These demons really were foolish enough to walk straight into his trap.

"This must be the work of a demon. Guard your posts carefully and proceed with caution. If you truly encounter one, do not fight it head-on. Your first priority is preserving yourselves. Great Liang does not need your lives as foundation stones."

After giving the yamen runners a few instructions, Su Che continued toward the county yamen.

Outside the county yamen, the area was brightly lit.

All three inspectors wore iron armor, heavy crossbows strapped to their backs. Their faces were grim, and their hands rested on their sword hilts as though they would start chopping people the moment a word displeased them.

The surrounding yamen runners and patrol soldiers held torches, each carrying swords and shields, spears and halberds, bows and arrows. Their faces were filled with excitement.

Registrar Tian wore his official robes, his plump face shifting between light and shadow in the torchlight.

"Registrar, we have finished making preparations."

"I know."

"Magistrate Jiang has already issued orders, telling us—"

"I said I know. Do you understand me, Inspector Liu?"

"Magistrate Jiang—"

"Old Liu, if you don't want to manage the western quarter, I'll have you switch with Old Ma. Your vital energy is strong; it would be perfect for you to make more rounds through the countryside."

Registrar Tian's words carried a threat. Inspector Liu glanced at his colleague Old Ma, who was sneering nearby, then hurriedly cupped his fists to his superior and stepped aside without another word.

Before long, a clerk came running out of the county yamen.

"Registrar, Deputy Magistrate Su still hasn't been found."

What the hell had that brat gone off to do?

Registrar Tian's face turned red as he held himself back from cursing aloud in front of everyone.

The clerk glanced to the side and lowered his voice.

"However, we heard that early this morning, Deputy Magistrate Su had people bind up a woman from the Qi Household. They say she was wrapped in a bedsheet and carried into the yamen..."

"Where is the Qi Household woman?"

"She has already disappeared. This student saw Deputy Magistrate Su's book boy, but asking him was no different from asking a wall. He refused to say anything, and this student could not use force."

Registrar Tian's vision immediately went black. There were only so many women from the Qi Household in the county. There was no need to say which one Deputy Magistrate Su had sought.

He himself had once had his fortune told by that woman. She was merely of average beauty, yet this Su fellow, that lecherous wastrel, really did not discriminate when it came to food.

Right, what had that immortal possessing the Qi Household woman said when it calculated his fortune?

It had said that he would face a calamity this year.

It had also said that more than half the year had already passed and nothing should happen. Yet damn it, something enormous had happened.

Old Tian was standing there fuming.

But the very person in question had returned to the county yamen.

The moment Su Che took in the sight before him, he had a rough idea of what was going on.

"Greetings, Deputy Magistrate." "We pay respects to Deputy Magistrate Su."

The yamen runners and patrol soldiers hurriedly saluted when they saw Su Che return.

"Brother Tian, three inspectors, what is all this?"

Deputy Magistrate Su looked at Registrar Tian, already having roughly guessed the cause.

The Ever-Provision Treasury was the foundation of every financial expenditure in the county.

It was everyone's purse.

Previously, the loss of just two taels of silver had been enough to make all of Shanyin gnash their teeth and insist on catching the thief.

Now that One-Eye had caused such a scene, could Magistrate Jiang and Registrar Tian possibly accept it?

Of course not.

The money in the Ever-Provision Treasury was everyone's money.

That was why the present display had been assembled.

"Aiya, worthy brother Su, something huge has happened in the yamen."

"Brother Tian, there is no need to worry. I have already heard about it." Su Che looked at Registrar Tian. "But with this formation, could it be that you have already determined which demon king is responsible and intend to seek justice?"

Registrar Tian glared at Su Che. He really was a lecherous wastrel—did he think these yamen runners and patrol soldiers were going to take revenge on the demons? Did he think the demons around Shanyin County had not eaten enough?

They were in such a hurry to improve the demons' meals.

Thanks to the friends Thankful Longbow Archer, Feng'er..., and sarakael for their monthly tickets. An extra chapter will be added; have a pleasant weekend, everyone.