In the county yamen's main hall, Su Che looked at the Sea Sunrise Painting behind Shi Chibao. Not a trace of warmth touched his body.
Killing with a laugh—how many households would be ruined and exterminated between a few casual words?
Was this the power of the Imperial Demon Hunters?
"Many thanks for Your Excellency's guidance. This subordinate understands."
Su Che clasped his fists and said no more.
This Captain Shi, Shi Chibao, had truly shown him considerable courtesy. If the same matter were handled by a cruel official, Shanyin County could be slaughtered from top to bottom until even the smoke of cooking fires vanished. If it were handled by a corrupt official, this single trip could fill his coffers to overflowing.
If he wanted merit, there were naturally enough heads in the county to pave his road. If he wanted wealth, Magistrate Jiang, Registrar Tian, and the property of those wealthy households were practically money kept on deposit for him.
Offering both merit and money, using others' lives and fortunes to make himself a favor that cost him nothing—Captain Shi truly deserved a gift in return.
"Easy enough, easy enough."
Shi Chibao lifted his tea and chuckled. "This official still has duties to attend to. Constable Su, please do as you wish."
"This subordinate thanks Your Excellency."
Su Che bowed again and left the county yamen's main hall.
The memorial he had submitted had clearly reached the heavens.
Yu Ze of the Circuit Censorate, who held great local authority, had personally arrived with troops. He was already the highest-ranking local official in Great Liang. Feng Buxing, Eunuch Feng of the Imperial Stud Directorate, represented the Inner Court—the Emperor himself. Meanwhile, the Circuit Inspector of the Censorate was specifically responsible for affairs of this kind within the Outer Court.
The Outer Court, the Inner Court, and the local authorities—three forces moving at once, stirring up spring waters in a single pond.
At the thought, Su Che could not help feeling a flicker of sympathy for Magistrate Jiang and Registrar Tian, though it vanished in an instant. The two of them had truly suffered a calamity from nowhere.
They had been living in high spirits and comfort, acting as local tyrants rooted firmly in place. Then, not only had the sky suddenly collapsed, it had landed straight on their foreheads.
With such a massive incident in Shanyin County, Su Che might be able to pull himself clean. But how would those two bring things to an end?
The county's two foremost prominent clans would likely have to change.
But none of that had anything to do with Constable Su.
He lacked neither merit nor money. More importantly, True Person Wei of the Yellow Heaven Sect was still waiting behind the scenes.
Whether that claim about testing a prospective disciple seven times was true or false, if this affair left him with a reputation for bloodlust and greed, would he not be cutting off his own future?
Abandon the small gain rather than take it. Abandon the small gain rather than take it.
Su Che stepped out of the main office, and Zhang San was immediately waiting nearby.
"Constable Su."
Su Che glanced at the yamen runner. Zhang San's features were fairly well formed.
"What is it? Do you have something to report?"
"Someone wishes to pay Your Excellency a visit."
"I'm somewhat tired. Tell him to come another day."
Su Che replied.
Ever since arriving in Shanyin County, he had not had a single peaceful moment. Tonight, he still had to accompany Qingqiu and play some great bandit named Liu Yidao.
And with the cultivation method of the Secret Register of the Yin Heaven of Zhoujue, he likely would not have any opportunity to sleep tonight either.
Su Che had been wholeheartedly planning to take advantage of this quiet moment and find somewhere to sleep.
In any case, his reputation as a lecherous wastrel was already well known. He was not afraid of people saying he neglected proper business by sleeping during the day.
As the saying went, those who had already suffered social death feared nothing.
"Someone came to this lowly one asking to meet Your Excellency. This lowly one thought there must be some urgent reason behind it, so I agreed on his behalf."
"Did you take money?" Su Che looked at Zhang San.
"No. That person merely offered one hundred taels of patterned silver. This lowly one thought Your Excellency absolutely had to be informed."
This Zhang San was not bad.
Su Che nodded. He was not afraid of Zhang San being greedy. If Third Master Zhang were truly an upright and incorruptible gentleman, Su Che would not have employed him.
One hundred taels of patterned silver was indeed an astronomical price. At the market rate of one tael of silver for one thousand copper coins, it could be exchanged for one hundred thousand coins—enough rotten-meat noodles to pile into a small mountain.
Regardless of his reason, anyone who could afford such a price was someone Su Che should meet given his current status.
For no other reason than that the man had the means to produce such a sum.
"You've done well. Go collect his silver first, then have him meet me in the rear offices."
With his current cultivation, and especially with Shi Chibao commanding the Imperial Demon Hunters while stationed in the county yamen, Su Che was not worried anyone would dare stir up trouble within the yamen.
Su Che returned to his room and sat down. Before long, Zhang San led someone inside.
The man had a physique like black iron, though his complexion did not look very good.
Upon closer inspection, he could barely be considered an old acquaintance.
"Brother Zhou, it has been a long time. Have you been well?"
"This commoner failed to recognize Mount Tai and offended Your Excellency before. This commoner first begs forgiveness."
Having spoken, Zhou Si—the man Su Che had met at Withered Forest Chan Temple that day—pushed down mountains and toppled jade pillars, directly kneeling and respectfully knocking his head against the ground three times. Each strike landed heavily with a dull thud.
"Those words are rather pointless, Mister Zhou."
Su Che did not say much else.
The people in Mystic Mountain had finally realized what was happening, belated as they were, and had at last made some move.
Unfortunately, they were somewhat late.
Zhou Si, this leader of the herb gatherers who traveled through the deep mountains, had been able to lead his group to spend the night in Withered Forest Chan Temple, a place the locals of Shanyin County avoided like a tiger.
He had not relied on exceptional skill and great courage, but on someone behind him.
Mm, demons behind him.
Come to think of it, if he had not attacked the demon called One-Eye at Withered Forest Chan Temple that day, perhaps all this turmoil would never have arisen.
Now that he thought about it, his plan at the time—to force Gu Yin, the bookboy from White Deer Grotto, to act and thus verify his identity—had indeed been somewhat shallow.
Su Che said nothing, and the herb gatherer's head remained lowered to the ground.
"Mister Zhou was the first person from this county I came to know. We can be considered old acquaintances."
Su Che picked up an idle book from the table and casually flipped through it. He left Zhou Si hanging for the time it took to drink a cup of tea before finally speaking.
"Mister Zhou has come calling this time. I presume you have something to teach me?"
"This commoner would not dare. This commoner merely acts under orders and has an urgent matter to report to Your Excellency."
This man had an arrogant and stubborn temperament. For him to bow his head so low today, Su Che did not know who the Demon King behind him was, but that Demon King had indeed found a capable subordinate.
"I won't make things difficult for you. Spare me the nonsense about reporting urgent matters to Magistrate Jiang, Registrar Tian, or Judge Shi. We've met before, so get to the point."
Zhou Si lowered his head and did not dare lift it.
"The robbery of the county treasury was carried out by subordinates of Black Mountain Freak. It had nothing to do with the other demons. The demon Your Excellency slew in Withered Forest Chan Temple that day was called One-Eye. It should have been a tree demon, and there has been no news of it since..."
"If that is what you came to say, then forget it."
Su Che picked up his teacup and took a sip as he looked at Zhou Si. "This official has no interest in such matters."
"Your Excellency, this commoner knows Your Excellency's hands reach the heavens and your eyes see all. This commoner is willing to offer all his household property, including three hundred taels of gold, and only asks Your Excellency to show mercy and let the matter rest."
Three hundred taels of gold?
That was no small sum. Did the Demon Kings in Mystic Mountain all operate gold mines?
In Ci Prefecture, gold and silver exchanged at roughly one tael of gold for fifteen taels of silver. In Jiankang, one tael of gold could be exchanged for twenty taels of silver.
Two million copper coins.
Even all the treasuries, large and small, in Shanyin County combined likely did not contain so much money.
"Mister Zhou, you are most thoughtful."
Third Young Master Su set his teacup aside.
"Rise."
"This commoner is terrified and would never dare."
"It is good that you know you dare not. Since Mister Zhou is so sincere, carry a message back to the one behind you: this is not a matter of money." Su Che put on an utterly serious expression. "Two million coins is indeed no small amount, and I accept the kind intention. But those who can grant the wish of the one behind you do not lack money."
"Later, gather some local mountain goods, and have him select two capable men to come with you."
"Do you understand?"
Su Che asked with a smile.
"This commoner understands. This commoner will handle it at once."
"And when you come next time, bring a title with you—Master Qing, Feng Jiunan, Lord Yutu, Lord Dushan, or the like." Third Young Master Su sneered. "Otherwise, the yamen of Shanyin County will not be so easy to enter."