Gift Giving

In the county yamen's main hall, Su Che looked at the Sea Sunrise Painting behind Shi Chibao, yet he could not feel the slightest warmth.

Killing with laughter and conversation—how many households would be ruined and families exterminated between a few words?

Was this the power of the Imperial Demon Hunters?

"Many thanks for Your Excellency's guidance. This subordinate understands."

Su Che clasped his hands and said no more.

This Captain Shi Chibao truly knew how to give face. If the same matter had been handled by a cruel official, he could have slaughtered Shanyin County from top to bottom until not even cooking smoke remained. If it had been handled by a corrupt official, this single trip could have filled his bowls and pots to the brim.

If Su Che wanted merit, the heads of the entire county could naturally pave his path. If he wanted wealth, Magistrate Jiang, Registrar Tian, and the properties of those great households were practically savings deposited for him.

They were offering merit and sending money, using others' family fortunes and lives as a favor to sail with the current. This 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 offered another round of bows, then left the county yamen's main hall.

The report he had submitted had clearly already reached the heavens.

Yu Ze, the circuit commander who held sweeping local authority, had personally arrived with troops. He was already the highest-ranking local official Great Liang possessed. Feng Buxing, Eunuch Feng of the Imperial Stud Directorate, represented the Inner Court—he represented the Son of Heaven. Meanwhile, the Circuit Inspector of the Censorate was responsible for precisely such affairs within the Outer Court.

The Outer Court, the Inner Court, and the local authorities—three forces had moved at once, stirring ripples across a whole pond of spring water.

Thinking of this, 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 blazing comfort as local tyrants rooted firmly in place, only for the sky to collapse without warning and stamp itself straight onto their foreheads.

With such a huge incident breaking out in Shanyin County, Su Che could wash his hands clean of it—but how would those two wrap things up?

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.

That talk about accepting a disciple and testing him seven times—whether it was true or false, if this affair left him with a reputation for bloodthirst and greed, would he not be severing his own future?

Abandon the small and take nothing; abandon the small and take nothing.

Su Che stepped out of the main office, where Zhang San was immediately waiting at the side.

"Constable Su."

Su Che glanced at the yamen runner. Zhang San's appearance was fairly proper.

"What is it? Do you have something to report?"

"Someone wishes to pay Your Excellency a visit."

"I'm somewhat weary. Tell him to come another day."

Su Che replied casually.

Ever since arriving in Shanyin County, he had not had a single moment of peace. Tonight, he still had to accompany Qingqiu in playing some great bandit called Liu Yidao.

And with the cultivation method of his Secret Register of the Yin Heaven of Zhoujue, he likely would not have much chance to sleep tonight either.

Su Che wholeheartedly intended to use this rare quiet moment to find somewhere and sleep.

In any case, his reputation as a debauched local tyrant had long spread far and wide. He was not afraid of others saying he neglected proper work by sleeping during the day.

As the saying went, those who had already suffered social death feared nothing.

"Someone came to this lowly one and wished to see Your Excellency. This lowly one believed there must be some important reason behind it, so I agreed on his behalf."

"Did you take money?" Su Che looked at Zhang San.

"No. That man merely offered one hundred taels of patterned silver. This lowly one felt that the matter had to be reported to Your Excellency."

This Zhang San was not bad.

Su Che nodded. He was not afraid of Zhang San being greedy for money. If Third Master Zhang had truly been 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 to one thousand copper coins, it could be exchanged for one hundred thousand coins—enough bowls of rotten meat noodles to pile into a small mountain.

Regardless of why someone could afford such a price, Su Che ought to meet him with his current status.

For no other reason than that man had the means to produce such a sum.

"You did well. Go collect his silver first, then have him come see me in the rear offices."

With his cultivation today, especially with Shi Chibao commanding the Imperial Demon Hunters and holding the county yamen, Su Che was not afraid that anyone would dare stir up trouble within the yamen.

Su Che returned to his room and took a seat. Before long, Zhang San led someone inside.

The man possessed an iron-black physique, but his complexion was rather unpleasant.

Looking closely, he could barely be considered an old acquaintance.

"Brother Zhou, I trust you have been well."

"This commoner failed to recognize Mount Tai and offended Your Excellency before. This commoner first asks forgiveness."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Si, whom Su Che had met at Withered Forest Chan Temple that day, toppled mountains and jade pillars, directly kneeling on the ground and respectfully knocking his head three times. Each kowtow struck the floor heavily with a dull thud.

"Mr. Zhou, those words are rather pointless."

Su Che did not say much else.

The people in Mystic Mountain had finally realized things after the fact and made a move at last.

Unfortunately, they were somewhat late.

Zhou Si, the leader of the herb gatherers who traveled deep through the mountains, could lead a team to spend the night in Withered Forest Chan Temple, a place the locals of Shanyin County avoided like tigers.

What he relied upon was certainly not superior skill and greater courage, but someone behind him.

Mm, a demon behind him.

Come to think of it, if he had not attacked the demon named One-Eye in Withered Forest Chan Temple that day, perhaps none of these disturbances would have arisen.

Looking back, his attempt to force Gu Yin, the bookboy from White Deer Grotto, to act and thus verify his identity had indeed been somewhat shallow-minded.

Su Che said nothing, and the herb gatherer's head remained lowered to the ground.

"Mr. Zhou was the first person from this county I came to know. We can count as old acquaintances."

Su Che picked up an idle book from the table and leafed through it at random, deliberately leaving him hanging for the time it took to drink a cup of tea before finally speaking.

"Mr. Zhou, I presume you have come today to offer some instruction?"

"How would this commoner dare? This commoner merely acts under orders and has an urgent matter to report to Your Excellency."

This man was proud and stubborn by nature. For him to lower his head so completely today, Su Che did not know who the demon king behind him was, but he had certainly found himself a fine subordinate.

"I won't make things difficult for you. Don't say that nonsense about reporting urgent matters to Magistrate Jiang, Registrar Tian, or Inspector Shi. We are acquainted, so speak quickly."

Zhou Si lowered his head and did not dare raise it.

"The robbery of the county treasury was carried out by subordinates of the Black Mountain Freak. It has nothing to do with the other fiends. The demon Your Excellency slew in Withered Forest Chan Temple that day was called One-Eye. It should have been a wood demon, and there has been no news of it since..."

"If that is what you wish to say, then forget it."

Su Che raised 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 and eyes reach the heavens. This commoner is willing to offer up all his household wealth, three hundred taels of gold, and only asks Your Excellency to raise your hand high and let the matter rest."

Three hundred taels of gold?

That was no small sum. Were all the demon kings in Mystic Mountain running gold mines?

Around Ci Prefecture, one tael of gold could roughly be exchanged for fifteen taels of silver. In Jiankang, one tael of gold could be exchanged for twenty taels of silver.

Two million standard copper coins.

Even all the treasuries, large and small, in Shanyin County combined probably did not hold that much money.

"Mr. Zhou, you are most thoughtful."

Third Young Master Su set his teacup aside.

"Get up."

"This commoner is terrified and would never dare."

"It is good that you know not to dare. Since Mr. Zhou is so sincere, pass a message to the one behind you: this is not a matter of money." Su Che put on a thoroughly 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 are not short of money."

"Later, pick up some local mountain goods and have it select two capable men to come with you."

"Do you understand?"

Su Che asked with a smile.

"This commoner understands. I will see to it at once."

"And when you come next time, bring someone with a title—someone like Master Qing, Feng Jiunan, Lord Yutu, or Lord Dushan." Third Young Master Su sneered. "Otherwise, Shanyin County's yamen will not be so easy to enter."