The crowd surged forward, creating chaos. Zhu Huaizhang and Constable Wang were surrounded in the middle, staring at the massive, dark mass of people.
Zhu Huaizhang changed instantly, and he urged Constable Wang, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and take him away..."
Jin Shanyao halfway out of the window, pushed through the crowd, and laughed at Zhu Huaizhang, "Sir, every wrong has its perpetrator. If you're going to arrest me, arrest me. Why are you yelling at him?"
Constable Wang slapped his forehead. Oh no... Lord Zhu and Lord Su have completely different personalities. Shopkeeper Jin's words are a death wish.
Zhu Huaizhang, his face grim, tried to calm himself. "Come with me, Master Jin..."
Meng Anzhi nervously tugged at the hem of Jin Shanyao's dress, "Auntie..."
"It's okay, I'll be right back... You stay home and study."
Jin Shanyao one hand to brace herself against the windowsill, flipped over, and leaped out. She clapped her hands and shouted to the people in line, "Go home... no more talismans for sale today!"
After saying that, she walked towards the government office on her own. Zhu Huaizhang was so angry at her that he almost fainted.
Those who were about to buy the talisman were stunned, as if struck by lightning. "Master... my chicks can't wait! I've already collected the customers' deposits; if they all die, I won't be able to live either!"
Jin Shanyao snatched the pen and paper from his hand, quickly drew a picture, and handed it back to him.
"Send the money to the Anzhi Hall; you're not allowed to renege on the debt."
The man grinned foolishly, clutching the talisman, "Hey... I'll go deliver the money right now."
Seeing this, the crowd chased after Jin Shanyao, shouting, "Master, what about me...? My sow is so hot she can't breathe, and she's pregnant!"
"Master, my child just went outside and already has heat rash."
"Master, my silkworm cocoons can't wait any longer, or they'll all fly away..."
The constant shouts of "Master!" were driving Zhu Huaizhang crazy. He yelled, "No one is allowed to interfere with official business, or they'll all be thrown in jail!"
Upon hearing this, everyone froze in place, too frightened to move forward.
Looking at the ignorant crowd, Zhu Huaizhang shouted to Constable Wang, "Pass down the order! Arrest all those in the prefectural city who are practicing divination, fortune telling, or feng shui... all those who are spouting nonsense!"
Constable Wang dared not disobey orders and led his men to begin a city-wide search.
The government prison.
Jin Shanyao squatted down in front of the Spirit Woman, curiously fiddling with the feathers on her head. "You wear this thing... do you wear it because it looks nice, or do you really believe it can communicate with spirits?"
The spirit woman rolled her eyes and turned her head away, presenting the back of her head to her.
Jin Shanyao, unperturbed, continued chatting with her, twirling the colorful ribbon, "They say those in the same trade are enemies. We've only just met, and you already see me as an enemy? Let's chat."
The spirit medium whirled around and slapped away the woman's hand that was trying to tear at the cloth strips. "Don't touch my robes!"
"Oh." Jin Shanyao readily withdrew her hand, staring at the Spirit Woman's face, which had turned multicolored from sweating.
Humbly seeking advice, "The red paint on your face... is it cinnabar mixed with a lot of clay? And that yellow stuff, is it coptis chinensis and sophora japonica flowers? Does it taste bitter?"
The spirit woman stiffened, a hint of impatience flashing in her cloudy eyes; her demeanor truly gave off an air of unfathomable mystery.
Seeing that she was ignoring him again, Jin Shanyao said regretfully, "I also have a robe. If I had known you were so particular about rituals, I should have worn one and come to jail too."
"Your styling... makes it seem like my Law Power is inferior to yours." She then moved closer to the spirit woman, "Hey... tell me, how much did this outfit cost? Did you break even?"
The spirit woman closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had the worst luck today; even in jail, she had run into a complete idiot.
Just as Jin Shanyao was communicating with the Spirit Woman, another person was shoved into the cell. The person was blind... groping and leaning against the wall.
Jin Shanyao instantly abandoned the spirit medium and ran over, asking curiously, "Were you also arrested for shamanistic rituals?"
Upon hearing this, the old blind man pounded his cane on the ground in anger, his face a mixture of grievance and fury. "How can I perform shamanistic rituals like this?! I was arrested by Lord Zhu while I was choosing a name for a child based on their birth chart."
Jin Shanyao taken aback, "Isn't arresting them like this a bit too harsh..."
"Who says otherwise? Is giving someone a name illegal?" the old blind man said anxiously. "I heard that Lord Zhu is cracking down on fortune tellers all over the city, determined to catch them all in one fell swoop."
After saying this, he slumped to the ground, speechless.
The cell door opened and closed repeatedly, and more and more people gathered inside. Some carried divination sticks, some carried tortoise shells, and some carried compasses. Compared to them, Jin Shanyao looked like a makeshift troupe...
She squatted dejectedly on the straw and nudged the man beside her who was holding a peach wood sword, "Fellow Daoist... which sect do you belong to?"
The man steadied the peach wood sword and said arrogantly, "I am a disciple of Taishang Laojun, who bestowed upon me this demon-slaying peach wood sword. I possess the Cultivation Method and can exorcise demons and evil spirits to uphold justice."
Jin Shanyao stared at the man in shock, then glanced at the peach wood sword. "Did Taishang Laojun give this to you?"
The man looked at her disdainfully, "Of course... Taishang Laojun's sword can slay demons..." Before he could finish speaking, Jin Shanyao angrily said, "That's too much! Why should he give you the sword?"
The man was startled by her sudden change of expression, and clutching his sword warily, he said, "I'm his disciple, is there a problem with giving me this sword?"
Jin Shanyao's anger surged. "You, Taishang Laojun, how dare you discriminate against species! Why give a human a peach wood sword... but not a human bone sword?"
That's outrageous... That's disrespectful to trees!
Jin Shanyao glared at the man with hostility. The man felt a chill run down his spine and, clutching his peach wood sword, said warily, "What are you doing? Let me tell you, I have connections."
Jin Shanyao lightly, "Having connections at the top isn't powerful; having connections at the bottom is."
She stared at the man with a sinister look, a strange smile playing on her lips.
Do you know the King of Hell???
"What do you mean? Let me tell you, this is a prison!" The man instinctively held his peach wood sword horizontally in front of him.
Jin Shanyao's heart blazed with anger the moment she saw the peach wood sword. "Give it to me... you're also carrying a piece of wood."
She had just grasped the peach wood sword when she heard a snap... the sword broke in her hand.
The air fell silent. Jin Shanyao and the man stared at each other, both inwardly roaring... It's over... He/She crushed the peach wood sword.
The two stared at each other, neither daring to make a move.
The man was anxious; how could he explain that Taishang Laojun's sword shattered with a single squeeze?
Jin Shanyao was anxious. How could she explain that Taishang Laojun's sword had been shattered by a human?
The man, fearing he would give himself away, Jin Shanyao, fearing she would give herself away, tacitly kept quiet and averted their gazes, pretending nothing had happened.
The Jin Shanyao bird quietly sat down beside the man, who was so frightened that he dared not move.
"Junior brother... you won't tell Master, will you?"
The man's eyes darted around, and he tentatively asked, "Senior sister... are you also Taishang Laojun of Laozi?"
"Not entirely, mainly because he enlightened me..."
Upon hearing this, the man silently moved away from her; this girl wasn't quite right in the head...