Many people came to watch the spectacle, not just the scholars, but also many merchants who knew about the insect demons. However, this kind of thing is precisely the hardest to avoid.
The Liuzhou Canal connects to the north, and even to the North Sea and the West Sea. Running north is a short-distance route, but with enough capital, people would run to the West, which is where the real profits are made.
If you want to do business at sea, you can't avoid eating fish to fill your stomach. No matter how much dry food you prepare, it will not be enough. In many cases, fresh sea fish will be the first choice to save food for survival.
In most cases, insect infestation can be avoided by cooking the fish thoroughly, but it's not absolutely safe. There are many cases where you can get infected even after eating cooked fish.
For example, the chef might be careless and not cook the food thoroughly in pursuit of better texture, or the chef might be replaced by a smuggler who adds a lot of insect eggs directly to the food.
Anyway, every time some veteran seafarers see a fellow merchant get their head blown off, they develop a deep-seated aversion to eating fish. But often, when hunger strikes at sea, seafood is the only thing they can afford...
Now, hearing what the door god meant, that there was something that could eliminate insect eggs, many older maritime merchants became quite interested, and even the Shen Family who had been observing from the crowd were also very interested.
As the words of the gatekeeper spread, not only people outside the city but also many merchants who had already unloaded their goods inside the city joined the procession. The huge procession quickly swelled to several hundred people and arrived at the gate of the government office in a grand procession.
When Ma Erniang saw so many people at the entrance of the government office, she couldn't stop smiling and hurriedly called out to sell the meat porridge she had just cooked.
It was dinnertime, and many people who hadn't eaten bought two large bowls of food. Even the teachers couldn't resist their hunger and bought some as well.
"It's really salty..." one of the teachers said, frowning as he drank his meat porridge. "I remember there used to be a Hunan cuisine restaurant with a stall outside this government office, right? Was it really that bad?"
Master Feng shook his head. "I guess nobody cares now; these stalls are just used arbitrarily."
"That's true." Another teacher chuckled, "The news doesn't travel fast enough. If the original owner of that restaurant knew his stall was being taken and still doing so well, he'd probably be furious."
"They'll probably be overjoyed..." Master Feng chuckled, "The catering business is very prone to adapting to a new environment. They won't leave easily unless absolutely necessary. Now that Liuzhou's population is returning, the happiest people are naturally those who ran the restaurants back then. They probably won't care about their stalls being taken away these past few days."
"That's true." The teacher nodded upon hearing this, then took a sip of meat porridge, put the bowl aside, and asked, " Master Feng, do you think the story of the door gods is true?"
They had just inquired about it; this door god had manifested his power five days ago. It's said that he can detect any evil spirits that approach, making him truly miraculous.
"I don't know..." Master Feng recalled what he had just witnessed, "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it, but just now..."
That didn't seem fake at all. If it were an act, who would risk their life to do something like that?
If it's about making arrangements, that's too difficult, since the demons would have to cooperate.
But if it really is...
Upon thinking of this, Master Feng's breathing became somewhat rapid.
Who doesn't want a safe and comfortable environment?
If there were no demons threatening him, he would be willing to live in a straw hut; no one feared demons more than those who knew the truth.
"If that's true, Liuzhou will soon become the most sought-after place in Jiangnan!" A scholar in blue robes stared intently at the entrance of the government office. "And if the prefect can also resolve the insect demon issue, then Liuzhou will likely become incredibly valuable!"
Upon hearing this, all the teachers felt a surge of excitement, thankful that they had been careful not to sell the house.
Upon hearing this, Master Feng also looked towards the entrance of the government office, filled with anticipation. If the newly arrived prefect truly possessed such abilities, Liuzhou's status would likely surpass that of Nanming Prefecture!
Just then, the gates of the government office slowly opened, and the group of merchants who had been waiting impatiently rushed forward and knelt down in front of the gate, while the others who had come to watch the spectacle also gathered around.
"Is it the Prefect?" The kneeling merchants kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "Please, Your Excellency, have mercy and save us!"
The merchant, whose body was covered in insect eggs, knelt down and wept bitterly. The onlookers around him discussed the spectacle animatedly, and the area in front of the government office suddenly became as noisy as a marketplace.
"Quiet!"
The young man, escorted by officials, stepped out of the government office and began to rebuke them. His voice wasn't loud, but it immediately drowned out all the noise in the room, making it clear to everyone.
In an instant, everyone fell silent in unison.
Seeing this from afar, Master Feng gasped and whispered, "This newly arrived prefect is probably a sorcerer!"
The other scholars nodded in agreement. Dressed as scholars, yet possessing supernatural abilities, they were likely sorcerer officials. It seemed the court was aware of the situation in Liuzhou and needed a sorcerer official to subdue it.
He's just a bit young.
"What's going on with you all? Speak slowly..." Chen Qing stood with his hands behind his back, trying his best to appear dignified.
Unfortunately, she looks too young, and her presence ultimately lacks a certain commanding presence...
"Your Honor, we are merchants who transshipped goods from Suyang Wharf. When we entered Liuzhou City, we were fortunate enough to be guided by the Gate God, who told us that we were in imminent danger. The Gate God directed us to seek help from the government. We beg Your Honor to have mercy and save us!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Qing nodded slightly and gently raised his hand. "You need not kneel, stand up and speak..."
The kneeling merchants miraculously sensed that as the young prefect raised his hand, a gentle breeze lifted them to their feet, causing them to tremble and look at Chen Qing with even greater awe.
Most sorcerer officials try to conceal their abilities when facing ordinary people, rarely using their power. This is because both bloodline families and sorcerers rely on demonic power, which is inherently hostile to humans. No matter what they use it for, it will make ordinary people feel uncomfortable.
But Chen Qing was different; he used it very casually.
Those affected by the force felt no discomfort whatsoever; they only felt an immense sense of peace and wonder, without a trace of fear.
"Hmm... they are Demon Insect..." Chen Qing nodded slightly. "They are indeed somewhat dangerous. There are two solutions to this situation. One is to go to the capital and have a skilled Yin-Yang physician perform the incision and remove the eggs..."
Upon hearing this, the faces of those people turned pale. Putting aside whether they could even make it to the capital, the mere mention of disemboweling the eggs filled them with extreme resistance!
"However, given your situation, it's probably too late to go to the capital. Now, we can only try to ask the Mountain God of South Mountain for help."
Everyone was curious as they heard the term "Mountain God" for the second time. Before the merchants could speak, Master Feng from the back said, "Sir, I have lived at the foot of South Mountain for many years and have never heard of a South Mountain God. Could you please enlighten us on the origin of this Mountain God?"
Hearing the sound, Chen Qing looked towards Master Feng and his group in the distance and immediately smiled.
It seems that Gu Bei and his group did a good job. I didn't misjudge them. That big, burly man is clever. I can give him a position and use him more in the future.
"Judging from your attire, are you a teacher at the academy?" Chen Qing was not arrogant; although he was Fourth Rank official, he performed the courtesy of a scholar.
Seeing the other party's humble attitude, Master Feng and the others' goodwill towards him increased greatly. Compared to the county magistrate of Spirit Deer County, who wanted to win them over while also putting on airs, this young prefect was much more natural.
"Your Excellency is wise." Since the other party had shown them respect, Master Feng and the others naturally wouldn't be impolite, returning the courtesy with, "We are all teachers from the Liuzhou Prefectural School. Hearing of your arrival in office, Your Excellency, we have come to pay our respects."
"Gentlemen, you are too kind," Chen Qing said with a smile. "Gentlemen have come from afar, and it is truly impolite of me not to have welcomed you properly. I will have someone prepare a simple feast later to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey. However, the situation in Liuzhou is difficult at the moment, so the banquet later may be a bit simple. I ask that you bear with me for the next few days; things will improve soon."
"You're too kind, sir..." The group returned the greetings one after another, and the other party's words that there would be good news soon put their minds at ease.
It seems the new prefect is very confident in restoring Liuzhou!
After exchanging pleasantries, Chen Qing explained, "This South Mountain God of Nanshan was born from the spiritual spring on South Mountain. Its true form is a spiritual bird. Because it often eats spiritual fruits and drinks from the spiritual spring, it gained spiritual enlightenment. It took a hundred years of arduous cultivation to attain the position of Mountain God. It had been living in seclusion until I came to Liuzhou to observe."
"I have been in contact with that Mountain God for many days and have determined that he is a benevolent being, not a demon. This Mountain God the spring water in the mountains and can refine spiritual elixirs that have the effects of prolonging life, curing all diseases, and even exorcising evil and upholding righteousness. I have personally tested them and the effects are indeed amazing. I think it should be no problem to use them to remove the worm eggs in the body."
Upon hearing about such a miraculous medicine, the group couldn't help but ask, "With such a wondrous elixir, would the Mountain God be willing to give it to us?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Qing smiled and said, "Although that Mountain God has been living in seclusion for many years, he is a compassionate spirit. If you sincerely seek help, there should be a chance. Come with me."
"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!" The group of people quickly knelt down again!
"Alright, alright, get up and follow." Chen Qing used the wind to lift the people up again, and called to the officials and a large group of people who wanted to watch the excitement, and they headed towards South Mountain in a grand procession.
Chen Ying, hidden in the crowd, watched all this with a furrowed brow. She hadn't even figured out the door gods yet, and now this Mountain God had appeared? What on earth was this new prefect up to?
Besides Chen Ying, there were also sorcerers from the Shen Family of Jiangnan mixed in with the crowd. After receiving Shen Yiyang's message, the Shen Family quickly sent out their family sorcerers to observe the so-called Liuzhou deity.
As sorcerers, they are the least religious believers, and even if gods exist, why have they all suddenly gathered in Liuzhou?
They were more inclined to believe that the new prefect was a sorcerer from an unknown school of magic, and that the gate gods at the city gate were actually an unrecorded magical technique.
This new technique is extremely valuable; without a solid foundation...
The Shen Family, hidden in the shadows, looked at Chen Qing with a mixture of excitement and coldness in their eyes...
That belongs to the Shen Family!!
Volume Two has only just begun, and the plot is only just starting out, so it might feel a bit slow at first, which is unavoidable. However, this book won't be a simple farming story; magical and supernatural events, like the Thousand-Faced Fox, will unfold one after another, and the main plot will focus on the protagonist gradually uncovering the secrets of this world.
Many people say that the power encountered in the first volume is too overwhelming, making it difficult to write about later volumes. But there's no need to worry. The book has a vast background, and the Great Jin Dynasty is just the beginning.
Alright, I won't say any more. I hope you readers will continue to read and support me. We've now reached the third round of the competition, and we're about to enter the most crucial fourth round. Success or failure will depend on these next week or two. Thank you all!!