The Book of Life and Death

Gu Chaoyang strode out of Jiang Family Village and rushed straight to Liu Family Village.

He grabbed Liu Xiuyuan by the collar and said, "You guys better run! Those people will be back to catch you soon."

Liu Xiuyuan was completely dumbfounded, staring at him and saying, "Run? What are you talking about, sir? Why should we run?"

"Jiang Family Village lost a large amount of grain, and now they want to blame you for not being able to find it. If you don't run away, you'll all be arrested soon." Gu Chaoyang said anxiously.

Liu Xiuyuan looked at him and said, "Oh... don't rush, I'll go ask for instructions."

Gu Chaoyang got anxious:

"You're the village chief, who do you want to consult? Hurry up and leave, or it'll be too late. I know what those people are capable of; they'll be here soon."

"You will all be locked up then, and they might even force you to hand over your food."

"Oh... please calm down, sir, we are aware of this matter. Thank you for informing us."

Gu Chaoyang stamped his foot and said, "Fine, it's pointless to say anything. You're just a wooden stake; you wouldn't run even if I told you to?"

Liu Xiuyuan sighed as he watched Gu Chaoyang walk away, then went straight up the mountain to ask Zhou Wanwan for instructions.

Zhou Wanwan was eating beggar's chicken when she saw him and said with a smile, "Uncle Liu, what brings you here? Want to come and have a bite?"

Liu Xiuyuan quickly shook his head and said:

"Master, Gu Chaoyang, that's the official who came to inform us that a few more officials will be arriving soon."

They want to throw us in jail and pin the blame for stealing grain from Jiang Family Village on our village."

Zhou Wanwan raised an eyebrow and said, "Let them come! I have my own plans."

Liu Xiuyuan looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "Master, these officials are not easy to deal with. If we really kill them, it might cause trouble."

Zhou Wanwan quickly shook her head and said:

"Kill him? That won't do! He's an official, after all; we still have to treat him with respect."

Let's go see what's going on ahead.

Sure enough, a dozen or so officials soon walked in from the village entrance and said, "Who is the village chief here? Get out here! Your Liu Family Village has committed a serious crime."

Liu Xiuyuan looked at them and asked, "May I ask what brings you here, sir?"

"Your Liu Family Village stole grain from Jiang Family Village; your crime is heinous. Arrest them and lock them up in the county government office."

Liu Xiuyuan struggled and said:

"When did I steal their grain? We, the people of Liu Family Village, are upright and honest; we never steal from others."

Besides, didn't the officials search our Liu Family Village? They didn't find anything..."

"That's because you hid the grain. Arrest him immediately."

"And the rest of them, take them all with you."

Jiang Wu sneered:

"Liu Xiuyuan, who told you to provoke me? Give me back my grain, and I'll let you off the hook."

I don't want much, just give me 200 taels of silver, or sell me your entire village.

Liu Xiuyuan was so angry that he said:

"Pah! Jiang Wu, you're worse than a pig or a dog! You poisoned the river last time, but you didn't kill us!"

Now you're trying to stir up trouble again, aren't you afraid of retribution?

Jiang Wu laughed heartily:

"Liu Xiuyuan, don't make false accusations. It's not certain who will suffer the consequences!"

Sell all the people in your village to me, and you'll have a chance to live. Otherwise, your entire village will die.

Liu Xiuyuan snorted coldly and said, "Dream on, I won't let you succeed."

"Very well, sir, you may take them back immediately! These people are ungrateful."

The officials escorted the people back, while Jiang Wu and his group coldly looked at the people of Liu Family Village and said, "Without the village chief's protection, I'd like to see how tough your Liu Family Village is, and how long you can hold out."

After saying that, he left with his group of people.

Zhou Wanwan followed behind them. The officials had only taken a few steps when they turned back and asked, "What does your Liu Family Village want? Are you planning a rebellion by following us?"

Zhou Wanwan threw out a piece of incense stick and said:

"No, you are an official, how could we possibly rebel?"

But... hey! Hey! Hey! Why are you lying down?"

Zhou Wanwan sighed as she looked at the officials scattered on the ground. Liu Xiuyuan shuddered and said:

"Master, what are you trying to do? If you kill these officials, the higher-ups will definitely investigate."

If they find any connection to our Liu Family Village, then our Liu Family Village is doomed.

Actually, it wouldn't matter if I were thrown in jail; I'd just suffer some physical pain.

Zhou Wanwan coughed and said:

"Uncle Liu, don't worry! I'm not that cruel. My idea is to put on a show for them and scare them a little."

These officials are no good; we have to intimidate them.

Zhou Wanwan directly emptied the silver from these officials' bodies. Looking Manman the pile of silver, she said:

"More than 120 taels of silver, these officials are really rich."

Alright, now do as I say, I'll do your makeup, and we'll put on a good show."

Zhou Wanwan's acting addiction kicked in. Heaven knows how bored she's been since arriving in ancient times; all she thinks about every day is making money, making money, and making more money.

With a knife hanging over her head, she was under a lot of pressure. Luckily, she ran into these constables, so she decided to play along with them.

When the constables opened their eyes, they found themselves in a dimly lit room.

The chief constable shouted, "Who dares to lock us up here? Once we get out, we won't let you off the hook, and neither will anyone from Liu Family Village."

Then they saw a dozen or so constables approaching. All the constables trembled with fear, and even the chief constable was dumbfounded. "Black... Black and White Impermanence?"

A constable standing nearby couldn't help but shudder and said, "There are Ox-Head and Horse-Face? Are we entering the Underworld?"

The chief constable shouted, "Who are you? What do you want?"

The Black and White Impermanence didn't say anything, but simply handcuffed them, and these people couldn't exert any force at all.

Black Impermanence slapped the chief constable across the face and said:

"A bunch of beasts, oppressing the people from above, do you deserve to wear these official robes?"

"If you have any problems, go and tell the Lord King Yan."

These people were quickly brought to the judgment seat, where, sure enough, the Lord King Yan was holding a Book of Life and Death, saying, "Do you know why you've entered the Underworld for no reason?"

The chief constable below had already collapsed to his knees, his voice trembling uncontrollably. "It was all our fault for being so foolish, for listening to the slander of Jiang Family Village! It's all our fault!"

King Yan scoffed coldly:

"Really? You actually realize you're wrong?"

Those Liu Family Village members are descendants of this Lord King Yan! How dare you be so insolent?

If you attack them again, don't blame me for being ruthless.

He looked down at the crowd and said:

"You lord it over others in the mortal world, accepting bribes, disregarding human life, and bending the law for personal gain."

Every single one of these acts is an evil deed; do you really think the Underworld is unaware of it?

The ghost messenger beside King Yan Wangchao raised his chin and said coldly, "Bring pen, ink, paper, and inkstone. Make them write down every single word of the despicable things they've done! Then have them sign and affix their fingerprints."