Weird Cultivation, I have a five-organ temple

Chapter 235 Is there a haunted house?

Early the next morning, Shang Lu finished his morning exercise and went to the county government office first. After bidding farewell to the officials of Longyou County, he drove his carriage to Chengxiang County.

The rest of the journey went relatively smoothly. Apart from encountering a few bandits, nothing else happened.

Shang Lu also didn't give any chance to these bandits. Heiyun and Huaishu dealt with them. After beating them up, they tied them up and threw them to the thieves-hunting officials in the nearby villages and towns.

The poor thief was already beaten half to death by Heiyun, and now he fell into the hands of Qiuzhai Li, where he was severely tortured.

Although he didn't die, he was covered in blood.

Along the way, Shang Lu encountered several bandits who robbed people on the road, which made him realize that the security in the county was not good.

In other words, the public security in towns is okay, but in the wilderness far away from towns, there are thieves everywhere.

Once you arrive at the Bandit Cao's office and officially take office, you have to strengthen patrols and management of these places, and even launch a severe crackdown.

Two days later, Shang Lu arrived at Chengxiang County, where the county seat was located.

As the county seat, Chengxiang County is more than one level higher than Luoshui County in terms of scale, population and prosperity.

Even the inspections when entering the city have become more stringent.

Fortunately, Shang Lu had the appointment documents and talisman, otherwise he would have been shot to death on the spot with his bow, sword and human heads, let alone entering the city.

After passing the inspection, Shang Lu asked the guards at the city gate for the direction of the county government.

The guard at the city gate gave detailed directions: "Sir, we are at the East Gate. The county government is in the north of the city, next to the Inkstone Pool. Go straight along this road, turn right when you see the Witch Temple, and walk a little further, you will see a pond. The area around it is full of government offices, the largest of which is the county government office."

Shang Lu thanked him, got on the carriage, and headed in the direction indicated by the guards at the city gate.

After a while, we saw the witch temple that the guard at the city gate had mentioned.

The specifications of this witch temple are also much larger than the witch temple in Luoshui County.

When Shang Lu saw the witch temple, he was about to ask Heiyun to turn right, but was stopped by Sanniang.

"Go in and burn some incense."

"Yes, it's time to burn some incense."

Shang Lu was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "I'm new here, so I have to pay my respects to the pier and ask for blessings."

When they arrived at the entrance of the Witch Temple, Shang Lu got off the car, asked Heiyun and Huaishu to wait outside the temple, and went in himself.

Sanniang also floated into the witch temple, not worrying at all that the gods enshrined in the temple would harm her.

The Wu Temple in Chengfeng County has several palaces.

In addition to Lord Haotian and Queen Hou Tu, other gods such as Fengbo and Yushi are also enshrined here.

Every spring, the county magistrate would hold a grand ceremony here together with the shamans to pray to heaven and earth for good weather and a good harvest.

Shanglu burned incense to each of the gods enshrined here, muttering to himself.

Sanniang only burned incense to Hou Tu Niangniang.

In the temple of Hou Tu Niangniang, there was an old keeper. Perhaps because his eyesight was blurry or something else, he did not notice that a stick of incense appeared out of nowhere in the incense burner.

After burning incense, Shanglu and Sanniang left the witch temple together.

He got on the carriage and patted Heiyun's head, asking it to turn right.

After walking for a while, I saw a pond. It should be the "inkstone washing pond" mentioned by the guards at the city gate.

However, there was no one washing the inkstone near the pond, but there were a few ducks and geese having fun in it.

There was indeed a circle of government offices surrounding the pond, and Shang Lu quickly found the county government office inside.

Shang Lu asked Heiyun to stop by the pond and took the appointment document and talisman and passed them over.

After his identity was verified, Shang Lu was invited into the county government office. After waiting for a while, he met the county magistrate, who encouraged him with a few words and asked him to do his job well. Then he asked someone to bring him the official seal, official robes and other items.

After leaving the county government, Shang Lu went to the next door to meet the county lieutenant, and then, under the guidance of a minor official, he went to the thieves' office.

The Zeicao Office is next to the County Magistrate's Office. It is not very large, but it is also an independent office.

After Shang Lu went in, he reported his identity.

Soon, another thief official in the office came to greet them with a few thief officials.

After some introductions, Shang Lu learned that another thief Cao Yuan was named Chen Mingli. His family had been criminal officials for generations, and he himself was also a disciple of the Legalists.

As for the several thieves' officers, they all had their own strengths. Some were good at investigating cases, some were good at torture, and some were good at using force.

Chen Li was quite enthusiastic about Shang Lu, because he had heard of Shang Lu's name and knew that he was a capable person, not just someone who was here to take credit for himself.

I heard that Shang Lu had just arrived in Chengfeng County and had not yet found a place to live, so Chen Li said:

"There haven't been any major cases in the thief office recently. Shang Zeicao can go and settle down first, and then report to the yamen."

Shang Lu naturally would not refuse Chen Li's kindness, and immediately bowed in response.

Then he took out the cloth bag containing the storyteller's head.

"What is this?" Chen Li was stunned.

I have never seen a new official come to office with a head.

What kind of strange custom is this?

"On my way here, I met a storyteller who was plotting in Tiger Leaping Gorge and using stories to harm people..."

Shang Lu briefly explained the origin of the head, and took out the confessions of everyone on the boat and the storyteller's notes.

Shang Lu has copied down the contents about the novelist's practice in this notebook.

"As expected of the Demon-Suppressing County Lieutenant, he can solve cases and kill thieves on his way to his new post."

Chen Li was happy from the bottom of his heart.

Although the case was solved by Shang Lu, it should also be counted in the performance evaluation of the Thief Cao Office.

As soon as Shang Lu reported for duty, he gave the thief Caoshu a KPI. How could people not be happy?

After taking the notebook and flipping through a few pages, Chen Li's expression suddenly changed. He turned his head quickly and called the thief officer beside him.

"Quick, bring over the case files from Huangxu Town."

Shang Lu seemed to be thinking about something, and asked, "Did the thief Chen Cao find anything?"

Chen Li nodded. "A few months ago, a family was murdered in Huangxu Town. Due to lack of clues, the local government was unable to find out the result. We sent people to assist in the investigation, but found nothing. I just found in my notes that the storyteller had stayed in Huangxu Town and mentioned that family. Maybe they are related to the case. I want to investigate."

After introducing the situation, Chen Li sighed: "The merchant thief Cao is really worthy of his reputation. This case has troubled us for a long time, and we have no clues. Your coming here has given us a direction."

"It's just a coincidence."

Shang Lu didn't expect that things would be such a coincidence.

But that's a good thing.

As soon as he arrived, he made great contributions to the new unit. I believe that the subsequent work will be much easier.

After some polite exchanges, Shang Lu prepared to leave and find a place to settle down.

Chen Li was afraid that he was not familiar with Chengxiang County, so he called two officials to help him.

Shang Lu did not refuse. After Chen Li left, he asked the two officials.

"Do you know any brokers in the city? Go and find one for me."

An official immediately took the order and went out of the thieves' office to look for the broker.

Another officer took Shang Lu to the room of the thief Cao Yuan to rest for a while.

After about two quarters of an hour, the official who had gone out returned to the office with a broker.

On the way here, the broker already knew that Shanglu was looking for a house.

When the broker saw Shang Lu, he first bowed and then asked, "Excuse me, sir, what kind of place are you looking for?"

"It doesn't have to be big, but it has to have a yard, and it's best if it's secluded..."

Shang Lu paused here and had a new idea.

"Oh, by the way, do you have any haunted houses for rent or sale?"

"what?"

The broker was listening to the request carefully, but was stunned by Shang Lu's sudden question.

Didn't you say you wanted to rent a house? Why are you asking about haunted houses?
Are you renting a house or investigating a case?

It can't be possible that I'm going to live in a haunted house, right?
(End of this chapter)