Weird Cultivation, I have a five-organ temple

Chapter 328: Paper Money to Buy Passage, Soul-Detaining Land

Shang Lu shook his head and said, "I don't have the ability to save you. I'm just giving you a remedy. It's up to you to decide whether to execute it or not."

"Please ask the merchant thief Cao to teach me."

Sun Chen was really anxious. When he heard that there was a possibility of remedy, he was like a drowning person finding a life-saving straw and wanted to grab it eagerly.

Shang Lu didn't keep anyone in suspense and directly told them his idea: "The solution is simple, it's to investigate the cause of the willow monster. Find out which came first, the willow monster or the burial ground."

Sun Chen was stunned when he heard this: "Shang Ze Cao, what do you mean by this? Are you doubting that the burial site in the cave was not created by the Willow Monster?"

“Make bold assumptions and verify them carefully.”

Shang Lu said, "If the burial site in the cave was really created by the Willow Monster, you can find out why it became a monster and harmed people, and report it to the county government and the Witch Academy. This can at least make up for some of your negligence. If the burial site was really created by someone else, it means that someone is cultivating Yin and refining monsters here. This is not something that can be accomplished in three to five years, and it is also very well hidden. It is understandable that you did not notice it before, and you can even make a contribution because of it."

Sun Chen nodded repeatedly. When he heard "I can still make merit", he smiled bitterly and said, "I don't expect to make merit. As long as I can make up for my negligence, I will be satisfied."

Shang Lu hadn't finished his idea yet, and continued: "In addition, during this period of time, you can use the opportunity to defeat the bandits and carry out a special operation of strict investigation and crackdown in Wannian County. The current situation is not peaceful, and there are chaos both inside and outside. If you can do something, you can still make up for your mistakes."

"Strict investigation and crackdown?"

Sun Chen's expression became serious, and he was obviously moved, and he began to consider it carefully.

Shang Lu looked at him and warned him seriously: "But there is one thing you must remember. No matter what you do, you must not kill innocent people to take credit for it. This kind of thing can be hidden from others, but it cannot be hidden from the eyes of the witch officials of the Discipline Department! They only need one 'glance' to see through you from the inside out."

Sun Chen felt a chill on his back and couldn't help shivering. He smiled awkwardly and replied, "Don't worry, merchant thief Cao. Although I, Sun Chen, don't have much ability, I won't do anything to kill innocent people and take credit for it."

"That's good." Shang Lu nodded. Some things just need to be mentioned briefly. There is no need to say too much.

"grown ups."

At this time, Zhu Quan came to Shang Lu with a knife on his shoulder, bowed, and reported:
"According to the information we obtained from the captured bandits, there are 217 bandits in this mountain stronghold. We counted the bodies and prisoners, and the total is 210, with seven still at large. I have arranged for people to guard several important roads, and asked my men to look for bandits. I have also led the Yamen runners and county soldiers of Wannian County to search the mountain, and I will definitely not let the seven bandits escape."

Shang Lu originally planned to release the wooden kite to help Qiu Dao and others search the mountain for thieves, but at this time, he saw the ghosts of bandits appearing in the mountain stronghold.

The ghosts of these bandits all looked dazed and wandering, but they raised their hands and pointed to the northwest.

Zhu Quan, Sun Chen and others did not see these ghosts.

Their strength is still a little lacking. They can sense evil spirits and ghosts, but cannot detect these wandering souls that will dissipate after being exposed to the sun.

Fortunately, the sun had already set by then, otherwise these ghostly bandits would have been scared to death as soon as they appeared.

Shang Lu was stunned when he saw the ghosts of the bandits suddenly appear, but then he realized: "Were these wandering souls summoned by Sanniang?"

Before he could ask, Sanniang's voice floated out from the cave: "These ghosts can track down the escaped bandits."

It turned out to be Sanniang who brought this upon herself.

It seems that her lessons on going to the underworld and asking ghosts were not in vain, and she did learn some real skills.

But ordinary people cannot see these wandering souls. How can they be expected to follow them to catch bandits?
Fortunately, Shang Lu did not daydream when he accompanied Sanniang to class. He listened carefully and soon thought of a solution.

He waved to Heiyun who was patrolling the captives, and when he came to him, he took out a handful of round paper money with square holes, which looked very similar to copper coins, from the bag hanging behind his butt.

This thing is called road money. It is this kind of paper money that is scattered by the funeral procession so that the dead souls can have money to pay for the journey and the bridge fees when crossing the Yellow Springs Road and the Naihe Bridge, as well as to pay for the ghosts.

These travel expenses were earned by Sanniang herself after she learned some tricks such as asking ghosts for advice.

This time when she went out, Sanniang brought a lot of travel money. Shang Lu was still wondering who she was going to send on the journey or what?
I didn't expect that it would come in handy at this moment.

This made Shang Lu very curious. Was Sanniang preparing for a rainy day, or did she use her divination skills to figure out something?
Zhu Quan and Sun Chen were also puzzled and curious when they saw him take out a handful of money for traveling.

Before the two of them could ask, they saw Shang Lu throwing the toll money.

These road money did not fall to the ground, but swirled and blew towards the northwest.

It was as if someone was chasing and fighting for them, and then after getting the toll, he was pointing the way for them.

Zhu Quan and Sun Chen were fine, but inside the mountain stronghold, other yamen runners and county soldiers couldn't help but shudder when they saw this scene, and hurriedly distanced themselves from these road money collectors.

In Shang Lu's eyes, he saw a different scene - the wandering souls, after snatching the tolls, held them up to lead the way.

Originally Shang Lu thought that these wandering souls were forced to betray their companions.

Now it seems that is not the case.

When it comes to capturing their companions, they are more active than the officers and soldiers, as if to say, "I'm dead, how are you supposed to escape this?"

Shang Lu even suspected that if the money was enough, they would not only lead the way, but also help catch people...

Shang Lu raised his hand and pointed at the money: "Follow these money, we can catch those hiding bandits." "I will lead the team to catch them myself." Sun Chen volunteered.

It seems that he took Shang Lu's words to heart and couldn't wait to make merit in all possible ways to make up for his negligence.

Sun Chen called a few of his cronies and caught up with the flying bandits. Along the way, he gathered yamen runners and county soldiers and asked them to follow him to capture the last few bandits.

After Sun Chen left, Zhu Quan took out a cloth bag from under his robe and handed it to Shang Lu.

The bag was not big, but it felt heavy in his hand. Shang Lu knew without weighing it that it was filled with gold and silver.

Sure enough, Zhu Quan whispered, "Sir, this is the treasure that the brothers found in the mountain stronghold. The brothers each got a share, and this bag is yours."

According to the custom of the Pakistani country, those who go on a mission can share a portion of the spoils.

If Shang Lu didn't take it, the thieves under his command would not be able to take it safely, and it would also violate the rules of officialdom.

So he didn't hesitate and just asked, "Did you leave a copy for the people in Wannian County?"

Zhu Quan said: "Don't worry, sir. We only took the gold and silver. The rest of the coins, silks, furs, etc., were all left to them. We will never let the brothers in Wannian County scold us for not knowing the rules behind our backs."

"That's good." Shang Lu nodded and put away the purse.

Seeing that he had accepted it, Zhu Quan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and then said, "I will also take people to help County Magistrate Sun catch the thief."

After he left, Shang Lu walked around the mountain village but didn't find any other important clues.

Soon, Sun Chen and Zhu Quan led their team and escorted the last seven bandits back to the mountain stronghold.

The seven bandits were dejected, with bewilderment and confusion on their faces. They couldn't understand why they were caught even though they had hidden so well.

"Shang Zei Cao, your travel money is really amazing. These seven guys hid so deeply, but they were all found."

After flattering him, Sun Chen asked curiously, "I wonder what kind of magic is this road money?"

"It's not witchcraft."

Shang Lu smiled and said, "I used the toll money to bribe the dead bandits and let their ghosts lead the way."

Sun Chen was stunned for a moment, then sighed: "The old saying is true, money really makes the world go round!"

The seven bandits were shocked: What? We were actually betrayed by our own brothers?
Is this what you mean by loyalty?

Are you selling us out just for a few money?
If this official gave us more money for travel, would he have tied us up and sent us to these soldiers?
Shang Lu glanced at the seven bandits, pointed at the other captured bandits, and said to Sun Chen: "These people are handed over to you. Interrogate them carefully. The more detailed the interrogation, the more you can make up for your mistakes."

"Don't worry, merchant thief Cao, I will definitely pry open their mouths and make them confess all the crimes they have committed."

Sun Chen nodded in response, and then called on his veterans who were good at torture to torture the bandits on the spot, telling them to suffer first before talking about other things.

In the mountain village under the cover of night, bursts of wailing and screaming were immediately heard, scaring the surrounding birds into fleeing in all directions.

Shang Lu was not interested in torture, so he did not watch the fun and turned around to go back to the cave.

It has been so long and Sanniang has not come out of the cave yet. He doesn't know what happened to her. He has to go in and take a look.

As soon as he reached the cave entrance, Shang Lu saw a white tube-shaped flag floating out of the cave.

Looking more closely, it was Sanniang who was holding the tube-shaped flagpole.

"Is this... the soul-guiding banner?"

After Sanniang came closer with the tube-shaped banner in her hand, Shang Lu sensed that there was an unusual energy fluctuation on the banner.

This energy seems to have the effect of summoning souls and ghosts.

Seeing Sanniang nod, Shang Lu suddenly had a guess in his mind and asked hurriedly: "Where did you find it?"

"Underground, beneath the bones."

really!

After hearing Sanniang's words, Shang Lu's expression instantly became solemn and serious.

This cave might really be a man-made cemetery!

Otherwise, this soul-guiding banner could not have been hidden underground.

I just don’t know who built this shady place and what their intention was?
It shouldn't be a willow monster; it's more like something that was catalyzed and bred by the dark land.

(End of this chapter)