Weird Cultivation, I have a five-organ temple

Chapter 331 As expected of the merchant thief Cao, wherever he goes, there is a case

"I want to find someone to write a few stories for me, but I can't find a suitable candidate..."

Shang Lu did not hide anything from Sanniang and told her the reason for his troubles.

After Sanniang listened patiently, she asked him, "Does it have to be a living person? Can't a dead ghost be used?"

"Ok?"

Shang Lu turned around and looked at Sanniang, who was wearing a red veil. "Do you know a ghost who can write a storybook?"

"I don't know him." Sanniang shook her head.

Just when Shang Lu thought she was teasing him, Sanniang said, "But I can recruit a group of ghosts to ask, maybe there will be one who can write a story book."

"Eh."

Shang Lu thought about it seriously and felt that this idea was feasible.

Moreover, ghosts are more reliable than living people in doing this.

It’s not that ghosts are more likely to keep their promises than living people, but Sanniang knows how to summon spirits and control ghosts, and she has the tube-shaped banner, so it is easier for her to control ghosts than living people, so she is not afraid that the ghosts will take the story outline and run away.

Besides, he's already a ghost, so why steal ideas and outlines?
Could it be that in the middle of the night, people were gathered at a mass grave to listen to its stories? How dedicated must one be to one's job to continue working even after death?

"Sanniang, you are worthy of being my good wife. Your idea is really good."

Shang Lu stood up happily and reached out to hug Sanniang.

Unfortunately, Sanniang did not let him get his wish this time.

Shang Lu's hand went straight through Sanniang's body and he grabbed nothing.

Sanniang rolled her eyes at him but didn't say anything. She waved her hand and the folded banner flew out of the bag hanging on Heiyun's butt.

A gust of cold wind opened it up, allowing it to float in the air and slowly spin. Eight white ears of corn danced with it, and white flowers bloomed on the ears.

Sanniang stretched out her hand, and a candle flew out from her palm, ignited without fire, and floated under the banner. Then, a piece of money appeared out of thin air, and like rain, it floated around the banner.

"Wandering souls, where can you stay? The three souls should come early, and the seven spirits should come quickly..."

Sanniang sang a spell to summon the spirits. Her voice was clear and the melody was pleasant, as if a lark was singing.

Shang Lu was about to compliment her when he suddenly felt the temperature in the room drop a lot.

A group of shadowy gray figures appeared in the room.

I couldn't see their faces clearly, I could only see their general appearance. There were not only some with human shapes, but also many that looked like chickens, dogs and animals.

The room, which was not big to begin with, was instantly packed.

These ghosts did not dare to approach Shanglu, but stayed under the tube flags and nearby.

Fortunately, they are all ghosts and have no physical form, so they will not feel uncomfortable even if they are squeezed tightly.

Sanniang also saw many animals among the ghosts.

She pinched her fingers and said softly, "Livestock and animals, please give me the money for the journey, and your soul will return to Fengdu."

The livestock in the ghostly shadow immediately obediently picked up a coin and disappeared.

This time, the only people left in the house were ghosts, but there were still quite a few of them.

Sanniang is still undergoing further screening.

"Those who can write storybooks will stay here. The rest of the ghosts will receive their money and go on their way. Do not linger in the human world, and do not cause trouble or harm others. Otherwise, the money you pay for the journey will become your life money, and you will be horrified!"

After hearing this, many ghosts picked up the money, bowed to Sanniang, and then disappeared.

This time, there were more ghosts leaving, and there were only five figures left under the tube banners.

Even so, Shang Lu was still a little surprised.

"Wow, there are quite a few people who can write books."

I just wonder who among these five ghosts is better at writing books?
Just as Shang Lu was thinking about whether to let the five ghosts write a story each to see who wrote the best and then make a choice, he heard Sanniang speak again: "Those who have written a storybook and sold it well, please step forward."

This time only one ghost moved and took a step towards Sanniang.

The other four ghosts wanted to step forward, but they did not dare to lie in front of Sanniang and Shang Lu, so they finally stayed where they were.

When Shang Lu saw this scene, he thought to himself: As expected, writing a book is not easy, and writing a popular book is even more difficult.

"You four can take your travel money and go."

Following Sanniang's order, the four ghosts who had never been able to write the Book of Fire until their death each picked up a coin and disappeared in shame.

There was only one ghost left under the banner.

Shang Lu urged his vital energy to spread to his eyes. At the same time, a wisp of green smoke rose from the liver god statue and poured into his eyes.

With the blessing of the two forces, what Shang Lu saw was no longer a blurry gray shadow, but a thin, balding middle-aged man.

Judging from his appearance, he is not too old.

Shang Lu couldn't help but sigh: It seems that writing books not only makes you bald, but also makes you die young...

The ghost was very nervous when Shang Lu looked at him, but he still plucked up the courage to ask, "May I ask what you want me to do?"

"Do not be nervous."

Shang Lu grinned at the ghost, but unfortunately, instead of relieving its tension, it made it tremble and fall to its knees on the ground.

"Great wizard, please spare my life. Great wizard, please spare my life. I have elderly parents above me, and a wife and children below me..."

Before it could finish its words, Shang Lu interrupted it unhappily.

"Bah, you're already dead, why should I spare your life? Don't worry, we didn't invite you here to refine the Ten Thousand Souls Banner with you."

Shang Lu's joke not only failed to relieve the ghost's tension, but scared it even more, causing it to kowtow repeatedly.

This ghost had obviously heard of the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

That's right, he has written storybooks and they were very popular, so he must have heard something about spiritual practice.

Shang Lu saw that the ghost was frightened to death, so he didn't want to continue joking. What if he scared the ghost to death? Wouldn't he be guilty?

He went straight to the point: "Don't kowtow. I asked you to come here because I want you to help me write two... well, write a few stories. As long as you write well, incense, candles, paper money, paper figurines and other things will be indispensable. I guarantee that you can become a rich man in the afterlife."

Originally, Shang Lu planned to write a story about a county lieutenant who suppressed demons, and also add a Monkey King.

But now, he doesn't have to write the story himself, and he doesn't have to suffer, so he might as well write a few more, including the three traitors in heaven, and he can also choose some other stories. See which stories and characters can be accepted and loved by readers in the end, and bring him strength.

The ghost who was kneeling on the ground and kowtowing continuously was stunned after hearing Shang Lu's words.

Some asked in disbelief: "Are you really just writing stories?"

"Why would I lie to you? You're just a wandering ghost, what's there for me to plot against?"

Shang Lu laughed in silence and even made a joke: "Do you want me to write you a written agreement?"

"Don't dare, don't dare."

Seeing that Shang Lu didn't seem to be lying, the ghost gradually put his mind at ease: "Writing story books is indeed what I am good at. To be honest, when I was alive, I was also a big star. Every time I told stories, not only were there many people sitting in the teahouse, but there were also many people standing outside to listen. Booksellers also like the story books I write, saying that they sell very well..."

After boasting for a while, this ghost changed the subject and made a request:
"The Great Witch wants me to help write a storybook, so I will do my best to serve you without hesitation, but I don't want incense, candles, paper money, etc...."

This ghost was also a scheming person. He deliberately stopped here and pretended to be embarrassed, waiting for Shang Lu to ask more questions.

Shang Lu was not angry at all. It was better to break the chapter, so that readers could curse while looking forward to it.

He cooperated and asked, "What do you want?"

"I want the great witch to transport my remains back to my hometown."

The ghost kowtowed again: "I died in a foreign land, and I only want my soul to return to my hometown. I don't want to be buried in a foreign land with no one to mourn me."

This request was not excessive. Shang Lu nodded and asked, "Where are your remains buried? Where is your hometown?"

The ghost did not answer directly, but instead recounted his last experience before death:
"My surname is Liu and my name is Quan. I am from Niu Shou Mountain in Guling County. Half a year ago, I came to Longyou County to tell stories. I wouldn't say that the streets were completely empty, but every time I tell a story, the teahouse is packed with people!

At that time, there were several wealthy businessmen who would come to support me and give me large sums of money whenever I told stories.

Originally, I only planned to stay in Longyou County to study for the first half of a month and then move on to the next place. I didn't expect it to be so popular that I stayed for a full month.

In that month, I earned more in rewards than I had in the previous decades, but I was so happy that I didn't plan to go to the next place to tell stories. I planned to take the money I earned, go home, buy land, and live a stable life.

But fate went against my will. Just when I was about to leave, I suddenly fell ill and died a few days later. I was buried in a mass grave ten miles south of the county town..."

Liu Quan was indeed a famous storyteller during his lifetime. This story is told with ups and downs.

In several key points, the tone and voice changes make people pay attention as soon as they hear it.

Shang Lu waited for him to finish his story, then raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "Liu Quan, I think you not only want us to help you send your remains back to your hometown, but also want us to find out the cause of your death and help you get justice, right?"

"The great wizard is wise."

Liuquan was completely impressed.

"If the Great Witch can help me find out the cause of death and seek justice, that would be the blessing I have earned in eight lifetimes. If not, it can only be said that I am unlucky."

"Okay, stop lying on the ground and get up."

Shang Lu was not angry at his clever trick, but he still wanted to warn him: "I am the thief Cao Yuan of this county. If you really died unjustly, then I will definitely investigate the matter. But in the future, if you have anything to say or any request, just say it directly, and don't play these tricks on me."

Liuquan kowtowed repeatedly.

Although Shanglu didn't say what would happen if he played this trick again, he heard the threat in the words and trembled with fear.

Shang Lu raised his hand, and Liu Quan suddenly felt a powerful invisible force sweeping over and dragging him up from the ground.

Before he could exclaim, Shang Lu asked, "Why do you suspect that your death was not normal?"

Liu Quan adjusted his mind and replied, "Although I am not a martial artist, I have always been in good health. There were no signs before I became ill. I suddenly became ill and was bedridden. I can't even speak."

"Have you offended anyone here?" Shang Lu asked again.

"I haven't offended anyone."

Liu Quan smiled bitterly and said, "For those of us who travel around the country to beg for food, we rely on being kind to others. No matter what happens, we would rather suffer a loss than offend others."

"If it's not revenge, then it's profiteering." Shang Lu speculated, "You said you made a lot of money in Longyou County. After you die, who will the money go to?"

"I don't know about that." Liu Quan shook his head. "After I died, my soul was sealed in the coffin and couldn't leave. I didn't go to the underworld. Fortunately, the yin energy in the mass grave was heavy, so my soul didn't dissipate. It wasn't until today when you, the great witch, opened the altar to summon ghosts that my soul was able to leave the coffin."

Shang Lu had just had doubts about whether Liu Quan's death was an accident or man-made.

Now hearing him say this, I immediately concluded that there was something really strange about his death.

"Who buried you? Who bought the coffin for you?" Shang Lu asked again.

"do not know."

Liu Quan shook his head again: "I was in a daze after I died. When I regained consciousness and memory, I was already sealed in a coffin. I was even buried in a mass grave in the south of the city. I only found out about it today when my soul was called out of the coffin."

Shang Lu immediately decided to go to the mass grave in the south of the city.

Since we have to dig up Liu Quan's body and take it away anyway, it's a good opportunity to check the coffin, maybe there will be clues there.

But before leaving, Shang Lu asked again: "Where did you live when you were alive? In which teahouse did you read the book? Who knew that you received a large amount of reward?"

Liu Quan said: "When I was alive, I told stories in a teahouse called Bu Mu Xian in Wa City, East City, and I also lived there. At that time, many people in Longyou County knew that I had received a large reward."

Shang Lu immediately asked Sanniang to take Liu Quan to the mass grave in the south of the city to find Liu Quan's body and investigate the coffin.

Before leaving, Shang Lu called Zhu Quan to his side and instructed him, "Go to the East City Tile Market and find a teahouse called Bu Mu Xian. Say you are from Niu Shou Mountain in Guling County and are here to look for a man named Liu Quan. If they ask you who you are, say you are Liu Quan's brother and find out their reactions."

Zhu Quan is an old criminal investigator. When he heard this, he immediately guessed something.

He lowered his voice and asked, "Sir, have you discovered another case?"

"Yes." Shang Lu nodded and told Zhu Quan a brief account of the story of Liuquan, so that he could understand more about the situation and get more clues from the teahouse.

Zhu Quan was amazed when he heard this. While accepting the order with his hands clasped, he secretly said, "The merchant thief Cao is indeed worthy of his reputation. Wherever he goes, there are cases... We followed him out, and within just a few days, we encountered two cases. This time, the case was reported by the wronged soul. This is the treatment that only the honest and upright officials in the story books can get."

Surprised, Zhu Quan also put in a lot of effort to complete the task and let Shang Lu see his ability.

After the two men left the post station, they immediately split up.

Zhu Quan went straight to the theater in the east of the city.

Shang Lu left the city before dark, rode on Heiyun, and came to the mass grave in the south of the city.

When he arrived at this place, it was already dark.

The cemetery was pitch black, gloomy and chilling.

Wild dogs were running around, rummaging through the corpses and eating the meat!

(End of this chapter)