If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 795: Inexplicably, his fate was exhausted and he was on the road to death
Time goes back to this moment, in the corridor outside the second gate of Zhao Mansion.

Zhao Yan held Gong Si and asked in a low voice, "What were you yelling about just now? What happened to the government office and the county magistrate? What does it have to do with Taoist Luobo and Mr. Gou?"

Gong Si shouted in panic, "Brother, Taoist Radish is a demon, and his life is also very evil. Have they been drinking at your house?
You are probably being tricked by them.

Tonight, Gou Sheng turned into an evil ghost and took another evil ghost with him, Luo Shiluan. The two evil ghosts went to the yamen to find the county magistrate and took away the county magistrate's soul.

Now the county lord and his wife are crying bitterly! "

Zhao Yan had a question mark on his forehead. "What nonsense are you talking about? Not to mention that Taoist Luobo and Mr. Gou are both great sages of the time, not some evil demons.

Isn't it inconsistent to just say your own words?
The county lord's soul has been taken away, how can he hug his wife and cry bitterly? "

Gong Si opened his mouth, with a lot to say but didn't know how to say it.

He simply grabbed Zhao Yan's arm and ran out quickly, saying, "Hurry to the county government office. The county magistrate wants to see you about something very important. I came here in a hurry and don't know the details. When we get to the government office, I'll let the county magistrate tell you."

Zhao Yan used his Qinggong skills to quickly drive Gong Si towards the government office, still asking, "What's the big deal?"

"I don't know, but the county magistrate told me that if there is any serious incident, I must quietly call you to the government office immediately.

Except for the eldest brother, the other brothers did not receive any notice.

I guess it's to keep it secret, the matter is very important, but not too many people can know about it." Gong Si said.

Hearing him say this, Zhao Yan stopped asking questions.

The Zhao Mansion is also located in the "rich area", not far from the county government office in the city center.

In less than two minutes, Zhao Yan had jumped over the courtyard wall and entered the county government office directly from the side wall. Then he climbed over the eaves and walls and came to the county magistrate's yard.

The county magistrate was wearing a padded jacket, sitting upright in a reclining chair, sipping tea, his expression uncertain but still calm.

"Didn't you say that the county lord and his wife were hugging each other and crying?" Zhao Yan glanced at Gong Si unhappily.

"The county magistrate did cry before, but he is the head of a county after all, so he certainly won't cry all the time."

Gong Si said something in a low voice, stretched out his hand towards the door, and motioned Zhao Yan to go in.

He himself and several other officers who remained on duty in the yamen were guarding the door and the window.

After the ceremony, the county magistrate directly pulled Zhao Yan to the bedroom.

There was only a screen between the bed where he slept and the bed where he slept.

Of course, the county lord’s wife had already put on her clothes and left.

"Zizhen, I'm in big trouble!" The county magistrate held Zhao Yan's right hand, his eyes full of regret and fear, "Now I'm in a dilemma, I can only ask you to come up with a solution."

Zhao Yan asked curiously, "What happened to the county lord?"

The county lord said: "Tonight I first dreamed of Luo Shiluan, she turned into a fierce ghost and came to take my life.

She said that she was killed by Xun Peng and her body was destroyed by the Xun family.

As a county magistrate, I should have tried her case fairly, but... well, you know what happened."

Zhao Yan was puzzled and asked, "Luo Shiluan has become a fierce ghost. How did she enter the county government office and appear in your dream?"

The county magistrate sighed and said, "I didn't know it before, but I understood it after I went to the City God's Office.

It's that bastard who got in touch with me.

He said that he had gone to the government office and knocked on the drum a few days ago, and had already appealed to me about Luo Shiluan's case.

He forced me into a very awkward position at the time, and I let the officers beat him with a stick, saying that he had no evidence.

Afterwards, he was ordered to find evidence within a time limit, otherwise he would be punished for false accusation.

As a result, he came to see me tonight with Luo Shiluan.

The door gods, treasury gods, night-wandering gods and other gods all tried to stop him, but failed.

Because there is a ‘reason’ for casual relationships.”

Zhao Yan had a strange expression on his face, "The door god is trying to reason with him?"

The county lord still had a sad look on his face, but awe appeared in his eyes, and he said: "Gou Jiao is not an ordinary person, he has practiced a strange and upright Qigong method.

As long as he really has reason, he can turn the reason into real spiritual power.

Ghosts and gods are most afraid of this kind of power.

When the City God saw Gou Jiao, he was a little scared, and even Wu Pan couldn't do anything about him.

Can you believe that after just a few days of casual contact, your spiritual realm has soared so far?

The last time he went to the City God's Office, Wu Pan was able to tie him up with chains.

When we went to the City God's Office again tonight, Gou Jiao shouted loudly and frightened Wu Pan so much that he became speechless.

I finally see clearly that Taoist Luobo is just making friends with Gou Jiao and is practicing in the secular world!

We and the Xun family are both sharpening stones, helping to sharpen the righteousness in the hearts of those who have made friends with us."

Zhao Yan suddenly realized, but was even more confused, "How did you know so clearly, sir?"

The county magistrate was also puzzled, "Didn't County Magistrate Zhao tell me that Taoist Luobo is very unusual and wandering around the city might be a form of spiritual practice?

Although casual relationships may seem sloppy, they actually allow us to experience the various aspects of life and hone our integrity. "

"I thought a god said something to you, sir." Zhao Yan said.

A few days ago, he did advise the county magistrate, saying that Taoist Luobo and Gou Sheng were most likely masters who practiced spiritual cultivation in the secular world.

But the county magistrate didn't listen at all, and even mocked Luobo for being a wild Taoist priest and Goujiao for being a beggar.

The county magistrate nodded and said, "The ghost messenger who sent me back did say a few private words to me.

He said that Gou Jiao had once entered the City God's Office in his physical body. It was very powerful that day, but tonight it was even more powerful than last time.

I practiced martial arts and came into contact with "Haoran Zhengqi". This is obviously a sign of my realm being elevated after practicing in the secular world!"

The county magistrate himself was a scholar who read the books of sages and was no stranger to Confucian and Taoist practices.

When he scolded the beggar, he wet his pants in the classroom and was so angry. It's not that he is really ignorant.

How can he be an ordinary beggar if he makes friends with someone just based on "reason" and makes him pee his pants?
That day, the county magistrate was certain that Gou Jiao must have practiced a very special and advanced "Haoran Zhengqi".

Zhao Yan asked, "I heard from Gong Si earlier that Gou Jiao and Luo Shiluan took the county lord's soul away and went to the City God's Office? What do they want to do?"

The county magistrate said bitterly: "What else can I do? Treat me as a criminal and let the ghosts and gods in the underworld judge me!"

"Sir, you are the county lord. How dare the gods in the underworld judge you?" Zhao Yan asked in surprise.

"I was a county lord when I was alive, but can I continue to be a county lord after I die? I am not really dead, but I cannot resolve Luo Shiluan's resentment. She can drag me to die with her."

The county magistrate waved his hand, not wanting to talk about the embarrassing experience of the City God's Office, and said directly: "So, now I only have two choices, either to be a good official and continue to be the magistrate of Guangchuan County.

Either he will be dismissed for dereliction of duty, then be killed by Luo Shiluan, and then be thrown into the eighteen levels of hell."

He stared at Zhao Yan with a burning gaze, "County Lieutenant Zhao, what do you think I should choose?" Zhao Yan said in a hoarse voice, "How should I be a 'good official' and to what extent?"

The county lord said quietly, "At this time, Gou Sheng and Taoist Luobo are both guests in your house, right? You have a very good relationship and are very close."

Zhao Yan's expression changed several times, and he sighed, "If the county lord wants to be a good official, he must enforce the law impartially.

As long as it is in accordance with the law, I, as the county lieutenant, will do my duty."

"Very good! County Magistrate Zhao is a true pillar of the country. Once the case in Xun Mansion is concluded, I will report the county majesty's contribution truthfully." The county magistrate said with a smile.

"The case of Xun Mansion" Zhao Yan had expected it, but he was still trembling with fear at this moment, "What are you going to do, sir?"

The county magistrate said solemnly: "Didn't I just say that? Enforce the law impartially!
Now the victim has come to our door, and there are witnesses and evidence. County lieutenant, tell me, what should we do according to the rules?"

Zhao Yan asked softly, "How far can we go? I heard that the Xun Mansion has a group of assassins."

The county lord said in a deep voice: "County lieutenant, don't you understand the laws of the court? Keeping assassins is a capital crime that costs you your head!"

In fact, in this era, keeping a group of assassins does not constitute a crime.

"Supporting scholars" is the custom of this era.

Who among families with a little money and status doesn’t have retainers and advisers?
As long as they can find a clear way and disguise themselves as "house servants" or "retainers", they are common death squads in major wealthy families.

However, the imperial court did issue a clear ban, stating that private possession of armor and weapons, as well as possession of warrior servants who were not registered with the government, were all serious crimes of treason.

Next, whether the Xun family has committed the crime of keeping a group of assassins depends on three points: first, whether they will rebel against the county lieutenant; second, whether they wear armor and possess a sufficient number of weapons; and finally, whether the "guests" have an official identity.

The county magistrate has made his attitude clear. If any one of the above three points is met, the Xun family will be charged with the crime of raising a group of assassins.

Zhao Yan frowned and thought for a while, then said, "I have to mobilize the garrison battalion to enter the city."

The county lord smiled slightly and said softly, "As it should be."

Zhao Yan sighed and clasped his fists towards the county lord, "To prevent any further trouble, I will mobilize the troops now."

The county magistrate took his arm and personally saw him out.

In the early morning, there was a barren forest three miles outside the East City Gate.

"Swoosh~" Like a sharp arrow shot from a bow, Xun Peng glided seventy or eighty feet in the night sky and flew straight into the forest.

After his feet landed on the ground, the wound on his chest split open. The sudden severe pain took away most of the strength in his body, causing his legs to go soft and he fell into the grass with a plop.

"Why is this happening, why?"

It seemed that not only his body fell, but also his strong will collapsed at this moment.

Xun Peng's eyes were filled with tears and blood. His face, which was scratched by the knife, was filled with more anger and confusion than the blood.

"Zhao Yan, Zhao Yan, you bastard, you have wiped out my entire Xun family. I, Xun Peng, will never stop fighting you until one of us dies!"

In the first half of this night, Young Master Xun's life was still as carefree and happy as in the past.

Although the thief Luobo and the corrupt scholar were still making small moves, the news that Luo Shiluan borrowed money to buy medicine for her benefactor began to spread throughout the streets and alleys.

Although Patriarch Hongyun ate and used the Xun family's money and took a large sum of money, he was still unwilling to use his magical powers to quietly kill Luobo and Gousheng.

Although there was some bad news tonight: Taoist Radish and Gou Guan came to visit the Zhao Mansion together, and County Lieutenant Zhao did not turn them away, but received them warmly.

But the Xun family is not a pushover.

They have connections, channels, and power that is worthy of their identity and status.

Mr. Xun has already transferred a hundred elite soldiers into the city. They are waiting for Taoist Radish and Gou Sheng to leave the county town. When it gets dark, he, Young Master Xun, can give an order and kill the two ignorant and ungrateful outsiders.

Even though their identities may be extraordinary, a strong dragon cannot defeat a local snake!
The Xun family is not snakes, but pythons.

As a result, in the second half of the night, a horrific scene that had never appeared in the most terrible nightmare of his life suddenly happened before his eyes: the eight hundred city defense camps quietly blocked the surrounding streets, and Zhao Yan, who covered his armor with his coat, suddenly broke into the Xun family with seven or eight captains, wanting to capture the eldest son Xun.

The Black General, who had been guarding his family for hundreds of years, just came out and was about to inform and warn them when he was chopped into two pieces by Zhao Yan's sword.

That bastard Zhao Yan was merciless and came here tonight with the intention of destroying the entire Xun family.

How could the Xun family just sit there and wait for death?
When a hundred elite soldiers rushed out, Zhao Yan immediately withdrew and flew in the air, his voice like a dragon's roar: "The Xun family has gathered to rebel. All soldiers in the city defense camp, listen to my order and form the 'Eight-legged Fire Spider Formation'."

The eight hundred city defense camps formed a giant eight-legged spider.

With Zhao Yan as the army leader, they destroyed the one hundred elite soldiers at the peak of the True Yuan Realm like a whirlwind.

When Patriarch Hongyun tried to escape, he was kicked by a giant fire spider and pierced through the chest.

The old man bargained with the Xun family for several days, but in the end he ate, drank, and took everything without using any tricks and died in a cowardly manner.

If we had known he was such a loser, the Xun family would have hired someone else.

Although he thought so in his heart, Xun Peng also understood rationally that Patriarch Hongyun was already the strongest and most easily bribed eccentric person within a hundred miles.

Facing the military formation, his Xun family has raised dozens or even hundreds of years of elite warriors, among whom there are even two human immortals!
Still couldn't last a few rounds.

It was normal for the old man Hongyun to die tragically on the spot.

——If I had known earlier, I would not have kept any assassins, but only private soldiers.

The death squad can only practice the ways of assassins. When it comes to the real battlefield, the ways of soldiers and military formations are still the most effective.

Xun Peng changed his direction to regret.

But he just felt regretful. If he could really travel through time and go back to several decades ago when Emperor Ren Zheng was still alive, his Xun family would have dared to raise private soldiers and would have been destroyed long before Xun Peng was born.

——In the past, I underestimated the power of the government. The power of a mere county could easily destroy a thousand-year-old county like my Xun family.
This is the truth!
Unfortunately, Xun Peng realized it too late.

"Captain, look, there is blood in front of the City God Temple. It's fresh. It must have been left by that dead bastard Xun Peng. He must be nearby." Suddenly, an officer's exclamation came from behind.

Xun Peng, who was lying on the ground "confessing", looked back and was horrified.

Is he possessed by a ghost?

It was clearly his father who risked his life to buy him the chance to escape.

Instead of running away, he squatted in a grove only two or three miles away from the county town, reminiscing about the past?

His chest was instantly filled with regret. He quietly stood up and was about to slip away.

"Whoosh, whoosh~~~" A gust of night wind blew down from above, breaking two branches.

"There's someone in the woods over there, let's go take a look. Be careful, it could be Xun Peng!" an officer nearby shouted.

"How come there is wind, and it just so happens that—"

Xun Peng was stunned. He looked around and was horrified to find that it was pitch black all around him and he had lost his way.

"Ghost Wall?!"

He suddenly had an idea, lowered his voice, and shouted in shock and anger: "Luo Shiluan, it's you who is playing tricks! You secretly confused my mind, made me lie on the ground in a daze, and now you are blocking my way?"

(End of this chapter)