No taboos

Chapter 476 Old Year Soil

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

Has a discovery been made in Lucheng?

Judging from the timeline, this should have happened before the River Supervisor arrived in Lucheng.

Judging from this, Chen Tong of Lucheng is indeed capable.

Xu Yuan's focus was on the case.

However, Zhou Leizi and Di Youzhi, among other subordinates, focused on Chen Tong's arrogant words.

Zhou Leizi and Di Youzhi had been in the Exorcism Bureau for much longer than Xu Yuan. Before Xu Yuan, the most famous "young generation" member of the Exorcism Bureau in Jiaozhi South was Chen Tong.

When Xu Yuan first entered Champa, Di Youzhi and others did indeed secretly compare him to Chen Tong.

In the beginning, Xu Yuan was naturally far inferior to Chen Tong.

But in just a few months, my adult completed the journey that Chen Tong had taken more than ten years to complete.

When Chen Tong became the Chief Lawyer of Lucheng after more than a decade of service, the entire southern Jiaozhi region was already extremely shocked.

But compared to Xu Yuan... there's no need to compare.

Therefore, people like Di Youzhi now have an extraordinary admiration for their leader.

A leader's personal charisma is a prerequisite for a team to form cohesion.

Zhou Leizi was the first to jump out: "Chen Tong is only a sixth-rate person, while my master is a fifth-rate person!"

In terms of area, population, and taxation, Lucheng ranks behind our Champa!

"We're all in charge of law; what right does he have to demand that my master obey his orders?"

Di Youzhi added insult to injury: "Now I know where you learned your arrogant and stupid ways from."

Dong Daiyun doesn't dare to say a word now.

She kept her head down, trying not to let anyone see the resentment in her eyes.

She didn't listen at all to Zhou Leizi's comments that Xu Yuan was a fifth-rate person and that Lucheng was inferior to Zhancheng.

It's also possible that she's always been self-centered and used to selectively filtering the information conveyed by others, only hearing what she wants to hear.

Therefore, she still stubbornly believed that her brother-in-law would definitely stand up for her and help her vent her anger, just like before.

Everyone present, especially the female martial artist who hit him, and the delicate young lady next to him! He had to make his brother-in-law capture them so he could humiliate and get his revenge!
Chen Tong's original words were certainly not something like "ordering Xu Yuan to cooperate" or "following orders."

Chen Tong spoke very politely and even wrote a letter with his personal seal, explaining the matter clearly.

He has already reported this matter to the commander. Before the commander comes to the three cities to take charge, Zhancheng, Lucheng, and Liancheng should exchange information, assist each other, and stabilize the situation.

Chen Tong was naturally jealous and resentful that Xu Yuan had stolen his thunder.

Originally, Chen Tong's future was bright. After stepping down as the head of the law enforcement in Lucheng, he was almost certain to go straight to the General Headquarters.

But now that spot belongs to Xu Yuan.

However, Chen Tong was a qualified official of the Ming Dynasty.

Circumstances dictate that we should not antagonize Xu Yuan at this time.

If you can't beat them, you can't beat them.

Anyone could see that Xu Yuan was no ordinary person.

This tiny southern Jiaozhi was nothing more than a shallow shoal before someone ascended to heaven.

After Xu Yuansheng leaves, Chen Tong will still have a chance.

Offending Xu Yuan now is tantamount to offending Ma Tianshou.

There is absolutely no hope for the future.

Chen Tong knew his sister-in-law's temper; this messenger mission wasn't originally intended for her.

But she insisted on coming because she wanted to see what kind of person this "Xu Yuan" was who had stolen her brother-in-law's opportunity.

Chen Tong couldn't dissuade her, so he repeatedly told her that Zhancheng was not Lucheng, and that she shouldn't act recklessly there, but should respect Lord Xu, and so on.

Dong Daiyun readily agreed...

When he met Xu Yuan, he didn't even bring out Chen Tong's handwritten letter.

In this world, many great things are ruined by such foolish and self-righteous villains!

Xu Yuan asked solemnly, "What did Lord Chen Tong discover in Lucheng?"

Dong Daiyun still felt that people like Miss Jinxi, whose identities were "unknown," should not have heard these "secrets."

But now they dare not make any more outrageous statements.

Then he thought maliciously: It's good that you heard it. If these people leak the secret and ruin everything, it will be your fault, Xu Yuan!
"Six months ago, the caretaker of our Lucheng mortuary suddenly died."

"But three years ago, he picked up a little beggar from the street, adopted him, and treated him as his godson, teaching him the laws of the two realms."

After his death, the little beggar became the new vigilant.

When he found the little beggar, the little beggar was only twelve years old, and he became the vigilant at the age of fifteen.

Over the past three years, who knows how much public funds the old caretaker has embezzled, feeding the little beggar until he's grown tall and strong.

At this point, Dong Daiyun paused, as if remembering something.

"But later my brother-in-law discovered that there were many suspicious points about this new guardian of the spirits."

So they secretly investigated his background.

A few days ago, a merchant from Zhengzhou visited my brother-in-law and brought a letter from a commander of the Exorcism Bureau in Zhengzhou.

The other party asked my brother-in-law for help in finding the descendant of an old friend.

"This descendant of an old friend came to southern Jiaozhi three years ago with a cargo ship to do business."

Originally, I would write home to let people know I was safe wherever I went.

But after arriving in Lucheng, they disappeared without a trace.

Unfortunately, the family was involved in a case, and the entire family was imprisoned.

The commander in Zhengzhou also went to great lengths, spending several years to finally help his old friend clear his name of suspicion.

Only then could they have the energy to search for the children from the family who had gone out to do business.

“My brother-in-law helped look for it, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt that the appearance of the new caretaker of the mortuary resembled the description of the missing son of the deceased in the letter.”

"And it turned out to be him!"

"Moreover, there are official records in the canal administration office that the boat of that old friend's son capsized in the canal, and no one on board survived!"

“My brother-in-law immediately interrogated the guard, but the man could only remember his own name and nothing else.”

"My brother-in-law continued his investigation and discovered that this guardian of the spirits was actually connected to the underworld officials who had swept through the land and cleansed the mortal realm decades ago!"

At this point, Dong Daiyun glanced at Miss Jinxi and the others again.

What I'm about to say is a top secret of the Exorcism Bureau!
"Back then, the Lucheng government and the City God negotiated and offered excellent terms, but for some reason, the City God refused to return to the underworld no matter what."

"The Lucheng government then devised a plan, inviting several highly skilled cultivators to assist them, preparing to launch a surprise attack on the City God Temple, seize the City God's golden seal, and force the City God back to the underworld."

"But during the great battle, the City God led all his underworld officials and soldiers into the mortal realm and occupied a territory there."

“If the City God dwells in the filthy world for too long, he will willingly degenerate and eventually become an evil spirit.”

"And the Lucheng Exorcism Bureau has had a secret duty for many years: to closely monitor the evil spirits of the City God." Dong Daiyun couldn't help but show a hint of pride when he said this.

It was precisely because of this secret duty that those above the rank of Inspector of the Lucheng Purification Division never felt inferior to those of the Champa Administration.

Instead, he believed that his Lucheng Office must be ranked second only to Luocheng Office among all the southern offices in Jiaozhi.

"However, the evil spirits of the City God have been quite well-behaved over the years."

"Before my brother-in-law, three consecutive chief judges of Lucheng judged that the city god had some powerful enemy in the underworld, so he probably used all his wealth to obtain the position of city god of Lucheng."

This is precisely why He preferred to remain in the defiled world rather than return to Hades.

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan began to frown.

The abilities of Yin soldiers and Yin messengers are naturally able to restrain many evil spirits.

Therefore, only when the ghostly soldiers pass through can the turbid world be cleansed.

But why don't ghost soldiers frequently "pass through" the turbid realm?
It's not that they can't go to the mortal realm, but that they need a "reason" from the "living world" to set out.

In other words, if the underworld wants to interfere in anything in the mortal realm, it can do so at any time.

The reason given by the City God of Lucheng for hiding in the mortal realm from his mortal enemy in the underworld is hardly convincing.

At least in Lord Xu's view, Dong Daiyun's statement was full of loopholes.

Xu Yuan, not wanting to listen to Dong Daiyun continue rambling, took the initiative to ask, "Has Chief Lawyer Chen Tong found out what the connection is between the new guardian of the spirit and the evil spirits of the City God?"

Dong Daiyun said, "My brother-in-law speculates that the guardian of the spirit is the son of that deceased friend, who actually died in the canal but was chosen by the evil spirits of the City God."

The City God, a malevolent spirit, sent one of his underworld officials to select a relatively intact water corpse from the canal.

The soul of the deceased son of a deceased person was dissected and divided, and the 'soul' was taken and mixed with the 'spirit' remaining in the water corpse.

Then, using certain underworld methods and exquisite modifications, the water corpse came back to life and looked no different from a living person.

Even the various methods used by the Three Offices of Strange Tales to examine evil spirits couldn't detect anything wrong.

Xu Yuan nodded secretly. So this old friend's son had a similar experience to Jia Zongdao.

But Xu Yuan felt that something was off about the whole incident.

Xu Yuan then asked, "Where did the City God and the evil spirits retreat to in the mortal realm?"

Dong Daiyun looked bewildered: "I don't know, my brother-in-law didn't tell me."

Xu Yuan then asked, "Can the City God and evil spirits send their underworld minions to freely enter the mortal realm?"

Dong Daiyun looked bewildered again: "I don't know, my brother-in-law didn't say anything."

Xu Yuan asked for the third time: "What you just said only proves that the City God is an evil spirit and is plotting against Lucheng."

How did you know that the City God's evil spirits were targeting Champa, Lucheng, and Liancheng?

Dong Daiyun was still bewildered: "I don't know, my brother-in-law didn't mention it."

Xu Yuan shook his head repeatedly and said, "You know nothing. Fine, I won't ask you anymore."

Since Chen Tong, the head of the law, intends for the three regions to join forces to fight against the evil spirits of the City God, how should they work together?

Especially considering the considerable distance between the three cities, how were messages relayed between them?

This time, Dong Daiyun was no longer at a loss, because his brother-in-law had already explained the matter to him.

Dong Daiyun took out a booklet: "My brother-in-law said that with this craftsman's item, we can contact each other at any time!"

Dong Daiyun really loves to show off.

For example, when she took out this document, she specifically emphasized: "This artifact is extremely precious; ordinary people have no idea that such a magical thing exists."

Moreover, if the surface is covered with writing, the craftsman's work becomes useless.

This is my brother-in-law's personal collection.

"If it weren't for its importance, my brother-in-law wouldn't have been willing to take it out."

Xu Yuan glanced at it and asked, "Did the Pingtian Society also have a branch in Lucheng?"

Dong Daiyun looked bewildered, not understanding why this Lord Xu would suddenly bring up what Pingtianhui was doing when he was praising the preciousness of the artifacts.
But after she was beaten, she became pragmatic and dared not question the truth, answering honestly: "I did indeed preach in Lucheng."

However, last year, the Southern Bureau issued an order, and my brother-in-law led a group to shut down this branch.

Xu Yuan gave her a strange look. He was initially somewhat disdainful, but then a thought suddenly struck him, and he asked, "Where did Chief Justice Chen Tong get this memorial?"

Dong Daiyun replied: "In my Lucheng, there is a master craftsman whose skill level is extremely high, but he does not like socializing and has always lived in seclusion."

However, he greatly admired my brother-in-law, and only my brother-in-law could see him.

This report was brought up by my brother-in-law during a casual conversation. He mentioned that when the Exorcism Division went out to handle cases, communication between the various teams was difficult and inconvenient.

This master craftsman took it to heart and later created this kind of craftwork.

However, although the communication problem was solved, the high cost made it impossible to promote.

I could only give a few copies to my brother-in-law, and he has treasured them ever since.

Xu Yuan frowned slightly. Was this memorial from the Pingtian Society or Chen Tong?
Xu Yuan then subtly used a provocation: "Is that really the case? If this craftsmanship is truly as miraculous as you say, then that master's skill is unparalleled in the world!"

Such figures are also honored guests of the powerful and wealthy in both the north and south!
How could it have fallen to a place like southern Jiaozhi?

And now you've become close friends with a mere law master?

Upon hearing this, Dong Daiyun immediately exclaimed, "How could it be fake? My brother-in-law took me to see this master!"

In his house, there were no servants; all the chores were done by various craftsmen!

Xu Yuan then secretly memorized it.

It is highly likely that the memorials submitted by the Pingtian Society were purchased from this so-called master craftsman through Chen Tong.

Chen Tong is suspected of secretly colluding with the Pingtian Society!

As for the so-called master craftsman, Xu Yuan also found it somewhat strange.

The entire courtyard was filled with various crafts.
Even skilled craftsmen wouldn't dare to use their tools so recklessly.

How much does your life weigh?
Even Xu Yuan himself, a cultivator whose life force is far greater than that of the other cultivators from the Seven Great Sects, couldn't suppress so many crafted items.

We need to be careful when cooperating with this Chen Tong.

Then, Xu Yuan opened the booklet.

This is a brand new book.

Chen Tong has already sent over a document.

Chen Tong knew his sister-in-law well, so even though he had given Dong Daiyun many instructions and written her a personal letter before he left, he still remembered them well.

However, in the memorial, he first very politely asked Master Xu to be more lenient, saying that Dong Daiyun would definitely be arrogant and impolite.

Xu Yuan nodded.

Chen Tong's ability to reach the position of law enforcement officer should be beyond question.

However, Chen Tong also has his "weaknesses".

Following this is Chen Tong's brief explanation of the case.

This also explains some of Xu Yuan's questions.

These were the three questions Xu Yuan asked Dong Daiyun that he "didn't know" about.

When the City God of Lucheng retreated into the mortal realm, the place he occupied was called "Diqiu".

It is the gateway to the "old year's soil" in the turbid world.

While the City God and his evil spirits can send their underworld minions into the mortal realm, there are strict limitations on this.

After the City God degenerated into an evil spirit, he was also subject to the rules and could only enter the mortal world from the mortal world on a suitable "taboo" day.

Moreover, once the taboo is lifted, they will be pulled back to the turbid realm.

Unlike other evil spirits, the City God can find a suitable taboo day and send his underworld messengers to bring over the underworld token issued that year.

Then, they would try to purify it in the mortal realm.

They can stay in the mortal world indefinitely by using the underworld's tooth token.

Chen Tong had already followed the clues, starting with the guardian of the spirits, and discovered that the underworld messenger sent to the mortal realm by the City God and evil spirits had also been to Champa and Liancheng.

Therefore, it is speculated that the City God's evil spirits targeted these three cities.

Finally, Chen Tong stated that he had sent someone to report to Elder Ma Tianshou.

Before the elder statesman's orders are given, I hope everyone will cooperate with him.

After all, he was the one who first discovered the case.

He should be the one to take the lead.

Regardless of whether Chen Tong has "accepted his fate" and feels that he cannot compete with Xu Yuan, he will wait for Xu Yuan to leave the "shallow waters" of southern Jiaozhi before waiting for an opportunity.

He won't let this case go.

Moreover, this rule applies to all government offices throughout the entire Ming Dynasty.

Whoever discovers it first will be in charge of it.

Unless a superior issues a forceful order to appoint a new person in charge.

Xu Yuan didn't necessarily want to fight for this dominant position.

Xu Yuan was somewhat worried that Chen Tong was suspected of colluding with the Pingtian Society, so he didn't quite trust this head of the Lucheng Law Firm.

Among the words Chen Tong wrote in the memorial, there was a noun that caught Xu Yuan's eye.

Old year's soil!
The bait that Lin Wanmo prepared for Xu Yuan to trap the "June bugs" was called "Old Year's Grain"!

Is there any connection between the two?

Or perhaps Chen Tong wrote a typo, using "old filth" instead of "old soil"?
Xu Yuan also learned about the information Chen Tong had gathered, but it didn't help much in solving the mystery of the case; on the contrary, it made it even more perplexing.

Xu Yuan pointed at Di Youzhi and instructed, "Give Inspector Dong a medicinal pill."

Dong Daiyun remained silent.

This person is so "realistic"!
Only after asking all my questions would they give me medicine to treat my injury.

They wouldn't even give me their own medicinal pills, only giving my subordinates low-quality ones.

Dong Daiyun felt that she had great integrity, so she refused Di Youzhi's medicine and took the one she had brought with her.

Di Youzhi sneered and put his medicine pills away.

You won't eat it? I wouldn't even give it to you!
That saved us some money.

Xu Yuan gave the order: "Let's go to the fake village."

The team then sprang into action.

Dong Daiyun asked, "Pseudo-village? What do you mean? If you have any intelligence, you must report it to my brother-in-law immediately..."

The entire team has already mobilized.

Everyone seemed to be "busy" and no one paid any attention to Dong Daiyun.

Dong Daiyun was going to find Xu Yuan again.

But Xu Yuan had already gotten into a carriage.

The car door slammed shut automatically.

"Hey, Lord Xu..." Dong Daiyun hurriedly chased after the carriage.

But they discovered that the carriage was acting strangely, turning left and right in a serpentine pattern, preventing Dong Daiyun from catching up.

The skills that "Dreams Come True" and Dafu honed were more than enough to deal with Dong Daiyun.

"Lord Xu, you must report the situation to my brother-in-law in a timely manner."

The two captains behind Dong Daiyun quietly pulled her aside.

"Lord Dong, we don't need to humiliate ourselves any further."

"We have completed the task assigned by the Lord Lawyer."

"This guy surnamed Xu is too arrogant; I'm afraid he won't cooperate with us."

Dong Daiyun shouted from outside the carriage, but Xu Yuan, inside the "Dreams Come True" carriage, couldn't hear anything and was completely undisturbed by the noise.

After being trained by her stepmother, the "dream came true," and the carriage could now be used as a normal horse-drawn carriage.

Xu Yuan took out the "Harmony Wheel," turned it left and right, and contacted Mr. Feng Si.

"What is it?" Mr. Feng's voice was sharp and his tone was unpleasant. Lin Wanmo's voice came from the side: "Just tell me, isn't my method more convenient? It's no use if you refuse to admit defeat. A better solution is a better solution..."

Xu Yuan subtly shrank his neck.

This clearly shows that Mr. Feng was at a disadvantage in the discussion about craftsmanship techniques...

He was being ridiculed by his stepmother.

Xu Yuan cautiously recounted what had happened in Lucheng.

Then Mr. Feng said, "The complexity of this matter has exceeded what your Jiaozhi Southern Office can handle."

After a slight pause, Mr. Feng continued, "Are you going to the fake village?"

Xu Yuan: "Just set off."

"Don't act rashly once you arrive. Someone will contact you and help you."

Xu Yuan thought to himself: I knew I was right.

It was no coincidence that Mr. Feng Si and other officials under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Censor appeared in Champa at the same time.

They came with a mission.

Xu Yuan replied, "Okay, I understand."

Then, fearing that Mr. Feng would hang up, Xu Yuan quickly asked, "Senior, I have another question to ask you."

"explain."

What place is "Old Year Soil"?

Mr. Feng paused for a moment, then slowly said, "It's inappropriate to discuss this matter in Heminglu."

Go to the fake village first, and wait for that person to contact you. You can ask him questions, and he will give you answers.

"Okay, thank you, senior."

As expected, Mr. Feng hung up immediately, probably to argue with his stepmother again.

Xu Yuan sat in the carriage, while Dong Daiyun and the other two followed at the end of the procession.

Looking at such a "team", I feel that everything about it is an eyesore.

Are they out handling a case?

Look at this: accompanied by women and herding a flock of poultry!
Lord Xu's carriage was at the very front.

Lang Xiaoba and Ji Shuangqiu led the way in front of the carriage.

He had a fierce look on his face.

Four eyes the size of copper bells scanned back and forth, full of vigilance, as if they wished a rabbit would jump out from the roadside and beat them up, interrogating them to find out if they were here to assassinate their master.

Miss Jinxi and her party were behind the carriage.

Di Youzhi, along with the captains of the Exorcism Bureau, surrounded the carriage and Miss Jinxi's entourage, providing them with tight protection.

The son of a high-ranking official was ranked after Xu Yuan and Miss Jinxi.

That fourth-rate bodyguard was Wei Jinyuan.

However, the seemingly young and promising martial artist in their group lingered on the periphery, often "unable to control" his horse's speed, rushing to the front of the group and hovering around Ji Shuangqiu like a big fly.

Behind Wei Jinyuan and his group was Dafu leading a flock of white water birds.

Waterbirds can also fly.

But they couldn't outfly the geese.

Wild geese circled in the sky in formation.

The waterbirds accompanied Dafu as he walked on the ground.

Yes, Dong Daiyun and the other two were placed behind this group of "poultry".

Is this how a case is handled?!
But they hadn't walked far when they were astonished and opened their mouths wide: How come there was another Pingquan Village?

It's exactly the same as the village we just saw!
Xu Yuan stepped out of the carriage.

When he gave the order to set off, he had already received news from Pi Long: the evil spirits of the fake village had taken action.

But when they encountered the evil spirits of the fake village again, they found that they were different from those of yesterday:

The villagers have all disappeared!
It was as if this village was in sync with the real Pingquan Village, and the villagers had gone to Champa as well!
Di Youzhi suddenly exclaimed, "Sir, Jia Zongdao has turned treacherous!"

Xu Yuan turned around and saw a large, broken, and chaotic shadow suddenly rise up on Jia Zongdao's body!

He stood there, stunned, his eyes gradually turning bloodshot, and sharp fangs protruding from under his lips!
(End of this chapter)