Eternal madness

Chapter 63: Lucky
Upon hearing that Zhang Laifu had mastered a unique skill, Li Yunsheng was thrilled.

"Brother, we're going to make a big deal this time, we can make five hundred dollars!"

Zhang Laifu rolled up his sleeves: "Who are you robbing?"

Li Yunsheng waved his hand: "It's not robbery, it's treating someone. There's an old magistrate in Miedaolin named Yao Renhuai, and his son is named Yao Deshan. The day before yesterday, this son was diagnosed with a strange illness. He's been acting crazy, talking nonsense, refusing to eat or drink, and many doctors have been called but none of them can cure him."

Yesterday, the Yao family announced that they would offer 300 silver dollars to anyone who could cure their young master's illness; today, the price has increased to 500!

Zhang Laifu nodded: "You want me to do a X-ray for him?"

“It’s not just about seeing through things; we need to use some special methods. I’ve heard some rumors that the young master’s illness seems to be caused by a vengeful spirit. Analyzing the chemical composition, vengeful spirits are a type of yin energy, which means that the young master was most likely injured by a ghost.”

Zhang Laifu had heard of the concept of resentment and venom: "Brother Yunsheng, when you treated the night watchman Xiao Yang, you also treated resentment and venom. It's not difficult for you."

"It's not difficult to cure resentment and poison, but we must find out where the spirits came from. If they are spirits from his family, and the poison recurs after treatment, and I can't explain it, wouldn't that be like ruining my own reputation?"

Brother Laifu, now that you've mastered this skill, you must be able to see the location of the dead. If there are no ghosts in the house, then we've made this deal. Just a reminder to Young Master Yao to be more careful in the future.

"If his house is haunted, we can't control that, but we can remind the Yao family to send the ghost away themselves. They're a large and wealthy family; they'll definitely find a way. Wouldn't that be both a temporary solution and a permanent cure?"

Zhang Laifu thought for a moment: "This matter doesn't seem to require my special skills, does it? Old Tuozi is such a big ghost, right in front of me. Even though I wasn't a craftsman back then, I could see it clearly."

Li Yunsheng waved his hands repeatedly: "What level of ghost is Old Tuozi? He's an evil spirit with a full range of skills, who dares to come out in broad daylight and even manifest himself in front of people! If the Yao family encounters such a ghost, I wouldn't dare take this business."

Ordinary spirits are invisible to most people, but paper lantern makers can see them. If we're too late, someone else will take the business. Brother Laifu, let's go to the Yao family now!

On the way, Zhang Laifu asked Li Yunsheng, "What does a magistrate do?"

“A magistrate is in charge of the affairs of a county, similar to a county magistrate in another prefecture.”

"Is the Bamboo Knife Forest under his jurisdiction?"

"It's not under his jurisdiction now. Yao Renhuai used to be the magistrate of Miedaolin, but he has been retired for many years. Many people still call him the old magistrate. The current magistrate is Wei Zhenglin, who is currently busy entertaining Commander Qiao."

Who is the county magistrate of Heishakou?

"Heishakou is a city, and its governing official is the city magistrate, also known as the supervisor. The city magistrate of Heishakou is Lin Shaoming, the eldest son of the Lin family."

Lin Shaoming is Lin Shaocong's older brother. It turns out the Lin family has such a large influence in Heishakou!

"Isn't 'supervisor' and 'military governor' similar?" Zhang Laifu had been hearing the term "military governor" a lot lately.

Li Yunsheng shook his head: "It's two different things. The supervisor is an official, but he doesn't have troops under his command. He is usually appointed by the commander-in-chief."

The military governor is a regional warlord with troops under his command. Although nominally appointed by the general, he must fight his way out of his own territory.

The two chatted idly all the way to the residence of the old magistrate, Yao.

The Yao family's residence is very traditional, with dark gray bricks covering the outer walls and neatly covered with tiger-skin blue tiles. The vermilion gate is heavy and imposing, with pure copper door nails and lion-head door knockers that open their mouths and bar their teeth, making one feel a little apprehensive before knocking.

Li Yunsheng stood in front of the door and sighed softly, "What a huge mansion!"

Zhang Laifu nodded slightly: "It really looks like the Lin family's old house..."

Li Yunsheng quickly stopped Zhang Laifu: "The Lin family's old house is haunted. Don't bring it up later. We're a wealthy family with many rules."

If it weren't for business, Li Yunsheng wouldn't want to come to wealthy families; he also felt uncomfortable there.

After explaining their purpose, the doorman went to inform them, and the two waited in the gatehouse. Not long after, another person arrived.

The man was dressed in a dark blue Zhongshan suit and wore a black cap. He was in his early thirties, with a high nose, thin lips, thick eyebrows, and large eyes; he was quite handsome.

The man first looked at Li Yunsheng, who was wearing a long gown, holding a folding fan, and had an extraordinary air about him; he must be a businessman.

He looked at Zhang Laifu again. He was wearing a cotton-padded jacket, with his hands tucked into his sleeves. He looked honest and simple, and should be a gatekeeper.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhang Laifu and said, "My name is Huang Zhaocai. I heard that someone in your household has contracted a strange illness, so I volunteered to come and do my part. Please inform them of this." Li Yunsheng frowned. This guy was treating Laifu like a doorman.

He was about to retort when he suddenly heard Zhang Laifu speak up: "What do you do for a living, that you're just here to offer your meager help?"

Huang Zhaocai smiled and said, "I am a craftsman."

"There are so many craftsmen, three hundred and sixty trades in total. Can you help me out?"

Huang Zhaocai quickly introduced himself: "I am a Taoist priest, specializing in exorcising evil spirits. If you are harmed by evil spirits, I can handle this matter."

Zhang Laifu looked Huang Zhaocai up and down: "There are plenty of Taoist masters out there, do you really have any skills?"

Huang Zhaocai was taken aback. What do you mean by "a lot"?

The profession of Celestial Master is not very common. It is probably because the Yao family pays a lot of money that many fake Celestial Masters who roam the world come to freeload, which makes the old magistrate disgusted.

Huang Zhaocai is different; he has real skills: "I am a master of the fourth level of the game, and I am not the same kind of person as those who are just pretending."

“So he’s a master of ingenuity,” Zhang Laifu nodded, then turned to Li Yunsheng and said, “He’s on the fourth floor. Can we take him down?”

Li Yunsheng was very confident: "The two of us together also have four floors, so it's an even match."

Hearing the two whispering, Huang Zhaocai asked Zhang Laifu, "Are you the gatekeeper?"

“No!” Zhang Laifu puffed out his chest. “We’re here to find work too.”

"Why are you asking so many questions if you're not a doorman?"

Huang Zhaocai was very angry and was about to argue with Zhang Laifu when the doorman returned and said to Zhang Laifu and Li Yunsheng, "Our master invites you two in."

As the two were walking inside, Huang Zhaocai said, "Please inform them that I am a fourth-level Celestial Master, and I am here to help."

The doorman thought for a moment and said, "Then let's go together."

The three of them went to the front yard together, and went around the screen wall to the second courtyard.

Magistrate Yao's residence was larger than the Lin family's old residence. It was a five-courtyard house, with the second courtyard called the Yimen Courtyard, which was a place specifically for welcoming guests and discussing matters.

The former magistrate, Yao Renhuai, was waiting in the hall. The three entered the hall and took their seats. Magistrate Yao exchanged a few polite words and then inquired about their professions.

"May I ask how we three righteous men are addressed, and from which sects do you belong to master?"

Li Yunsheng truthfully replied: "I am Li Yunsheng, a pillar of the Zhuyou Department."

Huang Zhaocai stood up and bowed: "I am Huang Zhaocai, an expert in ingenious schemes from the Celestial Masters."

Zhang Laifu clasped his hands in a fist and asked, "Do you recognize me? You're asking me about my profession?"

Governor Yao pursed his lips, unsure of what to say.

Li Yunsheng quickly explained, "This is my friend. He's here to help me get treatment. He usually stays away from worldly affairs, and it's inconvenient to talk about his identity."

As they were talking, Li Yunsheng glanced at Huang Zhaocai, expecting him to mock Zhang Laifu, but Huang Zhaocai looked serious and remained silent with his head down.

Governor Yao nodded: "So you are a reclusive master. My dog ​​is bedridden. Please make a move and go to his bedroom to take a look."

The three of them entered the third courtyard, which was the main courtyard.

Upon entering the courtyard, Huang Zhaocai suddenly shivered several times, and his originally upright posture gradually shrank.

Li Yunsheng was a little worried. What could have possibly frightened the fourth-level Celestial Master like this?
Huang Zhaocai suddenly asked, "Old Magistrate, how old are you this year?"

Governor Yao paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "I am quite old, quite old indeed."

Zhang Laifu didn't quite understand. What did "advanced age" mean? Just say how old he is! This old man looked to be only in his sixties. How advanced could he be?
(End of this chapter)