Yin Yang Soul Searcher

The Yin-Yang Hall, the Yin-Yang Hall building behind Zhengshan Hall, is the place where the Grand Preceptor secluded himself. Li Zhengshan, with his thick black eyebrows, ascended to the eighth floor.

Inside the eighth-floor hall, the walls were covered with skulls, hides, and skeletons of various demonic beasts. A man wearing a mask of a blue-faced, fanged demon walked to the wall and was stroking the hide of a demonic beast. This man was the deputy hall master of the Yin-Yang Hall.

After entering the main hall, Li Zhengshan bowed and said, "Vice Hall Master, we have a clue as to how the elixir was lost."

The man wearing the demon mask nodded, signaling Li Zhengshan to continue.

"Yes," Li Zhengshan replied and continued, "The criminal Bai Jueming, whom we caught two days ago, went to Chen's Pharmacy this evening to join forces with Cheng Yanbing to investigate the incident... Afterwards, Li Zhengshan revealed all the clues he had obtained and his own speculations."

After listening to Li Zhengshan's report, the masked man remained silent for a long time before asking, "What kind of formation was used? How's the investigation into the origins of the herbs going?"

"Reporting to the Palace Master, Cheng Yanbing from the Craftsmen's Hall also said it's an array, so it shouldn't be wrong," Li Zhengshan said respectfully. "Regarding the herbs, we are doing our best to investigate. My three constables have been dispatched in full force, and I believe we will have results by tomorrow morning. But how should we investigate the array itself?"

The man frowned beneath his mask: "This is a troublesome matter. Go and investigate the herbs. I will report the matter of the formation to the Imperial Advisor."

"Yes," she said, then added, "May I ask, Your Highness, what about Bai Jueming...?"

The masked man said calmly, "Since you say he collected these clues, then give him a chance: either join your ranks or stay in the Heavenly Prison forever."

Then, his gaze, hidden behind the mask, fixed on Li Zhengshan, and he said, word by word, "Remember, all Yin-Yang Masters in this world must be firmly under the control of the Yin-Yang Palace."

Li Zhengshan, feeling the cold sweat pouring down his face, replied, "Understood!" and then bowed and withdrew.

......

The next day, as dawn broke, Bai Jueming, who was slumped over his desk, was startled awake by a knock on the door. A minor official called out from outside, "Sir, Master Li requests your presence."

Bai Jueming responded and then got up to stretch his limbs. He cursed under his breath, feeling aches and pains from sleeping in this wretched place. He then hurried to the main hall with the minor official.

Inside the hall, Li Zhengshan sat behind a desk, deep in thought with his eyes closed. A minor official bowed and said, "Master, Lord Bai has arrived." He then bowed and took his leave. Bai Jueming also bowed.

Li Zhengshan slowly opened his eyes and said, "I've told the Vice Hall Master about your clues. You've done a great service. Your life is no longer a problem."

Bai Jueming quickly bowed and thanked him: "Thank you for speaking up for me, sir. My clues are insignificant. The key is that you are experienced and can see the crux of the case from the slightest clues."

Nice! Bai Jueming was secretly pleased. Although the kid had said yesterday that he could survive, he was still very excited to hear it now.

As long as I survive today, I will stay away from the struggles of spiritual practitioners.

I'm confident that with the knowledge I gained from nine years of education, I can easily create some modern products that will become wildly popular throughout the country. Then I can live the life of a wealthy man with many wives and concubines, enjoying life to the fullest. Thinking this, Bai Jueming's lips gradually curled into a dragon-king-like smile.

Seeing Bai Jueming's lips gradually curl up, Li Zhengshan felt a pang of pity: "The Vice Hall Master has given you two choices."

Bai Jueming, who was still lost in thought, was startled and suddenly had a bad feeling.

Then Li Zhengshan continued, "You were arrested for the mining incident and should have been sentenced to death. However, because you made a contribution to this matter, your merits and demerits cancel each other out. You can stay in the prison for life."

What?! This was like a bolt from the blue! I knew it wouldn't be that simple. He really just escaped the death penalty?

If I spend my whole life in prison, how can I still do anything in modern society? How can I still be a wealthy man with a harem of wives and concubines? Absolutely not! Isn't that just bullying honest people?

Then Bai Jueming tentatively asked, "My lord, what are the two options?"

Li Zhengshan cleared his throat and said solemnly, "Join the Yin-Yang Palace and become a recognized Yin-Yang Master of Great Xia. Dedicate yourself to the people of Great Xia."

As expected, I couldn't escape it. They made me a lackey of the imperial court, and then I'll be under the control of the Yin-Yang Palace. They even make it sound so noble and righteous, but I've never seen a single official truly serve the people.

Furthermore, the main task of the Yin-Yang Hall is to investigate cases committed by various cultivators, which inevitably involves dealing with all sorts of cultivators. With my current strength, I could easily...

Unfortunately, I had no choice. I can't just live a life of being fed and cared for forever... I'm sorry, I want to be a good person, but I had no choice.

"Thank you for your appreciation, sir. I am willing to join the Yin-Yang Palace and serve the people of Great Xia. I will go through fire and water without hesitation." Bai Jueming's eyes were sincere. Since he couldn't change it, he had no choice but to accept it.

This isn't cowardice; it's an adult's way of thinking.

After hearing this, Li Zhengshan smiled and said, "Very good. Join the Yin Yang Palace, and the Great Xia will not treat you unfairly." After saying that, he seemed to think of something and took out a piece of paper from his sleeve.

"This was found on you the day we arrested you. Now that you've become an Onmyoji, you're one of us. We won't hand this over. It's returned to its rightful owner." With that, he flicked his wrist, and the paper flew into Bai Jueming's hand.

Bai Jueming seemed thoughtful as he opened the note. Sure enough, it contained fifty taels of silver. This was money the original owner had earned from the black market, even though the attempt to steal the mine had failed. However, the unwritten rule of the black market was that half the money was paid before work began, and the other half was paid after the job was done.

Before the original owner went to prison, he was thoroughly searched, so this thing was naturally lost. He was just a little puzzled; why didn't this official secretly take the money? Why return it to him? That's strange. Surely he couldn't be that selfless? Was he testing him?

Before Bai Jueming could speak, Li Zhengshan continued, "Once you officially join the Yin-Yang Palace, you'll be under my command. Since you're one of us, you can keep this money to yourself and improve your life. I won't hand it over."

He really made me cry! He's so kind to his subordinates! He knows my family's financial situation isn't great, otherwise he wouldn't have helped me improve my life. It's rare to find a boss like that. I don't know if it's just his personality or a way of winning people over.

Bai Jueming immediately bowed and expressed his loyalty: "Thank you for your kindness, sir. I have wandered for half my life, only regretting that I have not met a wise ruler. From this day forward, I will serve you with all my heart, even at the cost of fire and water."

His words were very pleasant to hear, but Li Zhengshan still feigned anger and said, "We, as subjects, should share Your Majesty's burdens and seek happiness for the people. You must not say such things again."

"Your words are correct," Bai Jueming replied insincerely.

"Brother Shan, Brother Shan!" Zhou Dahai's voice suddenly came from outside the hall.

Zhou Dahai strode into the lobby, nodded to Bai Jueming beside him, and then looked at Li Zhengshan and said, "Brother Shan, we've found the gambler."

The two men who had gone out with him then carried in a stretcher covered with a white sheet.

Li Zhengshan, sitting in the hall, frowned but did not speak.