Start with acting, and you'll achieve immortality!

As the echoes of the morning bell faded, Li Ping pressed his fingertips against the array-breaking nail in his robes.

All that remained in his mind was the old account book that Zhou Cheng had risked his life to hide.

Gao Min pushed the book "Records of Mountain Records" in front of him.

The booklet wasn't thick, but the cover was wrinkled from being soaked in water.

The corners were stained with dark brown dirt.

It was like being buried in mud and then hastily dug out.

Li Ping sat down at the table but did not immediately begin reading.

"Is this all Zhou Cheng got in return for his life?"

This is only a supplementary booklet.

Gao Mindao

"As for the original copy, it is still in Shangguan Jue's hands."

"What information is recorded in this?"

"Living, breathing people"

Gao Min glanced at him

"Those who were sent from various counties to Jiangning Prefecture and never came out again."

Su Wan stood by the window, clutching the scrap of paper she had taken from Zhou Cheng.

Why are the records kept of people when the pharmacy makes its purchases?

Gao Min did not answer immediately.

He pushed the booklet in front of Li Ping.

"Turn this over and see for yourself."

Li Ping turned to the first page.

There were no names on it, only rows and rows of numbers.

"In the twenty-sixth year of Jinghe, I came from Xiyun County."

Male, age sixteen

"His social status was that of a lowly person, and he was physically weak."

"They were sent to the West Ward."

"In the twenty-sixth year of Jinghe, Anping County"

Female, nineteen

"Fleeing household, without relatives."

"Entering the West Ward"

"In the twenty-seventh year of Jinghe, I came from Linjiang Ferry."

Male, age twelve

"The inspiration seemed rather weak and was transferred to the North Warehouse."

Each one was stamped with a different red seal.

Some were marked as

The word "service"

In some cases, it belongs to

"Sell"

This type

Some only had one character written on them.

It's the character "耗" (hào).

Li Ping's finger stopped on the paper.

What exactly is the meaning of the character "耗"?

Gao Min began to speak.

"According to the official explanation, they either died of illness or disappeared after fleeing."

"Or it may have been damaged due to the workmanship."

"Only in the accounts?"

"All those recorded in the books are dead."

Gao Min's voice sounded very flat.

"As for how these people disappeared in private, we must go to Xifang to investigate."

Li Ping continued flipping through the pages.

Page after page of paper are filled with records of living, breathing people.

Among them were children who had just turned ten, as well as ordinary citizens who had been forcibly reclassified as low-class citizens.

At the same time, there were also fugitives captured during the search and rescue operation deep in the mountains.

The name Xiyun County appeared more than ten times in the list, and it even included place names that he had personally seen.

Shiliang Village

That's Wunigou.

Beishan Mine Tunnel

The people living in those places should have been digging in the fields to find food.

Hiding from taxes deep in the mountains, enduring hardship to survive in dark mines.

However, now they have all become a single line of records on this roster.

"The Shangguan family doesn't need to be so secretive when they need servants."

Li Ping put the roster together.

"Buying so many unrelated living people from other counties is for some other purpose."

Gao Min's eyes darkened at that moment.

"The prefect has asked you to investigate this very account that records information about living people."

"Did the Prefect already know about this?"

"Although we know that someone is paying money to save their life in Jiangning, we have no way of knowing who is in charge of collecting these goods."

Gao Mindao

"Shangguan Jue never leaves any trace when he does things."

"Pharmacies, trading houses, and the black market all operate in their own way, and any living person who enters the city..."

"Their original origins can no longer be traced."

"Where is Xifang located?"

"Deep in Bailufang, west of the city"

Su Wan turned her body around.

"There are two pharmacies, a medicine warehouse, and an abandoned dye house there."

"All of these items are registered under Shangguan Jue's name."

Li Ping lifted his eyes.

"Why an abandoned dye workshop?"

"That place is in a low-lying area, and it's full of laborers and lowly people."

Su Wan spoke up

Even if a few people die, it won't cause any real trouble.

The room was quiet for a moment.

Li Ping laid the mountain book out flat again.

Tucked inside one of the pages was half a thin piece of paper.

The handwriting was messy, as if someone had written it on the car.

"From No. 27 Beicang, to No. 7 Xifang"

"On this very day..."

Gao Min began to speak.

"After lunch, a whole truckload of goods will need to be transported into Xifang."

Zhou Cheng thought that with this information, he could exchange it for his life from Shangguan Jue.

Li Ping stared intently at...

"Xifang"

These two characters

Zhou Cheng didn't get his life in exchange.

However, he still managed to push the door open a tiny crack.

"Mr. Gao, just how many informants has the prefectural governor's office planted throughout the city?"

"How many troops can the prefectural governor's office mobilize within the city?"

Gao Min frowned.

"Are you planning to lead your men and force your way into Xifang?"

"Forcing our way in will not work."

Li Ping began to speak.

"The documents that the Shangguan family has prepared in public are certainly very meticulous and watertight. Sending people there would only alert them."

"In that case, what method do you plan to use to break through this barrier?"

Li Ping raised his hand and tapped on the booklet.

Keep your eyes glued to the car that took that person away this afternoon.

Afternoon

A light rain fell in Bailufang.

Rainwater streamed down the edges of the eaves, washing the bluestone path until it shone brightly.

There weren't many pedestrians on the street, but the laborers carrying loads on their shoulders were constantly moving back and forth.

Feet covered in mud

Li Ping changed into an old blue shirt and smeared some yellow mud on his face.

Carrying a medicine basket, he looked like an apprentice running errands for a pharmacy.

Su Wan was wearing a short brown robe made of coarse cloth, and her hair was wrapped in a cloth.

He carried two baskets of sun-damaged herbs on his shoulders.

She walked ahead, her face still cold.

He doesn't look like a herbal medicine vendor at all; he looks more like a convict who would draw his sword and kill someone at any moment.

"Junior Sister"

Li Ping lowered his voice

"The way you're looking at me makes it seem like you're afraid people won't know you're here specifically to cause trouble?"

"I was just looking at the road."

"The three people who just walked by here all chose to avoid this road after being stared at by your eyes."

Su Wan pressed the carrying pole down hard on her shoulder.

"That person smelled of blood."

"In a place like Bailufang, it would be quite strange if you didn't have a hidden blade on your person."

"What about the other two?"

"One of them had a poisoned needle in his pocket, while the other was touching a fire talisman in his arms."

Su Wan did not continue to express herself verbally.

I just slowed down a bit as I walked forward.

Deep within Bailufang lies an old dye house without any signboard.

The walls were blackened by rainwater, and several broken vats were piled up by the door.

A lame old man sat under the eaves, fiddling with a piece of moldy dyed cloth.

Like a gatekeeper

Li Ping sat down next to the wonton stall across the street.

The stall owner served him a bowl of clear soup with only two scallion pieces floating in it.

He didn't touch his chopsticks, he just stared at the door.

About half an hour later, a gray covered wagon stopped outside the dyehouse.

There were no markings belonging to the Shangguan family on the vehicle.

The man in charge of driving the cart was a dark-skinned, thin man, dressed in the clothes of a porter from Beicang.

When the curtain on the carriage was lifted, two guards carrying sticks stepped down from the carriage.

Then seven more people were forced off the vehicle.

There are six young boys and girls here.

There was also a woman

Their wrists were all bound with thin ropes, and their clothes were very tattered.

His face looked somewhat pale.

The youngest boy was only eleven or twelve years old, and he wasn't wearing shoes.

I couldn't help but shudder when I stepped into the mud.

The lame old man stepped forward and handed over a form.

The guard took the seal in his hand and stamped it on the surface with a snap.

"There are seven survivors here. Please count them."

"Not eight?"

The old man asked.

The driver spat.

"One of them died of illness on the way, and their body was simply dumped into the river halfway through the journey."

"There weren't any lasting problems, were there?"

"His body was burned to a crisp, how could you expect him to still be breathing?"

After hearing this, the old man stopped asking questions.

He pointed to the children.

"Bring the person over here; we need to inspect the goods."

A monk dressed in a gray robe emerged from behind the gate of the dye house.