I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

"...Me? What did I say?"

Although she was still a little scared, since the other party had asked, Hong Gu had no choice but to put on a smile and ask him again.

“You said that if something were to happen to me, Yang, every year on Qingming Festival you would come to my grave and burn some incense for me, right?”

Yang Baocai's voice was very soft, as if he was indeed asking a question, but it also seemed like he was just seeking reassurance.

"What's wrong with you today, sir?"

Hong Gu raised her hand, gently leaned against him, and said:

"Who doesn't know that in this remote Meicheng County, far from the emperor's reach, you, the registrar, are practically an all-powerful county magistrate? Who would dare to do anything to you?"

There's an old saying that goes something like that.

Yang Baocai sighed.

"Those who commit many unrighteous acts will surely perish."

“I know perfectly well what I, Yang, have been doing in Meicheng County all these years.”

“Hong Gu, do you know that I’ve been having nightmares every night for years?”

"What? Just because of that newly appointed Magistrate Gu?"

Hong Gu said with a smile:

"Didn't everyone turn to ashes?"

Hearing this, Yang Baocai's fox-like eyes narrowed. Hong Gu, however, seemed completely oblivious. She lightly patted Yang Baocai's arm, then got up to fetch grapes from the fruit bowl on the table, continuing, "..."

"Can a lump of ash really come back to life and come after you?"

How did you know about this?

The loud shout from behind made Hong Gu jump.

"I?"

"I don't know anything."

She was still smiling, but her expression was very stiff.

Yang Baocai strode up to her, leaned to the side, and stared at her intently, asking sternly:

"Did your cousin tell you? Tell me!"

Hong Gu trembled slightly, crushed a grape, and the juice covered her fingers.

No, no.

Hong Gu forced a smile and said:

“My cousin didn’t tell me anything, so I don’t know anything.”

"Humph!"

Enraged, Yang Baocai slapped Hong Gu hard, knocking her to the bed.

"Say!"

Yang Baocai pressed down on her, shouting sternly:

"If you don't talk, I'll kill you!"

"I……"

Hong Gu covered her numb cheeks, trembling and unable to speak.

"boom!"

The door was suddenly kicked open, and the two looked over at the sound, their expressions quite different.

The man outside stepped into the house, looked at Yang Baocai who was pressing down on Hong Gu, and snorted coldly.

"Are you going to let go yourself, or should I cripple your filthy hands?"

Yang Baocai gave a light snort, stood up, and released Hong Gu.

"Cousin..."

Hong Gu quickly got up and ran behind the man.

Yang Baocai waved his sleeves and looked at him with his hands behind his back.

"Hei Si, you're so untrustworthy."

"Really? Then tell me, where did I break my promise?"

Hei Si walked up to him, lowered his head slightly, and asked him a question.

"You promised me you would keep quiet."

"Haha, I was just saying."

"Besides, you only gave me the money for murder and arson, and you won't even spend a little more to shut me up?"

"My cousin and I can say whatever we want, it's none of your business."

Hei Si walked around him, his words full of disdain.

"You... Hmph. Don't forget who recommended you to the prefect."

"So what if I am? Haven't you been doing these things behind that old geezer's back all along?"

Black Four, however, didn't care about such things at all.

"...Hmph, what do you want to do?"

Yang Baocai realized that the other party had ulterior motives, and given the current situation, his priority was to protect himself.

"I, Black Four, am not greedy."

"If I could get another fifty taels, I, Hei Si, would keep this matter buried in my heart forever."

Fifty taels...

Yang Baocai sneered inwardly.

An insatiable wolf.

"Fifty taels of silver, I can give it to you."

"Do not."

A smile appeared on Hei Si's face.

"It is fifty taels of gold."

"You! You're so greedy!"

Yang Baocai gave him a disgusted look.

"Meicheng is not exactly a barren land."

Hei Si looked at him and revealed those secrets:

“You lie about banditry and disasters every year, and the court exempts you from taxes every year. But the tribute and taxes that the people pay truthfully every year all end up in the pockets of you corrupt officials.”

Seeing that Yang Baocai was speechless, Hei Si raised his head and said again:

"As for me, Hei Si, I am a killer who makes a living by killing. It is only natural for me to help people get rid of trouble and take their money."

"You said."

Hei Si looked at Yang Baocai.

"Who is the insatiable demon, you or me?"

"Don't you even think about it? Fifty taels of gold, how many of your heads can you save?"

"That woman surnamed Kai isn't stupid. If she finds out some evidence..."

"Stop talking!"

Yang Baocai gave a cold shout.

“I can give you these fifty taels of gold.”

"But you must promise that after you get the gold, you will leave Meicheng immediately and never let me see you again."

"Perfect timing, these are turbulent times, and I don't want to stay here any longer."

Hei Si, however, changed the subject and said:

"But I'm taking my cousin with me."

"You've gone too far!"

Yang Baocai's disgust intensified.

“Hong Gu was my betrothed wife since birth. You forced her into prostitution and pushed her into the fire.”

Hei Si stared at Yang Baocai, his words carrying no attempt to conceal the threat.

"I, Hei Si, finally found my cousin after a long time. It's already being polite that I'm not settling old scores with you!"

"If you're still not satisfied..."

Hei Si clenched his fist at him; the obsidian covering it could easily turn him into mincemeat.

“That guy surnamed Gu is a case in point.”

"Okay, I'll go get the gold now."

"You wait. Once you have the gold, leave this place, and get as far away as possible!"

Yang Baocai snorted coldly and turned to leave.

Did you find an important clue while taking a walk around Thirty-Two?

"Lord Kai, the Falling Horse Slope is just ahead."

Mei Wanniang led the way, with Kal'tsit and Bai Zhi following behind.

Zhuimapo, though called a slope, looks down from the edge and the deep ravines can hardly be considered a slope.