Chapter 17

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By that afternoon, the news of Landlord Chen’s public notice had spread throughout Fushui County, causing a stir and confirming the rumors about the Chen Residence’s supposed misfortune.

Previously, it was all hearsay. The people living in the streets near Fule District spoke with some detail, but for those living in other parts of the city, it was merely rumors. After all, these days even a wild boar coming down from the mountain to find a sow in a pen could be misreported as a wild boar that has turned into a demon.

With the official notice now public, the buzz intensified. Crowds flocked to the designated notice board in the market square, pressing in from all sides, with some standing on tiptoe to catch a glimpse of the announcement. Literate bystanders took turns reading the notice aloud for everyone to hear.

“…To the people of Fushui County, this Chen has always been known for his benevolence and kindness. He has assisted the yamen and helped the common people by repairing bridges and paving roads. However, recently my family has encountered misfortune. Our servants and maidservants have consecutively met with disaster, seemingly due to some malevolent spirits disturbing our household’s peace. Today, I am posting a notice seeking talented individuals. If someone can help eliminate the calamity in my home, I will reward them with five hundred taels of silver.”

As the reader finished, the crowd erupted into a buzz of excitement.

Five hundred taels was a substantial amount for ordinary people. The annual expenses for a typical household were only about three or four taels, so this sum was more than enough to support an average family for over a hundred years.

“Make way, make way—”

Lu Pan squeezed through the crowd, having just heard the announcement. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he said: “Wow… Five hundred taels! That’s enough for our village’s thirty or so households to live comfortably for several years.”

Lu Qing nodded in agreement.

“Yes, if we had that five hundred taels, we wouldn’t need to file a complaint with the people from the northern village. We could just give them the crops from our fields and be done with it.”

Among the other five people, some expressed concerns, speaking cautiously: “But I’ve heard that several people have already died. The people from the yamen who went before didn’t have any success and returned empty-handed. If it really is a vengeful ghost, we’re just offering ourselves as meat for the ghosts.”

“Still, it seems a shame to pass up the reward…”

Who wouldn’t be tempted by five hundred taels?

Even Lu Liangsheng was quite tempted. He wasn’t a saint and would naturally like to use the money to improve his family’s situation, providing better clothing and food for his parents and sister.

He glanced at the bundle, but the Toad Daoist remained silent, showing no intention to speak. Lu Liangsheng had to make the decision himself.

Hmm… I don’t know how dangerous the Chen family’s ghosts are. Even if I can’t drive them away with my current cultivation, I should be able to escape. But with those five hundred taels, it wouldn’t matter if we had to go to court with the northern village. Even if I don’t get the five hundred taels, helping Landlord Chen might earn me a favor. The county yamen’s officials might then be inclined to assist me, reducing the influence of the northern village’s local officials.

Meanwhile, the other eight were still murmuring among themselves.

Suddenly, Lu Liangsheng clapped his hands decisively and turned to them: “Let’s go to the Chen Residence and take a look.”

“Hey, Liangsheng, are you really going?”

Lu Qing, who had been excited earlier, was now a bit apprehensive at the mention of vengeful spirits. Before he could finish speaking, Lu Pan tugged at him and whispered: “Don’t you remember the centipede demon incident?”

At this reminder, not only Lu Qing but all six other Lu family men froze, recalling the faintly discernible demon that had bowed to their eldest nephew amidst the fire. If they had misjudged, why hadn’t the demon eaten their nephew or them?

Realizing this, the eight men’s hearts leaped: The way their nephew had behaved, his tone, perhaps this matter might actually work out!!!

The eight of them exchanged glances, excitement evident in their trembling shoulders. They quickly drew their weapons from behind, forming a line behind Lu Liangsheng, and adopted fierce expressions, causing the bystanders who had gathered to watch the notice to retreat to the sides.

“Liangsheng!”

Along the way, the voice of the Toad Daoist suddenly came from Lu Liangsheng’s shoulder bag.

Lu Liangsheng tilted his head slightly, scanning his surroundings, and lowered his voice: “Master, what is it? There are too many people here, let’s talk later.”

The bag shifted, revealing a gap through which the Purple Star Daoist’s mouth emerged.

“With your appearance… at your age, how could anyone let you in? It’s likely you’d be kicked out as soon as you speak.”

“Yes…”

This reminder made Lu Liangsheng suddenly stop. The group of strong men following him also halted. Lu Pan came up and asked: “Liangsheng, why aren’t we moving?”

The young man frowned, thought for a moment, and then approached the strong men. He pointed to his patched clothes and his youthful face.

“Uncle Pan, could you find a large piece of cloth? I want to cover myself completely.”

Probably thinking that his nephew wanted to conceal his abilities, Lu Pan nodded, left the two men behind, and took the others to search the streets.

Fushui County was just a remote small county with only about 30,000 to 40,000 people in the town. Among those who were out working, running shops, or enjoying the day’s bustle, the rest of the streets were relatively quiet. Women at home opened attic windows and stretched out clothes poles. The grey bedsheets that were originally hung on ropes in the air were now mostly gone, leaving only a few clothes swaying.

Angrily, someone leaned halfway out of the window, shouting curses at the figures rushing down the alley with the bedsheets.

“Stealing bedsheets is no skill. If you have the guts, come and steal me——”

The few people who were in a hurry and carrying the bedsheets returned to the crowd, drawing many curious glances. Seeing these shirtless strongmen, many quickly turned away.

Lu Liangsheng sniffed the air; there was a smell of soapberry. The cloth covering him was a bit too large and quite noticeable.

“Forget it, let’s just go like this. Uncle Pan, let’s head over now.”

They went west from the East Gate Market, crossed two long streets, and headed towards the North Gate. Fule District was well-known, anyone on the road would know about it.

“So many people…”

Lu Liangsheng arrived here and stood under the archway. In front of the red lacquered door and the stone steps flanked by stone lions, there was a long line of people stretching ahead. There were around forty people of various appearances—some bald, some with beards, others draped in yellow-orange monk robes, and even some ragged beggars mixed in, who were promptly thrown out.

“Get lost, get lost! Even those who beg at our gate every day think they can sneak in.”

Two of the Chen family’s servants clapped the dust off their hands and returned to stand on either side of the gate, their arms crossed as they scrutinized each ‘eccentric’ arriving for the notice.

Among the long line of people, many encountered familiar faces.

“Wang Banxia, aren’t you a fortune teller? Why are you here too?”

[TL_Note: Wang Banxia = Half-blind Wang]

“Fortune-telling is how I make a living while subduing demons and exorcising evil is my duty. Besides, even as a half-blind man, I am still this capable. If I were completely blind, wouldn’t that be something extraordinary?! Eh… aren’t you that peddler who roams the streets? How did you end up here?”

“… I roam the streets to experience the warmth and coldness of the world. You see, even Butcher Zhang is here. Why can’t I be here?”

The two continued chatting, turning to see a stout figure like a mountain of meat standing in the middle of the line, wearing an apron with a butcher’s knife tucked into his belt. He glared with his small eyes.

“What are you staring at? I usually slaughter pigs and sheep, so I have a strong aura of killing. What ghosts and monsters would dare approach? I may not get the 500 taels, but surely I can manage 50 taels, right? Even so, I can still prepare enough food and drink…”

From these fragmented conversations, Lu Liangsheng understood that the 500 taels reward attracted mostly ordinary people who were just putting on an act, hoping to get something out of it.

When it was almost his turn, he turned to Lu Pan and the others and said: “Uncle Pan, you all should wait outside. If something happens in there, we can’t all get trapped inside.”

Before Lu Pan could reply, the Chen family’s servants guarding the door called Lu Liangsheng to enter.

Wrapped in a gray, dusty bedsheet, with only part of his chin visible, he resembled some sort of cloaked weirdo. The guards at the gate had seen plenty of strange people that day and weren’t bothered. They gave him a quick glance and waved him inside.

“As long as you don’t get rid of the ghost, you’re just asking for death. The more of you that come, the better. Maybe you’ll feed the ghost and spare our poor souls, hehe.”

Outside, seeing that Lu Liangsheng had gone in, Lu Pan clenched his fist and struck his palm.

“I’m not comfortable with Liangsheng going in alone…”

The seven others nodded in agreement.

Lu Pan paced a few steps, glanced at the gate, and said: “He’s our nephew. Even though he has some skills, he’s still weak. If something happens, how will we explain it to Laoshi when we get back?”

The seven squatted down and nodded again.

Lu Pan stopped walking, gritted his teeth, and looked back at them. “Let’s all go in together. The more people, the more strength we have. Even if Liangsheng can’t handle it, we might even get something out of it. We can’t just let someone else take those 500 taels for free.”

The seven seemed to understand.

Then there was a loud thud as one of them punched his fist into his hand.

“Besides… with so many people, there will definitely be food provided. It’s been a while since we’ve had a good meal.”

The seven stood up in unison, nodding together, and followed Lu Pan up the stone steps. The two guards came forward to block them. “What are you doing? A bunch of farmers want to come in too?”

“Farmers?”

Lu Pan raised his hand, grabbed the hunting knife strapped to his back, and swung it. The cold blade flashed, scaring the two guards into a hasty retreat. The blade passed their line of sight and, with a loud thud, the tip of the knife embedded itself into the ground.

“Those two fools with no eyes…”

The knife stuck in the ground was still shaking. As everyone watched, Lu Pan grabbed his short jacket with both hands. The seven men behind him also grabbed their jackets, and with a sudden pull to the sides—

Rip—

“Take a good look! Farmers? You are not as strong as the eight of us!”

Their short jackets were torn open and flung into the air, drifting down across their bronzed or dark skin. Under the sunlight, their sweat-beaded, muscular arms glistened. Lu Pan lowered his arms, veins bulging, and clenched his fists tightly.

Continuing his earlier words, his voice was fierce!

“…The eight of us can catch tigers on the mountain and slay dragons in the river. Now, do we have the qualifications to enter?”

The sound of cracking knuckles came from his tightly clenched fists.

Behind him, the seven men let out a loud “Ha!” Their muscles bulged, and their sweat-drenched chests, like two solid iron plates, rose prominently.

Then, they flexed toward the two gatekeepers, their bodies rippling with strength.

“Y-Yes… Yes! The eight of you, please come in!”

The gatekeepers, who had never seen anything like this, were so stunned they hurriedly stepped aside. As they did, Lu Pan picked up the discarded clothing, casually draped it over his shoulder, and pulled the hunting knife out of the ground.

“The eight of us are brimming with yang energy, more than enough to kill any ghosts. And if it’s a female ghost, wouldn’t that be even better?”

His bold words echoed as he strode through the gate.

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