“Oh, you finally decided to come down from the roof and stop watching the show?”
Nan Zhi looked at the clean cut at the tip of her wooden stick and didn't mind. She casually flourished it and raised an eyebrow at the newcomers.
“On such a hot day, you two were up there enjoying the performance while I was down here working hard. Do you think that's appropriate?”
The newcomers were indeed Shen Luohe and Hua Xijian.
They were still dressed in their familiar purple demon suppression robes, one holding a fan and the other a sword.
As they gracefully descended from the roof, their purple hems fluttered, looking exceptionally heroic and dashing.
“Fellow Daoist Nan, what are you saying? This is your case. According to the rules of the Demon Suppression Division, whoever starts a case is responsible for it until the end.
Even if my junior sister and I wanted to intervene, we would have to wait for you to invite us before we could show ourselves, wouldn't we?”
Shen Luohe spoke with a smile, his eyes constantly scanning Wanniang.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Yin energy taking form and resentment turning into mist. With such heavy injustice, I wonder why no one reported it.
If she stayed for a few more years, I'm afraid Dingyuan County would have produced another blue faced ghost wraith.”
Just as humans have cultivation realms and demons have varying levels of power, ghosts also have distinct levels of strength.
The weakest are low level wandering souls. They cannot even manifest and will slowly melt like snow when exposed to the sun.
Above them are gray skinned ghosts. These ghosts are usually waiting for reincarnation and wander outside, rarely encountered by ordinary people.
Next are white skinned ghosts, usually the souls of the recently deceased. Only those with low luck can see them.
Then there are yellow shirted ghosts. When wandering souls stay in the world for too long and refuse to reincarnate, they eventually gain a small amount of magic power. If a mortal encounters one, it can cause some harm.
Beyond that, ghosts are classified by their strength, Yin life, and how long they have existed. There are black evil ghosts, red clothed vengeful ghosts, and blue faced ghost wraiths.
Most of these are harmful spirits. Seeing them is an ill omen, often followed by bloodshed.
Higher still are ghost soldiers, ghost generals, ghost gods, and ghost kings. However, these powerful entities only exist in the Underworld.
These beings either command armies in the Underworld to guard a territory or were noble lords and ministers in life who became kings or gods after death. Their strength is comparable to that of a true immortal.
The Painted Skin Ghost Nan Zhi had dealt with was a blue faced ghost wraith.
“You two were up there for a full tea's time. You've heard everything you needed to hear. Do you have anything to say or ask?”
Nan Zhi was not stingy with her praise.
“By the way, Fellow Daoist Hua, that was excellent swordplay. If you had been an inch further forward, you might have taken half my arm off.”
Hearing the praise, a hint of bashfulness appeared on Hua Xijian's exquisite face, and she nodded slightly.
“You flatter me. I only relied on the sharpness of my blade. If Fellow Daoist Nan had a proper weapon, the outcome of our clash would have been uncertain.”
Nan Zhi missed her slaughtering knife even more.
It was easy to use, easy to carry, and perfect for catching opponents off guard.
What a perfect weapon.
“The Demon Suppression Division! You are from the Demon Suppression Division!!”
Young Master Wang finally seemed to react. He scrambled over, grabbed Shen Luohe's sleeve, and shouted:
“I am a student of Yuelu Academy, a scholar named Wang Chen! I want to sue demon suppressor Nan Zhi for abusing her power, consorting with ghosts, causing my father's death, and stealing my Wang family's immortal treasure!”
Nan Zhi couldn't help but look at him sideways.
His brain was as small as a dried sweet potato. How did he ever pass the exams to become a scholar?
He clearly wasn't reading the room.
The three of them were chatting and laughing; they obviously knew each other.
At this point, he should have looked to the heavens and shouted, “The officialdom is so dark!”
Unexpectedly, Shen Luohe didn't follow the script.
He frowned slightly, knelt down to help Wang Chen up, and looked concerned.
“Is that so? I am the Supervisory Officer of the Northwest Circuit's Demon Suppression Division, specifically responsible for oversight. Tell me everything in detail.
What grievance does this female ghost have with your family, and why did she kill your father to vent her anger? What happened to the thirty seven lives of the Qu family?
And that so called ‘immortal treasure,’ what is it?
Don't worry. These will all be evidence in court, to be reviewed by the Lord Commissioner himself. Speak freely and boldly; I will certainly not wrong an innocent person!”
Wang Chen opened his mouth but found himself speechless.
What could he say?
That Wang Fugui had committed a crime years ago, framing the Qu family and causing thirty seven deaths, plus poisoning thirteen innocent people?
Or that he tried to claim an immortal treasure and used Qu Wan's remains to brew wine, only to be exposed by Nan Zhi?
The older ginger is indeed spicier.
“Immortal, please listen! This Nan girl collaborated with an evil spirit to kill our master! She even commands wicked creatures!”
Manager Wang, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly found his spirit. He pointed at Wang Fugui's remains and twisted the truth:
“If you two hadn't come, I'm afraid the young master, these workers, and I would have become food for these strange insects!”
“You old thief! How dare you lie to my face and try to harm others!”
Wanniang's eyes were blood red, her hair grew rapidly behind her, and her long tongue flickered. She wanted nothing more than to kill him immediately.
“Nonsense! Didn't Wang Fugui deserve to die?! You old dog! I'll send you down to join him right now!”
“Even if the master's past actions were regrettable, Officer Nan should never have used private punishment to sentence our entire Wang family to death!”
Manager Wang seemed to have organized his thoughts. He looked at Nan Zhi and the two siblings, speaking righteously:
“Although the Demon Suppression Division is different from other bureaus, I know that all bureaus in this world are governed by the Emperor's laws. Officer Nan stood by and watched someone die; she must give the Wang family an explanation!”
“What a talent. You truly are an old fox. Your argument almost pulled me in.”
Nan Zhi clapped her hands and slowly exposed Manager Wang.
“But don't bother struggling. Those two were already there when Wang Fugui died. They've heard most of the grievances between the Qu and Wang families.”
Manager Wang looked at the two in disbelief, only to find that the expressions on Shen Luohe and Hua Xijian's faces hadn't changed at all.
The Wang family's secrets were completely out.
This time, it was truly over.
...
...
Nan Zhi stopped looking at Manager Wang, finding him both hateful and pitiful.
He was hateful for helping a villain and pitiful for being so old yet trying to deceive himself despite knowing right from wrong.
The two siblings had actually arrived long ago.
If they had wanted to save Wang Fugui, they would have acted already.
If Nan Zhi hadn't feigned an intent to kill Wang Chen, they probably would have just left without even showing themselves.
As said before, those who cultivate immortality cultivate their hearts and their Dao.
Trying to pressure them with the Demon Suppression Division was like a grasshopper telling a group of eagles that if they didn't listen, it would stop laying eggs.
The eagles wouldn't care if it laid eggs or not, because they ate rabbits.
“Who told you the Demon Suppression Division catches every ghost it sees?”
Nan Zhi shook her head and turned to introduce Wanniang to the two.
“This is Qu Wan, my friend. She lives at the City God Temple. Thirty years ago, her entire family died due to Wang Fugui's framing.
Recently, she asked me to seek justice for the Qu family, which is why I brought her into the Wang residence. This was all reported to the door gods and the Kitchen God.
Wanniang, this is Fellow Daoist Shen Luohe, and this is Fellow Daoist Hua Xijian. Like me, they are both people of great courage and integrity who despise evil.”
“Wanniang greets Immortal Shen and Immortal Hua.”
Seeing that the two didn't seem intent on attacking her as she had imagined, Wanniang lowered her guard.
“The thirty seven members of the Qu family died with deep grievances. I wandered Dingyuan for thirty years before meeting Sister Zhi, who was willing to seek justice and revenge for me.
I killed Wang Fugui. It has nothing to do with Sister Zhi. I ask the two immortals to see the truth.”
“Eh... Lady, I wonder if you still remember a limping Daoist and a young acolyte?”
Shen Luohe stared at Qu Wan for a long time, and a look of realization suddenly appeared in his eyes.
“Of course I remember. Years ago, while I was doing the accounts at the distillery, I saw a limping Daoist with a young acolyte in green robes who had no money to pay. I covered the cost of their meal.”
Wanniang didn't understand why he asked, but she still answered.
“Seeing my kindness, the Daoist gave me a wine worm from a white skinned gourd as collateral for the meal money. Half the reason for the Qu family's ‘Immortal Brew’ reputation was due to that.”
“So that's how it is... so that's how it is...”
Shen Luohe showed a look of sorrow and sighed repeatedly. He took two steps back and gave Wanniang a solemn bow.
“That Daoist was my master, Daoist Qinglong, and that acolyte was me.
Back then, seeing your kindness, my master intended to gift you the wine worm. It was a spontaneous act of goodwill, but he didn't expect it to result in such bitter fruit.
To be honest, my master's cultivation hasn't progressed for years. He sought a divination and learned there were unresolved karmic ties involving many people. That's why he sent us down the mountain...
It turns out the root of it was here.”
Wanniang was stunned.
She looked closely but couldn't recognize the image of that young acolyte in the handsome man before her.
According to their ages, it didn't seem to match either.
Was it an immortal's technique?
“I am but a woman of common willow appearance; how could I be worthy of an immortal's concern?
The disaster that befell the Qu family was due to my misplaced trust and Wang Fugui's greed and intentional framing. What does it have to do with the immortal?”
Qu Wan pondered for a moment and gave a bitter smile.
“Now that Wang Fugui is dead, my revenge is complete. I have no more regrets.
It's just that the wine worm the immortal gifted years ago has been tainted by flesh and blood and has become like this.”
Everyone's gaze fell on Nan Zhi's arms.
While the two were talking, she had rummaged through the hair snakes for a while and finally found Wanniang's head.
“Huh? This worm has grown into Wanniang's head. Does your master... still want it?
And if you take it back, can it really still be used to brew wine? Or will you keep it as a decoration? That seems a bit rude.”
Nan Zhi was very honest as she held up the skull.
“Besides, putting Wanniang's head in a room feels weird no matter how you look at it.”
The skull's white bone was wrapped in black hair snakes. The hair snakes danced wildly, with countless thin strands twisting and struggling as if they were alive.
Through the two dark eye sockets, one could see a blood red, chubby, oversized worm that had grown into the bone.
Shen Luohe: “...”
Hua Xijian: “...”
Could they refuse on behalf of their master?
Also, don't think I didn't see you poking the skull's crown with your finger!
Although the Demon Suppression Division doesn't discriminate against one's background, you really look like an evil cultivator right now!
Moreover, at the thought that the wine the Wang family sold was brewed with this thing...
After years of soaking, the woman's hair had softened, and bits of flesh and skin had fallen into the wine, not to mention the possibility of bone fragments and maggots...
Everyone felt a tickle in their throats.
Rate on N.U.
