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"Quick, someone come! There\'s a fire!"

"Hurry, someone! The archives are about to be burned down, such a big fire."

Suddenly, a mysterious blaze swept through the entire archive room of the county office, and many age-old records were reduced to ashes.

The clamor of voices finally subsided after a while.

Sitting in the courtyard with a gloomy expression, the county magistrate listened silently to Chief Zhang\'s report, as moonlight scattered on the ground like a thin veil.

"Chief Zhang, is the archive room completely burned down?"

"Reporting to your Excellency, the archive room caught fire due to the dryness of the season. Although the on-duty officers discovered it in time, many important documents could not be saved. Please punish me accordingly," Chief Zhang said, kneeling down as if he were a collapsing tower.

Upon hearing this, the county magistrate\'s face showed a hint of relief, and then he said sternly, "How could so many important records and documents be destroyed all at once? What exactly happened?"

"I must have an explanation for this."

Still kneeling, Chief Zhang said, "Your Honor, this matter has been investigated. It was a temporary clerk in the archive room who was slacking off and forgot to extinguish a candle when leaving, which led to this disaster. I have already punished and expelled him, never to be employed again."

"I also heard that the man, knowing he could not face your Honor, has decided to relocate his entire family to a neighboring county to seek refuge and has no intention of returning."

"As the archives burned and I failed to extinguish the fire adequately, I too am guilty of oversight. Please, your Honor, punish me."

The county magistrate couldn\'t help but smile upon hearing this.

"Government affairs are numerous, and Chief Zhang has just assumed his post. Some oversights are inevitable. For now, let\'s just leave this matter be."

"I had my reservations when Yi Taoist recommended you for the position of chief constable, fearing you wouldn\'t perform well. Today I see that you truly are capable."

"By the way,"

"Have you properly settled the affairs of Merchant Wang\'s family? Have all the property and goods been catalogued?"

"Merchant Wang was a well-known local gentry. Such a tragedy having occurred, one must ensure they leave with dignity. The remaining assets must be reported to the court."

The county magistrate signaled to someone on the side, and immediately a servant in black brought over a chair for Chief Zhang to sit down.

After many thanks, Chief Zhang began to speak.

"Regarding the task your Excellency entrusted to me, I wouldn\'t dare to neglect it," he said.

"All of Merchant Wang\'s assets have been catalogued. All direct family members were provided with quality coffins made of sandalwood and rosewood, while others have also been dealt with properly."

"The county government has temporarily covered all expenses, only waiting to deduct them after the inventory is complete."

"However, since Merchant Wang\'s family died at the hands of an evil spirit, to prevent any unforeseen circumstances, I think it best to cremate the bodies along with the coffins. Later, we can collect the ashes for a ritual ceremony and burial, settling the minds of the local citizens and preserving the dignity of Merchant Wang\'s family."

The county magistrate\'s smile grew even wider.

"Chief Zhang, your handling of matters is appropriate and speaks of maturity and composure, truly impressive."

Facing the magistrate\'s praise, Chief Zhang looked around and, seeing no one else nearby, cautiously approached the county magistrate and whispered:

"Reporting to your Honor, when I was seizing and sealing Merchant Wang\'s assets, I inadvertently discovered a golden Buddha seated on a jade base over a foot tall, beautifully crafted and said to be an ancient artifact. I did not list it in the inventory, and on my way back, I went to your residence first and handed it over to your steward."

"Rest assured, I went alone, and no one noticed."

At that moment, the county magistrate finally couldn\'t help but burst into laughter, clapping his hands. "Chief Zhang, you are indeed a rare talent," he said.

"I never realized that such an outstanding individual as Chief Zhang was hidden within my county office. It is my negligence as the county magistrate."

"Let\'s do this: greater ability entails greater responsibility. You should continue to shoulder the burden on Treasure Street. Work hard, for I hold your merits close to my heart."

"Someone, pour Chief Zhang a cup of wine."

"Thank you, your Honor," said Chief Zhang, looking up at the county magistrate under the moonlight, knowing in his heart his position as chief constable was secure.

After Chief Zhang took his leave, the county magistrate summoned the old servant to start grinding ink and began to write a letter.

The correspondence was not a plea for aid to the imperial Peace and Security Bureau, for that plea had been sent at noon. This letter was one the magistrate was writing to his own mentor.

He too had to mobilize his connections to conceal what had transpired, hoping for a safe resolution.

After finishing,

"Uncle Fu, trouble you to make a trip to the prefectural city and deliver this letter to my mentor," said the magistrate.

"Also, bring the golden Buddha seated on the jade base with you."

The old servant who had helped Chief Zhang bring chairs earlier appeared like a ghost, holding a letter. He nodded at the county magistrate, then, like a large bird, he leaped and vanished into the deep night.

Watching the direction in which the black-clad old servant disappeared, the county magistrate remained silent under the moonlight, drinking cup after cup of wine, lost in his thoughts.

…

…

Under the same moonlight, at Hidden Dragon Temple.

Yi Chen and Qing Yunzi sat opposite each other in the backyard, with many fruits and candied snacks on the table, along with two jars of fine wine.

Clearly, compared to the plain tea served before, Hidden Dragon Temple had achieved a significant breakthrough in economic status, moving up a notch.

Yi Chen picked up some salted peanuts and put them in his mouth, then he lifted his cup and began to drink heartily.

"Junior brother, I\'ve told you everything, from start to finish, and that\'s the situation now,"

"You said there\'s some evil spell that requires human liver? I suspect that behind that evil spirit, the mysterious master is not a more powerful evil spirit, but a person."

"A person who cultivates evil practices."

Upon hearing this, Qing Yunzi squinted his eyes and also tilted his head back to finish a cup of the fine wine. After chewing on a peanut, he finally said, "I do know of some ghosts and goblins that are fond of hearts, but I\'ve really never come across any in the books that prefer livers."

"Perhaps it\'s a peculiar preference of some ghosts and goblins."

For some reason, Qing Yunzi\'s habit of looking askance was getting worse.

Seeing that Yi Chen still seemed somewhat worried, Qing Yunzi\'s body flashed with a red light, and his Pure Yang Inner Qi suddenly spread throughout his body. He said confidently,

"Senior brother, rest assured, over the past month, my Pure Yang Inner Qi has made great strides, and I am now anything but a mediocre player."

"Even if that evil spirit comes to kill us, we will handle it with \'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.\'"

"From now on, senior brother, you won\'t have to support Hidden Dragon Temple on your own."

"Hidden Dragon Temple is not just your place, senior brother, it\'s mine too."

"If you don\'t believe me, senior brother, let\'s spar."

Under the moonlight, Qing Yunzi\'s eyes glinted with the eagerness of battle as he stared at Yi Chen, seemingly still haunted by his last defeat.

The more talented a person is, the more pride they hold.

Over the past month, he didn\'t dare to slack off, practicing arduously.

"Are you sure you want to fight?" Yi Chen glanced at Qing Yunzi sideways and rubbed his hands together with joy, itching for action.

The little junior brother is just too young and naive about the dangers of the world, but it\'s a good thing he has me.

One tea-time later.

Outside Hidden Dragon Temple.

Qing Yunzi, with disheveled hair, floundered on the ground, wailing continuously,

"Senior brother, stop hitting me, I was wrong."

"What were you wrong about?"

"I forgot the teachings of my senior brother, I went against the true essence of lying low, I got carried away with pride."

"That\'s the right answer." With a smack, another big lump rose on Qing Yunzi\'s head.

"Senior brother, you still hit me even after I got the answer right?"

"Don\'t you think it\'s more symmetrically pleasing? My formidable looking junior brother with outstanding talents."

Under the bright moonlight, Yi Chen laughed like a big-tailed wolf. He stretched out his hand and vigorously rubbed Qing Yunzi\'s head, declaring loudly, "Junior brother, don\'t blame your senior brother for being heavy-handed; you won\'t learn your lesson otherwise."

"You don\'t know how tough times are right now."

"Outside, it\'s all old silver coins."

"Your senior brother beating you is for your own good."

"Do you accept it?"

"I accept it, senior brother."

Watching Qing Yunzi leave, rubbing his head, Yi Chen turned and looked up at the moon in the sky, his mind wandering far away. Moonsilver gathered around him, disappearing from sight, replenishing the deep purple Pure Yang Inner Qi he had consumed.

After a while, he came back to his senses, stretched lazily, made a biting gesture at the moon in the sky, and then slowly strolled back to his room.