I Can Devour Spirits

Cai Shi and her husband were beside the hot oil pan, preparing fried treats for the New Year.

Cai Shi rolled the balls in the mixing bowl and then dropped them into the oil pan.

Her husband held chopsticks, standing by the oil pan, flipping them over.

The man was as skinny as a pole, wearing thick cotton clothes and an apron, looking somewhat comical. As he flipped the balls in the oil pan, he complained, ”I asked you to buy tofu early in the morning, but you came back with an empty basket!”

”I told you, I saw Sun Huang’s corpse and got startled! How could I remember to buy tofu? I’ll buy it tomorrow morning!”

The man rolled his eyes at Cai Shi. ”Even if you make up stories, don’t involve others. Why curse people during the New Year? Buy it tomorrow? I said I wanted tofu puffs today. Do you expect me to fry them without hot oil? Start another pan of oil just to fry tofu tomorrow?”

”You...”

The two were about to argue when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

The man heard the knocking, angrily put down the chopsticks, and went to open the door.

Cai Shi glared at the man’s back, very annoyed, spat several times into the mixing bowl in her hands.

The man opened the door to see it was Sun Huang’s wife from next door, and he smiled, ”Sister-in-law, please come in and have a seat.”

Liu Eying said, ”Where’s Sister Jialian? I have something to say to her.”

”She... she’s in the kitchen rolling the balls...” The man noticed Liu Eying’s off expression and began to stammer.

Liu Eying walked in briskly into the kitchen, fixed her gaze on Cai Shi, and asked, ”Sister Jialian, give me a straight answer. Did you really see Sun Huang’s body hanging from a horse this morning?”

Cai Shi was still choked with anger from her husband as she replied, ”Sister-in-law, if I spoke half a word of falsehood, may my husband grow sores on his head that rot all the way to his buttock cleft!”

”I’ll kill you! How dare you curse me during the New Year!” The man heard this and immediately flew into a rage, lunging at Cai Shi from behind Liu Eying.

At that moment, Liu Eying suddenly collapsed at the kitchen doorway, leaving Cai Shi and her husband in a frantic mess.

The man turned Liu Eying over, slapping her face and pinching her philtrum. ”Sister-in-law, don’t scare me like this during the New Year...”

Cai Shi said, ”First, let’s carry her out! Don’t let the kitchen fumes get to her...”

This time, Cai Shi appeared more composed than her husband when faced with the situation.

After a while, as they busied themselves, Liu Eying finally regained consciousness and burst into tears...

The afterglow of the sunset shone on the East City Gate of Xianggu County, with the sun about to set, the intense cold had long since begun to rise in waves. The government constables guarding the city were shivering with cold, trembling in their boots.

At this time, Ruan Fengshan rode in on horseback through the East City Gate.

Ruan Fengshan was alone, riding a single horse. With days of continuous travel, his face showed clear signs of fatigue.

It was dusk, and the streets had few passersby. As the New Year approached, those selling New Year’s goods usually opened early in the morning, and by noon, most of them had already sold out.

The weather was cold, and by this time at dusk, few people ventured outside.

Ruan Fengshan rode along the street, and when he passed by the City God Temple, he glanced up and suddenly reined in his horse.

He saw a black cloth hanging down from a corner of the temple’s wind chime, swaying with the breeze, and the wind chime’s clear sound rang out, the black cloth fluttering in the wind...

Ruan Fengshan’s expression changed. It seemed that during his days in the Prefecture City, there had been significant changes in Xianggu County. The signal on the wind chime of the City God Temple hadn’t been used in years.

Ruan Fengshan tethered his horse to the ancient mulberry tree at the temple entrance and, with a serious expression, stepped into the City God Temple.

Inside the temple, several men and women were offering incense to the City God, and the Temple Priest was standing to one side, eyes half-closed, holding a duster, nearly appearing asleep.

Ruan Fengshan also offered reverence to the City God along with the others and then strolled over to the Temple Priest, coughing slightly.

The Temple Priest started at the sound, opened his eyes, and said, ”Greetings to Shopkeeper Ruan, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

”Did you receive the incense money I sent through my servant last month?”

”Of course, I used it to buy lamp oil and set up an Everlasting Lamp before the City God in your honor.”

As they spoke, the other men and women finished their worship and left the temple.

Seeing them leave, the Temple Priest’s fawning expression changed instantly, and he leaned in and quickly whispered in Ruan Fengshan’s ear...

Ruan Fengshan’s face changed multiple times as he listened, several times casting shocked glances at the Temple Priest.

Ruan Fengshan didn’t linger long; as he stepped out of the City God Temple, the twilight had crept over the landscape.

Ruan Fengshan rode back to the Escort Agency, his mind churning with thoughts along the way.

”Wei Yutian’s Secret Chamber Mandala was discovered? Was it his personal maid who reported it? Luan Jingfu is also dead? The entire Luan family has been locked in the Death Prison!”

Each of these pieces of information was like a tidal wave, crashing against Ruan Fengshan’s heart.

Ruan Fengshan truly hadn’t expected the Yuanyang Prefecture’s sub-branches to have been destroyed consecutively, and the fourth one nearly fell on him.

Fortunately, Yu Lieting intervened, put an end to Luan Jingfu, and intercepted Shen Yanliu’s pursuit in time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

In many matters regarding the sub-branches, even the Temple Priest and beggars’ information lines were known to Luan Jingfu.

It was truly terrifying upon reflection!

Years of work, nearly uprooted!

After returning to the Escort Agency backyard, Ruan Fengshan changed into more comfortable clothing, and just as he sat down and summoned a servant to ask a few questions, Qin Shuban from the government office came visiting.

After Qin Shuban entered and greeted, he said, ”Shopkeeper Ruan, County Magistrate requests your presence!”

Ruan Fengshan’s eyebrows twitched; he had anticipated being sought out by Shen Yanliu as he left the City God Temple, but he hadn’t expected it to come so quickly, he hadn’t even warmed his seat.

Luan Jingfu wasn’t originally local to Xianggu County; he was invited here by Ruan Fengshan. But now, as Luan was confirmed to be a member of the Filthy Blood Sect, Ruan Fengshan couldn’t escape suspicion regardless of what he said.

Looking at Qin Shuban, Ruan Fengshan asked, ”Is it related to the recent major case?”

Qin Shuban smiled slightly, ”This humble clerk doesn’t know. Once Shopkeeper Ruan sees the County Magistrate, it will be clear.”

Ruan Fengshan usually dealt with Qin Shuban, offering various benefits, so in most cases, he would get a hint or two. But in such a major case, how could Qin Shuban risk speaking carelessly?

Ruan Fengshan sighed helplessly, followed Qin Shuban out of the Escort Agency, and both of them rode their horses.

As Ruan Fengshan mounted his horse, taking advantage of Qin Shuban’s inattentiveness, he swallowed a medicine pill hidden in his sleeve.

The two rode along West Main Street for a while before suddenly turning into a small alley.

Following closely behind Qin Shuban on horseback, Ruan Fengshan asked in surprise, ”Qin Shuban! Isn’t the County Magistrate at the County Office summoning me?”

Qin Shuban answered on horseback, ”No, the County Magistrate is at Wei Yutian’s residence.”

Ruan Fengshan’s eyelids twitched wildly, mind whirling, pondering Shen Yanliu’s intentions. Why meet him at Wei Yutian’s residence?