Chapter 009: The Stone Mason of the Troops, Night Visit to the City God Temple

That is the City God’s Yin Soldier Law Altar, formed by the temple priest Daoist Li capturing and refining fierce ghosts, becoming the soldiers under the command of General Chang Hu, specifically tasked with dealing with the solitary souls and wild ghosts that appear in the city

About a hundred years ago, there was a great drought across the land, and on the other side of the northern border, beyond the Black Abyss and the Ice and Snow Great Wall, there were barbarian invasions. The situation was urgent, and it was necessary to transport relief grain to the border, resulting in millions of disaster victims across the land, with countless people exchanging children for food

However, if one wishes to train troops, relying on the small amount of silver earned from the last extermination of the demon's lair will not sustain them for long

Wang Xuan furrowed his brows, wondering what kind of organization this was

The yamen runners, fierce as wolves and tigers, dragged the scoundrel away by his hair

The leading elder clasped his hands and said: "I dare not conceal anything from you, my lord. In my youth, I traveled far and wide, and I find the sudden attack of the monsters suspicious. Therefore, I gathered all the money I had and entrusted it to Jinyange to investigate the matter."

The Art of Sealing the Gods, Blood-Stained Robbery

The military government has become unusually lively

... ...

Wang Xuan furrowed his brow and said, "The military government is not a place for revenge. Moreover, the demon's lair has been destroyed, and the great vengeance has been avenged"

Now I understand, in this world devoid of the clamor of online entertainment, the unpolluted and pristine starry sky is indeed enchanting

The old man, accompanied by a group of people of all ages, clasped his hands together in greeting

Bang

Upon seeing Wang Xuan, the second disciple was not alarmed; instead, he slightly shook his head at him, signaling him to refrain from speaking for the time being

The entire roof tiles have been replaced, the collapsed courtyard walls have been repaired, the weeds in the courtyard have been thoroughly pulled out, and some stone locks have been chiseled out, making Liu Shun very happy.

A group of people approached from the intersection, consisting of both the elderly and the young, all with white cloth strips tied around their foreheads, their steps heavy and their gazes vacant and sorrowful

Having said that, he shook his head with a bitter expression and said: "The old man originally thought to take the opportunity to rest for a while, but it is better to send the news back as soon as possible."

While the two were conversing, a commotion suddenly erupted on the street in front of the military barracks

Upon meeting Wang Xuan, he did not seem surprised. First, he instructed the Taoist boy to serve tea, and then with a calm smile, he said: "Captain Wang, this Qingtian tea is unique to Caixia Mountain, where celestial cranes scatter the seeds and old apes pick the leaves. It possesses a distinct charm, and I invite you to savor it."

Hehe, is this going to a funeral

Before long, Wang Xuan arrived at the southern part of the city, where a two-entrance Daoist temple stood prominently before him, with flying eaves and bracket sets, surrounded by ancient trees. This was the Yong'an City God Temple

Two large pots were set up in the side yard, with flames bursting forth.

Yesterday, it was reported that the Blood Robber has reappeared in Jiulong Ridge, which is attributed to the expulsion of demons

Only after the two entered the courtyard did Guo Luquan shake his head and say: "Lord Wang, you also know that the Jingyao Division is responsible for dealing with the evil cultivators in the Jianghu, and the Blood Robber is indeed a well-known organization on the list."

Upon arriving in this world, he often yearned for the legendary thousand-year-old sects, but now he feels that the military camp is more suited to him

A half-grown youth twisted his face and said: "My whole family is dead, grandfather, father, mother, Er Niu... Wuwu, I want revenge!"

Wang Xuan couldn't help but chuckle in silence upon hearing this

The yamen runners themselves do not consider themselves to be good people; it is quite common for them to take a little advantage now and then. However, having witnessed the tragic scene that day, they all felt that this fellow deserved to be beaten

Li Shouxin smiled and shook his head: "Since my return, I have heard the name of the hero who fights tigers, and having witnessed the changes in the military government, I know that the captain is restless in his tranquility. However, I did not expect that the first person he would seek out would be the old Daoist."

Wang Xuan already understood what was happening, took a deep breath, and said: "No! The deceased is gone, you all..."

Guo Luquan, who was watching the commotion nearby, suddenly jumped up and said sternly: "Is your news true?"

What does this old fellow want to do, chattering away?

A pot used for cooking porridge, the supplies just delivered by Jin Hu are just in time, with large pieces of meat and radish stewed to tenderness, exuding a rich aroma, along with large pancakes baked from dead dough.

These soldiers must at least wait until the evil spirit enters their bodies and they become familiar with the formation before they can be effective; prior to this, they must also assess their own capabilities

Having said this, he clasped his hands and exited the door

Zhang Heng's arrogant voice was the loudest: "Everyone eat well, today you are disaster victims, tomorrow you will be soldiers. Don't talk about revenge nonsense, if you can't win, practice hard, if you can win, then go all out!"

A strong wind blows during the day, while the night is filled with countless stars.

Damn it

The side courtyard had fallen into disrepair over the years, but the people of Shiwa Village were all stonemasons, and such craftsmanship was well within their capabilities. With Liu Shun's assistance, they purchased some wood and mud, and within half a day's work, they had tidied up the entire courtyard.

It is truly tragic

At this moment, the temple gate opened, and through the gate, one could see the incense burner and the candlelight in the courtyard. Two young, fair-faced acolytes were standing at the entrance.

Wang Xuan slightly shook his head, then walked out the door, surveying the surroundings and said in a deep voice: "Since you are all homeless, you are permitted to join the military government. However, I must make it clear that those who cannot endure will be eliminated without exception"

He used to find it very strange why ancient people liked to drink on rooftops, was it purely for the sake of showing off

Li Shouxin pondered for a moment, neither agreeing nor refusing, but instead gazed out the window, "Captain Wang, would you dare to accompany me on a night excursion in the mountains and forests?"

Immediately afterward, he was slapped and sent flying out.

Ah, who can say otherwise? After working hard for more than half a year, one looks forward to providing a good New Year for the elderly and children at home, but who would have thought...

It turns out to be the time for the city god's巡游

Wang Xuanxin understood everything and silently stood to the side

Wang Xuan said in a deep voice: "To be honest, Daoist, I wish to revitalize the local militia, sweep away the evil spirits in the surrounding mountains, and prevent similar incidents to that of Shiwa Village from occurring in the future. I need the Daoist to lend me some talismans for seeking demons and searching for spirits."

A series of robust voices resounded through the night sky

Among the various rights and wrongs, it is worth noting that there is a certain heretical practitioner in the martial world who has acquired an unorthodox method of refining human elixirs. Since then, he has rallied a crowd and risen in power, not only engaging in robbery and pillaging but also relying on the consumption of human flesh for cultivation, truly a monster among men

As the saying goes, corrupt officials are bad, but wicked officials are even more ruthless

The two men circled around the main hall and arrived at the side wing of the backyard, where they saw the room filled with the fragrant scent of sandalwood. Daoist Li Shouxin was holding a bucket of bamboo slips, examining them.

... ...

The Taoist boy bowed and said: "Captain Wang, please follow me."

Wang Xuan took a sip and felt the refreshing aura accompanied by the fragrance of the tea penetrate his heart and mind, unable to help but nod and say: "Good tea, it seems that Daoist Li anticipated my arrival"

Tsk tsk, I heard that going to the capital to work was the only way to escape a calamity

The leading elder said with a bitter smile: "My lord, we common folk ask for very little, just a bowl of porridge and a meal, and the health of our family. Now we have nothing at all... Moreover, the main culprit has yet to be brought to justice"

After all, it is a small county, and Yong'an City is not large

Silence spread like an infection...

Adult

Wang Xuan rarely did not go to cultivate, instead sitting alone on the rooftop drinking wine

Two young acolytes hurriedly followed inside, first sealing a row of black pottery jars beneath the statue of the City God Chang Hu of Yong'an, and then affixing yellow talismans before finally breathing a sigh of relief

These must all be the stonemasons of Shiwa Village

A kettle used for boiling water, the men of Shiwa Village change out of their foul-smelling tattered clothes, washing up in the courtyard on a cold day, each one a muscular figure, radiating camaraderie.

Wang Xuan narrowed his eyes and asked, "What does it mean?"

Their clothes were tattered and reeked of sweat, their skin was darkened from prolonged sun exposure. Although each of them had a robust physique, it was evident that they had developed hunched backs from years of hard labor

It is truly restless even when trying to hide

Wang Xuan saw clearly and was not surprised

Thank you, my lord

It seems that this world is far more dangerous than what was previously known

Blood Robber

An elderly man with a flying beard in the cold wind lamented, "My lord, please take note, thirty-two souls from Shiwa Village wish to enlist in the army!"

The old man said with sorrow: "Could the news from Jinyange be false?"

After completing these tasks, a young Taoist hurriedly approached, performed a Taoist salute, and said, "Venerable Supreme Celestial, Officer Wang has come to visit at night. Is there any urgent matter?"

Wang Xuan slightly nodded: "I have heard that Daoist Li has returned today, and I have come to pay my respects."

Certainly, there are other reasons

Guo Luquan first muttered a few words, and upon seeing Wang Xuan's gaze, he quietly said: "Lord Wang, please step aside to talk"

Before long, the sound of hooves and the rustling of footsteps echoed through the streets once again, accompanied by the howling of the cold, biting wind, as they entered the City God Temple

After the drought ended, nearly ten thousand bandits in blood-stained clothes fled into the deep mountains, preying on both humans and demons. Despite several crackdowns by the court, they vanished without a trace, but unexpectedly, their whereabouts have reemerged...

At this thought, Wang Xuan felt a stir in his heart, leaped into the air, and flipped over the courtyard wall, heading south towards the city.

The county magistrate's constable, Liu Cheng, slowly withdrew his hand and coldly snorted, "Drag this scoundrel back and give him a few days of discipline, so he understands the consequences of his insolent words"

The surrounding common people were also whispering among themselves

A rogue in the city squatted on the stone steps by the street and jested.

Blood Robber

More than thirty people from Shiwa Village, along with seven illegitimate sons of former military officials, filled the side courtyard to capacity

He stepped out slowly and happened to see this group of people kneeling on the ground outside the government office as soon as they saw him

The commotion naturally also alarmed Wang Xuan