Chapter 113: Strange Case

The City God of Chunhui Prefecture had a grim expression, still unwilling to depart. His divine form hovered high above, continuously scanning the hills below. The two Judges of the Merit and Demerit Office and the head official of the Yin-Yang Office stood by his side.

The head official of the Yin-Yang Office scanned the ground below, ethereal mists manifesting in his eyes. The civil and military Judges of the Merit and Demerit Office, each with a record book in one hand and a judge's brush in the other, were ready to immediately document and lock down any trace they found.

"This demonic creature has grown powerful, and we don't even know its origin," he wondered. "How could it have vanished so quickly?"

The head official of the Yin-Yang Office was filled with astonishment, anger, and confusion.

The City God of Chunhui Prefecture narrowed his eyes, glancing from the hills towards the prefectural city.

"I fear this demon has been causing mischief in Chunhui Prefecture for a long time without us noticing," he said. "We don't know how many mortals have secretly fallen victim!"

The two judges and the head official of the Yin-Yang Office all wore grim expressions, remaining silent. The recent loss of their two night patrols was particularly galling, signifying that the demon held no regard for the Underworld Court of Chunhui Prefecture. It was an outright provocation and a profound disgrace.

The City God's Underworld Court had many limitations when monitoring its jurisdiction. Some demonic and ghostly entities could temporarily evade its surveillance, and those with deeper cultivation might even conceal their aura to live unnoticed among mortals.

However, for malevolent entities aware of the Underworld's power, their harmful methods should not be too extreme. This is because when local residents are born, their elders often visit temples to pray for blessings and perform ancestral sacrifices at home, ensuring their birth dates and vital energies are "registered" with the local Underworld Court.

If a malevolent entity harms a mortal using violent methods, the Underworld's registry will show a change in light, which would be noticed by the patrolling ghost officials. They would then report it to their superiors, prompting the Underworld to realize something was amiss.

However, entities with deep cultivation or mastery of strange arts could still evade detection. For example, they might slowly prey on someone through constant association, or, most commonly, by seducing victims with beauty, making them willing participants.

At this moment, the City God of Chunhui Prefecture felt indignant. With a flick of his sleeve, a golden chain shot out towards the hills below, semi-transparently penetrating the rocks and soil, stirring up the ground beneath. Yet, it was to no avail.

About fifteen minutes later, the City God and his subordinates finally admitted they had completely lost the demon's trace and could only return to the prefectural city to make further plans.

"Let's go check on the prefectural city first," he said. "That burst of fire a moment ago was very strange. We also need to thoroughly check the records in the Underworld Court."

Even though they had mentally prepared themselves, the two judges still inwardly groaned upon hearing this, but their duties left them with no alternative.

This so-called thorough check of the records involved the population of 200,000 in Chunhui Prefectural City. It was no small task, even for gods and ghosts. The Merit and Demerit Office, and even all twenty-four offices, would have to dedicate days to this matter.

As for the City God, he naturally wouldn't need to personally participate in such accounting-like work.

At the inn, Yin Zhaoxian lay curled up on the ground. Although the source of the intense, real pain had receded, its aftershocks still pulsed through him.

Furthermore, Yin Zhaoxian's body temperature was unusually high; his whole body was still flushed red, and any sweat he produced immediately evaporated. If not for a gentle force constantly soothing the pain within him, he would have collapsed long ago.

He gasped for breath.

A moment later, the pain finally receded completely, and Yin Zhaoxian's body temperature slowly dropped to a high fever level. While only a short time might have passed in the outside world, for him, every breath felt like an eternity.

In reality, not much time had passed, as the loud commotion of Madam Hong being repelled and crashing through the inn walls had only just begun to elicit noisy human reactions, indicating how brief the interval was.

"What was that noise just now?" someone asked. "I don't know," another replied, "sounded like thunder!"

"Didn't you hear a woman screaming?" someone else asked. "I did," another whispered, "it was chilling...!"

"There are several holes smashed into the inn walls!" someone exclaimed.

"Could it have been struck by lightning?"

"Oh, it's Scholar Yin!" someone exclaimed. "It truly is!"

The two inn servants and several guests finally discovered Yin Zhaoxian. Someone quickly came in to check on him, felt for his breath and found he was still breathing, then touched his forehead and found it burning hot.

"Quick, call a doctor! Call a doctor!"

"Oh, and we need to report it to the authorities!"

Almost all the inn guests were awakened in the dead of night. Some came out to investigate, while others, though awake, stayed hidden in their rooms. Of course, several scholars whose vitality and lifespan had already been drained remained unconscious in their beds.

The inn was in a flurry of activity. Some guests were helping the injured, others were reporting to the authorities, and still others carried lanterns outside to examine the shattered wood and bricks. Soon after, government officials arrived.

After all, the provincial exam results had just been announced, and a provincial top scholar was reportedly attacked; this was definitely no small matter.

Beyond mortal sight, on the high rooftops of the inn and other buildings, the City God of Chunhui Prefecture and his subordinate officials observed below. Numerous ghostly officials were also investigating the case, just like their mortal counterparts. The foundations of law and order in the two realms, Yin and Yang, converged without one side being aware of the other.

"Just now, a burst of flame surged forth and repelled that demon," the City God remarked. "Yet, there isn't even a scorch mark on any curtain in the inn. This is quite peculiar!"

The City God's gaze seemed to pierce through the rooftop, seeing the state of Yin Zhaoxian's original room within the inn. Then his gaze shifted to Yin Zhaoxian, who had already been moved to another location.

"It is rare for an ordinary scholar to possess even a trace of 'Haoran Qi' in their thoughts, and it dissipates very easily," he mused. "But this person's 'Haoran Zhengqi' is so potent that it can manifest visibly. This is truly rare!"

"What you say is true, my lord, but he is only a mortal," the head official of the Yin-Yang Office responded. "He couldn't possibly possess the power to repel a powerful demon."

The head official of the Yin-Yang Office had already gone to examine Yin Zhaoxian up close. He knew the man neither practiced martial arts nor possessed spiritual energy. Of course, Yin Zhaoxian's exceptional talent, profound literary aura, and inherent righteous spirit meant he was by no means ordinary.

"This person's 'Haoran Zhengqi' is fully developed," the City God declared. "Perhaps he truly saw some traces of that demon. In a moment, I will personally visit him in his dream to ask him what he saw!"

Having spoken, the City God turned and left with his subordinate officials, returning to the temple offices.

Although dream visits by deities and dream entries by cultivators appear similar, they are not the same technique. The former is considered an innate ability of gods and spirits, while the latter is a unique art that cultivators must practice.

At the inn, the doctor's diagnosis for Yin Zhaoxian was merely a common cold. He advised keeping warm and taking some medicine to induce sweating, noting that the symptoms, now a low fever, would then subside. Furthermore, Yin Zhaoxian had been conscious for a while after the doctor arrived, though he soon fell back asleep due to exhaustion. This relieved some of the officers and the innkeeper.

When Yin Zhaoxian was conscious, he only told the officials that a red-clad woman calling herself Madam Hong had attacked him. He did not mention seeing a demon, as he didn't want to be regarded as a mad scholar.

It was the fourth watch of the night. A moment after the night watchman passed, striking his clapper, a gust of ethereal wind, carrying the scent of incense, swept through Yin Zhaoxian's room. However, unlike other spirits, the City God's personal presence did not bring a chilling sensation.

The City God of Chunhui Prefecture glanced at the inn servant guarding Yin Zhaoxian's room, who was dozing, slumped over a table. Then he looked at Yin Zhaoxian, flicked his sleeve, and his form blurred and vanished.

Yin Zhaoxian, asleep in his bed, immediately furrowed his brows.

In his dream, he found himself sitting in a dimly lit room on a bed. In front of him, half-shrouded in shadow, was a figure whose face was unclear but who seemed like a high-ranking government official, seated on a stool before a table.

The more Yin Zhaoxian tried to discern the figure, the blurrier it became, and the figure also exuded a suppressive aura.

"Where am I?" he asked. "Esteemed sir, who are you?"

"Scholar Yin, do not be afraid," a voice boomed. "I am the City God of Chunhui Prefecture. I have specifically come to ask you something!"

The City God's voice was like a grand bell, resonating both from directly in front and echoing all around him, which was meant to help Yin Zhaoxian steady his mind.

A person's thoughts in a dream are often unclear, and emotions are amplified, sometimes leading to foolish and illogical actions.

Upon hearing that the figure was the City God, Yin Zhaoxian was startled and quickly cupped his hands in a respectful bow.

"Yin Zhaoxian greets Your Excellency, the City God!" he said.

"Hmm, Scholar Yin, let me ask you," the City God continued. "The woman who attacked you earlier in the inn, could you clearly see her appearance?"

Such a matter might be difficult to speak of to others, but he certainly had to tell the truth to the City God. Yin Zhaoxian now believed it was very likely the City God who had saved him when he was nearly killed by the demon.

"Thank you, Your Excellency, the City God, for saving me in my moment of crisis," Yin Zhaoxian replied. "That woman was not a mortal. I vaguely saw her as a bloody skeleton, and she called herself 'Madam Hong'."

The City God frowned.

"'Madam Hong'?" he murmured.

"Indeed," Yin Zhaoxian confirmed. "As for anything else, I am unaware. At the time, my mind was clouded and I was in excruciating pain."

The City God smiled, imagining the scene of a common mortal, who perhaps had never even seen a ghost in their life, encountering a demon. It was fortunate that Yin Zhaoxian possessed Haoran Zhengqi.

However, the City God suddenly recalled the earlier burst of flame. This Yin Zhaoxian might have had another unusual encounter.

"By the way, there's one more thing, Scholar Yin," the City God said. "When that demon was about to harm you, a strange flame appeared and repelled it. Yet, nothing in the inn was scorched. Did some highly skilled individual give you a protective item?"

With the City God's question, Yin Zhaoxian realized that it wasn't the City God who had saved him during the most dangerous moment. His first thought was Ji Yuan, followed by the old man who had swallowed half a jujube tree in one gulp that night.

"To be honest," Yin Zhaoxian replied, "I was fortunate enough to meet a friend who possesses abilities that even ghosts, gods, and demons would admire. He is certainly no ordinary person. Upon parting ways with him, he gifted me a book... However, I dare not reveal his name without his permission..."

The City God nodded slightly, satisfied as long as he understood the reason.

"It must have been this person who protected you," the City God speculated. "He must have seen your potent 'Haoran Qi' at that moment and lent you a hand..."

The City God pondered for a moment, realizing that Yin Zhaoxian likely had no more clues to offer.

"Thank you, Scholar Yin, for clarifying my doubts," the City God said. "I must take my leave!"

In the dream, the City God cupped his hands slightly in farewell. Yin Zhaoxian quickly returned the bow, and in a moment of daze, the dream dissipated. Yin Zhaoxian fell back into a deep sleep.