Zhong Xiaoyan still hasn't come for dinner.
Lin Ji didn't know what was wrong with this girl again. If she doesn't come, then so be it, it's peaceful without her!
After lunch, everyone dispersed.
County Magistrate Li had already sent people to move the case files from Qingyang County over the past few years to Lin Ji's small courtyard.
The reclining chair that originally belonged to Lin Ji was now occupied by Lu Zhao'er. She lay on the chair, basking in the sun, occasionally picking up a case file to examine closely.
Lin Ji, on the other hand, brewed some tea on the side, crossed his legs, and fanned himself with a fan.
Spring was already halfway through, but the afternoon sun still carried some heat.
"The fourth realm cultivator is immune to the cold and heat, why is Master Lin still fanning himself? Are you afraid I'll find out something?" Lu Zhao'er casually asked.
"You're right, I'm scared to death," Lin Ji yawned.
He had been a constable in Qingyang County for three years. Whenever there was a disturbance caused by evil spirits, he always handled it seriously.
Whether or not he solved the case, there was never any concealment in the case files he submitted.
Anyway, he did his best. As a mere third realm cultivator, he couldn't be too harshly judged from above.
Therefore, Lin Ji naturally had a clear conscience.
The afternoon passed by uneventfully.
Lu Zhao'er occasionally asked about the details of the cases recorded in the case files, and Lin Ji answered fluently.
Finally, Lu Zhao'er put down the last case file.
"Qingyang County is truly remarkable, clean and orderly in their work, the case files are well-documented, there doesn't seem to be any concealment," she said.
As she spoke, Lu Zhao'er patted another pile of case files placed beside her.
These files contained unsolved cases.
"These unsolved cases..."
"Most of them were caused by evil spirits, and most of them had no reason," Lin Ji shook his head, "It's not that I don't want to solve them, but the culprits kill at will and leave, what can I do?"
"I understand," Lu Zhao'er nodded, then stood up and stretched lazily.
After lying down all afternoon, she was a bit tired.
"Let's go," Lu Zhao'er looked at Lin Ji.
Lin Ji was puzzled, "Go where?"
"Let's continue south, Qingyang County is good, you are a qualified constable."
While they were talking, Lu Zhao'er had already walked out of the courtyard and headed towards the county office.
Their horses were placed at the county office.
"It's late, aren't you staying overnight in the county?"
"No, I can go without sleeping for a few days," Lu Zhao'er replied casually.
Hearing this, Lin Ji could only helplessly follow along.
After getting their horses at the office and bidding farewell to their friends, Lin Ji followed Lu Zhao'er out of Qingyang County.
After leaving the county, under the bright moonlight, Lin Ji still felt somewhat uneasy.
"I thought we were setting off tomorrow morning, so I had Old Li bake some cakes, planning to pick them up tomorrow."
Lu Zhao'er ignored him and just continued riding ahead.
With no one to talk to, Lin Ji lost interest in speaking and silently rode alongside Lu Zhao'er.
Heading south from Liang City, after passing Qingyang County and traveling about a hundred miles, they arrived at another county.
They rode through the night, and around dawn, the road ahead became clear.
"We're almost at Shan Yuan County," Lin Ji remarked.
Lu Zhao'er looked at Lin Ji.
"The Qing Mountain Range crosses Liangzhou, but outside Qingyang County, it turns in another direction, extending towards another direction," Lin Ji explained as he pointed at the outline of the county ahead, "That bend in the mountain range is where the Qingcheng Sect is located. And the county ahead, Shan Yuan County, got its name because it's far from the Qing Mountain and the Liang River."
As the saying goes, relying on mountains for food and on water for drink.
But Shan Yuan County is far from both mountains and water.
"The Qingcheng Sect? The one that uses talismans?"
"Yes, the constable of Qingyang County, Guo Yi, is from the Qingcheng Sect."
As they chatted, they had already entered the county.
They didn't dismount, just slowed down their pace.
Shan Yuan County was different from Qingyang County. Here, Lin Ji had to put on a show with Lu Zhao'er.
However, shortly after entering the city, they noticed something amiss.
By this time, it was already bright outside. If it were in Qingyang County, at this time, the common people would have been out working.
But in Shan Yuan County, every household had their doors tightly shut.
"Something's not right," Lin Ji furrowed his brows slightly.
Lu Zhao'er nodded.
It wasn't until later, when the sun was fully up, that the common people started moving around in the county.
Many of them saw Lin Ji and Lu Zhao'er riding on horses and quickly made way for them.
But many also glanced frequently at Lu Zhao'er.
"Why do so many people here look pale and weak? Is there a shortage of food in Liangzhou?" Lu Zhao'er asked.
"Of course not," Lin Ji shook his head.
Liangzhou has mountains and water, fertile land.
They lack everything here, except for what the common people eat.
Even the porridge given to beggars in the city is so thick it's almost like solid food.
"Why do the men here look so weak? Several of them seem to lack energy," Lu Zhao'er was puzzled.
"Ask at the yamen, and you'll find out," Lin Ji speculated maliciously, "Maybe the local officials here are colluding with merchants, exploiting the common people?"
Since he had already passed the test, Lin Ji didn't care much about his colleagues.
Upon hearing Lin Ji's words, Lu Zhao'er didn't say anything.
Because it was entirely possible.
After walking for a while, they could already see the county yamen ahead.
But Lin Ji noticed something amiss again, saying, "Lu Youxing, it seems like there aren't many women walking around on the streets."
Lu Zhao'er's expression froze, and she looked around.
Indeed, as Lin Ji had said, there wasn't a single woman on the streets.
No wonder many common people had been staring strangely at Lu Zhao'er earlier, it was because of this reason.
In the time it took to speak, the two of them had arrived at the entrance of the county yamen.
The yamen officials there looked listless, but upon seeing Lin Ji and Lu Zhao'er, they still took the initiative to step forward.
"You have the nerve to ride horses at the yamen?" one of the officials said.
Without saying a word, Lin Ji took out his Gold Beheading Token.
The official's eyes lit up and he reached out to take it.
"Made of gold? Not bad, kid knows the rules, has a future!"
As soon as he finished speaking, another official hurriedly grabbed his dazed colleague.
"Are you crazy? How much of your fire did you let out last night? Did you lose your mind? That's the Gold Beheading Token!"
Then, the official pushed over his bewildered colleague and quickly knelt in front of Lin Ji's horse.
"I've seen the Chief Constable."
Lin Ji and Lu Zhao'er dismounted.
"Take care of our horses, is the county magistrate here?"
"He is, he's inside, I'll go inform him of your arrival."
"No need, we'll go in directly."
After dismissing the officials, Lin Ji and Lu Zhao'er walked into the Shan Yuan County yamen.
They passed through the main hall and reached the back hall.
A middle-aged fat man was sitting on the grand chair, squinting his eyes with a calm demeanor.
When he saw Lin Ji and Lu Zhao'er, he was momentarily stunned.
"Who are you? Who let you in?"
"I am Lin Ji, the Chief Constable of Liangzhou." Lin Ji presented his token once again.
The fat man was taken aback and quickly got up to bow.
"I am Ma Ru, the County Magistrate of Shan Yuan, I greet Master Lin."
Lin Ji bypassed Ma Ru and sat directly in the deputy seat.
Lu Zhao'er naturally sat in the main seat.
Seeing this scene, Ma Ru's face broke out in a cold sweat.
Lin Ji didn't like beating around the bush and went straight to the point.
"Tell me, what's going on in the county? Why does everyone here look exhausted, not sleeping every night?"
(End of Chapter)