Chapter 317

The Daoist Strange Immortal

When Li Huowang expressed disbelief, a hint of embarrassment appeared on the peddler's face.

"Well, that's just what I heard from the elders in the village. They say the ghost wants to reincarnate, which is why it's been stealing many infants under one year old. Also, after being trapped in the underworld for so long, they've come to torment unmarried young women."

"So, children are missing in Cangshui County, and many women have been defiled, is that right?"

"Yes, exactly! Daoists are truly impressive; a single sentence from you is worth several of mine."

Li Huowang's brows furrowed. Stolen children and defiled women—if these were the only issues, the local magistrate would simply dispatch constables to make arrests, not notify the Supervisorate of Heavenly Affairs. There had to be something more, something the peddler wasn't aware of.

Li Huowang raised the whip in his hand, struck the horse's rump, and the carriage immediately set off.

Just before the city gates closed, Li Huowang finally arrived at Cangshui County. The gatekeepers, seeing the Supervisorate of Heavenly Affairs token Li Huowang presented, hastily found a constable to escort Li Huowang to the magistrate's residence.

The sound of hurried footsteps occasionally echoed past Li Huowang.

Looking at the young men hurrying past the carriage with torches, Li Huowang asked the constable leading the horse ahead, "Who are these people?"

The constable cupped his hands and reported, "Reporting to Your Excellency! These are young men conscripted by the County Magistrate for the night watch! Cangshui County is currently in a state of panic and under curfew. Anyone caught loitering outside will be immediately apprehended!"

Li Huowang nodded in understanding and said nothing more.

A low murmur... The unfamiliar surroundings seemed to make Mantou uneasy, as it repeatedly nudged its large black nose into Li Huowang's arms.

Meanwhile, Li Huowang continuously scanned the desolate street but found nothing unusual.

Soon, Li Huowang arrived at the Cangshui County yamen. The county magistrate, clearly aware of Li Huowang's arrival, was waiting at the entrance with a retinue, standing by the two large stone lions.

"Your humble subordinate greets Your Excellency!" As the county magistrate, dressed in neat official robes, bowed, his secretary, county assistant, registrar, and clerk simultaneously bowed their heads in salute.

From the carriage, Li Huowang observed the county magistrate. He appeared to be in his forties, unusually short, making him stand out conspicuously among the others.

"Let's skip the pleasantries and go inside. We have important matters to discuss." Li Huowang said, taking the lead. The others quickly followed.

A soft rustle... The sound of papers being turned continuously echoed inside the hall. A group of people stood with bowed backs, carefully watching Li Huowang as he flipped through the dossiers.

When the tea on the nearby table stopped steaming, Li Huowang put down the documents he was holding. "Nine children missing, five unmarried young women defiled?"

The county magistrate quickly stepped forward. "This humble official believes the number of defiled women is far greater than recorded. Many are simply too ashamed to report the crimes, so..."

"Is that all? Is this the extent of the situation?" Li Huowang's gaze fixed on the county magistrate's eyes.

A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He first cupped his hands towards Li Huowang, then turned to the others and said, "You may all withdraw. Constable Zhou, have men surround the yamen."

The sound of footsteps faded into the distance, leaving only Li Huowang and the county magistrate in the room.

"This humble official's surname is Lou. Although I am not a native of Cangshui County, my hometown is also within Jiangnan Province. As a parental official, seeing my people so terrified and distressed twists my heart! I implore Your Excellency to save the common folk from this dire predicament!" As County Magistrate Lou spoke, tears welling in his eyes, he knelt before Li Huowang.

This gesture was quite significant. Based on their previous encounter, the county magistrate and Li Huowang were not in a superior-subordinate relationship.

It was unclear whether his words were genuine or merely a pretense for Li Huowang. "Get to the point. Besides these matters, what else has happened in Cangshui County?"

"There have also been some thefts, but those matters are insignificant! Your Excellency, please see." Saying so, County Magistrate Lou took out a map from a nearby table and slowly unrolled it before Li Huowang.

This was a detailed map of the entire Jiangnan Province. Next to Jiangnan Province were Yinling City and Zongluo Province, where Niuxin Mountain was located.

The Great Liang had a total of six provinces, varying in size, with Jiangnan Province being the smallest.

"Your Excellency, observe." County Magistrate Lou pointed to several small dots on the map. "These incidents are not confined to Cangshui alone! Fifteen counties surrounding Cangshui—Pingcheng, Anshan, Panshuid, and others—are all experiencing the same occurrences!"

Li Huowang looked at the scattered dots on the map. He finally understood why such minor matters required Tuoba Danqing's intervention.

No matter how minor an issue, if it accumulates in number, it ceases to be trivial.

Li Huowang picked up the map and examined it closely. "So many places, how many children must have gone missing?"

"A total of fifty-seven children, and that number is still increasing. This humble official has governed strictly, so Cangshui County is relatively stable, but in other areas, individuals spreading seditious rumors have already incited unrest using these incidents."

"Stealing children who haven't reached one full year... what could they be used for?" Recalling his own experiences in this world, he had a grim feeling that those children would meet a tragic end.

"Your Excellency, I still implore you to save the common people from this dire predicament!!" County Magistrate Lou bowed his head deeply once more.

"No hurry. Weren't some women defiled? Bring them here, let me see." Since these two matters occurred simultaneously, it was natural to clarify what exactly was happening.

Soon, a dazed woman was brought before Li Huowang. However, despite his inquiries, she was unable to articulate what had happened.

She couldn't say who had defiled her, nor when. If her parents hadn't noticed something was wrong, she herself probably wouldn't have reported it.

For a moment, Li Huowang felt utterly at a loss, unsure how to proceed.

As the saying goes, 'every art has its own specialty,' and Li Huowang was genuinely not proficient in handling such matters.

"No, I may not be entirely without a solution."

Watching the woman's retreating back, Li Huowang mused for a moment. He then pulled out his talisman book, flipped through it, and turned to County Magistrate Lou. "Do you have any human bones here? A broader piece."

Since Blind Chen had mentioned these talismans could be used for divination, perhaps this situation called for a trial.

"Human... human bones?" Although he didn't know why, County Magistrate Lou still ordered the constable to find them.

As dawn began to break, the human bone Li Huowang requested arrived: a skull.

"Your Excellency, rest assured, it's definitely human bone, just dug out from the mass grave." The constable who brought the skull had a fawning expression.

Li Huowang clamped something in his embrace with one hand and pulled out a piece of ginger-yellow paper. He bit open his fingertip, and with the blood, swiftly began drawing on it.

"Hustle and bustle, Taiyin impermanent. By the decree I serve, I divine to avert calamity!"

A copper coin, placed on the newly drawn talisman, was pressed onto the skull. With a cracking sound, the skull fractured into several bone seams.

With a solemn expression, Li Huowang meticulously examined the cracks on the skull. Comparing them to the records in his talisman book, he began to interpret the divination. "Hmm... this omen...."