Volume One: Menial Tasks in Changshui County Chapter Forty-Two: Completely Clueless

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“You know nothing about the Confucian Path?” As they continued on their way, Zhou Cheng asked with keen interest.

“I don’t know much!” Lin Yi had only crossed over to this world half a year ago, and it was only recently that he had come into contact with martial arts and the Confucian Path. When it came to martial arts, Zhou Cheng could be considered half a guide. But as for the Confucian Path, there was no one to lead him. Trying to figure it out on his own was clearly not going to work.

“I don’t know much about the Confucian Path either,” Zhou Cheng said slowly, “only that what matters most are literary vigor and the fortune of the Confucian school. Literary vigor is the righteous energy of heaven and earth, able to suppress certain demonic things. If one’s cultivation is profound, a single word can change the color of the sky!”

Zhou Cheng’s explanations were vague; it seemed there was little point in questioning him. Once this demon-hunting mission was over, it would be better to consult Mr. Zhou. He had been at the ninth rank of the Confucian Path for years and likely knew more.

…

After walking for the time it took to burn an incense stick, they finally emerged from the ancient forest. Traveling a dozen more miles, they arrived at a small mountain village. In front of the village stood a stone stele inscribed with three large characters: Righteousness Manor.

Instinctively, Lu Jiuzhang felt something ominous about the name, mainly because the words “Righteousness Manor” could be interpreted in various ways. In ancient times, such a place was usually a depository for the dead. The addition of the word “Three” in front made it seem a little more normal.

Upon entering the village, the first thing that caught Lu Jiuzhang’s eye was a rather grand residence. The plaque above the gate was inscribed with the words Thousand Mechanisms Tower.

How could such a remote place possibly have a branch of the Thousand Mechanisms Tower? Lu Jiuzhang was puzzled.

Sensing his confusion, Zhou Cheng explained, “This should be a branch set up here by the Thousand Mechanisms Tower of Changshui County, mainly to collect rare herbs. If villagers gather spiritual herbs or obtain valuable animal pelts from hunting, they sell them here.”

With Zhou Cheng’s explanation, Lu Jiuzhang suddenly understood. He hadn’t expected the Thousand Mechanisms Tower’s business to be so extensive, or that they would care for such paltry profits. Clearly, their annual income must be considerable.

“I’ll go find the village chief to get a general understanding of the situation. The rest of you spread out and question the villagers. We’ll meet back at the village entrance in half an hour,” Zhou Cheng instructed.

As he spoke, Zhou Cheng glanced at Lu Jiuzhang, who seemed not to hear a word, his gaze fixed on the Thousand Mechanisms Tower.

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Seeing this, Zhou Cheng went off on his own.

“Brother Lu, why don’t we stick together?” Wang Yunshan sidled up to Lu Jiuzhang. He had been deeply impressed by Lu Jiuzhang’s display of power earlier and felt it would be safer to have him close by. When out on a mission, survival comes first!

“Brother Wang, don’t worry. There shouldn’t be much danger inside the village,” Lu Jiuzhang replied, clearly trying to send him away.

Wang Yunshan wasn’t a fool. Hearing Lu Jiuzhang’s implication, he tactfully left.

Lu Jiuzhang, meanwhile, stepped into the Thousand Mechanisms Tower.

…

“Honored guest, are you here to sell something?” As soon as Lu Jiuzhang entered, a servant hurried over. But noticing the uniform of the Demon-Slaying Division on Lu Jiuzhang, the servant quickly changed his demeanor, retracting his earlier words. “Sir, do you have important business?”

“Where’s the one in charge? I have some questions,” Lu Jiuzhang barked.

There was no need for politeness with these servants; the more imposing he was, the more respectful they became. If he put on a friendly face, they would not take him seriously.

“The steward is doing the accounts. I’ll call him,” the servant said as he started towards the inner rooms.

Lu Jiuzhang stopped him. “I’ll find him myself. Get back to your work.”

In the courtyard, various medicinal herbs were laid out to dry. They were common herbs, not particularly valuable, which gave the courtyard an odd, pungent smell. Animal pelts, clean and well-prepared, hung from bamboo poles. The place seemed less like the Thousand Mechanisms Tower and more like a storeroom for sundries.

Lu Jiuzhang strolled in, spotting a middle-aged man with a goatee in the side room, hunched over an abacus. Sensing someone enter, the goateed man looked up.

“So, you’re from the Demon-Slaying Division!” the steward exclaimed, quickly rising to greet him with respect.

“There have been reports of demon activity in Righteousness Manor recently. Are you aware?” Lu Jiuzhang asked sternly.

“Yes, indeed. Lately, several villagers have had accidents hunting in the mountains,” the steward replied, fawning, “and just a few days ago, all the livestock raised by the farmers were drained of blood.”

The incident was so strange that even the steward was baffled. In all his years, he had never encountered anything like it.

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He had seen demons eat people a few times, but breaking into the village to suck the blood of livestock was beyond his understanding. Could it be a fox spirit turned demon?

“Very well, I understand.” Lu Jiuzhang nodded slightly. The information the steward had matched what the Demon-Slaying Division already knew. But this was not Lu Jiuzhang’s main purpose.

“I have another question: how do you account for the herbs you purchase for the Thousand Mechanisms Tower?” he asked.

“Sir, that’s a trade secret and has nothing to do with demons, does it?” The steward was bewildered. Was there a connection between collecting herbs and demon activity?

“Fool, does it matter if there’s a connection? When I ask, you answer!” Lu Jiuzhang slammed his division blade onto the table with a bang, putting on an intimidating air.

Startled, the steward stammered, “Sir, whatever amount of herbs we collect, we send them to Manager Chen in Changshui County. Each trip, we get a little commission as compensation for our efforts. But I swear, I’ve never cheated the villagers. I’m one of the people of Righteousness Manor myself—why would I cheat my own neighbors?”

The steward was clearly terrified. He was from the manor, and by chance had once visited Changshui County, where he saw the Thousand Mechanisms Tower. Seizing the opportunity, he contacted Manager Chen, offering to supply herbs, and became one of his trusted aides. He would collect herbs from the manor and sell them to Manager Chen.

Lu Jiuzhang sneered, “When profits are at stake, even blood brothers can turn against each other. You’d betray your own villagers for a bit of silver?”

“So, do you want to see if my blade is sharp or not?”

With a swish, Lu Jiuzhang drew his blade and pressed it against the steward’s neck.

“Sir, I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you!” The steward panicked. “Take cassia seeds, for example: I buy them at ten copper coins per pound and sell them to Manager Chen for twenty copper coins. I swear, I only make ten coins of profit per pound!”

Lu Jiuzhang recalled seeing cassia seeds in Manager Chen’s shop before, where they sold for a hundred copper coins per pound.