CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 49: CHI FU

Zhu Yu remembered the faint mysterious scent in the dilapidated temple and on the wine jar. He quickly wanted to ask about it, but realized he had already spoken quite a bit, and it was Lu Qing, the official master of Rune, who hadn’t said much.

To not appear as if he was overshadowing others, Zhu Yu wisely swallowed the words back.

"If the Chief Historian has any questions, feel free to ask Rune directly," Lu Qing stretched lazily. "I don’t have any leads at the moment. If you have any speculations, just ask. Once clarified, Rune can rest sooner."

With Lu Qing’s words, Zhu Yu’s earlier concerns vanished without a trace.

In any case, Rune had been busy outside for days, tirelessly. How could he let him linger here without rest!

"How did that pair of rogue brothers learn about the ’Ghost Immortal Temple’ from the mute boy?" she asked Rune.

"In response to the Chief Historian, the brothers said the mute boy used to beg everywhere, almost skin and bones, barely clinging to life. Later, it seemed he fell ill and disappeared for a while, so the villagers thought he likely died somewhere due to illness.

Then, suddenly one day, the brothers saw the mute boy near a gambling house. Not only was he alive, but he was also well-dressed, plump and healthy, buying meat buns with a piece of broken silver at the market, looking very well.

Curious, the brothers secretly followed him and discovered he wandered around eating and drinking during the day, then bought many incense and offerings. After dark and quiet set in, he went alone to worship at the dilapidated temple, though unable to speak, he mumbled, kowtowed, and bowed devoutly.

The two brothers cornered him in the temple, demanding to know what he was up to, threatening to ’reunite’ him with his family if he didn’t speak the truth.

The mute boy feared them, gesturing and signaling until the brothers understood the Ghost Immortal in the broken temple could grant wealth, and was extremely effective.

Following his example, after worshipping the Ghost Immortal, they indeed obtained two large silver ingots from the altar table."

Rune gestured to indicate the size of the silver ingots. Zhu Yu mentally estimated, thinking they must be about ten taels each.

For an ordinary farming family, particularly idle rural rogues, this was truly a windfall.

"What do you mean by obtaining two large silver ingots from the altar table? Do you mean the silver ingots appeared out of thin air?" she asked Rune again.

Rune quickly waved his hand and replied, "I specially inquired about this matter. The rogue brothers went to the Ghost Immortal Temple seeking wealth at night. After placing offerings and praying, they suddenly felt extremely sleepy after a while, and both dozed off in the temple.

They slept very soundly, and upon waking, found the outside nearly dawn. At this point, the silver ingots had already been placed on the altar. They didn’t think much of it, assuming it was a reward from the Ghost Immortal, so they immediately took the money for eating, drinking, and merriment, soon squandering it all."

Zhu Yu was quite satisfied with this answer. After pondering slightly, he said to Lu Qing, "I’ve asked everything I wanted. If there’s nothing else, let him go rest!"

During the conversation between Zhu Yu and Rune, Lu Qing seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. He only now returned his attention, nodded to Zhu Yu, and turned to ask Rune, "What reason did you use to inquire about these things from the rogue brothers?"

Rune quickly replied, "I investigated in secret. If they didn’t inquire, I would pretend to be a passing merchant, chatting to kill time.

The brothers, however, were curious about my intentions and were not willing to easily reveal anything. Although I didn’t explicitly state my purpose, I intentionally made them believe I was secretly tasked by the County Magistrate of Qingshui County to inquire about the Ghost Immortal Temple.

The brothers weren’t particularly clever and did not suspect anything, instead fearing they might disrespect me and told me everything they knew."

"Very good." Lu Qing was satisfied and instructed, "Have a good rest. You’ve worked hard these past few days."

"I am not tired," Rune shook his head, "Sir, should I spread a rumor in Qingshui County, saying that over the years, Lu’s has been violating trade and harming peers, all backed and directed by County Magistrate Li? If not for him, Lu’s wouldn’t have such audacity and means. Behind all misdeeds, the true instigator is not Lu’s, but Li Wencai?"

"You and Fu Lu accompanied me here and have already drawn too much attention. This task can’t be yours," Lu Qing shook his head. "It’s safer to leave it to the Chifu Guard. And not only should the word about Li Wencai being the instigator be spread, but also that Li Wencai privately believes in superstitions and secretly sought assistance from the Ghost Immortal Temple for fame and fortune."

Upon hearing "Chifu Guard," Zhu Yu immediately thought of the secret report Lu Qing had received earlier.

It turned out that the elusive mysterious guard was called the "Chifu Guard."

Chifu, as legend has it, is a large mythical bird, a divine messenger, whose mighty wings can cover the sky, vanishing without a trace, influencing the growth and decay of all worldly matters.

In death, it becomes a person’s fourth shadow, accompanying them closely.

Yet it is not an ordinary shadow, but the Shadow God, capable of affecting a person’s health and even fate. If angered, it would bring misfortune.

Named after the divine bird, it’s no secret who the real master of the Chifu Guard is.

The illustrious Golden-faced Imperial Censor, personally appointed by the Holy Emperor, possesses authority to execute traitorous officials without prior approval, yet still needs a token to borrow personnel from the imperial guard, akin to a clawless-toothless tiger.

Intimidating, but not lethal.

Despite appearances of power, Lu Qing managed only to have Rune and Fu Lu, the two brothers, at his disposal.

No wonder he wanted to recruit me into the fold.

With nothing else to tend to, Lu Qing dismissed Rune to rest well, then summoned Zhu Yu. Together, they took a few officials borrowed from Zhao Xin at the Runzhou government office and headed straight to Li Wencai’s study, asking Zhu Yu to open the bronze lock in front of everyone.

"Go inside, search for any account books, ledgers, and bring them all to me," Lu Qing instructed the officials.

The officials responded by rushing into the study, turning it inside out in no time.

"Sir, I’ve found it!" After a while, an official ran out, holding a ledger, respectfully handing it to Lu Qing.

Lu Qing took it and casually gave it to Zhu Yu. Just as he was about to speak, another official ran out of the study.

"Sir, I found one too!" This official also held a ledger in his hand.

Following him, another person rushed out, "Sir, me too! Me too! I’ve found one as well!"

Lu Qing and Zhu Yu exchanged glances.

It seems there are unexpected discoveries in the study that even Zhu Qiaoyun wasn’t aware of?