Chapter 275
Chapter 275
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 275
>Chapter Title: Method
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Not long after leaving the inn, Li Huowang arrived once more at the residence of Pi County’s highest authority, the county yamen gates marked by two stone lions and a large drum.
This time, Li Huowang had no intention of sneaking in. Instead, he walked right up to the entrance in broad daylight and had the guards inside report to the county magistrate.
Anyone else pulling this stunt might’ve been chased off as a nuisance by the guards.
But when Li Huowang—two long swords strapped to his back, a copper coin mask over his face, and a red Daoist robe—boldly declared that he could resolve the entire county’s shrinking yang and yin affliction, he was immediately ushered in with utmost respect.
Pi County’s magistrate, Yang Hongzhi, lifted his blue-and-white porcelain tea saucer, used the lid to skim the floating tea leaves, and took a careful sip.
While sipping, he sized up the strange figure before him. The man’s bizarre attire made it impossible to pin down his origins.
From what Constable Luo had reported, this fellow had arrived in Pi County with a powder opera troupe, hailing from the direction of Qingqiu.
Most crucially, he claimed he could solve the shrinking yang and yin plague that had tormented the county for so long.
His own son was still suffering. Even a sliver of hope was worth pursuing.
As Yang Hongzhi observed Li Huowang, Li Huowang did the same, scrutinizing every nuance of the man’s expressions.
After carefully analyzing the meanings behind them, Li Huowang knew what his next move should be.
“County Magistrate Yang, out with it. What’s really going on here? The Bureau’s busy enough without wasting time on chit-chat.”
To quickly grasp the details of this shrinking yang evil spirit and secure the full cooperation of the county yamen, beating around the bush wouldn’t cut it. Li Huowang decided to impersonate an agent of the Bureau outright.
As the local parent official, the magistrate couldn’t have ignored such a crisis without notifying the Bureau.
Since the problem persisted, either the Bureau hadn’t shown up, or they had and failed to resolve it. Li Huowang could exploit that gap to achieve his goals.
The moment Li Huowang mentioned the Bureau, scalded by his tea, Magistrate Yang slammed the saucer onto the table. Hands clasped together, he bowed frantically to Li Huowang in agitation.
“Heavens above! The Ministry of Rites has finally sent you! I’ve been waiting myself to death! I’ve sent at least a hundred homing pigeons! Every reply tells me to keep the people calm and await good news, but I can’t even steady my own heart—how am I supposed to steady theirs?!”
Seeing Yang Hongzhi pour out his grievances, Li Huowang’s suspended heart eased somewhat. With the man convinced, he discarded his backup script.
“Enough, County Magistrate Yang. No time for small talk. Tell me the whole story from start to finish. How did this shrinking yang business start? And when exactly?”
Compared to that innkeeper’s boy, the magistrate surely knew more. To combat the invisible ghost that had targeted him, Li Huowang needed every scrap of information.
“Sigh! It all started on Ghost Festival this year. At Dead Man’s Slope, five li east of the county, there was a night watchman who—”
Mid-sentence, Magistrate Luo jolted as if remembering something. His open mouth snapped shut, terror etching his face.
“Go on. What happened?”
Li Huowang leaned forward, pressing him.
Instead of answering, the magistrate changed the subject, bowing awkwardly once more.
“Master, you have to save Pi County’s people! This concerns everyone’s lives!”
Li Huowang paused mid-question, realizing the man’s hesitation—same as the dead inn boy’s.
“You’re afraid that speaking up will draw the ghost’s wrath? Don’t worry. Speak freely. Now that I’m here, I’ll handle it properly.”
But Magistrate Yang didn’t brighten at this. He leaped three feet away, fleeing Li Huowang like the plague.
Moments later, he returned with several green-robed constables, each clutching a small copper gong with a red cloth pouch dangling behind it.
They encircled Li Huowang, banging away nonstop. The magistrate chanted under his breath.
“Strange is no crime, officials on duty are immune! Strange is no crime, officials on duty are immune!!”
Li Huowang stared at their comical routine, his expression twisting oddly.
“What are you doing? Is this supposed to deal with that invisible ghost?”
Magistrate Yang nodded vigorously.
Only then did Li Huowang notice the iron clamps in their hands, pinching their middle fingers black and blue, refusing to let go.
One sweat-drenched constable banging his gong turned to Li Huowang, voice urgent.
“Hurry! It’s got you marked! If you don’t want to shrink to death, copy us! We’re all in this together—why would I sabotage you?”
Li Huowang tensed instantly. He grabbed a gong and joined the circling, banging chorus.
For some reason, Pi County’s bizarre chain of events stirred an eerie familiarity in him—a sensation both recognizable and repulsive.
As he pondered, the others escalated.
They looped red cords around their necks like turtles, then dropped to all fours, crawling circles around the round table.
The scene was grotesque and absurd, especially with their urgent stares urging him to join.
“Does this really work? Where’d they even learn it wards off the dick-stealing ghost?”
As Li Huowang hung the gong cord around his neck, the others suddenly splayed their legs like dogs marking territory.
Not urinating—they dropped their pants, grabbed handfuls of red chili powder from behind the gongs, and dusted their privates.
Grimacing through the burn, they crawled on, scattering powder as they went.
“Master! Come on! Follow my lead! Skip this, and you’re done for!!”
Faced with the outlandish spectacle, brows furrowed, Li Huowang approached. He squatted slowly and scooped a handful of chili powder.
After a moment’s hesitation, he opened his hand, letting the vivid red flakes drift to the floor.
“Why does this feel ridiculously fake? Even if the world’s gone mad, this is beyond absurd. It’s like a damn joke!!”
(This chapter is complete)