When Li Yi arrived at the governnt mansion gate in Xinzhou City, he couldn’t help but stop in his tracks.
He looked up and saw the governnt mansion enveloped by the faith of the people, with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converging here, seeming to form a divine light that protected the entire city. Moreover, the amount of this faith power was not only huge with the accumulation over ti, but also nearly conscious, like a giant white crane crouching on it.
Li Yi’s arrival imdiately caught the attention of the white crane embodying the faith. Its eyes scrutinized him while letting out cawing sounds as if warning him not to cause trouble in this governntal place.
He was not accustod to pampering.
The Dragon and Tiger Energy radiated, and in the next mont, a massive silver-striped fierce tiger roared into the sky, as colossal as a mountain. With just its appearance, it pinned down that enormous white crane with one paw, rendering all its struggles futile. Ultimately, the crane could only wail mournfully without daring to resist.
Though the incense fire belief power could deter so ordinary demons and spirits, it was nothing compared to the Dragon and Tiger Energy of a cultivator like Li Yi.
As the white crane was suppressed, the entire governnt mansion began to tremble slightly. At the sa ti, the plaque inscribed with "Justice Upholds" hanging in the main hall suddenly fell down, and even the heavy red-lacquered main gate inexplicably developed cracks.
It seed to sense the unusual changes in the governnt mansion.
Soon.
A middle-aged man dressed in black, carrying a waist knife, looking like a constable, hurriedly ca towards the governnt mansion with a group of governnt officials. There was a peculiar gleam in his eyes, different from ordinary people. When he saw Li Yi standing at the gate, he quickly sped up and reached him in a few steps.
"I am Zhou Jin, the head constable of the Xinzhou City governnt mansion. Greetings, Daoist." He hurriedly and respectfully saluted.
The group of governnt officials behind him, though unaware of the situation, had the sense to read expressions and treated Li Yi with equal respect, not daring to show any hint of disrespect.
Li Yi glanced at him, not speaking much, rely asked, "Are you aware of the spell to transform humans into animals?"
Zhou Jin was astute. He glanced at the shepherd and the two crying won, and had a guess in his heart. He respectfully replied, "I have heard of this spell. It can transform won and children into cattle, sheep, pigs, and dogs, to be sold across places. It’s known as selling livestock, but in reality, it sells humans."
"Since you know, why don’t you take action?" Li Yi asked.
"With the mix of humans and animals, I don’t have the skill to discern at a glance like you do, Daoist. I beg for your forgiveness." Zhou Jin quickly said, "I trouble you to personally co down, please hand over the criminal to , and I will handle it properly."
"Where there’s a seller, there’s a buyer. Can you make the call?" Li Yi asked.
Zhou Jin’s expression slightly changed. He looked at the dozen or so sheep and understood that this matter had grave implications. There weren’t many in Xinzhou City who could afford such a number, and likely not just one batch has been bought. If it’s investigated thoroughly, who knows whose head it might land on.
But... He slightly glanced upward.
Seeing the white crane, ford by the incense fire energy of the governnt mansion, being pinned by a mountain-sized silver striped fierce tiger, its mouth slightly open, its voice like rolling thunder. If this matter wasn’t handled properly, perhaps today this Daoist would turn the mansion upside down, and when the City God is alard, it might result in another great battle.
"I will go and seek orders, and will definitely give you an answer, Daoist." Zhou Jin promptly said.
Li Yi said, "I’ll give you a quarter of an hour, and I’ll wait here."
Zhou Jin respectfully bowed, then slowly retreated. He then sternly ordered his subordinates, "Serve this Daoist well here, do not slack off in the slightest, or you’ll lose your heads."
The group of governnt officials promptly nodded in agreent.
After Zhou Jin left.
This group of governnt officials diligently attended, bringing a seat for Li Yi to rest, offering tea and snacks, and waiting aside for orders at any mont. Although they didn’t understand why Zhou Jin treated this Daoist so politely, it surely was with good reason.
Since they couldn’t understand, they would just follow orders.
Li Yi didn’t stand on ceremony, sat down and patiently waited, while he pointed at the shepherd, "Transform the others back; it’s ti for your atonent."
"Daoist, th-this..." The shepherd broke into a cold sweat. If the people were transford back, he would surely be incriminated and his skin peeled.
But if he didn’t comply, perhaps the next mont lightning would strike him dead.
Either path seed like death.
Li Yi looked at the nearby governnt officials, "Would you be willing to take my order?"
"Daoist, just say the word, and we shall not decline within our ability." The nearby governnt officials quickly responded.
"Break the shepherd’s legs, then take the water pouch from his waist and feed the water to all the sheep." Li Yi instructed.
Upon hearing this, the governnt officials shifted their eyes, imdiately carried out the order, and took a thick club, ruthlessly breaking the shepherd’s legs in two moves. The shepherd scread hoarsely in pain, yet the officials didn’t spare him, subduing him on the ground, taking away the water pouch from his waist.
Then they poured out the water from the pouch, feeding it to the sheep one by one.
In just a mont, those sheep transford into won before the officials’ eyes.
These won were all quite attractive, the older ones nearing thirty, the younger just in their early teens. They were fearful upon transforming back but felt slightly reassured upon finding themselves at the governnt mansion gate. Yet, recalling their experience and plight, they couldn’t help but cry again.
"What a wicked man using such a vile spell to harm people." Now the governnt officials understood what happened and were instantly furious,
and two officials couldn’t help but poke the shepherd again with their sticks.
It seed light, but when it hit the body, it shattered bones and dispersed flesh, causing the shepherd to howl in pain.
"If he dies, the entire governnt mansion will be buried with him." Li Yi calmly said this.
Others listened with so confusion, not understanding why this Daoist wanted to protect the shepherd’s life.
But those with sharp eyes could hear the underlying implication.
This was to prevent soone from using this opportunity to silence the shepherd, beating him to death, leaving no witness, making the matter impossible to investigate further, concerning no other people. If this were the case, the case must involve people from the authorities.
"Daoist, I was just angry and wanted to teach him a lesson, I never intended to take his life." A Governnt Official quickly put down his stick and said respectfully.
Li Yi glanced at him: "It’s best if you didn’t. I just ntioned it in passing, just in case. If you have nothing to hide, there’s no need to worry."
However, the Governnt Official at that mont didn’t know why, but his heart pounded with fear, his sweat ran cold, and a fear inexplicably arose, as if the Daoist before him was not a person at all, but rather a Divine Being descending to the mortal world. Although he did not show it overtly, one could occasionally sense the thunderous might.
At this mont.
Constable Zhou Jin hurriedly went to the inner study of the governnt mansion to et with the Magistrate of Xinzhou City.
The Magistrate, nad Chen Nian, was a man in his thirties, currently buried in administrative work with several colleagues.
"The tiger hunting decree still needs to be issued, as that Mountain Lord has beco a threat. Last ti, when the City God went to apprehend it, not only did he fail, but he also suffered losses. This cannot continue. If that tiger enters the territory of Xinzhou soday, I fear I won’t even dare to go out."
"The autumn taxes are about to start being collected, and this ti the court has reduced the land tax by thirty percent. Let the tax be calculated more slowly, first collecting the full amount of autumn tax to replenish the treasury deficit, and then consider reducing it by ten percent next year. We must not act too hastily."
The voice of Chen Nian echoed inside the room.
He then noticed Zhou Jin at the door and asked, "Zhou Jin, the disturbance in the governnt mansion earlier, have you figured out what it was about?"
"Reporting to you, sir, a Daoist caught a criminal and brought him to surrender..." Zhou Jin briefly recounted the recent events.
"The art of creating beasts, I’ve heard of it before, it’s indeed a vicious spell." Chen Nian furrowed his brows, "Since this matter has surfaced in Xinzhou City, surely soone has been practicing this craft for so ti. If we truly dig deep into it, who knows how many people will be implicated."
"Apprehend the ringleader, then arrest a few accomplices and administer justice. Afterward, restore the rescued won to their hotowns, and let this matter end here."
"Sir, that Daoist is sowhat unusual." Zhou Jin hesitated and said.
Chen Nian said, "No matter how unusual, he’s just a Daoist. This business of capturing bandits shouldn’t be their job. These Daoists act according to their whims, administering punishnts and causing deaths, glorifying it as heroism, but in reality, they are just disturbing the peace. If everyone acted this way, what would be the need for the court?"
"Go on."
Then he waved his hand, allowing Zhou Jin to attend to his tasks.
"Wait."
Suddenly, a figure appeared out of thin air in the study, and they saw a painting hanging on the wall beside them. The painting depicted a young man in a long robe. As the scroll shook, a person with a sowhat ethereal form erged, surrounded by Incense Fire Energy.
"Brother Chu." Chen Nian, sowhat surprised, offered a salute.
This person was nad Chu Pingzhi, known as the nightti magistrate.
Chen Nian handled matters during the day, while Chu Pingzhi dealt with matters of the night.
"That Daoist is indeed extraordinary. Just now, I observed him; Dragon and Tiger Energy surrounds him, and an aura transford into a silver-striped fierce tiger, crouching above us, oppressing the white crane on top of the governnt mansion, making it cry in sorrow." Chu Pingzhi said.
"Dragon and Tiger Energy?" Chen Nian’s face changed, "A wild Daoist with Emperor’s Aura? This can’t be a joke."
"How can such matters be joked about? By nightfall, even the City God wouldn’t be able to sit still, and it’s estimated that divine beings from all over will co to spy." Chu Pingzhi said.
Chen Nian frowned and said, "Now that the great position is just established, and today such a wild Daoist with Emperor’s Aura appears, it is not a blessing but a curse. In my opinion, it is better to remove him early to prevent future trouble. If allowed to return, attracting spirit monsters from the mountains, he’ll surely lead a rebellion in the future."
As the Magistrate, he naturally had to safeguard the court, and faced with such an anomaly, his first thought was to exterminate it.
Chu Pingzhi said, "This matter can be big or small; let try and see what his background is first."
"Very well." Chen Nian nodded, "However, this matter should be reported up, not concealed, to avoid being held accountable later, which neither of us can bear."
"Of course." Chu Pingzhi nodded.
Subsequently, Chen Nian instructed Zhou Jin to retrieve the painting and show it to the Daoist waiting outside.
Before long.
Zhou Jin carried the scroll and left with large steps, quickly exiting the governnt mansion.
He saw a chair placed next to the gate of the governnt office, and on it sat a young Daoist wearing a red feather Daoist robe, with long hair draped over his shoulders.
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