The brawny man glanced at Xue Ling, his gaze lingering on his thick arm for a moment, as if surprised, then quickly moved away.
"Gather your men, depart at the hour of Wu (7-9 PM), make your move at the third watch (11 PM - 1 AM). If you miss the time, it will cost you your head."
"Yes, yes, yes! What Lord Hei commands, this humble official will bear in mind and will not fail!"
The men from the Demon Suppression Division were swift and decisive, leaving quickly, the tea on the table still warm.
The County Magistrate let out a long breath, waved Xue Ling forward, and then puffed up his official authority.
Xue Ling took three steps in two, cupped his hands, and bowed: "Your humble subordinate greets the County Magistrate."
"You've come at just the right time. This time you can't escape. You heard it, the higher-ups are calling for people to carry out a task..."
The County Magistrate left Xue Ling hanging for a good while.
"But the able-bodied men in the county yamen only total eighty. Even I have to go to oversee. Go back and prepare. Depart from outside the South City Gate at the hour of Wu."
In the past, money flowed into the County Magistrate's purse like water, which still had some use.
Xue Ling thought of the original body's life-preserving, fear-of-trouble, fawning dog-leg demeanor, suppressed the excitement in his heart, and feigned reluctance.
"May I ask what the task is? Why does it require so many people? Sir, this humble one started practicing martial arts late and has no martial skills to rely on..."
The County Magistrate savored the new tea: "They say it's to kill some Rabbit Demon on the mountain... Alright, the Demon Suppression Division will be charging ahead, so you won't be the one risking your life!"
The County Magistrate was a civil official and didn't understand martial arts or Cultivation Techniques, so he naturally couldn't pick up on the hint Xue Ling was trying to give.
Rabbit Demon? Xue Ling's heart sank.
A flash of lightning streaked through his mind, and memories connected one after another. The original body knew a pair of Rabbit Demons.
They had recently given birth to cubs and had asked the original body for a large number of corpses, which was why the portion for the fox demon was short, and the original body could only capture living people to make up the numbers... The County Magistrate heavily put down his teacup, interrupting Xue Ling's thoughts.
He finished speaking but still didn't let him leave, implying he wanted money. Xue Ling was very perceptive.
"Thank you, County Magistrate, for your consideration! This humble one just acquired two jars of fine wine two days ago. I will personally deliver them to your residence later. After you complete your task, you can warm wine and chat into the night, and sleep peacefully."
This was the original body's code for bribery: two jars of fine wine meant one jar of fine wine and one jar of silver.
It was also thanks to these gleaming silver coins that he was able to act late at night, and the city gates opened easily.
Xue Ling spoke politely, and only then did the County Magistrate show a bit more patience, "Those few servants under you are also getting on in years, so it's fine if they're a bit slower."
This meant Xue Ling could lead his men at the very end. With others venturing ahead to scout, he could slack off, ensuring his safety.
After taking his leave from the County Magistrate, Xue Ling immediately went to where he hid his silver, retrieved the money, delivered the wine, and then rushed back to his own territory.
While there was still time, he had to quickly send those children back and bury the skeletons in the courtyard, cleaning everything up.
"Everyone says it's hard to be an upright official, but only today did I realize that being a corrupt official is also tiring."
The County Magistrate was a local parent-official, yet he was so adept at being bribed and passing on information. No wonder the original body dared to act so unscrupulously.
Slumped in his chair, Xue Ling's mind wandered, and he drifted off to sleep in a daze.
He vaguely saw gleaming silver coins before his eyes, blinding him. In a blink, they turned into white bones, their jaws opening and closing, shouting for help.
Someone called, and Xue Ling suddenly woke up, drenched in a cold sweat.
"Sir! Sir?"
The sunlight was dazzling. Squinting, he saw Uncle Fu, who was gently bandaging the wound on his head.
"Everything you ordered, Sir, has been taken care of."
Xue Ling's muscles ached all over, and he felt like he was falling apart, especially his arms, which felt like they were being fried in oil. Gritting his teeth, he scrambled to his feet.
There was another tough battle tonight. He had to quickly finish up and accumulate points!
"Uncle Fu, prepare something to eat, and bring a bag of broken silver."
"Yes."
In the main hall, several young children were neatly dressed, each looking like a New Year's painting doll.
Especially Er Niu, whose minor knee scrape was bandaged as if it were a fracture.
"Sir, what you asked for." Uncle Fu was quick and efficient.
If they weren't desperate, which family would be willing to sell their children? It's better to prepare more; there's no harm in it.
He weighed the money bag in his hand; it contained both broken silver and copper coins. Servants also held four kinds of pastries, already divided into individual portions, thoughtful and meticulous.
Xue Ling rummaged through it, picked out a larger piece of broken silver, and tossed it to Uncle Fu.
"You've been thoughtful, this is for you. Come, go out with me for a bit."
Uncle Fu held it with both hands, flattered, "Ay! Good, good! Xiao Liu, Lao Jiu, come with Sir!"
If Sir wants to buy children, then let him buy them. In this world... at least they'll have enough to eat.
Uncle Fu comforted himself, a reward is better than a beating. Conscience doesn't fill the stomach, but loyalty does.
Chun Rou hesitated, not daring to move. The others were also very uneasy, unsure where Xue Ling was taking them now.
"Hurry up! One meal is enough, I'm still busy!"
They still didn't move.
Xue Ling turned around and saw that Xiao Liu was clever and Lao Jiu was strong, but they were all men.
This group of children had more girls than boys, so it was inconvenient for a few big men.
"Uncle Fu, find another Old Mamas."
"Ay, alright!"
Soon, the person arrived, looking honest and kind, and rather plump.
Chun Rou hesitated, trailing behind the Old Mamas. Compared to Xue Ling, who was usually violent but occasionally kind, the Old Mamas seemed more benevolent and gentle.
After clarifying the whereabouts of these seven or eight children, Xue Ling led his group and set off in a grand procession.
They started by dropping people off in the nearest area, North City.
There were many pedestrians on the street, and they would scatter upon seeing Xue Ling, as if they had seen the Black and White Impermanence coming for their lives.
Xue Ling looked straight ahead, pretending not to see, and knocked on the door in front of him.
An elderly old man, leaning on his cane, shakily came to open the door. Seeing it was Xue Ling, he was so frightened that the two streams of cloudy tears he was about to shed were held back, and he frantically tried to close the door.
How terrible was the original body that everyone was so exaggerated? Xue Ling frowned deeply, jamming his elbow against the door, "Come here!"
A small child popped out from under his arm and pounced on the old man's leg!
"Grandpa! Wuwu..."
The old man dropped his cane, hugged the small child, and sat on the ground, sobbing: "Oh, my dear grandson! Let me see! Aunt Liu said you were kidnapped by that Xue Gou..."
He suddenly turned his head, and the tall, burly, fierce-looking Xue Ling was standing right at the door.
The old man suddenly came to his senses, startled into a stutter.
Uncle Fu watched Xue Ling's back with trepidation, fearing he would suddenly turn violent and harm someone, or find any excuse to drag the grandfather and grandson into prison and kill them.
Xue Ling merely pretended not to hear.
These children were originally kidnapped by the original body; his reappearance at most counted as atonement.
Annoyed as he was, at least they were cursing the original body, not himself.
The grandfather and grandson huddled on the ground, cautiously watching Xue Ling, like chickens in a coop seeing a weasel, goosebumps rising on their arms.
Xue Ling's eyes hurt from watching. He picked out two similarly sized pieces of broken silver and placed them on the doorstep.
"The child was frightened and walked through the night, but thankfully wasn't injured. Get them something they like to eat to calm their nerves."
Not hitting them? And giving money?
The grandfather and grandson blinked, turning from frightened chickens to dumbfounded ones.
"Uncle Fu!"
"Here!" Uncle Fu then called Xiao Liu, put down two bags of pastries, and was about to pick up the child and take them away.
Money had been given, family members had been seen, and the child should be taken away.
Just as they were reunited, the grandson was dragged away right in front of him. The old man propped himself up on his knees, picked up his cane, and started hitting!
"I knew it, Xue Gou is immoral! He's utterly depraved! I'll fight you! Give me back my grandson!"
He was like an enraged old wolf; even without teeth, he would still bite.
A stick landed aimlessly on his arm. Xue Ling snatched the cane and snapped it in half: "Uncle Fu? What are you doing?"
"Ah? Didn't Sir want to buy children?" The reward silver in his arms felt scorching, and Uncle Fu, against his conscience, had to complete the task.
Well, the original body was a scoundrel and a beast, and the lackeys under him weren't any better.
Xue Ling's face was grim, as if he had swallowed a hundred flies.
Bearing the original body's bad name was one thing, but he had brought the people back properly. His reputation might improve, Qingyang County was only so big, and with this scene of snatching children at the door, his reputation would surely be ruined!
"Put them down! Don't do anything I haven't ordered!"
"Ah? Yes, yes, yes!"
Uncle Fu and Xiao Liu feared Xue Ling, so they let go as soon as he told them to. The little child plopped onto the ground, bottom sticking out, not daring to move.
Chun Rou and the others behind Xue Ling were even more panicked, huddled together, trembling.
The courtyard, a single entrance, exploded with cries and wails... Xue Ling wanted to curse.
But there were still children present, so he forcibly held it back, his face turning red and his neck thick.
He silently picked up the little child, dusted off his clothes, and haphazardly shoved him back into the old man's arms.
"My subordinate was clumsy and offended the elder, please forgive him."
Catching sight of the cane broken in two, Xue Ling placed another piece of broken silver, "This thing is too brittle, useless. Buy a sturdy one."
"Farewell."
After apologizing and making amends, he gently closed the door.
Xue Ling turned around, snatched the pastries from Lao Jiu's arms, and handed them to Chun Rou and the others.
"Shut up! If you still want to cry, eat the pastries! No wailing!"
"Two bags per person, eat your own!"
The alley was silent. People peeking through door cracks and window sills quickly hid, fearing that catching Xue Ling's eye would bring trouble.
He felt as if he had daggers in his back.
"Uncle Fu, you all go back first. Old Mamas, stay."
"Yes, yes, yes." Uncle Fu, Xiao Liu, and Lao Jiu didn't know what they had done wrong, but they dared not disobey.
After sending off Uncle Fu and the others, Xue Ling took the Old Mamas to send the children home.
With past experience, Xue Ling let them knock on the doors themselves, the Old Mamas spoke, and he only handled giving money and apologizing.
The first few only cried a bit. Er Niu's father, Niu Dasheng, was burly. Seeing his son injured, he almost started a fight. Xue Ling grabbed his arm, not intending to suffer a loss.
Er Niu, with a mouth full of pastry crumbs, quickly stopped his father: "Dad, Lord Xue carried me all night and even gave me pastries to eat. You're not allowed to hit him!"
Both sides stopped. Upon closer inquiry, they learned that this family's burly physique wasn't from practicing martial arts, but from an inherited natural ability to eat a lot, hence their robust build. Xue Ling could only return disappointed.
Finally, it was Chun Rou's turn. As soon as she entered the door, mother and daughter embraced and wept uncontrollably, sobbing.
Her father was a private tutor, his eyes red and nose swollen. He left his students in the hall, using classical phrases to indirectly curse Xue Ling, "Confucius said, a gentleman..."
Two or three sentences were tolerable, but a long, rambling discourse annoyed Xue Ling. It was getting late, and he was eager to earn points.
The private school wasn't large; Xue Ling had already surveyed it. There were only two thin, old books on the shelf, not Cultivation Techniques. No wonder this pedant only spewed saliva and dared not act.
He glared with fierce, tiger-like eyes, looking menacing: "Does Sir consider me a gentleman?"
"You? A beast in human clothes! A wolf in sheep's clothing!" Mr. Chun stomped his feet and cursed angrily, the words blurting out. After cursing, he immediately regretted it.