60: Close the door and beat the dog (ask for monthly ticket)

The next day, Qingshan County’s city gates finally opened wide.

The common people’s hearts finally settled.

Some rumors also began to circulate in the market.

Yesterday, the entire Qingshan County had been on tenterhooks all day.

After all, the movements of the demons were quite grand, making everyone's hearts pound.

Once their hearts settled, the common people became curious about what exactly happened yesterday.

Gradually, some rumors spread.

It was said that mountain folk outside the city had seen it.

A giant Mountain Lord and a Green Ox battled in the mountains, causing landslides and tremors, with immense momentum.

It was said that the two demons were dozens of feet tall, taller than mountains, truly terrifying.

The final result of the battle was that the Mountain Lord killed the Green Ox.

As this news spread, among the common people, it transformed into two great demons fighting over territory in the mountains.

Many city residents were convinced, claiming to have seen that Mountain Lord just the night before.

This Mountain Lord had run into Qingshan County, causing quite a stir.

At this, everyone became a little uneasy again.

Having such a terrifying demon near Qingshan County was like having a sword hanging over everyone's heads.

Someone then couldn't help but ask,

“Where is our Captain?”

No one knew.

But even with the demons causing such a huge commotion, that Captain had not appeared.

For a time, rumors filled the market.

All sorts of conjectures.

The atmosphere was not good.

That day, shortly after dawn, in an alley,

A Night Watchman with a red, bulbous nose, carrying his work tools under his arm, said goodbye to his colleagues after finishing work, and staggered into the alley, carrying a pot of wine.

He was still somewhat drunk, mumbling about the topic he had just discussed with the other Night Watchman.

“Heh, who cares, whether demons come or not, what does it have to do with a commoner like me? As long as there’s wine, it’s fine.”

But just then, a voice came, and a hand clapped his shoulder.

“Big brother, can I ask you something?”

The Night Watchman turned his head to look.

It was a fellow with a Pockmarked Face.

“Who are you?” he said grumpily, shaking off the Pockmarked Face’s hand.

“My apologies, I just arrived in Qingshan County this morning as a merchant. After arriving in the county, I heard many people saying that Qingshan County was almost attacked by demons yesterday, but it was because two demons fought. Aren’t we scared? I saw you big brothers were just talking about this, saying someone saw it with their own eyes, so I just wanted to ask.”

“Is this news accurate? Did someone really see it?”

The Pockmarked Face smiled broadly, looking curious.

“Of course they saw it! I heard people say that the demon was bigger than a mountain, isn’t that terrifying?” the Night Watchman said vividly.

“Who did you hear it from? Do you know where the person who saw it with their own eyes is?”

As the Pockmarked Face said this, his eyes became a bit obscure.

The Night Watchman found his words strange and was somewhat impatient.

“You’re a strange one. I heard it from my cousin’s second grand-uncle’s next-door neighbor’s husband.”

“Is that enough?!”

“Go, go, go, don’t block the Dao.”

Saying this, he was about to shoo him away.

But the next second, the Night Watchman’s hand stopped, his eyes gleamed, and his impatient expression disappeared, replaced by a smile.

Because the Pockmarked Face in front of him offered a piece of broken silver.

The Night Watchman quickly took it, bit it with his teeth, and then looked at the Pockmarked Face, becoming all smiles.

“Look at your question, actually, I also heard it from others, I don't know the specifics.”

“But I can point you to a place. Just at the end of this alley, there’s a wine shop. Many people drink there, and that’s where I heard it from.”

The Night Watchman turned and pointed to a side alley.

“Alright, that’s yours.”

The Pockmarked Face smiled and nodded.

The Night Watchman quickly thanked him,

“Oh, thank you very much.”

Saying this, he clutched the silver bean, overjoyed, and turned to walk back.

However, he had only walked a few steps.

The originally pleasing silver bean suddenly transformed into a ferocious insect, burrowing into his palm.

He let out a cry of pain.

The next second, he fell straight down, and then a few breaths later, his flesh and blood disappeared at a visible speed.

The Pockmarked Face walked over and sneered,

“If you take the Feixian Sect’s incense money, you’ll have to pay with your life.”

Saying this, he opened his mouth, and the insect flew out and burrowed into his mouth.

The Pockmarked Face smacked his lips, then walked towards the wine shop the Night Watchman had mentioned.

At the end of the alley, a strong aroma of wine wafted over.

The Pockmarked Face quickly saw the wine shop, and in the kitchen, a hunched old man was busy.

There were quite a few customers inside.

“Shopkeeper, a pot of wine!”

He shouted.

Then he sat down at an empty table.

“Coming!”

The old man quickly brought a pot of wine and a small dish.

“Guest, your…”

As the old man spoke, his words faltered.

“What’s wrong?”

The Pockmarked Face looked up, his gaze sweeping over the old man’s face.

The old man quickly regained his composure, placed the wine pot down, then rubbed his chest, bowed low, and smiled apologetically,

“Old habit, my apologies.”

“Guest, this is your wine.”

“These are fried beans from our shop, for you to enjoy with your wine.”

Saying this, he was about to turn around.

At this moment,

“Shopkeeper, wait.”

The Pockmarked Face called out to the old man.

The old man turned around,

“Guest, do you need anything else?”

He saw the Pockmarked Face smiling and tossing out a silver bean.

“Nothing, just wanted to ask the shopkeeper something.”

Then, the Pockmarked Face repeated the same question he had asked earlier.

And continued to say:

“Your wine shop has people coming and going, so you should know more clearly.”

“When the demons fought, were there any other people present?”

“Or, where did this news come from?”

The Pockmarked Face chuckled,

“Don’t be surprised, we travel all over the world for business, and we like to hear these stories.”

The old man listened to these words.

He took the silver bean, bowed even lower, and said with a fawning smile.

“Thank you for the tip, guest.”

“Guest, you’ve asked the right person. I have a regular customer who always likes to go hunting in the mountains, leaving late and returning early. That day, he was outside the city and saw the demons fighting. As for your question, I, this old man, don’t know the specifics, unless you personally go and ask that customer.”

Upon hearing this, the Pockmarked Face’s eyes lit up,

“Oh? Then, would you mind showing me the way?”

The shopkeeper looked troubled,

“Guest, you see, I still have customers…”

Before he could finish, the Pockmarked Face took out a silver coin and placed it on the table.

The old man’s wrinkled face instantly broke into a wide smile, and he quickly tucked the silver into his sleeve.

“Guest, please!”

And the Pockmarked Face looked at this greedy old man, his lips curving into a cold sneer.

Soon, the two, one after another, arrived at the gate of a small courtyard.

The old man knocked on the door.

The door opened.

The person who opened the door had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, a truly handsome young man.

“Yuan Ge'er, a guest wants to inquire about the demon fight yesterday. I said you knew, so I brought him here,” the old man said to the young man with a smile, wiggling his eyebrows.

From the very beginning, the young man’s eyes had fallen on the Pockmarked Face who followed behind.

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Oh, then come in!”

And the Pockmarked Face, seeing how agreeable this young man was, smiled even wider.

Good, it saved him the trouble.

So, he followed him through the door.

Then, the next second,

“Bang!”

The door closed by itself, without a breath of wind.

It was shut tight.

And the young man turned around, his smile bright, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

(PS: Today is Sunday, asking for a wave of continuous reads and monthly tickets. I will try my best to do three updates today, it’s a very crucial day! Thank you everyone.)

Thanks to “Behind the Scenes Big Boss” for the 2600 point reward, truly a big boss, and thanks to “Xiaolou Yeyuzhou” for the 100 point reward, thank you.