The Ming Dynasty took an unconventional approach

Chapter 573

Magistrate Wu, who had seen ghosts before, swallowed his saliva and asked nervously, "Is it a ghost?"

Pan Yun glanced at him and said nothing.

Seeing her carrying something and leaving, Magistrate Wu hurriedly chased after her: "You haven't said it yet, is it a ghost? If it is a ghost, please ask her to come to the county government office. Their testimonies about her death are vague.

It's not that I don't know her or have never seen her, but I just have a vague impression of her. The only ones who are sure to know her are Fu Danian, Qian Zhixiao and the experienced Xue Xin.

But among the three of them, one only had a vague understanding, and two were vague. No matter how I threatened them, they couldn’t explain clearly. They all admitted that they killed Liu Xiaohong, but they were hesitant to the people who were present at the time, either missing this or missing that…”

Magistrate Wu trotted forward and stood in front of Pan Yun, saying in a deep voice, "I think Liu Xiaohong's death is different from the deaths of others."

"What's the difference? Aren't they all tortured and killed?"

"The reasons are different!" Magistrate Wu said, "Qian Zhixiao was frightened like that last night, and only Liu Xiaohong was nailed with the soul-locking nail."

Pan Yun looked around and sighed, "It's hard for you to get everyone away. Okay, I'll tell you."

Magistrate Wu's eyes lit up and his face was full of anticipation.

Pan Jun: "She doesn't know either."

"What?" Magistrate Wu was a little confused.

Pan Yun: "She doesn't even remember her last name. What information can you expect to get from her?"

Magistrate Wu opened his mouth and spoke after a long while: "Is it because of the soul-locking nail, or is it because it has been too long like them and has become a residual soul?"

“Yes and no,” Pan Yun sighed, “Because of the Soul Locking Nail, she didn’t disperse like the other residual souls, leaving only a wisp of residual soul with obsession in the world. Instead, most of her soul was locked up, and she became a big ghost.”

Magistrate Wu’s eyes widened.

Pan Yun: "She was very lucky. Her body, which was buried separately, leaked her aura. Then she was found by an unscrupulous Taoist priest and raised. When she was about to dissipate, she met a loyal and brave Taoist priest who condensed her soul. However, she still has no memory."

Wu County Magistrate: "Could that loyal and brave Taoist priest be you, Taoist Pan?"

Pan Yun: "It is me."

Magistrate Wu laughed: "...Then she is really lucky."

"Wu County Magistrate, don't laugh like that next time, or I'll misunderstand you." Pan Yun said, "This is also one of the reasons why I want to take her body away. When she is reunited with her body, maybe she can remember something."

Magistrate Wu said solemnly: "Then this matter will be handed over to Taoist Master Pan."

Pan Yun clasped his fists and sighed, "Who told me to be soft-hearted?"

Magistrate Wu laughed and said, "Master Pan is a man of integrity and courage."

"Wu County Magistrate, you can't tell anyone else about this. It's between you and me. If anyone knows that I have evidence in my hands, my future life will be difficult."

Wu County Magistrate: "Don't worry, Master Pan, I have specially sent everyone away. No one knows that you have this evidence."

"One copy was handed in according to the procedure, and one copy was sent to the capital at full speed. What do you plan to do with the other copy? You asked three clerks to record their statements at the same time, and they pressed their fingerprints three times. This is not a secret, and anyone with a keen eye can find out."

Wu County Magistrate: "Don't worry, Taoist Pan, this matter will not involve you."

After hearing this, Pan Jun sighed, stuffed the large stack of evidence in his hand into his sleeves, went back to the house, found a big box, packed the things in it, and then put it into the spiritual space.

When Pan Xiaohei saw her take out the talisman paper, cinnabar, and talisman brush, he jumped onto the table and looked at her sideways: "We're almost leaving, why are you still wasting your energy drawing talismans?"

Pan Yun: "It's not like I have to control the flying magic weapon. Isn't there someone ready?"

She couldn't just watch Wu Zhihong die.

Pan Yun prepared the cinnabar, laid out the talisman pen and talisman paper one by one, then turned his palms upward and pinched his fingers to regulate his breathing.

A quarter of an hour later, she opened her eyes, picked up the pen and began to draw talismans.

Li Wenying was already saying goodbye to Mr. Li and the others.

Although Mr. Li provided important evidence and was considered to have made meritorious service while serving his sentence, he was still eventually imprisoned.

He was holding Li Wenying's hand and crying, complaining: "Master Pan said he would save me, why did he end up in jail?"

Why did he invite people from all over the world?

Li Wenying had a headache: "She took this case for you, you have to ask her."

Master Li: "She didn't get the job done, so she has to return the money, right? If she doesn't, will you at Longhu Mountain take care of it?"

Li Wenying: "If it damages the reputation of Longhu Mountain, I will still take care of it. However, Master Li, it seems that my junior sister has returned all the money you gave her."

He looked at Master Li standing beside him.

Mr. Li followed his gaze.

Master Li nodded: "Dad, she returned all the money to me."

Master Li: “…When?”

"She returned all the money when you changed your clothes before leaving the house that day."

Li Wenying was smiling and was about to speak, but suddenly her smile stopped and she turned to look towards Pan Jun's room.

Mr. Li and Mr. Li also looked over.

Master Li looked at it for a long time but couldn't figure out anything. He couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "Master Li, what's wrong?"

Li Wenying stopped smiling and said, "Nothing, Master Li, you should go to jail."

Master Li: "...The county magistrate didn't even rush me. He even let me stay in the county office for another night. Why are you rushing me?"

Li Wenying said, "We brothers and sisters will be leaving tonight. I was afraid you would forget, so I reminded you in vain."

"We're leaving tonight. Are you in such a hurry?"

Li Wenying: It's urgent. Today is a day off and classes will start tomorrow. Pan Jun claimed that she would be in seclusion for two days. If she doesn't go back, Lin Jingle will come to arrest her.

Li Wenying and others were in the yard, watching the gathered spiritual energy being consumed. The spiritual energy swirling in the distance seemed to lose its direction and dissipate on the spot. Only then did he walk forward and knock on the door.

"Hurry up, it's getting late."

Pan Yun folded the talismans he had drawn, tore off a few pieces of paper to record the order and methods of use, then wrapped the talismans with paper, casually stuffed them into a purse and went to open the door.

"Brother, please wait for me for a quarter of an hour."

Pan Yun handed the purse to Magistrate Wu: "Inside are some talismans I drew. I hope they can save your life and that of your family."

Magistrate Wu took it in a daze.

Pan Yun: "Since you can't be an official anymore, then go back to your hometown. Jiangnan is great, but it's no longer suitable for you."

Magistrate Wu opened the purse and took a look. His eyes were slightly hot and he bowed and said, "Take care, Taoist Pan."

Pan Yun also clasped his fists and turned to leave. "Wait!" County Magistrate Wu chased after him, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Pan Yun waited for a while, and seeing that he was dithering, she urged him, "If you have something to say, please say it quickly."

Magistrate Wu's face flushed, and he whispered, "I want to apologize to Taoist Master Pan. During the Xue Pan case, the imperial censor in the capital came to investigate Yang Ji's case, and I, I..."

"You wanna say you're on the same side?"

Magistrate Wu: "You know?"

"I know," Pan Yun said, "I knew it before I even came to Ji'an."

Magistrate Wu opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"So what? You didn't frame Yang Ji," Pan Yun said, "Your mistake was to condone Yang Ji's crime and not prosecute him. But I can understand that. You have only been in Ji'an for less than three years, and Yang Ji has been entrenched here for forty or fifty years. He has long been a local tyrant. If you want to prosecute him as soon as you arrive, the grass on your grave will probably be half a person tall."

Wu County Magistrate: ...

Pan Yun patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "County Magistrate Wu, it is right to form a clique without seeking personal gain. There is also an idiom called 'fake dealings'. When it comes to being a person and doing things, it is enough as long as you have a clear conscience."

Magistrate Wu: ...Who is older and who is younger between the two of them?

Pan Jun seemed to know what he was thinking, and chuckled, "As for truth, it's not that you understand it better as you get older. Look at Mr. Li. So, it's not age that matters."

Magistrate Wu: "Master Pan has a lot of ideas."

"It's just so-so," Pan Yun said, clasping his fists, "Wu County Magistrate, we'll see you later."

Magistrate Wu bowed and watched her leave.

Master Li had been paying attention to the movements in Pan Yun's room. When he saw her leaving, he rushed out and hugged her thighs: "Master Pan, you can't just stand by and watch someone die!"

Pan Jun was so frightened that he almost kicked the man away, but luckily he managed to hold back his strength.

She covered her twitching right leg and said angrily, "Master Li, don't hurt me if you don't want to die. Do you know how powerful my kick is? If I kick you out in shock, you will fly to the gate of the county government office and your sternum will be broken. Do you believe it?"

"I believe it, I believe it, Master Pan, you are very powerful, I believe everything you say now," Master Li hugged her legs tightly and cried, "Master Pan, I spent a lot of money to hire you. Although you have returned the money later, there is still a deposit. You can't just stand by and watch me die."

Pan Yun pulled his legs out with all his strength and said, "Don't ruin my reputation. I'll take care of it for you."

Pan Yun counted on his fingers and said, "You were tortured by ghosts. Did I find the ghosts for you? After their remains are reburied, they won't come looking for you again. Does this count as a solution?"

“It’s solved, but…”

"No buts," Pan Yun said, breaking off his second finger. "Second, you are afraid of revenge. Should I dig out all the mud for you? And I have to make the mud bite the mud. The main contradiction and target have been shifted. Who will care about you, a small follower? Does revenge not exist?"

"I've solved two major problems for you, and I'll take your fifty taels deposit. What are you dissatisfied with?"

Mr. Li was stunned: "Fifty taels? Isn't it one hundred taels?"

It’s bad, the truth is revealed.

Pan Yun immediately waved his hand: "Don't worry about the amount, just tell me whether I solved it for you or not."

Mr. Li immediately put the deposit issue behind him and cried, "Yes, these two issues have been resolved, but I still have to go to jail."

Pan Yun: "You don't have to worry about your life."

Master Li slapped his thigh and said, "It's really painful."

Pan Yun: "This is the law! Master Li, I am not one of those wild Taoist priests who do whatever they want for money. I am the temple priest of the Sanqing Mountain Temple, an upright Taoist priest! The rules set by Emperor Taizu Gao, I will strictly abide by them and will never violate them!"

Mr. Li: "It turns out that Taoist Master Pan is the temple priest of the Sanqing Mountain God Temple. From now on, my Li family will believe in the Sanqing Mountain God. I want to worship Him as my family god and make a golden statue for the mountain god. I will burn three incense sticks every morning and evening to worship Him. Temple priest Pan, please save me."

Pan Yun's expression relaxed, and she stroked her beard. Oh, she had no beard. She drove away the image of the eldest senior brother in her mind and replaced it with the image of the fourth senior sister. She raised her chin slightly and said coldly, "Since you, Mr. Li, have asked sincerely, I will also save you sincerely."

Mr. Li nodded vigorously and looked at her expectantly.

Pan Yun: "Please prepare thirty-six taels of silver."

Mr. Li immediately took out a handful of banknotes from his pocket and stuffed them into her hands pitifully: "I didn't count them, but it must be more than thirty-six taels."

Pan Yun put his hands behind his back and said unhappily, "Why give it to me? Give it to Magistrate Wu!"

"You are a scholar, but you have read so much that you have lost your mind." Pan Yun said, "Ming dynasty law stipulates that the penalty for imprisonment is 12 taels per year. Your crime is just as serious as that. You will be sentenced to three years in prison and pay a ransom of 36 taels. In the next three years, you must report to the county government office once every ten days and you are not allowed to leave Ji'an County without permission."

Mr. Li was stunned: "Is this the end?"

Pan Yun looked down at him and asked, "What else?"

Mr. Li took the money back in a flash and got up from the ground with his hands.

Pan Yun said quietly, "But that's not necessarily the case."

Master Li knelt down again with a plop, hugged Pan Yun's calf and cried: "Master Pan..."

Pan Yun snorted, but this time he didn't pull his legs away. He let him shake for a few times before saying, "You can't redeem your sentence just because you want to. You need the county magistrate's consent. I think County Magistrate Wu doesn't like you, Master Li~~"

Mr. Li immediately took out the money from his pocket and stuffed it into Pan Yun's pocket: "Master Pan, you have a good relationship with Magistrate Wu, please ask for mercy on my behalf."

Pan Yun took the money, counted it, and nodded: "Okay, okay."

Pan Yun turned around and gave half of the money to Li Wenying: "Brother Li, I have to stay for another hour."

Li Wenying looked up at the sky.

Pan Yun handed over another ten-liang silver note: "Brother Li, we are about to go out for training. Have you prepared the money?"

Li Wenying: "I can't starve."

“There’s a difference between not being hungry and eating well.”

Li Wenying took the money and asked, "What do you want me to do?"

Pan Yun covered his chest and said, "I have consumed too much energy today. The flying magic weapon..."

"I'll take charge."

Pan Yun: "The government has prepared a new cemetery for them. It has already been dug. We could have just buried them directly, but I suddenly felt that it might be better if we could pray for the souls of the deceased to be reborn sooner."

Li Wenying glanced at her and said, "Okay, I'll do it."

Pan Yun smiled and stepped forward to rub his shoulders and hands: "I knew that Senior Brother Li has a chivalrous heart."

Pan Yun said to Master Li, "Go find Magistrate Wu and tell him that you paid us to help the deceased souls to redeem your sins of not saving the dead and not reporting the crimes you have committed for so many years."

"Ah?" Mr. Li looked confused.

Li Wenying sighed and asked her, "Do you really have to save this person?"

Mr. Li immediately came back to his senses, got up from the ground and ran to the front yard: "I'll go find Magistrate Wu now."

(End of this chapter)