No taboos

Chapter 333 The Canal Administration Make Things Difficult for My Dafu

The leader's face was covered in blood, and he made strange hoarse sounds in his throat, but he couldn't utter a sound.

His eyes were filled with resentment as he stared intently at Xu Yuan.

He recognized this inspector from the Exorcism Bureau; the Champa branch had been destroyed because of this man!

Once in his hands, the leader knew he was doomed.

The things done by the Dark Helmsman have left too many traces.

The leader just couldn't understand why, after feeding on evil spirits for months, even a sparrow flying by at night would shriek mournfully—why didn't the Exorcism Division utter a single word during their massive surprise attack tonight?
You and the Exorcism Bureau are natural enemies.

"Heh," Xu Yuan sneered when he saw the leader's eyes, "Looks like he's still unrepentant."

Xu Yuan uttered the word "death" twice, and Di Youzhi stepped forward, reached out and pressed down on the leader's neck, rubbing his palm in a circle.

The sword pellet emerged from his palm.

The helmsman's neck was then completely severed.

His head fell to the ground with a thud, and blood spurted more than a foot high from his neck cavity.

One of Di Youzhi's subordinates, a divine cultivator, was prepared and stepped forward to capture the soul.

After a series of treatments, the leader's soul became a dazed figure, answering every question.

"Sir, you may now ask questions."

Xu Yuan nodded and asked where the artifacts of the Pingtian Society were hidden.

The spirit mumbled the location in a daze, so Xu Yuan didn't ask any further questions and turned to find the artifacts.

Shi Bading chuckled and then interrogated the spirit: "Where have you hidden all the wealth you've amassed?"

This was approved by Lord Xu.

The Pingtian Society's branch was destroyed. This secret branch had not been established for long and could not accumulate much wealth.

After asking the question, Shi Bading rushed forward first.

Di Youzhi and his men immediately followed behind.

Xu Yuan found the hidden compartment under the bed in the leader's room.

There are two artifacts inside: one is a mahogany and brass earring similar to the one worn by the Holy Maiden, and the other is a set of two fold-out books.

The Pingtian Society has three famous crafts, which are not of high quality but are very useful.

Another type is the "abacus".

No matter how complicated the accounts are, a quick turn of the abacus beads and they're all settled.

Xu Yuan's mahogany and brass earlobe was destroyed, but it was still quite useful.

Xu Yuan accepted it without hesitation.

Those two comprehensions were Xu Yuan's true target in breaking the Dark Helms.

If you write in one book, the same handwriting will appear in the other.

This is an artifact used to maintain contact and communication.

But the folding paper is only so big; if it's filled with writing, the craftsman's work will be ruined.

Xu Yuan collected the items and came out. Shi Bading and Di Youzhi had already divided up all the valuables in the Dark Helmsman.

Everyone gets a share, but the amount varies depending on one's position.

However, whatever everyone found during the surprise attack is theirs to keep and they don't need to hand it over.

Xu Yuan called Miao Yan, who had been leading the way, to him and said, "This place is now in the hands of your Third Sister's Society."

There are also some poor souls here who were captured or tricked by them. I'm handing them over to you; make sure they're settled properly." Then, with a wave of his hand, he said, "Dismissed!"

After the people from the Exorcism Bureau left, Miao Yan rubbed his hands together, looking at the three-courtyard house with a smug expression: "This all belongs to our Third Sister's Association!"

This is a benefit for those who lead the way.

But it's also because Lord Xu now considers Miao Yan one of his own.

Serving the Ancestral Master and doing my best for the adults during this time has indeed paid off.

Otherwise, even if it was unlucky that many people had died in this courtyard, it would never have been given to him so easily.

Back at the South City patrol post, everyone went to rest.

Only Dafu didn't sleep.

Not only did he not sleep, but he also kept his eyes wide open, guarding the door of the kitchen.

They stayed until dawn.

Xu Yuan woke up in the middle of the night, opened the door, and Da Fu suddenly flapped its big wings and jumped up: "Caw caw caw—" This was a way of urging him to eat, fulfilling his promise from last night.

"Hey hey hey!" Xu Yuan grabbed Dafu by the neck with both hands: "Stop messing around! I remember! After I finish eating, I'll go and ask you for those bugs."

Dafu flapped its wings wildly, "What are you eating? I haven't eaten yet either, I'm waiting for you to find me some food..."

Xu Yuan pointed with his hand, and the animal sinew rope bound Dafu tightly.

"Gah!" Dafu protested.

The animal sinew rope swam up again and tied its mouth shut as well.

Lord Xu finally calmed down and ate the sumptuous breakfast brought by the Third Sister's group before letting go of Dafu: "I'm going to the Grand Canal Office now."

Today is still not a day for viewing prohibited items.

Today's taboo is:

Fireworks, drumming, singing, and reading are prohibited.

They all seem to be related to sound, but I wonder what the hidden reason is.

Xu Yuan originally planned to send the memorial to Jiao and then set off for Ghost Witch Mountain, but he was pestered by Da Fu and could only find a way to fulfill his promise.

I took the opportunity to check out the shop at the dock that the canal government had promised me.

Taking only Lang Xiaoba with him, Lord Xu did not head straight to the canal wharf, but instead went to the Shanhe Division first and found Zhu Zhanlei.

Communication with the canal administration is done through Zhu Zhanlei; this time, we still need him to step in.

Zhu Zhanlei said lazily, "These past few days have been so boring, I don't want to do anything..."

Xu Yuan understood. In front of Zhu Zhanlei, he took out a thousand taels of silver notes and handed them to Lang Xiaoba: "Go to Xieliu Lane and give the silver notes to Miss Bai. Tell her that these were deposited by Young Master Zhu."

Then go directly to the South Gate; we'll be waiting for you there.

"Yes!" Lang Xiaoba accepted the order and left.

Zhu Zhanlei immediately perked up: "But Brother Xu, since you have something to do, I have to step in and help you!"

The two of them were taking their time, while Lang Xiaoba was rushing as fast as he could.

Both sides arrived at the South Gate at roughly the same time, and then, without further delay, headed straight for the canal wharf.

We found the shop first; there was no surprise, but it wasn't disappointing either.

This is a very ordinary shop at the canal wharf.

The location is neither good nor bad, and the area is neither too big nor too small.

It's enough to open a shop and sell goods by taking advantage of the dock's location, but you'll need to find another warehouse to store the goods.

Xu Yuan looked around the shop, but there was no room to expand; all the shops were occupied by neighboring shops.

Let's put the matter of the score aside for now, and consider it again after I've resolved the issue of the genuine seed.

Choosing a good business opportunity can bring in another source of income through business practices!

Then the three of them went to the Grand Canal Administration Office.

Zhu Zhanlei went in first, while Xu Yuan and Lang Xiaoba waited outside for quite a while before a servant came out and led them in as well.

They were received by a clerk in the yamen, who spoke to Xu Yuan in a very businesslike manner: "We have indeed captured dozens of those strange insects alive, but these things are extremely infectious, so the price cannot be cheap."

How much is one?

"Two thousand taels."

"How much did you say?" Xu Yuan's voice rose several times.

"This is the price, take it or leave it!" Shubu rolled his eyes.

Xu Yuan rubbed his nose, unable to swallow his anger.

The canal authorities were clearly retaliating.

He used that piece of evidence to extort money from their shop.

Two thousand taels to buy a single insect, just so Dafu can have a bite?
Xu Yuan thought for a moment and said to the book, "Is the River Supervisor here? I would like to have a talk with him in person. After all, we are all in Champa, and it is better to resolve conflicts than to make them fester."

Shubu snorted coldly and said, "The River Supervisor is very busy with official duties, and not just anyone can see him."

Zhu Zhanlei was about to speak up and try to mediate when Xu Yuan grabbed him, saying, "Let's go, I'm not buying it!"

The bookstore owner retorted sharply, "Hey! It's not like we're begging you to buy it."

After they came out, Zhu Zhanlei couldn't help but worry: "That goose of yours is no pushover, are you really not going to buy it?"

Xu Yuan glanced back at the Grand Canal Administration: "Of course they're not easy to deal with. The one with a headache shouldn't be me, but the Grand Canal Administration."

Dafu, it's not that I don't want to buy it for you, it's that the canal authorities are making things difficult for us. They just don't want you to eat it!
What do you think we should do about this?
(End of this chapter)