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Chapter 380 The Mysterious Gold Rush (Part Two)

After Zhu Zhanlei came to inform Lord Xu in the morning, he obediently went to the canal wharf.

He pretended to be a proper inspector of the Mountain and River Bureau.

The canal authorities repeatedly questioned Gao Wanli and the local canal supervisor.

There are also many skilled investigators over there.

So they quickly discovered some "detail" issues.

The Crown Princess brought a limited number of people this time.

However, this doesn't match the number of people the Crown Princess later brought into Ghost Mountain.

Where did those missing people go?

The only one still alive is Hong Huai.

The canal authorities immediately ordered men to bring Hong Huai in for questioning, only to find that Hong Huai had already committed suicide.

Then it became clear: Xu Yuan, the head of the Champa branch of the Exorcism Bureau, had been assassinated twice.

Jiaozhi River Supervisor immediately felt that Xu Yuan was highly "suspicious".

To take revenge on the Crown Princess, he killed them in Ghost Witch Mountain.

But... Xu Yuan was always in the Department of Purification.

After analyzing the situation, the expert investigators under the River Supervisor guessed that the Crown Princess's two assassination attempts were not necessarily intended to kill Xu Yuan, but rather to test whether Xu Yuan was secretly cultivating the "Dragon Transformation Technique".

Based on Gao Wanli's testimony, everyone now knows the Crown Princess's purpose in coming to Champa.

Xu Yuan did not reveal the Dragon Transformation Technique during either of his two attempts to test him.

That's why the Crown Princess went to Ghost Witch Mountain to track down the villain who had secretly practiced the Dragon Transformation Technique.

The canal authorities were in an awkward position.

Therefore, Xu Yuan was not summoned immediately.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Qinghuai clicked his tongue.

This is quite ridiculous.

Zhu Zhanlei announced the news: "I'm going back. Ouch, ouch, ouch, it really hurts..."

He walked with a limp. Xu Yuan and Xiang Qinghuai discussed it and decided to remain unchanged in the face of all changes.

If we have nothing to hide, we have nothing to fear.

When Zhu Zhanlei passed through the courtyard, he walked close to the base of the other side of the courtyard wall, keeping a safe distance from the grumpy goose.

He entered the car through the back door and could only lie down after getting on.

When he returned to the Shanhe Si yamen, he summoned his personal guards, who were shocked to see what had happened to him: "Young master, what happened to you? Your buttocks are swollen and purple!"

"What?!" Zhu Zhanlei was startled.

The guard said, "Don't move around. You may have been poisoned. I'll go find a pill refiner to help you detoxify."

Miao Yu and Zhu Zhanmei are both at the canal dock and haven't returned.

Zhu Zhanlei was on the verge of tears. Why did I have to be so rude back then!

Xu Yuan, Xu Yuan, what kind of creature are you raising? It's definitely not a proper goose.

The guards quickly found a seventh-rate alchemist.

Zhu Zhanlei had a group of men under his command, which he brought from home.

This seventh-rate alchemist was one of them.

Dan Xiu examined him and said, "Young Master, you are indeed poisoned. But I can't tell what kind of poison it is. I'll try my antidote pill on you first. Please bear with it."

Zhu Zhanlei gritted his teeth: "Hurry up and do it."

Dan Xiu spat out his antidote pill and rolled it a few times on Zhu Zhanlei's buttocks.

Zhu Zhanlei screamed in agony, like a pig being slaughtered.

Just then, a few captains passed by the outer gate and curiously peeked through the window:
Zhu Zhanlei's personal guards and alchemists were seen doing something to Zhu Zhanlei's buttocks...

The captains stared wide-eyed.

Good heavens, is it really this chaotic in a large family with such a surname?

The group exchanged glances and quickly ducked down, slipping away along the wall.

Soon, rumors about Zhu Zhanlei began to circulate within the Shanhe Si government office...

Dan Xiu used an antidote pill, rolling it around Zhu Zhanlei's buttocks several times, but it had no effect whatsoever.

He had no choice but to put away the antidote and sighed, "Young Master, I can't cure this poison. How were you poisoned?"

Zhu Zhanlei was too ashamed to say it.

He told his personal guard, "Go to the Exorcism Division and tell Xu Yuan about my situation. Tell him to come over immediately and help me find a solution!"

Tell him that if he dares not to come, I'll tell my third sister that he spent the night at the White Moon Pavilion!

The guard was taken aback: "Did Lord Xu go to Baiyue Pavilion with you, young master, last night?"

Zhu Zhanlei was so angry at this hotheaded soldier that he slammed his fist on the bed: "Idiot! Young Master is spreading rumors, spreading rumors, don't you understand! Go now!"

"Oh, oh, oh." The guards hurried off.

Dan Xiu put away his antidote pills, somewhat disdainfully.

He went to the side and used the water from the teapot to wash himself several times before swallowing it again.

……

Xu Yuan touched his head in disbelief after hearing what his personal guard said.

But he still went to the courtyard, caught Dafu, and went with his personal guards.

Dafu struggled in Master Xu's arms the whole way, quacking in protest.

Xu Yuan slapped the goose's head: "Stop messing around, you've caused a huge disaster!"

Dafu shrank back, his eyes blank: What? I don't know, I don't understand what you're saying.

Upon arriving at the Shanhe Si Yamen (official residence of the Mountain and River Administration), Zhu Zhanlei grumbled, "What kind of thing are you raising...?"

Xu Yuan finally saw Zhu Zhanlei's buttocks.

It was already swollen very high, and turned a dark purple-black color.

Xu Yuan asked Dafu, "What should we do?"

Dafu jumped down, staggered over to Zhu Zhanlei's side, and spat on his butt.

The poison has been visibly neutralized.

Zhu Zhanlei felt a cool sensation on his buttocks, and the pain subsided, so he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

He tilted his head and looked at Dafu, his arrogant, rich young master habit kicking in again: "Are you selling this goose or not? Name your price..."

Dafu flew into a rage—Xu Yuan grabbed Dafu.

"You're really asking for trouble."

Zhu Zhanlei slapped himself: "Why are you being so foul-mouthed again? I won't buy it, I absolutely won't buy it. Mr. Goose, you're the boss, I'll just avoid you from now on, okay?"

Dafu finally calmed down.

It was completely dark outside, so Xu Yuan didn't go back. He stayed at the Shanhe Division with Dafu for the night.

The next day, the almanac forbade: pointing to the sun, galloping in the streets, making noise, and playing music.

Zhu Zhanlei recovered overnight and is now mostly fine.

I had breakfast with Xu Yuan early in the morning: "I have to go to the Grand Canal Administration Office."

Xu Yuan returned to the Office of the Purification Bureau, where people from the Canal Bureau were already waiting for him: "Chief Lawyer Xu, Lord An requests your presence."

An Chengyuan was the River Supervisor of the Jiaozhi Canal Office.

Xu Yuan didn't ask any more questions. Together with Xiang Qinghuai, he led Lang Xiaoba, Di Youzhi, and two teams of captains to the canal dock with that man.

However, he was unable to meet An Chengyuan.

The men of the Exorcism Bureau were settled in a courtyard on the dock.

Be ready to obey orders at any time. Xiang Qinghuai secretly warned Xu Yuan not to complain, lest he cause trouble.

Let us wait, we'll just wait.

Zhu Zhanlei had nothing to do and wanted to chat with Xu Yuan, but Zhu Zhanmei secretly stopped him.

At this time, it's important to avoid suspicion.

It's not just for myself, but also for Xu Yuan's good.

Xu Yuan waited until the afternoon, but the Grand Canal Administration still hadn't assigned him any tasks. Yu Yunhang from the Exorcism Division rushed over, saying, "Sir, a strange case has occurred in Shiyang Village. It's a big case, and the brothers below don't know how to handle it."

Xu Yuan then went to see Lord An Chengyuan.

The canal office at the dock was now heavily guarded by the elite troops of the canal management camp.

Even the people of the Mountain and River Bureau are not allowed to enter or leave without permission.

Of course, Miao Yu, Zhu Zhanmei, and Zhu Zhanlei are not included in this list.

Prominent families still have that kind of face.

Xu Yuan, who came from a poor family and was not well-regarded, was barred from entering the government office.

A platoon leader from the river management camp stood on the steps at the main gate, glanced at Xu Yuan from head to toe, and then lazily said, "Wait."

He then calmly went in with his hands behind his back to announce the news.

Xu Yuan waited patiently outside the gate for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, but no one came out.

After waiting for another incense stick's time, I started to get a little impatient.

She couldn't help but want to go up and ask, but Xiang Qinghuai stopped her.

Xiang Qinghuai winked at Xu Yuan and gently shook his head.

Xu Yuan gritted his teeth and suppressed his anger.

Then, calculating the time, after about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Xu Yuan decisively turned around and left.

Xiang Qinghuai hurriedly caught up: "Lord An hasn't replied yet, it wouldn't be appropriate for us to leave like this, would it?"

Xu Yuan glanced back at the gate of the Grand Canal Administration Office and said, "Still waiting? Waiting any longer will only bring shame upon ourselves. I won't do such a thing."

Then, Xu Yuan strode away.

The sergeant didn't report it at all.

We drank tea in a side room not far from the main gate.

He knew that the head of the Purification Division was summoned by Lord An to take orders.

He wasn't from a prominent or prestigious family.

People like this want me, a military officer, to run errands and report things. What are you dreaming of if I don't offer them some benefits?

Even a seventh-rank official is above the prime minister's gate; this is the rule of officialdom, do you understand?

Xiang Qinghuai was still a little worried: "If you just leave like this, and An Chengyuan is narrow-minded, I'm afraid he'll use this to his advantage and frame you."

Xu Yuan shook his head: "I can swallow my anger and wait a few more hours, but I can't wait any longer for the strange case in Shiyang Village."

……

Shiyang Village is located northeast of Zhancheng, about fifteen li away from the city.

There is a small river flowing out of Xiaoyu Mountain here.

It is said that gold dust was discovered in this river a hundred years ago.

At that time, the entire village of Shiyang was digging for gold in the sand.

But how could the government and powerful families allow ordinary people to become rich overnight?
So, by employing various methods, the ownerless stream suddenly found an "owner".

The gold that the villagers panned from the river belonged to this "owner" and had to be handed over in full.

The villagers were extremely unwilling to accept this, as their "master" had been keeping a group of wicked servants. The two sides argued, which led to several murders.

A young boy whose father was beaten to death disregarded the taboo against traveling at night and broke into his "master's" house, nearly killing him.

In a fit of rage, the "master" retaliated by throwing the young man, his mother, and his sister into the river and skinning them to death!

The blood of the family fell drop by drop into the river.

Then a strange thing happened: the river was blood red for seven whole days.

Seven days later, the river water became clear again, but on that very night, the entire family of the owner of the house was attacked by evil spirits and all of them died!
Since then, the golden sand in the river has disappeared, and Shiyang Village has returned to its former tranquility.

These legends and stories were told to Xu Yuan and Xiang Qinghuai by Yu Yunhang on his way to Shiyang Village.

After finishing his explanation, he said, "Early this morning, an old man from the village was returning from collecting cow dung when he suddenly saw a young man squatting by the river panning for gold."

Upon seeing that he wasn't from this village, he kindly went over to persuade him that there was no gold left in the river.

Unexpectedly, the young man said he had it, and if you didn't believe me, just stand here and I'll show you.

Then he dug up a basin of sand and slowly spun it in the river, letting the water carry the sand away. After a short while, the young man held up the wooden basin for him to see.

There really was a patch of golden sand at the bottom of the basin!
The old man was overjoyed and hurriedly went home to call his whole family, who then came to pan for gold with basins.

The old man was selfish; he didn't tell anyone else in the village. The family searched the riverbank for who knows how long, until noon, when other villagers passed by and discovered seven golden figures standing on the riverbank!

Upon closer inspection, it was indeed the old man and his family of four!

Xiang Qinghuai was surprised. The Exorcism Division had handled many strange cases, but this was the first time he had encountered one so bizarre.

"Was it the village head who came to report the case?"

Yu Yunhang nodded: "The old man only had two children, about six or seven years old, left at home. The village headman asked the children and found out what happened. He immediately ordered people to keep a close watch on the four golden men and not let them get close. Then he rushed to the city to report."

Xu Yuan and Xiang Qinghuai exchanged a glance, and their pace quickened involuntarily.

Xu Yuan said, "We wasted so much time in front of the Grand Canal government office, which might have ruined the case."

Everyone here is an old hand in the Bureau of Purification, and they know very well that the village head is unlikely to be able to protect those four golden statues.

Upon reaching the village entrance, one of Wan Yun's inspectors was standing by the roadside, craning his neck several inches, peering longingly into the road.

"My lords, you've finally arrived!"

"It got out of hand, and the villagers rushed in like swarms, we couldn't stop them..."

Xu Yuan's expression darkened: "Go and take a look!"

The group rushed to the riverbank, but the river was empty; there was no trace of the Jin people.
The village head was an old man in his fifties. When he saw Xu Yuan's official robes, he knew that a high-ranking official had arrived. His legs went weak and he knelt down: "My lord, this old man is incompetent."

Xu Yuan didn't waste any words with him and rushed into the river to check if any clues had been left behind.

Xiang Qinghuai angrily said to the village head, "That golden man is a manifestation of evil spirits and strange arts. Aren't the people of your village afraid of death? How dare you rob him like that?"

The village head, with a mournful face, said, "Everyone's gone crazy with poverty. Seeing that gleaming gold, they just couldn't resist..."

Xu Yuan found nothing in the river, turned back, and ordered in a deep voice, "Wan Yun!"

"My subordinate is here!"

"Take men immediately and search every house. We must find all the gold! Anyone who dares not hand it over will be immediately locked up and imprisoned!"

"As ordered!"

When Wan Yun arrived, he only brought one team of people, and due to insufficient manpower, he was unable to stop hundreds of villagers.

Xu Yuan has now brought two more teams of men. Although they are still fewer than the villagers, they can search house to house without any problems.

The village was thrown into chaos.

Wan Yun worked very hard, and the captains were also quick and efficient.

But Xu Yuan glanced at the sky and knew that it would be dark in half an hour at most!
The villagers stole that gold... Will they survive tonight?

Xiang Qinghuai sighed and said, "Those villagers aren't unaware that this thing is strange, but they're probably all hoping for the best. What if nothing happens? This gold is enough for them to live like rich people in the future."

Xu Yuan nodded, "Greed often makes people lose their rationality."

Before nightfall, Wan Yun retrieved two sacks of gold from the villagers.

After piecing it together, I realized it's far less significant than the "Four Golden Statues."

"Sigh..." Xiang Qinghuai sighed.

Wan Yun frowned and reported to Lord Xu, "Sir, there is another matter. When the villagers were robbing the gold, I led my brothers to stop them, and we found that their strength seemed to be much greater than that of normal people. It was probably at the level of a novice, unorthodox martial arts practitioner, which is why we were unable to stop them."

(End of this chapter)