Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 56: Closing the Gambling House
I saw a lot of copper coins in the pottery jar. A slight sound was heard, and a small head popped out of the jar.

It was a ghost that looked like a baby. When it saw so many people coming, fear suddenly appeared on its little face. It was so scared that it crawled back into the pottery jar and disappeared.

Lu Zheng's expression was slightly cold. He knew some methods of making ghosts.

For example, there are several ways to raise a money-greedy ghost.

The two most common methods are: one is to learn the art of controlling ghosts, catching an ordinary ghost and slowly cultivating it.

Another method is to bury people and money in a dark and evil place, which has a certain chance of forming a greedy ghost.

Infants with simple minds are especially likely to raise various ghosts and are easily manipulated.

It is very simple to use a greedy ghost to make money for a gambling house. Just take it around the gambling house and leave some aura. When gamblers come to gamble, they will be contaminated by the ghost's aura and will invisibly lose their fortune and money to the gambling house.

Lu Zheng looked at Ma Gui and said coldly, "Did you manage to raise this little brat?"

It is not easy to raise a little ghost, and I don’t know how many babies have been killed in order to produce such a greedy ghost.

Ma Gui quickly said, "Sir, I don't know..."

He glared at the steward next to him and said angrily, "You bastard, why don't you tell me the truth? Where did this brat come from?"

The steward knelt on the ground and said tremblingly, "I bought it. I asked around and paid a huge price for it... There's a Taoist master on Red Maple Mountain who knows how to raise ghosts. I asked someone to buy the ghost from him."

The steward paused and continued, "I'm just an ordinary person. I'm not raising ghosts. I just brought this greedy ghost back to worship. It hasn't harmed anyone! I was wrong. Please forgive me, sir!"

As he spoke, the steward kept kowtowing to Lu Zheng, trying to ask for forgiveness.

Lu Zheng remained unmoved and said calmly, "Just this one ghost?"

The steward quickly said, "Just one! Raising a ghost shortens one's lifespan. As an ordinary person, how can I dare to raise more than one?"

Lu Zheng looked at Ma Gui. This man was not an ordinary person. He was a warrior with strong energy and blood. It was no problem for him to raise a few more little ghosts.

Ma Gui's scalp tingled when he was looked at by Lu Zheng. He could not help but say, "Master Lu, my brother works at the county government office. How could I dare to do such a crime? There are no ghosts in my house. If you don't believe me, please search my house and I am willing to prove my innocence!"

Lu Zheng thought to himself that your Ma family has so many businesses, even if there are ghosts, it is impossible for them to be in your own home, and you won’t be able to find anything if you go there.

Lu Zheng said calmly, "Send the messenger over here, and prepare a coffin so that this little ghost can be buried properly."

Ma Gui felt relieved when he heard this.

He quickly ordered people to do something, and asked all the gamblers to leave and go to the lobby to settle the compensation.

Seeing that there was no more show to watch and knowing that there would be no better outcome, everyone went to the front to collect their money.

Lu Zheng walked out of the woodshed and went to the yard to wait.

Ma Gui stepped forward and said respectfully, "Please go to the living room and rest. I have already asked someone to prepare tea."

Lu Zheng refused, "No, I'll just wait here. I'll leave once the matter is settled."

Upon hearing this, Ma Gui had no choice but to wait on the side.

Lu Zheng drew the long sword from his waist and started practicing sword moves in the yard.

Just as Lu Zheng said before, his time is precious and he has to seize the time to improve his strength.

After his proficiency improved, he could wield the sword with ease. If he practiced a set of sword moves carefully, he could improve his proficiency by at least a little.

Soon, Lu Zheng finished performing a set of sword moves, and two town officials arrived. After hearing the news, they first ran to greet Lu Zheng, then without saying a word, took the official away, promising to send him to the county government office.

Ma Gui smiled and sent the messenger away, then returned to the woodshed, waiting to deal with the little devil.

Lu Zheng looked at Ma Gui and asked, "Does Third Master like gambling?"

Ma Gui's expression changed when he heard this, and he didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Others called him Third Master out of respect, but when it came from Lu Zheng's mouth, it had another meaning that made Ma Gui feel scared.

He saw Lu Zheng staring at him meaningfully, the sword in his hand flashing with cold light.

Ma Gui's heart shuddered, and he said with an apologetic smile, "I don't like gambling. I don't have this hobby."

Lu Zheng said calmly, "Oh? That's a shame. I was thinking of having a bet with you."

Ma Gui was shocked and said quickly, "With my strength, I am no match for you, young master. I dare not fight you."

Ma Gui felt a chill on his back. Even if Lu Zheng attacked him with eight or ten swords, he would not dare to fight back.

Are you kidding? Lu Zheng is a scholar of heaven and earth, with honors and titles from the imperial court. Even if I am a warrior, I am still an ordinary person.

To attack Lu Zheng would be an act of insubordination, and he deserves to have his head chopped off even if he has several heads.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "Didn't I tell you, if Third Master doesn't like it, then forget it... But since Third Master doesn't like it, why bother opening this gambling house and harming people? Just close it down in the future."

"This..." Ma Gui's face was gloomy for a moment.

Changping Casino is a major source of income for the Ma family. Asking him to close the casino directly would be like cutting off his own flesh and blood.

Lu Zheng said slowly, "Third Master, I'm a nosy person. There are too many injustices in this world, but I, Lu Zheng, can't just ignore them. Can you understand?"

"I understand..." Ma Gui smiled, but his smile was a little ugly.

Lu Zheng said, "Think of a way to shut down the other two gambling houses. From now on, there won't be any gambling in Zizhu Town... If you can do that, I'll forgive you for what happened today. If not, you can go to the county government and apologize."

Lu Zheng paused, then continued, "Do you really think I would believe that you don't know anything about raising ghosts?"

A manager dared to invite ghosts to the gambling house without Ma Gui's knowledge?
Ma Gui is also a warrior with vigorous energy and blood. He often walks around in the gambling house. How could he not detect the ghost aura?
Not to mention Lu Zheng, even the gamblers didn't believe it, it was just that no one said it out loud.

After all, someone came out to take the blame. As long as Ma Gui insisted that he didn't know, there was nothing others could do. Telling it would only offend others.

But Lu Zheng is not afraid of offending anyone, he is just a warrior with some strength and background.

Ma Gui secretly thought that Lu Zheng would not let him go easily, but when he thought about closing the other two gambling houses, he felt a little better for some reason.

The money he can't earn, others can't earn either, so it's not so hard for him.

"I will definitely do it." Ma Gui said with a fist salute.

Lu Zheng nodded slightly, "Third Master, you are also a warrior, not an ordinary person. You should set an example and do more good deeds."

Ma Gui said respectfully, "I understand..."

[You suppress evil and promote good, possessing the integrity of a gentleman. Your literary spirit +5!]

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(End of this chapter)