The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 26 I'm going to kill you!
As soon as Du Yuan came out, all eyes, both inside and outside the courtyard, fell on him.

The people wanted to see who this extraordinary person was, that he had caused such a big commotion in their Qing County.

The constables, with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief, carefully observed the person involved in today's case.

As for Qian Youcai, he hurriedly stepped forward to apologize, saying:
"How could I, incompetent, allow this corrupt official to disturb the Taoist priest's peaceful cultivation!"

"Qian Youcai, I am an official appointed by the imperial court. I was selected as a Jinshi by the Emperor himself through a special imperial examination! Watch your mouth!"

Even if Magistrate Fang had the best temper, he could not tolerate a scion of a prominent family insulting him in this way.

But Qian Youcai turned around and cursed:

"Then you have truly wasted the Emperor's troops. Such a highly accomplished Daoist priest should have been treated with great respect. You should have reported to the court and requested the position of Imperial Preceptor. But you even dared to slander the Daoist priest as that sorcerer Lao Senzi. If you are not a corrupt official, then who is?"

In Qian Youcai's eyes, Du Yuan's image had been elevated to an unrealistic level.

Now, even Du Yuan himself suspects that if he were to say, "You'd better die," Qian Youcai would grit his teeth and hang himself.

After shaking her head with amusement, Du Yuan patted Qian Youcai on the shoulder and said:
"There's no need for that. I've heard of the magistrate's reputation."

During the days when Du Yuan made a living by telling stories, someone told him that Magistrate Fang was a good official who loved the people like his own children.

Before the Lunar New Year, he also rescued a woman who had been abandoned and was suffering from a serious disease from a mass grave.

Further on, he was also deeply loved by the people, personally handling all cases, big and small, and even repairing irrigation canals to improve the fields.

They did a lot of good deeds.

Du Yuan still held a favorable impression of such a good official.

"Daoist priest, this corrupt official is blind and ignorant. Why are you still saying all this? If you ask me, come with me to the prefectural government, and I'll find a way to let you see the governor!"

“The governor and my Qian family have some connections, so he certainly won’t be like this blind fool who doesn’t recognize Mount Tai when it’s right in front of him.”

"Oh, there's no need for that."

Given the current situation where there are demons and monsters every few steps, Du Yuan didn't want to rashly follow Qian Youcai to a big place like the prefecture capital.

Of course, Magistrate Fang also needs to resolve this matter properly.

After waving away Qian Youcai, who still wanted to say something, Du Yuan walked up to Magistrate Fang with her hands behind her back.

The other person, however, kept sizing him up.

After both sides stood in their respective positions, Du Yuan cupped his hands and said:
"Magistrate Fang, I have long admired your name!"

Ever since the commotion in the front yard woke Du Yuan up, Du Yuan had been observing Magistrate Fang ever since she came over.

A blue silk official robe draped over his rock-like frame, the cuffs of which, faded from washing, were frayed. His appearance was not handsome, but it was not bad-looking either.

Especially those hands—the calluses on the tiger's mouth overlapped with the calluses on the pen, the knuckles were as thick as ancient locust roots, clearly showing that they were used to holding plows and harrows and also tightly gripping the books of sages.

It seems the information I heard on the way was correct.

Magistrate Fang came from a poor family, so he was particularly considerate of the people.

Because he has experienced the suffering of ordinary people, and perhaps even the suffering of officials.

Who wouldn't have a good impression of an official like that?

Du Yuan was at least not an exception.

"You heretic, since you've heard of the reputation of this county, why do you still come to my Qing County to commit this evil deed of fooling the people?"

Who is behind you?

"Confess now, and I might be able to do you a favor and spare you the death penalty."

Magistrate Fang was convinced that Du Yuan intended to emulate the Southwest and incite a popular uprising against the imperial court in his Qing County.

Du Yuan wasn't angry, because it was all a misunderstanding.

Just as Du Yuan was about to prove herself, she looked up and saw that Magistrate Fang was covered in wisps of black aura.

It surrounded the body from head to toe, and was ominous and foul-smelling.

Especially the head, which was hidden behind the head, was almost not seen by Du Yuan.

Moreover, Du Yuan had seen this thing before, right last night in the Qian family's main hall!

Ok? !

Du Yuan raised her eyebrows slightly.

Is there something else going on, or is it all just a facade with a rotten core?
Du Yuan's mind raced with thoughts, but she also stopped what she was about to do to prove herself.

This is clearly not right. He killed that thing just last night, and today Magistrate Fang came to arrest him.

What could have been called a coincidence before might not be so now.

Therefore, we need to change our strategy!
If something is amiss, she should clarify it directly. Du Yuan was worried that the other party might become desperate and resort to magic against her.

At that time, Du Yuan, who still didn't know her own level, sincerely hoped to avoid it if possible.

At least Du Yuan felt that he still had many opportunities to gather more people and strengthen himself before the real confrontation.

Countless thoughts raced through Du Yuan's mind, but a feasible plan was finally settled.

"If I say I have no one to rely on, what will Magistrate Fang do to me?"

Magistrate Fang narrowed his eyes slightly and said:
Whether there is someone or not, the verdict will be reached in court!

"If you're going to take me to court, will you also bring a lot of people to watch?" Du Yuan remembered that the county government would call people to watch when handling cases in order to show that it was fair.

"If the people don't see what kind of face you really have, how can I convince them that you are a charlatan who spouts nonsense?"

It's true! That's great!
I'm thinking about how to expand my influence and have more confidence to see through the fog and set things right!

Du Yuan's eyes lit up instantly, and she said:

"Then please go quickly!"

I love places with lots of people!

Ok? !

Magistrate Fang was taken aback. Why did this sorcerer seem to be just waiting to go to court?

Does he have the confidence to confront himself?
What absurdity!

Magistrate Fang was about to order Du Yuan to be taken to the court.

But then he saw the black aura swirling around his forehead.

In an instant, my thoughts changed!
Isn't he afraid that if I hit him a few times, he'll break down instantly?

No, that's definitely not right. At this moment, most people would only feel fear.

He wasn't afraid. Was he trying to trick me?

and many more!

Magistrate Fang was suddenly startled and looked at the constables beside him.

He was an official appointed by the county government. Although he was the highest-ranking official in Qing County in name only, in reality, his influence and connections were far inferior to those of the county magistrate and others.

Master Ziyun had already proven this to him beforehand. If he hadn't invoked the imperial decree to force the county magistrate to submit, those yamen runners probably wouldn't have stepped forward to arrest Master Ziyun, who was associated with Lao Senzi.

Therefore, the fact that this sorcerer is not afraid to go to the court suggests that someone behind him has already reached into the county government office and bribed the officials.

Are you just waiting for me to "add bricks and tiles" to his house?!

Magistrate Fang actually felt he had control over Qing County, but the behavior of the yamen runners in yesterday's incident with Master Ziyun made him doubt it.

Du Yuan's irrational behavior at this moment also aroused many doubts in him.

His suspicious gaze swept over the many constables beside him.

Magistrate Fang suddenly said in a deep voice:
“You heretic, I have received His Majesty’s decree to prevent any rebellious individuals from imitating the Southwest by using supernatural powers and supernatural beliefs.”

"so?"

The dark aura around Magistrate Fang's brows deepened, and his thoughts became increasingly obsessive.

Trying to emulate the Southwest is definitely not something the Qian family would dare to do or be able to do.

Their behavior didn't seem like that of this sorcerer who foolishly sought death.

That could only mean that local powerful families were dissatisfied with the imperial court.

This matter must be nipped in the bud with the most forceful measures!
In his thirty years as the magistrate of Fang County, he had never seen any supernatural beings or ghosts, so the idea that Du Yuan might actually have abilities had never crossed his mind!

In his eyes, this was nothing more than a local powerful clan trying to emulate the Southwest.

"Therefore, I have the authority to act expediently in this urgent situation. I have decided to immediately escort you to the execution ground and execute you on the spot!"

Once his head is chopped off, the people will no longer believe that he was a so-called master.

Magistrate Fang is now hesitant to send his children to the county government office for torture.

He knew all too well how the executioners collected illicit income and how they managed to pass themselves off as legitimate.

Who knows, it might turn out to be some kind of trick where a board is placed on you and then you break instantly!

When the people see it, who can control it?

The execution ground was different. When the executioner Wu Dadao's wife had a difficult childbirth, it was he who found a doctor and used his money to save the lives of both mother and child.

Those are definitely our own people!

"What?! You corrupt official!"

Qian Youcai was furious. This guy was unwilling to even report to the imperial court, and he wanted to kill the Taoist priest?

Where is the law? Where is justice?
But Du Yuan suddenly raised her hand and stopped the Qian family members who wanted to step forward.

Then, incredulously, he asked:
"You mean you're going to send me to the execution ground so that countless people can watch?"

"That's right, at least half of Qing County's population will come to watch you be executed at noon!"

At this moment, Du Yuan had no idea what Magistrate Fang, or rather, what the person behind him had gone through to come up with this idea.

But he knew how much effort it took to suppress his laughter.

He's never afraid of crowds!
This isn't digging a hole for him, it's digging a hole for them!
So after a moment, Du Yuan raised her hand and pointed repeatedly at Magistrate Fang, laughing:
"Exactly what I want!"

Ok? !

Magistrate Fang was stunned. After a long pause, he said:
"I'm going to kill you today!"

Du Yuan laughed loudly:
"Start quickly!"

(End of this chapter)