Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 29 The Three-Day Expectation
The old man, who was bent over, immediately contorted his face and began to breathe rapidly, as if he wished he could go on a killing spree during the day.

Even if he wasn't a scholar, he knew the meaning of "respecting the elderly as one would one's own parents." This scholar, this scholar!
In the end, he carried it all on his own, and after picking up all the yarrow stalks, he stood up shakily.

Since we can't obtain the vital energy, we won't set up the altar; it's just a matter of paying a slightly higher price.
The thought of the consequences made his cheeks twitch even more.

Zhao Hu, who had walked away, was also asking questions.

"Mr. Xu thinks there's something wrong with that fortune teller?"

"There might be a problem, but there's no evidence."

Xu Xuan became wary as soon as the fortune teller appeared.

This should be the second cultivator he has seen while he is conscious.

I also understood the difference between entering the Tao and not being able to enter the Tao.

The old man's vital energy, spirit, and essence were out of balance; his vital essence was scattered, his soul was decaying, and his aura fluctuated. He was destined to have no hope of entering the Dao in this lifetime.

Moreover, there was a repulsive aura about it—a bloody, resentful aura. It was definitely not a good person; it belonged to the category of evil and heretical sects.

What's even more unacceptable is malice; Buddhist practices are adept at sensing people's hearts.

If Xu Xuan could see through the thoughts of Xu Xuan, who had just entered the Dao, then Xu Xuan would be able to sense the malice in the old man's heart.

There's definitely some scheming involved in insisting on fortune-telling.

There is a proper way to die, so don't blame me.

Make a note in a small notebook: if there's an opportunity, we'll do everything we can to eliminate it.

As for why the other party dared to act so arrogantly in front of him, it was naturally because after entering the Dao, the three elements returned to one, which could not be seen through by those who were not high-level cultivators.

Xu Xuan wouldn't be so arrogant as to let the other party get close to him; he was cautious as he didn't yet have any proper means of self-defense.

Moreover, the appearance of a practitioner who might have gone astray in Qiantang is highly questionable in its connection to the Li family massacre.

Upon arriving at the county government office, Zhao Hu instructed several clever constables to keep watch.

"Keep your distance; the other party might be a powerful superhuman."

The two then got down to business, reviewing official documents.

Xu Xuan suggested after reading the documents that other missing children's records could be merged into this one.

Furthermore, information can be shared among the surrounding counties.

Zhao Hu's expression changed.

Mr. Xu means the perpetrator is still committing crimes in the area?!

“The bloodshed is a major case; you would all know if one or two of them happened.”

"But the reporting of missing young children is much more scattered and easily overlooked."

"It's not certain yet, let's investigate first."

Xu Xuan believed that the evil heretics acted eccentrically and recklessly, and possessed some strange and unorthodox methods.

Taking on only one case is somewhat beneath the courage of these evil spirits.

Zhao Hu was in a very bad mood.

Immediately consult with Magistrate Song, hoping to exchange official documents and correspondence with other counties.

Song Youde suddenly felt that the bitterness of the Longjing tea in his mouth was penetrating to his very core.

Is Qiantang County the place where I suffered my defeat and annihilation?

What happened to the promised prosperity of the residents and the peaceful atmosphere of the community?
Isn't it said that in a land of culture and civilization, few heretics arise?
"Ahem, sir, it's not certain yet."

"Yes, yes, I'm not sure."

So they immediately dispatched people to the surrounding counties to check if there were any similar cases.

In the afternoon, Song Youde could no longer sit upright in the high hall. He pretended to be calm and went to the back office to listen to the progress of the case, but he was still feeling uneasy.

As evening fell, the messenger rushed in.

The group tore open the letter and began reading it together, disregarding the fact that Xu Xuan was an outsider.

"This...this actually exists!"

Almost all the missing children were from middle-class or wealthy families; the children from poor families were left untouched.

As for the bloodshed, there weren't many, only one or two, but strange corpses were found at the scene.

Xu Xuan pondered. It seemed these evil spirits and heretics had been active in and around Qiantang. Why was that?
Magistrate Song swayed a few times.

It has been confirmed that this disturbance was caused by an alien. It was initially thought that they would just do one job and leave, but after reviewing the timeline, it turns out that they have been circling around this place all along.

If there's a second match, he won't even have the chance to go to Guobei to collect taxes from the poor; he'll just lose his job.

While everyone was worrying, a glint of light flashed in Xu Xuan's eyes.

Let's settle things all at once.

"Sir, I'm reporting this."

Breaking the silence, it attracted everyone's attention.

There was a fortune teller this morning.

"sure?"

"I'm not sure, but we can take a look."

Xu Xuan fully embodied the yamen's style of doing things: no matter what schemes were involved, arrest them first and ask questions later.

Anyway, that old guy is definitely not a good person. Magistrate Song was also invigorated. Indeed, arresting him first was a method that could be used to deal with the consequences.

Evidence? Do you even understand the value of an official's word?

The constables who were keeping watch returned and reported that the fortune teller had disappeared after walking into an alley.

Very good, that's quite in line with the yamen runner's standards.

"There was definitely something wrong. If there wasn't, why were you hiding!"

Zhao Hu and Magistrate Song experienced a mixture of shock, anger, and joy.

It's confirmed, this is a demon, or at least a demon.

The next question is how to find the other person.

Qiantang is a large county, and even after sending out dozens of constables, they couldn't find any clues.

Xu Xuan seemed to have expected this.

However, the methods of cultivators who have not yet entered the Dao are not very sophisticated, so...
Day two.

The blister on Magistrate Song's lip grew larger and larger, and his anger was terrifying.

To avoid any unforeseen complications, Xu Xuan decided to offer a small suggestion.

"Who else in this county town is well-informed?"

Zhao Hu replied: "They come from powerful and influential families, and are people from all walks of life."

"Then let's mobilize the knowledgeable people in Qiantang County."

Xu Xuan took out the jade token and went to the Xie family first.

The county magistrate was stunned; it was a jade plaque from the Xie family of Dongshan.

This Instructor Xu, no, Young Master Xu, is a man of great ability.

I found the largest bookstore in the area and explained the help I needed.

The shopkeeper readily agreed; it was just a matter of finding someone.

The Xie family owns many land deeds and, along with other prominent families, controls most of the businesses in the city, so finding someone wouldn't be difficult.

Even Xie Yu, who was still handling business, became curious and joined in when he heard that the jade token had been activated.

People who love learning naturally have a good sense of curiosity.

It's even simpler for those from all walks of life; Zhao Hu is like a living Yama to them.

Li Si and Zhao Liu nodded and bowed, patting their chests to indicate that there was no problem.

Unbeknownst to the fortune teller, a massive net was being cast in Qiantang County.

Day three.

Bu Hengzi was setting up an altar in a small courtyard at that moment.

Not only did I fail to obtain the Qi the day before yesterday, but I was also retaliated against by that petty scholar, who sent several yamen runners to keep an eye on me.

This greatly angered him. "I haven't even made a move yet, how dare you, a mere mortal, strike first?"

As a sorcerer with a minor reputation in the evil arts, how could he possibly swallow this insult?

Since that's the case, let's use the karma between us to cast a curse.

Tonight, I must destroy the opponent's scholar's title and yang fire to transform him into a puppet, so that I can do great things.

bang bang bang! ! !
Suddenly, the courtyard gate was pounded on violently, and someone was shouting something like "Old Zhang," demanding protection money.

Bu Hengzi was startled, almost thinking he had been exposed.

He blocked the altar, picked up a bronze bell and put it in his bosom, then put on a layer of human skin and opened the door.

It turned out he was a scoundrel who kept demanding protection money, threatening to throw excrement at his doorstep if he didn't pay.

The anger of those on the evil path grew rapidly.

After bowing and paying a tael of silver, the matter was finally settled.

Return to the courtyard, calm yourself, and wait for nightfall.

After making several turns, the rogue arrived at a secluded place where many important figures in the county had gathered.

"That old fellow will give even a tael of silver, it seems like he's the one."

Zhao Hu felt confident. In all the time that Qiantang County had been in operation, no scoundrel had ever managed to extort so much protection money from ordinary people so easily.

“I bought two incense sticks in the East Market, some rice at the stall in the West Market, and three sacrificial animals from the black market.”

Through the Xie family and other wealthy families who control the market, everyone easily found out what this suddenly strange old man, Song, had bought, which is why they were able to pinpoint his location here.

"Instructor Xu, is this the Qi cultivator, extraordinary person, or alchemist described in the book from the pre-Qin period?"

Xie Yu looked on with curiosity, feeling as if he had discovered a secret.

Xu Xuan, what exactly are you all curious about?

This is a heretical sect, how can we be careless? Of course we must use every means possible.

If I return this to you, I will die in three days; in three days, you will die too!

Nodding contentedly at the sunlight in the sky, I thought I'd wait until nightfall to dream!
"Lord Song, please give the order."

　The new book is a lot of work, so I hope everyone will read it a lot and not let it kill me.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)