I'm modifying myself into the ultimate demon.

Chapter 22 How can I keep you here?

All these changes happened too quickly and too suddenly.

It happened so fast that even Zhu San didn't have time to react. When he turned around, he saw that Zhu Liu's forehead had been poked with a big hole.

Compared to Zhu Liu's carelessness, Zhu San was much more careful.

He immediately did some analysis in his mind: Chen Mo had been pretending to be knocked unconscious by Zhu Liu from the very beginning, and had been waiting for this opportunity to make his move.

He is extremely cunning and ruthless.

To Zhu San's surprise, Chen Mo suddenly shouted out a reward of one hundred taels of silver.

Without a second thought, Zhu San immediately tried to spur his horse and flee.

As the saying goes, there must be a brave man under a heavy reward.

The soldier immediately drew his sword and shouted, "Men, capture this bandit!"

The soldiers guarding the gate drew their swords and surrounded Zhu San.

However, Zhu San was tall and strong, and his machete was wielded with great force. Combined with the momentum of the charging horse, he forced back several soldiers with just a few blows and was about to rush out of the city gate.

Seeing that the situation was turning against him, Chen Mo roared again, "Capture this man and the reward will be eight hundred taels of silver!"

Eight hundred taels!
This was an astronomical sum for both the soldiers guarding the city gates and the merchants and common people in the vicinity. They could never earn that much silver in their entire lives.

Many people's eyes turned red.

But Zhu San was, after all, a vicious bandit on horseback with a knife, and although everyone was eager to fight, they ultimately dared not charge forward.

All that's missing is a leader to ignite the fire of greed in the hearts of the masses.

Chen Mo keenly sensed the crowd's mentality and shouted again, "Whoever leads the way in surrounding this bandit, whether or not it succeeds in the end, I will reward him with one hundred taels of silver."

These words finally ignited the boldness and greed in the hearts of the masses.

A burly man took the lead, "Everyone, follow me and surround him. Let's collect the reward money."

With someone taking the lead, a large crowd quickly gathered around. Everyone had brought sticks and other self-defense tools and followed behind the soldiers, completely surrounding Zhu San.

Although no one dared to attack Zhu San directly, their voices were certainly loud. A deafening roar erupted from all directions, its power overwhelming.

Not only did it embolden the soldiers, it also terrified the already timid Zhu San, causing him to lose his mind and his swordsmanship to become chaotic. In no time, he was stabbed several times with large wounds by the soldiers' spears.

Some of the merchants' assistants frantically threw bricks, hoes, tools, winnowing baskets, and other items at Zhu San. Although they didn't cause him any real harm, their sheer force of the attack blocked his view.

Not long after, Zhu San was speared off his horse by the leading soldier and then bound hand and foot.

Seeing this, Chen Mo finally breathed a sigh of relief.

If you lack military strength, make up for it with money.

"Young Master Mo, how are you feeling?" The soldier who had been checking the travel permit walked up to Chen Mo and asked with concern.

Chen Mo didn't recognize this person at all, let alone have any connection with him. He naturally knew that the reason the other party was so concerned about him was simply because he wanted a reward.

False concern is still concern.

Chen Mo asked, "May I ask your name, brave warrior?"

The soldier said, "My surname is Zhao, and my given name is Bing."

Chen Mo knew that the people around him were most concerned about the reward money, so the reward money needed to be distributed first: "I would like to trouble Brother Zhao to keep a record and distribute the rewards according to the merits. I will give the reward money to Brother Zhao later, and I would appreciate it if Brother Zhao could distribute it properly."

Zhao Bing was overjoyed and immediately ordered several other soldiers to record the information of the crowd. Only after everyone had been registered did the crowd leave, satisfied.

Zhao Bing, a soldier who understood human relationships, offered to help Chen Mo up, saying, "Shall I escort Young Master Mo back to his residence now?"

Chen Mo said, "Brother Zhao, could you please check if there's anything on my back?"

Zhao Bing did as instructed, lifting Chen Mo's clothes on his back and tearing off a small paper figure.

call!
The moment the paper figure was removed, Chen Mo felt a wave of relief wash over him; his nailed limbs were instantly free. All other discomfort vanished as well. Chen Mo breathed a sigh of relief and quickly got up from the ground.

Upon taking the paper figure and looking at it, Chen Mo's pupils contracted.

On the yellowed paper figure was written his name and detailed birth date.

"Sure enough, Granny Li used my birth date and time to set up a paper effigy and stick it on my body. Then she cast a nightmare spell from a distance. What a cruel method. If I hadn't already reached the Flesh Refining Realm and reacted quickly today, I would probably be doomed."

Thinking about what happened today, Chen Mo felt a chill of fear.

Then the problem is coming...

Birth date and time (eight characters)!

Chen Mo has been in this world for quite some time now, and given that he was a Taoist priest in his previous life, he naturally has a good understanding of birth charts.

The so-called birth chart is divided into four pillars and eight characters.

The so-called Four Pillars refer to the year, month, day, and hour pillars of one's birth. Each pillar consists of two characters: a Heavenly Stem and an Earthly Branch, which together form the Four Pillars of Destiny (Ba Zi). As the eldest son of the Chen family, Chen Mo's birth year, month, and day could not be concealed. However, his hour pillar was known only to Chen Yinfu's closest confidants.

In other words, Granny Li had an affair with someone close to the Chen family and obtained her birth date and time.

There's a mole!

"Young Master Mo, would you like me to escort you back to your residence?" Zhao Bing asked again when Chen Mo remained silent for a long time.

Chen Mo finally came to his senses and put away the paper figure: "No need. Please ask Brother Zhao to come to my residence tomorrow, and I will give you eight hundred taels of silver."

"Young Master Mo is so generous!" Zhao Bing was overjoyed.

"You can tell everyone to leave. I want to have a private chat with Zhu San."

Chen Mo ordered Zhao Bing to disperse the onlookers, then walked up to Zhu San and kicked him twice. "Tell me who the mole in my Chen family is, and I'll let you go."

Zhu San's face remained stubborn as he coldly snorted, "I've fallen for your trick, so I accept my fate. Do with me as you please."

Chen Mo picked up Zhu San's broadsword and ripped open his pants at the crotch. "My Chen family has been businessmen for generations and we don't like fighting. But I'm quite good at things like castrating."

hiss!
Upon hearing that her eggs were to be removed, Zhu San immediately clamped her legs together, her whole body going numb with fear.

As Chen Mo's blade continued to thrust forward, it pierced the skin in his groin, and blood seeped out.

Zhu San, this tough guy, finally felt scared, and his attitude was no longer as tough as before. "If I tell you, are you really willing to let me go?"

Chen Mo said coldly, "You're not the mastermind, why would I kill you?"

Although Zhu San didn't quite believe it, the knife in his groin was simply too terrifying for him. In the end, fear overwhelmed his reason.

"Yes, it's Steward Liu from your household."

Chen Mo's hand holding the knife paused slightly.

He naturally wouldn't easily believe the other party's words, after all, Steward Liu had worked diligently in the mansion for many years, always conscientious and hardworking, and was highly valued by Chen Yinfu.

Tell me the details.

How could Zhu San dare to hide anything now?

"When my brother-in-law and I first asked Steward Liu about your birth date and time, he refused. I investigated and found that Steward Liu often secretly went to Chunfeng Tower to spend lavishly, so I suspected that he had embezzled money from the Chen family. After further investigation, it turned out to be true, so I used this as blackmail. Steward Liu was afraid of being punished by Chen Yinfu, so he told me."

Chen Mo extended his hand: "Do you have the evidence that Steward Liu embezzled money?"

Zhu San's hands and feet were tightly bound with ropes, making it impossible for him to move. He said, "Inside the inner garment on my right sleeve."

Chen Mo reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small booklet.

I opened the booklet and took a look.

The records detail the embezzlement by Steward Liu. He embezzled the pharmacy's purchasing funds and the rent paid by the tenant farmers, totaling several hundred taels of silver.

Every entry was recorded truthfully, suggesting no forgery. Furthermore, Chen Mo had previously inspected the pharmacy and rice paddies, knowing the accounts generally matched. Therefore, the embezzlement seemed unlikely to be fabricated.

'It really is Butler Liu.'

Chen Mo put away the ledger. "What is your relationship with Granny Li from the Blood Ridge Black Market?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu San was clearly frightened.

He was clearly more afraid of Granny Li than of Steward Liu.

But after a moment's thought, the reason became clear: perhaps Zhu San had felt confident of victory and said something he shouldn't have. That's how Chen Mo overheard it.

Knowing he couldn't escape, Zhu San said, "Zhu Liu and I were originally bandits near the Blood Ridge Black Market, making a living by robbing lone merchants and buyers. A few days ago, we were recruited by Granny Li to do her work. I had no choice."

Zhu San pleaded, "Young Master Mo, I've said everything I needed to say. Please, have mercy..."

Phew!

Before Zhu San could finish speaking, Chen Mo raised his broadsword and slashed it hard across Zhu San's neck. The head flew off, and blood gushed from the severed neck, splattering all over Chen Mo's face.

"You harbor malicious intentions; how can I let you live?!"

Clang.

Chen Mo sheathed his long sword and slowly stood up.

Having transmigrated to this world, I commit murder for the second time.

Although he still felt somewhat uncomfortable, he never regretted his choice.

My mindset has gradually become much tougher and more resolute.

"Brother Zhao, please clean up the bodies of these two bandits."

Chen Mo gave Zhao Bing a brief instruction, then picked up his knife and strode away.

(End of this chapter)