National Division

Chapter 21 Shen Bin: Weren't they all destroyed?

Shen Residence, Back Hall

Today, Yu Qingchan changed into a peach-pink dress, revealing her snow-white skin. Beneath the strapless bodice, her skin was radiant and translucent. The veil on her head had been removed, and a white veil covered her eyes.

The woman's skin was as white as jade, and her figure was exquisite and graceful, like a peony in full bloom.

Although the beauty of the Great Jing Dynasty is considered to be plump, Yu Qingchan, though only of marriageable age, was born with a beautiful appearance, fair and smooth skin, gentle eyebrows and eyes, and full and glossy pink lips beneath her delicate nose, like two peach blossom petals.

“Miss, the servant boy next to the young master in the front courtyard said that the young master and master have gone on a business trip,” said Green Pearl, a maid wearing a green jacket.

Upon hearing this, Yu Qingchan raised her beautiful eyebrows and asked, "On official business? Young Master Shen is not on official business and has no official position. How can he be on official business?"

Green Pearl said, "I don't know either."

"Go and fetch that servant boy. I'll question him." The girl's voice held a hint of concern as she picked up the bamboo hat from the table.

Green Pearl responded softly and then went to the front yard.

Just then, Lin Jing came out from the outer room and bumped into Green Pearl, who was running away from him in a hurry. He asked in surprise, "Qingchan, what's wrong?"

Yu Qingchan said, "Uncle, I don't know what happened either. Both Mr. Shen and Uncle Shen went on business trips today."

A short while later, the servant Ah Xin came quickly from the outer room and bowed to Yu Qingchan: "Greetings, Miss Yu."

"What did the young master say?" Yu Qingchan asked.

Ah Xin said, "It seems that evil spirits have emerged outside the city, and the master and young master have gone out of the city."

Upon hearing this, Yu Qingchan was startled.

Lin Jing frowned and asked, "Demons and evil spirits, did they say which realm they belong to?"

Although Lin Jing came from a merchant family, he had received some education in his early years. Living in the capital, a hub of information, he was aware of the rampant demons and monsters that plagued the world.

Ah Xin's face showed a bitter expression, and he said, "I don't know either."

Yu Qingchan frowned and asked, "Uncle, what exactly happened?"

Could it be because of her? Because of her eye disease, some people in the capital said that she was a jinx. When the Yu family had a misfortune, such rumors became even more rampant.

Is she really a harbinger of disaster?

As the girl thought this, her heart sank a little.

Lin Jing comforted her, "Qingchan, don't worry. Your Uncle Shen is the county magistrate, in charge of the county's security. He naturally has to deal with evil spirits in the county."

Then, he looked at Ah Xin and asked, "How many soldiers did you bring?"

"Seven or eight people, I guess," Ashin asked.

Lin Jing looked at Yu Qingchan beside him and said, "Your Uncle Shen is not a reckless person; he must have some plans."

Yu Qingchan asked, "Uncle, what can we do now?"

Lin Jing sighed and said, "We can only wait inside."

Upon hearing this, Yu Qingchan felt a pang of sadness.

Such a dangerous situation meant she could only pray for her safety at home.

Lin Jing sent Ah Xin to the front yard and said, "Qing Chan, don't worry too much. Your Uncle Shen is brave and resourceful, and Shen Xian is not a reckless person. He will be fine."

Yu Qingchan hummed in agreement, and could only pray silently in her heart.

……

……

On the other side, Shen Xian and Shen Bin rode their horses along the official road towards Dongliu Township.

It was March, and the fields were lush and green, with willows swaying along the banks. A cool breeze swept through, and wildflowers among the grasses emitted a sweet fragrance.

"Why didn't you send more troops, brother?" Zhao Lang asked, his brows furrowed.

Shen Bin looked at his son who was accompanying him, still feeling quite worried, and asked, "Xian'er, you tell me."

Shen Xian, still mounted on his horse, pondered for a moment and said, "Father, are you worried about alerting the enemy?"

His father wasn't stupid; even in his weakened state, he didn't bring many yamen runners.

Shen Bin said, "After the evil spirits harmed people, they disappeared without a trace. Whether they are still in Dongliu Township is still uncertain. The fact that the evil spirits stopped coming out when they sensed the aura of the soldiers is enough for us to decide what to do."

Li Yan said, "Brother is right. The difficulty in dealing with evil spirits lies in finding their traces." Shen Xian nodded and asked, "So, Father, how do you plan to eliminate the evil spirits?"

Shen Bin didn't say much, but said, "Let's go and see what happens."

With that, he raised his whip, and the group galloped towards Dongliu Township.

By the time they arrived at Dongliu Township, it was already dusk, the sun was setting, and the sky was filled with evening glow.

At this moment, several riders, their shadows elongated in the setting sun, watched as the turbid Guhe River surged and meandered like a snake in the distance.

“Let’s go to the post station first. Second brother, have someone notify the village head.” Shen Bin said, looking at the post station in the distance.

Zhao Lang acknowledged the order and then left with a yamen runner.

As they spoke, Shen Bin and the others entered the post station.

The postmaster, surnamed Sun, led several other postmasters forward quickly, bowed, and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Greetings, Your Excellency."

Shen Bin and Li Yan dismounted, and Shen Xian followed suit.

"I'll be staying here tonight."

Sun Yicheng smiled and said, "Hot water and food have been prepared long ago. Shaofu and your brothers, please come inside to rest."

As they were talking, several postmasters came forward, took the men's horses, and fed them fodder.

Shen Xian followed the group into the main hall of the post station. The group sat down, sipped fragrant tea, and waited for news from Zhao Lang.

Shen Xian then called Sun Yicheng to the kitchen to prepare some ginseng soup.

As night fell, Zhao Lang also summoned a village head from Dongliu Township to the post station.

The man there, surnamed Zhou, strode forward with a fawning smile on his face: "This humble servant greets Your Excellency, the County Commandant."

Shen Bin said, "Alright, no need for formalities. Tell me the details."

Zhou Lizheng said, "County Commandant Shen, this matter has been going on since the middle of last month. There have been four or five incidents, and four or five young men have been drained of their life force. Now the people of Dongliu Township are in a state of panic."

Shen Bin asked, "Aside from young and middle-aged men, what other common characteristics do the victims share?"

Zhou Lizheng thought for a moment and said, "If these four people have something in common, it is that they all seem to have been to a temple."

Shen Bin frowned, his voice unusually deep, and asked, "What temple?"

"I don't know which dynasty left it from, it's been hundreds of years, and it's in a terrible state of disrepair. It's said to have once been a Buddhist temple," Zhou Lizheng explained.

Shen Bin asked in confusion, "Weren't they all destroyed?"

Taoism is the dominant religion in the Great Jing Dynasty, but that doesn't mean there was no Buddhism in this land. It's just that the current dynasty has been promoting Taoism and suppressing Buddhism for a hundred years, regarding Buddhism as heresy. In contrast, during the previous Great Xu Dynasty, and even earlier in the Great Liang Dynasty, Buddhism flourished and there were many monks.

The saying goes, "There are 480 temples in Daliang, how many pavilions are shrouded in mist and rain?"

Shen Bin frowned and said, "Since there are evil spirits in that dilapidated temple, why not send someone to tear it down? And then burn it to the ground? These heretical sects have been bewitching people and harboring filth for hundreds of years. Not even a trace of them should be left!"

At the beginning of the dynasty, Taoist temples were built, Buddhist temples were destroyed, and monks were forced to return to secular life in order to increase the population after the war.

Zhou Li looked embarrassed and said, "This matter is too old, and no one cares. Who would have thought that something like this would happen? Now no one wants to risk this bad luck, for fear of attracting some unclean thing."

Li Yan suggested, "Brother, it's getting late today. Let's go and find out what's going on early tomorrow morning."

Shen Bin nodded and said, "Tell me about the circumstances of these victims."

At this moment, Sun Yicheng also had wine and dishes prepared, and said with a smile, "Young Master Shen, let's eat and talk."

Shen Bin nodded, and then he, Zhao Lang, Li Yan, and a group of yamen runners set up tables and chairs to prepare for dinner.

Shen Xian had just finished brewing the ginseng soup and came to the hall to hand it over.

Sun Yicheng smiled and said, "Young Master Shen, this must be your son. He is indeed a handsome young man, and his filial piety is truly touching."

The village head, standing nearby, also smiled and echoed.

Looking at the ginseng soup and the soot on his son's forehead, Shen Bin felt a surge of warmth in his heart and said, "Wash your face and eat."

"Yes." With the help of the yamen runners, Shen Xian washed his face with cold water and then sat down.

"Gentlemen, please start eating. Let's eat first, and then we can discuss official business later," Shen Bin, the highest-ranking official present, said.

After drinking the ginseng soup, Shen Bin's slightly sallow complexion regained some color. He then circulated his inner energy, slowly refining the medicinal effects of the ginseng.

(End of this chapter)