Nine Netherworld Demon Subduing Record

Fu Qing, feigning a sense of regret for not having met sooner, slapped his thigh and said, "Who isn't? We're all just trying to make a living."

"To go back to my hometown to live, you could say it's for the sake of living," he thought.

"Moreover, I've been thinking that there have been quite a few riots in Yunzhou City recently. If I become an official, I can protect my family's safety."

"Another riot."

Fu Qing thought that almost everyone he met said the same thing, whether it was Chen Xing'an or the official, but he didn't care much about them. Even though he was attacked by the dark figure, he just thought it was bad luck.

But I couldn't help asking, "What's the basis for this riot?"

After saying that, Fu Qing probably felt that his question seemed a bit foolish and ignorant, so he added, "I have been doing odd jobs in the Imperial Household Department and haven't been aware of the situation in Yunzhou City recently. I wonder if Brother Bai has any information about the situation so that I can know some information in advance."

The latter statement is naturally true, but it's always good to be prepared.

"You don't know? My family is in business, so we have the best connections. In the past two months, the number of outsiders in Yunzhou City has increased by more than three times compared to before. They all live in the southern part of the city. I heard that since they came, strange things have been happening one after another in the city. I also heard that there have been many unexplained murders, which has made everyone very anxious."

Fu Qing thought to himself, "I almost became the protagonist of the murder case you mentioned."

At the same time, he was also wondering, "Why have so many people suddenly flocked to Cloud Boat City?"

According to the records in the Xi Zhao Atlas, Qingzhou was just a small city near the eastern coast, with nothing particularly outstanding. The only thing that was developed was the fishing industry. Locals would ride the spirit rays to Lingmeng to make a living, let alone outsiders. Even if they were to work, they would go to big cities. I have never heard of them all going to a county town.

Although Yunzhou City is clearly not a county town, it was already a fairly large city by ancient standards.

Bai Jing leaned closer and said mysteriously, "I heard..."

He knocked and lifted the curtain again. Seeing that no one was around, he turned his head and whispered, "I heard that the people who came from other places are all refugees."

Fu Qing thought to herself that there was no need for her to avoid suspicion. They were in a carriage, and if there were ears on the other side of the wall, Fu Qing would just consider him a superman.

He pondered the word "fleeing" again, thinking to himself that it might mean escaping war or something. Indeed, wars were frequent in ancient times, so people might be fleeing from floods or droughts. In any case, whenever there was a major disaster, people would seek a living wherever they could.

This is also a kind of human resilience.

-

The scenery outside the car rushed by, and soon Fu Qing saw the red wall. He clasped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you for your help today, Brother Bai. I have nothing to repay you with, but I will definitely invite you to have a drink and share our feelings in the future."

"It's nothing. But Brother Fu, we'll be colleagues from now on, so we'll have to look out for each other more often."

After exchanging a few polite words, Fu Qing watched the carriage disappear into the distance, thinking to himself that Bai Jingren was indeed amiable. If they could become colleagues and get along well, that would be quite good.

Upon entering the mansion, he first went to the library to see if Grandma Yu had left early that day.

But seeing that familiar figure still sitting there, he felt embarrassed.

I've only been here for a little over a week, but I'm always entangled in other things. Now I have to do that errand, so I thought I should tell Grandma Yu.

"It's alright, everyone has their own ambitions. It's just that there aren't many young men like you who are willing to come to the library. Generally, those who can read are doing other jobs."

Grandma Yu still looked as kind as ever, and Fu Qing felt even more guilty towards her.

But at this moment, a figure appeared in Fu Qing's mind: a man in a green robe, who always seemed to have something on his lips.

He smiled and said, "I would like to recommend someone. I wonder if you know anyone, Grandma Yu?"

……

Inside the steward's office.

"In short, that's the situation. If you're willing to go, I can introduce you to Grandma Yu."

"I've actually already sold you out," Fu Qing thought to himself.

"I'm willing!" Qi Feng slurped up a mouthful of noodles and said, "Why wouldn't I be? Mr. Murong is a learned man just like you. I'm sure I'll learn even more there."

Fu Qing was almost in tears. What a good child he was. If he hadn't been forced to do this, he would have really wanted to treat him like a younger brother.

"Then, Brother Fu, will you come back?"

"Yes, I'll stay right here in Cloud Boat City, I'm not going anywhere else."

Qi Feng chuckled at Fu Qing, then lifted the front of his shirt.

"Oh dear, this won't do!" Fu Qing had no idea what the boy in front of her was going to do, but when she saw him turn up his collar, Fu Qing looked closely and saw that the words "Qi Feng" were written on the collar, and the brushstrokes were the same as the ones she had taught him before.

"Brother Fu, look!"

Fu Qing smiled with narrowed eyes, nodded, and gave a thumbs up.

After arranging some more things, Fu Qing returned to his room.

He told Qi Feng and Grandma Yu about the attack on them at the library, saying that thieves were trying to steal books and that they should be careful. He also gave the guards some extra money so they could keep a close watch on the library and prevent anyone from sneaking in.

After finishing this task, he felt uneasy and thought he should tell Chen Xing'an. Otherwise, if the guards at the door were to come and some Taoist master, ordinary people, unless they were skilled in martial arts, would probably have a hard time dealing with them.

Then he went to the library and sorted out the extra books.

As for the lacquered trunk on the third floor, when Grandma Yu heard that he was going to work as a constable, she handed him the catalog of books. Seeing that it was mostly maps and rosters, he had no interest in looking at it anymore.

Furthermore, there is no information about the "Shattered Heaven Netherworld".

He lay on his wooden crate bed, reflecting on the past few days since he arrived, feeling as if he had just woken from a long dream.

In his dream, he returned to his old neighborhood. Familiar food was on the table, his father was always curled up on that old-fashioned leather sofa, his mother always complained that he didn't help with the cooking, and his younger sister was always on her phone, perhaps in a relationship or something.

But once all the dishes were served, the family would sit around the table, listening to the old television in the background, the father talking about national affairs, and the mother talking about market discounts.

Something seemed to have fallen to the ground.

-

The next day, inside the Exploration Pavilion.

Fu Qing arrived early in the morning. When Bai Jing saw him, he stepped forward and bowed, as if they had become sworn brothers.

And in front of them, there were only about ten people who had passed the registration and review process.

They were in a large hall with various statues on all sides. Fu Qing didn't understand what the statues depicted; they looked like human figures but weren't human, and were very abstract.

Before them stood a pitch-black door, and for some reason, Fu Qing felt a familiar aura emanating from behind that door.

The examiner, dressed in a black robe, stood at the entrance. Seeing that everyone had arrived, he coughed lightly and announced, "The exam begins! Those whose names I call, please pair up and enter to take the exam."

Fu Qing was taken aback. This exam actually required students to work in pairs, which seemed to be a test of teamwork.

"First group, Zhang Shirong, Qin Li!"

The two people at the front of the group looked at each other and nervously walked into the dark doorway ahead.