Yuan Qi understood the general situation, which was similar to what Lord Qian had said, but there weren't many details, since those who went were gone and no one came back.
Zhang Jing was very troubled: "I also took people there in person, but Taoyuan Village was deserted. Many houses had collapsed and there was no one there. We don't know where the people who went there have gone. We can't find them. These past few days, people have been coming to the yamen every day to ask how the case is going. If the people who went there were just ordinary people, it would be fine, but most of them are scholars."
Yuan Qi gave him an annoyed look: "Does Your Excellency mean that ordinary people can be ignored?"
Zhang Jing immediately understood what Yuan Qi was thinking, and he quickly explained, "Daoist Master, please don't misunderstand. That's not what I meant. What I meant was that the families of those who have had accidents are extremely anxious, especially the families of scholars. Some families are not well-off and have devoted the entire clan's resources to supporting a scholar. That person is the hope of the whole clan or even the whole village. How can a perfectly healthy person just disappear like this? Who wouldn't be anxious?"
He continued, "Actually, this didn't just happen recently; it started five years ago. At that time, the magistrate of Taoyuan County sent people to look for it, but the village was deserted and there was no one there. Recently, more and more people have gone missing. Some family members have come here to plead their cases. Last month, someone even stopped my carriage in the street. The matter became a big deal, and only then did the magistrate of Taoyuan County report it. I don't have any good ideas, so I can only try asking my teacher."
"Master, tell me, what's going on?"
"It's either evil spirits or monsters. How far is Taoyuan County from here?" Yuan Qi thought it would be better to investigate this matter at night and wanted to resolve it as soon as possible.
Seeing that the little girl was not afraid at all, Zhang Jing felt more confident: "It's only a hundred miles away, and it will only take half a day to get there on horseback."
Yuan Qi picked up a cotton towel and wiped his mouth: "Perfect timing. Let's set off now and get there tonight to investigate the case."
Zhang Jing was slightly surprised. This Taoist priest was different from the officials. Officials usually played around for a couple of days before getting down to business, delaying as much as possible. He even had to treat them to good food and drink. The Taoist priest was so pragmatic.
"In that case, I will immediately assemble my men and we shall set off."
Because this matter was of great importance, and there was a possibility of fighting, in order to be on the safe side, Zhang Jing immediately ordered his subordinates to select fifty skilled constables and yamen runners, and prepared fast horses, and everyone set off immediately.
When Yuan Qi saw the spirited constables and yamen runners, she realized that she didn't need so many people; she could handle it all by herself.
But since manpower might be needed for the aftermath after rescuing those trapped people, he didn't say much more.
Zhang Jing also prepared a fast horse for Yuan Qi, who shrugged and had no choice but to jump onto the horse.
As soon as she left the city, she used the technique of shrinking the earth to an inch again, and in less than an hour everyone saw a desolate ruin.
Taoyuan Village is located not far to the east of Taoyuan County, only one mile away. Zhang Jing has already sent someone to inform the magistrate of Taoyuan County.
Bai Youhui experienced the Shrinking Earth technique again, and was now explaining with great interest to the constables and yamen runners around him why they had arrived in such a short time.
Not to mention the constables and yamen runners, even Zhang Jing felt that perhaps this matter could be resolved today. His eyes shone with anticipation as he looked at Yuan Qi: "Daoist Master, what do you think?"
Yuan Qi could tell at a glance that the place was filled with demonic energy.
"There's a monster."
Upon hearing the word "monster," everyone panicked. The constables and yamen runners behind them drew their swords and formed a circle to protect the group.
The head constable, Xing Shuo, asked, "Taoist priest, where is the monster? I'll take men to kill him!"
Yuan Qi admired the courage and bravery of these constables, who were not cowards. She calmly reassured them, "Don't be afraid, everyone. It's just a monster. I can handle it. Leave some of you behind, pick a few skilled in martial arts, and come with me."
Xing Shuo roared, "Who's coming with me?"
"Wow!"
"Wow!"
"Wow!"
...
Everyone actually wants to go.
Not one of them backed down.
“Very good.” Yuan Qi stepped forward and selected ten constables with the strongest yang energy. “Just the few of you.”
Those who weren't chosen were quite unhappy.
Xing Shuo was puzzled: "The monster must be very powerful to capture so many people. Taoist priest, ten people are too few, aren't they? Should we pick a few more?"
"That's enough. The rest of you stay here to protect the two lords, lest the monsters use a feint attack." Yuan Qi watched as mist rose from the ruins and spread rapidly in all directions, seemingly enveloping everyone inside.
Before they even set off, the other party started provoking them. Yuan Qi snorted coldly, formed hand seals, and summoned the Azure Dragon.
A golden dragon flew from Yuan Qi's fingertip, circled once in the mist, and roared, instantly dispelling the mist.
Everyone's confidence soared, and they looked at Yuan Qi with new respect.
Bai Youhui and Qian Wenbing exclaimed in surprise.
Bai Youhui said, "Seventh Sister, please take me as your disciple! I want to learn too! It's amazing! You can even summon the Azure Dragon!"
Yuan Qi smiled and said, "If you want to learn these things, you must first read the scriptures and Taoist books, and you must also dismiss all your concubines and become a quiet and inactive Third Young Master Bai."
Bai Youhui patted his chest and said, "No problem!"
Yuan Qi glanced at him sideways, not quite believing that he could do it. Could a spoiled brat endure such hardship?
She turned and left, Xing Shuo followed with ten constables, and Bai Youhui dragged Qian Wenbing along to join in the fun.
Just in case, Yuan Qi gave everyone a demon-suppressing talisman.
As the sun began to set, the ruins appeared particularly desolate in the glow of the sunset. Wild grass and overgrown trees covered the landscape, with peach trees being the most numerous. Occasionally, birds would fly by.
A small river flows through the middle of the village, and there are many wild grasses and shrubs along the riverbank.
The further they went in, the stronger the demonic aura became, and the demon-suppressing talismans on everyone's bodies began to heat up.
Bai Youhui and the others were not afraid at all; instead, they became more and more excited and vigilant. He even asked Yuan Qi, "Seventh Sister, what kind of monster do you think it is?"
"Only a great demon over a thousand years old can set up a fog array. Let's see what things over a thousand years old are in the village," Yuan Qi replied calmly, cautiously looking around.
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing this.
Xing Shuo did the same; he immediately drew his knife.
The group slowly made their way forward along the path overgrown with weeds.
Bai Youhui asked again, "What could something that has lived for a thousand years be? A tree? Or a snake?"
Yuan Qi chuckled: "You guessed pretty accurately, you've read quite a few storybooks, haven't you?"
Bai Youhui became even more excited: "Yes, yes, I read it all in storybooks, but this isn't some deep mountain forest, so there shouldn't be any snake demons here. It's probably a tree demon. Look—"
He pointed to a towering tree in front of him: "I can see that tree from afar, isn't it that tree?"
It's strange, even though it's already autumn, that tree in the distance is covered in peach blossoms.
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