Chapter 19 The Man Behind the Scenes
As expected, even Xiao Yu, who usually never takes compliments to heart, was a little moved at this moment.
"Ahem, um." He didn't expect that Xu Chuchu, who was always "unyielding even when he was right", would suddenly praise him in a soft voice. He cleared his throat uncomfortably.
Born into a noble family, he was surrounded by flatterers. However, due to his strange illness, he was also subject to frequent gossip and was more sensitive than the average person. He felt that other people's compliments were superficial.
Therefore, no matter how well he performed in studying, riding and shooting, judging cases and arresting people, no matter how much he was praised by others, he never felt the slightest bit happy.
But Xu Chuchu's words warmed her heart so much that they went straight to her heart. Not only did she praise him for being a righteous official, but she also felt like a hero descending from the sky to save the beauty.
He smiled calmly: "You've said too much. In fact, I am not a person in the officialdom. It's..."
When the words were on the tip of his tongue, he suddenly felt a gleam of light coming from the opposite side. Sure enough, a hint of pride flashed in Xu Chuchu's affectionate eyes, so he quickly shut up.
"What my identity is has nothing to do with you!" Xiao Yu said angrily, "If you have nothing to do, go practice. Stop trying to get me started."
Because she couldn't control her expression well and failed to get the message across, Xu Chuchu muttered in disappointment, "...you were the one who came to teach me a lesson first."
"Hmm?" Xiao Yu frowned.
"No, no, I'm going to practice." Xu Chuchu touched his wallet and quickly slipped away. It was better not to get angry with the big sponsor.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Yu called out to her from behind: "Wait."
"What's the matter?" Didn't he just ask her to practice?
"Come with me, I have something to ask you." Xiao Yu said.
Oh, I said a few days ago that I would talk to her, and now she is finally here.
Xu Chuchu nodded: "Okay, I have something to tell you too."
Although the Dragon King sacrifice case was solved, she still had doubts in her heart after she came back and always wanted to discuss it with Xiao Yu.
The two men entered a reception room at the back of the yamen and sat facing each other at the tea table. Their eyes met, and they felt a little awkward for a moment, as if something was strange.
In the end, it was Xiao Yu who spoke first, and he asked, "Is there a Dragon King in this world?"
"Huh?" Xu Chuchu was stunned. He obviously didn't expect Xiao Yu to ask this question. But then he thought, as an atheist, he seemed to doubt this and that every day, so he didn't find it strange.
"I don't know." She answered honestly.
Xiao Yu narrowed his eyes unhappily.
"I'm really not sure." Xu Chuchu continued, "I only know that there are no such things in Fengyang County and Tailing County."
As to whether there is a Dragon King in the world, she once asked her master in modern times. Her master told her that there is one in legend and there should have been one in the past, but it must be gone now.
The "present" we are talking about is the modern era of the 21st century.
As human technology gradually develops, many new things can replace the traditions of the old society. Many ancient schools have been lost, and "not believing in ghosts and gods" has become the concept of most young people.
The legendary dragons and gods also disappeared and never appeared in people's sight again.
But in ancient times, she really didn't know whether there were dragons here.
"But if there are dragons, they should be in the sea." Xu Chuchu thought for a moment and said, "The Tailing River is not big enough to support a Dragon King."
Xiao Yu frowned and asked again, "So, according to what you said that day, those physiognomists who sacrificed young girls were deceived by the leader, 'Master Xiang'?"
"That's what I later became confused about." Xu Chuchu propped up her head, a mysterious look on her face. "Let me tell you in secret: while human sacrifice is sinister, it's very beneficial to cultivation."
"Sacrificing a living person is more effective than killing the fox demon we saw the other day. You've heard of the Caibu Dafa (Gathering Energy) method, right? It's very similar to this."
"If what they say is true, and this sacrifice has been going on for several years, then Master Xiang must not only have a second-level cultivation level."
Xiao Yu pondered for a moment and said, "I'm thinking the same thing. What's even more confusing to me is that County Magistrate Zhang already holds a high position and isn't a cultivator, so why would he go to such great lengths to create such a grand ceremony to pave the way for Master Xiang?"
"Didn't you interrogate him?" Xu Chuchu asked.
"Of course he did, and it was a retrial," Xiao Yu said unhappily. "But this man has always insisted that he did this because he embezzled money allocated by the court for dam construction. He was afraid of a real flood and being blamed by the court, so he asked Master Xiang to perform a ritual and pay homage to the Dragon King. In the end, he was deceived by Master Xiang."
"Impossible." Xu Chuchu immediately denied, "Those two guys were clearly in the same group that day! They were flirting right in front of me!"
Xiao Yu also said: "I know this, of course. There must be someone behind this county governor."
But the county magistrate refused to reveal the person behind the scenes no matter what. Even when Xiao Yu threatened his family, he would not change his confession.
With the involvement of fortune tellers, sacrifices, and officialdom, the identity of the person behind the scenes must be very complicated.
But Xiao Yu didn't say these words. He would continue to investigate, but he didn't want to involve Xu Chuchu anymore.
"Okay, it's okay." He waved his hand, "You can go back."
"Ah? Okay." Xu Chuchu wanted to have another heated discussion with him, but she was unexpectedly expelled and had to leave in boredom.
Xiao Yu leaned back in the chair and watched Xu Chuchu lift up the hem of her skirt with her little hands and run out happily. Suddenly, he realized what was strange just now.
Today, this girl finally didn't wear the baggy Taoist robe that could hide ten kilograms of rice, but instead wore proper women's clothing.
Why did she change it so suddenly? Oh, it must be because her robe got soaked that day, so Ah Fu sent someone to change it for her.
...Finally, she looks a little more like a girl and not so weird anymore.
"Stop." He suddenly said again.
"What's wrong again?" Xu Chuchu was convinced by Xiao Yu's habit of always sending her away and always saying "wait" or "stop".
"Do you have anything else to do later?" Xiao Yu asked.
"Hmm..." Xu Chuchu thought for a moment, "Practice?"
"That means there is nothing. Go back and prepare, and follow me to a place. Don't ask why." Xiao Yu shook the fan, with a noble and cold look on his face.
"oh."
…
Although she said she was preparing, Xu Chuchu didn't have much to prepare. She just went back to her room, took a quick look, and came out.
Not long after, she was led by Xiao Yu and Afu to a shop in the southwest corner of the county town.
To be precise, it is a paper-making shop.
There are wreaths of various sizes and paper people and horses placed at the door of the shop. These are all things for the dead. It is what modern people often call a "wreath and funeral clothing shop."
"Why did you bring me here?" Xu Chuchu looked at Xiao Yu warily. "You don't want me to burn paper and perform rituals to summon the spirit, do you? I told you, it's all fake."
Xiao Yu pursed her lips and told Ah Fu: "Take her in."
Ah Fu nodded in agreement and said to Xu Chuchu, "Please come in, fortune teller. There are good things inside. You won't regret it after seeing it."
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