Chapter 8

"Then we'll set up at Changyuan Street tonight and capture and kill that monster!"

Zhang Zhubu rolled up his sleeves, his face eager and ready to leap into action.

Chen Chao glanced at him, unable to understand how such a civil official could be so enthusiastic about this kind of thing.

Although Zhang Zhubu's full beard made him look more like a bandit leader than a secretary.

The old coroner nodded in agreement, "To eliminate this monster, I am willing to contribute my humble efforts."

Mi Ke asked, "What can you do?"

"..."

The magistrate's public embarrassment made the coroner lose face.

Mi Ke didn't have the energy to care about the coroner's thoughts. Instead, he looked at Chen Chao and asked, "Brother Chen, are you confident?"

He wasn't afraid of returning empty-handed today, but he was afraid that Chen Chao wouldn't be able to handle the monster lurking in the dark, which would mean everyone would die there.

"No problem."

Chen Chao explained his plan, "When the time comes, we'll have the constables guard both ends of the street. If the monster escapes, it will at least give us a direction. Magistrate Mi, you've been working hard for so long. You don't need to go to Changyuan Street tonight. Just stay at the county office and wait for news."

While speaking, Chen Chao kept his eyes on Mi Ke.

I've given you the steps, now it's up to you.

Mi Ke thought for a moment and said with a righteous expression, "Commander Chen, that's not right. As the local magistrate, how can I sit idly by in the county office when such a major incident has occurred in Tianqing County?"

"Good, your words are truly admirable, worthy of our example!"

The old coroner was trying to mend his relationship with Mi Ke.

Zhang Zhubu chuckled, inwardly mocking, "The magistrate knows it's safer to follow Commander Chen, doesn't he?"

Chen Chao smiled and nodded, "I was too shallow. Given Magistrate Mi's character, how could he be a coward?"

While speaking, Chen Chao kept looking at Mi Ke, his eyes clearly saying, "You owe me a late-night snack next time!"

Mi Ke nodded frequently, "Of course."

As for the constables present, who didn't understand the situation, they looked at Mi Ke with even more admiration.

Our magistrate is truly a good official!

"Since that's the case, I'll go back and prepare."

Chen Chao smiled slightly, looked at the sky, and thought he could still get some sleep during the day if he went back now.

Mi Ke hesitated, wanting to say, "I don't want you to go," but finally bit his lip and said, "Commander Chen, come over early!"

"I'm afraid without you, I'll be scared."

Chen Chao nodded and left the county office with Xie Nandu, who hadn't said much.

Looking at the girl's back, Mi Ke frowned and muttered, "When did this girl come?"

Zhang Zhubu ignored him.

The old coroner was thinking about whether to find some medicine to treat the magistrate's head.

Or maybe just cut it open to see what's wrong?

The old coroner soon shook his head again. Cutting it open would be easy, but the problem is, he wouldn't be able to put it back together.

After everything was arranged, Chen Chao left the county office with the others' reluctant gazes, stepped back into the snow, and returned to his own courtyard.

But before entering, Chen Chao ran into the idle Zhou Gouqi again. The man and he exchanged a glance and sat down on their respective doorsteps, arguing loudly. However, this time, Chen Chao was still at a disadvantage. Chen Chao cursed inwardly and was still regretting not performing well today as he turned to open the door.

Entering the yard, he sat down in front of the heavily chipped pillar, leaning back against it, looking very satisfied.

"Do you like arguing with that guy so much?"

The girl's eyes roamed over Chen Chao. They had known each other for a while, but she still couldn't see through this black-clothed youth. She wasn't concerned about his love for arguments, but rather... he seemed like a completely different person when he was serious.

But the girl then narrowed her eyes, realizing it was an act. His weakness was just a facade to deal the most fatal blow at the most critical moment.

"Don't look at me like that, and don't think too much. We won't have much more interaction in the future." Chen Chao said casually.

"I think we'll meet again in the capital."

Xie Nandu smiled, "Someone like you won't stay in this small place forever."

Chen Chao laughed, "Then I'll count on your help when the time comes. After all, we are friends."

Xie Nandu said, "If we're friends, why do you still charge me?"

"One thing at a time. Talking about feelings hurts the money. Besides, you know my situation. My monthly salary is so little, and there are no more monsters to kill around here. If I don't save, what can I do..."

Chen Chao looked pained, but the pain he showed was more than he actually felt.

"Don't say so much, I won't raise the price."

Xie Nandu hadn't seen through Chen Chao, but she understood one thing: the guy rarely told the truth.

"Let's talk about something serious." Chen Chao changed the subject and took the initiative to discuss today's murder.

As the commander, it was his duty.

Xie Nandu looked at Chen Chao and said, "Since you already have your own ideas, why ask me?"

"Why did you say that in the county office?" Chen Chao sighed, "You revealed my thoughts, and if the monster hears, where will I find it in the vast Tianqing County?"

Xie Nandu was silent for a moment and said, "It's not necessarily a monster."

She spoke slowly, but her judgment was different from before. However, Chen Chao didn't show any surprise, as if he had already thought of this.

Xie Nandu continued, "In the south, some cultivators, a branch of Qi practitioners, specialize in controlling monsters. If it's one of their monsters, it's not certain."

"If it's a passing cultivator who lets their monster run amok, they won't be restrained."

Chen Chao's face darkened. The cultivators of the Great Li Dynasty always ignored imperial laws and treated human lives as grass. If it was a cultivator, it would be a big problem.

Xie Nandu looked at Chen Chao and asked, "If it's a monster raised by a cultivator, what will you do?"

This was a direct question, and also a problem the Great Li Dynasty had faced for two hundred years. The answer was that many officials had already acted on it over the years.

Turn a blind eye.

Would the Great Li Dynasty be able to withstand the anger of those mountain-top cultivators if they were provoked?

Not to mention the Great Li Dynasty, but in the current situation, what could you, Chen Chao, a small commander, do if it was a monster raised by a cultivator?

Chen Chao didn't answer the question but asked Xie Nandu, "Will you stay here tonight or go with me to Changyuan Street?"

"No, I'll stay at home tonight."

Xie Nandu, unusually, didn't choose to follow Chen Chao this time.

Chen Chao said seriously, "I need to remind you, this is my home, not yours."

Xie Nandu said with a hint of grievance, "Is such a small matter worth you being so serious about?"

Chen Chao nodded and said seriously, "I'm afraid you might have some thoughts about me. Of course, I'm a good person, and if you can't help but like me, I don't think it's a problem. But the problem is, if you have such thoughts, you might think saving you is a given and forget to pay me."

Xie Nandu asked thoughtfully, "If I really like you, wouldn't you get more?"

"Indeed, it's a hard offer to refuse, but I still have to refuse."

Chen Chao casually peeled off a piece of paint from the pillar and threw it away. He smiled, "Soft meals are good, but I don't like them."

...

...

The snow was lighter today, but it was still very cold.

Zhou Gouqi sat on his doorstep, wearing a thick cotton robe, rubbing his hands, but feeling quite happy.

His good mood wasn't because he had won the argument with the young man surnamed Chen again. After all, winning all the time, he was used to it.

It was because his fat wife had gone back to her parents' house today, as her father was celebrating his eightieth birthday.

Before leaving, the fat wife had beaten him for a while, wanting him to go with her, but Zhou Gouqi refused. He hadn't done well in recent years, and many of his in-laws mocked and ridiculed him. Anyone else wouldn't want to suffer the cold looks today.

But he was just lazy.

Lazy to walk from this street to that street.

Troublesome.

While enjoying this leisure time alone, Zhou Gouqi suddenly heard a creak. He looked up and saw the door open again, and a black-clothed youth walked out.

Who else could it be but the young man surnamed Chen?

Zhou Gouqi narrowed his eyes, feeling more energetic.

After all, they were old acquaintances. Chen Chao knew what the old man was thinking at a glance. He waved his hand impatiently, "I have something important, no time to argue."

Zhou Gouqi clicked his tongue, "You're going to Changyuan Street?"

"Yes, a monster has entered the city. Be careful when you sleep tonight."

"Hey, you're actually concerned about me? Do you think I'll die and no one will argue with you?"

"No, I'm short on money recently."

Zhou Gouqi's mouth twitched, his face not looking good.

This kid really knows how to curse without using foul words.

"Do you really think the monster will still be at Changyuan Street?"

Hearing this, Chen Chao suddenly stopped and turned to look at the unremarkable man.

Could it be...

"What do you think?" Chen Chao looked at Zhou Gouqi, a strange idea gradually forming.

Zhou Gouqi laughed, "You're not very smart. After the monster committed two murders at Changyuan Street, would it stay there tonight?"

"It's like hiding private money. Who would keep it in one place?"

The man looked wise, quite pleased with himself.

"Is that all?"

Chen Chao's mouth twitched, his face full of regret.

What was I expecting?

"What, you still don't understand?" The man looked disdainful, as if dealing with an unteachable student.

Chen Chao expressionlessly gave the man the middle finger, not waiting for his reaction, and walked away on his own.

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