The county magistrate directly begged for mercy. Gu Shengchao was also unexpected. He did not expect him to be so greedy for life and afraid of death.
When the officers and soldiers saw that the usually domineering county magistrate suddenly became unbearable, they were all at a loss, put away their bows and crossbows, and surrounded him.
Lu Jin, who was originally at the center of the encirclement, was ignored and just went over to watch the fun.
Gu Shengchao saw everyone gathered around and whispered: "Get up, let everyone laugh."
The county magistrate struggled, swaying but unable to stand up. He was too frightened just now and still hasn't recovered.
Simply, Gu Shengchao sat down on the floor, took out his tooth tag and handed it to the county magistrate: "Sir, please have a look. I am an official sent by the imperial court to suppress bandits in Pinghua County. When I returned home, I encountered a gangster who pretended to be a ghost to scare us. One of them was killed and another escaped. The villagers I didn’t know the details and reported it to the officials with good intentions, but I actually caused all these troubles, causing you to deal with them personally. It’s like a flood has washed away the Dragon King Temple, and one family doesn’t know the other!”
Gu Shengchao deliberately downplayed the villagers' responsibilities to prevent the government from retaliating against these people after they left.
Although the reason why the villagers reported to the official was despicable, they were all poor people after all, so Gu Shengchao didn't care about them.
The county magistrate carefully identified Gu Shengchao's identity, presented the tooth plaque to Gu Shengchao with both hands, and respectfully saluted: "I didn't know that your Excellency was coming, so I missed you from afar. I hope that you will atone for your sins."
He suddenly realized that he was weak and unable to stand up just now, but after seeing Gu Shengchao's teeth, he suddenly returned to normal.
Little did he know that when he thought Gu Shengchao was a gangster, he was worried about his life. The fear and panic had already frightened him.
After reading the tooth card and knowing that the other party was an official of the imperial court, and his position was far above him, he naturally became more open-minded, and his initial ugly appearance no longer mattered, and it became normal unconsciously.
"You're welcome, get up and talk." Gu Shengchao stood up and pulled the county magistrate to his feet.
The county magistrate glanced at the officers and soldiers who were watching, and shouted: "What are you still waiting for? Hurry and pay homage to Mr. Gu, the Minister of War."
"See Master Gu!"
"Please forgive me, Master Gu!"
Everyone prostrated themselves.
Gu Shengchao waved his hands and said: "Everyone, please get up. Ignorance is not guilty. Let's go into the town to investigate the scene. Don't let the villagers destroy it."
Accompanied by the county magistrate, Gu Shengchao returned to the town.
They first came to the dead Yegui Sect disciple, and he conducted an autopsy and recorded it in the record.
Afterwards, everyone went to the old house of Ancient Sage Chao and recorded in detail the scene where Huang Buhuo refined the poison in the lobby for reporting purposes.
The county magistrate and other subordinates all finished their work and stepped forward and said politely: "My lord, I have been tired all the way, so I have prepared a small amount of wine at the county office. Please appreciate it."
Gu Shengchao shook his head and said: "Thank you, no need. This is my ancestral home. When I come back this time, I just want to rest here for a few days and recall my childhood memories."
"Then I won't disturb you, sir." The county magistrate bowed his hands and took a few steps back. He loudly ordered the officers and soldiers he brought with him: "The house has been abandoned for a long time. Please clean it up quickly so that you can have a good rest."
There were so many officers and soldiers that it shouldn't be difficult to pack them up. Just when they were about to move the casseroles and earthen pots, a man jumped up and shouted: "Stop, I have something to say!"
When the county magistrate saw that he was rushing from the onlookers, he immediately shouted: "Protect Mr. Gu!"
He also approached Gu Shengchao and stood in front to protect him.
Others only saw the magistrate's desperate look, but he was the only one who knew best that this Master Gu was not weak in martial arts and could protect himself at critical moments.
Sure enough, the ancient sage stepped in front of the county magistrate and said, "Don't panic, don't be afraid."
The man stood in the middle of the hall with his hands behind his back, showing a detached posture, even as officers and soldiers gathered around him with weapons in hand, their expressions remained unchanged.
Gu Shengchao looked carefully and blurted out: "Brother Baili, why are you here?"
He ran forward excitedly and hugged Bailihuan.
Seeing that the two knew each other, the county magistrate waved the officers and soldiers to withdraw.
Bailihuan patted Gu Shengchao's shoulder, took a step back and pointed at the jars and said, "These are treasures.
, can you keep it for a few days for me to check? "
"Of course." Gu Shengchao agreed. He turned around and told the county magistrate: "My eldest brother needs to find out the truth. Please stay away. I will ask everyone for help after my eldest brother finds out."
The county magistrate was suspicious. Gu Shengchao was already the minister of the Ministry of War. What was his eldest brother's background? Anyway, he was someone he couldn't afford to offend.
"Your Majesty, please excuse me. We came in a hurry and didn't prepare anything. We only brought some wine and meat for your Majesty to make tooth sacrifices. If your Majesty needs manpower, I will leave some men and horses at your disposal." The county magistrate did not dare to neglect.
Gu Shengchao returned the favor and said, "I won't give it to you if you don't need it yet."
When the county magistrate saw the master wink at him, he knew something was going on. For fear of saying the wrong thing, he quickly left the few boxes he had brought and led the officers and soldiers out.
The house became quiet, and a man came forward to salute: "Wuzong disciple Feng Nanjing pays homage to my uncle."
"No courtesy, no courtesy." Ancient Sage Chao supported him. He had met this person in Beihu and was Bailihuan's disciple.
Seeing that there were still people in the courtyard looking around curiously, Gu Shengchao went over and said, "Everyone, please go back. My eldest brother came to see me today and will entertain you some other time."
After those people left, the courtyard door was closed.
"What is the use of these earthen jars, are they worthy of my brother's trouble?" Gu Shengchao came to Baili Huan and asked.
Baili Huan looked at the bottles and cans in the lobby and said happily: "I came all the way here just for them. I didn't expect that they would be in the hands of my brother. It's really a worthwhile trip."
"For them?" Gu Shengchao was stunned.
Lu Jin rolled up his sleeves and Lao Gao came over with a rag in his hand and said, "Brother Baili has come all the way. This room is so choked that I have a headache. I just scrubbed the front yard and living room. Why don't we go there to rest first?" ?」
Baili Huan said with a smile: "Miss Lu Jin is still diligent, let's just listen to her."
Several people came to the living room, where the tables and chairs were in good condition, just right for sitting down and drinking tea and chatting.
"You guys chat first. There is a well and a stove nearby. I will boil water, but unfortunately there is no tea." Lu Jin said regretfully.
Gu Shengchao thought about it and said, "There should be some in the box left by the county magistrate. I wonder what he brought with him when he went out?"
"The box is heavy, I'll move it." Feng Nanjing ran to help.
Gu Shengchao said curiously: "The elder brother hasn't said why he came here yet, but the younger brother can't wait any longer."
Baili Huan then said: "Feng Nanjing passed by here a few months ago and heard rumors about ghosts killing people. He went back and told me about it. I immediately concluded that someone was poisoning. Only two sects of poison witches in the Dawu Dynasty are good at using poison. I'm worried A disciple of the Wu Sect went astray, so he asked Feng Nanjing to lead the way and hurried over. I happened to see the conflict between you and the officers and soldiers, so I followed you all the way."
"I see, if I had known that big brother was coming, I wouldn't have wasted the Half-Step Ascension Pill." Gu Shengchao said angrily.
"What pill?" Bailihuan heard this name for the first time.
"It's the Half-step Shengtian Pill." Gu Shengchao told him in detail how he came here.
"It turns out to be the Night Ghost Sect. I have heard about it for a long time and have never dealt with it before. They have been entrenched in Xileng Kingdom all year round. They came to the Dawu Dynasty in order to refine poison. I need to pay close attention to the medicinal materials around here." Baili Huan nodded. .
While the two were talking, Lu Jin brought over an exquisite tea set and tea cup. The tea had already been boiled and steam was rising from it.
Feng Nanjing came in with the box in his arms, opened the lid and put it aside.
"This county magistrate really knows how to enjoy himself. When he goes out to command his subordinates to fight, he doesn't leave anything behind." Lu Jin poured tea for several people.
Bailihuan joked: "Yes, your elder brother Gu doesn't get this kind of treatment as a dignified minister of the Ministry of War. The county magistrate is always surrounded by people when he goes out. It's really enviable."
"Brother Baili, did you join our boat gang later?" Lu Jin asked.
Baili Huan nodded and said, "Let's go. The leader of the Boat Gang does not have a serious illness. I combined the methods of several great doctors to cure his illness."
"That's great, eldest brother has a godson." Lu Jin applauded in celebration.
, she then asked: "Has Brother Baili seen my father?" "
Baili said cheerfully: "That is something we must see. I cured the master's illness. Of course, I will answer your request for this little thing. Don't worry, your father and your mother are both in good health. They allow you to stay here with peace of mind." With Brother Gu, there’s no need to rush back.”
"I knew they would say that." Lu Jin pouted, a little unhappy.
"I estimate that I will be delayed here for a few days. I need to buy some things to boil the residue left by Yeguimen. I will work backwards on the refining process. Don't dislike it, brothers Shengchao." Baili Huan changed the topic.
"Even though Brother Baili lives here, I'm still afraid that this place is shabby and Brother will dislike us." The two of them laughed.
Gu Shengchao checked the contents of the box and said excitedly: "There is wine and meat. Let's eat and drink enough before we think about anything else."
Before they had eaten in the morning, Gu Shengchao immediately placed wine, meat and various side dishes on the table, and the four of them drank happily.
After drinking and eating, Baili Huan and Feng Nanjing immediately devoted themselves to the process of decomposing the poison at Night Ghost Gate. Lu Jin was busy cleaning up the backyard and organizing four rooms for several people to rest at night.
Gu Shengchao came to his parents' former dormitory. The dilapidated bed was in a state of disrepair. He leaned against the window and couldn't help but feel his heart surge and almost shed tears of sadness.
Trying to control his emotions, he silently opened the mechanism of the dressing mirror, revealing the shining jewelry hidden behind it.
After thinking for a moment, he called Lu Jin and asked her to choose any jewelry she liked.
Lu Jin couldn't put it down, and finally chose an agate necklace to wear around her neck, standing behind the dressing mirror and posing to show off her beauty.
"That's it." Lu Jin couldn't help but be happy.
Gu Shengchao picked some and put them in his pocket to give away. He looked at Lu Jin and said, "I'm going to exchange them for silver notes and take them away tomorrow. How about you pick a few more?"
"Thank you, Brother Gu. This is enough for me." Lu Jin was content and not greedy.
Gu Shengchao looked at the jewelry and was filled with emotion. How many people risked their lives for them, only to have nothing in the end.
The so-called glory and wealth are nothing but passing smoke.
What is the most real thing that a person should pursue in this life?
(Remember to bookmark it for next time reading!)
