Lao Liao, who was on the daily tour, was very efficient in his work. He turned back before Qin Shaoyou and others arrived at the station in the east of the city.
"Sir, I just made a tour in this county and found that children in every household are locked up at home and are not allowed to go out, nor are they allowed to visit at the windows or doors. Even some wealthy families in the county have made wooden and iron structures The box cage has locked up one’s own children inside.”
Before Qin Shaoyou could speak, Monk Ma, who also heard Lao Liao's report, frowned and asked in surprise: "Is there such a thing? Why do they want to lock up their own children? Is this place a place for sex, or is there someone else? Is the evil spirit causing trouble?"
As the number of refugees increases, various illegal crimes will also increase. Among them, the most common cases are the abduction and trafficking of women and children.
On the one hand, the abducted women and children can be used to blackmail their families in exchange for food and property.
On the other hand, to some people who are extremely hungry, women and children are "not envious of sheep" and "rotten bones".
From the luggage, Lao Liao's voice came out: "It's not clear whether it's people doing evil or demons. People in the county are very taboo about this matter. Even if it is mentioned, it is vague and a bit like a riddle. They seem to be afraid that if they discuss this matter, they will be the next ones to suffer.”
Zhu Xiucai raised his eyebrows: "Is there such a thing? Is there something monitoring the people in this county?"
Lao Liao said: "I had such suspicions at first, but after careful inspection, I found no suspicious people or things."
"It's not a flower girl, it's a demon."
Cui Youying, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke with an affirmative tone.
"How do you know?" Qin Shaoyou asked curiously.
He hasn't found many clues in this county yet, and Su Tingyu hasn't smelled the scent of demons either. How could Senior Brother Cui have discovered it before them?
This discovery...is it reliable?
Cui Youyi didn't hear the trace of doubt in Qin Shaoyou's words, and said with some pride: "I just did a divination and divined two sentences, one is 'clouds are gathering', and the other is 'basil cannot make vines'."
"Overcast?"
Monk Ma raised his head and glanced at the sky. Although night was approaching, the sky was still clear, at least not overcast with clouds.
Cui Yougui said angrily: "What are you doing looking at the sky? Does this sentence I divined directly refer to the weather? Superficial! Too superficial! You have to know how to explore its deeper meaning. The dark clouds in these words , obviously refers to the aura of demons and ghosts, indicating that there are not only demons and ghosts causing trouble here, but also a somewhat powerful demon ghost, otherwise we cannot let the yin energy cover the sky."
"But in the sky, I don't see the Yin Qi covering the sky." Monk Ma muttered.
Cui Yougui was choked, and then he said with hatred: "Metaphor, metaphor, do you understand? I didn't mention the demons here. They are so arrogant that they dare to directly release their breath to cover the sky... The government here , the Demon Suppression Department, isn’t it a blessing for the common people? But they failed to catch the evil spirit that was causing trouble, doesn’t it mean they were covered up.”
Monk Ma nodded: "Although this explanation is blunt, it barely makes sense, but what does the following sentence mean that basil cannot become a vine?"
Sun Xianzong also looked confused.
Seeing that they didn't understand, Cui Youyou smiled and waited for an explanation.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Xiucai spoke before him:
"This sentence comes from "Shen Tongqi", and there is another sentence before it: How can the eyes of fish be pearls? The combined meaning of the two sentences is: How can the eyes of fish become pearls? The weeds in the wilderness are not the same. It may become a tea tree...Hey, this sentence seems to say that there is something here that is confusing the real thing with the fake."
Monk Ma, Sun Xianzong and others all nodded their heads. Only Cui Yougui frowned. He couldn't understand that Zhu Xiucai, a Confucian scholar, didn't study Confucian classics well and read more pornographic books. Why have you read "Shen Tongqi"? This is a Taoist classic!
It's not that Senior Brother Cui has a sectarian view and doesn't allow people from other schools to read Taoist classics. He was angry because Zhu Xiucai made him do this and failed to pretend. He held back all the words he wanted to say. Not coming out.
Sun Xianzong pondered and said: "Could the person in the back who is confusing the real thing with falsehood refer to the dark cloud in front? He guessed wrong. The person causing trouble here is not a demon, but a person pretending to be a demon?"
"Don't tell me, it's really possible." Zhu Xiucai nodded.
Monk Ma proclaimed Amitabha and felt that Sun Xianzong's guess was very likely.
Even Cui Youyou couldn't help scratching his head after being stunned for a moment.
Although he didn't say anything, he was murmuring in his heart: "Did I really interpret the hexagram wrongly?"
Only Qin Shaoyou did not rush to a conclusion.
Regardless of whether it's a human or a ghost, at least one thing is certain - there are really evil people at work in this county!
"What are you going to do?"
Su Jianqing, who was riding on horseback, asked in a low voice.
Qin Shaoyou thought for a while and said: "Go to the inn to settle down first, and then visit the Demon Suppression Department here to see if there is anyone who needs help."
"If you do this, won't you expose your identity? Will it cause trouble?"
Qin Shaoyou was a little hesitant at first, but when he thought of the divination words Cui Youyi gave before the trip, the hesitation in his heart disappeared instantly.
He said in a deep voice: "As long as we don't bump into this kind of thing, we can't ignore it. Otherwise, we won't be night watchmen... As for trouble, Brother Cui said in his previous hexagram that we should move forward in this journey. ! So you can’t be timid just because you might get into trouble. If you really do get into trouble, then go up to it, bump into it, and crush it to pieces!"
Everyone nodded in unison.
As Qin Shaoyou said, if such evil people who specifically target children encounter them and ignore them, then they might as well take off their night watchman robes and go back to their hometowns to sell sweet potatoes.
Soon, the group arrived at the inn.
After showing the road signs and giving money, they asked for several guest rooms in the inn.
They are all Datong shops.
However, Su Jianqing, Su Tingyu, Wen Zhu and Cen Biqing must live separately from the rough old men.
It's just that Qin Shaoyou may have to temporarily stop using [Miaobi] tonight.
While everyone was unpacking their bags and feeding their horses, Qin Shaoyou and Zhu Xiucai were asking the postmen at the post about the situation.
Before Zhu Xiucai went to inquire about the news, he took out "Shang Shu" and boasted to himself: "I am easy for the people."
Then he went to chat with the postmen and quickly got along with them.
It's a pity that even though Zhu Xiucai had already hooked up with the postman, called him brother and sister, and even made an appointment to go to the Sand Dance Hall together another day, when these people heard him ask about the situation of the children in the county, they all waved their hands and refused. He talks too much, but he dare not say too much, for fear that his children will suffer.
In the end, it was Qin Shaoyou who relied on his sharp tongue to talk through Yi Cheng and pry open his mouth.
