The case concerning Magistrate Chen had already been closed. Although many questions remained unanswered—such as why Assistant Officer Sun lied, who inflicted the cut marks on Magistrate Chen’s neck, and why Magistrate Chen secretly arranged to meet Butcher Feng—in the eyes of the common people, the matter had been satisfactorily resolved.
Three days after the body was kept in repose, Magistrate Chen was officially buried. Xiao Jingduo wrote a letter to report the matter to the imperial court, requesting that the court take note of Magistrate Chen’s relatives so that his remains could be relocated to his homeland in the future.
The county office then removed the mourning banners, swept away the dust, and presented a completely refreshed and renewed appearance.
At the same time, another important issue was brought to the agenda.
“What should we do about Magistrate Chen’s house?”
This question sparked several days of debate within the county office. Some argued that as an institution of righteousness, the government had no reason to fear superstitions about ghosts and spirits. Others contended that death inherently brought bad luck, and it would be best to hold a ritual to dispel the lingering negative energy.
The debate over whether to hold such a ritual even reached the ears of the women in the household. One day, while wiping the bookshelves, Qiu Ju casually mentioned it to Xiao Jingduo.
“Master, since someone died in the west courtyard, shouldn’t we invite the Tai Li Sect to dispel the bad luck?”
“What did you say?”
“Dispel the bad luck.”
“No, before that.”
“Invite the Tai Li Sect.”
“How do you know about the Tai Li Sect?” Xiao Jingduo was surprised.
“Who doesn’t know? In Jinjiang County, there’s an immortal of the Tai Li Sect who not only has achieved enlightenment but can also ride the clouds and mist,” Qiu Ju replied, having quickly become well-acquainted with the women inside and outside the county office. She eagerly recounted local rumors. “I’ve never seen an immortal myself, but they say that the immortals of the Tai Li Sect appear surrounded by mist, riding on clouds. When fog rises on the mountainside, it means the immortals are cultivating. They even say that having them around can improve the harvest by thirty percent compared to other years!”
“They really dare to make such claims,” Xiao Jingduo remarked. Jiannan’s frequent fog was a result of the local terrain, a phenomenon that had existed for centuries. Yet the sect had the audacity to attribute it to themselves. Xiao Jingduo couldn’t decide whether to call them bold or laugh at their sheer ignorance and arrogance.
Xiao Jingduo hadn’t expected the Tai Li Sect to have gained such popularity among the womenfolk. In just a few days, even Qiu Ju had come to know about it.
Unbidden, Xiao Jingduo thought of the unsolved cases of missing women.
Before heading out, Xiao Jingduo specifically instructed Xiao Lin, “If Qiu Ju or the others want to go out these days, you must accompany them.”
Xiao Lin didn’t understand why Xiao Jingduo made this particular request, but he still bowed and replied, “Understood.”
As usual, Xiao Jingduo was in the eastern courtyard handling official business. The registrar handed over records of Jinjiang County’s tax collection from past years for Xiao Jingduo to review. While flipping through the documents, Xiao Jingduo heard the registrar muttering beside him, “Magistrate, it’s improper to leave Magistrate Chen’s house empty for so long. When should we invite an immortal from the Tai Li Sect to perform a ritual?”
“You’re referring to someone from the Tai Li Sect?”
“Exactly.”
Xiao Jingduo put down the tax records and turned to ask, “What exactly is the Tai Li Sect?”
“It’s a long story,” the registrar began. “A few years ago, an immortal appeared in the county, and that’s when the Tai Li Sect started gaining prominence. It’s said that the sect’s founder is already half-immortal. Not only can he ride clouds and mist, but he is also rumored to have achieved immortality. Many families in the county worship this immortal. Some of the more influential gentry have connections and occasionally get the chance to meet the immortal and receive his enlightenment. If they’re even luckier, they might get medicine personally bestowed by the immortal,” the registrar added with a hint of longing in his tone.
“Immortality?” Xiao Jingduo, who had spent years in Chang’an, instinctively became alert at the mention of this word. Immortality was an obsession even emperors like Qin Shi Huang and Han Wu could not escape. If such ideas were allowed to spread unchecked…
Xiao Jingduo didn’t want to finish the thought. To him, life, aging, illness, and death were part of the natural cycle, as inevitable as the growth and fall of leaves. No one could escape this truth. Moreover, Xiao Jingduo had some knowledge of medicine, which made him even less inclined to believe that anyone in the Tai Li Sect could achieve immortality. However, the other claim—that the sect members could ride clouds and mist—piqued his interest.
Curious, Xiao Jingduo asked the registrar, “You said the people of the Tai Li Sect can ride clouds and mist. Has anyone seen this with their own eyes?”
“Of course!” the registrar exclaimed excitedly. “Two years ago, I had the good fortune to witness the immortal’s spellcasting myself. It was a cloudy day, and the immortal walked on clouds and crossed the water, standing midair as he preached to us. Magistrate Chen was also there at the time. Like you, he initially didn’t believe in such things, but after witnessing it with his own eyes, he was utterly convinced and deeply impressed by the immortal’s divine methods. It’s such a pity—if the immortal hadn’t abandoned Magistrate Chen, how could he have ended up like this? Now that Magistrate Chen is dead, having the immortal perform a ritual for him would be a fitting conclusion.”
“Magistrate Chen used to have close ties with the Tai Li Sect.”
“Yes, the magistrate received enlightenment from the immortal and held the immortal in great reverence.”
Xiao Jingduo found this intriguing. “Then why did they fall out later?”
“What do you mean by ‘fall out’? Clearly, Magistrate Chen lacked the destiny for immortality, so the immortal abandoned him,” the registrar stubbornly corrected. “To receive enlightenment from an immortal is a rare and extraordinary opportunity. Magistrate Chen consumed many elixirs but, unfortunately, failed to transform into an immortal body like the immortal himself. It’s no wonder he was ultimately forsaken.”
Xiao Jingduo chuckled as he listened. “If I’m not mistaken, it wasn’t long after Magistrate Chen severed ties with the Tai Li Sect that Miss Chen disappeared, correct?”
“That’s true.”
“Now that you’ve said so, I’m rather curious about this Tai Li Sect,” Xiao Jingduo remarked. “I’d like to witness their spellcasting firsthand. Do you think that’s possible?”
News quickly spread that the new county vice magistrate, Xiao Jingduo, admired the Tai Li Sect and wished to witness their divine methods. The Tai Li Sect, known for their aloofness, made the county officials request them multiple times before agreeing. As if enduring a great inconvenience, a boy in a blue robe impatiently told the messenger, “In five days, the immortal will descend to preach by the Divine Lake. You must cleanse yourselves, burn incense, and arrive early to await his arrival.”
The Divine Lake was the place where the Tai Li Sect’s founder had reportedly attained enlightenment and ascended. Revered as the “Exalted One” by the sect, even the lake had been named after this supposed miracle.
Five days later, Xiao Jingduo stood by the lake with the county officials, surrounded by a crowd of townsfolk eager to witness the divine spectacle. The spot had been specifically pointed out by the blue-robed boy, who claimed it offered the clearest view of the miracle and the strongest exposure to immortal energy.
Xiao Jingduo endured the noise of the crowd and waited by the lake for a long time, but there was no sign of any miracle. Nearly half an hour had passed, yet the others showed no impatience. Xiao Jingduo maintained his composure, determined to see what tricks these people might be playing.
Without warning, the crowd erupted in excitement. Many raised their hands, pointing to a spot and shouting loudly, “Look! The immortal has appeared!”
Amid the dense mist on the water, a figure in a billowing white robe slowly emerged from the center of the lake. The figure walked unhurriedly, as if on solid ground, and, most astonishingly, white mist swirled beneath his feet, resembling drifting clouds.
“Look! The clouds are rising, and he walks on water without leaving a trace. This is truly an immortal’s divine technique!” the registrar couldn’t help but exclaim.
But before the crowd’s excitement could fully erupt, a strange sound came from the water. Faint red light flickered through the mist. A boy in a long robe hurriedly ran over to disperse the crowd, shouting, “Quick, leave now! The immortal’s power has advanced, and this time he has summoned lightning. If you ordinary mortals don’t leave immediately, you’ll lose your lives!”
Xiao Jingduo followed the crowd as they moved away from the lake. As he left the lakeside, he turned his head, staring intently at the center of the lake.
When they returned to the county office, the others were still animatedly discussing what had just happened. Someone said enviously, “The immortal’s powers have advanced again. I wonder who will be fortunate enough to serve the immortal this time.”
Xiao Jingduo remained silent throughout the walk back, but upon hearing this, his eyebrows twitched slightly. He turned to the speaker and asked, “Serve?”
“Yes, the Tai Li Sect occasionally selects boys and girls with spiritual roots from the populace to follow the immortal and learn immortal techniques. The immortal can exhale clouds and mist with ease. To be chosen by the immortal is truly a blessing cultivated over several lifetimes.”
“After being chosen, can they return home?”
“Being chosen by the immortal is an unparalleled fortune. Naturally, they must sever all worldly ties and follow the immortal to pursue the path of immortality. How could they still cling to mundane affairs?”
“And what if they don’t want to go?”
This question drew hearty laughter from the clerks. “Who wouldn’t want to go? Immortality, the pursuit of the divine—this is an opportunity that most people can only dream of. Who would refuse such a chance?”
Noticing Xiao Jingduo seemed lost in thought, the registrar approached him and asked, “County Vice Magistrate Xiao, now that you’ve seen the immortal perform spells with your own eyes, what do you think?”
“It aligns with what I expected,” Xiao Jingduo replied with a smile.
The registrar clapped his hands and laughed. “Exactly! It’s a shame the immortal needs to recuperate for the next few days. Once he has some time, we should pay him a visit and invite him to the county office to perform his divine techniques and help the departed move on.”
Xiao Jingduo couldn’t help but find it amusing and shook his head. If it’s about helping souls pass on, why go to such lengths? He had lived at Qingyuan Temple for three years, studying under Master Mingjue, and reciting scriptures for the departed was hardly beyond his capabilities. Moreover, inviting the Tai Li Sect wasn’t solely for the purpose of aiding lost souls.
“If we invite the Tai Li Sect to perform spells, do we need to pay them extra offerings?”
“Of course! How could we possibly neglect the immortal?”
As expected—money, power, and manpower, they lacked none of it. Even more troubling, the Tai Li Sect had deeply infiltrated the local government. It wasn’t just the clerks recruited locally; even the registrar, an official appointed by the imperial court, was devoutly loyal to the sect.
The light in Xiao Jingduo’s eyes grew dim, his thoughts turning colder and sharper.
…
Butcher Feng closed his stall early today, intending to spend some time with his younger sister. Swinging open the courtyard gate with his usual exuberance, he called out loudly, “Jiao Jiao, your brother’s home!”
At this time of day, his sister Feng Jiao would usually respond loudly, no matter what she was doing. Though she often complained about her brother’s booming voice, she always came out promptly to greet him. However, today, there was no reply.
Feng Butcher felt a sudden pang of unease and hurried into the house. Crossing the courtyard in a rush, his hands grew cold with anxiety, but when he entered the main hall and saw the person inside, he came to an abrupt halt.
“Why are you here?”
“Brother, what kind of tone is that?” Feng Jiao glared at him discreetly.
This time, Feng Butcher felt genuinely wronged. “I called out, and you didn’t answer me at all!”
“Your voice is so loud, how could I answer you?” Feng Jiao retorted sharply, raising her voice in turn.
The burly Feng Butcher, despite his bear-like frame, was subdued by his petite sister’s scolding and lowered his voice. “I just thought you weren’t home.”
Feng Jiao rolled her eyes at him before turning to Xiao Jingduo. “County Vice Magistrate Xiao, please don’t mind him. My brother has always been like this.”
Only then did Feng Butcher notice Xiao Jingduo sitting there. Embarrassed, he said, “County Vice Magistrate Xiao, what brings you here?”
Xiao Jingduo, who had been silently listening to the siblings’ exchange, smiled and gestured. “Please, carry on as you usually would. No need to mind me.”
Feng Jiao glared at her brother again and said, “I’ve said all I have to say to him. Please excuse us for the scene.”
“Not at all. It’s heartwarming to see such a close sibling bond,” Xiao Jingduo replied lightly before turning serious. “The reason for my visit is that I have a few questions to ask Feng Xiang. Would now be a convenient time?”
“Of course, no problem at all!” Feng Butcher spread his arms in welcome and motioned for Xiao Jingduo to take the seat of honor. Xiao Jingduo, however, declined firmly and sat in the guest’s seat.
“County Vice Magistrate Xiao, Brother, you two sit tight. I’ll go brew some tea.” Feng Jiao chirped brightly and dashed out.
Once Feng Jiao was gone, Xiao Jingduo and Feng Butcher began discussing the purpose of the visit.
“County Vice Magistrate Xiao, what brings you here today? If I’d known you were coming, I wouldn’t have opened my stall this afternoon.”
“It was a spur-of-the-moment decision,” Xiao Jingduo admitted. When he arrived, only Feng Jiao had been home, and they had been talking in the main hall when Feng Butcher stormed in, yelling and flustered. Xiao Jingduo asked curiously, “Why were you so anxious earlier?”
“Ah, it’s a long story.” Feng Butcher sighed heavily, a rare show of defeat. “At the start of summer this year, an immortal from the Tai Li Sect came to select disciples. My younger sister was chosen. My parents only left behind this one daughter, and Jiao Jiao is my only blood relative in this world. Once she follows the immortal, she’ll never come back. How could I bear it? So I kept her at home and refused to let her go to the Tai Li Sect.”
“Tai Li Sect has many followers. Would they allow you to hold her back?”
“The immortal certainly wouldn’t allow it. But fortunately, our Feng family has some influence, and over the years, I’ve saved a little money. I pulled every string I could, and eventually managed to keep Jiao Jiao safe.”
“So when you didn’t hear your sister answer just now, you panicked. Does that mean the Tai Li Sect hasn’t given up on you yet?”
Feng Butcher sighed again. Matters involving the immortal and the sect were supposed to be strictly confidential, but Xiao Jingduo’s keen insight quickly pieced the truth together with only a few words.
“County Vice Magistrate Xiao, it’s best if you don’t get involved in this. I know what you’re trying to do, but the immortal has divine powers, while we’re mere mortals. How could we ever stand against such magic? As for Jiao Jiao’s situation, let’s just consider it the misfortune of the Feng family. But as long as I’m her brother, I won’t let anyone take advantage of her. County Vice Magistrate Xiao, you have a bright future ahead of you—there’s no need for you to involve yourself in our family’s troubles.”
Now that Feng Butcher had dropped all pretense and spoken candidly, Xiao Jingduo’s expression grew stern. “The Tai Li Sect claims to be descended from immortals, but if that were true, you wouldn’t have risked offending half the county just to keep your sister from leaving. If I’m not mistaken, County Magistrate Chen’s daughter is also on the list of selected disciples, isn’t she?”
Xiao Jingduo’s voice suddenly grew louder as he fixed Feng Butcher with a sharp gaze. “So, will you still refuse to reveal the truth behind the selection of disciples?”
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