Chapter 148: Transaction (Fourth Update)

"Brother Xi, you have suffered greatly!"

Xi Fangping forced a smile and said, "Brother Chen and I were originally complete strangers, yet you were willing to risk danger and go all out for my sake. What is this little suffering of mine compared to seeking justice for my father?"

Chen Jianchen let out a long sigh. Earlier, he truly had not expected Xi Fangping to possess such unyielding integrity, unflinching resilience, and such fierce, burning guts.

"Hold court!"

With a sharp crack of the gavel, the ghost bailiffs on both sides cried out in unison just like bailiffs in the realm of the living, shouting "Vigour!" In their hands, they pounded red-and-white striped justice staffs rhythmically against the stone floor, manufacturing an imposing aura intended to exert psychological pressure upon anyone brought before the bar.

Chen Jianchen supported Xi Fangping as they stepped into the hall. Looking up, he saw an official attired in a crimson robe embroidered with flying pythons, seated high upon the dais.

The official's features were utterly unremarkable: his face was slightly plump, adorned with a thin three-string beard, and his eyes were somewhat small, perpetually half-closed in a manner that made him appear thoroughly devoid of spirit.

Could he be the City God guarding this region of the Underworld?

Wang, the City God of Jiangzhou.

Chen Jianchen knew his surname was Wang, but little else besides.

Standing beside City God Wang was a man with a mustache, possessing a short and stout stature that made him look uncannily like a calabash gourd. His physical appearance strongly evoked a sense of instant familiarity.

At that moment, the advisor shouted, "Who stands below the court? Why do you not kneel immediately upon seeing the City God?"

Chen Jianchen raised his head proudly and retorted, "A mortal of the living realm is not bound by underworld laws; why should I kneel?"

"Audacious!"

It was City God Wang who spoke this time. His voice was remarkably full of vital energy. "Since you repeatedly claim that mortals are not bound by underworld laws, why have you run to the underworld to file a grievance?"

Chen Jianchen replied unflinchingly, "For no other reason than that someone within the underworld has defied underworld laws to harm the living; therefore, I was forced to come and report it."

"Oh? Does such a matter truly exist?"

Chen Jianchen chuckled coldly in his heart. He did not believe for a second that City God Wang was completely unaware; the other party was merely putting on official airs. Without feeling the least bit annoyed, he systematically recounted the sequence of events, omitting only the part about their visit to Pen-Rack Mountain.

This omission was of great significance, serving to leave a buffer space for both sides. After all, Chen Jianchen was not entirely certain what kind of relationship existed between City God Wang and Hou Qing. Unless forced to absolute desperation, he had no desire to completely sever ties with the official and engage in an all-out brawl, especially since he lacked absolute certainty of victory.

Upon hearing the account, City God Wang's small eyes miraculously opened to their absolute limit, shooting forth two beams of sharp radiance that felt as tangible as needles piercing straight into one's heart.

What formidable cultivation...

Chen Jianchen's heart skipped a beat.

Yet very quickly, City God Wang's eyes narrowed once more, returning to their naturally languid state. He toyed with the gavel in his hand, weighing it a few times before suddenly waving his hand to dismiss the two rows of ghost bailiffs from the hall. He then said slowly, "Advisor Huo, Scholar Xi has suffered quite severe injuries. Take him away to receive medical treatment, and ensure he is cared for meticulously without a single mistake."

Advisor Huo replied, "As you command." He stepped forward to help Xi Fangping away.

Chen Jianchen hesitated slightly, not letting go immediately. On the other side, City God Wang added, "Chen Jianchen, you may rest assured. This City God guarantees that Scholar Xi shall suffer no further harm."

Chen Jianchen smiled dismissively. *Ghost knows what kind of guarantee you are using!* But upon second thought, the other party had no reason to resort to malicious tricks at this juncture, so he loosened his grip.

After Advisor Huo led Xi Fangping away, only City God Wang and Chen Jianchen remained in the vast hall. They stared at each other, the atmosphere turning somewhat peculiar.

City God Wang suddenly sighed and asked, "How is Daoist Guanghan?"

Since the ghost bailiffs had been dismissed and the plaintiff had gone below to tend to his wounds, the courtroom trial had completely lost its formality. Standing up unceremoniously, Chen Jianchen walked forward and plumped himself down onto an arm-chair at the head of the hall—a seat originally intended for spectators.

"Well."

Chen Jianchen's response was ambiguous, capable of creating the false impression that he was on extremely familiar terms with Daoist Guanghan.

City God Wang chuckled heartily. "Scholar, you jest. I imagine it has been quite a long time since you last saw Guanghan."

Chen Jianchen remained unperturbed. "Since that is the case, why did the City God ask a question to which you already knew the answer?"

City God Wang smiled. "I merely wished to test whether Your Excellency is honest or not."

Chen Jianchen met him tit for tat. "There is an old saying: to people, speak human words; to ghosts, speak ghost words. This has nothing to do with honesty."

City God Wang snorted. "They always say scholars are utterly useless, yet your tongue is sharp enough!"

Chen Jianchen counterattacked without missing a beat. "Since the City God claims to 'act without selfishness,' why do you harbor and protect your own officials?"

"Hmm?"

City God Wang's eyes instantly widened into rounds, though his naturally small eyes, no matter how wide he stretched them, could never match the size of Chen Jianchen's. The two of them stood there like bickering children, engaging in a staring match. If any outsider were present, they surely would have found it utterly absurd—completely different from any imagined courtroom scene.

After glaring for a while, City God Wang ultimately "lost" the contest and huffed, "This City God will not lower himself to argue with a scholar like you."

Chen Jianchen also found it somewhat amusing. Taking a deep breath, he cut straight to the point: "City God, if you have something to say, speak it directly. Doesn't keeping it bottled up make your heart uneasy?"

City God Wang gave a narrow-eyed smile. "You truly are a clever person."

"Since you know I am clever, let us dispense with secret maneuvering. Whatever cards you have, lay them on the table."

In truth, ever since the other party waved away the ghost bailiffs, Chen Jianchen knew a full-blown conflict was neither feasible nor sustainable. And that was fine—if problems could be solved with words, so much the better. Gentlemen preferred using their mouths over their fists, which happened to be his greatest strength. Yet City God Wang appeared to be an equally clever individual.

Ah, right—or perhaps calling him a clever ghost would be more appropriate.

"Refreshing!"

City God Wang clapped his hands, stood up, and strolled down from the dais, speaking leisurely. "To be frank with you, this City God once had some friendship with Hou Qing, which is why, come what may, I will not move against him."

Chen Jianchen said coldly, "You won't move against him, but surely you won't forbid me from doing so?"

City God Wang chuckled. "In truth, even if you wanted to move against him, you could not, for he is no longer the Mountain God of Pen-Rack Mountain; I have transferred him elsewhere."

"Transferred?" Chen Jianchen's expression abruptly turned quite unsightly. No matter how he calculated, he had never anticipated the other party pulling such a maneuver. Whether fighting or killing, why had the culprit simply been transferred away?

"Transferred to where?"

City God Wang smiled. "That is a matter for our underworld administration. I fear you, a mere scholar, have no right to inquire."

Chen Jianchen let out a cold snort. With his agile mind, how could he fail to understand the trickery behind this? This single word "transferred" carried profound political implications: when an official committed a misdeed in a certain place—even if he aroused the wrath and grievances of the local populace—as long as a transfer order was issued to move him elsewhere, it not only instantly pacified the public anger, but allowed the official to remain an official in his new post.

It could be described as killing two birds with one stone.

This move by City God Wang was brilliant indeed. He knew that while Chen Jianchen had arrived with Xi Fangping and could not be openly antagonized due to certain considerations, he himself could not bear to harshly punish Hou Qing either. Thus, he resorted to the "transfer" strategy, muddying the waters to smooth things over for both sides.

Chen Jianchen gave a dry laugh. "The City God plays a brilliant hand. I suppose the arrangements on my end have also been settled long ago?"

City God Wang replied, "Indeed, some arrangements have been made. Care to hear them and see if you are satisfied?"

"Please speak."

"First, the soul of the scholar Xi's father shall be released immediately to aid in his resurrection. Furthermore, this City God shall bestow upon him a thousand silver ingots as a modest form of compensation. Second: the newly vacant post of Pen-Rack Mountain God shall be assumed by Ding Yin, the Seventh River God of the Jian River. What do you think of this?"

Chen Jianchen immediately bounced up, pointing at his own nose and demanding, "Then what about me?"

City God Wang glanced at him and said indifferently, "A Water-Averting Pearl is quite enough." There was a hidden meaning in his gaze, as if it were saying: *Do not assume I am unaware; in truth, this City God knows everything.*

Chen Jianchen was not overly surprised by this. Just who was the City God? A regional viceroy of the underworld—how could he possibly sit in such a position without genuine capability?

City God Wang continued, "In truth, this City God genuinely admires that Scholar Xi. To be able to endure the three major tortures and remain unbroken—a true man indeed."

This remark seemed slightly disjointed, yet Chen Jianchen caught its underlying implication: he was being warned not to push his luck, to stop making endless demands, and to accept when the getting was good.

In truth, the terms proposed by City God Wang represented a relatively harmonious conclusion: Hou Qing was driven away, and Ding Yin secured the position of Mountain God of Pen-Rack Mountain; simultaneously, Chen Jianchen fulfilled the commission entrusted to him; furthermore, Xi Fangping's father returned from the dead, and Xi Fangping acquired a substantial sum of silver, allowing him to finally pursue his studies at Minghua Academy.........

The sole remaining regret was that Hou Qing went unpunished.

Yet such was the nature of compromise; to attain one's expectations, a price must always be paid. And this price was acceptable to Chen Jianchen.

"Very well, I agree."

Concluding the matter through such a method was hardly a bad outcome. Viewed from another angle, Chen Jianchen even suspected that driving Hou Qing away might very well align with City God Wang's own hidden intentions.

Upon hearing this, City God Wang instantly broke into a satisfied smile.

Chen Jianchen suddenly asked, "City God, allow me to ask: your exceptional courtesy and regard toward me—was it all on account of Daoist Guanghan?"

City God Wang pondered for a moment before replying, "Guanghan accounts for only half of it."

Chen Jianchen suddenly cupped his hands in a formal bow and said, "Thank you."

City God Wang smiled and said, "Scholar, what this City God truly wishes to say is that the two of us do not necessarily have to become enemies."

Chen Jianchen nodded. "That is indeed so."

With those words, he turned and strode out, intending to depart together with Xi Fangping.

Watching his retreating figure recede, City God Wang abruptly wore a very strange expression, murmuring softly to himself, "Hou Qing, this City God is helping you for the very last time. Once you assume the post of mountain god over at Black Mountain, look after yourself. If you remain stubbornly unrepentant, you will have only yourself to blame for your doom..."

His voice drifted away into nothingness, entirely inaudible to any second person. Had Chen Jianchen been present to hear it, he undoubtedly would have been utterly astonished, for the two words "Black Mountain" carried an extraordinarily special and sinister significance in his mind—the Black Mountain Old Demon!