I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night
Chapter 69 - 67: A Gold Bar Buys a Life

Chapter 69: Chapter 67: A Gold Bar Buys a Life

This piece of Gold, dull in luster and rough in shape, still bore traces of blood that hadn’t been wiped clean.

Before Linjiang Station’s main gate, Flag Commander Lin Yan’s face turned extremely unsightly.

He looked around, only to see the streets on both sides empty and eerily silent.

The night was gloomy, and a cold wind blew.

Some days ago, evil spirits had attacked the city, causing numerous deaths and injuries, and had already terrified the people.

Now, the sound of the cold wind in these deserted streets seemed even more chilling.

"Master."

At that moment, Chief Clerk Yang’s voice came from behind him, "Why are you standing at the door?"

Lin Yan weighed the Gold in his hand and pointed towards the plaque above his head, speaking gravely, "Someone placed this Gold on our Observatory’s plaque, giving me a gift."

"Gold?"

Chief Clerk Yang’s face changed slightly as he stepped forward to look.

Lin Yan spread his hand and passed the Gold over.

Upon seeing it, Chief Clerk Yang’s eyes suddenly filled with a look of terror.

"Do you recognize this Gold?"

"Last night, the night patrol of Linjiang Square was nearly wiped out. The incident was bizarre. I ordered two clerks to follow up with the Outer South Government Office’s investigation, copying the case files.

Chief Clerk Yang involuntarily stepped back, his face paling as he said, "Because this case had just begun and there were no clues yet, I was sorting out the files until just now, ready to report to you."

He tremblingly pointed at the Gold, and couldn’t help but swallow his saliva, "Master, turn it over and see if there are any characters underneath?"

"... "

Lin Yan flipped the Gold over, only to see an ancient character with numerous strokes on the bottom, the edges so worn it was hard to make out clearly.

He furrowed his brow and asked, "What character is this?"

Chief Clerk Yang, his mouth dry, shook his head and said, "I don’t know, but last night that group of night patrols suddenly turned on each other, dying in a gruesome manner."

"The day patrol of the Outer South Government Office discovered an unknown piece of Gold at the scene."

"So, it was inferred that they were killing each other over the Gold."

"According to today’s clerks’ recording, the Gold is of an ancient style, severely worn out, dating from a long time ago."

"We still don’t know what the ancient text means, but..."

At this point, Chief Clerk Yang’s expression grew more solemn, and he said, "This kind of thing happened more than ten years ago too."

"Hmm?"

Lin Yan frowned and said, "This kind of thing has happened before?"

Chief Clerk Yang nodded, about to speak, but then hesitated, "Master, shouldn’t we throw this thing away? It looks ominous, really unsettling..."

Lin Yan, holding the piece of Gold, backed his hands and pondered aloud, "Continue speaking."

Seeing this, Chief Clerk Yang, feeling somewhat helpless, continued to explain.

Back then, he was a scribe at the Outer South Bureau, responsible for copying documents.

At that time, a bizarre case occurred that terrified everyone, resulting in the deaths of twenty-seven people across seven households.

The manner of death was extremely gruesome, with all their organs removed and dried up overnight, as if they were waxed meat.

But on each household’s table, there appeared a piece of Silver.

And at the bottom of the Silver, there was an ancient character, complex in strokes and difficult to decipher its meaning.

Later, three temple priests from Liu Zun Temple came together and took seven days to resolve the case, and no such violent crimes occurred thereafter.

"They didn’t catch the murderer?"

"The case files don’t mention it, the case was hastily closed."

"..." Lin Yan withdrew his hand, holding the Gold carefully and musing aloud, "Was it Silver back then?"

"Exactly," Chief Clerk Yang replied, "That case, documented and sealed away by the Observatory, was termed ’Life Purchase Money’."

"Life Purchase Money?"

Lin Yan weighed the Gold and sneered, "With a piece of Gold, trying to purchase my life?"

As he spoke, a sudden doubt arose in his heart.

If this ominous omen indeed referred to the so-called Life Purchase Money.

Then how come Liu Zun Temple, having dealt with such a bizarre incident back then, found themselves at a loss regarding Mr. Jing’s misfortune?

Moreover, Liu Zun Temple believed that Mr. Jing’s ominous omen had nothing to do with evil spirits!

This so-called "life-buying money," isn’t it just a method for the Evil Spirit to claim lives?

As he thought this to himself, he suddenly heard Chief Clerk Yang’s trembling voice, "Otherwise, shall we report it to the Outer South Bureau? This thing is too sinister, even targeting your honor now?"

In those cases of the past, all the seven households were common people.

Was it first targeting the Night Patrol Officer last night, and then the Flag Commander of the Observatory tonight?

And Master is no ordinary Flag Commander.

Judging from how he had overpowered Liang Hu with a single strike, he was at the peak of his internal strength.

More importantly, Master’s ferocity was well known, his murderous acts numerous, his Evil Qi commanding.

Not to mention the entire southern outer city, at least within Linjiang Square, Master was the most formidable person!

The only explanation for daring to target Master was that this thing was excessively savage!

"Master, shouldn’t we just throw this thing away?"

Chief Clerk Yang said hesitantly, "I will immediately have someone light all the Liu branches of the Night Lamps stored in the warehouse and hang them throughout the Observatory outside and inside."

"There are still some incense candles and incense ash from Liu Venerate Temple in the warehouse."

"I’ll have the handymen take a pair of incense candles, light them, and place them at your room door."

"Should you carry the incense ash with you or should we sprinkle it all around our Linjiang Station first?"

Chief Clerk Yang asked cautiously.

Lin Yan glanced at him and said indifferently, "As you wish."

Upon hearing this, Chief Clerk Yang hurriedly nodded and immediately called someone to open the warehouse.

Meanwhile, Lin Yan’s gaze quietly focused on the Gold in his hand.

He had intended to explore the slaughterhouse tonight, but it seemed that matter had to be deferred for now.

He held the Gold and went straight to the hall, sitting in the chief seat.

He unbuckled his saber and placed it in front of him.

He also loaded a crossbow with arrows and kept it by his side.

He closed his eyes slightly, quietly waiting for the one who would come to claim his life.

"Master, your tea."

Suddenly, light footsteps came, accompanied by a timid voice.

Lin Yan had already sensed her and opened his eyes, tilting his head to look at the young girl.

The girl had just lost her only relative yesterday, and now her face was filled with vulnerability, her hands holding the tea, appearing nervous and uneasy.

"Have your grandfather’s affairs been concluded?" Lin Yan took the tea from her and asked.

"Chief Clerk Yang has already taken care of it," the Zhou Family’s young girl lifted her head slightly, hesitant to speak.

With the affairs concluded, she had not returned home but stayed within Linjiang Station.

The implication was quite clear.

Previously, while the elderly Zhou was still alive, they had nearly been wiped out, and now only this young girl was left. Her future life would undoubtedly be difficult.

Without protection, she was bound to suffer constant bullying.

And if she could stay inside Linjiang Station, even as a menial servant girl, ordinary people would not dare to offend her.

"Did Chief Clerk Yang ask you to stay?"

Lin Yan asked as he took a sip of tea, speaking calmly.

In his eyes, it was mostly likely that Chief Clerk Yang sympathized with the girl, lonely and helpless as she was.

"Master, please let me stay. I can sweep, wipe tables, wash clothes, and cook, and I don’t need a wage," she implored, kneeling down hurriedly, repeatedly kowtowing as she spoke through her tears.

It seemed that Chief Clerk Yang did not dare to bypass his position as the Flag Commander to lightly keep an outsider at Linjiang Station.

The young girl must have understood the situation, hence she came with tea, kneeling to plead for a place to stay.

"Tonight..."

Lin Yan was about to have her rest for the night and discuss the matter the following day, when he suddenly remembered something.

Consequently, he reached into his coat, took out an item, and said, "Take this to the backyard, give it to Chief Clerk Yang, and have him place it somewhere for me."

The young girl looked slightly bewildered but obediently took the item and headed to the back.

As the young girl left, within moments, the hall seemed to dim.

A chill breeze blew in from outside, passing directly through the main entrance of Linjiang Station, around the screen wall, into the hall, and toward Lin Yan.

"I’ve been waiting for you a long time."