Qing Stone Town, the second floor of a simple small tavern.
A man in black long robes with two small mustaches sat by the window.
Suddenly, a man in white robes slowly walked up from downstairs.
The man in white robes looked around, his eyes lit up slightly when he saw the man with the black mustache.
The man in white robes stepped forward two steps and bowed to the man in black, saying,
“Brother, please. May I share your table?”
The man in black turned his head, and it was Wei Zheng, sent by Li Shimin to investigate the case in Qing Stone Town.
Hearing the man in white’s words, Wei Zheng’s eyes swept over the empty table beside him.
A flash of brilliance appeared in his eyes. He squinted, stretched out his hand, and smiled slightly.
“Brother, if you don’t mind, feel free to join me!”
“Hahaha, thank you, brother. I’m Bai Qianli. What is your name, brother?”
Bai Qianli bowed to Wei Zheng, his eyes sweeping over Wei Zheng’s head.
Wei Zheng smiled slightly and returned the bow, saying,
“My name is Wei Xuancheng. The sky and clouds meet at dusk, a thousand miles away, I miss my hometown! Bai brother, a good name.
But judging from your attire and demeanor, you’re not from around here, are you?”
A faint darkness flashed in Wei Zheng’s eyes, and he began to probe.
Bai Qianli smiled slightly, opened his folding fan with a snap, and replied.
“Brother Wei is too kind. I’m just wandering around here.
I heard that there is a unique sight here where humans can coexist peacefully with demons, which is quite strange.
Therefore, I came here out of curiosity and want to go and see it. Have you seen it, Brother Wei?”
Facing Wei Zheng’s probing, Bai Qianli’s answer was flawless.
He didn’t reveal his identity, but instead, he began to probe Wei Zheng.
Unexpectedly, Wei Zheng was stunned for a moment, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Humans and demons coexisting peacefully?
How is that possible? Apart from those few reckless men in the court.
They can use their fists to force some demon races to become their mounts.
Wei Zheng had never heard of humans and demons coexisting peacefully.
It’s already a testament to the strength of the Great Tang Dynasty that they can maintain a peaceful coexistence, with the demons not daring to act recklessly.
Demons are uncivilized and will inevitably cause trouble if they stay with humans for too long.
Even loyal hound demons won’t do.
They are only loyal to their masters, and they will bite anyone else.
Every year, thousands of people in the Great Tang Dynasty are killed or injured due to demon rampages.
“I don’t know about that. If there is such a sight, I must go and see it!
However, Brother Bai, do you know if anyone in Qing Stone Town is privately gathering incense?”
“What? Someone dares to privately gather incense! They are simply beyond the pale.
But it seems like Brother Wei has other things to do.
Bai is being reckless. I thought I could travel with you, brother!”
Bai Qianli’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, then he smiled.
The two of them chatted for a while before Bai Qianli took his leave.
Wei Zheng watched Bai Qianli’s back as he left, frowning and pondering.
“Why did this person come to me? Is it related to the matter of incense?
And humans and demons coexisting peacefully, where did this rumor come from?”
Wei Zheng shook his head, shaking the absurd thought out of his mind.
Humans and demons are born to hate each other, how could they coexist peacefully?
Even in the Heavenly Court, human gods and demon gods are hostile to each other.
It is rare for humans and demons to become friends.
Dong, dong, dong!
A black-clothed guard rushed up to Wei Zheng.
“Sir, we have found out that the Lone Wolf Gang in Qing Stone Town is indeed privately gathering incense.
However, they are very secretive, and the only information we have found is a few suspicious locations.
Also, there is a Zhao family village under the jurisdiction of Qing Stone Town, which is also a bit suspicious!”
Wei Zheng frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.
“Suspicious is suspicious, what do you mean by a bit suspicious?”
“This, sir, it’s mainly because the Zhao family village is indeed using incense for transactions in private.
But they are directly trading with demons, and they don’t even try to hide it at all!”
The guard replied with a look of embarrassment. He was also baffled when he heard this news.
Humans offer incense to hire demons to farm and build water conservancy projects!
It’s just absurd!
The guard was stunned when he heard this news.
“Wait, you said Zhao family village? Did you get this information from a man in white robes?”
“Man in white robes? No, I’ve been waiting for news to come down.
I haven’t left for a moment, and there’s no man in white robes here!”
“No, how is that possible? He…”
Wei Zheng suddenly stood up, his expression shifting.
He instantly knew that Bai Qianli was not a simple person.
“Is he deliberately leading me to the Zhao family village, or does he have other motives?”
Wei Zheng slowly sat back down, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.
After pondering for a while, Wei Zheng came to his senses and ordered.
“You continue to gather evidence on the Lone Wolf Gang. I’ll go to the Zhao family village!”
“Yes, sir!”
Outside Qing Stone Town, a young man in white robes turned his head, a slight smile on his lips.
“Heavenly Court official, the image of a person in a high position. Interesting, interesting!”
At the entrance of Zhao family village, Princess Zhang Tianyu’s long whip snapped with a crisp sound.
“All of you shut your mouths! Everyone who wants to work, gather over there at the straw shed.
Someone will explain the rules of Zhao family village to you, and then they will give you a wooden badge.
Remember, this wooden badge is your certificate for grabbing work later, if you lose it, you have to pay to replace it!”
“Hahaha, Tianyu, how are you adapting?”
Chen Fan looked at Zhang Tianyu, who was gnashing her teeth, and laughed heartily.
Zhang Tianyu turned her head and glared fiercely at Chen Fan, gritting her teeth.
“You still have the face to ask. These demons are so stupid, they can’t remember anything small.
I’m going crazy, can’t you find some people who can read and write to help?”
“Hahaha, take your time. You can’t rush these things!”
Chen Fan smiled awkwardly. Zhao family village is only so big.
If it weren’t for the fact that these demons brought their own food, he wouldn’t be able to afford to pay for such a large construction project.
Besides, he wasn’t the one who didn’t invite people.
Those students and scholars, upon hearing that they were coming to Zhao family village, either fell ill or got injured.
Now, everyone in Qing Stone Town knows that Zhao family village is practically a den of demons.
Until now, except for a scholar named Dong, no one else dared to come.
“That, I’m Bai Qianli. I heard that there are jobs here?”