Chapter Eighty-Two: Return to the Prefectural Office

Chapter Eighty-Two

A nominal magistrate manipulated by the Fan brothers was never worth the notice of Paper Zhang. Wanan County was now nothing more than an abandoned land in the eyes of the Court; the loss of the Soul Register would not attract any official attention.

It should have been a matter of certainty, yet things went awry after the original Zhao Fusheng’s death. Upon the original’s passing, Zhao Fusheng was reborn in the body, and by a twist of fate, she succeeded in taming a ghost, seizing control of the Demon Suppression Bureau.

The schemes of the Fan brothers thus came to naught, and Paper Zhang’s initial plans were abandoned as well.

When Zhao Fusheng first went to see Paper Zhang, he was already well aware of her true identity, clearly because he had been watching her from the shadows all along.

Upon discovering that Zhao Fusheng had not died, Paper Zhang immediately changed his strategy, seeking to use her to stir up chaos in Beggars’ Alley.

After saying all this, Zhang Chuanshi kept stealing glances at Zhao Fusheng’s expression. Seeing her silent for a long while, he stammered, “I don’t know what he wants with the Soul Register, truly—” Fearing her anger, he quickly tried to show his loyalty, “But now that I’ve joined the Demon Suppression Bureau, my allegiance is to you alone. I will guard the Soul Register faithfully and never hand it over to Paper Zhang!”

Zhao Fusheng smiled at his words.

Her temperament was entirely different from the former Zhao Fusheng. The original had been timid, cowering in conversation, hardly daring to breathe loudly. In contrast, Zhao Fusheng spoke with gentle laughter, but her actions were far less approachable than her manner suggested.

Zhang Chuanshi felt a chill at her smile.

“You must already know the origins of the Soul Register, don’t you?” Zhao Fusheng’s tone was one of certainty, despite the phrasing.

Zhang Chuanshi, acquainted with the Fan brothers and privy to Paper Zhang’s desire for the Soul Register, must have been informed by Fan Bisi of its secrets as well.

Sure enough, after hearing her words, the old man’s face showed a guilty flicker, his eyes darting as he nodded, “I know a bit…”

“That register is a tool for malicious spirits. In some ways, it is an evil relic. Paper Zhang has always collected such ominous objects to refine lamp oil; it’s only natural he would covet this one as well.” Zhao Fusheng spoke casually, but as her gaze swept over the Soul Register, a flash of caution flickered in her eyes.

Paper Zhang was cunning and meticulous; he always had a backup plan. There was certainly something within the Soul Register that he desired.

“Yes, yes, of course,” Zhang Chuanshi nodded repeatedly, eager to agree.

“You’re recorded in the Soul Register; for now, you won’t die. But if you lose it, you will certainly not escape punishment.” Zhao Fusheng regarded Zhang Chuanshi’s half-flayed, ruined face. “You must guard it well.”

At her words, Zhang Chuanshi recalled the searing agony he’d experienced upon “awakening” in the village. Shivering, he clutched the Soul Register tighter to his chest. “Rest assured, I’ll protect it—” He hesitated, then added, “I’d like to move into the Demon Suppression Bureau for a while.”

“That’s fine,” Zhao Fusheng nodded. “Once you return, have Fan Bisi arrange a side room for you.”

The Bureau occupied a vast estate, with no shortage of side rooms. The first time Zhao Fusheng had awakened in this world, the official residence had seemed dilapidated only because, for half a year, the Bureau had been haunted, staff had died, and the place had fallen into disrepair. Now, under her command, with the case resolved and new workers hired, life had returned, and the buildings were being tidied again. While not yet at its former glory, it was already much improved compared to when Zhao Fusheng had first awoken.

Zhang Chuanshi breathed a sigh of relief.

“By the way,” Zhao Fusheng spoke again, “Once you’ve recovered, you and Fan Bisi will go to Magistrate Bao.”

“You intend—” Zhang Chuanshi’s remaining eyelid began to twitch violently.

He knew that after the Fan brothers’ failed attempt to harm Zhao Fusheng’s family, they had tried to defect to Deputy Magistrate Zheng under Magistrate Bao. After Zhao Fusheng’s awakening, she’d ordered Fan Bisi to bury the corpses of her parents—now revived as malevolent spirits—on Magistrate Bao’s land.

Now, half a month later, she brought up Magistrate Bao again—

A foreboding sense crept into Zhang Chuanshi’s heart. She can’t possibly have grown a conscience and want to dig up her parents’ bodies to spare Magistrate Bao, can she…?

If not, then the only reason she’d send him to Magistrate Bao would be—

“You and Fan Bisi are to retrieve the two doors on which my parents’ bodies were laid.”

Zhang Chuanshi felt as though the wound on his cheek was open to the wind. He almost regretted ever accepting the Soul Register back in Doghead Village.

Naively, he thought: If only he’d fainted from the pain back then, perhaps there would have been no carriage conversation, and Zhao Fusheng would never have made such a deadly request.

“Old Zhang, we’re all on the same side; I won’t keep anything from you.”

With a genial smile, Zhao Fusheng leaned forward, elbows on knees, face close to Zhang Chuanshi’s huddled form. “Those two doors are tainted with the aura of malevolent spirits; they’ve become evil relics. As you said, Paper Zhang is seeking such things—how can I let those doors fall into his hands?”

“But, but—” The territory belonged to Magistrate Bao. The Fan brothers had already gone too far, burying two coffins containing ghosts on his land. The spirits had only been temporarily subdued; who knew when they would revive? Should they do so, Deputy Magistrate Zheng would be furious.

If not for the Court’s ban on magistrates leaving their jurisdiction, Deputy Magistrate Zheng might have long since stormed Wanan County to flay the Fan brothers alive.

Now, everyone in Wanan County avoided trouble; who would dare approach?

To have sent them the ghosts and now to return and reclaim the doors—was this not to slap Magistrate Bao’s left cheek and ask for the right as well?

“My lady…” Zhang Chuanshi shivered, warning her, “Deputy Magistrate Zheng commands a ghost of the Calamity grade.”

Within the Han Dynasty, magistrates had their own ranks. Their strength depended on the spirits they controlled. Ordinary magistrates were already important figures, but above them were Generals, ranked upper, middle, and lower. Above these were the Gold and Silver Generals, and above all, the King-General, who commanded the entire Demon Suppression Bureau.

Deputy Magistrate Zheng, who controlled a Calamity-level ghost, already met the standard for a Lower General; he simply had yet to receive his official title from the Court.

Zhang Chuanshi’s eyes flickered as he whispered, “Such a formidable figure—why provoke him?”

“What of Calamity level?” Zhao Fusheng replied lazily. “Does that give him leave to undermine me? The Fan brothers once tried to defect to him.”

“But—” Zhang Chuanshi dared not finish: But Deputy Magistrate Zheng never knew they wished to defect to him.

Under Zhao Fusheng’s gaze, he swallowed the words.

“But you’re right,” Zhao Fusheng continued. “We’re neighbors with Magistrate Bao; it wouldn’t do to sour relations. If my parents’ corpses revive as spirits and Deputy Magistrate Zheng is unable to deal with them but too proud to seek the Court’s help, he can always ask me.”

She smiled. “I’ve always believed neighbors should help one another. Don’t you agree, Old Zhang?”

Zhang Chuanshi dared not respond, but he was certain Deputy Magistrate Zheng would not appreciate such ‘neighborly help.’

“You’re absolutely right, my lady,” he finally managed.

Zhao Fusheng paid him no further mind, laughing softly as she leaned back into the carriage, closing her eyes to rest.

The driver dared not speak. The journey passed in silence, and by dusk, the carriage returned to the Demon Suppression Bureau of Wanan County.

“My lady, we’ve arrived,” the driver announced, leaping down respectfully.

Zhao Fusheng had left for the case in haste and returned swiftly. As soon as the carriage stopped at the county gate, the commotion was noticed by the staff.

Someone moved to challenge the newcomers, but catching sight of Zhao Fusheng in the corner of his eye, he hurriedly called inside, “The lady has returned!”

At this time, the entire official residence revolved around Zhao Fusheng as its sole magistrate. All hands were within the Bureau, and upon hearing the call, the Fan brothers and others rushed out from within.

“She’s back?” Fan Bisi was both surprised and uneasy.

From her departure to her return, barely a day had passed. Given the travel time, she could have spent little more than a night in Doghead Village. Such a swift return—was there really no ghost there?

He had overheard Wu Dajing speak of the village’s disappearances, a strange case, but with no ghostly appearances. As he puzzled over this, he saw a blood-soaked, hunched figure emerge from the carriage.

Half the man’s face was flayed, his appearance ghastly. As Fan Bisi stared, the man reached into the carriage and obsequiously announced, “My lady, please disembark.”

That sycophantic, familiar voice—it could only be Old Zhang from the coffin shop next door.

Fan Bisi’s heart lurched. Zhang Chuanshi had become a wreck—he must have encountered a ghost. If so, and had survived, it meant Zhao Fusheng had once again broken a ghost’s killing law.

When such a law was shattered, the ghost would withdraw, leaving its territory to wait for another opportunity. For the Bureau, this counted as solving the case.

Fan Bisi realized: there had indeed been a malevolent ghost in Doghead Village, and Zhao Fusheng had resolved her second case!

At this revelation, the muscles in his cheek twitched uncontrollably.

It was one thing that she had resolved the Beggars’ Alley haunting—by chance, she’d tamed the ghost and destroyed the Beggar Ghost. But he knew the ghost she’d tamed; it was the one that had killed Zhao Qi.

Ghosts’ power was difficult to wield; the more one used it, the closer one came to death. Zhao Fusheng had drawn on it twice in a month—she was in great danger of being corrupted.

As he fretted, Zhao Fusheng emerged, bending gracefully.

Unlike Zhang Chuanshi, who was battered and bloodied, Zhao Fusheng, though stained with blood, appeared calm and composed, showing none of the chilling aura of one tainted by a ghost’s influence.

“My lady—” Fan Bisi couldn’t help but exclaim.

Zhao Fusheng glanced at him, nodded, and asked, “In the two days I was away, has all been well in the Bureau?”

“All is well.” The Bureau had resumed proper function. As long as Zhao Fusheng remained safe, the entire county revolved around her. Even if she’d been gone half a month, nothing would have happened.

Still, Fan Bisi was full of questions, desperate to learn what had transpired.

Had she encountered a ghost? Had she resolved the case? And how had old Zhang survived as well? Two entering, two returning—this was unheard of in the Bureau’s records.

“Only, these past two days, Magistrate Pang has come daily, instructing us to keep constant watch for your return—”

Typically, a magistrate’s investigation lasted at least ten days, often half a month or more. While the local gentry cared about her progress, no one expected her back so soon, so no one had been posted to watch for her. Otherwise, the news of her carriage entering the city would have brought them out to greet her.

So extraordinary was her return that Fan Bisi even wondered whether Zhang Chuanshi’s injuries were from a fight and that Zhao Fusheng hadn’t encountered a ghost after all.

“We didn’t expect you back so soon, so we weren’t able to greet you—”

Zhao Fusheng waved a hand. “The matter is settled, so we returned.”

Fan Bisi ventured, “It’s settled…”

“The ghost is dealt with!” Zhang Chuanshi, having held his tongue for long enough, finally seized the chance to speak. Clutching the Soul Register with pride, he announced, “Our lady’s wisdom is unparalleled. She went to Doghead Village and resolved the haunting completely!”

Despite his serious injuries, he straightened up, emboldened by Fan Bisi’s incredulous stare, his pain momentarily forgotten.

Those around widened their eyes in astonishment, not daring to speak.

Zhang Chuanshi grinned, blood seeping from his wounds, yet entirely unfazed. “Not only that, the lady sealed the ghost itself. In one night, she saved the remaining villagers. Afterward, the riffraff from Wu’an Town begged her to stay for a meal, but she, being busy, only asked for a carriage and hurried back!”

Though he spoke truth, to the Fan brothers, it sounded utterly fantastical. To resolve a haunting in a single night was one thing, but to seal a malevolent ghost? How had she managed that?

Fan Bisi exchanged a glance with his brother. The facts defied reason; the two of them were at a loss for words.

Zhang Chuanshi’s tale was too shocking. After a moment’s hesitation, Fan Bisi looked to Zhao Fusheng. “My lady…?”

“More or less,” she nodded, leaping down from the carriage and gazing up at the Demon Suppression Bureau. “Prepare hot water for me to wash; afterward, I’ll eat and record the case.”

With that, she ignored the brothers’ stunned expressions, her gaze lingering on the Bureau’s signboard, her eyes glinting with thought.