Pigs and Sheep Sitting on the Bed

The county government office was brightly lit.

The two stone lions, bathed in the glow of lanterns, looked majestic and awe-inspiring.

Pei Si went straight into the second hall.

The county magistrate, the county lieutenant, the county assistant, and even General Shao were all waiting here to prevent the Red Lantern Lady from launching another attack under the cover of night.

Upon seeing Pei Si arrive, Du Shouzhen was overjoyed and hurriedly went to greet him.

"Young Master Pei, how is the battle going?"

Du Shouzhen grabbed Pei Si's hand and asked anxiously.

Pei Si grabbed the teacup on the table, not caring whose teacup it was or how hot the tea was, and drank it all in one gulp.

However, to the general public, it was interpreted differently.

"Look at this young master Pei, he truly lives up to his reputation as the Taoist priest of Tianshi Cave. For the safety of the county, he doesn't even bother to drink a sip of water."

"As expected of a martial artist, his physique is truly robust. He drank the boiling water that was just poured into his cup!"

Pei Si wiped his mouth and sat in the seat of honor.

He propped himself up with one hand, supporting his chin, and his gaze swept over everyone present.

"In the county town, a total of eighteen demons and evil spirits were killed and will not be resurrected. The wronged and vengeful spirits that lingered in the streets were all dispersed."

"Lord Du, Lord Lu, General Shao, I would like to request that one of the city gates be opened to allow the paper doll army to leave the city and sweep it up, in order to protect your reputations."

Pei Si smiled.

This really hit the sore spot of the county magistrate and others.

Are we going to spread rumors that the government is neglecting the people outside the city? That would damage the government's reputation.

Like Du Shouzhen, who cherished his reputation the most.

"Excellent, excellent! County Magistrate Lu, General Shao, what do you two think?"

Lu Pinghai and Shao Shuyun naturally agreed.

Especially Shao Shuyun, whose eyes lit up when he looked at Pei Si.

Pei Si looked at Lu Pinghai beside him, cupped his hands, and said, "County Commandant Lu, do you still remember the paper beauty you mentioned to me?"

"Recently, I have devoted myself to the study of paper crafting and have finally gained some insights. Take a look, everyone, how does my paper beauty compare to the paper beauties made by the Zhang family?" Pei Si patted his treasure bag.

Several paper beauties of varying heights and charms stood in the hall.

"This...?" The county officials looked closely at the paper beauties, their surprise barely concealed.

It is indistinguishable from a real person, and even more lifelike than the paper beauty of the Zhang family!

Lu Pinghai had a plan in mind all along, but he was held back by Pei Si's lack of skill in paper-making at the time. Now, he has truly given him a pleasant surprise!

These paper beauties could easily fetch a high price!

"With this kind of paper-making skill, I reckon even the substitute doll could be made!" Lu Pinghai murmured to himself.

It's a pity that the instructions for making the substitute doll have already been handed over!

Du Shouzhen stroked his beard, already having a plan in mind.

The paper beauty statue from the Zhang family could sell for a string of cash as offerings; with the quality of Pei Si's batch, it will sell for even more!

The more Pei Si sold, the more they profited.

However, Pei Si's purpose in coming here was probably not that simple. Thinking of this, Du Shouzhen glanced at Lu Pinghai.

Coincidentally, Lu Pinghai also looked at him, and the two stared at each other.

"My lords, making this paper beauty is much more complicated than making ordinary paper figures," Pei Si remarked, smiling as he looked at Du Shouzhen and Lu Pinghai.

Lu Pinghai understood and walked to Du Shouzhen's side. The two discussed in hushed tones for a while.

Lu Pinghai skipped the usual underhanded negotiation with Pei Si, nodded, and got straight to the point: "For a rare item like the Paper Beauty, how about a 70/30 split?"

Pei Si pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Rare items like paper beauties are divided 70/30. Lower-end paper figures are still divided 60/40 with Pei Si.

After discussing the business deal, Shao Shuyun took the initiative to speak:

"Master Xuanjian, could you sell some of those paper figures of swordsmen to my Yingyang Prefecture? The price is negotiable."

Those paper figures with swords were practically weapons of war! They were highly efficient, and even if they died, Shao Shuyun wouldn't feel sorry for them.

Seeing that Yingyang Mansion was going to offer a price to buy the paper figures, Lu Pinghai could no longer sit still.

Yingyang Prefecture needs it, and the city guards need it too!

How can we favor one over the other!

Although he used the methods of the Water and Land Bureau to naturally counter the paper figure, how many methods do demons and evil spirits have to deal with paper figures?

Moreover, the city guards have suffered heavy losses, and even if they lower the bar to recruit people, where will they find so many warriors in a short time?

"I've become an arms dealer?" Pei Si thought to himself.

To activate these swordsmen and paper figures, all that's needed is a spell; the barrier to entry is low.

Pei Si coughed twice and said, "Fifty incense coins per set. If you can grant me a small request, I can offer a discount."

After Pei Si finished stating his request, Lu Pinghai and Shao Shuyun readily agreed.

Writing the six characters "Qingcheng Mountain Tianshi Cave" on a paper effigy is no big deal!

Can understand.

It's not shameful to offer some incense to Qingcheng Mountain.

Thirty incense coins for one paper figure of a swordsman. The city guards and the Eagle Banner Prefecture each require one hundred and fifty figures. Delivery must be made before 5 PM today.

Before I knew it, I was already busy until midnight.

Pei Si did not return to the small courtyard, but instead boarded a carriage belonging to the Lu family and headed straight for the Lu residence.

Inside the carriage.

Lu Pinghai and Pei Si sat facing each other.

Lu Pinghai, holding a string of Buddhist prayer beads, said in a deep voice, "I will trouble Daoist Xuanjian to perform the ritual for Shuangshuang today, and send her to the Netherworld so that she can be reincarnated as soon as possible."

Pei Si nodded.

"How is Shouhuai doing?"

After all, Lu Shouhuai and he were fellow disciples and had participated in the Winter Hunt together.

It was reasonable for Pei Si to ask a question.

Lu Pinghai waved his hand and said in a desolate tone, "He has woken up and his injuries are not serious, but his spirit seems to have dissipated."

"Could it be that I am truly destined to be a jinx to children?"

He was young and spirited, but lost an arm. It's uncertain whether he can still make progress in the path of martial arts.

Could it be that what the monk said is true, that I am destined to be childless?

First, the eldest son went insane, and then the youngest son lost an arm and suffered damage to his heart meridian.

A look of reminiscence welled up in Lu Pinghai's eyes as he confided in Pei Si:

"It was about twenty years ago. I remember it was raining heavily that day. At that time, I was not yet the county magistrate of Qingcheng County, but just an ordinary clerk. On the bridge over the Ink River, I met a monk wearing tattered Buddhist robes. The monk was walking and humming a verse."

Pei Si frowned, and seeing Lu Pinghai pause, he asked at the opportune moment, "What verse is it?"

Lu Pinghai's voice was deep, and even his tone became strange, "Strange, very strange, old relatives become new people."

"They eat flesh and bones on the plate, and beat their own relatives with a mallet."

"In the past, livestock were treated as honored guests."

"Cooking meat and bones in a pot."

"Everyone comes to congratulate me, but I feel truly miserable!"

"When I heard the monk chanting something strange, I grabbed him and asked him what it meant."

The monk said, "The relatives from the previous life couldn't let go of their descendants, so they remarried back home."

"What appears to be a lively and festive scene is actually nothing more than a cyclical farce."

After he finished speaking, the monk patted me on the shoulder and said that I was destined to be childless and that I should be careful.

As Lu Pinghai spoke, his fingers continued to twirl the prayer beads, a single tear rolling down his cheek. "Could it be that I am truly destined to be childless?!"