Raindrops accumulated on the eaves fell on the wet ground with a 'pop' sound. Lu Pan and the other eight people squatting outside the building felt a strange silence and turned back subconsciously. A thin layer of mist covered the square leading to the mountain gate. In the dim light, a figure with a deep body, a cross-collared, curved skirt and narrow sleeves clasped behind was walking towards them in the mist.
"Where are you from!?"
Lu Pan stood up and shouted, and the other seven people around him looked at each other, surrounded him and stretched out their hands to stop the other person. However, the man walked closer without even looking at them, walked straight through the arms that were blocking him, stepped onto the stone steps and walked towards the open hallway.
Behind that man, the eight people looked at their empty hands and looked at each other in confusion.
"It seems like this person has passed through our hands?"
"I'm afraid it's a ghost!"
After saying that, Lu Pan, Lu Qing, Lu Xi and the remaining four brothers turned around and surrounded the man again. Before they could attack again, their nephew's voice "Uncle Pan" was heard in the hall, so they stopped and took two steps back.
Amid the swirling fog, the man standing at the door had a dignified look on his face. He stroked his short beard and glanced at the eight big men on both sides.
"Master Lu, it's so peaceful even though the demons are committing crimes."
Sure enough, it was because Zhu Ganglie had demolished the brothel before and came here. If there is a monster in the city, the city god will naturally take care of it. This is his responsibility. Lu Liangsheng is weak and cannot drive the monster away.
He glared at the Taoist and the pig demon over there, spread out his sleeves, walked forward and raised his hands.
"Lu Liangsheng has met the City God."
Ji Xin, the City God of Chang'an, is rumored to look somewhat similar to Emperor Gaozu of Han. In order to cover Liu Bang's escape, he disguised himself as Emperor Gaozu of Han to meet Xiang Yu, but was burned to death. After the establishment of the Later Han Dynasty, Liu Bang was grateful for his achievements and named him the City God of Chang'an. When the Sui Dynasty was established, Yang Jian also conferred an imperial decree on him.
No matter what the other party's tone is at the moment, Lu Liangsheng also respects this kind of people.
On the opposite side, Ji Xin raised his hand to return the greeting as a response. His eyes swept over the man and the demon sitting on one side, and then fell on the young man in front of him. He looked at him carefully, and it seemed that Lu Liangsheng's attitude made him satisfied. He lowered his sleeves and brushed them, then walked over and sat down next to him.
"That day, when Master Lu was offering sacrifices to the heavens, I heard the prayers in the temple and was very impressed. But why did he let the demon commit crimes today and forget what he said that day?"
"Of course I won't forget."
Although the other party came to call for an explanation, he was not the type to attack right away. He thought that he would give people a chance to defend themselves. As the national teacher, Lu Liangsheng felt embarrassed to be shielded. After hesitating for a moment, he did not go to the first seat, but sat down opposite the City God.
"… This demon is not my subordinate, but I have known him for a long time. He is actually very gentle. He made a mistake today. I asked him when I came back. It was because he was greedy for alcohol, not malicious. Besides, I will restore the brothel to its original state, and I will compensate for all losses."
At the side, Zhu Ganglie raised his head, whined and waved his hands, turned his head away, and said in a muffled voice: "… You forbid me to touch women, so I didn't. I just sat there and watched. The more I watched, the more angry I became. The more I felt, the more I wanted to drink, so I drank more… I showed my true colors in a daze, and that's how I made a fool of myself."
The Taoist raised his hand: "I can testify!"
Then, he shrank back again after being glared at by Lu Liangsheng, and turned away with his head hung. If he had not taken Zhu Ganglie to the brothel, this incident today would not have happened.
After hearing the whole story, the City God probably understood it. He counted on his fingers, opened his eyes, and his tone became much softer than before.
"It seems to be true as the Imperial Master said. However, if it weren't for this monster, the madam and the guests in the building wouldn't have been frightened. All compensation has been paid, but the pig monster committed a crime but was not punished. How can others be convinced?"
On the other side, Zhu Ganglie became a little anxious when he heard it. He stood up suddenly, stared at the other party with his big eyes, and simply rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight.
"You are such an ignorant City God. I admit my mistake and will correct it in the future. Do you want to send me to the government? Do you want them to skin me and roast me?!"
"Old pig!" Lu Liangsheng turned his head and frowned.
On the opposite side, the old man didn't even look at the angry pig demon. He stood up, put his sleeves behind his back, walked past the table, took two steps in the middle, looked at the gloomy sky and the wet square outside, stroked his beard and was silent for a while.
Speak slowly.
"Master, do you think it was stupid for Ji to be burned alive by Xiang Yu in order to save Emperor Gaozu?"
There are many answers to this question, but they are also easy to offend people. Lu Liangsheng was silent for a moment and said:
"That must be because the King of Han at that time had some extraordinary qualities that made the City God respect him."
The words praised Liu Bang, who was respected by Ji Xin, and also pointed out that this city god had a unique vision during his lifetime.
Everyone likes to hear this kind of euphemistic praise. Looking at Ji Xin outside, he tilted his head and immediately laughed.
"Ji remembers that when he followed Emperor Gaozu, he was still the King of Han. Those outside said that he was a ruffian and could not accomplish anything great. But no one knew that Emperor Gaozu treated his subordinates like brothers and sisters, but he would punish them if they made mistakes, and he would never be tyrannical to those close to him. Only in this way could he fight again and again despite repeated defeats, and the people's hearts would not be dispersed."
Lu Liangsheng understood the implication very well, so he suppressed Zhu Ganglie's impulse, stood up and bowed.
"Thank you for your advice, City God. I am new to being the Imperial Master and there are still many things I don't understand. I really shouldn't protect the shortcomings of others given my position."
"It's one thing to protect one's own shortcomings, but those who have done something wrong must be punished. The two are not contradictory."
Ji Xin turned around and held down the scholar's hands. He let go of what had happened before and returned to his seat to talk. When he saw the still somewhat angry pig demon, a smile appeared on his face.
"There are many monsters around the national master, so I hope you can control them. Speaking of which, I have been the city god for many years, and I have never seen a cultivator with so many monsters around him. The national master must be the first one."
Lu Liangsheng nodded and smiled, "Most of them are on good terms with me and are willing to be my friend. However, I am not surrounded by only monsters, but also cultivators and ordinary people."
"Hahaha! It's been a long time since I saw such an unruly practitioner like the National Master." The old City God suddenly laughed, and after a while, he brushed off his sleeves and bowed to Lu Liangsheng.
"Then I wonder if the Imperial Master would like to have another friend?"
Lu Liangsheng also stood up, cupped his hands towards the other party, and spoke gently.
"The moment the City God enters the gate, that's it."
The old man and the young man looked at each other and laughed out loud, which made the Taoist priest and Zhu Ganglie beside them blink their eyes, not understanding what they were talking about. As they talked, the two of them became so close that they were almost sworn brothers.
Over there, talking about friends, Lu Liangsheng casually mentioned that he also knew a city god, Zhou Yu from the late Han Dynasty. After all, he and Ji Xin in front of him were from the same dynasty.
Ji Xin frowned and waved his hand: "I know this man. Humph, he is just a vassal general of our Han Dynasty. If I meet him, I will drag him to the tomb of Emperor Gaozu to kowtow and question him!"
have to…
Lu Liangsheng forgot that one was a meritorious official supported by the Han Dynasty, and the other was a general who ruled over many vassal states in the late Han Dynasty. In terms of concepts... well, it was almost the same as the court's attitude towards rebels.
After suppressing the embarrassment, the two returned to the wrong things the pig demon had done in the city today. Punishment must be imposed, which is the duty of the City God and the underworld.
Lu Liangsheng took a sip of tea and looked at Zhu Ganglie.
“… In that case, at midnight tonight, let all the people in the city watch the execution!”
Fortunately, Zhu Ganglie had no ill intentions, so the punishment would naturally be much lighter. The old pig naturally wouldn't do it, but he had no choice but to sit on the ground in frustration.
"Then... hit me lightly then."