The Exorcism Division does not have too strict restrictions on cultivators.

They can freely choose their commuting time, they can fish as they like, and they can even lie at home for several days without coming to the yamen. As long as they can guarantee that they will complete the monthly minimum tasks, they will never be held accountable for this.

Of course, for Gu Xu, such a "flexible work system" is to make him work overtime better.

As usual, Gu Xu was still the first to arrive at Yamen today.

But he was in no hurry to pick up the task.

Instead, he went straight to the library on the second floor, sat down at the desk by the window, took out the yellow paper and vermilion ink from the drawer, and began to draw symbols.

Sharpen the knife and do not mistake the woodcutter.

As a "delicate and frail" boy, charms are his most effective means of dealing with ghosts.

Since the runes are consumables, he must prepare a sufficient number of talismans before the battle - in case the runes are exhausted, the ghosts are not dead, and he is finally killed by himself, then he must go to see Lord Yama in advance.

He held the brush in his hand, closed his eyes and recited the mantra: "The sky is round and the place is round, the nine chapters of the law, I write today, and ten thousand ghosts are hidden." Haste as a law! ”

Then he opened his eyes.

At this time, the brush in his hand was shining with golden light, like a solidified golden sun, containing majestic power.

Pen down.

Fu Cheng.

The golden light of the brush dissipates and returns to its original state.

Gu Xu stuffed the drawn talisman into his pocket, feeling a little more confident in his heart.

At this moment, a familiar voice came from behind him:

"Hey, Gu Xu, are we going to team up to do a task today? Hey...... You guy, why did you break through again without making a sound? ”

Gu Xu turned his head.

Then I saw a young girl wearing the black uniform of the Exorcist Division.

petite stature, goose egg face; The black hair is like a cloud, and the apricot eyes are bright.

It is often said that ancient women have a subtle personality and do not smile toothily.

But the girl smiled unrestrainedly, revealing two small white tiger teeth without any scruples.

The girl's name is Shi Xiaohan.

Although he is the same age as Gu Xu, he has already surpassed many seniors with deep qualifications and became the eight-rank inspector of the Exorcism Division.

On the one hand, her cultivation is indeed not low, and her combat power is amazing - she has occupied the first place in the merit list of Yishui County for a whole year, and once single-handedly killed tricky ghosts such as "mandrills" and "human snakes", and cut all kinds of demons with a machete.

A "Liver Emperor" like Gu Xu, who gets up early and is greedy and desperately takes on tasks, can only rank second on the merit list.

On the other hand, Shi Xiaohan's father held the position of "Thousand Households" in the Exorcism Division of the nearby Laizhou Mansion, with an official rank of five grades, and he was a big man who had to look up in the entire Yishui County.

With strength and background, you are naturally a winner in life.

"This little progress is not worth mentioning at all in front of the No. 1 woman on the list." Gu Xu responded with a smile.

"That's true." Shi Xiaohan raised his chin and calmly accepted Gu Xu's compliment.

She recently likes to find Gu Xu to team up to do tasks - one of the reasons is that Gu Xu is not bad-looking, pleasing to the eye, and speaks well, which always makes her feel happy.

And Gu Xu is also happy to walk with her: since if you say a few nice words, you can hug your thighs and lie down easily to win, so why risk your life to do it alone?

In this way, the two took what they needed and reached a short-lived cooperative relationship - or in other words, became each other's "tool people".

"Shi Nuxia, what is the new mission today?" Gu Xu then asked.

Shi Xiaohan clasped his hands in front of his chest and elaborated in concise words: "There is a big mansion in the northeastern suburbs of Yishui County, where a rich man surnamed Wang lives. The rich man recently died at home inexplicably. His family thought it was a ghost.

"The family believes that the ghost who killed the rich man may still be hiding in the mansion - they hope that the exorcist department can help find out the situation, kill the evil spirit, and avenge the dead rich man."

"Is it dangerous?"

"With this woman with you, what are you afraid of?"

"What's the reward?"

"Two hundred and forty meritorious deeds. We will each have one and a half, and each of us will receive one hundred and twenty. Gu Xu, do you want to go? ”

One hundred and twenty meritorious deeds are equivalent to killing twelve ghosts. This was indeed a generous reward for Gu Xu - enough for him to exchange for a "Gathering Spirit Pill" to break through the second realm.

However, the more rewards, the more difficult the task.

This kind of quest with a reward of more than 100 is likely to run into the kind of evil ghosts that have intelligence, can spells, are difficult to kill, and can even play tricks with humans, and the degree of danger is extraordinary.

"Let me do the math first." Gu Xu pondered for a moment and replied.

After that, he took out three copper coins from his coat pocket, and used the "copper coin hexagram" divination method to throw them six times in a row.

"The result?" Shi Xiaohan asked.

"Xun Shang and Xia, it is the hexagram of 'Feng Shui', which is considered an auspicious hexagram," Gu Xu replied, "'Qiang' means that the evil things will leave the body and the tribulation will disappear." Those who get this hexagram will have difficulties at first, but they can eventually solve the difficulties, and be cautious and prosperous. ”

"That's ...... You agree to go with me? ”

Gu Xu nodded: "But we must be careful and must not be negligent." ”

"That's for sure," Shi Xiaohan stood at the desk and glanced at him condescendingly, "Gu Xu, I really didn't expect that you would even have such an unpopular knowledge as divination and fortune telling!" ”

"It's just a side door, it's not as good as the heroine of the time to break ten."

"I really don't know how your brain grows, you can remember the hexagram of the sixty-four hexagrams clearly! I get a headache when I see it. ”

"I learned divination because I was afraid of death, and I was afraid of meeting evil ghosts that could not be solved," Gu Xu chuckled, "Shi Nuxia is known as 'Yishui County Ghost Sees Sorrow', cutting ghosts is like cutting vegetables, why waste time and time on these boring things?" ”

The two looked at each other, then laughed out loud.

As a duo that dominates the list and a good partner in demon slayering, business blowing each other is their daily routine.

"That's good," Shi Xiaohan patted Gu Xu's shoulder, "In a quarter of an hour, see you outside the yamen, let's go early and return early." ”

"No problem." Gu Xu nodded.

As a person who cherishes time, he appreciates Shi Xiaohan's vigorous and resolute style of doing what he says.

…………

The mansion of the rich man Wang is located in the northeastern suburbs of Yishui County - judging from the gossip map, it is the "Gen position".

Gen, ghost gate also.

According to the classics, it is not suitable to bury the dead and build tombs and monuments, because the yin qi is very heavy, which is easy to cause strange things and make the dead unpeaceful.

But when Gu Xu came to the outskirts of Yishui County, he noticed that there was a cemetery on the nearby hillside.

Large and small graves stand on the hillside, deserted and sparsely planted—even when the sun is shining, it looks a little gloomy.

Eight years ago, ghosts and monsters raged in Yishui County, with heavy casualties.

The original owner of the body once set up a mound in the ancestral grave with tears in his eyes for his parents who were devoured by ghosts.

And the corpses that were not collected back then were buried at random in this deserted grave where no one took care of it and no one worshipped.

Thinking of this, Gu Xu's footsteps couldn't help but pause.

"Scared?" Shi Xiaohan beside him said lightly.

She carried a one-meter-long knife weighing nearly ten pounds, but she walked as light as a swallow. In order to keep up with her pace, Gu Xu already felt that he was having some difficulty breathing.

"I'm just a little tired." Gu Xu replied. His heart was pounding, and his chest was aching.

Shi Xiaohan slowed down: "Your body is so weak, can you beat the ghost later?" Wouldn't they touch you and you'd die on the spot? ”

"Don't worry," a calm smile appeared on Gu Xu's pale face, "I won't fight with ghosts in close combat—besides, sometimes women protect me, how can they get close to me?" ”

"Hmph, of course." Shi Xiaohan likes to listen to this kind of talk, the corners of his mouth can't help but rise slightly, and two small dimples are revealed on his slightly baby-fat face.

…………

Exegesis:

(1) "The sky is round and the place is round, the law is nine chapters, I write now, and ten thousand ghosts are hidden." Haste as a law! - Taoist pen mantras, used when drawing talismans.