Poyang County, which is close to the south of Beiting County and bounded by Fuyun Mountain, is a small city with a developed water system and a population of about 50,000 households.

In Poyang County, there is a large river that meanders through the territory of Poyang County from west to east, called Poyang River.

Therefore, Poyang County has a saying that has been handed down for a long time: "Poyang County for 800 miles, Poyang River for 300 miles, and Fuyun Mountain for 100 miles." ”

Poyang County is surrounded by mountains and rivers and is located in a privileged area, but it is a small county town rich in products.

Chen Wenqing and the others had already come to Poyang County at this time.

August.

It's not usually a rainy season. However, at this time, Poyang County suffered from ten days of continuous heavy rain, and even the water level of the Poyang River rose by more than a kilometer.

In the county government of Poyang County, the Poyang County Commander is anxious about the imminent flood disaster and is walking back and forth uneasily in the back hall. I kept thinking about it in my heart, and three days later, I organized the squires and dignitaries in the county to worship the gods by the Poyang River.

"Tell the master, there are two Taoist chiefs outside the yamen who ask to see them, saying that they are invited to come to visit." A servant came in and interrupted Qu County's thoughts.

"The Taoist of Zixia Temple?" Qu Xian Ling thought for a moment before he came to his senses and said, "Oh... Please, please! The official is having a headache about the sacrificial ceremony in three days. The two Dao Masters came at the right time, just in time to come up with some ideas for the official. ”

Chen Wenqing walked into the county office, walked through the front hall all the way, and found that the county office was still very lively. At this time, a group of officials were eating and drinking with fists, and their cries shook the sky; And some of the officials were already playing on the sidelines, and even openly gambled in the yamen in broad daylight.

"Open big, open big!"

"Open small! Open small! ”

"Hahaha, it's me who wins. I'm really good luck today, and when I get off the business for a while, I'll invite everyone to Songcui Building to rub it! Hahaha......"

Chen Wenyu frowned all the way, suppressed the anger in his heart, and led him to the back hall on a missionary basis.

I saw that the back hall was quite gorgeously decorated, not only with sandalwood screens, but also with carpets made of Shu brocade, and the walls were full of famous calligraphy and paintings. Chen Wenqing glanced at it, and a middle-aged official wearing an official uniform and a big belly walked over, and said with a greasy smile on his face.

"This official, Qu Cheng, the magistrate of Poyang County, has seen two Taoist chiefs." Qu County Ling arched his hand and said.

"Poor Dao Zixia Guan Chen Wenqing, this is my junior brother Li Zhengyang." Chen Wenqing also saluted and said: "We were invited to investigate the matter of the river gods of Poyang County using human sacrifices to wantonly persecute the people of Poyang County. Please also ask Qu County Commander to explain it carefully, so that the poor road can be summed up. ”

Qu County Ling was stunned when he heard this, and said, "This official didn't invite you over, what is going on?" ”

"In addition, there is nothing in this county that sacrifices people and persecuts the people of Limin, presumably the two Taoist chiefs are mistaken."

"Today, my Poyang County is in good weather and the people of Li live and work in peace and contentment. Regarding the matter of sacrifice, I don't have to worry about the two Taoist masters. ”

When Li Youcai heard this, he couldn't help but snort coldly and said: "The wind and rain are smooth, live and work in peace and contentment?" Qu County Ling, could it be that the poor Dao and others were blind? ”

"Poyang County has been raining heavily for ten days in a row, and the Poyang River is about to burst.

Qu County Ling showed a disapproving expression, waved his hand and said: "This is a trivial matter, and sacrificing to the river god is a major event in this county." The county order is preparing to arrange three days later, to worship the river god of Poyang County. As long as the sacrifice is completed, it is guaranteed that the flood waters will recede and the sky will clear after the rain. ”

"Sacrifice? With what sacrifice? Chen Wenqing said sharply: "Could it be that sixteen boys, twenty girls, and twenty cattle and sheep are used, yes or no?" ”

On the way to Yamen, Chen Wenqing had already met many people in Poyang County, who were tearfully putting their children under the age of eight into bamboo baskets, with desperate expressions on their faces.

"How did you know about this? The official is still thinking about whether to increase the amount this year, and he is worried that the river god will not be satisfied with the lack of tribute. ”

"A little more?" Chen Wenqing was furious and said, "What are you as a common person? You shameless dog official, as a parent official in Poyang, does not make decisions for the people, but feeds demons with the people. How shameless and hateful this is, how can you be worthy of the trust of the people of Poyang County? How to be worthy of this official uniform on your body? ”

"You! Daring! Qu Xian Ling stood up angrily when he heard this, and said, "Is there anything wrong with this official?" This official is also helpless. Since this official took office in Poyang County, he has followed this rule, and it has always been the case for many years. ”

"If this official doesn't comply, then it's not just these people who will die, and the people of Poyang County may suffer a catastrophe!"

Qu County continued: "I can exchange the lives of 36 children for more than 50,000 of my people to live and work in peace and contentment, and the wind and rain are smooth, no matter how it is calculated, it is worth it!" ”

"Do not do unto others as you would have them do unto you! Why don't you use your own children to raise monsters? Are your children precious, but not the children of your people? How cold-blooded must you be to say such a thing?! At this time, Chen Wenqing couldn't wait to slap the Qu County Order in front of him directly to death with one palm.

"It's just a few children, and when they die, they die, but it's just a drop in the bucket. The people are like leeks in the field, reaping a stubble, and after a while they grow new ones. ”

Qu County Ling pointed at Chen Wenqing and said, "What's more, it's not your turn to be a foreign Taoist priest in this county. If the two Dao Masters have nothing else to do, then they will not be sent far away. ”

Qu Xian Ling took a sip of the teacup, obviously with the intention of sending off guests.

"Qu County order, the demon beasts and giant beetles in Poyang County have been doing evil for many years, and the people are miserable. Poor Dao came over this time in order to subdue the demons and eliminate the demons, and there was a lot of excitement between the words, and he also asked the Qu County Order to arrange for the official to assist. ”

Chen Wenqing held back the anger in his heart and said.

"Don't! But don't shout about slaying demons anymore. I don't know how many monks, Taoists, and knights came to Poyang County before, and everyone was saying beautiful things at the beginning, but in the end, they didn't all fall into the mouth. ”

In this way, not only did not the river god get rid of it, but it also caused the river god to be angry. Every time I get rid of demons, in the end, it is the people of Poyang County who suffer. As a result, the annual offerings have risen year after year, and the county can no longer afford to toss anymore! ”

A cold light flashed in Chen Wenqing's eyes, and he pulled out the peachwood sword, and the aura of the mysterious spirit on the sword body swirled.

"Humph! It's better to say than to sing! Are you worried about the people of Poyang County, or are you worried that the increase in sacrifices will cause your money bag to shrink? ”

"As the magistrate of Poyang County, you don't want to seek the well-being of the county people, but think about how to please a demon beast. It just doesn't make sense! ”

Chen Wenqing pointed to the front hall and said: "It has been raining heavily for days, shouldn't you go to comfort the people's livelihood at this time?" Instead, a group of officials gathered in the yamen to drink and gamble, and that's how you make decisions for the people? ”

Qu Xian Ling felt the cold air coming from his neck on his face, his face was drenched in cold sweat, and he said weakly: "Dao Chief, you can't kill me!" Otherwise, you will not escape the punishment of national law. ”

"Since this official is the commander of Poyang County, then the county should be in charge, and it is not your turn to say irresponsible things to a little Taoist priest."

"Someone! Drive out these few Taoist priests who don't know what to do! ”

Qu County Ling seemed to see that Chen Wenqing didn't dare to kill him, so he shouted hard, and several drunken officials rushed in, holding the guy and preparing to do it.

"Humph! A group of corpses who only know how to scrape the people's fat and ointment, let you go today, and someone will naturally deal with you in the future. Chen Wenqing put away the peachwood sword and said, "Senior brother, let's go!" After saying that, the three of them left the county office angrily.

At this time, the three of them stood under the eaves, looking at the pouring rain in the sky, Li Youcai asked: "Senior brother, Qu County's order does not cooperate, what should we do now?" ”

Chen Wenqing said: "This dog official is simply stupid to wishfully put the safety of a county on a bad animal. It seems that the only way to do this now is to go to Poyang County Chenghuang to discuss. ”

When Li Youcai heard this, he was silent for a while and said, "Senior brother, there is one thing you don't know, there is no Chenghuang in Poyang County now. Five years ago, the Poyang River God cast a spell, and it rained heavily for a month in a row, causing the water to flood the City God, and finally killed all the Poyang City God Yin God. Since then, Poyang County has no Yin God to protect it, and the Poyang River God is so flying and lawless. ”

"What? Even Chenghuang is no match for the evil beast? Chen Wenqing was shocked and said, "It seems that this matter really has to be discussed in the long run, otherwise it may really plunge Poyang County into a catastrophe if you are not careful." ”

Chen Wenqing frowned, his heart turned sharply, and he asked, "Senior brother, do you know what that demon is cultivating now?" ”

"I heard that this demon is already the peak of the second-grade spirit demon realm, and if you go further, you can reach the first-grade. The body of the giant beetle has a tendency to turn into a dragon, and the scale armor is like copper skin and iron bones, which are invulnerable to water and fire, and are extremely difficult to deal with. ”

"I see, no wonder there is so much fearlessness. In this way, unless there are monks in the Jindan stage who are willing to help, it will not be so easy for a few of us and others to deal with this demon. ”

"All of a sudden, where to find Brother Jindan? Even if there is a Jindan monk, he may not dare to offend Laoshan Dong Tianshi. After all, when you reach the realm of Heavenly Master, you can already compare to immortals. ”

Li Youcai said in a low voice, suddenly patted his head and said, "Oops! I suddenly remembered that I might be able to get rid of this demon! ”

"I remember that there was a Confucian Taoist in Poyang County, and his ancestors handed down a dragon sword. His ancestor Wei Hui once held this sword in his hand and slain the dragon in his dream. The Dragon Slayer Sword is stained with the blood of a true dragon, and it is a sword that can kill even a true dragon. It should be easy to deal with an untransformed dragon. If you can borrow this sword, you may be able to gather and kill this demon. ”

Li Youcai thought about it, looked sad, and said: "It's just that Wei Zheng is a well-known old stubborn, if you want to lend this sword, I'm afraid it will be extremely difficult!" ”

Chen Wenqing's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he asked, "Oh, do you know where the Wei family lives?" Without further ado, we'll go over and visit. ”

"I heard that Wei Zheng lived at the foot of the southern foot of Fuyun Mountain in Poyang County."

"Good! Let's go and visit everyone in Wei now! Chen Wenqing said immediately.

"On this trip, no matter what, you must also borrow the Dragon Slaying Sword!"