After finishing their meal on the way back to their residence, Wang Qingxuan asked, "Chen Ge, how are things with the Zhongyuan Festival?" Chen Xuanze knew that the Taoist priest was asking about the matter concerning Qingshen Tianzhu.

Shaking his head, he replied, "Haven't heard any news, it's a bit unusual. Anyway, don't worry about it. You just arrived and coincidentally encountered Muxiu, so enjoy yourself quietly."

Before he could even reach his room, someone approached Chen Xuanze, General Li Gou. "Xuanze, pack up tonight, assemble at the vacant space near the north gate tomorrow morning, and don't forget to bring the newcomer."

Chen Xuanze knew this was about a mission, "Leader, what's the task this time?"

"In the area ninety miles northwest of Kyoto, in Qinghe County, there have been reports of domesticated animals turning into monsters. From what we know, the monster's cultivation is not high. Our team needs to make a trip."

After briefly explaining the mission, Li Gou hurriedly left to inform others. The methods of the exorcists' physicians were quite effective. In just a few days, Li Gou's sprained foot had completely recovered, and he was walking briskly.

Chen Xuanze felt that something was not right. It was almost the Zhongyuan Festival, and the team responsible for patrolling the city, the Huangzi Group, was sent on a mission. At this timing, it seemed a bit too coincidental.

Next, it depended on whether other groups had missions as well. If most of the Huangzi Group was sent out, it meant something would definitely happen in Kyoto.

Qianhu Xiao Zhuo of the Xuan Er group had already returned to the Exorcism Bureau yesterday. After reporting the situation of the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts, he immediately set off south with the members of the Xuan Er group. They were going to guard the Yellow Springs Road.

Chen Xuanze did not know how the aftermath of the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts would be handled, so he planned to find out from Li Gou later.

Early the next day, just as the sky was getting light, the seven old members and six new members of the Huang Er Group led by Li Gou gathered in the vacant space behind the north gate of the Exorcism Bureau. Li Gou led the group towards the east gate.

This was also a rule of the Exorcism Bureau; no matter where the mission was located, they had to leave the city through the east gate.

Chen Xuanze had asked about the reason for this rule before, but no one could give a clear explanation. All they knew was that since the Exorcism Bureau appeared in Kyoto, the city had never been destroyed by war.

It was said to be related to the Exorcism Bureau starting missions from the east gate.

After leaving the east gate, they detoured outside the north city.

On the way, Chen Xuanze quietly approached Li Gou and asked, "Leader, I heard that Lord Xiao and the others have returned. Any news?"

Li Gou remained silent for a moment before whispering, "It is said that the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts was not naturally occurring. Lord Xiao carefully investigated Dahuitree Village and found no conditions for the formation of the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts. Moreover, the nearest Yellow Springs Road is controlled by our Exorcism Bureau. I heard that someone is causing trouble, using Dahuitree Village's Feng Shui to raise Rakshasas."

Even Li Gou was not clear about the details, as if there was an invisible hand manipulating everything.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Starting from the chaotic graveyard east of Kyoto, to the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts, and then the sudden increase in demons and monsters within Kyoto, it all exuded an ominous aura.

There was a place in the north outside the city, known as the Beast Walk, covering a considerable area.

As they passed by this place, Li Gou asked everyone to wait for a moment and pulled Chen Xuanze along with him as they entered.窗体顶端

It turned out that Li Gou wanted to buy a mount because it was too exhausting to travel tens or hundreds of miles every time on a mission. Being unable to afford a high-quality horse, he was reluctant to spend the money. Unlike Chen Xuanze, Li Gou was twenty-five years old and already married with children. His family was currently living outside the east gate of Kyoto, not far from the house where Chen Xuanze killed the rat demon shopkeeper.

As for why they didn't own property within the inner city, it was said to be a rule set by Lord Wang, the pacifier. To avoid deep involvement between the personnel of the Exorcism Bureau and the court, the subordinates of the Exorcism Bureau were not allowed to own property within Kyoto.

This requirement wasn't too strict. It only meant not buying houses, and they didn't interfere if family members engaged in business within the inner city.

The Beast Walk was in a dilapidated state, filled with mud as they entered. This place was said to be the property of Prince Ning. By managing a piece of vacant land, assigning a shopkeeper, a few accountants, and a dozen strong men, they sustained this place.

Despite its rundown appearance, within a fifty-mile radius of Kyoto, this was the only place for trading horses, cattle, and sheep.

Others could also do this business, but being able to dominate it for a month, that was the capability of Prince Ning!

This was Li Gou's first time here, and he brought Chen Xuanze mainly because he valued Chen Xuanze's shrewdness. Perhaps bargaining with him could be beneficial.

Both of them wore exorcist uniforms with Tree Demon Core pendants hanging from their waists. The difference was that Li Gou's pendant had three copper coins below it, while Chen Xuanze had only one.

Shortly after entering, someone came to greet them for business—a short, dark-skinned young man wearing coarse linen clothes and a round-topped hat approached them: "Gentlemen, what are you interested in? Poultry, livestock, or exotic beasts and birds?"

Li Gou remained silent, while Chen Xuanze, with a good-natured smile, said, "Young man, show us some horses. Thank you for your hard work!"

Saying this, he handed over seven or eight copper coins.

This dark and chubby young man, known as a "Zike" in Da Liang, played this role in many places. His main responsibility was to attract customers for the boss and earn some silver coins.

When encountering generous customers, like Chen Xuanze, who gave a tip, it could constitute their entire income.

Don't underestimate this profession. It relied on keen eyesight and good interpersonal skills. Those who did well could earn three or four taels of silver in a month, a substantial amount for a family of four to live a good life.

Take this chubby dark guy, for example. When Chen Xuanze and Li Gou entered, the Zike, who was hiding in the shade, didn't approach them. He felt that these two guys in black linen robes didn't seem like they could afford high-quality horses.

Buying chickens and ducks was money that they didn't bother to earn.

The chubby dark guy had sharp eyes and realized that these two were not ordinary people. Ordinary households wouldn't have such tall figures. Looking at their attire, although it was coarse linen, the cut and accessories indicated that they had a background. The accessory at their waist, made of an unknown material, was very likely a waist badge from some unknown government office.

He immediately led the two towards a horse stall.

The owner of this stall had come from the grasslands and had some good horses. If these two couldn't afford it, there was the Southwest vendor's stall to try; the horses there were cheaper.

If that still didn't work, he would show them cows, donkeys, and mules. With this money, he would make a good profit on Black Friday.

Li Gou and Chen Xuanze followed the chubby dark guy, nicknamed Black Friday, chatting as they walked. They had already figured out that this guy knew a lot about the entire Beast Walk. He had his own way of talking about the origin and taming of various types of horses, regardless of whether it was accurate. When spoken confidently, it sounded plausible.

Before long, they arrived at a stall called "Cha Bu," where the shopkeeper had slightly graying hair but had a head full of curls. Judging by the shopkeeper's attire, he also had some influence in the Beast Walk.

Dressed in luxurious satin and silk, clearly Da Liang fashion, he had a curved knife hanging from his waist. The scabbard was made of white animal skin, inlaid with several variously colored gems. It wasn't an ordinary item; such a scabbard wouldn't be priced below a few hundred taels of silver.