Chapter 110 What is He Trying to Do?

"What is he trying to do?"

The Meng family's eldest son was already greatly shaken when he saw the death of the Guanzhou Prefect and the strange changes in Guanzhou.

However, he knew what was important. Now that things had failed, getting angry was useless. Therefore, he acted with decorum. He didn't expect the other party's business wasn't finished yet. He was puzzled, and the smile on his face was about to crack.

However, Hu Ma ignored him. After letting go, the *zhenchui* *ji jin jian* (demon-suppressing golden mace) still stood upright, but as he waved his sleeve, the nine copper rings on the mace gradually rotated and collided, making a heavy, hoarse clanging sound.

Even the *bi'an* (a mythical beast) patterns on it seemed to come to life. A gloomy, baleful aura instantly spread out, hazy and vast. The shadow of the Zhenchui Bureau was almost clearly visible, appearing before everyone.

In the eyes of others, although the Zhenchui Bureau was illusory, it felt incredibly heavy and tall. Even the Meng family's ceremonial tent was completely overshadowed by the Zhenchui Bureau, looking like its vassal.

In reality, however, Hu Ma was simply standing on the altar. The *ji jin jian* touched the ground, creating an altar on the spot without needing any ritual objects, drawing in rolling waves of magic power.

Very few people present could clearly see the true situation. They could only let their souls fly up uncontrollably, dazed, as if they saw Hu Ma enter the Zhenchui Bureau, sitting high behind the desk, and taking out another command talisman, throwing it on the ground. The sound was heavy, shaking people's hearts:

"To inquire about matters, proclaim the Zhenchui Bureau's edict!"

"..."

Listening to these words, Zhang Agu was trembling with excitement.

She was a *da zou gui* (great ghost runner), with inherited skills and knowledge. She was naturally familiar with the Zhenchui Bureau's edict. When she was forced by the Five Fiend Evil Ghosts, she had once recited the Zhenchui Bureau's edict to suppress them.

Any *zou gui* (ghost runner) with a lineage knew the importance of the Zhenchui Bureau's edict. It was another great skill of the *zou gui* tradition besides inviting gods. Calling it an edict meant that once it was recited, it became a curse.

Now, she naturally understood what the master of the Zhenchui Bureau wanted her to proclaim the edict for. Both surprised and delighted, she braced herself and shouted: "Life and death are divided by the boundary of yin and yang. Ghosts, demons, and monsters must abide by the rules. The Zhenchui Bureau issues edicts; punishments and rewards are impartial."

"Now that the Zhenchui Bureau's order is here, heaven and earth, the netherworld, and the Yellow Springs must each keep to their boundaries, not violating yin and yang. Those who cause chaos will be arrested and punished without mercy."

"Edict One: *Huanghun Fenjie* (Twilight Boundary) is the limit, yin and yang are separated, living beings and evil spirits each go their own way."

"Edict Two: Karmic debts and legal punishments, grievances can be appealed, evil deeds cannot be escaped."

"Edict Three: The world of the living, the mansion of the dead..."

"..."

One by one, line by line, she recited them in official language, struggling to speak clearly. These rules and laws, which had long disappeared from the world, entered people's ears word by word.

Now, in Mingzhou, countless *zou gui* were setting up altars, and monsters were obeying orders. Therefore, her voice was transmitted to altars everywhere and into the ears and hearts of all kinds of monsters and evil spirits.

For a time, the candles on the *zou gui's* altars were burning fiercely, and the smoke from the incense in front of the altars rose straight up like arrows, reaching the sky.

And those monsters and wronged ghosts were trembling, their hearts filled with fear. They even felt that the sun in the sky had become brighter, making them uncomfortable, and they wished they could hide immediately. However, because they were still obeying orders, they could endure it for the time being.

This commotion, which covered the vast area of Mingzhou, naturally alarmed countless people. They suddenly understood what this noble Hu family member was doing and were frightened:

"That's right, that's right..."

"This is the most important thing about reopening the Zhenchui Bureau..."

"He... he is telling the people, ghosts, demons, and monsters under heaven: the Zhenchui Bureau is open, the *zou gui's* home has returned, and so..."

"...the rules have returned as well!"

"..."

"What a joke!"

At the same time, on the entire battlefield, countless people, whether they were hungry ghosts or the Grain Protection Army, were suppressed by the woman's voice and fell to their knees, their legs weak.

Because they were kneeling not to a person, but to the rules, even Hu Ma didn't stop them. But this momentum first made the Meng family's young master unable to hold on. His palms were trembling, and for a moment, it seemed like he wanted to laugh angrily:

"You just said that you violated all the rules, causing chaos in Mingzhou, and now you want to talk about the rules yourself?"

"..."

But as if sensing his thoughts, before the Meng family's young master could speak, the figure in the hall of the Zhenchui Bureau suddenly glanced at him coldly.

This glance startled the Meng family's young master, and he guarded himself. Then, he heard Hu Ma in the hall slowly say, "Under the Zhenchui Bureau's order, no one can escape, even the demons and monsters of Mingzhou."

"Now, Mingzhou has suffered a calamity, and the people have suffered greatly. Even ghosts and gods can hardly bear it. Although expediency is necessary in an emergency, hungry ghosts are also living beings, and ghosts, gods, demons, and monsters must not violate them. Every life has its due!"

"..."

These words were like a thunderclap, frightening countless demons and monsters. "We just knew it wouldn't be easy to get a meal with these noble lords. They get the good stuff, and we get the blame, huh?"

"This matter isn't over yet, and they're already crossing the river and tearing down the bridge?"

"..."

And the Heavenly Fate General, who was deeply lost in confusion, trembled slightly when he heard these words, looking at the altar with some disbelief. His eyes were filled with strangeness: "Living beings... living beings... in Mingzhou, are there really people who still think of us as living beings?"

"However, I have the Seven Kill Order first, and the affairs of Mingzhou are all on my shoulders."

Amidst countless surprised and puzzled gazes, Hu Ma sat high on the platform and announced in a low voice, "Heaven and earth, ghosts and gods, whatever you see, do not be merciful. Karmic retribution, I will accept it calmly..."

"..."

"Ah?"

These words were like another thunderbolt, startling everyone to look up blankly. Now, the noble Hu family member was on the altar. The altar was the closest place to heaven and earth, ghosts and gods. Was he really not afraid of attracting something by saying such things?

The Meng family's eldest son was even more surprised and exclaimed, "You really dare to bear this sin? Do you know that you cannot escape this kind of sin!"

"Don't think it's just empty words. With such netherworld sins on your back, it will be difficult to eliminate them in heaven and earth. Just wait and see when the Impermanence Li family comes looking for you!"

Clearly, the other party had done something wrong, and he should be happy, but seeing what he did, he couldn't understand it. Instead, he felt a sense of panic.

Hu Ma only glanced at him coldly from the altar and said coldly, "If it is a sin, then it should not be escaped!"

"Even I am no exception."

"..."

Immediately, he raised his eyes and looked into the distance from the altar. His voice reverberated, spreading throughout the fields through the altars in various places: "Those who have committed sins will be punished, and those who have made contributions must also be rewarded."

"Those who protect the lives of the people, the Grain Protection Army, those who have done good to the living should receive incense. Now, by the order of the Zhenchui Bureau, those who hold the Seven Kill Order and have contributed to the people, those who are willing to serve can enter the Zhenchui Bureau as officials, and those who wish to protect the peace of one area can build temples to protect their blessings."

"..."

"Wow!"

Only when these words were spoken did an astonishing commotion suddenly erupt in various parts of Mingzhou. Countless monsters couldn't believe their ears.

They had just been worried about being discarded after their usefulness was over, but now they suddenly received this promise. The shock and joy were too great.

"Build temples, build temples..."

In Niujiawan, an old turtle floated to the surface of the water. Under the sun, its shell was as big as a millstone. Its voice was full of surprise: "Really building temples?"

"...Isn't this another scam?"

"..."

In other places, the wind blew through the mountains and forests, branches swayed and leaves rustled, foxes howled and raccoon laughed. Truly, demons and monsters were reveling everywhere.

"...Crazy?"

As for the Meng family's eldest son next to him, who was forced to attend the Zhenchui Bureau's ceremony, his expression had long been strained. When it came to distributing incense orders, the Meng family was unparalleled, issuing them everywhere, to who knows how many.

But the key was that even the Meng family didn't issue them like this. Did he think they were cabbages?

If the Hu family started this precedent, making it so easy to build temples, then what would happen to those that the Meng family had issued before?

It was only because the Zhenchui Bureau had just been established that he was only issuing this order in Mingzhou. Otherwise, not to mention himself, even the adults in his family would probably not be able to sit still. He still didn't forget to remind himself to be dignified, but how could he still smile?

"Punishment for sins and rewards for merits are both deserved."

But he didn't expect that Hu Ma hadn't finished speaking. Sitting high in the Zhenchui Bureau, he turned his gaze to one person and said in a deep voice, "Those who are guilty will be punished, those who have made contributions will be rewarded, and those who have been wronged can also appeal to the Bureau. As the master of the Zhenchui Bureau, I stand this *jian* (mace) here. Even if I am crushed to pieces, I will seek justice for you!"

"Wronged? What wrong?"

Hearing this sentence out of the blue, others couldn't understand it and even felt it was a bit sudden.

Unexpectedly, there was also a person in the crowd who looked like a fool, with a dazed and confused expression, almost forgotten by everyone, but his body suddenly trembled when he heard this sentence.

Ever since he heard Hu Ma's earlier words to him, he had been somewhat at a loss, caught in endless self-doubt. Now, when he heard that the Zhenchui Bureau also recognized the hungry ghosts of Guanzhou as living beings, he was already touched. Now, he was even more invigorated.

The resentment, unwillingness, anger, and the various complex emotions that had been suppressed in his heart for a long time, all surged up at this moment.

Suddenly, he seemed to have made countless decisions. He took a big step forward towards the *zhenchui ji jin jian* standing on the ground and knelt down slowly and resolutely.

He shouted, "I have a grievance!"

"I... I am not for myself. I am only for the people of Guanzhou. I have always been disciplined and followed the rules, but I encountered natural disasters, man-made disasters, and the deception of ghosts and gods, and starved to death. I want to file a lawsuit on their behalf!"

"..."

"You..."

The surroundings became quiet in an instant. The Meng family's eldest son's face suddenly changed, in disbelief.

And in the altar, or rather, in the Zhenchui Bureau in the eyes of others, Hu Ma slowly bent down, looked at the Heavenly Fate General kneeling in front of him, and said in a deep voice, "You need to understand that the sin of Guanzhou eating people and attracting ghosts is unforgivable."

The Heavenly Fate General's face was sorrowful and said, "The sins of Mingzhou are unforgivable, let alone Guanzhou? Let alone me?"

"But I only want to file this lawsuit. If you dare to accept it, then come and chop off my head!"

"..."

Hu Ma's face darkened, and he looked at him coldly, and said, "Okay, I promise you, I promise the people of Guanzhou, you write a letter, I will accept your lawsuit, and then chop off your head!"