Chapter 54: The Flying Head Monster

"A wicked monk?"

Su Ze frowned. Why were there so many bizarre cases in Bianjing City? Just as the Heretical Book Case came to an end, a wicked monk case popped up.

Yang Zhi said, "This Bureau of Palace Buildings has a tract of public rental housing in Jixiang Alley, located in the west ward of Bianjing City. Because this area is very close to the Southern Office, the people renting houses here are basically officials working in the Southern Office."

Yang Zhi glanced at Su Ze and added, "These are probably the finest batch of houses belonging to the Bureau of Palace Buildings."

"Naturally, nobody is willing to give up such fine houses. Some of these properties have even been continuously leased across two generations, from father to son."

"However, last month, many tenants in Jixiang Alley went to the Bureau of Palace Buildings to terminate their leases."

Su Ze had not yet assumed his post and was unaware of these matters, so he listened attentively to Yang Zhi's narrative.

Yang Zhi said, "Naturally, this matter caught the attention of the revenue-collecting bailiffs on duty. When they questioned those who were terminating their leases, they learned that strange, demonic occurrences had broken out in Jixiang Alley."

"Demonic occurrences?"

Everyone showed interest, and even the young boy Zeng Bu's eyes lit up.

There was no help for it; aside from affairs of state and the realm, legends of gods, ghosts, and demons were the topics that most fascinated scholars.

True to being the top scholar of the current imperial examination, Yang Zhi was a top-tier storyteller. He continued:

"It is said that two months ago, a wicked monk came to Jixiang Alley. This monk knocked on every door, demanding alms from the residents—and what he demanded were precisely the precious objects they had hidden away in their homes."

Wang Anshi asked doubtfully, "Since these were hidden items, how did the wicked monk find out about them?"

Yang Zhi replied, "That is precisely the uncanny and bizarre nature of this wicked monk. These items were treasured heirlooms in each household, some passed down through generations and never lightly shown to others. Yet the wicked monk knew about all of them, and could even name the exact hiding places where they kept the treasures."

Everyone drew a sharp breath. Heard this way, he truly sounded like a wicked monk.

Su Ze asked, "Even if that were all, it wouldn't be enough to make people pack up and move, would it?"

Living in Bianjing City was immensely difficult; having managed to rent public housing from the Bureau of Palace Buildings, who would willingly give it up so easily?

Yang Zhi continued, "If it were only the wicked monk knocking on doors, it wouldn't have led to people moving away. But a month ago, many residents in Jixiang Alley went to the Kaifeng Prefecture to file a report, claiming that their household valuables had been stolen."

Han Jiang frowned and asked, "Was that done by the wicked monk?"

Yang Zhi shook his head and said, "Yes, and no."

Without dragging out the suspense, he went on:

"Many people saw the mastermind behind the stolen valuables, but it wasn't that wicked monk—it was the wicked monk's head."

"A head?"

Yang Zhi took a sip of wine and said, "It was a flying monk's head, flying right out of the houses in Jixiang Alley where valuables had gone missing! And the face of that flying head was none other than the wicked monk who had visited the residents of Jixiang Alley demanding wealth!"

At this, everyone was somewhat startled. Zeng Bu, still just a young boy, took two steps back, covered his ears with his hands, and dared not listen any further.

Wang Anshi, widely read and possessed of a prodigious memory, frowned and said, "Could it be the 'flying-head barbarians' mentioned in Tang Dynasty anecdotal notes?"

Recalling the reference, Su Ze also asked, "The *Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang* records that west of the Five Ridges, there is an alien tribe whose heads can fly, known as the 'flying-head barbarians.' In the household of Zhu Huan, a high-ranking minister of the Wu state during the Three Kingdoms period, there was a maidservant who could detach her head from her body and fly around."

Yang Zhi looked at Wang Anshi and Su Ze in admiration and said, "Brother Wang and Brother Su are truly extraordinary to actually know of these flying-head barbarians. It is said that the bailiffs of Kaifeng Prefecture searched through ancient texts before finding the record, but even the *Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang* does not record how to deal with this monster."

"The tenants in Jixiang Alley had no choice but to terminate their leases."

Wang Anshi asked with curiosity, "What happened next?"

"Later, Kaifeng Prefecture also dispatched bailiffs and runners to Jixiang Alley. Some people witnessed the flying-head barbarian with their own eyes, and the matter reached Guo, the acting prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture. Prefect Guo memorialized the Emperor, requesting the high monks of the Daxiangguo Temple to go to Jixiang Alley and chant Buddhist scriptures, which finally managed to suppress the flying-head barbarian."

By this point, the story had concluded. Everyone still felt a lingering sense of fascination, and the group drifted into a wide-ranging conversation spanning north and south.

Today in Wang Anshi's courtyard, the top four scholars of the current imperial examination were all present. Zeng Cong was also one of the famed Eight Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties of later generations, and coupled with a time-traveler like Su Ze, every topic discussed was vivid and engaging.

Young Zeng Bu and Wang Anshi's younger brothers listened with rapt attention, completely enthralled.

As evening approached, Su Ze suddenly said, "Today's gathering has been utterly delightful. Might I ask you gentlemen to leave behind your calligraphy and brushwork? I intend to hire artisans to carve printing blocks and bind them into a volume, which I will have published and delivered to each of your esteemed residences."

It was customary for refined scholars attending literary gatherings to leave behind anthologies of their work. For instance, Wang Xizhi's *Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection* was an essay written for the Orchid Pavilion gathering.

Su Ze's proposal was standard practice for gatherings of cultured literati, and since Su Ze was handling the printing arrangements, everyone readily agreed.

Su Ze drew out some paper from his breast pocket, and Wang Anshi had his younger brother fetch ink and brushes. Everyone recorded the interesting moments of today's gathering on the paper.

When the ink had thoroughly dried, Su Ze gathered what everyone had written and duly heard the voice of the guiding spirit:

[Literary Qi detected. Absorb or not?]

This trip had truly not been in vain!

It was only a pity that it was exceedingly difficult to assemble such a high-caliber gathering.

Wang Anshi and the other three were newly minted imperial scholars with manifold official duties, and Zeng Cong also had to follow Ouyang Xiu to study.

Before long, Su Ze would also have to report for duty at the Bureau of Palace Buildings. Officials in the Song Dynasty only received days off at the end of every ten-day cycle, meaning they could only rest three days a month—even more disrespectful to labor laws than the modern "996" work schedule.

Moreover, there were numerous censorate officials in Bianjing City; long-term absenteeism would lead to impeachment. This was precisely why many officials preferred to hold posts outside Bianjing—life was carefree out in the provinces!

Otherwise, how could Su Dongpo "lead a yellow dog on the left and bear a falcon on the right," hunting during working hours?

After another bout of joyous merrymaking, the company finally parted ways with mutual reluctance.

Su Ze rode his horse back to Zhang Yaozuo's residence. He originally intended to sneak in through the back gate, but to his surprise, the front of the mansion was brightly lit.

Zhang Yaozuo, dressed in full official robes, stood before the manor, preparing to board his carriage.

Catching sight of Su Ze, Zhang Yaozuo hastily instructed his personal attendants to call him over.

Su Ze was somewhat puzzled. Zhang Yaozuo's post as Controller of the Dengwen Drum was an elevated yet idle sinecure. For the past month, he had always clocked in punctually and never worked overtime; why was he heading out in the middle of the night?

If he were attending a banquet, it would be impossible to wear official robes.

Seeing Su Ze, Zhang Yaozuo said, "A demonic disturbance has broken out at the Southern Office, and the Emperor has summoned me to the palace. Return to the manor immediately and go out less often over these next few nights. While I am away from the estate, you shall make the decisions regarding matters here."

With those words, Zhang Yaozuo hurried onto his carriage.

A demonic disturbance?

Su Ze recalled the wicked monk Yang Zhi had spoken of earlier today. Could the two events be connected?

Never mind; this seemed to have nothing to do with him anyway. Su Ze strode into the mansion, eager to check his harvest of Literary Qi for the day!