Chapter 14: The Great Demon

Leaving the medical hall, Fang Yue headed straight for the county office.

The streets were in chaos. Vendors hurriedly packed up their stalls, as if disaster was imminent. Some, unaware of the situation, grabbed acquaintances to ask what had happened. Upon learning the truth, their faces changed dramatically, and they rushed home in panic.

The first signs of disorder appeared. The incident had only just occurred, its scope not yet fully spread. Once the news brewed and circulated, the entire county would be plunged into terror.

At such times, it was imperative for the authorities to step forward, calm the public, and quell unrest.

Upon arrival at the county office, Fang Yue announced he was reporting news about Magistrate Hu. The clerk immediately led him to the second hall.

Passing through the main hall and entering the second, Fang Yue found the room bustling. The county’s second-in-command, Assistant Magistrate Zhang, was present, along with Zhao the Constable, who managed security and the militia; Liu the Registrar, in charge of documents and household records; Zeng the Jailer, responsible for arrests and prisoners; Qian the Instructor, caretaker of the county school; and the clerks from the six departments. All the key officials of Ping’an County had gathered here.

“Even Magistrate Hu has been caught up in this. This matter is grave and must be reported to the provincial capital at once.”

“Help from afar cannot quench a fire nearby. With the Wang family manor haunted, we must quickly summon a master from Guangyuan Temple.”

“The people are frightened by rumors of ghosts. If someone seizes this moment to stir trouble, it will be a catastrophe.”

When Fang Yue arrived, these officials were in heated discussion. They had heard the report from the constable who escaped the Wang manor, understood the sequence of events, and were now fearful.

“Gentlemen, this is Scholar Fang—he has news of the magistrate,” the clerk announced.

All the officials paused, turning their attention to Fang Yue. No matter what, the magistrate was the highest authority in the county; all county affairs fell under his purview. With Magistrate Hu’s fate uncertain, this was a serious problem.

“You know Magistrate Hu’s whereabouts? Where is he now?” A stately, broad-shouldered middle-aged official was first to speak.

Fang Yue recognized him as Assistant Magistrate Zhang. In appearance, Zhang far outshone Hu, whose bulging eyes were notorious. Zhang had served as assistant magistrate for over four years—his second term, making him a veteran among the county’s officials. Yet, rank is absolute: with Magistrate Hu in office, Zhang could only act as deputy. Only in Hu’s absence did he briefly take charge, handling county affairs with full authority.

“Magistrate Hu is slightly injured, but nothing serious. He’s resting at Physician Sun’s clinic in the southern part of town. Chief Constable Li is with him,” Fang Yue explained the situation.

Hearing that Magistrate Hu was safe, most officials in the hall breathed a sigh of relief. With such a crisis, having the magistrate return meant at least a pillar of support.

Though Assistant Magistrate Zhang could temporarily manage affairs, he was not the legitimate head of the county.

Fang Yue noticed Zhang’s gaze darken for a moment, ambiguous and inscrutable, but he quickly returned to normal, smiling, “Magistrate Hu is unharmed—that is truly fortunate. I’ll immediately send someone to bring him back from Physician Sun’s clinic. With such a major incident in the county, he must preside over the office and make decisions.”

“Not a benevolent soul,” Fang Yue thought silently, though one cannot judge an official merely by their kindness.

The officials began discussing arrangements: sending someone to fetch Magistrate Hu, inviting a master from Guangyuan Temple to exorcise spirits, and dispatching people to reassure the townsfolk.

Seeing his task complete, Fang Yue prepared to take his leave.

Just then, the clerk who had brought Fang Yue in returned, this time leading a disheveled young monk.

“Gentlemen, please send help for Guangyuan Temple!” The young monk entered, immediately dropping to his knees, tears and snot streaming down his face.

The officials were momentarily stunned, then erupted in uproar.

“What’s happened? Has something occurred at Guangyuan Temple?”

“Is it bandits? Are the masters at the temple safe?”

Moments ago, they’d been discussing summoning a master from Guangyuan Temple to exorcise the Wang manor. Now, it seemed the temple itself was in trouble.

“Everyone, please quiet down!” Assistant Magistrate Zhang raised his voice to quell the commotion, then turned solemnly to the monk. “What exactly happened? What’s going on at Guangyuan Temple? Why have you come to the county office for help?”

The young monk, barely fifteen or sixteen, was covered in dust and bits of grass, one cloth shoe missing, his face dirty and streaked with tears and mucus.

At Zhang’s questioning, terror contorted his youthful face. He sobbed, “It’s a monster! A huge demon suddenly appeared in the temple—several stories tall, eating people everywhere. Several of my uncles and brothers were devoured. The abbot fought the monster, but lost and was eaten too. My master told me to sneak out through the back mountain and come to the county office for help.”

“You little monk, spouting nonsense—several stories tall? I’ve never seen such a creature.”

“I always thought monsters and ghosts were made up in stories and plays, mere rumors. But it turns out they really exist.”

“A monster several stories tall? How enormous must it be? We’re doomed, truly doomed.”

“My God—first the ghosts at the Wang manor wiped out an entire family, and now there’s a monster at Guangyuan Temple eating people. What has the world come to?”

The officials of Ping’an County were thrown into another uproar by the monk’s tale—some disbelieving, some terrified, some shocked—arguing in a cacophony.

…

As Fang Yue walked out of the county office, he mused, “Demons and ghosts rampant—has the nightmare begun to unfold?”

He had only been in this world for two days, barely any time to adjust, and now calamity struck.

“Scholar Fang!”

Hearing someone call from behind, Fang Yue paused. It was the young clerk Li Changhe, whom he had seen earlier in the county office.

Li Changhe hurried over; he had been in the second hall as well, and seeing Fang Yue leave, followed after him. “Scholar Fang, do you know how my fourth uncle is?”

Fang Yue asked in confusion, “Your fourth uncle is…?”

Li Changhe slapped his forehead. “I was so anxious I forgot to explain. My fourth uncle is Chief Constable Li. You mentioned in the hall that he’s at the clinic as well. With all the officials present, I couldn’t ask for details.”

Fang Yue hadn’t realized Chief Constable Li was Li Changhe’s uncle, but as they shared the surname, it wasn’t unusual.

“Chief Constable Li suffered a fright but wasn’t injured. He’s at the clinic, staying with the magistrate. However, several of his deputies didn’t escape from the Wang manor.”

“As long as my uncle is safe…” Li Changhe sighed. “Those deputies are unfortunate.”

Fang Yue didn’t feel their deaths were particularly unjust—they had taken advantage of the chaos, robbing as they guarded, which, if one believes in karma, was a fitting retribution.

Fang Yue asked, “A ghost wiping out a family at the Wang manor, a monster devouring people at Guangyuan Temple—have you ever experienced or heard of such things before?”

Li Changhe shook his head, smiling bitterly. “I’ve heard a few stories, but always from other counties. I thought they were just urban legends. I never imagined they would truly happen before my eyes.”

Fang Yue asked again, “How does the government usually handle such incidents?”

Li Changhe replied, “I don’t really know. I suppose we must wait for the magistrate to return, report to the provincial capital, and let the imperial court handle it. Strange ghosts and monsters, towering several stories tall—it’s unimaginable.”

Fang Yue was silent. This meant the county office was powerless for now, waiting for higher authorities to intervene. Whether the imperial court could truly deal with these creatures remained unknown.