Guarding the Prison for 100 Years, I Emerge to Overwhelm the Demon Venerable

"Prime Minister, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

Jiang Guanshui asked, his expression somewhat peculiar.

When he first read the memorial, he too found it incredible. He felt its contents were nothing but nonsense, not to be taken seriously.

After all, since leaving prison and regaining his freedom, Jiang Guanshui had read numerous classics, both ancient and modern, and was well aware of the many plights facing the Great Xia Dynasty.

Aside from the incursions of Demon Fiends and the rampages of Demonic Forces, the thousand-li stretch of scorched earth in Great Xia’s north had always been a persistent affliction, impossible to cure.

Legend had it that in years past, northern Great Xia had a thriving fishing industry, lush aquatic grasses, and countless spectacular sights, a truly dazzling landscape.

But one day, not long after the previous emperor ascended the throne, fire rained down from the sky upon northern Great Xia. It was as if a great sun had fallen, scorching a thousand li!

In an instant, many waterways evaporated completely. Vegetation was incinerated into ash, fish turned into desiccated husks, and the common people suffered innumerable casualties.

Ever since, no matter how hard the previous emperor tried, he could not change the fact that northern Great Xia had become a thousand-li wasteland of scorched earth, a reality that persists to this day.

Yet this memorial claimed that a single, sudden downpour had solved this deep-seated affliction of Great Xia, a problem that had persisted for centuries!

Anyone who heard it would dismiss it as a joke.

"Hmm..."

After finishing the memorial, Chancellor Chen’s gaze lingered on the signatory at the bottom: a man named Zhang Linzheng.

He mulled it over for a moment before speaking. "The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue is an upright man. His conduct is incorruptible, and he never resorts to deception."

"Even during His Majesty’s meticulous internal purges, no trace of corruption was ever found on him."

"Therefore, this old minister speculates that this matter is most likely true!"

"Prime Minister, do Immortal Gods truly exist in this world?"

Jiang Guanshui was taken aback and couldn’t help but ask.

"They do!"

To his surprise, however, Chancellor Chen seemed to know something. Without much hesitation, he replied with a solemn expression.

Jiang Guanshui was filled with questions and was about to press further, but Chancellor Chen cut straight to the point. "Ninth Prince, this old minister believes the matter of constructing the statue and temple should be approved!"

"Then let it be as the Prime Minister says."

Jiang Guanshui knew when to press and when to yield. His gaze shifted, and he didn’t bring up the topic again, simply smiling as he spoke.

...

Early in the morning, the usual chorus of vendors’ cries in the Imperial City was somewhat diminished.

And ever since the flood, the fervor of people flocking to Peach Blossom Lane to buy tofu had also died down considerably.

Many people still came, but it was no longer as bustling as it once was.

Su Bai had just entered Peach Blossom Lane, looking forward to a delicious meal, when he saw a man and a woman in a tussle at the entrance of the tofu shop.

The woman was, of course, the famed Tofu Beauty from Xiangniang’s Tofu Shop.

The man was a portly, middle-aged man, dressed luxuriously. He looked like a wealthy merchant.

"My dear Xiangniang! Just come away with me!"

"I’ve already bought a grand villa in the eastern Imperial City, large enough for a hundred people! If you just come with me, you’ll have servants to wait on you hand and foot. Isn’t that better than selling tofu here?"

"Master Chen! If you continue to pester me, I will report you to the authorities!"

The portly, middle-aged man pleaded desperately, but Xiangniang just glared at him with cold fury.

Su Bai glanced over, but was about to look away and go on with his meal.

Unexpectedly, however, Xiangniang spotted him. Her eyes lit up, and she quickly waved him over. "Lord Su! Lord Su, what brings you here?"

Su Bai’s brow furrowed slightly. ’Something feels off.’

He studied the woman intently but couldn’t spot anything wrong.

’How strange.’

But she was clearly in a difficult situation, and since he was wearing an official’s robe, it wouldn’t be right for him to ignore it.

Adopting a more serious expression, Su Bai strode forward.

"Lord Su? Which lord would that be?"

Master Chen eyed Su Bai suspiciously.

Before Su Bai could answer, Xiangniang spoke for him. "Lord Su is the Director of the Prison and Hell Suppressing Mansion! The entire prison is under his authority!"

"The Prison Suppression Bureau... a prison..."

The moment Master Chen heard those words, the color drained from his face. He said nothing more, simply giving Su Bai a quick salute with cupped hands before scurrying away.

Watching Master Chen depart, Xiangniang finally heaved a sigh of relief.

"Lord Su, I never properly thanked you for driving off those hooligans for me before, and now I’ve had to trouble you again..."

"It’s nothing."

Su Bai studied her for a moment, then smiled and waved his hand dismissively. As he turned to leave, an imperceptible silver gleam flashed from his fingertip.

Watching Su Bai’s retreating figure, Xiangniang hummed a little tune and went back into her tofu shop.

Inside, an old woman who had been grinding beans with a millstone stood up.

She wiped her powerful right hand on her apron and said in a low voice, "Saintess, I’ll go take care of that Chen fellow right now!"

"There’s no need to make a scene. Just take off his two arms."

Xiangniang didn’t even look up, still focused on her work. A smile touched her lips. "That Chen fellow actually did me a favor today. He allowed me to run into the Saint Heir again."

As she said this, a demonic glint flashed in her eyes. "It’s just that this generation’s Saint Heir seems... rather special."

After a moment of contemplation, she spoke with a solemn expression.

"Elder Yin!"

"Your servant is here!"

"In three days, we will depart for the Soul-devouring Demon Sect. I must meet with the Old Ancestor in person!"

"Yes! Saintess!"

...

After leaving Peach Blossom Lane, Su Bai walked down the street, thinking to himself.

’That woman is not simple. A mysterious aura seems to cling to her. For her to get so close to me... her motives must be significant.’

’But it doesn’t matter. I’ve already left a strand of my Divine Thoughts on her to observe her surroundings.’

’Perhaps this strand of Divine Thoughts will prove to be very useful later on...’

Lost in his thoughts, Su Bai suddenly spotted Zhang Wei, dressed in the robes of the Prison Suppression Bureau, emerging from Fuyuan Pavilion with a box of pastries.

The two met, exchanged a few words, and then started walking in the direction of the prison.

...

Meanwhile, on the street, an old man sat slumped on the ground, begging.

"Thank you... thank you..."

He kowtowed deeply to every passerby who tossed him money, his head touching the ground as he thanked them incessantly.

His white hair was a tangled mess, caked with foul-smelling mud, and flies buzzed around him.

His strikingly peculiar blue eyes stood out, and his ancient, weathered face was etched with deep lines carved by the passage of time.

CLINK!

At that moment, someone tossed a piece of broken silver into his chipped bowl.

"Thank you... thank you!"

The old man kowtowed repeatedly, but the person quickly helped him up, gesturing for him to stop.

Only after the old man’s figure had faded into the distance...

Su Bai finally asked with a smile, "That was probably your whole month’s salary, wasn’t it?"

"Why’d you give it all to him without a second thought?"

Zhang Wei answered without hesitation, "When he gave his thanks, his words were so earnest and sincere. He kowtowed deeply to everyone who gave him money. He didn’t seem like a professional beggar just trying to win pity."

"I figured he must have his own troubles he can’t speak of."

"We’re all human. If you can help a little, you should."

Zhang Wei grinned, then added nonchalantly.

"Besides, it was only a month’s salary."

"Once it’s given, it’s given."

"Worst case, if I run out of money, I’ll just go ask my old man for some more!"

’Unbelievable!’

’A professional at mooching off your dad, are you?!’

"You punk!"

Su Bai chuckled and patted his shoulder.

The two of them bantered back and forth as they strode toward the prison.

Just before they left, a wisp of silver light emanated from Su Bai’s fingertip, wrapping around a tael or two of broken silver and discreetly dropping it into the old man’s bowl.

...

"It’s enough... it’s enough!"

An hour later, the old man stared at the broken silver and copper coins in his chipped bowl, his eyes overflowing with delighted surprise.

He scrambled to his feet and stumbled toward Fuyuan Pavilion, muttering something under his breath, his eyes filled with memories and a gentle light.

When he reached the entrance of Fuyuan Pavilion, he was stunned to find that the pavilion had just closed for the day due to some unforeseen circumstances.

His eyes went dull. The old man slumped to the ground, hugging his knees with his head bowed low.

The morning sunlight fell upon him, making him look like an old wolf on the verge of death.

An unknown amount of time passed.

"What are you doing sitting here?"

A waiter who had just finished tidying up pushed the door open from the inside. He paused, startled, then looked down and asked.

The old man’s head snapped up, his face filled with fervent hope. "I need to buy a box of pastries!"

His tone was earnest, almost a plea. Perhaps due to his frailty, he was gasping for breath as he spoke.

"I’m sorry, sir, but something came up. We’re already closed!"

The waiter said with a helpless, furrowed brow.

Then he added, "You can come back tomorrow."

The old man held up his chipped bowl high. Bathed in the sunlight, he tilted his head back, his chest heaving as he gasped, "I need the pastries today."

"Son, I’m begging you!"

He stared up at the waiter with wide, azure eyes, his lips slightly parted and his face trembling.

The waiter’s brow tightened. He shook his head, looking away from the old man.

He pressed his lips together, his heart torn.

...

「At dusk, on a deserted mountain.」

The old man placed the exquisite pastries before a half-eroded, greenish-blue stele.

He slowly sat down, his gaze fixed upon the stele.

The light of the setting sun rained down, bathing his white hair in its glow.

After a long while, he closed his eyes and spoke, his voice gentle and serene.

"Happy birthday, my wife."