Volume Two: A Troubled Autumn, Twists and Turns Chapter 142: When Things Reach Their Extremes, They Turn the Other Way — Strange Happenings at the Magistrate’s Office-Demons Reign(Red dates soaked with goji berries)

Chen Xin was beginning to panic. Seeing Chen San gasping so violently, she was utterly flustered as well.

“From the look of him, the yang fire is scorching his body. If the yin and yang cannot be brought into harmony, he may well be burned to death,” Yang Chengzi said with a frown.

“The yang fire is scorching his body?” Chang Yu asked in confusion.

“Mm. The yang fire is burning within him. That prescription replenishes and warms the yang fire, so to dispel the heat, we must release that yang fire. That means harmonizing yin and yang.”

The moment Chen San heard the words “harmonizing yin and yang,” he perked up and began writhing again.

“Yes, yes, yes—harmony… Quickly, I’m so hot I’m going to die. It’s unbearable… Harmony.”

“Then how do we harmonize yin and yang?” Chang Yu continued asking.

Yang Chengzi did not answer. He merely looked at Chen Xin.

Chen Xin’s face flushed crimson. She was not stupid; she understood exactly what he meant. When Chang Yu saw Yang Chengzi gazing at Chen Xin, she understood as well and covered her mouth, her face filled with disbelief.

This was truly asking too much of Chen Xin. She had not yet married, and she certainly would not be willing to do such a thing. Although she was destined to marry Chen San sooner or later, still…

Seeing the difficulty written across Chen Xin’s face, Yang Chengzi said, “Girl, think it over carefully. If you decide you can do it, we’ll get another room tonight. Chang Yu and I can sleep somewhere else.”

Chang Yu looked at Yang Chengzi expectantly, her cheeks flushed.

“Why don’t you drink some of Chen San’s medicine too? It seems rather effective.”

Chang Yu’s heated gaze made Yang Chengzi uncomfortable. “Stop fooling around. My qi and blood are abundant, and my yang energy is vigorous. If I drink that stuff, something terrible will happen.”

Chang Yu pouted in disdain. “Hmph. You’re as dull as a block of wood. No fun at all.”

Knowing how troubled Chen Xin was, Chang Yu began persuading her.

“He may be a little too lustful, but your marriage was arranged by your parents. This was bound to happen sooner or later. He’s like this now, so don’t hesitate. If you don’t help him release that heat, something terrible may happen, just as Young Master said.”

“But what if I become pregnant now? What would we do? None of us knows when we’ll be able to return. If I were pregnant…”

Her words left Yang Chengzi and Chang Yu staring at each other in stunned silence. Indeed, what would they do if Chen Xin became pregnant? They would be traveling rough roads and sleeping beneath the open sky. What if she went into labor one day in the wilderness? Who would deliver the child?

They had been so focused on releasing the heat that they had forgotten this entirely. Yang Chengzi slapped his forehead. What a miscalculation…

Chen San was still crying out about the heat. Chen Xin reached over and touched his head. It was like touching a furnace, and she recoiled in fright. At this rate, the question was no longer whether she might become pregnant. He was burning so fiercely that even if he did not die, he might well be left a simpleton.

She finally made up her mind and, breathing heavily, was just about to agree when Yang Chengzi slapped his thigh.

“I’ve got it! Watch him while I ask the innkeeper to prepare bathwater. He says he’s hot, doesn’t he? Put him in cold water and see whether that helps. If it works, girl, you won’t have to sacrifice yourself to this rascal tonight, and he won’t burn to death either.”

Before long, Yang Chengzi returned with two servants. The three of them carried in three buckets of water, and in no time at all the bath was ready.

Yang Chengzi untied the ropes around Chen San’s hands and lowered him into the cold water. Though the prominent bulge below his waist remained stubbornly erect, Chen San soon appeared much more comfortable. His face filled with bliss, and the offending part gradually returned to normal.

Chen Xin and Chang Yu were delighted to see Chen San normal again. The two women whispered to each other, stealing glances at Chen San and Yang Chengzi as they giggled.

Yang Chengzi finally breathed a sigh of relief. If this was enough to dispel the heat, then the problem was not so serious after all. From now on, they could simply toss him into the water.

Chen San, however, was thoroughly miserable. He stared at Chen Xin with tears in his eyes. If Yang Chengzi had been just a little more foolish, Chen San might have become a father. His body was comfortable, but his heart was so furious that a mouthful of blood nearly sprayed into Yang Chengzi’s face.

After soaking for most of the night, Chen San began to feel cold and climbed out of the water on his own. He had intended to crawl into Chen Xin’s bed, but knowing he would certainly be kicked out, he changed his mind and returned to his own bed to sleep.

After that lesson, Chen San’s medicine was reduced to one dose every ten days or so. His occasional feminine affectations also improved considerably. All in all, Yang Shiqian’s prescription was quite effective.

Afraid that Chang Yu would keep coveting the prescription, Yang Chengzi hid it away, lest she continually scheme to trick him into taking it.

At daybreak the next morning, Yang Chengzi rose early. During those days, he had barely left the inn while caring for Chang Yu and Chen San. He had refused to see everyone who came looking for him, not even opening the door. He merely claimed that he had been unwell and could not go out, and that they should discuss the matter another day. As a result, he had been resting exceptionally well.

After washing his face, he was just thinking about Chen Xin’s suggestion that he go to the magistrate’s office and offer a reward when—

“Bang, bang, bang!”

A frantic knocking sounded at the door.

Chen Xin and Chang Yu had not yet risen. Hearing the knocking, they instinctively lowered the bed curtains, lest anyone see them with their long hair loose over their shoulders and suspect something, creating needless trouble.

Yang Chengzi opened the door. The visitor was the portly county magistrate, who was waiting outside.

The magistrate said excitedly, “Taoist Priest, you truly have uncanny foresight! Something has happened—something terrible! Taoist Priest, you must help us this time. A disaster has struck the magistrate’s office! Oh, heavens!”

Seeing the county magistrate pounding his chest and anxiously pacing so early in the morning, Yang Chengzi knew at once that the matter was serious.

But instead of responding, he calmly said, “I have been unwell lately and cannot leave the inn. Find someone else.”

The portly magistrate realized that Yang Chengzi was refusing him outright.

“Oh, Taoist Priest, this concerns human lives! Two jailers are already dead. We cannot afford another death. Please help us, I beg you…”

He hurriedly reached for his silver, but halfway through, he remembered that Yang Chengzi certainly would not accept it and lowered his hand again.

“Taoist Priest, please take pity on us. I’ll kneel if I must—”

He was about to kneel when Yang Chengzi caught him by the arm.

“There are three great sects here. You can ask one of them for help. Why insist on coming to me?”

“Oh, Taoist Priest, this matter requires you! If it were a ghost, then certainly someone from one of the sects could deal with it. But this time it is a person—a living person has disappeared!”

Yang Chengzi frowned. “Someone has disappeared, and you came to me? Finding people is the magistrate’s responsibility, is it not? Besides, how could someone vanish and people die as a result? Did he murder them?”

“I don’t know! The man was locked safely in the prison, and then he simply vanished! For the past two nights, at around the hour of the Pig, we’ve heard him shouting. Afterward, one of the jailers dies. Two have already died—we cannot lose another! Otherwise, I may lose my official position.”

The next day, at the crack of dawn, Yang Chengzi rose early. During this period, he had scarcely stepped outside while caring for Chang Yu and Chen San. Anyone who came to see him was turned away; he would not even open the door, merely claiming that he had been unwell and could not go out, and that they should return another day. Thus, he had been resting exceptionally well.

After washing his face, he was just thinking of Chen Xin’s suggestion that he go to the magistrate’s office and offer a reward when—

“Bang, bang, bang!”

A frantic knocking sounded at the door.

Chen Xin and Chang Yu had not yet risen. Hearing the knocking, they tacitly lowered the curtains, lest anyone see them as young women with their long hair hanging loose and grow suspicious, causing unnecessary trouble.

Yang Chengzi opened the door. The visitor was the portly county magistrate, who was waiting outside.

Seeing the county magistrate pounding his chest and fretting so anxiously at such an early hour, Yang Chengzi knew the matter could not be minor.

Yet he did not take up the man’s words. Instead, he said calmly, “I have been unwell lately and cannot leave the inn. Find someone else.”

The portly magistrate realized that Yang Chengzi was refusing him outright.

“Oh, Taoist Priest, this concerns human lives! Two jailers are already dead. We cannot afford another death. Please help us, I beg you…”

He hurriedly reached for his silver, but halfway through, remembering that Yang Chengzi certainly would not accept it, he lowered his hand again.

“Taoist Priest, please take pity on us. I’ll kneel if I must…”

He was about to kneel when Yang Chengzi caught him by the arm.

“There are three great sects here. You can seek their help. Why insist on coming to me?”

“Oh, Taoist Priest, this matter requires you! If it were a ghost, then someone from one of the sects could certainly deal with it. But this time it is a person—a living person has disappeared!”

Yang Chengzi hesitated. After frowning deeply, he finally shut the door, leaving the county magistrate outside.

“Enough. I’m unwell. Go find someone else.”

By then, Chang Yu had already dressed. She swept aside the bed curtains and stepped out. Seeing Yang Chengzi sitting there calmly drinking tea, she walked over and kissed him.

“You should go. They seem desperate. We’ll be fine.”

Yang Chengzi looked at her in surprise. “You’re not afraid of Meng Wuyan?”

“I was before. I’m not anymore.”

Seeing her smile bright as a flower, Yang Chengzi became even less willing to leave.

“Oh, go on. It’s all right. We’ll wait for you to come back and eat together.”

Chang Yu took Yang Chengzi’s hand, trying to persuade him to go and investigate.

Yang Chengzi frowned and held her hand. For an instant, his resolve wavered. But hearing the portly county magistrate helplessly knocking at the door outside and refusing to leave, he hesitated again.

“Very well. I’ll take a look and come back quickly. Wake Chen San. It will be better if he’s conscious.”

“We know, we know. Hurry up and go.”

Nodding repeatedly, Chang Yu pushed Yang Chengzi out the door. When the county magistrate saw him emerge, he hurriedly cupped his hands and pleaded with him. Yang Chengzi nodded, glanced back at Chang Yu once, and then left with the magistrate.

On the way, the portly county magistrate gave him a detailed account of what had happened in the prison, but Yang Chengzi found the story utterly bewildering.

When they reached the magistrate’s office, the county magistrate led him directly to the cell in question. Yet the magistrate and several constables remained far away, as though the cell contained some kind of plague. None of them dared approach.

Yang Chengzi paid them no mind and entered the cell to inspect it. It was completely empty and reeked of filth. One glance was enough to see from end to end, yet he found nothing. His senses detected no ghostly aura or baleful energy. There was nothing at all—only the stench. He did spot a few rats.

Frowning, he looked toward the county magistrate, who was keeping his distance outside.

“How did this man disappear? What did he do? Why was he arrested?”

“He vanished into thin air. All that remained was his tattered clothing. He was a thief who stole something from Master Yuan of the Yuan household on the western side of town and was caught red-handed. We brought him back and interrogated him for two days, but he would not say a word. Since the stolen goods were found on him, we punished him according to the law and then locked him in this cell. But… but after only one day, he disappeared. And then all this began.”

“His clothing? Did he take it off and escape?”