Chapter Fifty-One: The Census Register

As expected, if it isn't a tangible supernatural force, then it must act through invisible ripples. Fang Mu did not hesitate; he reached out and touched it.

The voice arrived right on cue, echoing in Fang Mu's mind...

"You have touched the Obsession Body and gained a strand of true energy."

"You have touched the Obsession Body and acquired a clue-key. Effect unknown."

"You have touched the Obsession Body and acquired the Meng County Census Register. Effect unknown."

A great many things appeared. Fang Mu wasn't sure what this "Obsession Body" was, but the items he gained were real and numerous.

First, that wisp of true energy made the Dragon Gate formed by his inner energy even more solid.

Next was the Meng County Census Register and the key—both displayed as having unknown effects, yet clearly important clues.

"Go ahead and eat it," Fang Mu said, seeing that the strange being had not yet dissipated, and called out to Ah Bai.

Ah Bai, who had been waiting impatiently, opened his mouth. Black mist poured out and engulfed the supernatural force, devouring it rapidly.

When it was done, Ah Bai had grown even larger—now indistinguishable from an ordinary adult cat. Fang Mu even felt his own shoulder sink under the weight.

Simply put, he was now fatter than an adult cat.

Fang Mu slipped his hand inside his shirt and pretended to take something out.

It was a book, its cover blue, with five bold characters—Meng County Census Register.

Iron Calculator Immortal sidled over, peering curiously at the item in Fang Mu's hand.

Just as Iron Calculator Immortal moved closer, a change swept through their surroundings.

The yellow papers that had been fluttering everywhere vanished, and the ghost road reverted to an ordinary street.

There was no supernatural guide after all; it had all been Zheng Wen's fabrication.

Fang Mu put away the Meng County Census Register and mused, "This is no place to linger. Let's leave at once."

Iron Calculator Immortal nodded and asked, "Brother Bronze Calculator Demon, where to now?"

"Home," Fang Mu replied without looking back and strode off the street.

Iron Calculator Immortal lingered for a moment. The mastermind was still at large, and the ghost market task unfinished, so he followed after.

Once the two had left, the moon reappeared and the street returned to peace.

...

Fang Mu had intended to go home, but remembering his true identity, he thought it best not to reveal himself before Iron Calculator Immortal. So, he led Iron Calculator Immortal far from Jinglong County, into the wilderness.

By now, it was deep into the night.

Fang Mu opened the Meng County Census Register. What met his eyes was a dense list of names.

Being a census register, it naturally contained the names of Meng County's inhabitants.

Fang Mu flipped through it but recognized few names.

However, something was odd: there were sections where names had been erased.

He searched carefully, comparing one name after another to the Meng County locals he knew, and noticed a discrepancy.

The register lacked the names of County Magistrate Zhang, Old Chen, Aunt Wang, and others.

These people had interacted with him and were from Meng County, yet were absent from the register. Fang Mu speculated that these blank spaces represented their missing names.

And there were more than just these three vacant spots. Thinking of the murders that had occurred in Meng County, Fang Mu surmised these blank spaces represented the dead—or those turned into supernatural minions by the mastermind.

The incident started in Meng County, and the census register was also from Meng County; all clues seemed to point there.

"Can you try divining with this?" Fang Mu handed the register to Iron Calculator Immortal. "Maybe it relates to the mastermind."

Iron Calculator Immortal took it, fished out his tortoiseshell, and performed six divinations, but shook his head and put the shell away.

"Nothing?" Fang Mu asked.

Iron Calculator Immortal sighed and hesitated. "I did get a result, but... Brother Bronze Calculator Demon, I don't know if I should say this."

Fang Mu frowned. "Speak. There's nothing you can't say."

Iron Calculator Immortal spoke with difficulty. "My reading shows our destination is Meng County. But from the hexagram, this journey is fraught with peril—an omen of great misfortune."

"Meng County? A dire omen?"

"That's right. It's Meng County. The omen is far deadlier than what we faced at the ghost market."

"Then all the more reason to go."

"...?"

Iron Calculator Immortal looked utterly baffled, unable to grasp Fang Mu's meaning.

Fang Mu pointed at Iron Calculator Immortal, then at himself. "The two of us are already marked by him. Whether we go or not, what's the difference? If we go, it's extremely dangerous. If we don't, it's still extremely dangerous."

He paused, then added with a cold laugh, "I don't know why the mastermind hasn't acted yet, but do you think he'll let us go? Rather than wait helplessly, I'd rather take the initiative."

Iron Calculator Immortal fell silent, stunned.

It was true—the mastermind would never be so magnanimous.

He’d made a deal with the ghost market’s master to uncover the culprit, but he hadn’t yet succeeded, nor could he report back.

Fang Mu put away the Meng County Census Register. "So I’m going. Whether you come or not is up to you. But remember: when we split up, one side always ends up in trouble. It’s a mysterious law of the universe, and I don’t believe that side will be me."

He recalled those old horror movies—wasn’t it always after splitting up that the group got wiped out?

"I’ll go," Iron Calculator Immortal replied with a wry smile. "I don’t know what law that is, but the two of us are grasshoppers tied to the same rope now."

Fang Mu patted his shoulder. "Who said we’re bound to lose? Your mentality is too shaky. Besides, there’s somewhere else we haven’t been."

Iron Calculator Immortal blinked. "Where?"

"Zheng Wen’s house."

Fang Mu still had a key, also obtained from Zheng Wen. He wanted to investigate.

Iron Calculator Immortal picked up his long banner. "Now?"

"Yes. Can you divine where Zheng Wen’s house is?"

"Brother Bronze Calculator Demon, don’t you know?"

"If I knew, would I ask you?"

Fang Mu had been living in the Great Wilderness Village, only coming to Jinglong County because of his work as a coroner.

He’d only recently moved to Jinglong County. How could he know so many people?

Iron Calculator Immortal, hearing this, pulled out his tortoiseshell and began divining again, a strange thought coming to him.

He had become little more than a tool.

But a tool it was; following a big shot like this, oddly enough, felt pretty good.

Soon, Iron Calculator Immortal finished his reading and led Fang Mu out of the wilderness.

Under cover of night, the two figures hurried toward their destination...

...

The Zheng Family Residence.

"Are you sure this is it?" Fang Mu looked up at the bright red lanterns at the gate.

Iron Calculator Immortal nodded with certainty.

Receiving confirmation, Fang Mu said no more and vaulted over the wall.

As the wealthiest household in Jinglong County, the compound was indeed vast.

But once Fang Mu and Iron Calculator Immortal entered, they found it completely deserted.

The whole family had already been consumed by Zheng Wen. All that had remained were supernatural imitators. Now that Zheng Wen was dead, the place was eerily silent.