Chapter 64: Aptitude of a Sorcerer, I Think I Have Cracked the Case

"Target: Yun Sheng."
"Cultivation: Ninth-rank Warlock."
"Talent Traits: Warlock Aptitude (Cyan), Swindler (White)."
"Warlock Aptitude (Cyan): Possesses the qualification to become a warlock."

A warlock? He actually encountered a warlock here.

The more case files Ye Liuyun read within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the broader his horizons began to expand.

Warlocks, much like martial artists, represented a system of cultivation. Warlocks were divided into nine ranks, with the first rank being the highest. The ninth-rank warlock cultivation of this young man was the lowest of all.

Between warlocks and martial artists, there was no absolute distinction of superior or inferior; at most, the methods employed by warlocks tended to be far more bizarre and uncanny. However, martial artists possessed immensely powerful physiques, and the innate vital Qi of an innate martial artist could completely ignore many of the spells cast by warlocks.

Much like the realms of martial artists—let alone a first-rank warlock—even second-rank warlocks were extremely few and far between across the entire realm.

The Great Qian Dynasty revered martial arts, and nearly everyone took pride in becoming a martial artist, making warlocks correspondingly rare.

However, according to what Ye Liuyun had learned from the case files:

The Glazed Dynasty, which lay closest to the Great Qian Dynasty, was a land that revered warlocks and boasted the largest population of warlocks in the entire world.

Moreover,

there was one major difference between martial artists and warlocks.

Even if an individual lacked innate cultivation talent, as long as they endured the bitter cold of deep winter and the scorching heat of midsummer to practice martial arts year after year, after several years, they would invariably achieve some breakthrough and gain a footing.

Yet when it came to becoming a warlock,

if one lacked talent, then they simply lacked talent. No amount of cultivation over a lifetime would yield any results, which made the path of the warlock heavily reliant on innate aptitude.

Although the warlock aptitude trait possessed by this Yun Sheng was only of cyan quality, it was already sufficient to cross the threshold into the craft.

...

The local magistrate standing nearby, seeing that Ye Liuyun remained silent for so long,

and instead gazed thoughtfully at the Daoist priest Yun Sheng, did not dare to interrupt and could only stand obediently to the side.

"You just said his protective talismans are extremely efficacious?"

"Huh? Ah, yes!"

Abruptly addressed, the magistrate was stunned for a moment before nodding vigorously.

"Right, right! Some people who wear his protective talismans find that even ghost fires steer clear of them."

"Then you?"

Ye Liuyun withdrew his gaze and looked at the magistrate beside him.

Seeming to have his thoughts seen through, the magistrate offered a sheepish smile and drew a protective talisman from his robe.

Clearly, he had also purchased such a talisman.

"Since you believe these protective talismans are so miraculous, what is there to be afraid of?"

Ye Liuyun took the talisman and examined it. Hm, he could discern nothing unusual; there was no special energy to be detected within it. It looked precisely like a worthless scrap of paper.

"To be frank with Your Honor, according to Daoist Master Yun Sheng, the spiritual energy contained within this protective talisman can only last for three days. After three days, it loses all efficacy. Moreover, the price of a single protective talisman is truly not cheap."

One hundred taels of silver apiece.

Even for wealthy individuals, money was not meant to be squandered in such a manner.

This was entirely different from spending silver to curry favor with Ye Liuyun, which could forge a beneficial connection. Spending money on these protective talismans, however, gave the magistrate the distinct sensation of throwing wealth into a bottomless abyss.

"Did they appear a little over a month ago?"

Without answering, Ye Liuyun stared at the protective talisman in his hand and murmured in a low voice.

He recalled what the magistrate had just mentioned.

The ghost fires had emerged a little over a month ago, and this Daoist priest Yun Sheng had also arrived in Shuihe County a little over a month ago.

Such a coincidence?

What should he do? It seemed he had practically solved the case already.

Yet in truth, Ye Liuyun was well aware that had he not possessed the ability to view Yun Sheng's talent traits, he probably would never have arrived at such a suspicion anytime soon.

"Let's go! Let's take a look!"

Without issuing a direct order to make an arrest,

Ye Liuyun took the lead and walked toward the crowded area.

A cluster of people with hesitant expressions was gathered there, seemingly agonizing over whether or not they should purchase these protective talismans.

Buying one could ensure safety, but at one hundred taels a piece, it was undeniably exorbitant.

Ordinary commoners could not save up even a hundred taels in a year or two.

"Make way! Step aside!"

As soon as Ye Liuyun and his party approached, the crowd of citizens quickly scattered in all directions.

"Hey!"

Seeing his prospective customers scatter, Daoist Master Yun Sheng was about to say something, but upon noticing the magistrate among the newcomers,

he immediately flicked his horsetail whisk and assumed the posture of an otherworldly expert.

"Well then? Has my protective talisman ensured your safety? Would you care to purchase a few more?"

Evidently,

the magistrate had already bought quite a few protective talismans here. To Daoist Master Yun Sheng, this was a most lucrative major client.

Standing to one side, Ye Liuyun merely watched, reaching out to casually pick up a protective talisman.

Sure enough, he still felt nothing out of the ordinary; it remained as unremarkable as a scrap of waste paper.

"What do you think you're doing? If you aren't buying, don't touch!"

Witnessing Ye Liuyun's actions, Daoist Master Yun Sheng immediately furrowed his brows.

He made an instant move to snatch the talisman back.

Sina and Shi Sheng closed in from either side simultaneously.

"Buy, buy, buy! Since Your Honor fancies it, I shall purchase it as a gift for Your Honor!"

Seeing this scene unfold, the magistrate hurriedly spoke up, terrified that a conflict might erupt.

It was evident that because of these protective talismans, the magistrate genuinely believed that the Daoist priest Yun Sheng before him possessed true supernatural abilities, and he was anxious not to provoke him, preparing to pay out silver on the spot.

"Hmph, that's more like it."

Daoist Master Yun Sheng wore a haughty expression, paying absolutely no heed to the threatening gazes directed at him by Sina and Shi Sheng.

Even upon recognizing the Embroidered Uniform Guard uniforms worn by Ye Liuyun and his men, not a single trace of fear or apprehension flickered across his expression, as though he genuinely believed from the bottom of his heart that the renowned Embroidered Uniform Guard amounted to nothing at all.

Just as the magistrate was about to fish out the silver,

Ye Liuyun abruptly spoke up.

"There is no need!"

He casually tossed the so-called protective talisman back.

"Merely a worthless scrap of paper, not worth a hundred taels."

Not only had the hundred taels within his grasp vanished, but his protective talisman had also suffered such public defamation.

Daoist Master Yun Sheng's face darkened instantly.

"Could it be that Your Honor is simply too young? Even if you harbor no belief in ghosts and deities, you ought to know the importance of maintaining a sense of reverence."

"And what if I stubbornly refuse to maintain such reverence?"

Ye Liuyun tilted his head, posing a mildly intrigued counter-question.

Daoist Master Yun Sheng's brow dropped slightly.

"I only hope that when Your Honor is targeted by the ghost fires, you can maintain this very same confidence."

Ye Liuyun chuckled.

"I would very much like to see whether these so-called ghost fires dare to come after me. In my view, they are merely some low-class tricks cooked up by low-class scoundrels, fit for nothing more than deceiving ordinary commoners."

"Yet such gutter-dwelling rats would probably scare themselves witless and wet their trousers at the mere sight of the uniform I wear. How could they possibly possess the daring to seek me out? Hahaha!"

With every single word Ye Liuyun uttered, Daoist Master Yun Sheng's complexion grew noticeably darker.

The hand gripping his horsetail whisk tightened to the point that the joints cracked audibly.

"Then Your Honor may simply wait in peace."

This remark was practically squeezed out from between clenched teeth.

Why did they say the young were reckless? What had initially been mere suspicion was now firmly confirmed by your exact reaction.

Indeed, Ye Liuyun had deliberately uttered every single one of those words on purpose.

While a tactical provocation might not be effective in every situation, it occasionally yielded miraculous results.

"Let's move out!"

Giving Daoist Master Yun Sheng one final glance, Ye Liuyun waved his hand and led his subordinates away.