Next morning in the yamen rear‑hall, Shen Xian laid three items upon the table: the glow‑moss‑powder bamboo‑tube, a pouch of dark river‑bank sediment, and the written record of the one‑eyed crone’s testimony.
“Your Honour, the complete ‘demon‑case three‑piece set’.”
Magistrate Wang picked each object up.
When he saw the bamboo‑tube, every wrinkle on his face tightened.
“This was all done by humans?”
“Every step of it was staged by people.” Shen Xian recounted last‑night’s deductions.
“Poisoning chickens, digging fake demon‑holes, glowing river‑tubes, blackened river‑water — one link follows another.
Either this man is a skilled trickster, or someone behind him wrote the whole script.”
“Then who do you suspect?”
“To solve this kind of case, do not guess at people — guess at who gains the benefits.” Shen Xian held up one finger.
“After this demon panic erupted in Qinghe County, who profited?”
Magistrate Wang narrowed his eyes and glanced at Secretary Qian.
Secretary Qian opened his notebook.
“My Lord.
Ever since rumours of the demon spread, three trades have boomed.
First: peace talismans.
The paper‑goods shop in the southern‑city sold out five times in three days.
Second: immortal pills.
Azure Cloud Temple’s Vital‑Nourishing Pills doubled in price and were rationed.
Three wealthy households have begun moving their valuables out to the prefectural city.”
“Anything else?” Shen Xian pressed.
“Land in the western‑city.” Secretary Qian turned the page.
“Seven days after the demon rumours started, land prices in the western‑city fell thirty percent.
Yesterday a land‑broker posted notices buying large parcels of land at seventy percent of market price, paying hard silver on the spot.”
“Who is the buyer?”
“Yue‑Lai Trading House.” Secretary Qian answered.
“Its backer is Master Qian Million.”
Silence filled the hall.
“Qian Million.” Magistrate Wang twisted his beard.
“He meddles in at least fifteen different businesses in this county: grain‑firms, shipping, land‑broking.”
“Your Honour.” Shen Xian spoke slowly.
“Chickens died in the western‑city, the Black‑Water River lies to the west, and ghost rumours first spread from villages west of town.
The demon only harasses the west; western‑land prices collapse; Qian Million buys land cheap.
Your Honour, this script is neater than most opera librettos.”
Magistrate Wang mused.
“Yet Qian Million is only a merchant.
Would he know how to fake demon phenomena? This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
These glow‑moss tubes and Drunken‑Immortal Herb are not ordinary goods.”
“That explains why he needs a collaborator.” Shen Xian smiled.
“A public‑figure who can ‘vouch for’ the demon’s existence.
Your Honour, who is the respected authority pronouncing judgement on this demon case in Qinghe County?”
Magistrate Wang and Secretary Qian exchanged glances and spoke in unison: “Master Green‑Pine, Taoist priest of Azure Cloud Temple.”
“Therefore my next move —” Shen Xian stood and straightened his robes, “is to go and meet this revered priest.”
“Alone?” Magistrate Wang frowned.
“That old Taoist spreads fallacies and has hundreds of disciples.
You are only a scholar…”
“Fear not, Your Honour.” Shen Xian cupped his hands.
“He is a divine priest, and I am a devout believer.
Surely he will not refine me into a pill when I climb the mountain to ask for talismans.”
He took two steps toward the door then glanced back.
“One more thing, Your Honour.
Investigate money transfers between Qian Million and Azure Cloud Temple over the past three months.
Temple incense‑offerings all go through the temple account‑books.”