Shen Qing stepped out of the house and nced at the book Zhang Shuyuan had given him.


    The yellow cover was already worn, prominently featuring the words "Mountain and River Chronicles."


    Shen Qing flipped through it and roughly understood that it was a geographical record interspersed with many introductions to cultural and historical stories.


    Some records could be traced back to five thousand years ago.


    Although some were vague and exaggerated, for someone like Shen Qing, using them to broaden his horizons was unparalleled.


    It was a good book.


    Besides this book, Zhang Shuyuan had also given him a book of short stories and novels.


    Contained within were chapters involving many stories of supernatural creatures and martial masters eliminating evil.


    It gave off a bit of the impression of "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio."


    There were also many small illustrations.


    Shen Qing found himself inexplicably more interested in this type of story and novel.


    Just as he was about to start reading, the sound of a gong interrupted his thoughts.


    A piercing scream followed immediately.


    Shen Qing put away the two books and rushed toward the sound of the gong without a second thought.


    In the vige, figures darted about, and many vigers had already gathered where the gong was sounded.


    Shen Qing recognized that it was the home of Chen Yixiang, a hunter in the vige.


    At that moment, one side of his earthen house had copsed, and the ground was covered in blood. On closer inspection, half an intestine was trailing on the ground.


    "What happened?"


    The hunter holding the gong, with a pale face, said, "I just saw six or seven wolves burst in and snatch away Chen Yixiang''s entire family. One of the wolves was as big as a calf… I''ve never seen such wolves before. They looked almost human… I thought I was going to die…"


    ttering!


    Far off in the mountains a demonic wind arose, and the forest rustled loudly.


    The vigers, like startled birds, quickly drew their bows and ded weapons.


    The atmosphere turned solemn.


    After waiting a while and seeing no further disturbances, everyone slowly let out a sigh of relief.


    An experienced elder, still terrified, said, "A dragon follows the clouds, a tiger follows the wind. The tiger is the king of beasts; it must be that demon tiger causing trouble."


    "The demon tiger hase!"


    As soon as this statement was made, it stirred up a storm.


    The ominous news hung over Hongshan Vige like dark clouds.


    The hunters still living in Hongshan Vige became even more frightened.


    Seeing Shen Qing present, Zhang Baqing hurried over and asked, "Qingzi, what do you think about this? What should we do?"


    Shen Qing said, "I will go to the county town immediately to consult with the Hall Master of Linfeng Hall and the county government. They must make a decision, as this matter is obviously beyond our ability to handle."


    By now, he had entered the Bone Refining Realm, his Qi-Blood surging through him like rivers.


    Even if ten or twenty hunters from the vige came at him together, they were no match for him.


    Yet, faced with such bizarre urrences, he still felt uncertain and did not intend to risk it personally.


    "Alright," Zhang Baqing sighed and said, "That''s all we can do."


    Just then, the sound of hooves suddenly came from the direction of the vige entrance.


    Shen Qing looked up and saw two tax officials from the county riding into the vige on two big donkeys, their presence overwhelming.


    They wore official robes and headcloths, their faces disying an insufferable arrogance.


    The vigers stepped aside.


    "Woah..."


    The two tax officials charged towards the vigers, pulled on the reins, and looked down at everyone from a heightened position.


    One of the tax officials took a tiger head knife from the back of his donkey, cradled it in his arms, and called out loudly, "Where is leader Chen? Come out and speak."


    These two were tax officials.


    Familiar faces indeed; every year they had toe to collect taxes and loot.


    Upon seeing the two men, all the hunters in the vige realized that the spring prohibition was starting, and it was time to pay the spring tax.


    In the past, such matters were always handled by the Chen Yuan family.


    The vige was isted from information, and the two tax officials clearly did not yet know that the Chen Yuan family had all been killed.


    Under the indication of Shen Qing, Zhang Baqing reluctantly stepped forward, trying his best to be polite, and said, "Chen Bazi''s entire family met with disaster in the mountains."


    "They all died?" The two tax officials looked at each other and saw disbelief in each other''s eyes, "Who is in charge in Hongshan Vige now?"


    Zhang Baqing subconsciously nced at Shen Qing, who appropriately averted his gaze just in time.


    He conveyed, "This humble person, trusted by the elders and the young masters in the vige, takes responsibility."


    "Fine, then follow the old rules, lead the way."


    The two tax officials dismounted from their donkeys and walked forward, leading the reins.


    As they passed the vigers gathered nearby, they curiously asked, "What are you all looking at?"


    One hunter saw this as a good opportunity and quickly came forward, saying, "A demon tiger appeared in the mountains, and Chen Yixiang''s whole family was carried off. Esteemed officials, please think of something quickly. Otherwise, none of us in the vige can live in peace."


    "Hahaha..." The two tax officialsughed aloud, "It''s funny that you call yourselves hunters. If there''s a tiger in the mountains, shouldn''t you be happy? A tiger is a treasure from head to toe, enough for your whole vige to live luxuriously."


    "But... it''s a demon tiger, sir!"


    "Enough, stop that nonsense. Do you think you can avoid taxes with such tricks? A tiger is a tiger, even a demon tiger..."


    The two tax officials clearly did not believe what the vigers said.


    They were often on the road collecting taxes and had encountered various schemes.


    Some jumped into manure pits, pretending to be crazy or stupid.


    Some imed to have been hit by a gue.


    Some said that a possessed sow had climbed up a tree.


    Others had even castrated themselves or sold their wives.


    The list went on and on.


    They were no strangers to such oddities.


    They hardly came out for a trip, heavily relying on this time to scrape together a bit, so they would not believe such ghost stories.


    Zhang Baqing dared not say more, quickly inviting the two tax officials into his wooden house to make a fire and boil water.


    Then he informed the vige to prepare good wine and food to entertain them.


    Yet these two tax officials were not at all appreciative. They looked around with dissatisfaction in their eyes.


    "Is this your home?" one of the tax officials asked, pointing at the simple wooden house and scoffing disdainfully, "It''s truly shabby! It seems this year, your Hongshan Vige will have to pay more taxes."


    Zhang Baqing''s heart tightened; he knew these two tax officials had begun to make things difficult for him.


    Suppressing his anger, he tried to appease them with a smile, "Esteemed officials, our household cannotpare with the original Chen Bazi''s connections, and we have disappointed you."


    The two tax officials ignored him, chatting among themselves.


    Zhang Baqing did not dare to interject.


    As officials from the court, nourished by Martial Mechanism, all were martial masters of significant realms.


    They were not someone small households like his could afford to provoke.


    After a while, each household had contributed a bit, managing to prepare a table full of good wine and food.


    Shen Qing wasn''t stingy either, and specially took out some for them.


    The two tax officials, seeing the food and drinks on the table, frowned.


    Zhang Baqing, observing their reactions, exined, "This year''s harvest was not good, we have already done our best."


    However, the tax officials remained unmoved.


    They snorted coldly and started eating.


    Zhang Baqing, trying to lighten the atmosphere, ventured, "Sir, there is indeed a demon tiger in our vige, and the people are very fearful. I wonder if the county government has any way to address this. Otherwise, there''s hardly any hunting sess, with the spring prohibition starting soon, and taxes due, we will have no means to live."


    "That''s easy to handle, besides the forest maintenance tax, household tax, Leftover Woman Tax... just pay an additional tiger tax."


    "The tiger tax need not be much, just one tael silver is enough."