Chapter 221: Sand Table Deductions, The Magistrate’s True Form
Deeply hidden?
Hu Siqi tilted her head, a puzzled look on her face.
This Magistrate Ma certainly had the imposing aura of a high-ranking official, and she didn’t dare to speak out of turn in his presence.
But as for being deeply hidden…
She couldn’t see it.
After all, she had learned some basic Yin techniques and was no longer an ordinary mortal. This old man seemed no different from any other elderly person. However, she couldn’t risk offending him and facing severe punishment.
Compared to him, those bloodthirsty constables outside were far more intimidating.
“Oh?”
Magistrate Ma’s expression remained unchanged, his voice deep and raspy. “What’s hidden about me?”
“Before I came here, I assumed you were just a brute, someone who knew how to deal with demons and ghosts, but still lacking in other areas.” Lin Tianlu’s gaze shifted to the large table beside them.
Instead of books and scrolls, a massive sand table covered the surface, miniature buildings and landscapes meticulously crafted from sand, a scaled-down replica of Anshi County.
“But now it seems, Magistrate Ma, your vision extends far beyond this small town.”
“And you’ve deduced this just from looking at the sand table?” Magistrate Ma’s voice was still serious. “Perhaps it’s just a relic left by my predecessor.”
“But these pieces can’t lie.”
Lin Tianlu smiled gently and walked towards the sand table, his eyes scanning its surface. He pointed at a small building beside a miniature street.
“This is the inn where we’re staying. And those constables were heading there, to capture the young lady behind me.”
A black piece was placed beside the building.
Magistrate Ma’s eyes narrowed, and he said with a hint of admiration, “You’re quite observant, Master Lin, to be able to discern the layout of this sand table so quickly. Those constables would be completely lost.”
The sand table was covered in black and white pieces, meticulously placed on streets, buildings, and even the surrounding villages, mountains, and rivers, a detailed representation of the entire area.
And countless colored threads crisscrossed the surface, connecting the various locations, as if weaving a web of information.
“I hope you don’t mind my presumption, Magistrate Ma. After all, I’m just a humble scholar.” Lin Tianlu smiled faintly. “But this sand table reminds me of a Go game. I’m somewhat familiar with the game, and I can see some patterns.”
“I wouldn’t fault someone with your talent and intelligence, Master Lin.”
Magistrate Ma’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “But can you see anything else in this sand table?”
Lin Tianlu stroked his chin, studying the sand table carefully.
Then he smiled faintly and began to speak. “You’re using threads to represent movement, different colors to indicate urgency and strength, mapping the locations and activities of dozens of demons and ghosts within Anshi County and its surroundings. You have a complete grasp of their movements.”
“And these black and white pieces represent ghost practitioners and powerful demons that are difficult to deal with.”
Magistrate Ma clapped his hands in admiration. “You’re truly perceptive, Master Lin, to grasp the essence of this sand table so quickly.
As you said, these pieces represent the movements of those demons and ghosts. Wherever they go, wherever they hide, it’s all displayed here.”
He picked up a wooden stick and moved a white piece, located in a village outside Anshi County, slightly further away.
“For example, this demon will be active tonight. And his range of movement is limited to this area.”
Lin Tianlu was secretly impressed.
This magistrate could actually predict the movements of demons and ghosts with such accuracy.
How was this…?
He glanced at a nearby bookshelf, and a hidden compartment opened, revealing a scroll filled with tiny characters. It unfurled automatically.
Magistrate Ma glanced at the scroll, then pressed a button on the table, and the compartment closed, the scroll disappearing inside.
He moved a few more pieces on the sand table, even flicking a black piece off the edge.
“So you have an extensive intelligence network, Magistrate Ma.”
“It’s all thanks to the help of those martial artists. I couldn’t do this alone.” Magistrate Ma’s expression remained calm as he continued moving the pieces, his eyes deep in thought, as if he was calculating the demons’ and ghosts’ every move, his movements precise and deliberate.
“Wh-what is this…?”
Hu Siqi, who had been cautiously approaching, stared at the sand table, her face filled with confusion.
Lin Tianlu smiled and explained, “Magistrate Ma is using the information he gathers to predict the movements of those demons and ghosts, to control the situation in Anshi County.
He can track and monitor them, manipulate their actions, even turn them against each other.”
“He can predict the movements of all the demons and ghosts in the county… just from information?!”
Hu Siqi was shocked. “How is that even possible—”
“Miss Hu, do you know how those constables found you?”
“I-I—”
Hu Siqi’s face paled.
She finally understood why the constables had always been able to track her movements. Even though she had removed her shoes and concealed her aura, trying to sneak into the inn unnoticed, they had still found her.
Looking back, it was all too suspicious.
“Your every move was anticipated by Magistrate Ma. He knew you would enter that inn.”
“…”
Hu Siqi shivered, her face pale as she shrank back.
Knowing this, she didn’t dare to look at the magistrate, afraid that he would see through her thoughts.
This feeling was truly unsettling.
“Of course, there’s another interpretation.”
Lin Tianlu’s smile turned enigmatic. “For Magistrate Ma to possess such a comprehensive understanding of the situation, to be able to control the entire county from behind the scenes… he must have known about the powerful demon lurking near the inn, the one who was targeting those constables. He even knew they would fall into his trap.”
“You’re right, Master Lin.”
Magistrate Ma calmly removed another piece from the sand table, not denying it. “Although I don’t know the details of the incidents in Changling County, I’ve heard of your reputation, Master Lin. I know that you possess extraordinary power, capable of slaying demons and ghosts with ease.”
“And this afternoon, I received information about your arrival in Anshi County. I chose a few trustworthy constables and sent them to patrol the area near the inn, to attract the demon’s attention. And then, tonight, they went to the inn to capture this Miss Hu.”
Magistrate Ma’s dark eyes narrowed, his voice lowering. “It was all a plan to lure the demon into a trap, using your power, Master Lin, to eliminate him.”
His plan was meticulous, every detail carefully calculated, the demon’s fate sealed from the beginning.
Lin Tianlu nodded. “You’re a brilliant strategist, Magistrate Ma.”
“It was just a simple trick, nothing special. You’re the truly remarkable one, Master Lin, a divine being, just like the rumors say.”
Hearing his praise, Lin Tianlu’s smile faded slightly, his voice calm. “But how were you so certain that I possessed such power, Magistrate Ma? That I could defeat that demon? I’m sure you have a vast intelligence network, but Anshi County is quite far from Changling. Information can be unreliable, prone to exaggeration and distortion.
What if I wasn’t as powerful as the rumors claimed? What would you have done?”
“I would have made a difficult choice.”
Magistrate Ma’s voice was calm and raspy. “If those constables died, I would have compensated their families generously. And I would have found another way to eliminate that demon.”
Lin Tianlu’s heart sank.
This magistrate was a ruthless man.
He showed no sadness or hesitation at the thought of his subordinates’ deaths, simply accepting their sacrifice as a necessary loss. To an outsider, it might have seemed cold and heartless, sending his men to their deaths without a second thought.
But…
Lin Tianlu didn’t judge him.
He knew he had no right to criticize.
After all, it was thanks to this magistrate’s meticulous planning and decisive actions that Anshi County had regained some semblance of peace and order.
Casualties were inevitable. And the situation was so dire that only drastic measures could turn the tide. Hesitation and indecision would have only led to more deaths and chaos, potentially turning the entire county into a playground for demons and ghosts.
Magistrate Ma smiled faintly. “You’re not a sentimental fool, Master Lin.”
“It was just a calculated risk, Magistrate Ma. I admire your decisive actions.” Lin Tianlu bowed respectfully. “No wonder your constables hold you in such high regard.”
“They are brave and loyal men, dedicated to protecting their home. I’m grateful for their service.”
Magistrate Ma’s gaze drifted towards the pieces on the sand table, lost in thought.
Seeing his pensive expression, Lin Tianlu smiled faintly and moved two white pieces on the sand table.
“Hmm?”
Magistrate Ma snapped out of his reverie and looked at the board, his brow furrowed. “What do you mean by that, Master Lin?”
“There’s a slight flaw in your information, Magistrate Ma. I’m just trying to help.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and moved a black piece closer to the county office. “Perhaps you should double-check your sources.”
“…”
Magistrate Ma studied the board for a moment.
Then he nodded, his voice filled with admiration. “You truly deserve the title of ‘Master,’ Lin Tianlu. You’ve grasped the essence of my strategy, something I’ve spent half my life studying, in just a few glances. Your talent is truly remarkable.”
“You flatter me.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled and picked up another piece from the table. “But compared to you, Magistrate Ma, I still have much to learn. For example…”
He placed the piece inside the county office. “A demon in disguise.”
Magistrate Ma raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable.
Hu Siqi, who had been silent, stared at the board, her initial confusion turning to shock.
A demon in disguise?!
There was no one else in the county office with Yin energy, no other demon or ghost.
There could only be one explanation…
She looked at Magistrate Ma, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Could it be… you, Magistrate?!”
Magistrate Ma put down his piece, his gaze calm.
“How did you know I’m not human?”
“I have some skill in judging character, Magistrate. I can sense the anomaly within you.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and bowed slightly. “Although you’re concealing your aura, pretending to be alive, the faint traces of life force are not enough to deceive me.”
Magistrate Ma was surprised, and he shook his head with a sigh. “I’ve been trying my best to maintain a human facade, suppressing my Yin energy. But it seems I can’t hide it from your sharp eyes, Master Lin.”
“W-why are you a demon, Magistrate?”
Hu Siqi’s face was filled with shock and confusion.
She hadn’t expected the mastermind behind these recent events, the one who had been manipulating them all, to be a demon himself!
“The reason is quite simple.”
Lin Tianlu’s voice was meaningful. “You are… the late Magistrate Hua, aren’t you?”
Magistrate Ma placed a piece on the edge of the sand table. “How did you guess?”
“It was too much of a coincidence. Magistrate Hua was assassinated, and then a new magistrate, surnamed Ma, appeared overnight, seamlessly taking over his duties. I didn’t believe a newcomer could be so efficient.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled. “And you’re a demon, Magistrate. That naturally raised some suspicions.”
Leave a Reply