South of Longshan, under the steep mountains, two young figures walked up.

"You said your father is the county captain of Shangxian County, Luo Yuantang?" Zhao Han asked.

Luo Yuer nodded.

Previously, her father Luo Yuantang was ordered to investigate the "Ghost with Human Head Case" in Shangcheng.

During this period, he once accidentally said to Luo Yu'er that this case was too bizarre and could never be committed by humans. It should be the work of ghosts.

Later, Luo Yuantang was dismissed from office by the county magistrate Wu Jin and was driven back home.

One night, he was discovered in Wu Jin's private house, with Wu Jin's headless body lying next to him.

Those people said that Luo Yuantang had killed Wu Jin and was a suspect in the whole case, so they arrested him and took him to the county government office.

But Luo Yuer firmly believed what her father said that this case was caused by ghosts and that her father was wrongly accused. So she ran out to find a mage to catch the ghost and save her father from guilt.

"Do you have any personal grudges between your father and that Magistrate Wu?" Zhao Han asked.

"I've never heard of it," Luo Yu'er said.

"That's right."

Zhao Han touched his chin, thoughtfully:

"The ghost who specializes in eating human heads..."

It was mentioned in "Miscellaneous Stories about Spirits and Ghosts" that two hundred years ago, during the Tuoba Wei Dynasty.

There was a drunken and crazy petty official who killed a hawker's several-year-old son on his horse, but he was not punished in the slightest.

The hawker was from a humble background and had no way to appeal.

In a rage, he broke into the little official's house at night and killed all seven members of the family, including the newborn baby.

The official was not around, so he escaped the disaster.

Later, the hawker was arrested by a petty official.

The petty official became so angry that he chopped off the hawker's head with a knife and chopped it into pieces, leaving him dead without leaving his body intact.

After the death of the hawker, his resentment accumulated and he turned into a fierce ghost, specializing in eating people's heads to vent his resentment of the injustice of the world and make up for the lack of a head after his death.

When you go to the city these days, are there any criminals who have committed major crimes and had their heads beheaded in public?"

"No," Luo Yu'er said, "I said Zhao Xianren..."

"Eight hundred times, girl, I am not an immortal."

"Zhao Han, is it done? You've already asked. Let's go back to catch ghosts as soon as possible."

"Okay, you're tired of walking on the mountain roads, why don't you take the water route?"

Ahead, the breeze blows, and under the intersection of two mountains, a big river roars away.

This is the river, the Weishui River, that runs through Longyou and leads directly to Chang'an. Taking a boat up the river to the west is a faster way home.

The two of them walked to the river.

The river is very wide, with turbid waves surging in it. There is a dilapidated ferry on the riverside, and there is not a single boat in sight.

"This ferry seems to be abandoned. There will be no boats. Let's go upstream and have a look." Luo Yu'er said.

"Well, you go and see, I'll lie down for a while."

Zhao Han leaned on a stone and took a nap.

"This guy..."

Luo Yuer rolled her eyes and was about to walk away when something floated on the river.

"Ship, a ship is coming!"

After a while, a large ship docked at the ferry.

Just as Luo Yu'er was about to step forward to say hello, many boatmen suddenly appeared on the bow of the boat, all holding swords and guns.

At present, a young and strong boatman shouted to the two of them:

"Who are you two?!"

"Good guy."

Zhao Han woke up at some point, walked to the shore, smiled and said to the boatman:

"A good person who only rides on boats and does not rob the Tao."

These words just hit the heart of the strong boatman.

He looked at Zhao Han and Luo Yuer:

"I'm afraid you don't dare either. Which thief in this section of the river is so blind that he doesn't recognize the flag of our 'Dragon's Back Gang'?"

On the bow of the ship, a triangular yellow flag fluttered in the wind, and on the flag, a dragon roared toward the sky.

The Wei River crosses the Qinchuan River for 800 miles, and hundreds of thousands of canals are transported every month.

In order to protect the safety of the road, merchants from all over the coast are accustomed to handing over their goods to boat gangs for escort. This "Dragon's Back Gang" is one of the leading boat gangs.

"Brother Boat," Zhao Han said, "We are going to Shangcheng in Qinzhou, so let's give him a ride."

The sturdy boatman turned around and said to an old boatman: "Uncle Tan, what do you think?"

The old boatman's face was covered with wrinkles, and he looked at Zhao Han and Zhao Han with his old eyes:

"Boy, this ferry has not been used for many years. How did you find it?"

"We came down from Longshan," Luo Yu'er pointed at Zhao Han, "he led the way."

"This river has thousands of miles," said the old boatman, "but this section is the most desolate, and water thieves appear from time to time. Let's ask as usual, don't blame the two of you.

But today is also strange. There are also a few guests who want to take a boat at the deserted ferry in front.

You two come up too."

He pointed behind him, where there was a dark cabin, and the boatmen's swords and guns shone coldly.

Luo Yuer was a little hesitant.

"Thank you, old man." Zhao Han walked up first, and Luo Yu'er had to follow.

There were many wooden boxes of goods piled up in the cabin, and the sunlight filtered in from the gaps at both ends, making it a bit dark.

In addition to the boatman, there were several strange people in the cabin.

Three men dressed as porters stood in the center, one tall, one short, and one strong, looking down at the ground. Each of them had a long strip of cloth on their back, and they didn't know what they were wearing.

There was also a man in gray clothes, tall and muscular, with sharp eyes and a long sheath hanging from his waist.

The four people stood in a semicircle, guarding a wooden chair.

On the chair, a middle-aged man with an elegant face and a long gown was closing his eyes to meditate.

In the corner at the end of the cabin, there is a lonely figure leaning against the wall, whose appearance cannot be clearly seen.

Zhao Han and Luo Yuer were watching, and the man in gray saw it at a glance:

"What are you looking at? Turn around!"

"Shi Yuan."

A thick and steady voice sounded, it was the middle-aged man in a long gown with his eyes closed:

"We should treat each other with courtesy when we are in the same boat. Why don't you make amends to others?"

"Yes," the man in gray clasped his fists at Zhao Han and the two of them, "offended!"

The voice is loud and clear, without any sloppiness.

Seeing how generous this man was, Luo Yu'er was not angry at all and raised her hand to him.

"Brother," Zhao Han said, "you are taking a boat to the west. Where are you going and what are you doing for a living?"

The man in gray didn't expect this young man to be so "familiar" and couldn't answer for a while.

"hehe……"

The middle-aged man in a long gown slowly opened his eyes and said, "Go to Shang County, Qinzhou, and do some business."

"You guys are going up too?" Luo Yu'er asked.

The middle-aged man in long gown glanced at the girl with bright eyes and said with a faint smile:

"Little lady, I see that you two are walking together as a man and a woman, and they are very close to each other. I'm afraid you are not a newlywed couple?"

Luo Yuer blushed, "No, no, sir, please don't get me wrong, we just met each other not long ago."

Zhao Han didn't mind, and looked at the three porters:

"Sir, this is a big deal you are doing."

"Young man is joking," said the middle-aged man in a long gown, "I am doing a small business to support my family."

Small business?
To be continued...