First-Year Internship—And You Went to Site 749 to Contain Monsters?!
Chapter 345: Elder Deng: "Young Lu, who exactly is that Crooked-Mouth Old Man to you?"

......

The Kou family wasn't too bright either.

They applied the Five Elements technique to the Soul-Corpse Ghosts raised by the Crooked-Mouth Old Man.

But since their ancestral graves were also there,

The suppressed fortune was dragged down to affect the Kou family.

So this was an indirect consequence.

"Not sure if you agree with these judgments, old brother."

The old Taoist didn't argue.

He believed in karma - everything under heaven follows the law of cause and effect.

Burying corpses was the cause, absorbing fortune and destroying corpses was the effect.

If they insisted on arguing by legal standards, he could debate it too.

But the old Taoist chose to admit it directly.

"I agree. This Taoist can provide compensation."

Finally, the issue of Minshan City's corpse depository came up.

"The Thousand Corpses Paying Tribute formation was indeed set up by this Taoist. First, this location was a geomantic site, also remote wilderness with no neighbors."

"This Taoist collected so many corpses - it was a good deed."

"Moreover, the Corpse Mage being paid tribute to hasn't come out to harm anyone."

"This Taoist couldn't have predicted Minshan City would divert a river branch, and it just happened to reach the corpse depository."

"Another point - the corpse depository's problem isn't this Taoist's fault. The formation was here first, the depository was built afterward."

"Because of the Thousand Corpses formation, this land became suitable for burial, so later when they opened the depository, they kept burying corpses there. Now that you've dug them up, that's the problem."

"Before excavation, during wartime, how many risks of corpse transformation did this Taoist's formation prevent?"

"That's benefiting the present generation and future generations alike."

"Who told you 749 Bureau had to dig it up? If you hadn't, there wouldn't be any problem!"

"As long as it wasn't excavated, it would remain a corpse burial pit forever - safe and secure for any number of bodies."

"Moreover, you destroyed this Taoist's formation without compensating me!"

"One more thing - that haunted hut wasn't this Taoist's doing either. What's mine I'll claim, but not what isn't."

Regarding Minshan City's corpse depository,

He was indeed correct.

And about the river diversion -

Who could have predicted that?

Reasonably speaking, compensation should indeed be given to the old Taoist.

Chu Gexiao understood this too.

He said smiling: "Old brother, you wake up every year - you should keep an eye on things."

"Don't you know I avoid karma? These matters were already settled. Let's be reasonable here."

"If the Thousand Corpses formation in Minshan wasn't dug up, wouldn't it be fine? It even helped Minshan handle corpses."

"With Jinshan's Kou family graves, if they hadn't occupied this Taoist's site, wouldn't it be fine? My burying corpses there actually helped Jinshan's development."

"Your own records state Jinshan developed a new capital - without this Taoist's corpse suppression, could Jinshan have progressed so quickly?"

"The Kou family having crooked schemes is their own business."

"Let this Taoist give an example - if I build a house but don't live there, others occupy it for illegal activities, is that my fault?"

"This Taoist is also a victim! Who will protect my rights?"

"Should the blame be on me for building the house?"

"Back then, who knows where 749 Bureau even was?"

"Lastly, the one thing this Taoist did mishandle - the General's Tomb collapsed. But there were mitigating circumstances too."

"Didn't this Taoist lose the bet with you? I can't even enter Yunhai now without invitation."

Chu Gexiao: ........

Shook his head helplessly: "Old brother, with your mouth so crooked, you're still so eloquent?"

"This Taoist's mouth is crooked, not his brain. Why focus on my mouth? Are you crazy?"

"But having said all this, I'm not denying my responsibilities. Compensation is possible, but this Taoist currently has no money - you'll have to wait."

"After my injuries heal, we can work it off. Whatever 749 can't or won't do, hand it all to this Taoist."

"We'll calculate each task's worth - clear pricing, guaranteed satisfactory completion."

Watching the old man talk nonstop with his crooked mouth,

Lu Ding had the same thought:

Sir, your mouth certainly doesn't hinder your speech!

"Oh right, one more thing - who will protect this Taoist's rights? I want to file a report!!"

"Blackwater Market stole from me! Those three families have been stealing continuously!!"

"My elixirs, my rare treasures, my transformation techniques, my alchemy manuals - all stolen by them and that fish demon!!"

"They've prospered by stealing from me! Isn't anyone going to do something about this?!"

Chu Gexiao had genuinely forgotten this matter earlier.

He nodded hurriedly: "We'll handle it, we'll handle it. But currently, having those three Blackwater families provide equivalent compensation might be difficult."

The Crooked-Mouth Old Man glared sideways: "Meaning what? If they can't pay then it's fine? This Taoist's just unlucky? No justice?"

"This Taoist wasn't home, so they could steal freely? Even occupied the land like it was theirs?"

"There's justice, there's justice. I'll negotiate with them later."

Director Chu was still reasonable.

"Fine, you negotiate with them. However much they pay has nothing to do with me - deduct it from my compensation for the three tombs."

"But my earlier words stand - this Taoist takes responsibility for his faults. Whatever you need, just ask - guaranteed satisfactory service."

Chu Gexiao stood up: "Then let's register the information and go through procedures. After Lu Ding submitted the report last time, old brother, you still haven't completed the formalities."

"Once procedures are done and your injuries heal, you can go. We'll have Lu Ding personally escort you then."

Hearing this, the Crooked-Mouth Old Man's mouth almost straightened from smiling: "That sounds excellent. Very well, let's proceed."

With the old man's agreement,

Lu Ding watched the matter settle,

Feeling relieved inside.

This resolution satisfied everyone.

Just then, Director Chu said to him:

"Lu Ding, your merits have been tallied. Go collect them from Elder Deng later."

"There's also the Corpse-Oil Ancient Tree documents needing signatures. You handled the Blackwater Market and Di family affairs remarkably."

Seeing the conversation reach this point, Lu Ding had some questions too.

"Director, after all the commotion the old man caused earlier, and an Heavenly Perception expert dying, what about..."

"Don't worry lad, leave everything to this old man! Anyone who objects can come find me! If they really anger me, I'll set up an altar at their ancestral graves!!"

Chu Gexiao quickly mediated: "No need to worry, I'll handle this."

This was exactly what 749 Bureau did.

Besides, that Shui Xuan was already a criminal - a wanted fish demon.

Anyone siding with a wanted demon would face the entire Han Dynasty's 749 Bureau!

"Understood, Director. Old sir, I'll leave you to your business."

"Go on, you've worked hard this time."

Lu Ding bid farewell to both. The Heavenly Perception matter would be handled by Heavenly Perception experts -

He wasn't qualified yet.

Exiting, he called Yan Feifan, and the two turned a corner to logistics.

Elder Deng, having been notified earlier, had waited quite a while.

He smiled warmly at Lu Ding.

"You're here, young Lu."

"I'm here, Elder Deng."

"Here's the detailed report. Review it. For the Corpse-Oil Ancient Tree, choose between profit-sharing or buyout - check your preference."

"This document details the Di family confiscation."

As Lu Ding took them and had barely started reading,

Elder Deng spoke again beside him:

"Young Lu, who exactly is that Crooked-Mouth Old Man to you?"