Old Liu was in such a hurry to find Xiang Yuan because a murder had occurred. By the Nu Shui River outside the city, someone had discovered a corpse in a ruined Taoist Temple in the Wilderness.
Xiang Yuan sheathed his Saber and quickly caught up with Old Liu. He asked, “Who died? Does the local Bao Yi Lang have any clues?”
When Old Liu had explained matters yesterday, he had said that the several villages outside the city all had Bao Yi Langs. They should have found some clues by now. If they had not, then given Dezhou’s simple and honest Nether Wind, they ought to investigate the Bao Yi Lang.
Of course, the above Speculation would only hold if the deceased was a local villager. If the deceased was a Jianghu Person, it would be perfectly natural for the Bao Yi Lang to have no idea what had happened.
“Lin Baoyi did not say anything because the deceased was him!”
“…”
Uh, as expected of our Dezhou.
The two of them took Fast horses at the County Yamen and headed straight for the west gate of the County town.
Although today was not a market day, the streets were still quite lively with people coming and going. White steam rose from the steamers, and the Fragrance was so enticing that people could not help stopping to look.
Unlike East Main Street, where money paved the way, this was what an Ordinary County town should look like.
Xiang Yuan was still somewhat unfamiliar when he first mounted the horse, but he soon became proficient because of his muscle memory. Lu Ming had been right: once he learned it, he could not forget it. It had long been carved into his bones.
The city gates had just opened, and quite a few Scholars dressed like students were walking along the Great Dao. From time to time, Carriages belonging to wealthy families could also be seen.
After traveling roughly five miles, Xiang Yuan saw an Academy.
The stone steps and pillars were rather Grand. With the wind blowing through the woods, it possessed a Quiet and undisturbed air. Following the steps with his gaze, he saw the Gate Crystal Clear.
Yulin Academy.
Couplets were written on either side of the Main Gate:
Ritual cultivates the self; music Teaches and reforms, nurturing outstanding talents;
Martial prowess can stabilize the state; literary talent can strengthen the nation and benefit the world.
When Xiang Yuan turned his head to look, the horse beneath him unconsciously slowed. Old Liu turned back and said, “This is Instructor Wang’s Academy. Stop looking; time is pressing.”
Xiang Yuan nodded and followed him. They covered the twenty-mile journey in The time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
The ruined Taoist Temple was called the Little Morality Temple. It had been built at the Middle of the mountain and had lain abandoned and unattended for many years.
This “morality” had nothing to do with Daojun Qingxu, whom the First-class Qingxu Sect of Western Chu worshiped. Its origins were even greater: it referred to Dao De Tianzun, one of the Three Pure Ones of Daoism.
Once again, Xiang Yuan saw a deity from his own World in this other World. He was no longer surprised as he had been at first. Since Shaolin Temple could Spread throughout the Myriad Worlds, it was hardly strange for Dao De Tianzun to have appeared here.
After tying up the horses, Old Liu quickly entered the Taoist Temple. Xiang Yuan followed one step behind and saw the Couplets on both sides of the temple gate.
The Gold lacquer was mottled, but the words could still be made out faintly.
With a wicked heart, even burning incense will bring you no benefit;
With an upright and magnanimous body, what does it matter if you do not bow before me?
Such a pair of moral Couplets, combined with the murder inside the Taoist Temple, carried a rather theatrical air of irony.
Inside the main hall of the Taoist Temple, more than ten strong men dressed like Martial artists stood Quietly. Some were Grinding their teeth, while others had their Eyes flashing fiercely. Only two people were speaking softly in a corner.
When the two Constables arrived, the two men who had been talking separated. One walked out of the Taoist Temple alone, while the other went over to Old Liu.
With his Peripheral Vision, Xiang Yuan glanced at the man who had left alone. He was tall, with arms that reached past his knees, and a conspicuous scar on his left cheek.
“Constable Liu, you arrived so quickly. I regret not welcoming you from afar.”
Lin Jianze of Lin Family Village stood before Old Liu with his hands cupped. His eyes were bloodshot, as if he had just wept bitterly. Looking at Xiang Yuan, he asked, “This Constable looks unfamiliar. May I ask your name?”
“Elder Brother Lin, please accept my condolences. He is Xiang Yuan, the newly appointed Constable of this county, and he came with me to investigate the case.” Old Liu looked toward the corpse covered by White cloth on the ground.
“Please, the two of you, come this way…”
Old Liu lifted the White cloth and examined the corpse. The deceased’s eyes were wide with rage; he had been stabbed in the back, his tendons severed and bones broken, dying on the spot.
Xiang Yuan said nothing and focused on learning, only listening and not speaking. The deceased was Lin Jianfeng, the Bao Yi Lang of Lin Family Village. He had been discovered dead in the Taoist Temple early that morning. Upon hearing the news, the people of Lin Family Village had come and helped Protect the crime scene.
Old Liu carefully examined the corpse, then rose and said, “He died last Nighttime. The killer struck with One Blade and killed him instantly. He was no mediocre fighter. I only conducted a rough examination; as for the specific circumstances, the coroner will have to examine the corpse.”
“Then my Elder Brother’s remains…”
“They can be placed in Yi Zhuang.”
“Thank you, Constable Liu.”
“It is Official business.”
Although Old Liu addressed Lin Jianze as Elder Brother, he questioned him in an official manner without the slightest personal feeling. “What exactly happened? Do you know who killed your Elder Brother?”
As he spoke, he dispersed the Unnecessary people present and searched for clues that might have been left inside the Taoist Temple.
“Constable Liu, you know that my Elder Brother was a Bao Yi in this area and always handled affairs with the utmost fairness. Even if he offended someone, it would only be over some minor matter that could be settled with a few banquets. It was impossible for him to invite a Disaster of bloodshed.”
Lin Jianze’s eyes grew increasingly red, and his Fists clenched with repeated cracks. “If you insist on asking about suspicious people, there is indeed one.”
“Who?”
“The phony Daoist Priest who tells fortunes on West Street in the County town.”
“Oh?!”
“Yes. I heard my Elder Brother mention him. Three days ago, my Elder Brother accepted an invitation to drink in the County town and encountered that phony Daoist Priest. He insisted that my Elder Brother had a Disaster of bloodshed and said that he could avert the disaster by spending money. My Elder Brother Paid no attention to him, and then… his corpse was found exposed in the Wilderness.” Lin Jianze choked up and wiped away his tears, unable to continue.
His prediction had been quite accurate.
Xiang Yuan cursed inwardly and roughly understood what the victim’s family member meant. The phony Daoist Priest had no Ability at fortune-telling, but he did have the Ability to use fortune-telling to extort money. When the victim encountered the phony Daoist Priest and refused to spend money, the phony Daoist Priest killed him.
First, this would Prove that he possessed Divine calculation and the ability to predict events like a god. Second, he could use the Opportunity to open up a Source of wealth.
Still, there was indeed some possibility.
However, several points did not make sense.
Take the simplest one. Lin Jianfeng had died at the Little Morality Temple, which was in the middle of nowhere, with neither a village ahead nor a shop behind. The people of Lin Family Village had only learned of his death after receiving the news. Given these circumstances, it seemed more like he had arranged to Meet someone there.
What decent person would come to a ruined Taoist Temple in the Wilderness at Nighttime? Would they not be afraid of running into a ghost?
Xiang Yuan faintly felt that something was amiss. Either Lin Jianze knew nothing and had misunderstood the fortune-telling Daoist Priest, or he had done it deliberately and deliberately framed him.
In any case, there was something wrong with both brothers!
Old Liu pondered for A moment, then said softly, “Elder Brother Lin, let me ask you plainly. Your Lin Family Village and Zhao Family Village have never gotten along. You have quarreled several times over the fish market on the Nu Shui River, and there have often been fights. Is it possible that the Lin Bao Yi blocked someone’s Source of wealth and was therefore ambushed?”
“The good-for-nothing fools from Zhao Family Village only know how to throw their Fists around. Even if you gave them ten times the courage, they would not dare harm my Elder Brother.” Lin Jianze shook his head repeatedly.
“That is true.”
After questioning him, Old Liu walked around the Taoist Temple and carefully inspected every inch of it, inside and out. He bade Lin Jianze farewell, called for Xiang Yuan to ride away with him, and prepared to go to West Street to question the fortune-teller known for Iron Mouth Direct Judgment.
On the way, the two slowed their horses, each lost in thought.
Old Liu broke the silence. “Xiang Yuan, what do you think?”
“I cannot see anything for now. I only feel that the victim’s family member— I mean, the deceased’s younger brother— is Concealing something. He insists on blaming the fortune-telling Daoist Priest, as if he were deliberately misleading us.” Xiang Yuan honestly explained his Guess.
“I feel the same way, but no matter what, we still have to go take a look at West Street.”
Old Liu narrowed his eyes slightly. “I have heard of the ability of ‘Iron Mouth Direct Judgment.’ They say his divinations are extremely accurate, and that he often helps people avert disasters and resolve difficulties. He is said to be a figure resembling an Immortal…”