On the way back to the County town, Old Liu intentionally nurtured Xiang Yuan’s ability to solve cases independently, bringing out all the clues he had gathered.
Xiang Yuan began analyzing them one by one.
“The Nu Shui River has a swift current and produces plump fish. Lin Family Village and Zhao Family Village are located where the current is calmer. Both villages make their living by fishing, and conflicts have continued to arise over the pricing at the fish market…”
“Old Liu, you mentioned Zhao Family Village, yet Lin Jianze didn’t take the opportunity to frame them. He didn’t even say a single malicious word like ‘it’s possible.’”
“There were no traces of fighting inside the Little Morality Temple…”
“Lin Baoyi entered the Taoist Temple at night, so he should have been secretly meeting an Acquaintance. He had Opening Apertures Cultivation and formidable Martial arts, but he never expected the murderer to launch a surprise attack. That was why he was slain by One Blade.”
At this point, Xiang Yuan looked at Old Liu and asked for confirmation: “Lin Jianze has far too many Flaws. Even if he isn’t the murderer, he is still confusing the situation and Concealing the murderer’s whereabouts.”
“That’s right. Therefore, we shouldn’t Stay long at the Little Morality Temple.”
Old Liu sighed. Lin Jianze had more than a dozen people at the Qi Refining Stage and one person at the Opening Aperture Stage, and they were close to the Territory of Lin Family Village. He would never dare arrest Lin Jianze on the spot and take him to the Yamen for questioning.
Xiang Yuan nodded secretly. This was what one called professionalism.
“Old Liu, Lin Jianze has far too many Flaws. It’s Obvious that he came up with his countermeasure in a hurry. He should have guessed who the murderer was—most likely someone from Zhao Family Village. The dead man was his Elder Brother, yet he can let go of the hatred of having his brother murdered. Could there be some kind of deal between him and Zhao Family Village?”
Xiang Yuan continued asking, “He was panicking just now. After returning, he will definitely have discovered that he exposed a Flaw. If we go back to the Yamen and summon him for questioning, will we still be able to find him?”
“It would be better if we couldn’t find him.”
“Huh?!”
“We aren’t the Six Doors. To solve a case, we need witnesses and physical evidence, and at the very least, we need to find the murder weapon. Reasoning alone is useless. Captain Liu won’t listen to this, and Lord Sima is even less willing to hear it. If we return to the Yamen and summon Lin Jianze, then if he flees out of guilt, the case will actually become easier to handle.” Old Liu spoke meaningfully.
“The murder weapon might be in Zhao Family Village…”
Xiang Yuan stopped halfway through his sentence and secretly said, “That’s it.”
So what if they knew the murder weapon was in Zhao Family Village? Could they go look for it? What if the people from Lin Family Village came too? Together, the two villages had more than a hundred brawny men.
By then, they could forget about searching for anything. He and Old Liu would be meeting at the bottom of the Nu Shui River, each with his own Seat of honor.
The case analysis was basically complete. Xiang Yuan asked, “Old Liu, once we return to the County town, should we go straight to the Yamen, or go to West Street to find Iron Mouth Direct Judgment?”
“Go to West Street, To prevent any unforeseen circumstances.”
Old Liu imparted more Experience. They would set aside Lin Jianze’s exposed Flaws for now. Since he had mentioned Iron Mouth Direct Judgment, they had to follow the Procedure and make the trip. Perhaps there was also a problem with Iron Mouth Direct Judgment—perhaps a fake Daoist Priest had truly been committing murder for money.
“If Iron Mouth Direct Judgment did it, then Lin Jianze’s Flaws would have another explanation…”
Following that line of thought, Xiang Yuan said quietly, “Lin Family Village and Zhao Family Village appear to be at odds on the surface, but secretly collude with each other. They must have committed many illegal deeds. Lin Jianze was afraid their dealings would be uncovered, so he Proactively helped Zhao Family Village escape blame.”
Old Liu looked at Xiang Yuan in astonishment. His Ability to draw inferences from one example truly did not seem like that of a Youngster who had been cooped up in a Martial arts school.
Xiang Yuan’s little face reddened. “Old Liu, did I say something wrong?”
“No. You were born to make a living as a Constable.”
Old Liu teased him, then said, “You don’t need to put on an act, either. There are plenty of smart people in the World. You aren’t the only one, so there’s no need to Conceal your abilities.”
Xiang Yuan sighed inwardly. The fact that there were Too many smart people in the World was not good news for an Outsider like him.
If possible, he hoped the average intelligence of this World was only seventy.
After passing Yulin Academy and traveling another five miles, the two of them saw the western gate of the County town in the distance, along with a fortune-telling Daoist Priest carrying a signboard on his shoulder.
The Daoist Priest wore a Black Daoist Robe. It was plain and even somewhat shabby. The signboard on his shoulder bore Yin Yang and Gossip designs, along with the words:
“Iron teeth and copper tongue speak the truth;
Golden eyes and fiery pupils illuminate Qiankun.”
His Long Beard fluttered in the wind, and he seized the initiative by speaking first. At a glance, he truly seemed to possess some Ability.
Xiang Yuan wore a face full of confusion. Although he had yet to hear the fortune-telling Daoist Priest introduce himself, he already had a rough idea of who the other party was.
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment!
Old Liu was also somewhat confused. He Proactively dismounted and walked over. “Daoist Priest…”
“The two Constables, This Daoist has been waiting for you for quite some time. Earlier, your horses were too fast, and This Daoist’s foot speed was limited, so I failed to Catch up.”
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment directly interrupted Old Liu and pulled a short blade wrapped in White cloth from his satchel. “This Daoist has come to report a case. Just after the city gates opened, someone stuffed this object in front of This Daoist’s Home, frightening This Daoist half to death.”
“…” x2
If you want to report a case, go to the Yamen! What are you doing blocking the road here?!
Old Liu and Xiang Yuan exchanged a glance, both feeling their scalps tingle. Xiang Yuan in particular cried out in his Heart: There really are Immortal-like figures in this World who can divine everything!
Xiang Yuan was still in shock when Old Liu regained his Reaction Speed first. He accepted the blade wrapped in White cloth and asked, “May I ask Iron Mouth Direct Judgment, who killed Lin Baoyi?”
“His greed.”
“…” x2
Old Liu was speechless this time as well. Of course he knew that Lin Family Village and Zhao Family Village were not clean. That wasn’t what he had asked. Iron Mouth Direct Judgment was pretending not to understand despite understanding perfectly, and this was Boring.
What, did he have to pay before you would tell his fortune?
Thinking of this, Old Liu tightly squeezed out two taels of Silver and sincerely asked, “Old Immortal, who killed Lin Baoyi?”
“Zhao Zhifan, Zhao Baoyi of Zhao Family Village. The murder weapon is buried in the woods in his Backyard. Starting from the left, third row, fourth column. Dig three feet and three inches beneath the tree, and you will find it.”
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment weighed the Silver in his hand and said, “The two Bao Yis accepted illicit goods from the Five Poisons Sect of the Southern Border. They could not agree on how to divide the spoils, and thus suffered this calamity.”
Good heavens, was the case solved just like that?
No, wait. It was only two taels of Silver! Could that really settle such a major matter?
Xiang Yuan stared dumbfounded. Iron Mouth Direct Judgment continued, “Of all people to frame, they had to frame This Daoist. If I don’t explain everything clearly today, the Yamen will certainly make use of This Daoist’s head.”
“That—that won’t happen.”
Old Liu raised his sleeve and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He stared Dryly at Iron Mouth Direct Judgment, wanting to speak but stopping, then wanting to stop but speaking.
“Constable, there is no need to worry. This Daoist is destined to suffer a term of imprisonment today. This is a path to liberation, and This Daoist is delighted beyond words. I will accompany you to the County Yamen.” Iron Mouth Direct Judgment handed the two taels of Silver to Xiang Yuan.
“…” x2
“You knew that too.” x2
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment had explained things too clearly—so clearly that it was As if he had been standing on the Side watching everything. There was suspicion that he was an accomplice, so they had to take him back to the County Yamen for questioning.
Of course, if he was unwilling, Old Liu would not force him, lest he bring about a Disaster of bloodshed.
How much Silver could he earn in a month? Why risk his life?
Xiang Yuan accepted the Silver and acted very well-behaved. Respectfully, he said, “Old Immortal, rest assured. Over the next few days, I will Arrange good food and wine for you. I guarantee that you will eat and drink well in the Prison and will not Feel wronged in the slightest.”
At the Side, Old Liu repeatedly nodded in agreement.
“That’s good. I’ll trouble you…”
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment stroked his gray-white Long Beard and narrowed his eyes as he examined Xiang Yuan several times. He stared at him until Xiang Yuan felt chills run down his spine, only then withdrawing his Gaze.
“Marvelous!”
“Marvelous!!”