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"That is the Abbot of Jinlong Temple," the white-bearded Taoist seemed to sense Fan Wu's confusion and explained specifically, "Before he converted to the Buddhist sect, I heard he was a bandit in the mountains."
"Later, for some reason, he laid down his butcher's knife and became a monk at Jinlong Temple, and now he's the Abbot."
"So, it's normal for him to be a bit hot-tempered."
Upon saying this, the white-bearded Taoist couldn't help but glance at Fan Wu.
Because of Fan Wu's exaggeratedly robust physique and the wild aura emanating from his entire body...
He looked even more like a mountain bandit than the Abbot of Jinlong Temple!
"This Abbot of Jinlong Temple, although his words were a bit coarse just now, did not speak falsely," the white-bearded Taoist frowned and began to analyze, "The commotion at the county government office last night was likely not caused by any demons and devils. If it were, it must be a major demon."
"But such powerful demons that can ignore imperial influence would hardly act so covertly. Why would they let those constables leave safely? It makes no sense. After all, demons eat people!"
"Therefore... I believe that it's more likely that the culprit behind last night's incident at the county government office was a person!"
"Daoist Priest Fan, what do you think?"
What could Fan Wu say?
He didn't even understand the concept that the county government was protected by imperial influence until earlier.
In such a case, what suggestions could he make?
What opinions could he offer?
If he just blabbered randomly,
he might give himself away!
Moreover, he had intended to slack off from the beginning. Now that he saw a few genuinely capable people in the county government, this further reinforced his inclination to slack off...
As long as he didn't exert himself, he could perfectly avoid any dangers that might arise later.
After this white-bearded Taoist and the Abbot of Jinlong Temple had dealt with the troubles in the county government...
he would directly ask the Magistrate for the reward.
In the end...
Cash out!
"I have the same thoughts," Fan Wu finally said, revealing an ambiguous smile and speaking a noncommittal remark.
"I didn't expect Daoist Priest Fan to share the same thought with me. That must be the true situation then!" the white-bearded Taoist asserted, then with a touch of wistfulness added, "Daoist Priest Fan, truly a disciple of the Heavenly Master. It took some time for me to figure out what you understood upon arrival."
"Ah, the new waves do push the old waves! Mercy, mercy."
Fan Wu: "?"
Fan Wu had thought that his swindler mentor had only fooled the officials of Qiulong County and those wealthy landlords.
But unexpectedly, his swindler mentor could even deceive those in the Daoist community!
Ah, could it be because this white-bearded Taoist had poor vision and couldn't tell that his master was a major swindler?
"Right, I'm getting old and a bit muddled. Daoist Priest Fan, you probably don't recognize me," the white-bearded Taoist stroked his beard, continuing, "My Taoist name is Yang Yizi. I was a wandering Taoist priest when I was young! Later on, I settled in Qiulong County and took in two young Daoist acolytes."
Fan Wu had some impression of the name Yang Yizi, but not much.
In his memory, his swindler master had mentioned this name.
He remembered his master seeming to avoid this Taoist named Yang Yizi.
Probably because the master knew that Yang Yizi had real skills and didn't want to have too much contact with him.
Otherwise, once exposed...
he'd be imprisoned for good!
"Amitabha, bull-nosed... cough cough! Taoist Priest Yang Yizi, have you discovered any clues on your end?" the corpulent and outspoken Abbot of Jinlong Temple approached.
He looked quite plump and good-natured at first glance.
But who could have guessed that such an Abbot of Jinlong Temple was once a mountain bandit!
Yang Yizi wasn't angry; he seemed to be an old acquaintance of the Abbot.
He was already accustomed to the latter's coarse language.
He shared his own speculations.
When the Abbot of Jinlong Temple heard Yang Yizi's guess, he frowned.
But upon hearing that Fan Wu agreed...
his brows unfurled.
The Abbot of Jinlong Temple, twirling his prayer beads, had an epiphany, "So it was someone pulling strings... Daoist Priest Fan of Qiulong Temple also thinks so! Perhaps that is the true crux of the matter. Damn it, a true disciple of the Heavenly Master is really formidable! Much more so than the inept monks in my temple!"
"Abbot..." the Martial Monk said softly, as a reminder.
"Amitabha~"
"..."
Fan Wu: "?"
For a fleeting moment, Fan Wu really wanted to twist off all their heads and pry open their brains to see what kind of peculiar structure was inside.
"Daoist Brother Fan, what do you think we should do next?" As soon as Yang Yizi finished his question,
almost everyone present turned their gaze towards Fan Wu.
Fan Wu was completely numb!
If he couldn't solve the strange events at the county yamen, he wouldn't be able to claim the rewards promised by Magistrate He Caisheng of Qiulong County.
No reward meant that his travelling expenses would be limited to only a dozen or so silver taels.
He had planned to slack off and let others resolve the issue while he reaped the benefits.
But who knew... these folks had come to regard him as their pillar of support!
Whether monks or Taoist priests present,
they all thought Fan Wu was very impressive.
Damn it!
The root of all evil was still that swindler master!
"Where in the county yamen are the evidences stored?" Fan Wu took a deep breath and, without answering Yang Yizi's question, asked this instead.
Yang Yizi was taken aback but still replied, "Old Taoist had inquired before entering the county yamen, and they had told us about all the places inside yamen. The place where the evidences are stored is in a warehouse on the east side, called the Rack Cabinet Repository."
"Take me to see it," Fan Wu said. He wanted to check whether the shackles were still there or not.
Upon arriving at the Rack Cabinet Repository, Fan Wu glanced at the lock on the door.
Without any courtesy, his foot lashed out in a kick.
Bang!!!!
The loud noise startled everyone, as they saw the sturdy doors of the Rack Cabinet Repository being kicked flying by Fan Wu!
The iron lock hanging on the door was twisted out of shape.
Looking at the two door panels lying a few steps away, the Abbot of Jinlong Temple swallowed hard, murmuring in shock, "Mother of Buddha... If that kick had landed on me, it would've sent my soul flying."
Fan Wu paid no attention to the monk's muttering.
He walked straight into the Rack Cabinet Repository.
Then, he saw a familiar set of shackles lying quietly on a wooden rack inside.
The shackles weren't taken?
Fan Wu knit his brows.
According to Head Arrestor Liu's statement, it was shortly after the shackles were brought back to the county yamen that the strange events occurred.
Connecting this with the strange talismanic scripts on the shackles,
it meant that the occurrence of the strange events had an inseparable connection with this pair of shackles.
"Daoist Brother Fan, are you looking at... hmm?" Yang Yizi came over, and before he finished speaking, his gaze was drawn to the shackles.
"This object... Such strong and dense evil aura!" exclaimed Yang Yizi in shock.
"Do you recognize it?" Fan Wu turned his head and asked.
Yang Yizi shook his head and replied, "The old Taoist does not recognize it, but these talismanic scripts look very malignant. Surely some evildoer with ill intentions must have scribed them here."
Fan Wu asked again, "Didn't the constables at the county yamen tell you about the incident with these shackles last night?"
Yang Yizi was startled and shook his head.
The Abbot of Jinlong Temple did the same.
Fan Wu: "..."
The county yamen really is full of good-for-nothings!
Such a crucial matter, and they didn't even tell these monks and Taoist priests, not afraid that they might accidentally get these monks and Taoist priests killed.
Helpless,
he could only recount last night's events in the simplest of sentences.
After listening, both Yang Yizi and the Abbot of Jinlong Temple...
fell into contemplation.
...
...