After the rain, the sun shone brightly in March. Li Jinglong left the wine shop and split into two groups. Mo Rigen, Lu Xu, Qiu Yongsi, and Atay continued to head towards Zhao Ling, while Li Jinglong, Hongjun, and Ashina Chong headed towards Qian Ling. After he finished speaking, he called for Atay and gave him some instructions in a low voice.
Qiu Yongsi had just returned to Chang 'an and had not even caught his breath when he insisted on following. Li Jinglong did not force him and said, "Everyone, work hard. After this is over, let's have some fun."
"You still owe us one." Qiu Yongsi threw something to Li Jinglong. Li Jinglong raised his hand and caught it, saying, "Don't forget. Let's go!"
Thus, everyone mounted their horses and left Chang 'an as if they were going for a walk.
Hongjun originally thought that Li Jinglong would act alone with him, but he did not expect that he would bring along Ashina Chong. This was his first time going on a mission with Ashina Chong, so he could not help but be filled with curiosity towards him.
The only time the two had worked together was to deal with Lu Xu, who had run away very quickly. After returning, Ashina Chong seemed to have received a warning from Atay and did not often come to provoke Hongjun. At this time, he was filled with curiosity towards Ashina Chong. In front of outsiders, Li Jinglong had always maintained a deadpan appearance.
Qian Ling was located to the north of Chang 'an, facing Liangshan. It was very close to the Imperial City. This place was different from Zhao Ling. Ever since Li Xian of the Center Sect, Li Longji had an obvious hatred for Wu Jiong and only sent fifty people to guard the tomb. Last night, half of the ghosts had died. Immediately, everyone panicked and wanted to escape back to Chang 'an as soon as possible. However, the six armies had given the death order that whoever dared to escape would be beheaded. Even so, no one dared to come within a thousand paces of the entrance to Qianling.
The Mausoleum Guards were originally under the command of the Six Armies. As time passed, they gradually became an independent organization. They did not go to war, nor did they go out with the Emperor. They were transferred to the Ministry of Rites. Every year when the Emperor led the hundreds of officials to offer sacrifices, they would pretend to be busy a few times. These days, even the soldiers did not necessarily go out to war. Who would have thought that guarding the mausoleum could cost one's life?
By the time Li Jinglong arrived, the mausoleum guards were already trembling in fear, as if a great disaster was about to befall them. They were not allowed to run, but they also did not dare to approach. On the drill ground in front of the mausoleum, there were twenty-five corpses covered in white cloth. An official of the Supreme Court and a clerk were looking at them.
"The Exorcism Division is here!"
"Li Jinglong! It's Li Jinglong! "
The mausoleum guards were holding Buddhist prayer beads, grinding jade, and burning incense. As soon as they saw Li Jinglong, it was as if they had seen their savior. They wanted nothing more than to immediately stuff Li Jinglong into the mausoleum. The people of Chang 'an had always liked to mock him for not doing proper work, for idling about, and for believing in ghosts and gods. Now that they saw him, they instead felt sincere worship. Before Li Jinglong felt fear, he did not believe in this evil. But once he believed in it, what Li Jinglong did became a proper profession, and catching ghosts became a skill.
"Marquis Yadan."
The official of the Supreme Court personally came out to greet him. He bowed to Li Jinglong, then cupped his fists to Hongjun and Ashina Chong.
"Cheng … Cheng …" Hongjun remembered what Huang Yong had said.
"Cheng Xiao." The young man, the deputy minister, replied.
Cheng Xiao was only seventeen or eighteen years old. Looking at his appearance, he was actually only slightly older than Hongjun. Although he was also a bright youth, compared to Hongjun, his temperament was instantly inferior.
"Oh, you came to the Supreme Court?" Li Jinglong said casually.
Hongjun saw the two greet each other and actually recognized him. Li Jinglong then said to Hongjun: "Cheng Xiao used to be in the Shenwu Army and was a meticulous detective."
"I don't dare." Cheng Xiao said with a smile, "I still haven't congratulated Changshi on being conferred marquis."
To be able to become an official at eighteen years old, he must have some ability. Hongjun remembered that day when Huang Yong had informed them, he had also mentioned that Cheng Xiao had entered Zhao Ling. However, he and Lu Xu had hurriedly entered and left, so the two sides had not met.
Right, everyone is very smart, only I am stupid. Hongjun thought to himself, the former Qin Wu, the current Cheng Xiao, these youths all seem to be very familiar with Li Jinglong.
Ashina Chong sensed it and winked at Hongjun. Hongjun thought to himself, How come all of you seem to know what I am thinking? He could only pretend not to see.
"Tell me the situation." Li Jinglong said.
"Thirteenth day and night." Cheng Xiao said seriously, "A group of five guards on duty at Zhao Ling were said to have been killed by a malicious spirit while patrolling at night …"
Hongjun walked in front of the corpses. The rows of corpses had yet to be collected. They had been there since last night, causing the drill grounds in front of the mausoleum to be filled with gusts of cold wind.
"… That night, one went crazy, and four died. I and the bailiffs went to Zhao Ling to investigate and found traces of blood. When we reached the main gate of Zhao Ling, we were blocked by the dragon-breaking stone. It can be imagined that the dragon-breaking stone was opened at that time. "
Hongjun thought to himself, This is similar to what I found.
"But there is a pool of blood on the dragon-breaking stone." Hongjun said, "Was it hit?"
Cheng Xiao and Li Jinglong looked at Hongjun. Cheng Xiao said, "It is inferred that one person ran into the dragon-breaking stone when he was running away. His neck was broken in half, and blood spurted out everywhere. Then the dragon-breaking stone opened and he was dragged in."
Hongjun knelt on one knee and uncovered the white cloth covering the corpse. An extremely disgusting smell assailed his nostrils, almost making Hongjun vomit.
"After we raised the dragon-breaking stone, we found a corpse in the middle of the tomb."
"What about the person who went crazy?" Li Jinglong asked.
"Dead." Cheng Xiao said, "He was scared to death. According to the clues at the scene, I guess that the madman and his companion heard a strange sound, so the two of them went in to investigate. The two of them escaped at the same time. One of them was killed by having his neck cut off, and the other was scared to death … "
Ashina Chong heard the beginning and guessed the rest. "Then the monster chased after them, killed the other three, and captured the madman."
"Monster … Okay." Cheng Xiao answered, "Maybe."
"When you went to investigate, what did you find in the tomb?" Li Jinglong asked.
"Nothing." Cheng Xiao answered, "Only the madman's corpse."
Li Jinglong and Hongjun looked at each other. Hongjun felt that something was wrong. Nothing? Wasn't there Xie Yu? After Cheng Xiao went in, the tomb was empty. He took the corpse out, closed the door, and left the tomb. In the end, he walked in, but found Xie Yu with Lu Xu?!
Hongjun wanted to ask, but Li Jinglong stopped him with a look.
"The situation here is that I arrived two hours earlier than you. I left the Supreme Court at dawn and came here in a hurry."
Hongjun saw that the corpse's face was black and purple, as if it had been poisoned by some strange poison. The smell was nauseating. Ashina Chong bent down beside him, took out a throwing knife, and gently poked the corpse.
Hongjun frowned, but Ashina Chong waved his hand, indicating that it was okay, and handed him a sachet. Li Jinglong immediately noticed and said, "Hongjun, come here."
Hongjun responded, but did not go over. He followed Ashina Chong to check the twenty-five corpses. Cheng Xiao said, "Last night, these twenty-five people were all present. Their necks were all twisted, but it was more like they had been poisoned by some strange poison … There's no need to check. I've already used silver needles, and they can't be detected."
"Silver needles can only be used to detect the most common poison," Hongjun said, "Some flowers and plants can't be detected after they've poisoned people to death."
"It's not an ordinary poison." Ashina Chong said.
Li Jinglong said, "So, there's nothing unusual in the tomb, and the door wasn't opened."
"No." Cheng Xiao muttered, "It's more troublesome than Zhao Ling. We don't have any witnesses."
After the incident at Zhao Ling, the remaining tombs all sent more people. The news must have spread out by now.
"We still have to go to Zhao Ling to take a look." Cheng Xiao said, "To compare the details of the crime."
"We've already sent out the brothers from the Exorcism Division." Li Jinglong answered, and walked straight to Hongjun. The two looked at the corpses lying on the ground, after the white cloth was removed.
"They're all children." Li Jinglong said, "What kind of demon did this?"
Cheng Xiao took out a pair of gloves and put them on. Hongjun remembered that Li Jinglong also had these gloves. Li Jinglong said lightly, "You've practiced well."
"It's all because of you." Cheng Xiao said politely.
"Demon?" Cheng Xiao asked Li Jinglong.
"You still don't believe that there are demons in the world?" Li Jinglong said casually.
Cheng Xiao prepared to start the autopsy, and said seriously, "Marquis, forgive me for being blunt, but I still don't believe that there are many demons and ghosts in the world, unless I see it with my own eyes …"
Hongjun hesitated for a moment, then patted the Carp Demon behind him and said, "Zhao Zilong, come down and investigate the case."
The Carp Demon had been listening from behind, but he didn't say anything. At this moment, he suddenly somersaulted out, drawing an arc in the air before landing firmly on the ground, holding the Flower of Departed Souls powder pouch in his hand. He looked around and said, "I'll do it!"
"…" Cheng Xiao was speechless.
The bailiff was so shocked that he cried out, but Cheng Xiao barely managed to maintain his composure. Li Jinglong said, "Do you believe me now?"
The Carp Demon moved closer and stroked the whiskers by his lower lip, saying, "It smells weird."
Cheng Xiao stared straight at the carp. In the end, he nodded with fear.
Ashina Chong said, "Twenty-five bodies have the same smell."
"Can you smell it?" Hongjun asked the Carp Demon.
The fish's sense of smell was extremely sensitive in the water, but after leaving the water and on land, it wasn't that good. Li Jinglong had a bright idea and said, "Come here."
He fetched a bucket of water outside the Ling Guards' lodgings and had the Carp Demon soak in the water. He then placed a corpse's helmet inside. As soon as the helmet entered the water, the Carp Demon popped its head out with a splash and said, "Wine!"
"Drinking … drinking wine is normal in the army." It was Cheng Xiao's first time talking to a carp. It was obvious that his heart was in turmoil, but he was barely able to maintain his composure. For a moment, his mind was blank, and he almost forgot what he wanted to say.
"Wine." Ashina Chong said, "People who drink to death all have this smell."
"What?" Cheng Xiao was shocked.
If twenty-five people could drink to death, then how much wine did they drink?
Hongjun rarely drank, but he trusted the Carp Demon's judgment. The Carp Demon hugged the helmet and pattered over, smelling the corpses one by one. Seeing this, Hongjun's hair stood on end. But to the Carp Demon, smelling people's corpses was as common as humans smelling dead fish, shrimp, and crabs. In the end, it said, "They drank to death."
Cheng Xiao's face was full of confusion.
Li Jinglong said in a low voice, "You didn't learn it well. It's wine."
Li Jinglong and Ashina Chong looked at each other, while Hongjun walked towards the Ling Guards' lodgings. The ground was a mess, but the smell of wine was very faint, almost undetectable.
Ashina Chong smelled the cup and said, "Strong wine."
When they were guarding the mausoleum last night, presumably the Ling Guards had more or less drunk. However, this was the first time they had seen someone drink to death. Li Jinglong came to the entrance of Qianling and took the initiative to lead the way.
"You can go back." Li Jinglong said to Cheng Xiao.
Cheng Xiao was unwilling to leave. He only ordered the bailiff to wait outside and followed Li Jinglong into Qianling.
Outside Qianling, there was a one-zhang tall iron gate that sealed the entrance. There were also iron chains and a heavy lock. Hongjun was about to throw a flying knife when Cheng Xiao hurriedly said, "I'll go borrow the key."
Ashina Chong indicated that there was no need. He inserted the flying knife in his hand into the keyhole. Back and forth a few times, the lock made continuous noises, and finally it opened with a "kacha."
Qianling was pitch-black, and a faint wind blew out of the passageway. The wind carried the smell of the dead corpses, and the further they went in, the more obvious it became. Hongjun asked in a low voice, "Do we light a lantern?"
"No." Li Jinglong answered, "You don't have to do anything."
He took out a small box, and there was a buzzing sound inside. Three fireflies flew up and flew into the dark passageway.
With so many people and Li Jinglong present, Hongjun was no longer as suspicious as before, but he still couldn't help but approach Li Jinglong. Li Jinglong consciously blocked in front of him.
"Do you want to go out first?" Li Jinglong asked.
"No." Hongjun answered.
Cheng Xiao looked back at Hongjun with a strange expression. Under that light, Hongjun felt slightly strange and asked, "What's wrong?"
Cheng Xiao didn't answer. Everyone followed the passageway into the main hall. Hongjun wiped his sweat and was very nervous. The position of the underground palace in the tomb was intricate and complicated, like a huge underground maze.
Qianling Tomb was built in the style of Chang 'an City. The outside was the outer city, and the inside was the imperial city. There were also a large number of halberd-wielding iron tomb guards standing on both sides. Among them, there were countless three-colored and funerary objects.
The Son of Heaven Sacrificial Ceremony usually ended here. There was another door above, and behind the door was Li Zhi and Wu Zetian's coffins.
"Continue?" Ashina Chong asked.
The voice was especially abrupt here. Li Jinglong hurriedly raised his hand to stop it and looked up. There was a ventilation hole high up in the tomb. Li Jinglong said to the Carp Demon, "Zhao Zilong, please go in and take a look."
Hongjun threw the Carp Demon up. The Carp Demon clung to the edge of the tomb, wagged its tail, and went in. Everyone waited outside.
"There's nothing." The Carp Demon answered, "Only two coffins, but there's a strong smell of wine inside."
Li Jinglong glanced at the tomb door in the middle and said in a low voice, "Let's go."
Cheng Xiao wanted to say more, but Li Jinglong indicated that there was no need to say more. Everyone left the tomb. Li Jinglong said to Cheng Xiao, "Go back to the Supreme Court. The Exorcism Division will take over this case. Tell Official Huang not to waste any more effort, lest the bailiff's life be wasted."
"But …" Cheng Xiao seemed to be in a difficult position.
"There are no buts." Li Jinglong said seriously. He then signaled to the bailiff in the distance to give the Carp Demon a look. The Carp Demon went over. Not long after, the bailiff sneezed, and the Carp Demon quickly ran back.
Cheng Xiao sized up Li Jinglong. In the end, he could only give up. Li Jinglong then ordered the tomb guards outside to send the corpse back to the Chang 'an, and the Supreme Court to bury the corpse. Ashina Chong said, "Meet up?"
"No." Li Jinglong said, "Go back to the Chang 'an. Ashina Chong, do you know how to draw talismans? Just draw something on the outside. "
Ashina Chong drew a Zoroastrian martial god symbol to calm the tomb guards. Li Jinglong explained to them that there wouldn't be any more hauntings, so they could rest assured. Then, he left with everyone.
The three people and one fish returned to the Chang 'an. They had originally agreed to meet up at the wine shop, but Li Jinglong entered the Exorcism Division on his own. Hongjun wanted to enter the hall, but Li Jinglong grabbed his collar.
"Change into casual clothes." Li Jinglong ordered.
Hongjun: "???"
Hongjun was the only one wearing a linen shirt. Since Li Jinglong said so, he had no choice but to wear it. A moment later, the three of them arrived at the backyard. Li Jinglong quietly climbed over the courtyard wall and entered the neighbor's house.
Next to the Exorcism Division was the Chang 'an Rural Field Officer Shen Fu, which was in charge of the Guanzhong Plains. It was under the jurisdiction of the Chang' an County Officer Shen Fu. On normal days, it was a clean government office. Only in spring and autumn, it was slightly more lively, approving documents and calculating measurements. A few civil servants were usually clean, so they were bored to death in the government office. After the three of them landed, Li Jinglong pushed open the back door of the Shen Fu and took a detour to leave.
After many twists and turns, the three of them mixed in with the common people leaving the city and left the Chang 'an again. Li Jinglong used money to rent a donkey cart from the common people outside the city and headed northwest to Mount Phoenix.
"Where are we going?" Hongjun sat on the donkey cart and thought it was quite fun. He didn't know what Li Jinglong's intention was.
"It's useless to hide," Ashina Chong said, "If they really want to spy on us, they can still see through us even if we change our clothes."
"I bet they can't see through us," Li Jinglong answered, "We have to take a gamble."
"Who's spying on us?" Hongjun asked.
"Xie Yu's subordinate," Li Jinglong said, "If I were him, I would definitely spy on us every day."
"Where are we going now?" Hongjun asked again.
"Dingling," Li Jinglong answered.
Dingling was the tomb of Li Xian of the Middle Sect. In comparison, it was obvious that Li Longji was closer to Li Xian. After Li Xian passed away, the tombs were also the most luxurious. Ashina Chong asked, "How many tombs are there?"
"Xian Tomb," Li Jinglong answered, "Inside is the High Sect. Qiao Tomb, inside is the Rui Sect."
Before Li Longji, there were a total of six including Wu Jiong. However, Wu Jiong and Li Zhi were buried together, so there were five imperial tombs. They were Xian, Zhao, Qian, Ding, and Qiao. They were all located in the mountains around Chang 'an. Hongjun roughly understood that Li Jinglong planned to wait for rabbits to appear.
"Five imperial tombs." Li Jinglong said, "I don't know why, but I keep feeling that something is going to happen. Since Xie Yu started it, he's actually brazenly luring us over."
"Not necessarily," Ashina Chong answered, "I'm still guessing. What if Xie Yu isn't smart?"
Not long after, the three of them arrived at Dingling. Li Jinglong said, "Ashina Chong, help us open the lock first, then go to Qiao Tomb and meet up with Atay. This way, we'll split into three teams."