Twist Off Their Heads and Pry Them Open to See What They're Made Of

"That is the Abbot of Golden Dragon Temple." White-Bearded Old Daoist seemed to have noticed Fan Wu's confusion and deliberately explained, "This old Daoist once heard that before he took refuge in Buddhism, he had been a bandit in the mountains."

"Later, for some unknown reason, he put down the butcher's knife and became a monk of Golden Dragon Temple. Now, he is the Abbot of Golden Dragon Temple."

"So it is only natural for him to have a bit of a fiery temper."

As he said this, White-Bearded Old Daoist could not help glancing at Fan Wu.

Because of Fan Wu's outrageously brawny build, along with that fierce air radiating from his entire body...

He looked more like a mountain bandit than the Abbot of Golden Dragon Temple did!

"Although the Abbot of Golden Dragon Temple spoke rather crudely just now, he was not wrong." White-Bearded Old Daoist frowned as he analyzed, "The one who caused havoc at the County Yamen last night was probably not some demon or monster. If it was, then it must have been a great demon."

"But if it were a great demon capable of ignoring imperial aura, why would it need to act so furtively? And why would it allow those Runners to leave safely? It makes no sense at all. After all, demons eat people!"

"So... this old Daoist believes that the one who caused trouble at the County Yamen last night was more likely a person!"

"Fellow Daoist Fan, what do you think?!"

What could Fan Wu say?

He had not even known before that the County Yamen was protected by imperial aura.

What opinions could he offer under such circumstances?

What views could he express?

If he said something carelessly,

he feared he would give himself away!

Besides, he had come here intending to coast along. Now that he had seen several truly capable people in the County Yamen, he became even more determined to coast along...

As long as he did not exert himself, he could perfectly avoid some of the dangers he might encounter next.

Once this White-Bearded Old Daoist and the Abbot of Golden Dragon Temple solved the County Yamen's troubles...

he could simply ask the County Magistrate for his reward.

And then...

make a run for it!

"This humble Daoist thinks so as well." In the end, Fan Wu put on an ambiguous smile and uttered a meaningless remark.

"I did not expect Fellow Daoist Fan to share this old Daoist's thoughts. Then it seems the truth must indeed be so!" White-Bearded Old Daoist declared. Then, somewhat ruefully, he added, "As expected of the Heavenly Master's disciple. This old Daoist took quite some time to understand what was happening, yet Fellow Daoist Fan realized it the moment he arrived."

"Alas, the waves behind drive the waves before them! Merciful, merciful."

Fan Wu: "?"

Fan Wu had thought that his swindler master had merely deceived the officials of Prison Dragon County, along with those rich landlords.

Who would have thought that his swindler master could even fool cultivators?

Well, damn...

Could it be that this White-Bearded Old Daoist was too old and dim-sighted to see that his swindler master was a complete fraud?

"Ah, right. Age has made this old Daoist a little muddleheaded. Fellow Daoist Fan, you probably do not know this old Daoist, do you?" White-Bearded Old Daoist stroked his beard and continued, "This old Daoist's Daoist name is Yang Yizi. In my younger days, I was something of a wandering Daoist! Later, I settled down in Prison Dragon County and took in two little Daoist acolytes."

Yang Yizi—Fan Wu had some impression of that Daoist name, though not much.

In his memories, that swindler master had mentioned the name before.

He remembered that his swindler master seemed particularly wary of a Daoist named Yang Yizi.

Perhaps his swindler master knew that Yang Yizi possessed the real deal and did not want too much contact with him.

Otherwise, once exposed...

he would be sitting in prison until the bottom fell out!

"Amitabha, you ox-nosed... ahem! Daoist Master Yang Yizi, have you discovered any clues over there?" The fat-headed, big-eared, foul-mouthed Abbot of Golden Dragon Temple came over.

He looked rather simple and plump, even fairly amiable at first glance.

But who could have imagined that such an Abbot of Golden Dragon Temple had once been a mountain bandit!

Yang Yizi did not get angry. He seemed to be an old acquaintance of the Abbot of Golden Dragon Temple.

He had long grown accustomed to the other man's crude speech.

He voiced his own speculation.

When the Abbot of Golden Dragon Temple heard Yang Yizi's conjecture, he frowned.

But when he heard that Fan Wu agreed as well...

his brows relaxed.

The Abbot of Golden Dragon Temple fingered his prayer beads and suddenly understood. "So someone is up to mischief... this Daoist Master Fan of Dragon-Imprisoning Monastery thinks so too! Then the truth of the matter may well be exactly that. Damn it, the Old Heavenly Master's true disciple really is formidable! Far stronger than the bunch of useless rice buckets in my temple!"

"Abbot..." the Warrior Monk reminded him weakly.

"Amitabha~"

"..."

Fan Wu: "?"

For a moment, Fan Wu truly wanted to twist off all their heads, then pry open their brains and see what sort of strange construction lay inside.

"Fellow Daoist Fan, what do you think we should do next?" The moment Yang Yizi finished speaking,

almost everyone present focused their gazes on Fan Wu.

Fan Wu was completely numb!

If they could not resolve the strange incident at the County Yamen, then he would not receive the reward promised by He Caisheng, the County Magistrate of Prison Dragon County.

Without that reward, his travel funds for fleeing would amount to only a dozen or so taels of silver.

He had intended to fish in troubled waters and let the others solve this matter while he reaped the benefits.

But who knew... these people had actually taken him for their pillar of support!

Whether monk or Daoist,

everyone present thought Fan Wu was impressive.

Damn!

The root of all evil was still that swindler master of his!

"Where does the County Yamen keep its evidence?" Fan Wu drew a deep breath. Rather than answering Yang Yizi, he asked this question instead.

Yang Yizi was startled, but he still replied, "Before entering the County Yamen, this old Daoist asked the County Magistrate and the others. They told me the locations throughout the County Yamen. The place where the County Yamen stores evidence is a storeroom on the eastern side, called the Archive Vault."

"Take me there." Fan Wu wanted to see whether that pair of leg shackles was still there.

Upon reaching the Archive Vault, Fan Wu glanced at the lock on its door.

Then, without the slightest courtesy, he drove a front kick into it.

Boom!!!!

The enormous bang startled everyone. Before their eyes, the thick doors of the Archive Vault were kicked flying by Fan Wu!

Even the iron lock hanging from the door had twisted out of shape.

Looking at the two door panels lying several steps away, the Abbot of Golden Dragon Temple swallowed hard and muttered in shock, "Damn it... if that kick landed on me, it would kick this Buddha's soul right out of him."

Fan Wu paid no attention to the monk's muttering.

He walked straight into the Archive Vault.

Then he saw a familiar pair of leg shackles lying quietly atop a wooden rack inside the Archive Vault.

The leg shackles had not been taken away?

Fan Wu frowned.

According to Constable Liu, not long after the other party brought the leg shackles back to the County Yamen, they encountered the strange incident.

Coupled with the bizarre talismanic script on the shackles,

that meant the strange incident was inextricably linked to this pair of leg shackles.

"Fellow Daoist Fan, you are looking at... hmm?" Yang Yizi stepped forward. Before he could finish speaking, his gaze was drawn to the leg shackles.

"This thing... carries such dense yin Baleful Intent!" Yang Yizi said in shock.

"You recognize it?" Fan Wu turned his head and asked.

Yang Yizi shook his head and replied, "This old Daoist does not recognize it, but the talismanic script on it looks extremely sinister. It must have been carved onto it by some wicked heretic with an evil heart."

Fan Wu asked again, "The Runners at the County Yamen did not tell you what happened with these leg shackles last night?"

Yang Yizi froze, then shook his head.

The Abbot of Golden Dragon Temple was the same.

Fan Wu: "..."

The County Yamen truly was full of useless wine sacks and rice bags!

They had not even told these monks and Daoists something so crucial. Were they not afraid of carelessly getting all these monks and Daoists killed?

Helplessly,

he could only recount what had happened last night in the simplest terms.

After hearing it, Yang Yizi and the Abbot of Golden Dragon Temple...

both sank into thought.