"We will search Danyang Academy all night."
"There was no one in the academy, and no clues were found. I checked against the list and found that all the people who were not present yesterday had disappeared. I then sent out hunting dogs and found more than a dozen corpses in the back mountain."
"After being identified by the disciples of the academy, they are the supervisor, book office, treasurer and servants working in the academy."
"The only thing I couldn't find is the head priest Liu DanQiu!"
Zhou Kai narrowed his eyes slightly, "He has no family?"
The commander of Qianhu of the Guard clasped his fists and said, "My subordinates have inquired, this Liu DanQiu is the Confucianism warlock, and he originally lived in Gui Prefecture City."
"Ten years ago, Maitreya Sect rebelled against Guanzhong. Later, a plague appeared on the battlefield and spread to Ezhou. All Liu DanQiu's family members fell ill and died, leaving only one grandson."
"Later, his grandson went out to study and met a river robber and died. Since then, Liu DanQiu has lived in a cottage in the mountains and will only come back when offering sacrifices in the academy..."
When Sha LiFei heard it, he rolled his eyes and whispered, "Yan XiaoGe, why does it sound familiar? It can't be the one who caused trouble at Zhu Family Fortress, right?"
Li Yan was a little strange, "I have reported it a long time ago. If so, counting the time, Confucianism should have come to get the person long ago..."
Zhou Kai next to me quickly asked, "What are you two talking about?"
Li Yan did not hide anything and told the story.
After all, this Zhou Kai is considered a Confucian, even if he is not a warlock, he should know these things.
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Zhou Kai said thoughtfully, "I'm afraid you two are not clear. If it is an ordinary case to be reported, in Ezhou, it must be sent to the Wenjin Academy first, and then the documents will be sent to check with the heads of various academies."
"It will take a lot of time to go back and forth. But if Apocryphal Prophecy is involved, they will definitely use the court station to send the message quickly. Three days is enough..."
"Come here, bring Wu DeFa!"
There was a sound of chains, and County Magistrate Wu DeFa was dragged up.
Although he was imprisoned, he was still an official, so he was not severely tortured. He just had disheveled hair and a dazed expression.
Zhou Kai said coldly, "Wu DeFa, I would like to ask you, Wenjin Academy, can you send a document requesting verification of the academy's head priest?"
Having caused such a big disaster, Wu DeFa knew that he was in danger of escaping. At this moment, he was already devastated and did not hide it. He lowered his head and said in a low voice, "These things are all handled by Advisor."
"What a waste!"
Zhou Kai had a look of disgust on his face, and he was immediately dragged down, and then Advisor was taken from the prison.
This Advisor is even more of a scum. Although he is not ChaoShan Society, he has been bribed and has done many immoral things.
During the interrogation last night, he was beaten until he was covered in blood.
Seeing the ferocious looks on everyone's face, how could he dare to conceal anything and explain everything.
Indeed, Wenjin Academy has sent a letter a few days ago.
But ChaoShan Society's gang leader Lu Yuan suddenly found him and used the information in his hand as a threat to force him to write a reply and secretly stamped it with the county magistrate's seal to fool him...
These alone are enough to determine the identity of the other party.
Daoist Feng shook his head and said, "Pindao has also come into contact with this Master Liu. Since the death of his family, his personality has become weird. I am afraid that at that time, he has already started to come into contact with the ghost sect."
"Although he is a Confucianism warlock, he is old and frail, does not know how to box or kick, and only knows some ritual rules. He is not valued by others, and his life is relatively poor."
"I didn't expect that I actually learned Apocryphal Prophecy secretly. I really made a mistake..."
General Qianhu of the Guard clasped his fists again and said, "Sir, we have searched the nearby mountains and found no traces of the demon. Please give us your order on what to do next."
Zhou Kai said in a deep voice, "This matter may be related to the Turen Mountain City. You just have to guard the city and don't slack off!"
"Yes!"
Qianhu of the Guard House clasped his fists and accepted the order, turned around and left.
After he left, Zhou Kai narrowed his eyes slightly and whispered, "Li Shaoxia, from last night's confession, it can be seen that Wu Shiqing likes Buddhist scriptures and often goes to Guangxiao Temple outside the north gate to repay his kindness."
"When the accident happened, I was returning from there. Maybe there was something wrong with that place. There was also Old Official Temple in the west of the city. Weird things happened one after another."
"Please leave secretly and go investigate."
Li Yan suddenly understood, "Do you doubt Qianhusuo?"
Zhou Kai said in a deep voice, "Zigui Qianhu Station is stationed all year round. Although we are not allowed to go out without military orders, such a big incident has never been reported before! Also, the news leaked too quickly."
"I suspect that some people in Qianhusuo have joined the ghost sect. During the Song Dynasty, they lured many officials to join the sect with huge profits, which only made the trouble bigger and bigger."
"Zigui County is in a precarious situation now, so we have to be on guard. They didn't follow the rebellion yesterday, maybe they have a bigger plan."
"Except for the people brought from Yunyang, there are only a few people I can trust."
Li Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, "Aren't you afraid, sir?"
The general judge Zhou Kai looked calm and said, "Young Hero Li There is no need to test. Although the officialdom is dirty, it is related to Divine Land the country. If everyone is complicit, how can I, Daxuan, stand for a hundred years without falling?"
"I want to stabilize the people in the city. The reinforcements sent by Yichang will arrive tomorrow, and then we will be safe."
"Okay!"
Li Yan cupped his hands and turned to leave.
"Pindao, follow you guys!"
Daoist Feng stood up quickly, "City God Temple There is a secret passage that can lead directly to the outside of the city. You are not familiar with the road, and Pindao can help you."
"That's fine."
Li Yan could see Old Taoist's thoughts. He was clearly afraid after hearing that Qianhu Office might have problems.
After they left, Judge Zhou Kai sighed, took out the map and slowly spread it out. His face became darker as he looked at it.
"Jingchu Mountain People, Heavenly Saint Sect, Ghost Cult, Bo Prefecture Yang Family..."
What Sha LiFei said just now reminded him unintentionally.
Judging from the map, the Jingchu rebel army has occupied Zhushan County, and there is only one Shennongjia between Zigui County.
Shennongjia is full of fog and has been a forbidden area since ancient times. Not only are there ferocious beasts and poisonous insects, but there are also all kinds of mountain spirits and ghosts, which are so absurd and bizarre that very few people can come out after entering the mountain.
But Jingchu Mountain People has been entrenched in the mountains for hundreds of years, and maybe it has already found a passage, so that it can directly invade Zigui County...
Further to the west is Wushan, which is also mysterious and unpredictable, and has a natural Secret Realm, which is a hard nut that Orthodox Xuan Gate has never cracked.
After passing Wushan, the power of the Yang family, the chieftain of Bozhou, is very strong. Qingcheng Mountain It would be good if Qingcheng Mountain can hold on to one side...
Further south, they all belong to the Xiangxi Miao Region district. The Great Wall of the South was built and many guard posts were stationed to suppress the Miao border and isolate Unassimilated Miao and Assimilated Miao.
The territory of Shi Prefecture belongs to Assimilated Miao, including Sanmao Tusi, Tangya Tusi, Jindong Tusi, Longtan Tusi, Zhongjian Tusi, Maoling Tusi, Shinan Tusi and other Tusi City.
Nowadays, Tangya Tusi is the one who is taking a clear-cut stand in rebellion, and is the strongest among the chieftains. Some of the rest are waiting and watching, and some are siding with the imperial court.
He came here this time to appease the chieftains who did not want to participate in the rebellion, so that they would not move around until the imperial court dealt with Jingchu Mountain People.
Zigui County, happens to be among the three parties, dividing the forces of each party, like a nail embedded in it, and it is also the choke point leading to Bashu.
If this place is lost, those forces will probably unite together, and even the chieftains who side with the imperial court will be coerced into joining the rebels.
Thinking of this, Zhou Kai felt as if there was a mountain on his shoulders, weighing him down and making him breathless...
"Young Hero Li, I'm afraid Zigui will suffer!"
In the tunnel, Daoist Feng held a torch with a bitter look on his face, "I am not a fool, but this place is special. Every move I make, Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect, will cause trouble, so I can only stay here City God Temple."
"Although the Xuanmen dharma lines have the same origin and are both Divine Land righteous ways, they are not so harmonious with each other."
"Bamboo Mountain Sect Ancestral Altar In Zhushan, now the old nest has been taken away, and this area will not be let go. The two sides have restrained each other, which has led to the bitter fruit now."
"Zigui County is too important. The ghost sect is plotting here. It is definitely not as simple as just killing a few people and offering sacrifices to ghosts and gods."
Sha LiFei also felt numb, "Do you doubt that they will bring troops to attack Zigui County?"
"From the north or the south?"
Daoist Feng shook his head and said, "Jingchu Mountain People from the north can only come through Shennongjia. They are now facing the main force of the imperial court, and reinforcements from various states are on the way. It is estimated that they will not be able to take action."
"Most likely, it came from the south."
Sha LiFei scratched his head, "What should we do? How about we call the Daoist priest and run away?"
Li Yan said in a deep voice, "Since I agreed to Prefect Zhou, let's do some research first."
"Moreover, the army is mobilized. How can there be no movement? The reinforcements will arrive tomorrow, and there will be many Xuanmen monks accompanying them. Let's leave then."
Daoist Feng also sighed, nodded and said, "I'm not in a hurry to run now, but I have to be careful."
"When there is a war, even a warlock's life is at a loss..."
The tunnel exit of City God Temple was dug very cleverly. It happened to be at the corner of a mountain col, and it was very secret.
The three of them pushed back the flaps against the falling dust, and then spread earth and rocks again to cover it. Even if someone passed by, it would be difficult to find it.
There are two locations they want to investigate: Old Official Temple in the west of the city and Gratitude and Filial Piety Temple outside North Gate.
The tunnel exit is in the west of the city, so naturally go to Old Official Temple first.
"Old Official Temple is beside Chi Creek River."
Daoist Feng introduced it as he walked, "The locals call it Chi God Temple. It was built by the government and is also called Old Official Temple."
Li Yan asked casually, "Is it a Daoist temple or a Buddhist temple?"
Daoist Feng shook his head, "It belongs to the local Daoist temple and has some background."
"This temple was originally called Yellow Demon God Temple and was built in the Xiantong period of the Tang Dynasty. Xiao Gou was demoted from Youshi to Qiannan. He returned to Zizi after passing the Three Gorges. Meng Shen, with red hair and blue eyes, called himself Yellow Demon God and wished to protect the Duke from this place. Empress Xiao was the prime minister, and the Meng God returned home, so the temple was built.
Later, Yellow Demon God became Three Gorges Water God. It was quite efficacious at that time, and boatmen and people nearby often worshiped it. However, after the Song Dynasty and during the Daxing Period, the temple was no longer efficacious, and the incense began to decline.
Now it has been in disrepair and is about to collapse. There is only a lonely old man living in the temple, cleaning it up..."
While they were talking, the three of them had arrived at the Chi Creek River.
The sky is gloomy today and drizzle is hazy.
There were many people by the river holding oil-paper umbrellas, old and young, carrying baskets or paper flags made of ingots and white paper, walking in twos and threes towards the nearby mountains.
"That's a local custom, called Tomb Sweeping Hanging."
Seeing that Li Yan noticed the unique paper flag, Daoist Feng explained, shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Tomb Sweeping Day is here, I should be busy, but this year's Three Patrols Festival, I'm afraid it won't be open."
Li Yan comforted, "If after the chaos, there will be She Ling Soldiers in the future, Three Patrols Festival will definitely be more lively."
Tomb Sweeping Day, the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, First Day of the Tenth Month, collectively known as Three Great Ghost Festivals, Earth Yin Energy rising, Yin Soul ghosts are active.
Divine Land Everywhere at this time, a grand City God street patrol will be held. At that time, there will be a team carrying City God on the patrol, with gongs and drums noisy.
The people who made a vow to atone their sins would wear prison clothes and shackles, pretend to be prisoners, and follow behind the team, just like the underworld escorting ghost prisoners.
At the same time, She Ling Soldiers will also go out on patrol, wandering around the nearby mountains and rivers to frighten the ghost Yin Soul and make it difficult for them to cause trouble.
For City God Temple everywhere, Three Patrols Festival is very important, even the temple fairs during the Chinese New Year cannot compare to it.
But this situation Gui Prefecture City obviously cannot be solved.
While they were talking, everyone had come to a bend along the Chi River. They saw that the surrounding area was full of peach trees, with peach blossoms and fallen flowers.
There is an old ruined temple hidden among the peach trees.
Most of the walls outside the temple have collapsed, several side halls are in disrepair, some have collapsed, and some roofs are covered with wormwood and have big holes.
Only the main hall barely remains intact.
The outer wall of the temple collapsed, so there was no obstruction. Seeing the smoke curling up inside, the three of them held oil-paper umbrellas and entered the main hall in the drizzle.
"Master Feng Dao, you are here."
The old man guarding the temple came out after hearing the sound. He was in rags and had gray hair. He was no better than a beggar and he walked with a limp.
Daoist Feng frowned, "Who hit me?"
The old man sighed and said, "A few beggars passing by wanted to occupy the ruined temple. If something strange had not happened in the temple and scared them away, the old man would not have been able to save his life."
When Feng Old Taoist heard this, his eyes were full of apologies, "There have been so many things lately that I didn't have time to see you. I'll ask someone to send you some rice, flour, and diesel when I get back."
The old man's eyes were filled with joy and he quickly thanked him, "Daoist Master is merciful."
Feng Old Taoist nodded and asked, "What strange thing happened in the temple? I am waiting to investigate this matter."
"It's nothing."
The old man looked at the temple and sighed, "Every night during this period, you can faintly hear crying in the lobby, but when you enter with a torch, you can't find anyone."
"Once we left, the candles went out and the crying started again. The people nearby were so scared that they didn't dare to come near. Maybe it was Lonely Souls and Wild Ghosts who was staying in the temple."
Sha LiFei was a little strange, "Master, are you not afraid?"
The old man looked calm, "Old man, I am lonely and helpless. Living in this world, there is no difference between me and Lonely Souls and Wild Ghosts. They are both pitiful people. There is nothing to be afraid of."
Daoist Feng shook his head slightly when he heard this, "It's been a bit uneasy recently, why don't you leave early to avoid anything happening."
The old man shook his head, "It doesn't matter. I'm used to living here. Even if I die here, I'll be at ease."
Daoist Feng sighed, without further persuasion, and asked the old man to lead a few people to the main hall.
The wooden door of the main hall has long been lost and is empty. Before entering the temple, you can see that it is dilapidated inside. A ferocious statue of a god is covered with dirt and its paint is mottled and has long since decayed.
The moment he stepped into the main hall, Li Yan felt a heat in his waist, and then white mist rose around him...