Lesser Morality Temple

Old Liu was in a hurry to find Xiang Yuan because a murder case had occurred. By the Nu River outside the city, a corpse was discovered in a dilapidated Taoist temple on a desolate mountain.

Xiang Yuan sheathed his saber and quickly followed Old Liu, asking, "Who is the deceased? Do the local Baoyi Officers have any leads?"

When Old Liu had explained things yesterday, he had mentioned that the major villages outside the city all had Baoyi Officers. He figured they should have found some clues over there. If not, according to Dezhou's simple customs, they should investigate the Baoyi Officers.

Of course, the above deduction only held true if the deceased was a local villager. If the deceased was a person of the martial world, it would be understandable for the Baoyi Officers to have no leads.

"Lin Baoyi didn't say anything, because the deceased is him!"

"..."

Sigh, as expected of our Dezhou.

The two retrieved swift horses from the County Yamen and headed straight for the west gate of the county town.

Although it wasn't market day today, the streets were bustling with people. White steam rose from the steamers, and the aroma was enticing, making people unable to resist stopping.

Unlike the East Street, paved with money, this was the true appearance of an ordinary county town.

Xiang Yuan was still a bit clumsy when he first got on the horse, but he soon became proficient due to muscle memory. Lu Ming was right; once you learned something, you never forgot it; it was already etched into your bones.

At this moment, the city gate had just opened. Many students dressed as scholars walked along the main road, and occasionally, one could see carriages from wealthy families.

After about five li, Xiang Yuan spotted an academy.

The stone steps and pillars were quite grand. Amidst the wind blowing through the trees, it stood in secluded tranquility. He followed the steps and got a clear view of the entrance.

Yulin Academy.

A couplet was written on both sides of the main gate:

With propriety, cultivate the self; with music, enlighten and nurture talent. With martial prowess, stabilize the nation; with learning, prosper the world.

As Xiang Yuan turned his head, the horse beneath him couldn't help but slow down. Old Liu turned back and said, "This is Instructor Wang's academy. Don't look any further; time is of the essence."

Xiang Yuan nodded and followed. The twenty-li journey was covered in the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

The dilapidated Taoist temple was named 'Lesser Morality Temple.' It was built halfway up the mountain and had been abandoned for many years, with no one to care for it.

This 'Morality' had nothing to do with the True Lord Qingxu Daode worshipped by the top Qingxu Sect of Western Chu. Its origin was much greater; it was the Heavenly Venerable of Morality, one of the Three Pure Ones of Taoism.

Xiang Yuan saw an Immortal from his own world again in this異世界. He was no longer as surprised as he was at first. If Shaolin Temple could be found everywhere in the myriad worlds, it was not strange for the Heavenly Venerable of Morality to appear here.

The two tied up their horses. Old Liu quickly entered the Taoist temple. Xiang Yuan lagged a step behind and saw the couplet on both sides of the temple gate.

The golden paint was mottled, and it was faintly visible.

If intentions are wicked, no amount of incense burning will help; If one's character is upright, why should one bow to me?

Such a couplet on Morality, paired with the murder case inside the Taoist temple, had a rather ironic and dramatic flair.

Entering the inner hall of the Taoist temple, about a dozen burly men dressed as martial artists stood quietly. Some gritted their teeth, others had fierce looks in their eyes. Only two people were conversing in a corner.

Seeing the arrival of the two constables, the two conversing separated. One walked out of the Taoist temple alone, while the other walked towards Old Liu.

Xiang Yuan glanced sideways. The person leaving alone was tall, with arms that reached past his knees. There was a conspicuous scar on the left side of his cheek.

"Constable Liu, why are you here so soon? We regret not welcoming you properly."

Lin Jianze of Lin Family Village stood before Old Liu with clasped hands. His eyes were red, as if he had just finished crying. He looked at Xiang Yuan and asked, "This constable looks unfamiliar. May I ask your name?"

"Brother Lin, please accept my condolences. He is the new constable of this county, Xiang Yuan, and he's here with me to investigate the case." Old Liu looked at the white cloth covering the ground.

"Please come this way, gentlemen..."

Old Liu lifted the white cloth to examine the body. The deceased's eyes were wide open in anger. He had been stabbed in the back, his bones broken, and he had died on the spot.

Xiang Yuan silently observed and learned. The deceased was Lin Jianfeng, a Baoyi Officer from Lin Family Village. He was found dead in the Taoist temple early in the morning. The people of Lin Family Village rushed over upon hearing the news and helped secure the scene.

Old Liu carefully examined the body and stood up, saying, "He died last night. The killer delivered a fatal blow in one strike; this is no amateur. I've only done a cursory examination. For the specific details, we'll need the coroner to perform an autopsy."

"Then my elder brother's remains..."

"They can be placed in the Yi Zhuang (charity morgue)."

"Thank you, Constable Liu."

"It's my duty."

Although Old Liu addressed Lin Jianze as "Brother" and called him "Old Brother," he conducted the investigation professionally, without any personal sentiment. "What exactly happened? Do you know who killed your elder brother?"

As he spoke, he dispersed the idle bystanders and searched the Taoist temple for any clues that might have been left behind.

"Constable Liu, you know, my elder brother was a Baoyi Officer for this region. He handled matters with the utmost fairness. Even if he offended someone, it would be a minor issue, resolved with a few banquets. It wouldn't lead to a murderous end."

Lin Jianze's eyes reddened, and he clenched his fists, making cracking sounds. "If I had to mention any suspicious individuals, there is one."

"Who?"

"The fake Taoist fortune-teller on the west street of the county town."

"Oh?!"

"Yes, my elder brother told me. Three days ago, he was invited to the county town for a meal and met that fake Taoist priest. The priest insisted he was facing a Disaster of Bloodlight and could avert it by spending money. My brother ignored him, and then... his body was found abandoned in the wilderness." Lin Jianze choked back tears, unable to continue.

His divination was quite accurate.

Xiang Yuan thought to himself, roughly understanding the victim's family's intention. The fake Taoist priest had no real fortune-telling skills, but he was adept at using it to extort money. When the victim refused to pay, the fake priest killed him.

This would not only prove his divine foresight and ability to predict events but also open up a path to wealth.

It's plausible, I suppose.

However, there were a few points that didn't add up.

Take the simplest one: Lin Jianfeng died at the Lesser Morality Temple, a place far from any village. Lin Family Village only received the news after he was already dead. This kind of behavior suggested he had arranged to meet someone there.

Who in their right mind would go to a desolate mountain temple in the middle of the night? Aren't they afraid of ghosts?

Xiang Yuan had a sneaking suspicion that something was amiss. Either Lin Jianze was completely unaware and had misunderstood the fortune-telling priest, or he was deliberately trying to frame someone.

In any case, both of these brothers have issues!

Old Liu pondered for a moment and whispered, "Brother Lin, let me ask you something clearly. Your Lin Family Village and Zhao Family Village have always been at odds, quarreling over the Nu River fish market several times, often leading to fights. Is it possible that Lin Baoyi blocked someone's path to wealth, leading to his assassination?"

"Those good-for-nothings from Zhao Family Village can only throw a few punches. They wouldn't dare harm my elder brother even if you gave them ten times the courage," Lin Jianze repeatedly shook his head.

"That's true."

After Old Liu finished asking, he circled the Taoist temple, carefully inspecting it inside and out. He bid farewell to Lin Jianze and called Xiang Yuan to ride away together, preparing to head to West Street to question the Iron Mouth Diviner.

On the road, they slowed their horses, each lost in thought.

Old Liu broke the silence, "Xiang Yuan, what do you think?"

"I can't tell anything concrete yet. I just feel like the victim's family, I mean, the deceased's younger brother, is hiding something. He's insisting on the fortune-telling priest, as if deliberately trying to mislead us," Xiang Yuan truthfully shared his suspicions.

"I feel the same way, but regardless, we still need to go to West Street."

Old Liu narrowed his eyes. "I've heard of the Iron Mouth Diviner's abilities. They say his divination is incredibly accurate, and he often helps people avert disasters. He's like an Immortal..."