Iron Mouth Diviner

On the way back to the county town, Old Liu, intending to foster Xiang Yuan's ability to solve cases independently, laid out all the clues he had gathered.

Xiang Yuan began to analyze them one by one.

"The Nu River's current is swift, producing plump fish. Where the water is calm are Lin Family Village and Zhao Family Village. Both villages make their living by fishing, and there are constant disputes over fish market prices..."

"Old Liu, you mentioned Zhao Family Village, but Lin Jianze didn't take the opportunity to frame them, not even saying a word like 'it's possible'."

"There are no signs of a struggle within Lesser Morality Temple..."

"Lin Baoyi entered the Daoist temple at night, likely to meet someone he knew. He has Acupoint Opening cultivation and formidable martial arts skills. He didn't expect the killer to ambush him, which is why he was killed with a single blow."

Saying this, Xiang Yuan looked at Old Liu for confirmation, "Lin Jianze has too many flaws. Even if he's not the killer, he's muddying the waters and hiding the killer's tracks."

"Exactly, so we shouldn't linger at Lesser Morality Temple."

Old Liu sighed. With over a dozen Qi Refining Stage cultivators and Lin Jianze, who was at the Acupoint Opening Stage, and being close to Lin Family Village territory, he absolutely dared not apprehend Lin Jianze on the spot and take him to the yamen for questioning.

Xiang Yuan secretly nodded. This was what professionalism looked like.

"Old Liu, Lin Jianze's flaws are too obvious; it's clear his strategy was hastily conceived. He probably guessed who the killer is, most likely someone from Zhao Family Village. The deceased was his brother; to let go of the hatred for his brother's murder, is he in cahoots with Zhao Family Village?"

Xiang Yuan continued to ask, "He was flustered just now. After he returns, he'll surely discover his flaws have been exposed. If we summon him to the yamen again for questioning, will we still be able to find him?"

"It's better if we can't find him."

"Huh?!"

"We're not Six Doors. To solve a case, we need both witness and material evidence, at the very least, we need to find the murder weapon. Pure deduction is useless. Constable Liu won't listen to this, and Lord Sima is even lazier. If we summon Lin Jianze to the yamen and he flees out of guilt, the case will actually be easier to handle," Old Liu said meaningfully.

"The murder weapon might be in Zhao Family Village..."

Xiang Yuan stopped mid-sentence, realizing.

So what if he knew the murder weapon was in Zhao Family Village? Could they go look for it? What if people from Lin Family Village also showed up? The two villages combined had over a hundred burly men.

At that point, they wouldn't be looking for anything; he and Old Liu would be meeting at the bottom of the Nu River, each with their own VIP seats.

The case analysis was basically complete. Xiang Yuan asked, "Old Liu, after we return to the county town, should we go directly to the yamen or to West Street to find the Iron Mouth Diviner?"

"To West Street, just in case."

Old Liu imparted his experience again. Regardless of the flaws Lin Jianze had revealed, since he mentioned the Iron Mouth Diviner, the proper procedure had to be followed. Perhaps the Iron Mouth Diviner was also involved, a fake Daoist priest committing murder for profit.

"If the Iron Mouth Diviner did it, then Lin Jianze's flaws make sense..."

Xiang Yuan followed the train of thought and whispered, "Lin Family Village and Zhao Family Village are outwardly at odds but secretly collude. I'm afraid they've engaged in plenty of illegal activities. Lin Jianze, fearing exposure, deliberately helped Zhao Family Village cover up."

Old Liu looked at Xiang Yuan in surprise. Such ability to deduce and generalize was truly unlike that of a young boy holed up in a martial arts school.

Xiang Yuan's small face blushed, "Old Liu, did I say something wrong?"

"No, you were born to do this constable job."

Old Liu teased him, then added, "Don't pretend. There are plenty of smart people in this world; you're not the only one. No need to hide your talents."

Xiang Yuan sighed inwardly. Too many smart people in the world was not a good thing for an outsider like him.

If possible, he wished the average IQ in this world was only seventy.

Passing Yulin Academy, after another five li, the two men saw the west gate of the county town in the distance, along with a fortune teller carrying a banner.

This Daoist priest wore a simple, even somewhat shabby, black Daoist robe. On his shoulder, he carried a banner painted with Yin and Yang Bagua, and it also read:

Sharp tongue, bronze teeth, speaks true words; Golden eyes, fiery pupils, see through the universe.

His long beard fluttered, making an imposing first impression; he truly looked like a man of some skill.

Xiang Yuan was dumbfounded. Although he hadn't heard the fortune teller introduce himself, he had a rough idea of who the person was.

The Iron Mouth Diviner!

Old Liu was also a bit stunned. He dismounted and walked over, "Reverend..."

"Two constables, this humble Daoist has been waiting for a long time. Earlier, your horses were too fast, and this humble Daoist's speed was limited, so I couldn't catch up."

The Iron Mouth Diviner directly interrupted Old Liu and took out a short knife wrapped in white cloth from his saddlebag. "This humble Daoist is here to report a crime. As soon as the city gates opened, someone stuffed this into the doorway of my humble abode. It truly frightened me."

"..." x2

If you're reporting a crime, go to the yamen! Why are you blocking us here!

Old Liu and Xiang Yuan exchanged glances, both feeling a prickle of unease, especially Xiang Yuan, who exclaimed in his heart, Are there truly immortal beings in this world who can divine the future?

While Xiang Yuan was still in shock, Old Liu reacted first. He took the cloth-wrapped knife and asked, "May I ask the Iron Mouth Diviner, who harmed Lin Baoyi?"

"It was his greed."

"..." x2

Now Old Liu was speechless. Of course, he knew Lin Family Village and Zhao Family Village were not clean. That wasn't what he was asking. The Iron Mouth Diviner was playing dumb, and that was no fun.

What, do I have to pay you to get a reading?

Thinking this, Old Liu reluctantly took out two taels of silver and sincerely asked, "Old Immortal, who harmed Lin Baoyi?"

"Zhao Zhifan, Bao Yi of Zhao Family Village. The murder weapon is buried in the woods behind his house, the third row from the left, fourth column. Dig three feet and three inches under the tree, and you will find it."

The Iron Mouth Diviner weighed the silver and said, "The two Bao Yi accepted contraband from the Southern Border Five Poisons Cult, and a dispute over the spoils led to this misfortune."

Good heavens, the case is solved just like that?

No, it's only two taels of silver, and that's enough to handle such a big matter?

Xiang Yuan was dumbfounded. The Iron Mouth Diviner continued, "Who else could they frame but me? If I don't explain this clearly today, the yamen will surely take my head."

"This, this won't happen."

Old Liu raised his sleeve and wiped the sweat from his brow. He looked dryly at the Iron Mouth Diviner, wanting to speak but stopping, wanting to stop but speaking.

"Officer, there's no need to worry. This poor Daoist is destined for a prison sentence today. I'm already overjoyed to be freed from it, so I'll go with you to the county yamen." The Iron Mouth Diviner handed the two taels of silver to Xiang Yuan.

"..." x2

You knew that too. x2

What the Iron Mouth Diviner said was too clear, so clear it was as if he had been watching from the side. He was suspected of being an accomplice and had to be taken back to the county yamen for questioning.

Of course, if he was unwilling, Old Liu wouldn't force him, lest he invoke a Disaster of Bloodlight.

How much silver did he earn in a month? Why risk his life!

Xiang Yuan took the silver, very obediently and respectfully said, "Old Immortal, please rest assured. I will help you arrange good wine and meat these few days, guaranteeing you will eat and drink well in prison without suffering any grievances."

Beside him, Old Liu nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"That's good, thank you for your trouble..."

The Iron Mouth Diviner stroked his gray-white long beard, narrowed his eyes, and examined Xiang Yuan a few times, making him so creeped out that he finally looked away.

"Wonderful!"

"Wonderful!!"