Chapter 043: The Intersecting List

Luo Feng immediately asked what I had figured out, and I told him I understood why Yun Gao always obstructed the police investigation and deliberately tried to frame Yun Qing. Luo Feng was startled. I glanced around, then told him dusk was approaching and we needed to leave. While there was still some light, I took out the camera I had brought and photographed the tool marks on the backyard wall of Feiji Villa.

Afterwards, we quietly left the villa district. Once in the car, I began to explain everything in detail to Luo Feng.

Yun Gao was certainly not the primary culprit; his alibi was too thorough and genuine. Yet, this didn't rule out the possibility that he was an accomplice. If analyzed logically, assuming Yun Gao was an accomplice, his fear of exposure would lead him to blame others and manipulate media to interfere with the police—this would be entirely reasonable.

However, I had essentially dismissed the possibility of Yun Gao being an accomplice. Through multiple encounters with him, combined with Luo Feng's investigations, we had gained a deep understanding of Yun Gao’s character. He was not foolish; framing his own sister would inevitably attract police scrutiny, leading them to investigate him as well, increasing the chances of his crimes being uncovered.

Moreover, Yun Gao repeatedly and quite conspicuously interfered with the investigation—inviting editors of major newspapers to dinner, or luring those thugs into the village through Da Xi. While not blatant, both we and the police could easily uncover these actions with minimal probing.

If Yun Gao was not the culprit behind the Ghostly Banquet case, he would not be so foolish as to draw the police’s suspicion upon himself. And if he were an accomplice, the true culprit would surely restrain Yun Gao’s actions, ensuring any interference or redirection of suspicion was carried out covertly—matching the mastermind’s meticulous thinking.

The real murderer was far more clever than Yun Gao.

“From what you're saying, it seems Yun Gao really isn't likely to be an accomplice,” Luo Feng said, gripping the steering wheel. “Then why is he doing this?”

I thought for a moment and replied, “Because if the suspect is arrested, it could affect Yun Gao’s future—or even bring him ruin.”

Yun Gao’s repeated imprudent actions not only ruled him out as an accomplice, but also convinced me he hadn’t colluded with the culprit, nor could the murderer control him, forcing him to act cleverly. What was certain, however, was that Yun Gao knew who the real killer was.

Our investigation had made it clear—Yun Gao had no one he wanted to protect. Eliminating all other possibilities, only one remained: everything Yun Gao did wasn’t to help the real culprit, but to protect himself.

And for Yun Gao to protect himself, he had to ensure the real murderer remained safe. In other words, Yun Gao was connected to the killer, and if the murderer was caught, other matters detrimental to Yun Gao would be exposed.

Luo Feng hit the brakes; my deduction left him too distracted to drive. He pulled over, urging me to continue, and in surprise, asked whether Yun Gao had committed other crimes with the murderer. I nodded, saying it was highly likely.

Yun Gao was a businessman; if he had committed crimes, they were probably economic in nature, so I planned to investigate in that direction. But my focus wouldn’t be there. What I needed to investigate was the Pine Three Temple.

Luo Feng was taken aback. Ever since the old Taoist master passed away and Xuan Yi left the port, we had seldom mentioned Pine Three Temple. Luo Feng asked, “That temple is strange, but didn’t you already investigate it? Aside from that mysterious old Taoist and Xuan Yi’s ageless legend, there wasn’t anything odd.”

I shook my head. “No, there’s another group we haven’t looked into. Previously, investigating them seemed unrelated to the case, so I didn’t waste time. But now, it seems very necessary.”

The group I referred to were the secular disciples taken in by Pine Three Temple. Luo Feng lit a cigarette, already guessing my meaning. This group was indeed peculiar; Luo Feng had previously investigated them and found that after spending two years on the mountain, every disciple who left was met with success, their careers flourishing.

If it were just one or two, it could be coincidence, but apart from Yun Qing, the expelled disciple, every single one succeeded like Yun Gao—too incredible to be mere chance. I suspected someone, or some force, was facilitating their success. If this proved true, Pine Three Temple was connected to that person or force, or perhaps was the very factor driving the disciples’ achievements.

“Religion can cultivate a person's temperament, but it can also deeply manipulate their minds. Yet, religion alone is never so miraculous. Their success must be orchestrated.” My eyes narrowed, voice chilling, “I suspect their success is connected to crime.”

Luo Feng quickly asked, “What makes you think that?”

“From the sudden change in Yun Qing and Yun Gao’s relationship,” I answered.

Once my thoughts cleared, all those things I’d overlooked or couldn’t understand before came back into focus. Yun Qing and Yun Gao had been very close, but after their three months together at Pine Three Temple, their relationship deteriorated rapidly, turning hostile.

Of course, the hostility had limits. Judging by Yun Qing’s willingness to confess, it was clear she still cared deeply for her brother; otherwise, she wouldn’t have confessed, nor indirectly colluded with the short-haired woman after Yun Gao visited her. I surmised Yun Qing was protecting Yun Gao.

During her three months at Pine Three Temple, Yun Qing likely uncovered an earth-shattering secret, prompting her change in attitude towards Yun Gao.

Yun Qing surely knew Yun Gao wasn’t the murderer, but she was aware that if the real killer was caught, the secret of Pine Three Temple would surface, bringing disaster to Yun Gao. This was not mere speculation; apart from the shift in their relationship, I recalled the scene that night at Pine Three Temple.

Within the Forbidden Gate, I heard Yun Qing’s voice but couldn’t find her. At the time, I thought I was mistaken. Later, in the interview room, I noticed the marks on her wrist and dirt on her clothes, deducing she had been kidnapped and taken to Pine Three Temple. Her reaction confirmed my suspicion.

Her next appearance was when she tearfully confessed.

“At Pine Three Temple, someone must have told Yun Qing something, prompting her sudden confession,” I continued to Luo Feng.

This made me all the more certain that Pine Three Temple was problematic.

Luo Feng scoffed, saying that the temple, under the guise of Taoism, was clearly up to disgraceful deeds. I nodded in agreement, having gained a deeper understanding of Yun Qing. She was proud and rebellious, but would never commit murder or arson; at most, she’d use the title of master to extort money.

Yun Qing was an anomaly among all the secular disciples. She hadn’t followed the path of success like the others, even sneaking into the Forbidden Gate and nearly setting Pine Three Temple ablaze. Perhaps, after discovering its secret, she refused to be a part of it and left after attempting to burn the temple.

With her personality, this was entirely plausible.

“Why didn’t she call the police?” Luo Feng asked.

“If she did, Yun Gao would be ruined. Yun Qing doesn’t truly hate him,” I answered.

Luo Feng had never visited Pine Three Temple, but I and Chen Fan had told him everything we saw and heard there in detail. I asked if he remembered how, when the Forbidden Gate caught fire, the old Taoist still forbade anyone from entering, yet the blaze was extinguished shortly after.

Luo Feng recalled that the temple’s followers regarded the old Taoist as almost supernatural, largely because he single-handedly put out the fire so quickly. I told Luo Feng that, without firefighting equipment, it was nearly impossible for one person to extinguish such a blaze—especially in so short a time.

Luo Feng grew perplexed, so I pressed further: “Why did Yun Qing set fire only to the courtyard inside the Forbidden Gate? This suggests the secret she discovered is connected to that place. I suspect there is a group of hidden people within the Forbidden Gate; the fire wasn’t extinguished by the old Taoist alone, but by those hidden individuals working together, hence its rapid suppression.”

Luo Feng was stunned and asked if I had found those hidden people when I entered the Forbidden Gate. I shook my head, but immediately linked this to hearing Yun Qing’s voice yet not seeing her. Inside the Forbidden Gate, there might be a highly concealed area where these people hide whenever secrets are at risk of exposure; Yun Qing, when kidnapped, was hidden there.

“I wonder if the real murderer is one of the secular disciples. If the culprit is caught, Pine Three Temple’s secret would come to light, implicating Yun Gao. That’s why he’s so anxious. Yun Qing knows this secret, so Yun Gao exploited her feelings for him, sending her to the stand and silencing her—killing two birds with one stone.”

Luo Feng nodded, agreeing with my reasoning. Yet he was troubled; over the years, Pine Three Temple had taken in quite a few secular disciples—not just a handful. If we had to investigate them one by one, it would take a long time.

Three days would never be enough.

“No, we need to find intersecting lists.”