Chapter 044: Return to the Temple of Three Pines

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Investigating one by one would certainly not be enough time. However, with Luo Feng’s abilities, gathering all the mundane disciples’ names from Samsong Monastery, along with their professions, ages, and other basic information in a short period would not be difficult. This was the first list I asked Luo Feng to compile.

As for the second list, it was also related to the village in the countryside. When Luo Feng went to investigate there, he was again interrupted by a few local thugs whom Yun Gao and Da Xi had lured back to the village, causing the investigation to be halted once more. I instructed Luo Feng to have someone continue the investigation, especially to pay attention to villagers who were originally from the village but no longer lived there.

Once both lists were completed, if my previous deductions were correct, there might be a name that appeared on both lists. That person would be highly likely to be the culprit, as they fit the profile I had deduced. Luo Feng was visibly excited, repeatedly praising the idea, and he quickly made a call to set things in motion.

When we returned to the hotel, the little ghost had already fallen asleep, but as soon as the door opened, she leapt up from the bed, her vigilance was extraordinary. Seeing that it was me, she immediately told me she was hungry. I felt a pang of guilt for neglecting her because of the investigation.

After preparing some food for her, the little ghost devoured it ravenously. Over the past few days, she had already gotten used to not eating raw meat anymore. While she ate, Luo Feng and Chen Fan were also in my room. We were discussing our next steps, and they both looked to me, as I had always taken the lead in the investigation.

After thinking for a moment, I asked Luo Feng if he knew where Da Xi was at the moment. Luo Feng replied that, fearing Da Xi might seek revenge, he had someone watching him the entire time. Da Xi was already in the hospital. Luo Feng wanted to know why I was asking, and I told him I wanted to confirm my suspicions with Da Xi. Luo Feng made a quick call, instructing his men to clear the way for us.

By the time we were heading out, the little ghost had finished eating. She insisted on coming with us, her large eyes blinking earnestly. I had wanted to leave her at the hotel since our actions might be dangerous, but she clung tightly to my hand. Luo Feng waved his hand and said to let her come along; his men could protect her.

Chen Fan murmured, “With the little ghost being so fierce, who would dare bully her?”

His comment earned him a cold glare from the little ghost, causing him to shrink away, afraid she might suddenly bite him. Once we got in the car, he asked what exactly I wanted to confirm. I shared with him the same reasoning I had discussed with Luo Feng earlier: if Samsong Monastery and those mundane disciples really were harboring some unspeakable secret, and if Yun Qing had discovered it, then over the years, Yun Gao would likely have tried to get rid of Yun Qing.

Da Xi’s position among the gangs of the harbor district was actually not inferior to Luo Feng’s, and since he knew Yun Gao, if Yun Gao wanted to act, using Da Xi would be very likely. Luo Feng said that what had happened earlier that day had completely offended Da Xi, and once he recovered, a fierce conflict would be inevitable. Since that was the case, it would be better to strike while he was down.

When we arrived at the hospital, Luo Feng’s men had already taken care of the thugs guarding Da Xi’s ward. With them in the open and us in the dark, things progressed smoothly. We entered Da Xi’s room to find his head bandaged and him snoring away on the bed.

I casually picked up a fruit knife from the room and tapped Da Xi’s face with it. He woke with a start, and upon seeing me, was initially furious but immediately shrank back at the sight of the knife in my hand. I got straight to the point: “If you want to live, answer whatever I ask honestly. First question: what is your relationship with Yun Gao?”

Da Xi trembled and replied, “We’re not close.”

No sooner had he finished than I raised the fruit knife high and stabbed toward his chest. Da Xi shrieked, “I’ll talk!”

The tip of the knife pressed right against his chest—any more pressure and it would have pierced him. Chen Fan stared at me, dumbfounded, clearly not expecting me to use such tactics. I paid him no mind and urged Da Xi to continue. Frightened, Da Xi finally began to speak the truth.

He said that he and Yun Gao were drinking buddies. Now, all the gangs in the harbor district were gradually engaging in business to launder their backgrounds, and Yun Gao was Da Xi’s business partner. In exchange, Da Xi would help Yun Gao with matters that couldn’t be handled in plain sight.

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Luo Feng sneered, “So it seems Yun Gao’s business dealings aren’t exactly clean either.”

I continued, “Second question: Did Yun Gao ever ask you to get rid of Yun Qing?”

Da Xi hesitated, but the fruit knife in my hand flashed again, and he immediately confessed. Just as I suspected, Yun Gao had indeed asked him to eliminate Yun Qing, but just when he was about to succeed, Yun Gao changed his mind and told him to spare Yun Qing.

I committed his words to memory and asked a few more questions, but got nothing further. I was ready to leave. Luo Feng called in his men, knocked Da Xi out, and carried him from the ward. Chen Fan, surprised, asked Luo Feng what his intentions were, but Luo Feng smacked him on the head: “Are you slipping back into your cop habits? Why so many questions?”

When Chen Fan tried to protest, I grabbed him by the collar and told him that the gangs of the harbor district were none of the capital police’s concern. He fell silent. After we left the hospital and got in the car, Luo Feng explained that he intended to keep Da Xi under control, and only release him after taking over his gang.

Chen Fan thought we were heading back to the hotel, but after a while, he realized we weren’t on the way back. When he asked where we were going, I simply smiled and replied with three words: Samsong Monastery.

Chen Fan shuddered, complaining about having to return to such a terrifying place.

By the time we reached the foot of Samsong Monastery, it was already past midnight. Xuan Yi had left, the old abbot was dead, and investigating the place was now much easier for us. Carrying the little ghost, I led the way up the mountain path. The night was pitch black, the woods on either side of the path were dense and foreboding, just as frightening as before.

The little ghost kept staring into the dark woods as if seeing something.

I asked her what was wrong, but she shook her head and leaned on my shoulder. I noticed she was trembling, seemingly afraid, but when I asked her about it, she wouldn’t say. Her reaction unnerved Chen Fan, who stammered, asking whether something sinister was lurking in the woods.

We all stayed on guard, but found nothing unusual along the way.

At the top of the hill, I told Luo Feng and Chen Fan that this path might also be related to the secrets of Samsong Monastery. Previously, Chen Fan and I hadn’t understood why such an imposing monastery would only make superficial repairs to the mountain path. Now it made sense: if the path was improved, more people would come up, which would be detrimental to keeping the monastery’s secrets.

Luo Feng wasn’t afraid at all, but rather very interested, insisting he had to see what secrets the place held.

He clambered over the wall first, and soon the gate was opened from inside. He told us to come in, assuring us that there was no one around. As on that previous night, Samsong Monastery was pitch dark at night, with all the Taoist priests fast asleep. We headed straight to the Forbidden Gate, which was still locked even though the old abbot was dead—nobody would go inside. We gathered some large stones, stacked them, and climbed over.

Carrying the little ghost slowed our actions a bit.

After entering, we searched the entire courtyard again but found nothing. At last, we entered the room where the old abbot had once sat, speaking to the air. Luo Feng lit the candles within. I had already searched this room twice before.

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Once was when I had sneaked past the Forbidden Gate, the other time was after the old abbot’s death, when I came with a police chief.

As soon as we entered, the little ghost suddenly said she’d been here before. I was taken aback, but even more shocked when she added that she vaguely remembered seeing me here often when she was younger.

Luo Feng and Chen Fan stared at me in surprise. Chen Fan blurted out, “Han, have you been here before?”

But Luo Feng immediately denied it, “Impossible. Fang Han has been in the capital city these past years—I know that for sure.”

None of us could figure it out, and the little ghost’s memories were hazy, unable to provide details. There was another oddity: she said she’d seen Xuan Yi here, but not the old abbot. Only the old abbot was allowed inside this area, so if she had spent time here, it should have been impossible not to see him.

Unable to make sense of it, we could only set our doubts aside for the moment.

Chen Fan suggested the little ghost might be mistaken, but she insisted she wasn’t and pointed to several Taoist statues in the room, saying there was something wrong with them. Our attention immediately focused on the statues, which I had noticed in my previous visits.

There were several, each as tall as a person.

With the little ghost’s prompting, we examined them closely. After some time, Chen Fan accidentally discovered the problem. Though the statues were extremely heavy, an adult could still knock one over. When we finally toppled one, we found it was hollow inside.

The outer shell was thick, so knocking didn’t reveal the hollowness.

“These statues could hide a person!” I exclaimed.

To test it, Chen Fan climbed inside one of the statues, and Luo Feng set it upright again, with Chen Fan hidden inside.

“Samsong Monastery is indeed hiding something. That night, I heard Yun Qing’s voice, but later couldn’t find him—it was because he was hidden inside one of these statues!” My gaze turned steely. “Tell your men to speed up the investigation of those two lists. I’m going to unmask the murderer!”