Chapter 37: You’re Actually Going Through With It?

According to Granny Liu’s confession, Shopkeeper Wu of the North-South Goods Store on Huocang Street was a distant relative of Madam Wu. He had been dependent on Madam Wu for twenty years, later receiving her financial support to open his goods store. In the 40th year of Zhengtong, he secretly harbored The Third Place Scholar Li and his band of bandits.

On normal days, they would rob travelers on the road, attack the Prince’s Estate’s business competitors, and do many illicit deeds for the Prince’s Estate.

Early noon.

Everyone exited the six-courtyard back residence. Ding Suian and Lin Hansu were relatively fine, as they had already guessed roughly the answer in their hearts. However, Zhisheng clearly hadn’t expected this outcome and sighed repeatedly.

“Benefactor Ding, let’s head to Huocang Street immediately.”

“No rush. Seven or eight days have passed since the incident. If Shopkeeper Wu wanted to escape, he would have done so already. Great Master, you’ve come a long way; I should show you the hospitality of a host.”

“Thank you, Benefactor.”

At Chengxi Hall, a vegetarian meal was served.

As a woman, Lin Hansu found it inconvenient to entertain guests, so Ding Suian accompanied him.

The two had a brief exchange of glances earlier, both somewhat wary of the methods Zhisheng displayed, and naturally wanted to get to the bottom of it.

“What Divine Ability did the Great Master use just now?”

“The Buddhist Lion’s Roar.”

“Oh? What’s the difference between the Buddhist Lion’s Roar and the State Religion’s Indoctrination Divine Ability?”

“Indoctrination can be applied to all people, but the Lion’s Roar, which speaks no falsehoods, is only effective on Buddhist believers.”

“Ah?”

Ding Suian was stunned.

In essence, if you believe in Buddhism, your mind can be controlled; if you don’t, it’s just a loud bass sound.

Quite useless.

No wonder only Granny Liu was affected earlier. It seems it’s better to believe less in ghosts and gods!

Otherwise, you can’t even tell a lie.

“Before Great Master Zhisheng arrived, did you already have a suspect in mind for the mastermind?”

After confirming that Zhisheng posed no threat to him, Ding Suian relaxed.

This time, Zhisheng was silent for two breaths before saying, “The monks of Jintai Temple were slaughtered, and the Old Side Consort was one of the few remaining Buddhist believers in Lanyang Prefecture. Furthermore, the bandit leader was somewhat skilled in the State Religion’s Divine Abilities. Recently, the State Religion has been extensively constructing the Tiandao Palace in the south of the City. All these factors indeed led This poor monk to suspect that the State Religion orchestrated this matter to compete for believers.”

Hiss. It’s one thing to suspect, but saying it out loud makes you seem a bit naive!

We’re not even close, aren’t you afraid I’ll go out and report you to the State Religion?

Ding Suian chuckled, “Great Master Zhisheng, you really tell me everything.”

Zhisheng said, “This poor monk upholds the precept of not speaking falsely. What I say is what I think. If I break this precept, my cultivation will be completely lost.”

The Five Buddhist Precepts: no killing, no lying, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, and no intoxicants.

Listening to Zhisheng’s explanation, upholding the ‘no lying’ precept means one can only speak the truth for life, and then can influence believers with the Lion’s Roar.

This point is quite good; one must achieve it oneself before demanding it of others.

Much stronger than those hypocritical saints who are strict with others but lenient with themselves.

However, the other four of the Five Precepts are easy to understand, but ‘no sexual misconduct’—does that mean when people are enjoying themselves, you run to their bedside and shout ‘freeze’?

Just as he was lost in thought, Zhisheng suddenly said, “Benefactor Ding, just now, were you thinking of killing This poor monk?”

“Pfft~”

Ding Suian spat out a mouthful of food, right onto Zhisheng’s face.

“Great Master, why would you say such a thing? Although I am not a monk, my heart is devoted to the Buddha. I usually eat vegetarian food, recite Buddhist scriptures, refrain from women, and fear harming ants when sweeping. How could I think of killing the Great Master?”

“The Buddhist ‘Mind-Reading Divine Ability’ can perceive the seven emotions, which naturally includes killing intent.” A piece of chewed vegetable leaf slowly slid down his bald head, but Zhisheng remained perfectly still, looking comically serious, “Fortunately, Benefactor did not act rashly. Benefactor Ding, you are not This poor monk’s opponent.”

“Cough cough, eat, eat.”

Night, early Zi Shi.

In the backyard of the North-South Goods Store on Huocang Street, Ding Suian and Zhisheng leaped over the wall one after another.

Zhisheng actually tripped upon landing, almost falling to the ground, greatly damaging the image of a Buddhist eminent monk.

The hazy moonlight cast a layer of dull gauze over everything.

Inside the backyard’s straw shed, oilcloth-wrapped goods were neatly stacked. At the base of the wall, in the shadows, lay accumulated residual snow and dead leaves.

The snow fell on the nineteenth of the twelfth lunar month, and no one had cleared it since. It seemed Ding Suian’s guess was correct; after news of Madam Wu’s death spread on the twentieth of the twelfth lunar month, Shopkeeper Wu of the goods store decisively left the place.

Ding Suian walked towards the backyard storeroom. Zhisheng, following behind, reached out his arms and groped his way in the dark like a blind man, saying, “Aiya, Benefactor Ding insisted on coming at night. Couldn’t we have come during the day?”

“We’re on a secret investigation, so coming at night sets the mood!” Ding Suian looked back at Zhisheng, handed him the saber sheath to guide him, “Your problem is called night blindness! Eating more meat usually cures it.”

‘Click!’

The storeroom lock was naturally no match for Ding Suian. He cleaved it open with one slash, then swiftly bent down and, with his left hand, caught the copper lock broken into two halves.

This was to prevent the copper lock from falling to the ground and making a sound in the quiet night.

Pushing the door open, Ding Suian lit a fire starter. The tiny, bean-sized light could only illuminate three feet in front of him.

The storeroom was extremely deep and wide, accompanied by a peculiar stench.

Ding Suian held the fire starter and walked to a row of goods, using his saber, Kunwu, to cut a small opening. Crystalline granules immediately spilled out of the package.

Initially, he thought it was something like salt or sugar. He leaned in for a sniff, his face suddenly changed, and he quickly extinguished the flame in the fire starter.

“What happened! Why is it dark! Benefactor Ding, please don’t tease This poor monk!”

In the pitch-black darkness, Zhisheng’s anxious questioning could be heard.

This was an eminent monk who was afraid of the dark.

No sooner had he spoken than a faint white glow lit up the storeroom. It was Ding Suian channeling his Protective Aura into Kunwu, using it like a candle. “These packages contain mirabilite!”

Mirabilite is flammable.

And it is one of the most strictly controlled commodities in Great Wu.

The two inspected the storeroom and found that it contained not only mirabilite, a prohibited item, but also many government-monopolized goods like salt, medicinal herbs, animal furs, sulfur, and other things Ding Suian didn’t recognize.

Zhisheng sniffed around like a dog, finding several items deep within a shelf. “Benefactor Ding, I’m afraid Shopkeeper Wu’s background is not simple.”

He pinched a translucent object the size of a soybean with his index finger and thumb. Ding Suian leaned in to examine it. It looked like a seed of some plant, white as jade, with a hole at each end and hollow inside.

“What is this?”

“Heartless Lotus.”

“What is it used for?”

“It can be used to create the Lotus Heart Curse.”

“Lotus Heart Curse?”

“Meaning ‘connected hearts.’ It’s a secret technique of the Jile Sect.”

“What is the Jile Sect again?”

“The Jile Sect feeds on emotions and desires, preaching that all sentient beings suffer, and only desire brings ultimate joy.”

“Sounds quite sensual, doesn’t it?”

“Benefactor, you are mistaken! The Jile Sect incites human desires, and not just carnal ones! Their evil’seed of thought’ technique amplifies human desires, creating an addiction to desire, strengthening desire into obsession. Obsession clouds the mind, making one determined to achieve their goal regardless of the consequences—”

Seed of thought. Ding Suian suddenly thought of Madam Wu.

Madam Wu had schemed in the Prince’s Estate her entire life, finally resorting to a desperate plan to drag him and Lin Hansu to their graves with her. While this matched her ruthless and hypocritical nature,

Her demise seemed a bit hasty. At that time, she was so anxious, could it be that someone had planted an obsession in her?

Second quarter of Zi Shi.

Lanyang Prefecture City had long since quieted down. Moonlight bathed the long streets, and pedestrians were sparse.

Ding Suian walked in front, his right hand gripping Kunwu, followed by Zhisheng, who held the end of the saber sheath.

They looked like a beggar leading a small beggar, begging along the street.

“Great Master, where are you going?”

“Amitabha, This poor monk has nowhere to go.”

“There’s an inn if you turn left ahead.”

“Amitabha, This poor monk has no money.”

“There’s Moon Shadow Bridge in the West City; you can sleep under the bridge.”

“Amitabha, This poor monk is afraid of the cold.”

“…”

You’re latching onto me, aren’t you?

We’ve only known each other for a day. Although we have a shallow acquaintance from exploring Huocang Street together at night, it’s not like I should provide you with food and lodging, right?

Can’t drive him away. Easy solution!

Turning north from Fuqian Street, Ding Suian walked towards Shouzhen Lane.

As soon as they entered Shouzhen Lane, a clamor assaulted them. Red lanterns stretched endlessly along the street. Drunks cursed, and Jie’er giggled, their sounds rising and falling.

It was like a different world from the tranquility of other areas of the City.

When Zhisheng entered the alley, he immediately attracted countless gazes. After a brief silence, boisterous laughter erupted.

“Hey, hey! Look, look at that handsome Young Master, leading a blind monk!”

“Tsk tsk tsk, that little monk’s cheek flesh is almost as big as this old woman’s breasts!”

“Hahahaha.”

At first, Zhisheng’s expression was normal, but when he heard someone call him blind, he immediately let go of the saber hilt as if electrocuted.

“Great Master, I’m going inside to fool around with Jie’er. Are you coming too?”

Ding Suian stood outside Pinshu Pavilion, asking with a smile.

Unexpectedly, the bald donkey said, “Amitabha, This poor monk will go wherever Benefactor goes.”

“…”

Alright, let’s try it then.

Ding Suian led Zhisheng across the threshold and into the main hall of Pinshu Pavilion.

The patrons and Jie’er in the hall had already noticed the strange pair and all turned to look. The madam, shaking her two mounds of white flesh, stepped forward with a smile, “Oh, Young Master, what kind of game are you playing? Bringing the Great Master to exorcise our sisters?”

Ding Suian waved his hand, “Find three delightful sisters to properly accompany this eminent monk from Shangling Temple!”

He was certain Zhisheng would run.

But he never expected that, facing three alluring sisters who rushed towards him, Zhisheng maintained a solemn expression, clasped his hands together, and said, “Amitabha, This humble monk is new to this esteemed place and unfamiliar with its customs. I am grateful for the three Bodhisattvas’ assistance.”

You damn…

You’re actually going through with it when I told you to play around!