Stop it, Taoist, Your Fight almost Ruins the DAO!

Chapter 202 - Reason, Han Shan Temple, Asking Older Brother to Embrace Death!

The next day.

Noon.

Yi Chen and Miao Zi, each at their own table, were feasting away.

Miao Zi's table was laid out with a variety of foot-long fishes, prepared in methods like frying, sautéing, steaming, deep-frying, braising, and slicing raw, and it ate with great delight.

It recalled the time when it first arrived in Ping'an County with its father, who was reluctant to buy even a little fish for it to eat. Now, after the hard work of Little Miao and its Taoist father, it could eat its fill every day if it wished.

Knowledge is power.

Miao Zi, now compelled by Yi Chen to read books every day, could be considered highly educated within the realm of spiritual beasts.

While relishing its meal and contemplating, Miao Zi was considering whether it should write a book to instruct the younger spiritual beasts in Hidden Dragon Temple, to tell them the importance of diligent effort.

It even had an outline for the book's title, tentatively called "My Struggle."

For some reason, whenever it thought of these four words, Miao Zi felt the blood surge to its head, convinced that if the book included portraits of it and its father, it would be perfect.

It secretly decided to learn drawing by itself, to paint its own portrait, and give its father a surprise~

Yi Chen was completely unaware of his eldest son's thoughts, as his mind was still immersed in the affairs of Ping'an County.

At this moment, Yuan Fang came running over with a pile of documents in hand.

These were the results of his investigation so far.

"Taoist, everything we've collected is here."

Yi Chen nodded in satisfaction; the efficiency exceeded his expectations.

Indeed, necessity is the mother of invention.

"Keep collecting, and once the case is solved, I will commend your efforts to the Prefectural Governor." At these words, Yuan Fang, his eyes gleaming with excitement, left.

As Yi Chen scanned through one report after another, he picked out those with abnormal destinies, and he actually found some critical clues.

The number of people who had disappeared and had peculiar destinies was somewhat high.

It accounted for two to three tenths of the total.

This was a frightening percentage.

"There must be something fishy here!" Yi Chen couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

Among these people with peculiar destinies, there were the poor, the wealthy, the destitute—all sorts were present.

The ability to gather so many individuals of odd destiny from different locations in just sixteen days said a lot about the person behind all this.

Yi Chen scrutinized the life paths of this group of people when a term came to mind.

Han Shan Temple!

The link among all these people was that Han Shan Temple.

Only in a place like a temple could one reveal one's own date and time of birth without any guard.

Yi Chen's pupils constricted.

Han Shan Temple was a famous ancient temple on Mount Yue Liang in Ping'an County, with a vast congregation, reportedly known for its efficacious power.

People continuously visited Han Shan Temple to pray for their future prospects, for fortune and misfortune, and for offspring.

Speaking of which, there was a connection between Han Shan Temple and his Hidden Dragon Temple. Yi Chen's master had once mentioned in passing that there was a master inside Han Shan Temple with profound Buddhist knowledge and exalted morality—this person was the seventeenth abbot of Han Shan Temple, known as Master Han Shan.

All abbots of Han Shan Temple had taken this as their dharma name, passing it down from generation to generation.

"Could it be that my master was mistaken? Is there a devil cloaked in human skin within Han Shan Temple?" Yi Chen couldn't help but curl his lips.

No matter what, even if it were an old acquaintance of his master committing such acts, he would still not hesitate to strike.

Your journey continues at empire

To cause trouble in Ping'an County was to completely disregard him, Yi Taoist.

Yi Chen summoned Yuan Fang, gathered several constables, and led the group straight to Han Shan Temple.

The purpose of bringing them was for them to serve as witnesses.

And that was it.

Leaving a paper trail is a virtue.

"Taoist Yi, it can't be possible, right? Both masters of Han Shan Temple have been in Ping'an County for so many years, with admirable reputations."

"Moreover, Han Shan Temple really works wonders. For many years, I had neither sons nor daughters, but after my wife visited and prayed at Han Shan Temple, I am now the father of three children."

Yi Chen glanced deeply at the stubborn Yuan Fang without saying a word.

Such is life.

When you're young, the words you say will eventually come back like bullets to hit you a minute, an hour, a year, a decade, or several decades later.

Like university students from a previous life, who had the toughest talk before graduating, and those in the late stage of adolescence proclaiming, "My fate is in my hands, not destined by heaven."

Consider the classic statement: "Those who complain about the hardships of construction work simply lack resilience, and they would struggle with any job."

That civil engineer brother too was eventually hit squarely between the eyes by his own words.

Yi Chen skimmed low in the air, while Yuan Fang and the constables followed on horseback. Miao Zi yawned on Yi Chen's shoulder, and two hours later, the group finally arrived outside Han Shan Temple.

April blooms are gone from the mortal world, but the peach blossoms of the mountain temple are just beginning to bloom.

The peach blossoms around Han Shan Temple were in full splendor, and even as the sun set, there were still a dozen or so followers lingering to pray for blessings.

"The head of Hidden Dragon Temple, Yi Chengzi, requests an audience with Master Han Shan."

Yi Chen stopped outside the gates, showing full courtesy to his master's old friend.

An elderly monk in coarse hemp clothing emerged, accompanied by a young monk with rosy lips and white teeth.

"Amitabha!"

"It turns out to be the disciple of an old friend. I offer my greetings," said Master Han Shan, his expression filled with sorrow.

Yi Chen examined the two monks, his brow furrowing.

Both men possessed an indistinct Buddhist aura, without any negative energy.

But the data doesn't lie; there was indeed something strange about Han Shan Temple.

"Master, does your temple have any other monks?" Yi Chen said, his gaze fixed intently on their faces, hoping to spot a flaw.

Disappointingly, the reality was that both appeared calm and collected.

"No, there are only the two of us, my disciple and me."

"Master, where have you two been these past few days?" Yi Chen became impatient and went straight to the point, stepping forward and fixing them with an eagle-like stare.