It was already the morning of the third day when Taoist Zhang walked out of the classroom.
Ever since he went to see where the crime happened that night, Taoist Zhang locked himself up for two days and two nights. When he walked out of the house with a black and unkempt face, he immediately went to find Zhan Yang...
"Zhanbutou! It's figured out, it's figured out!"
Daoist Zhang was holding a roll of paper, on which were densely packed with writing and drawing. Zhan Yang couldn't understand what it was. Seeing Zhan Yang's bewildered face, Daoist Zhang said anxiously, "This person probably wants to change his life. I want to change my fate against the sky, this dojo is so huge that it takes seven people to die to make it happen, and now that three people have died, this person will definitely kill four more people."
Zhan Yang frowned, and Taoist Zhang said, "The next best time is tonight's Zi Shi, I figured out that there are three places that are most suitable, and they are all in the east of the city. If you believe me, prepare now." It might be too late to stop it."
Zhan Yang's expression changed drastically, "Is this true?!"
Daoist Zhang smiled wryly, "Why did I lie to you, I also want to catch that man and see if he did what happened back then!"
Zhan Yang nodded, dragged Zhang Daoshi to find Zheng Baishi, Zhang Daoshi said helplessly, "I'm going to faint from hunger, please go and get me something to eat, the hooves of the past few days have long been unable to hold on... "
Zhan Yang said without turning his head, "Let's talk about the business first, and that's enough for the pig's trotters."
Upon hearing this, Daoist Zhang stopped screaming immediately, and followed Zhan Yang to the front hall. When he saw Zheng Baishi, he repeated what he had just said. Zheng Baishi was greatly moved, "Is this true? If so, Daoist Zhang may say the exact place?"
Daoist Zhang then took out a piece of paper, on which was drawn a map of the constellations, the stars in the sky were interconnected like a regular web, but how could Zhan Yang and Zheng Baishi see it? Understand
Zheng Baishi smiled wryly, "We can't understand the Taoist priest's painting..."
Taoist Zhang thought about it too, "In this case, then please give me something to eat, then go get some people, and leave later."
Zheng Baishi was a little satisfied, so he ordered Zhan Yang, after thinking about it, Zheng Baishi sent someone to the Hou's mansion, and at the same time ordered someone to inform Yan Chi about this.
Taoist Zhang finished his meal and followed the yamen to the east of the city.
The east of the city is a place for nobles, either Ruoxing Lefang where nobles gather, or Dongshi, which is a little southerly, and only in the outermost periphery, there are some scattered small private workshops.
The first place Zhang Daoshi took the yamen servants to was the Calabash Lane not far from Zhongyonghou's Mansion.
There are a total of ten families living in Calabash Lane, all of which are mansions with strict gates, including the mansions of the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Officials and the Shangshu family of the Ministry of Industry. As soon as he arrived, Zheng Baishi smiled wryly. The important officials and him are close friends, how could the murderer go to these people's homes to commit crimes? !
Zheng Baishi waved his hand, "Impossible. If a crime happens to these big families, only your own family members commit the crime. Even if the murderer is someone from here, if he commits the crime in his own house, wouldn't he reveal his identity?"
Taoist Zhang only cared about deduction and no reasoning, and felt that there was some truth in hearing the words, so he went to the next place.
The next place was Yuqi Street in Dongshi.
Taoist Zhang walked from the street to the end of the street, then stood in the middle of the long street, and said, "This is the most suitable place." Taoist Zhang pointed to the sky, "This is facing the Canglong Fangsu in the east. By offering sacrifices to people, one can change the constellations of Fang Xing and change one’s fate, taking this place as the boundary, within a radius of half a mile, everything counts.”
Zheng Baishi didn't understand Canglong Fangsu, but he understood what Taoist Zhang meant within half a mile. However, when he looked up, he saw that there were bustling shops, teahouses and restaurants all around him. Although it was only noon, there were already people coming. There were so many tourists, Zheng Baishi smiled wryly for a while, the scope is not small, they only have one day left, how to check
Zhan Yang said, "If the investigation is carried out with great fanfare, will it scare off the murderer?"
Zheng Baishi then asked Taoist Zhang, "If the murderer doesn't do anything violent today, won't he be able to set up a monastery?"
Daoist Zhang shook his head, "That's not true. If you miss tonight, you only need to continue setting up the dojo within seven days, so it's not necessary to kill people tonight. I've read it. If you miss tonight, then the next A good moment is the night three days later, if you miss it tonight, and miss it again three days later, this dojo will not be able to be set up."
Zheng Baishi thought for a while, "The interval between the second deceased and the first deceased was only four days, and the interval between the third and the second was only four days. Indeed, it did not exceed seven days."
Zheng Baishi's eyes turned slightly, and he ordered Zhanyang, "Let everyone change into casual clothes. Now, quietly, when there are fewer people on the street at night, we will pretend to be working in a nearby shop and watch here."
Zhan Yang understood, and asked Taoist Zhang, "Master Taoist, where is the next place?"
Zhang Daoshi pointed to the further direction, "Go there—"
The group of people walked for almost half an hour before arriving at a remote folk alley. Although this place is also on the east side, it is also very far from the main street Yudao. The streets of Xiangzi are clearly defined, and most of the houses here are low and simple, and they are all the residences of wealthy families.
Daoist Zhang pointed to the folk alley in front of him, "It should be here. If the entire Lin'an City is regarded as a map of the star palace, this corresponds to Canglong Xinsu..."
Zheng Baishi looked at Zhanyang, "You go and visit and see how this place is."
Zhan Yang led the two small yamen servants away in response, Zheng Baishi looked at Zhang Daoshi and said, "Dare to ask the chief, what does the murderer mean by changing his life? Is he asking for wealth? Want to go straight to the sky?"
Daoist Zhang shook his head, "Seven people will die in this dojo, it is the most extreme dojo, if he wants to be rich, then he wants to be extremely rich, if he wants to live, he wants to live to a hundred Years old, if he wants to save people, it is to make a dying person survive, in short, since it is changing one's fate against the sky, it is to completely change a person's fate."
Zheng Baishi's eyebrows twitched when he heard it, and he lowered his voice, "Extremely rich?"
With Zheng Baishi's tone, Taoist Zhang knew what he was thinking, but he didn't answer right away. He thought for a moment before saying, "It depends on who the murderer is..."
Seeing that Daoist Zhang understood, Zheng Baishi couldn't help but think highly of Daoshi Zhang.
Ordinary cases are fine, but Taoist Zhang said that the murderer may be seeking extreme wealth, so what is extreme wealth? It is not simply a matter of official prosperity. Zheng Baishi, as a third-rank official in the court, had to link this matter with the struggle in the court. It involves the art of witchcraft with the son of the clan. Although the sorcery of the Moon Worship Sect is not a witchcraft, it can be used to sacrifice a living person and then change one's fate against the sky. Isn't it the same as the art of witchcraft? I'm afraid it's even more terrifying than the art of witchcraft.
Thinking of this, Zheng Baishi couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. Could it be that this case is not a simple murder case? ! Could it be that this case has something to do with the court or even the crown prince or king Cheng? !
The prince is already a prince, so is he a king? !
There was cold sweat on Zheng Baishi's forehead. Daoist Zhang glanced at Zheng Baishi, "This matter is not as serious as Mr. Zheng thought. Those who do this will hurt others and themselves. If he seeks wealth, he will get it. It will damage Yangshou. If he seeks for a long life, he can live a long life, but most of them will live a miserable life. As for saving the death, even if he survives, he will not be able to be happy for the rest of his life. Everything has its destiny. If this Such unreasonable changes of fate have to pay a price. The nobles in the court want wealth and power, and what they want is wealth and power that can make them happy. This matter is mostly due to the five sense organs in the court."
Zheng Baishi stared, "You dare to say that?!"
Daoist Zhang smiled, "Isn't it because Mr. Zheng is too nervous, so please let me untie Mr. Zheng?"
Zheng Baishi stared at Taoist Zhang, not knowing whether to be angry or relieved, he snorted and said, "Don't say such things in the future, if other people hear it, I can't keep your head!"
Daoist Zhang shrank his neck. He is a Taoist priest of wine and meat, but he can't get involved in the court affairs, so he smiled and pretended to be obedient, "Okay, I won't say that again!"
Soon, Zhan Yang came out of the alley, "My lord, there are more than 20 families living in it. Most of the yards here are entered once, at most twice, but there are two yards that are empty. People live."
Zheng Baishi frowned, "There are so many people, who knows who the murderer is going to kill? Also, the murderer may bring people here to commit the murder, isn't that the case with Wu Qian and Zhao Jiaxu."
Zhan Yang nodded, "And the target of the murderer has to be someone who violated the doctrine."
With so many people, who committed the crime
Zheng Baishi squinted his eyes, "It's not suitable to make a big fanfare for inquiries at the moment. We should follow Shicai's order and let everyone put on ordinary clothes. You arrange people. There is one here and one in Dongshi. You also keep two in Hulu Lane." Personally, just in case."
Zhan Yang looked around, "This subordinate thinks this is the most likely place where the crime happened."
Zheng Baishi thought so too. This side is the most remote, and the surrounding roads are even more trafficked. Whether the murderer comes or goes, it is very convenient. Zheng Baishi nodded, "Then you arrange more people here."
Zhan Yang nodded, looked around again, and went back to the magistrate's yamen with Zheng Baishi and others.
When a few people returned to the magistrate's yamen, Qin Wan had already arrived.
When Qin Wan got the news, he was dating Qin Shuang, and when he heard that Daoist Zhang had really deduced it, he hurriedly brought people to the yamen, but when he came to the yamen, Zheng Baishi and others had already left. Don't worry, just wait here.
Zheng Baishi invited Qin Wan to the front hall, and explained what Taoist Zhang said today and his own arrangements. Qin Wan looked at Taoist Zhang beside him in surprise, but he did not expect him to be of great help.
"The Taoist priest really has supernatural powers. If it weren't for the Taoist priest, the Yamen still doesn't know where the case will happen."
Taoist Zhang grinned, "It's good if I can help, and it's best if I can catch the murderer tonight!"
Zheng Baishi glanced at the sky outside, only to see that the sun had already set in the west, Qin Wan said, "The people from the yamen alone are enough? Do you want to ask the people from the Nine City Patrol Battalion to help?"
Zheng Baishi frowned and thought about it for a moment, "I'm afraid it won't work. There are not many people in the market at midnight. If there are too many of us, I'm afraid we will scare the snake away."
Qin Wan thought it was the same reason, and thought that he would not be able to help at night, so he said a few more words to Zheng Baishi and was about to leave. Just as he was about to leave, he saw a yamen servant coming in from outside, "My lord, Dali Temple A file was sent over."
Zheng Baishi got up immediately, "What did the person who sent it say?"
The clerk hurriedly said, "It is said that I found what my lord wanted, but it turned out that it was mixed up with other official documents."
Zheng Baishi immediately took the file and opened it, and after reading it for a while, Zheng Baishi turned to look at Qin Wan and said, "Princess, please look, it turns out that six years ago, the person who was buried in the snow was buried beside him." Similar ashes were found, and it was said that there were cinnabar pictures on the clothes of the dead, but no rubbings were made."
Qin Wan took the file and took a look. Sure enough, such a detail was recorded on the file. Although the memory is very simple, it is enough to prove that the case six years ago was also used for sacrifice. Qin Wan frowned, "This The details recorded here are so obscure that many people probably didn't know it back then, unless it was the yamen and gangsters who confiscated the corpses. Now the same case has appeared. If it is said that other people imitated it, it can't be justified. My lord, this person must have been six years old. The former murderer is undoubtedly!"
Zheng Baishi also thought so, and was about to nod, but saw Zhang Daoshi beside him, Zheng Baishi said, "I think so too, but we still have to catch the murderer and interrogate him before we can know the truth."
Qin Wan smiled, "That's natural, my lord, please pay attention to safety at night, so I'll take my leave first."
Zheng Baishi hurriedly sent Qin Wan to the door, watched Qin Wan get into the carriage before turning and entering the government office.
After getting into the carriage, Bai Ying said, "I didn't expect that Daoist Zhang is really so powerful."
Qin Wan leaned against the wall of the car while nodding, and her heart sank. This Daoist Zhang was powerful. She had vaguely felt it the first time she saw him. The way he looked at her was too strange. It was a fluke, but now that Taoist Zhang has helped, although she also wants to solve the case as soon as possible, she is also a little uneasy.
Has Taoist Zhang's supernatural power reached the point where he can see her origin
…
…
As soon as night fell, the yamen servants put on their casual clothes and set off.
There were six people left in Calabash Lane, ten people in Dongshi, and the other sixteen people were taken to that remote place by Zhan Yang. Zhan Yang also changed into ordinary clothes, and the others were also wearing the most common coarse cloth gowns. When the group arrived at the alley, they found a corner to hide themselves in twos and threes. As the time passed, Zhan Yang watched the surrounding houses turn off their lights one by one and turned into darkness, but there was still no movement around them.
Even at night, the East Market is full of people coming and going, and the excitement gradually dissipates when it is fast, but even so, there are still late-night customers in the surrounding restaurants and tea shops. Committing crimes in the city, the possibility of being bumped into is not small. If so, he will definitely choose a more secluded place.
Zhan Yang hid at the corner of the dark alley. Looking out, he happened to be able to see a crossroad in the alley ahead. Not far away, there were two uninhabited courtyards. According to his guess, this uninhabited courtyard The place is very likely to be the place where the murderer committed the crime. The night is getting darker and darker, and the night in early summer is still a bit chilly, but the surrounding lights are dark, and from time to time a wild cat jumps out with a pair of bright eyes. .
The young clerk who was standing with Zhan Yang was next to Zhan Yang. Since seeing the skinned Wu Qian, this clerk hadn't slept well for half a month. Now he is hiding in the dark In the alley, I couldn't help but think of that horrible scene again, the more I thought about it, the more frightened I was, and I wanted to hold Zhanyang's arm tightly——
Zhanyang pulled out his arm helplessly, "What are you doing?!"
Tong Yu grimaced, "Boss, I... I'm afraid..."
Zhan Yang frowned, raised his foot and kicked, Tong Yu quickly dodged, and said bitterly, "Boss, it's almost midnight, why is there still no movement at all, the murderer has already killed him Bar?"
Zhan Yang frowned, "Impossible, we've been staring here, and we haven't seen a single ghost."
Tong Yu's body trembled, "Ghost... maybe... maybe the murderer is..."
Zhan Yang looked over with a cold look, and Tong Yu didn't dare to say any more. He squatted weakly against the wall with a knife in his arms, and looked up at the starless and moonless sky. Tong Yu started talking to himself...
Zhan Yang didn't care what he was talking about, just looked into the alley, but after looking for a long time, there was still no movement, and after so long, Zi Shi had already passed, could it be that what Tong Yu said was true
Zhan Yang faintly felt that it was inappropriate, and hurried out from the corner. Seeing this, people from other places also followed. Zhan Yang led people to patrol around at an extremely fast speed, but still only saw the shadow of the ultimate wild cat!
Where is the murderer? ! Or did he sneak into some house without anyone noticing? !
Zhan Yang's heart clenched, he didn't know what went wrong, suddenly, a fast horse galloped on the main road, everyone's expressions became tense, and when the fast horse galloped up to them, they realized that it was someone from the Yamen!
The Yamen who came to report the news said, "Capture the head! The East City is on fire!"