Records of Mysterious Things in the Southern Dynasties

Chapter 339 Daming Temple

After the team came out of the governor's mansion, Zu An asked, "How was the questioning?"

"There are many flaws." Ren Yuan said calmly. He had a set of skills to observe the energy, and he saw Xiao Zong's spiritual energy was disordered several times. "I was so panicked."

"It's a pity that we can't do anything to him." Zu An said regretfully, "Otherwise, with his small body, he would be defeated in a few moves."

"I believe this." Ren Yuan nodded: "I am even more certain that the jade seal must be in Guangling City."

"What do you mean?" everyone asked softly.

"Talking to him, it's obvious that his royal status is his biggest reliance." Ren Yuan said, "He would never give up the imperial seal, a symbol of his unparalleled status, to anyone else, even if he dies."

"That makes sense." Zu An frowned and said, "But I searched the governor's mansion and couldn't find it. I also interrogated the people around Xiao Zong, and they also knew nothing."

"Normal. Those who knew about it must have been silenced like that blind man Yan." Ren Yuan said, "It seems that he is probably hiding outside."

"That makes sense. Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows." Zuan nodded and said worriedly, "But Guangling City is so big, where can I find a small jade seal? Isn't that like looking for a needle in a haystack?"

"Psychologically speaking, it must be a place he goes to often, where he can feel absolutely safe." Ren Yuan looked into the distance and said, "There may not be many places like this in Guangling City."

"Not just a few, I'm afraid there are only one or two at most." Chen Baxian said in a deep voice: "And put yourself in his shoes, that place must be very high-end - it must be worthy of the treasures passed down by his ancestors."

"That makes sense." Ren Yuan nodded. "The jade seal does have a special meaning to him. A man as extreme as him will definitely not compromise when it comes to being particular."

"Separately investigate where he often goes!" Ren Yuan ordered:
"You might as well split the question into two: where did he go last year, and where did he go this year? By comparing the two, you might be able to find something."

"Yes, sir!" The teams responded in a deep voice.

~~
Before dark, the teams were coming back to report their findings.

Although most of the people in Guangling remained silent, Gou Chensi had plenty of ways to pry open their mouths...

"After summarizing the data, he often went to these places last year." Yang Zhong drew several circles with a black pen on a map of Guangling City.

"He has been saying that he is not in good health this year, so he has gone to fewer places." Yang Zhong drew three circles with a red pen and said, "Daming Temple, Jiacheng Military Camp, and Tianning Gate Tower."

The latter two have both red and black circles, while Daming Temple has only red circles but no black circles.

"The last one can be ruled out." Zuan said in a deep voice: "He went up to the city gate tower to get some fresh air or think about something. It's impossible for him to leave such an important thing on the city gate tower."

"Yeah." Chen Baxian nodded and said mischievously, "He's probably looking forward to his sixth uncle coming to pick him up on a lucky cloud."

"It's unlikely to be a military camp." Yang Zhong continued, "Not only are there too many people, but they are also a bunch of daring and aggressive people. How can they hide good things there?"

"Then it can only be Daming Temple." Ren Yuan basically agreed with his companion's analysis and asked softly, "Why did he never go there before, but suddenly went there this year?"

"It is said that he donated a pagoda, which was completed this year, so he often goes there to burn incense." Yang Zhong replied.

"It was built in just one year?" Ren Yuan asked in surprise.

"My supernatural powers were used throughout the whole process." Yang Zhong replied: "The people of Guangling are talking about it, saying it is a miracle."

"Now he can't make a living again..." Chen Baxian sneered, "Supernatural powers are very valuable." "Yeah." Ren Yuan looked at Chen Baxian approvingly. He was able to realize that human power is also a kind of wealth, which is remarkable in this era.

"Let's go and take a look." He called out and took a few brothers out of the barracks.

~~
The crowd appeared silently on the city wall of Guangling.

It was already the second watch of the night, and the city was completely silent, with no lights in sight. The only exception was a white pagoda in the city, which had thousands of colored glaze lamps lit up, making it appear particularly radiant in the darkness.

"Is it so conspicuous?" Chen Baxian asked in surprise, "Would he hide something in a place like this?"

"This is a good place." Ren Yuan nodded and said, "It is said that as long as the country is prosperous, the jade seal will shine brightly at midnight, but it is covered by the purple air of the palace, so outsiders cannot see it."

"Lord Wei means that Xiao Zong also has to find a way to cover up the light of the jade seal?" Zu An said softly.

"So as long as we look at where the light shines at night in Guangling City, the jade seal is likely to be hidden there?" Chen Baxian couldn't believe it.

"The light of the jade seal represents the destiny of the country. How can it be covered by ordinary lights?" Ren Yuan shook his head and said, "It can only be covered by the blood light of the military camp or the Buddha light of the temple."

As he spoke, he used his third eye to sweep around and saw that Daming Temple was shrouded in soft Buddhist light and he could not see clearly what was inside.

"What a strong Buddha light." Everyone couldn't help but exclaimed in surprise: "It actually has some of the meaning of the Jinling Great Formation."

"Of course." Zuan nodded and said, "The Jinling Great Array is driven by the chanting of 9,900 chanting monks. The 99 chanting monks in Daming Temple chanted together to form a 'Guangling Small Array'. Although it cannot protect Guangling City, it should be able to protect a temple in the area."

"Hehe, if we put the jade seal inside, it will definitely not be found from the outside." Chen Baxian laughed, "Besides, Daming Temple is the territory of the Buddhist religion, it is indeed appropriate for Gou Chen Sixiu to go in and search."

"How could he let the imperial seal slip out of his control?" Yang Zhong asked puzzledly.

"Of course he won't." Zu An said stiffly, "But I... my father is with him, so it's a piece of cake. For example, I can set up a teleportation formation, carry the jade seal with me during the day, and spend the night in Daming Temple."

"It's possible." Ren Yuanshen agreed, "And the furnishings in Xiao Zong's dormitory are too simple."

Although he believed that some people lived simply and had few furnishings in their houses, Xiao Zong was the most talented poet of the time and the governor of a state. There must be some books, documents, paper, ink, pens, and inkstones in his house, right?
But there was only a bed and a table in his room, which was totally inadequate for his daily life.

But if he actually lived somewhere else, it would make a lot more sense.

"It seems that we need to go to Daming Temple to investigate." Ren Yuan finally said in a deep voice.

"No, Master Wei, this is too dangerous, isn't it? What if you also..." Zuan touched his head and said, "What should I do, big sister?"

"It's just Daming Temple, not Tongtai Temple." Ren Yuan smiled and said, "You can't go there and never come back, right?"

"But you're not a demigod," Zu An said bluntly, "so you better be careful."

After a pause, he made a difficult decision and said, "At least let me ask... my father, what is the name of that tower?"

"Okay." Ren Yuan readily followed suit and never asked him what the conflict between his father and son was.

(End of this chapter)