Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 370, 369: He bowed deeply.
"Ma Sanjiang is the county magistrate, and the county magistrate is Ma Sanjiang!"

Old Man Xiao sighed. He wanted to complain about Zhuo Sushou, but when he saw Zhuo Sushou's miserable state, he swallowed back the words he was about to say and softened his tone: "Your disciple went to Ma Sanjiang for help. Ma Sanjiang said he would immediately gather the priests of all the temples, and then sent his disciple to find me first, saying that the Barefoot Temple was closer and that I should go ahead first to hold you off for the time being."

Old Man Xiao glanced at Feng Xiuhu: "Unexpectedly, he ended up getting himself involved as well."

Feng Xiuhu knew exactly what was going on. He kicked Zhuo Sushou with a cold smile: "You say you're holding us back, but actually you're just keeping an eye on you, aren't you? With other family priests present, you can be taught not to say things you shouldn't."

Old Man Xiao looked puzzled: "What shouldn't I say?"

Zhuo Sushou kept his head down and remained silent.

Zhu Linjin was a secret between Ma Sanjiang and Zhuo Sushou, unknown to others.

But Feng Xiuhu had no such reservations. He pulled Old Man Xiao aside and told him everything he had seen and heard, as if they were gossiping.

Old Man Xiao listened with a mixture of surprise and anger, repeatedly exclaiming that this was outrageous.

After Feng Xiuhu finished speaking, Zhuo Sushou suddenly added, "That's right, the Zhu Linjin was made by me!"

Shunzi kicked him: "What do you have to be so proud of?"

Zhuo Sushou suddenly raised his voice, sounding quite self-righteous: "This brocade should only exist in heaven; how often can one hear of it on earth? Think about it carefully, has there ever been such a magnificent and wondrous fabric in this world? It can be said that once the Crimson Scale appeared, all silks, satins, brocades, and gauze became mere mortal objects. If I hadn't created it, how would the world know about it..."

Snapped!
Feng Xiuhu slapped him, silencing his unfinished sentence: "I'm thirsty, do you have any tea?"

Zhuo Sushou stammered, "Yes, the water room is right next door."

Shunzi quickly walked outside.

As soon as he stepped outside, a strong gust of wind blew him back inside.

Fang Youliu's injuries had not yet healed, but he immediately looked outside warily.

Outside, a strong wind was blowing, rustling the bamboo forest. Under the bright sunshine, it even started to rain.

Old Man Xiao's eyes lit up: "It's Chief Sacrificer Run!"

Feng Xiuhu asked, "Which family's chief priest?"

Old Man Xiao replied, "Isn't this obvious? It's the Wind and Rain Temple!"

Fang Youliu was about to draw the talisman first when Feng Xiuhu suddenly grabbed him from the side: "Let me do it."

Looking around, a thin old man came flying through the air and landed lightly in the courtyard.

He glanced up and saw the scene in the quiet room: three villains were eyeing him menacingly, Zhuo Sushou's face was covered in blood, and Xiao Liangbin's nose and mouth were bleeding and his clothes were in disarray.

The chief priest's face darkened—it seemed the enemy was more troublesome than he had imagined; both chief priests had actually been defeated.

He immediately focused his attention, twirling his sword and shouting, "Wind, come—"

"Wait a minute!"

Feng Xiuhu raised his hand to interrupt the spellcasting: "Hey you, look what this is?"

What can it be?
The chief priest looked up and his cold gaze fell on Feng Xiuhu's hand.

puff.

Without a moment's hesitation, the chief priest immediately prostrated himself in this direction, shouting, "May the temple be above! May the wind and rain bring peace!"

"Put my ass on it!"

Feng Xiuhu cursed, beckoned the chief priest over, and then instructed Old Man Xiao, "Tell him."

Old Xiao relayed the gossip he had just heard from Feng Xiuhu to Chief Sacrificer Runji, and Shunzi went out again to fetch water.

Not long after Old Man Xiao finished speaking, Zhuo Sushou stubbornly added, "That's right, the Zhu Linjin was made by me!" Just then, Shunzi finished brewing the tea, opened a few porcelain cups, and poured tea for everyone.

Old Xiao, whose throat was dry from talking, picked up his cup, blew on it to cool it down, and drank it all in one gulp.

Runji Chang stole glances, looking at Feng Xiuhu for a moment, then at the thumb ring in his hand.

Feng Xiuhu noticed and asked, holding his teacup, "What are you looking at? Are you afraid it's fake?"

The chief priest smiled apologetically: "That's not true. The Token of Summoning Wind and Rain bears the unique mark of the temple lord. Any disciple of the Wind and Rain Temple can recognize it at a glance."

"Have it?"

Feng Xiuhu brought the ring close to his eyes to examine it closely: "Why can't I see any marks?"

The chief priest cautiously replied, "Only disciples who have cultivated the Wind and Rain Technique can sense... You are not a true immortal in the temple?"

Feng Xiuhu's face hardened: "I am the acting temple master. Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask—first, tell me your name?"

The chief priest bowed his head and said, "Disciple Run Rusu, when I was young, I cultivated in the Sail City Palace. After successfully entering the Divine Travel Realm, I was sent to Jiangluo Creek to manage the temple."

Feng Xiuhu threatened him: "If Wan Laiqiu knew that such a terrible thing happened under the Empress's feet, he would skin you alive."

That's not wrong, after all, Jiangluoxi is not far from Fancheng.

Runru wiped the sweat from his forehead: "I was indeed wrong, but I was also kept in the dark and did not know the reason."

Before we could finish our conversation, a loud and energetic shout suddenly came from outside.

"Listen up, you people inside! You are surrounded! Give up resistance and surrender. The county magistrate is kind-hearted and has agreed to spare your lives!"

Feng Xiuhu turned to look at Run Rusu: "Who's here again?"

Runru was eager to end the previous topic, so he quickly replied, "They should all be here."

"When I arrived, Ma Sanjiang had already gathered all the chief priests, and they were leading their own priests of rites in a grand procession. I know the art of riding the wind, and I was worried about Chief Priest Xiao, so I came to provide support first."

Old Man Xiao smiled and explained, "I have a very good personal relationship with Chief Sacrificer Run."

Shunzi ran out and peered over the wall. When he came back, he said to Feng Xiuhu, "Brother, there's a huge crowd outside, definitely over a hundred people."

Feng Xiuhu laughed and said, "It seems that Ma Sanjiang already knows about the commotion we've caused on the street, so he brought everyone he could."

"They're trying to make sure we can't escape."

Fang Youliu nodded: "He never intended to leave any survivors."

Feng Xiuhu glanced thoughtfully at the listless Zhuo Sushou.

There was something he couldn't figure out.

At first, Feng Xiuhu thought that all the temples in Jiangluoxi were in cahoots with the county government, and that they were all in the same boat.

But the facts proved that only Ma Sanjiang and Zhuo Sushou were tied to the rope.

But why would Zhuo Sushou choose to reveal the truth? Exposing Zhu Linjin's secret would only push the other temples to the opposite side, and Ma Sanjiang dared to summon all the priests because he was certain that Zhuo Sushou would keep his mouth shut, which is why he had the confidence.

It's as if only Ma Sanjiang himself felt that he and Zhuo Sushou were in the same boat, but Zhuo Sushou and he were not actually of one mind.

Feng Xiuhu suppressed his doubts and put down his teacup.

He stood up and said, "Let's go out and meet them."

P.S.: Requesting book recommendations in the comments section~
(End of this chapter)