Mysterious Lotus Casebook

Chapter 8: Fobi Baishi

Ten years ago, there were four members of Sigu Sect that were Li Xiangyi’s right and left hands. After Li Xiangyi disappeared, these four members created a group nicknamed “Fobi Baishi”. (2)

Ever since, their foothold had been located behind a swamp on Qingyuan Mountain.

Here, there was a very small courtyard named Baichuan, which meant “Hundred Rivers”. There were four or five houses within Baichuan court, with green bricks and black tiles, and they were all covered in snow.

A man wearing a green robe, who was about forty years old, looked out at the courtyard with his hands by his sides.

Outside his window, the courtyard was empty, except for a corner of blue brick that was covered with white snow, with traces of birds that had landed on it.

The man in the green robe had thick eyebrows, handsome eyes, and a tall stature. Standing in front of the window, he seemed to be extra tall.

This man was the head of Fobi Baishi. His name was Ji Hanfo.

“I heard that there was an incident in Yipin Tomb recently,” someone behind Ji Hanfo said.

“Murong Wuyan and Wu Guang were both found dead there. I researched the history of the Yipin Tomb. Thirty years ago, a total of ten people disappeared there. And seven of them were skilled at martial arts.”

“And Murong Wuyan was the most highly skilled of them, “Ji Hanfo coldly said. “His martial arts were not inferior to yours and mine.”

The person speaking behind Ji Hanfo was wearing a thick padded coat, with a round face and chubby lips. He weighed at least two hundred and fifty pounds, and he was not tall, but round like a goose.

His name was Bai Jiangchun and he was the second member of Fobi Baishi.

“The one who appeared along with Murong Wuyan in the snowy fir forest of Yipin Tomb was the corpse of ‘Iron Bones’ Wu Guang,” Bai Jiangchun said.

“Hmm,” Ji Hanfo responded lightly, “Biqiu sent people to investigate this matter, so there should be news soon.”

Bai Jiangchun chuckled, “Biqiu hasn’t been out for ten years, since the head of Sigu Sect disappeared.”

Bai Jiangchun was wearing a big padded jacket, but he fanned himself with a cattail fan.

“Just like when you lose your right hand and everyone dies, what’s the benefit of spending your days pitying yourself?”

“Think of it like this – why bother to secretly put a map leading to the East China Sea islands in your room, and then quietly send someone to look for it?” Ji Hanfo said calmly.

Bai Jiangchun snorted and changed the subject, “Biqiu wouldn’t go out if his life depended on it, and most of his disciples are amateurs that won’t do a good enough job. I have matters to deal with in Yunnan, and you and Lao Si are also too busy to go investigate. The incident at Yipin Tomb is a big deal. What are you planning on doing?”

“Biqiu has already entrusted the case to the Fang family,” Ji Hanfo’s eyes gleamed, “Though Biqiu doesn’t go out, he knows how to do his work well.”

Bai Jiangchun’s chubby face contorted as he squinted, “He handed the case to Fang Duobing?”

Ji Hanfo nodded.

“And what was the purpose of that?” Bai Jiangchun’s eyes were bright.

Ji Hanfo pondered for a while, then said slowly, “Li Lianhua.”

Bai Jiangchun slapped the cattail fan on the table, “Li Lianhua, whose age, background, and appearance are a mystery. He made his debut six years ago as the Number One miracle doctor in Jianghu. He has a lotus house with auspicious patterns, which is exquisitely crafted and can be carried by oxen and horses. His medical skills are miraculous. He once brought Shi Wenjue and Helan Tieyi back to life. Recently, he collaborated with Bu Chenghai and Hua Ruxue to investigate the Ghost in The Blue Window Incident, though it’s unknown what role he played in solving the case.”

As a member of Fobi Baishi, Bai Jiangchun was responsible for keeping track of social connections in Jianghu. As long as a person had a name, Bai Jiangchun probably knew about them. If the person was famous, Bai Jiangchun definitely knew about them and could probably tell you everything there was to hear about this person, and any gossip or rumors about them as well.

Ji Hanfo said, “He has nothing to do with the sect Master, he just owns a Lotus House.”

Ji Hanfo paused, and said in a deep voice, “Do you remember when you and I entered the hinterland of the Jinyuan Alliance, and ahead of Di Feisheng’s sleeping quarters, there was a Buddhist temple?

Bai Jiangchun nodded, “I still remember that when we rushed in, the temple was still burning incense, but Di Feisheng was gone.”

“Well, the carvings on the temple walls were carved by the Golden Elephant Master by the order of Di Feisheng. The Golden Elephant Master comes from India and he is extremely skilled at carving. The carvings and construction of the walls are deeply admired by Biqiu.”

Ji Hanfo said, “On the Lotus House, the design is very similar to that of the walls of the temple. In fact, they’re exactly the same.”

“So… you and Biqiu suspect that Li Lianhua is a member of the Jinyuan Alliance?” Bai Jiangchun thought carefully, “Questioning him would be worth a try.”

“If the Lotus House really is associated with the Jinyuan Alliance then Li Lianhua must be related in some way to Di Feisheng,” Ji Hanfo said calmly, “Both Di Feisheng and Sect Master disappeared. If one is alive, then the other must be living too.”

Bai Jiangchun didn’t answer, and after thinking for a moment, he inhaled two long puffs of air through his plump nostrils, “Who did Biqiu send to Xiling to investigate?”

“Ge Pan.”

°°°

Ge Pan was Biqiu’s most capable disciple, his bookkeeping and calculating skills were regarded as the best in Baichuan Court. It wasn’t long before Biqiu accepted him as a disciple. The most regrettable thing in his life was that he never saw Li Xiangyi with his own two eyes.

Li Xiangyi, the head of the Sigu Sect, was famous for his handsomeness and sternness, and for the skills and methods he used with his “Xiangyi Great Sword”, which astonished and amazed anyone who witnessed it.

He was cold, arrogant, and unsociable, with unparalleled wisdom. He established Sigu Sect at the age of seventeen and became famous in the martial arts world at the age of eighteen.

There were a lot of talented members of Sigu Sect, but he could make people like Ji Hanfo, Bai Jiangchun, and others bow their heads, listen to orders, and respect him like their master.

Based on this, one can imagine a little bit about what kind of person Li Xiangyi was. Ge Pan often lamented that he was born too late and had never witnessed Li Xiangyi’s personality for himself.

This time, he was working with the Fang family to go to Yipin Tomb, and Ge Pan felt a little excited about his mission.

In the past ten years, he had rarely been excited about missions, but this time his mission was to test whether Li Lianhua was a member of the Jinyuan Alliance.

He hurried on, and in the afternoon, he arrived at the place mentioned in Fang Duobing’s letter: the Moonlight Inn.

His horse was fast, gliding over the mountain road like a shooting star.

When turning the corner, some water suddenly sprayed onto the snow that had accumulated beside the mountain road, and the horse seemed to have tripped over something.

Ge Pan held on tighter as the horse staggered and continued to gallop forward.