[[This chapter contains graphic mentions of cannibalism if anyone finds it to be triggering.]]
Pudu Temple, The Abbot’s Zen Room
Abbot Wu sat meditating, a bowl of rice in his hands. Someone knocked twice outside the window and said with a smile, “The young monks are enjoying their food in the dining hall, but this old monk is sitting here staring at a bowl of rice. Why is this?”
Abbot Wu smiled in return and said, “Noble Master Li.”
The window opened, and Li Lianhua stood outside, “Old monk, I visited the dining hall. The food at the temple is not the best this month. Except for peanuts, vegetables, oil, and bean curd, there’s only white rice and salt left. Yet you still brag about the delicious vegetarian dishes during the day…”
Abbot Wu said seriously, “If Noble Master Li wants to try the dish, I will ask Master Gu to make a special plate for you. Master Gu’s fried peanuts, dough, pancakes, chili, and noodles are all delicious…”
Li Lianhua suddenly smiled strangely, “So can also he fry people to death?”
Abbot Wu was startled and didn’t know what to say. After a long moment, he asked, “Fry people to death?”
Li Lianhua lifted his clothes gracefully, climbed in slowly through the window, and sat down on the chair where he had sat earlier, “Ahh.”
Abbot Wu had already heard about the charred corpse found in the tunnel of Baichuan Court this morning, and he had been contemplating it just now.
Li Lianhua explained the full matter in detail again, and said leisurely, “Does Master Gu of Pudu Temple know how to prepare the famous dish of murder?”
Abbot Wu said slowly, “Why do you say this?”
Li Lianhua knew that the old monk was cautious and smiled slightly, “As you know, there is a tunnel between Pudu Temple and Baichuan Courtyard. The tunnel leads to the pagoda and woodshed. There was a charred corpse in the section near Baichuan Courtyard. There is a big tree in Pudu Temple that fell suddenly in the morning. First of all, there was no wind in the morning, and the tree was broken very strangely. You’re very smart, so you must have already figured out that someone’s palm force broke it. The top of the big tree can’t be more than around fifty feet high. To break the tree branch off without falling, someone could only strike from the top of the pagoda, which is also about fifty feet high. In other words, there was a man in the pagoda in the morning. Despite what his goal of breaking the branch was, he obviously exited through the tunnel, so I’m sure he has something to do with the charred corpse.”
Abbot Wu nodded, “There was indeed someone in the pagoda yesterday.”
Li Lianhua said, “Old monk, do you know who it was?”
Abbot Wu slowly shook his head, “My martial arts are limited, I could only hear what happened yesterday. But I know someone was in the pagoda for sure.”
Li Lianhua was quiet for a while and said slowly, “Old monk, you’re talking nonsense… How could you not know who was in the pagoda yesterday?”
Abbot Wu smiled bitterly, “Oh?”
Li Lianhua said, “When I came yesterday, Pudu Temple was doing morning prayers. Logically speaking, all the monks should go to chant sutras. You didn’t go to lead the prayer because you were pretending to be sick, but one other person didn’t go to morning service.”
Abbot Wu asked, “Who?”
“Monk Pushen!” Li Lianhua said word for word. He paused then said, “I remember you said, ‘Please invite Monk Pushen to my meditation room,’ but the little novice monk said that he was in his room meditating, so he obviously didn’t do his morning prayers.”
YOU ARE READING
Mysterious Lotus Casebook
FantasyTen years ago, Li Xiang Yi, the master of the Sigu Sect, dominated with his superior swordsmanship and was a symbol of light in the martial arts world. However, he suddenly disappeared along with Di Fei Sheng, the leader of the Jinyuan Alliance, aft...
