Inner Demons

Chapter 40: Miss Yin, the Rich and Beautiful

Old Daoist Liu had been living a comfortable life these past few days. The temple had a steady income from incense, his purse was fuller with silver coins, and he could do whatever he pleased. So when Li Yunxin saw him like this, he knew he wasn't playing coy. Something serious had indeed happened.

The old Daoist was full of worry, and his eyes seemed to only see Li Yunxin. Thus, he completely disregarded Miss Yin's presence and blurted out: "Brother Xin, an old friend of mine has been thrown into prison. He's an old man from the Qiao Family across the street... I heard he's been tortured beyond recognition... Brother Xin, you're capable, please think of something..."

As he spoke, he suddenly realized there was someone else present and quickly fell silent.

Miss Yin had already heard these words and looked at Li Yunxin with curiosity and surprise.

So he... wasn't the old Daoist's disciple? And it sounded like, not only was he not a disciple, but he was someone Old Daoist Liu had to beg. Miss Yin thought of this, but didn't delve deeper. Instead, due to a subtle emotion unique to a young girl towards someone she fancied, she lightly coughed and said softly and gently: "Daoist master, don't panic. Was your friend taken by the authorities? Since he's from the Qiao Family, he must have been taken by our city's South River Prefecture, right? My elder uncle works in the Prefecture, and although he's just a Head Constable, he still has some say. If it's not a major matter..."

The old Daoist sighed repeatedly: "Alas, Miss Yin. Thank you, Miss Yin... Alas. It's not a small matter. The master accused him of murder, of trying to kill the mistress. They say Prefect Li was enraged and personally assigned people to arrest him. I went to see the Qiao Family, but they wouldn't open the door. I heard that he indeed killed three people, alas... How could Old Meng do such a thing? I don't believe it, alas..."

Miss Yin raised a hand to cover her mouth, softly sighing "Ah." She wanted to say, "Daoist master, how can you have such a cruel friend?" but she looked at Li Yunxin and didn't say it. Finally, she only regretted: "Ah... it's Lord Prefectural Governor..."

The old Daoist bowed to her with a worried face.

...She also curtsied in return.

Actually, the old Daoist wanted to say, "Alas, thank you, but we have other matters to discuss, so please take your leave." Who knew this well-mannered girl returned the bow but didn't leave, only looking at Li Yunxin.She was curious why the old Daoist didn't care about a figure like her uncle, yet he asked "Brother Xin to think of a way"—who exactly was Brother Xin? What could he do?

Could he be a young master from a noble family?

But then why would he live in this small temple?

However, Li Yunxin understood why this girl was so idle and wealthy. Weicheng... in his previous world, it would probably be a municipality directly under the central government. The four prefectures within Weicheng city were roughly equivalent to his provincial-level cities. Miss Yin's uncle worked as a Head Constable in South River Prefecture, which was equivalent to a police chief in a provincial-level city. They were influential figures in every city—even though all real power was in the hands of the chief official at this time, they could still be considered "high-ranking government officials" in the eyes of ordinary people.

Her uncle's "Head Constable" and Captain Xing's "Head Constable" were completely different concepts...

Li Yunxin frowned slightly in thought for a moment, then looked up, at Miss Yin, and then at Old Daoist Liu, shaking his head gently: "Something... isn't right."

An old servant killing his mistress and three other household servants would be a sensational event in any country or era. Yet, even a rich and beautiful woman like Miss Yin, who usually loved to wander and chat, only found out about it now, which shows that the matter had been kept secret before.

Even a slow-witted person would feel that the Qiao Family, murder, Old Daoist Liu, and an old servant, these factors linked together, were probably not right. Let alone someone like Li Yunxin. He took five seconds to clear his mind, then fifteen seconds to deduce the whole story. Eventually, the truth of the matter became one of the possibilities he had sorted out.

There were many clues to follow.

For example, what Qiao Jiaming said the first time he saw him—the purpose was just to slander and ruin his cousin's reputation. In an era where cousins were naturally a match, his intentions were obvious.

Later, when he talked to the two Madam Qiaos, he clearly saw the wonderful subtle expressions on the younger Madam Qiao's face. He didn't expect such dirty deeds even in the not-so-large Qiao Family mansion.

But those things were others' business, and he wasn't the kind of hot-blooded hero with an overflowing sense of justice. Knowing a little was enough, he didn't want to delve deeper. But he didn't expect now...

After asking a few more questions, he became even more certain of his deduction. The news was only released today, no wonder Old Daoist Liu didn't avoid Miss Yin. Because soon she would know too.

It was a rare event, and she hadn't even heard about it from her uncle, which showed that the confidentiality work was excellent, and there was definitely something fishy going on.

Hmm. It seems the attention has shifted to me.

Lunatics.

Why not just plot for your family fortune and engage in internal strife?

Insisting on seeking death.

He sighed softly in his heart, then turned to Miss Yin and said: "Miss, I'll show you something."

The topic changed so quickly that both the girl and the old Daoist were slightly startled. But Li Yunxin had already taken her hand, drew a few lines on her palm, and said with a smile: "Feel carefully, what did I draw?"

Then he let go.

The old Daoist and the girl were even more stunned. Miss Yin gasped for a long time with her mouth slightly open before remembering that it was unseemly and quickly lowered her head. What was going on with him... why did he suddenly hold my hand? What did he write? Oh my god, is he... was he writing on my hand...

Um... writing on the hand was... um? What hand? Who? Ah... what just happened?

Miss Yin slowly raised her head and saw Old Daoist Liu.

She quickly covered her mouth as if startled: "Ah, Daoist master, when did you come back? Um... Brother Xin, I'm leaving."

After saying that, she quickly hurried out of the temple gate—she didn't even know why she was so flustered.

It was as if something incredible had just happened.

Old Daoist Liu blinked for a long time: "This..."

"Mind-Losing Talisman." Li Yunxin clapped his hands, "A small trick of Daoist Orthodoxy's Talisman Art, useless against people like you. Only useful against ordinary people. And it can't be used too much. Close the door, no more guests today. Tell me in detail what happened."

The old Daoist listened and quickly went to close the temple door.

He only thought it was about his old friend, but he didn't expect Li Yunxin to be so concerned. He had thought that this expert, whose origins were unknown, merely wanted to live in his small temple, experience the joys and sorrows of life, and avoid troubles, not wanting to get involved in worldly affairs.

He just didn't expect... he was actually planning to help.

So his heart was quickly filled with gratitude, and he felt settled and secure.

However, by nightfall, Old Daoist Liu's "security" completely vanished.