Upon arriving at the Court of Judicial Review, Li Muyun was already waiting there. After exchanging greetings with Yan Chi and Qin Guan, he said, "These case files from six years ago took quite some time to locate. Everything is now prepared—please come inside—"
Following behind Yan Chi, Qin Guan observed the familiar government office layout and felt another wave of disorientation wash over her.
Just like in her morning dream, she seemed to see her father bringing her to the government office again. It was a morning that felt like afternoon when she first visited the Court of Judicial Review to help her father deliver piles of official documents from their residence. As the highest authority in the Great Zhou's criminal justice system, the entire government office stood majestic and stern, emanating an aura of cold solemnity from legal proceedings and prison litigation. During her first visit, she felt awed by the state apparatus, and a sense of reverence naturally arose within her. She also understood that her father's work concerned the great principles of the world and the legal rights of the people. At that time, she still didn't know what the various departments of the Court of Judicial Review actually did.
Walking along the corridor toward the rear offices, Li Muyun invited everyone into a side hall. Over a dozen case files lay on the desk, all yellowed and aged official documents. Li Muyun explained, "The witness statements, examination reports, case descriptions, memorials from various presiding judges, and review verification documents from assistant officials of the Ministry of Justice, Court of Judicial Review, and prefectural investigation bureau are all here. There are quite a few documents in total. I briefly reviewed several volumes last night. Since Lord Zheng is most familiar with the case details, reviewing them together with Your Highness and the County Princess should yield some insights."
After Li Muyun ordered tea to be served, everyone began examining the documents. Qin Guan focused solely on the case descriptions, examination reports, and Zhang Daoshi's original testimony. Soon, she finished reading about the first victim.
The first victim, who was skinned, was found dead in a dilapidated house in the southern part of Guanyin Town. The death was gruesome, and the body wasn't discovered until three days later, by which time it had severely decomposed. At that time, no ashes or cinnabar patterns were found.
The second victim, whose tongue was removed and fingers severed, was found dead beside a small stream west of Guanyin Town. This victim had also previously committed slander. Similarly, no ashes or cinnabar patterns were discovered near this person.
The third victim froze to death in the northern mountains of Guanyin Town. It happened during winter, and the victim was buried in snow and frozen alive. The body was eventually dug up by a hunter's dog.
All three murder methods were unusual and coincidentally aligned with the doctrines of the Moon Worship Sect. Since Zhang Daoshi lived alone in his temple with no one to provide an alibi, and given his expertise in carving Buddhist and Taoist deity statues, he became the most logical suspect. After the authorities arrested Zhang Daoshi, the killings indeed stopped.
In prison, Zhang Daoshi endured severe torture but never confessed.
Qin Guan flipped through the files page by page, but upon reaching the end, she noticed one volume seemed to be missing. She remarked, "Lord Li, it appears one volume is missing. The details of the third victim's death scene and the on-site investigation records are not here."
Li Muyun raised his eyebrows, "Then I shall search for it again. Documents from several years ago are mostly stored together haphazardly—it was likely overlooked." With that, Li Muyun led his subordinates toward the archives.
Zheng Baishi asked Qin Guan, "Does the County Princess find anything peculiar?"Qin Guan shook her head, "It doesn't specify that all the crimes were committed on starless, moonless nights. Apart from the similar methods of killing and the state of the victims, not much else was discovered. It's just a pity that one volume is missing."
The recorded details weren't exhaustive, and since the case occurred in a very distant location, there were even more omissions. However, Zhang Daoshi's testimony was quite intriguing. According to the records, even during severe torture, Zhang Daoshi showed no fear or panic—at most, he was merely annoyed. His collarbone had been pierced with nails, yet even under such conditions, he refused to confess. The presiding official at the time, afraid he might die from the torture, stopped and had him imprisoned instead. As for his testimony, he claimed to know nothing about the case. The official, convinced of his guilt, gave him little opportunity to defend himself.
Later, it was recorded how he repeatedly uttered blasphemous words in his cell, which aligned with what the warden of the Celestial Prison had said. Reading this, even Qin Guan felt a growing interest, let alone Yan Chi.
Zhang Daoshi also claimed that this calamity was fated in his life, so he remained calm and unruffled. Could someone truly calculate their own destiny and tribulations? Thinking of this, Qin Guan felt uncertain. She still remembered the way Zhang Daoshi had looked at her that day.
"We found ashes and cinnabar drawings near Zhao Jiaxu's body. According to these records, the victims from six years ago showed no such peculiarities. Also, there's no mention of the weather conditions at the time of the incidents."
Zheng Baishi and Zhan Yang had been involved in the case back then. Zheng Baishi explained, "The case happened in Guanyin Town, and only a limited number of constables were dispatched. Many details were overlooked. Once suspicion fell on Zhang Daoshi, the investigation stalled..." He lowered his voice, "At that time, the northwest war was intense—Your Highness must understand. The court and the public were both preoccupied with the conflict, and since three consecutive deaths were considered ominous, the officials wanted to close the case quickly."
Thus, even though Zhang Daoshi never confessed, the case was shelved.
Having worked alongside Shen Yi for years, Qin Guan understood well that judicial matters weren't simply about right and wrong. Once officialdom was involved, there were too many ambiguous and inexplicable actions. It was common for officials to bend the rules or fabricate evidence for the sake of court politics or personal gain. At the very least, the presiding official at the time hadn't forced a confession or falsified Zhang Daoshi's testimony.
"I wonder if Lord Li can locate those files..."
Qin Guan frowned slightly, recalling Zhang Daoshi's words. The Moon Worship Sect's doctrine was to punish evil and atone for sins, and its followers mostly believed in the power of deities, often seeking something in return. What, then, was this murderer seeking?
Yan Chi, studying the files, seemed thoughtful. "Lord Zheng, make a copy of the cinnabar pattern. I'll visit the Celestial Prison."
Zheng Baishi was surprised. Yan Chi explained, "If it's neither Taoist nor Buddhist, it's highly likely related to the Moon Worship Sect. Zhang Daoshi is the best person to ask about this."
Zheng Baishi's eyes lit up. "Ah, why didn't I think of that?!"
Qin Guan was also slightly taken aback. She hadn't considered that possibility either. The cinnabar pattern resembled some kind of curse or talisman. Zhang Daoshi, who had initially followed the Taoist Path and later converted to the Moon Worship Sect, would likely know what it was.Zheng Baishi continued, "Then this humble official will immediately send someone to deliver the pattern."
With that, he instructed Zhan Yang, who then dispatched a yamen runner. While waiting, Li Muyun emerged from inside, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. "Only the final scroll remains, but we don't know which corner it's fallen into. The subordinates are searching, though it's uncertain when they'll find it..."
With the Court of Judicial Review's backlog of documents spanning decades and this being a six-year-old cold case, it was unsurprising if things went missing. Zheng Baishi replied, "No rush, given the time passed. Although the third case lacks one scroll, the two cases indeed appear identical. However, back when Zhang Daoshi was captured, I never believed he was the true culprit. As for the real killer's identity, these records haven't yielded crucial clues."
Yan Chi stated, "I'll visit the Celestial Prison to hear what Zhang Daoshi has to say."
Li Muyun was unaware of Yan Chi's plan until Zheng Baishi explained, after which he quickly recognized the reasoning. Just then, the yamen runner arrived with the pattern.
Yan Chi took the pattern and prepared to leave, then asked Qin Guan, "Would the Princess care to join me?"
Qin Guan hesitated briefly before nodding. Zhang Daoshi was peculiar—she felt uneasy yet curious to investigate.
Now holding a status that permitted involvement in the case, neither Li Muyun nor Zheng Baishi expressed surprise. Qin Guan and Yan Chi bid them farewell and departed first, while Zheng Baishi remained, ordering Zhan Yang to investigate the Weiyuan Earl's residence and other members of the Zhao family.
Exiting the Court of Judicial Review, Qin Guan paused to glance back at the imposing plaque above the yamen, which instinctively evoked a sense of stern justice. She withdrew her gaze and hurried after Yan Chi.
During their first visit to the Celestial Prison, Zhang Daoshi had claimed ignorance and shown no fear of their high status. Could Yan Chi truly extract information this time? Qin Guan wasn't certain, but she wanted to know if the Taoist possessed the supernatural abilities she feared.
Boarding the carriage, they soon arrived at the Ministry of Justice. Upon entering and hearing of Yan Chi's intent to visit the Celestial Prison, minor officials promptly accompanied them. Inside, the same superintendent led the way.
"Your Highness and Princess may not know, but these past two days, Zhang Daoshi has shown no fear whatsoever. Instead, he's been continuously muttering to himself—unclear what he's saying, or whether he believes he'll be released."
Yan Chi remained silent, guiding Qin Guan to Zhang Daoshi's cell.
As before, Zhang Daoshi was fast asleep. The superintendent impatiently called, "Zhang Daoshi, the Crown Prince and Princess are here! Rise and answer! If you contribute, you might even earn your freedom!"
Zhang Daoshi shifted slightly, eyes still closed. "I know nothing."
Exasperated, the superintendent fumed until Yan Chi spoke calmly, "The second victim died the day before yesterday—tongue torn out, fingers severed. We found this beneath the body. It belongs to neither Taoist nor Buddhist traditions. You should recognize it."
At this, Zhang Daoshi opened his eyes and looked at Yan Chi.
He glanced at the rubbing in Yan Chi's hand, then at Yan Chi himself, before rising and approaching. Upon seeing the incompletely drawn talisman, his expression shifted. "The Evil-Slaying Curse?"
Yan Chi had anticipated Zhang Daoshi would identify it. "What is the Evil-Slaying Curse?"A solemn expression unexpectedly surfaced on Zhang Daoshi's face. His eyes rolled twice. "The Demon-Subduing Incantation is the most powerful incantation of our Moon Worship Sect, used in conjunction with the Demon-Subduing Temple."
As he spoke, his eyes widened suddenly. "So that's why he killed people!"
His expression turned somewhat eerie, and his words grew even more mystical.
Qin Guan couldn't help but ask, "What is the Demon-Subduing Temple? Do you know why he killed people?"
Zhang Daoshi looked at Qin Guan, pausing briefly before replying, "The Demon-Subduing Temple is the most sinister and lethal altar practice in the Moon Worship Sect. Although punishing evil can redeem sins, our followers should not unjustly create killing karma. This Demon-Subduing Temple is a type of soul-deliverance altar, but with one difference—it requires living beings who have committed Evil Karma as sacrifices. That means... killing living people alive, then using this method to resolve grievances, dissolve karmic knots, ward off disasters, and change fortunes. This method is extremely sinister, practiced only by a heretical faction within our sect. Legend says that if this altar succeeds, it can defy fate and bring the dead back to life."
Qin Guan's heart pounded violently. Defy fate and bring the dead back to life...
Yan Chi asked, "Are you certain the murderer intends to set up a Demon-Subduing Temple?"
Zhang Daoshi nodded with grave seriousness. "I'm certain. I could never mistake these symbols. Why did you only come to ask me now? Could it be that six years ago, the murderer was already aiming for this?"
Zhang Daoshi looked at Yan Chi, then sighed. "Never mind. You weren't in the capital six years ago."
Yan Chi raised an eyebrow. During his previous visit to the prison, no one had introduced his identity to Zhang Daoshi. If that was the case, how did Zhang Daoshi know he hadn't been in the capital six years ago? The warden had only addressed him as Crown Prince. Did that alone reveal his identity?
Even common folk in remote villages wouldn't universally know his past, yet Zhang Daoshi had hit the mark with a single remark.
"How did you know I wasn't in the capital six years ago?"
Zhang Daoshi, who usually seemed unwilling to engage with others, appeared to treat Yan Chi differently. He looked Yan Chi up and down before answering, "Your Excellency carries a heavy aura of slaughter, likely having just returned from a battlefield. Moreover, such intense killing energy couldn't be accumulated in just a day or two. Not only that, but Your Excellency has also committed numerous acts of killing."
Yan Chi frowned deeply. Had this Daoist priest figured out his identity?
"Do you know who I am?"
Zhang Daoshi chuckled lightly. "I have no interest in Your Excellency's identity."
Yan Chi found him difficult to deal with. There were many cultivators in the world, and those who established their own sects like Zhang Daoshi were not rare. Yet he had discerned Yan Chi's past with just a few glances—it seemed he genuinely possessed some skill.
Meanwhile, Qin Guan's heart tightened with anxiety.
"Since you know about this Demon-Subduing Temple, you must know how it is arranged and set up."
Zhang Daoshi's expression turned stern. "The more one seeks from this altar, the more people must die. The Moon Worship Sect's seven layers of hell must each be consecrated with sacrifices before resurrection can be achieved. Only three people died six years ago—I don't know how many will die this time."
After a pause, Zhang Daoshi calculated on his fingers. "This altar requires not only an auspicious hour but also specific weather conditions, geographical orientation, and the five elements and destiny of the sacrificial victims. Beyond that, the purpose of the person setting up the altar matters—are they seeking life? Changing fortunes? Pursuing wealth? Different purposes require different methods for arranging the altar."
Zhang Daoshi's explanation was highly complex, and it sounded as if even he himself wasn't entirely clear about all the details.Qin Guan frowned and asked, "Where did this Moon Worship Sect actually come from? Did you establish it yourself, or did you adopt it from elsewhere?"
Zhang Daoshi looked at Qin Guan, his sharp insight making her somewhat uncomfortable. Yet he spoke in an ordinary tone, "Nine years ago, I traveled south and met someone who claimed to be an elder of the Moon Worship Sect. The first time we met, he deduced my entire life's events and calculated how many calamities were destined for me. He accurately predicted everything that had happened before. I immediately felt his Moon Worship Sect was more useful than the teachings I usually studied, so I became his disciple. Everything I know was told to me by him. He was one of the elders of the Moon Worship Sect, which originated from the Ruoqiang Kingdom in the Western Regions. When he first accepted me, he said our master-disciple bond would last only three months. Sure enough, after three months, he inexplicably disappeared. I didn't search for him but returned to my small temple, smashed the celestial deity statues, and began following the Moon Worship Sect."
Zhang Daoshi spoke with a tinge of nostalgia, while this extraordinary encounter sounded even more mystical to Yan Chi and Qin Guan.
Yan Chi then asked, "Since you understand this Demon-Subduing Temple, can you predict who the next victim might be?"
Zhang Daoshi yawned, "You're putting me in a difficult position. I only know of this altar but have never set one up myself. Its complexities are beyond your understanding. Even if you seek my help, this is all I can offer..."
Qin Guan pressed, "Can't you deduce anything at all?"
She noticed Zhang Daoshi making several finger calculations but saying nothing, sensing he might be withholding information.
Hearing this, Zhang Daoshi paused, glanced at Yan Chi and Qin Guan watching him, and sighed. "Come find me after the third person dies..."
Both Qin Guan and Yan Chi frowned. What did he mean by that!
How could they simply wait for a third victim to appear?!
Zhang Daoshi looked at Yan Chi, then at Qin Guan, shaking his head without further comment. He turned and went back to sleep. Only after lying on the dirty bedding did he calmly say, "Please leave now. I truly can't help at the moment. All I can say is that the perpetrator must have grasped the essence of the Moon Worship Sect, though I don't know who it is. Moreover, this person certainly didn't dare go this far based solely on what I've said. They've likely been to the western regions. Why they chose Guanyin Town to strike, I have no idea. As for me, I'm merely collateral damage—who could have predicted such a coincidence?"
He added resignedly, "Forget it, consider this a trial. Once I overcome this calamity, I'm destined for a lifetime of wealth and honor." He glanced at Yan Chi and Qin Guan, "If you're truly determined, come find me after the third death. By then, I might understand what the murderer intends to do. If not, there's no need to return."
With that, Zhang Daoshi crossed his legs and began meditating with closed eyes.
Seeing his attitude, Yan Chi and Qin Guan knew they couldn't press him further.
While Qin Guan might let it go, Yan Chi deeply disliked this feeling. Given his status, he could easily kill Zhang Daoshi on the spot, yet he instinctively felt this man was both crucial and highly capable—too valuable to eliminate.
Yan Chi carefully folded the rubbing and tucked it into his sleeve. "In that case, we'll meet another day."
He then led Qin Guan out.Turning a corner, Yan Chi instructed the prison warden, "Take good care of him these next few days. He still has his uses."
The warden immediately nodded repeatedly in agreement.
After exiting the Celestial Prison, Yan Chi's expression turned grave. Zhang Daoshi's words had left them feeling utterly helpless. Without any leads, they truly could only wait for the next victim to appear—yet this approach felt unbearably cruel.
Even after boarding the carriage, Yan Chi's expression remained stern. "The northwestern Rong invaders have been harassing our borders for years, and the Great Zhou has limited interactions with the southwestern states. Ruoqiang is the westernmost country in the Western Regions—even traveling from Western Liang would be an extremely long journey."
Qin Guan remarked, "Starting from the Great Zhou, a round trip to the west would take at least three years. Ordinary people lack the financial means and resources to undertake such a journey, nor would they dare to set foot on this Path. Yet, there are still quite a few people across the Great Zhou who have been to the west, including many right here in the capital. So, it's like searching for a needle in a haystack."
Despite this, Yan Chi and Qin Guan's trip wasn't entirely fruitless. They rode the carriage directly to the prefectural magistrate's office. Zheng Baishi had already returned from the Court of Judicial Review and hurried to greet them upon hearing of their arrival.
After meeting, Yan Chi relayed Zhang Daoshi's words. Zheng Baishi listened with a strange expression. "Defying fate to change destiny? Resurrecting the dead? How is that possible! Such baseless fabrications could only be concocted by cults. Now they're toying with human lives—this is nothing but sheer depravity and Qi deviation!"
Most scholars avoided discussing supernatural phenomena, but Qin Guan, listening nearby, felt a growing unease.
She didn't believe in such things herself, yet she was the best example of their possibility!
She had died once—never seeing ghosts or gods—but the possession of another's body was a reality. The moment she heard Zhang Daoshi's words, she couldn't help but wonder: had her own life been exchanged for someone else's death?
As they were speaking, Zhan Yang returned from outside. Upon entering, he paid his respects and said, "Your Highness, My Lady, Sir. I still haven't found any evidence of Zhao Jiaxu having a lover outside. However, I did uncover something about the House of Marquis Weiyuan."
Zheng Baishi raised an eyebrow. Zhan Yang continued, "It turns out the third son of the Marquis Weiyuan is not actually the Marquis's biological child. The Marchioness was previously married before wedding the Marquis. Back then, the Marquis went to great lengths to secure his official post. But just at that time, the eldest son brought a courtesan into the residence, demanding to take her as a concubine. The second son accumulated massive gambling debts. As for the fourth son, he's also a good-for-nothing. Only the third son remains untainted..."
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