At these words, all the monks’ expressions became grave.

They weren’t fools either and naturally knew Shao Mingyuan’s analysis made sense.

In the middle of the night, if it wasn’t someone he trusted, how would he open the door to let them in? This precisely proved that the murderer was undoubtedly a monk from the temple. This realization made all the monks present feel heavy-hearted.

“Kong Yun, summon all disciples in the temple to assemble in the hall,” the abbot instructed.

The leading monk Kong Yun responded with assent.

Soon after, deep bells tolling echoed endlessly through the mountain temple.

In the quiet of midnight, the bell sounds carried far, even awakening those at the foot of Luoxia Mountain who were rushing day and night to clear the mountain roads.

Jiang Shiyi leaped up and came before Shao Zhi, “What happened in the temple? Has Lord Marquis sent out any more messages?”

“No.” Shao Zhi replied irritably, gazing toward the mountain temple.

Many people at the foot of the mountain had no mind to sleep anymore.

All the sleeping monks in the temple were awakened, hurriedly donning their robes and rushing to the great hall.

Shao Mingyuan and Qiao Zhao, as outsiders, quietly observed throughout.

“Are you tired?” Shao Mingyuan suddenly turned his head to ask.

In the night, the young woman’s eyes were bright as she gently shook her head, “How could I possibly sleep?”

“Don’t worry. That person couldn’t keep his composure and instead exposed himself. The truth will come to light soon.”

“Yes, I just wonder how Master is doing.” Qiao Zhao looked toward the abbot from afar.

The abbot seemed to sense something and nodded slightly at the two.

Under the abbot’s arrangement, all monks, regardless of seniority, were divided into several groups to search everyone’s quarters room by room. Dafu Temple was bright as day until dawn broke and the lanterns were finally extinguished.

The monks returned to assemble in the great hall, having found nothing.

The leading monk Kong Yun said, “Abbot, all disciples’ quarters have been searched without any abnormalities found. I think we should still ask Miss Li’s coachman and maid to come out and clarify things.”

“Master, why not wait a little longer?”

“Wait for what? Lord Marquis said the murderer is a monk from our temple, but so far, no abnormalities have been discovered, while those two people have many suspicious points. Even if they aren’t the murderers, they must be connected to the murderer.”

“There is a connection. My maid saw what the hunter’s companion looked like,” Qiao Zhao suddenly said.

All the monks were startled, and the leading monk Kong Yun’s expression became particularly stern. “If that’s the case, why didn’t Miss Li speak up earlier?”

Qiao Zhao smiled, “Speak up early so the real murderer could silence witnesses?”

“Then please have that female benefactor come out to identify the murderer,” Kong Yun said coldly.

Qiao Zhao didn’t respond, turning her head to look at the abbot.

The abbot said gravely, “Everyone, please remain calm and wait a little longer.”

“What is the abbot still waiting for?” Kong Yun asked in confusion.

The abbot smiled without answering.

Two quarters of an hour later, a young monk walked in and whispered a few words in the abbot’s ear. The abbot nodded repeatedly, his face showing joy.

After the young monk finished speaking and withdrew to one side, the abbot looked around at everyone and smiled, “Master has been found.”

“Master has been found?” The monks looked at each other, all showing surprise, asking in unison, “Abbot, where was Master found? How was she discovered?”

These people had been searching everyone’s quarters all along. When had the abbot ordered someone to look for Master?

The monks couldn’t help but look at the young monk, finally realizing: the abbot’s young disciple Jing Xu had been absent all along, but because Jing Xu was young and of low seniority, no one had noticed.

“Kong Yun, now you can tell us why you kidnapped Master and killed the head monk, can’t you?” the abbot suddenly asked, looking at Kong Yun.

At these words, like a thunderbolt striking the monks’ heads, everyone involuntarily stepped back, revealing Kong Yun.

Kong Yun looked shocked, “What does the abbot mean by this? This disciple doesn’t understand!”

“Jing Xu, tell Kong Yun where Master was discovered.”

Jing Xu bowed to the abbot and declared loudly, “Master was discovered in the grain storehouse.”

The monks’ gazes toward Kong Yun took on a different quality.

Kong Yun remained composed, “Although this disciple is the deputy administrator managing the storehouse, Master being found in the storehouse doesn’t prove any connection to this disciple.”

The abbot’s expression was grave as he looked at Kong Yun and shook his head with a sigh, “Last night before Marquis Guanjun and Miss Li left, they came to see me and described what the murderer would most likely be like: thin and small, ordained later in life, and having duties that allowed frequent exits without arousing suspicion.”

“Many disciples fit these criteria.”

The abbot looked deeply at Kong Yun and asked calmly, “What if we add that many years ago, he likely nearly starved to death at the foot of the mountain as a refugee or beggar child?”

Kong Yun’s expression stiffened.

The abbot sighed deeply, “I ordered disciples to examine records through the night. In twenty years, fewer than seven disciples fit this criterion, and among these seven, only you simultaneously fit all three points.”

Kong Yun laughed bitterly, “So the abbot suspected this disciple all along? But based solely on wild speculation from two outsiders, you would condemn this disciple?”

“Xin Hai—”

Another middle-aged monk stepped forward, holding a tray with neatly folded clothing on it.

Seeing the clothing on the tray, Kong Yun’s expression changed.

“These are pilgrim clothes searched from Brother Kong Yun’s room, still with bloodstains on them.”

The abbot looked deeply at Kong Yun, “Kong Yun, what else do you have to say?”

Kong Yun stared at the abbot, his expression changing unpredictably. After a long while, he sighed deeply, “So the abbot staged a good play. Assembling the temple disciples with me leading the searches everywhere was to prevent me from having time to dispose of the bloody clothes, wasn’t it?”

“Take Kong Yun away.” The abbot turned his back.

The warrior monks who had been waiting on the side immediately surrounded Kong Yun.

“Too late…” Kong Yun barely managed these words as dark blood flowed from the corners of his mouth.

The moment he saw Jing Xu appear, he had already bitten through the poison sac hidden in his tooth.

Kong Yun stared upward, murmuring, “I truly regret—”

If he hadn’t softened due to a debt of gratitude from years past and asked his companion to spare Jing Xi’s life, would he have avoided leaving the flaw that led to suspicion falling on him?

Kong Yun’s eyes remained wide open as he breathed his last.

Everyone heard his final unfinished words, but they would never guess what he truly regretted.

“Amitabha—” The abbot sighed deeply, “Jing Xu, you lead the way. Let’s go see how Master is doing.”

When Qiao Zhao saw Master Wumei, she was leaning against a pillow, looking weak but with calm eyes.

“You’ve come.” Master Wumei curved her lips slightly, “Brother Abbot, I’d like to speak with Miss Li alone.”

The abbot nodded and withdrew with Shao Mingyuan and the others.

Only Master Wumei and Qiao Zhao remained in the room.

“Master, how are you feeling? May I check your pulse?”

Master Wumei smiled, “This humble nun wasn’t mistreated; she just hasn’t eaten anything.”

“Then I’ll go make some congee and light dishes for Master.”

“No rush.” Master Wumei stopped her and asked calmly, “Were you frightened?”