Yu Jin approached with an expressionless face, causing Jiang Zhan’s scalp to tingle inexplicably.

Why did Brother Yu Seven look so murderous? Had he drunk too much tea and needed to relieve himself?

The heavy rain pattered loudly, forming streams along the eaves.

As this thought occurred to Jiang Zhan, the cheerful sound of rain made him unconsciously clench his legs, suddenly feeling an urgent need to visit the latrine.

“Brother Yu Seven, keep Li Brother company for a moment. I need to use the restroom.”

As Jiang Zhan left, Yu Jin narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Young Master Li.

In that instant, Young Master Li felt like prey being eyed by a hunter.

“Come in for tea?” Yu Jin unceremoniously pushed open Jiang Zhan’s door, a faint smile on his lips.

Young Master Li blinked, thinking he had overthought earlier, and followed Yu Jin inside.

The door closed with a creak that sounded harsh to Young Master Li’s ears.

He turned around to see the exceptionally handsome youth had somehow fallen behind, swiftly and decisively bolting the door.

“What are you doing?” By now, Young Master Li would have to be a fool not to sense something was amiss.

Yu Jin leaned lazily against the door, arms crossed: “As the saying goes, ‘Unsolicited favors are either villainy or theft.’ Tell me, what’s your purpose in coming for tea?”

Young Master Li’s expression changed slightly, both annoyed and guilty: “Purpose? Brother, you jest. A chance encounter is also fate. What purpose could there be in having a cup of tea?”

“Heh.” A light chuckle escaped Yu Jin’s throat, tinged with mockery. “If there’s truly no purpose, why seek out Jiang Er for tea instead of me?”

Young Master Li opened and closed his mouth.

Is this even a question?

Yu Jin raised an eyebrow: “I’ve thought it over and can’t figure out why you’d make such a wrong choice.”

Young Master Li laughed in anger, blurting out: “Of course, it’s because Jiang Brother has something that you don’t—”

The other’s suddenly icy expression cut off his smugness.

“I see.” Yu Jin nodded lightly, walking inward.

“What do you see?”

Yu Jin stopped, placing his hand on the table and applying slight pressure. With a crack, the table corner fell off.

He stepped on it, instantly turning the corner into wood chips, leaving what looked like a small pile of ashes on the ground.

Young Master Li’s face changed dramatically. Looking at the youth’s cold demeanor, he felt as if he was seeing a man-eating monster. He turned and ran towards the door.

“You, what are you doing? I’m going to call for help!”

A gleaming dagger appeared in Yu Jin’s hand: “You can try. Let’s see if people arrive faster than my dagger.”

“You dare to kill? The County Magistrate is still here!” Thinking of the formidable case-solving magistrate, Young Master Li mustered his courage.

Yu Jin looked at him coldly: “If I kill you, I can run. I won’t stay in the temple pretending to be innocent like Xuan-ci!”

Young Master Li was terrified.

This person looked refined, but why did he speak like a thug?

“What, what have I done to offend you, brother?”

Yu Jin smiled lightly: “You’ve finally asked the right question. Coveting what Jiang Er has and I temporarily don’t, that’s how you’ve greatly offended me.”

Young Master Li was stunned, then pointed at Yu Jin: “You, you—”

This person liked Jiang Er’s sister?

Well, that’s not surprising. Jiang Er’s sister was as beautiful as a celestial maiden. What man wouldn’t like her upon seeing her?

But he’d never heard of someone being so domineering about it.

Yu Jin toyed with the dagger, speaking lazily: “You’re shorter than me, uglier than me, less skilled than me, and your family is poorer than mine. Who gave you the courage to seek out Jiang Er for tea?”

At this moment, Jiang Zhan returned and heard Yu Jin’s words at the door, his expression turning strange.

He didn’t know there were such high requirements for having tea with him.

Jiang Zhan pushed the door but found it wouldn’t open. He knocked hard: “Brother Yu Seven, why is the door bolted?”

Yu Jin flicked his wrist, and the dagger flew from his hand.

It happened so suddenly that when the dagger grazed Young Master Li’s cheek and embedded itself in the door, Young Master Li only belatedly let out a scream, his crotch already wet.

Yu Jin walked over, slightly bending down to whisper in Young Master Li’s ear: “If you dare to covet again, I’ll pin your lower parts with the dagger!”

Young Master Li: “…” Wuwuwu, it’s too scary, he wanted to go home!

Yu Jin shoved Young Master Li aside, retrieved the dagger, and opened the door.

“What’s that smell?” Jiang Zhan wrinkled his nose, saw the yellow puddle on the ground, and looked at the pale-faced Young Master Li as if he’d seen a ghost.

Young Master Li glanced at the expressionless youth from the corner of his eye, forcing a smile uglier than crying: “Urgent need—”

After two words, he couldn’t continue. Covering his crotch, he fled in panic.

“This—” Jiang Zhan glanced at the ground again, clicking his tongue, “If you’d known, you could have gone to the restroom with me. Why suffer like this?”

Yu Jin narrowed his eyes, watching the fleeing figure with a slight smile: “Indeed, why hold it when you shouldn’t?”

This fool Jiang Zhan didn’t even know how to protect his sister from lechers. How annoying!

By afternoon, the heavy rain finally stopped. The sun broke through the clouds, vengefully pouring down its rays, and soon the puddles on the ground began to shallow.

Although the road was still muddy, Jiang Si no longer wanted to wait.

Perhaps because of the murder that had occurred in the temple, after the rain stopped, not only their group but all the guests packed up and left successively, with the Li siblings leaving the fastest.

The never-before-seen abbot of Lingwu Temple appeared to see off the County Magistrate.

“Amitabha, thank you, Your Honor, for your keen insight in rooting out the evil-doer from our temple,” said the abbot of Lingwu Temple, who was very old, with even his eyebrows snow-white, presenting a kind and benevolent appearance.

“Finding the true culprit and uncovering the truth is this official’s duty. It’s just that it has caused an impact on your esteemed temple—”

The abbot put his palms together: “Amitabha, Your Honor is too kind. Monks should be beyond worldly affairs. In the future, this poor monk will certainly discipline the disciples to focus on cultivation in the temple and avoid worldly matters.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Abbot.” The County Magistrate politely returned the gesture.

Taking advantage of the crowd, a young novice quietly approached Jiang Si and opened his palm: “Female benefactor, this is a gift from this little monk.”

In his chubby palm lay a safety charm. The little novice looked somewhat nervous, as if worried that such a parting gift might be scorned.

Jiang Si took it and pulled out a package of dried apricots from her pouch, placing it in the little novice’s hand with a smile: “Little Master, this is a gift from this female benefactor to you.”

Though young, the novice sensed that Jiang Si was teasing him. His face reddened instantly, and he ran away quickly with the dried apricots. After running several zhangs, he hid behind a monk, peeking out with his little bald head.

Jiang Si smiled and waved at the little novice.

After leaving Lingwu Temple, Jiang Si’s group traveled together with the County Magistrate for a while.

“Where are you three young friends heading? If you have time today, we could gather in the county town.”

Jiang Zhan genuinely liked this magistrate who solved cases like a god and was about to agree, fortunately, Jiang Si knew her brother’s temperament well and pinched him before he could speak.

Jiang Zhan winced: “We’ll visit Your Honor after we’ve finished our business. After all, Your Honor is in Fuxing County, and it’s on our way back.”

The County Magistrate’s expression changed slightly, but in the end, he said nothing. He cupped his hands and smiled: “Then, young friends, until we meet again.”