Chapter 27 (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios

Editor: Atlas Studios

Here came another quest prompt.

Li Ang led everyone through the bell tower, the drum tower, the Hall of Four Heavenly Kings, the sutra depository, the monastic room, and the dining room to have a rough glance at Solitary Temple. There was no psionic response in any corner.

When Li Ang closed his Cat’s Eye and restored his Spirit, he returned to the courtyard in the middle of the main entrance and told everyone calmly, “We didn’t manage to find the source of the weeping. However, it probably shouldn’t be a prank pulled by an ordinary person.

“This temple has likely been abandoned for special reasons, so we must be prepared to deal with ghosts.”

Hanging Sword for Ten Thousand Miles frowned. “How do you know?”

Xing Hechou, who did not utter a word, was also puzzled.

“This is concise observation, bold speculation, and cautiously proving a point.”

Li Ang said lightly in a tone he deserved a beating for, “Based on the area of ​​the monastic room, the number of beds, the number of chopsticks in the fasting room, and the number of straw quilts, it can be seen that Solitary Temple was a large temple with at least 200 monks before it fell.

“In ancient times, monks read Buddhist scriptures. Therefore, it was impossible to produce all day long just like rural common people. There were four main sources of economic resources for maintaining the temple’s economy.

“First, they relied on the imperial family to bestow land on them so they could cultivate by themselves.

“Second, they reclaimed wastelands, got involved in papermaking, and relied on themselves.

“Third, they were given monetary or land donations from Buddhist devotees and big businessmen.

“Fourth, they relied on farming income and donations from believers to take financial loans. Yes, they were providing loans.

“Solitary Temple was located in a remote area with only a medium-sized city wall in the distance. The road was not in good condition. It did not look like the temple was close to the capital or could win the favor of the Emperor.

“Although there was reclaimed wasteland on both sides of Solitary Temple, the area was quite small. It was impossible for the land to produce and support a temple with a hundred monks. Similarly, the production of printed Buddhist scriptures was insignificant to the temple.

“In the village that we saw in the east just now, the houses still had mud-tile roofs. Commoner farmers were still wearing tattered clothes, yet there were a lot of cattle in the fields. Their production equipment was much more luxurious than the equipment of the farmers of the same generation.

“Therefore, it could be concluded that Solitary Temple’s financial source was mainly donations made by Buddhist devotees and big businessmen.

“Solitary Temple, which was in good operating condition, had also established a storehouse called Longevity Bank, which was specifically used to store property and facilitate financial loans.

“Combined with the number of slightly luxurious cattle in that village, it could even be speculated that the vast fertile land observed by the drone is the Buddha fields formed after the land merger of Solitary Temple!”

During the teleportation, Li Ang had not given a constructive opinion. Instead, he had stood aside doing nothing and making a fool of himself. This was a method he used to observe the behavior of highly-experienced players who were suspected of having an official background.

Xing Hechou had also done a very good job easing the atmosphere and forming a temporary team following the Special Affairs Bureau’s operation guide.

Now that they had heard this unknown weeping sound without finding its source, Li Ang, who felt faintly threatened, took the initiative to conduct intelligence analysis, lest this group of teammates dragged him into something.

Hanging Sword for Ten Thousand Miles opened his mouth without knowing what to say. He didn’t think that he was stupid but he definitely couldn’t speculate based on just two or three pieces of information.

He asked with a frown, “Solitary Temple used to be in good operating condition, but how is that related to us surviving here for seven days?”

Li Ang chuckled. “Of course those things are related. Try imagining a luxurious temple with 200 monks, countless pious Buddhist devotees, and vast fertile land. How could it be abandoned in just three years?

“These three years of wasted time was what I speculated based on the growth of creepers, such as Boston Ivy, on the red brick wall.”

Hanging Sword for Ten Thousand Miles did not like having his IQ tested. Thus, he looked at Li Ang. “Can you stop beating around the bush and tell us your conclusion quickly?”

“He he he…”

Li Ang did not get angry with Hanging Sword for Ten Thousand Miles. Instead, he said with a smile, “There are many possible reasons. Did the advent of the military disaster cause these monks to flee? That’s impossible because the peaceful and quiet villages of the fields showed no sign of military disaster.

“The Imperial Court was dissatisfied with Buddhism for producing nothing. Could the emperor have wiped them out? That is also impossible because the monks would have at least taken all the Dharma instruments, property, and scriptures from the temple before fleeing. Even if the monks did not move, the government would.

“Could the local bullies have united and destroyed the whole temple overnight? Plus, there were no traces of burning swords or soldiers in Solitary Temple. Even if the temple was wiped out overnight, the rural commoner farmers would have used these three years to sneak up on the mountain and evacuate the valuable pots and pans as well as the tables and chairs in Solitary Temple.

“After all possibilities are eliminated, the only possibility is the truth.”

Li Ang’s gaze suddenly turned cold and he said faintly, “Three years ago, a very serious accident occurred in Solitary Temple. Not only did it result in local Buddhist devotees not visiting Buddhist temples, but it also resulted in monks from other provinces not daring to come over to repair it.

“It also caused the impoverished rural commoners, Buddhist farmers, and authorities to remain away from Solitary Temple. They didn’t even dare steal the property of the temple to supplement their family expenses.”

“The system would not give us a quest that would definitely kill us. Since it stipulated that we cannot get more than 500 meters away from Solitary Temple, it means that the secret to cracking all these things is within Solitary Temple.

“After discovering exactly what happened here three years ago, we can figure out the source of the mournful weeping sound we heard. This is the key to our seven-day quest.”

Li Ang’s analysis was complete. Hanging Sword for Ten Thousand Miles was dumbfounded, monk Hui Bing’s face was full of respect, Xing Hechou looked at Li Ang in thought, and Liu Wudai still had an expressionless, ice-cold look.

In fact, Li Ang had yet to express another speculation. The woman’s arm, which stuck out from the plaque, was probably related to the truth of the incident as well as to the bitter weeping sound that they had heard outside the temple earlier.

Unfortunately, among all the people present, only he had a Spiritual Sense. After the other party hid, he couldn’t find any traces of the spirit.

Also, he didn’t know whether that spirit was hostile…

Li Ang’s thoughts whirled, but his expression was still as calm as water. Xing Hechou hesitated before saying, “Brother Li…”

“Don’t call me that.” Li Ang glanced at Xing Hechou, who looked as if he was brilliant, grand, and righteous. The corners of his eyes twitched as he said, “Just call me Little Li.”

“Okay, Little Li. Can I ask what your job is in the real world?”

Although Xing Hechou had asked this question, he did not doubt that Li Ang would give an answer such as ‘private detective’ or ‘historian’.