If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

Zhou Yang twirled a piece of broken silver between his fingers.

The silver gleamed with a bluish-white light under the candlelight.

The eunuch kneeling on the ground was trembling violently.

His forehead struck the blue brick, leaving a red mark.

"The fifteenth of every month."

Zhou Yang spoke.

The voice was not loud.

"Will that immortal master definitely go to Bao'en Temple?"

The eunuch raised his head.

His face was covered in sweat.

"Absolutely true. I have served Eunuch Liu for eight years, and I would never be mistaken."

"Rain or shine?"

"Unwavering."

The eunuch swallowed hard.

"You must stay for the full three hours. Enter at noon and leave at dusk. Not a minute more, not a minute less."

Zhou Yang flicked his finger.

The broken silver pieces traced an arc and landed in front of the eunuch.

"This is a reward for you."

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

The eunuch grabbed the silver and kowtowed even louder.

Zhou Yang waved.

Two imperial guards escorted the eunuch out.

The door hinges emitted a harsh, screeching sound.

Zhou Yang was the only one left in the room.

He walked to the window.

Open the window.

The night wind blew in, carrying the dusty smell unique to the capital.

The sound of a night watchman's clapper could be heard in the distance.

It's past midnight.

Zhou Yang counted on his fingers.

Today is April 13th.

The day after tomorrow is the fifteenth.

Time is very tight.

He put on his outer robe.

He pushed open the door and went out.

The lights in the Hundred Household Office were still on.

Several captains were organizing the case files.

"Go and thoroughly investigate the background of Bao'en Temple."

Zhou Yang threw out a token.

"I want to know when this temple was built, where the donations come from, how many monks are in it, and what the abbot's background is."

"I need to see the documents before dawn tomorrow."

The captain accepted the token.

"Understood."

The figure disappeared into the night.

Zhou Yang returned to his duty room.

I didn't sleep.

He sat in the chair, tapping his fingers on the table.

笃.

笃.

笃.

The pace is very slow.

The candlelight flickered.

A distorted shadow was cast on the wall.

At daybreak.

The captain brought back the case file.

A thick stack.

Zhou Yang turned to the first page.

Bao'en Temple.

Built during the reign of the late emperor.

Thirty-seven years ago.

It is located 15 li west of the city, at the foot of Cuiwei Mountain.

The incense offerings are extremely popular.

Especially on the 15th of each month.

Devout men and women crowded the temple gates.

"interesting."

Zhou Yang's finger stopped on a line of text.

The temple's donations have tripled in three years.

But there were only twelve monks in the temple.

The abbot's Dharma name is Huiming.

Its origin is unknown.

He suddenly appeared in the capital twenty years ago.

He took over the Bao'en Temple, which was on the verge of collapse at the time.

After that, the temple seemed to come alive.

It gets bigger and bigger with each repair.

The number of pilgrims is increasing.

"Have you investigated Huiming's background?"

The captain shook his head.

"This person lives a secluded life, only appearing on the first and fifteenth of each month."

"I spend the rest of my time in seclusion for spiritual practice."

"Everyone who has met him says..."

The captain paused.

"Everyone says this person speaks with a strange accent, unlike the accents of the Central Plains."

Zhou Yang closed the file.

Central Plains accent.

He thought of Fang Tian.

The leader of the Heavenly Principles Sect who died at his hands.

He also spoke with a strange accent.

It's the melody from southern Xinjiang.

"There's one more thing."

The captain lowered his voice.

"A fixed amount of the temple's incense money flows out of the palace every month."

Where to?

"To the Vice Minister of War's residence."

"The villa of the Minister of Works."

"besides..."

The captain's voice was even lower.

"The residence of the Commander of the Five Cities Military Command."

Zhou Yang narrowed his eyes.

Three big fish.

The water in this pool is deeper than I imagined.

He was about to speak.

Footsteps came from outside the door.

rapid.

But it has a good rhythm.

It's Qin Shuang.

The door was pushed open.

Qin Shuang walked in.

Dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit.

Their bodies were still damp from the morning dew.

She closed the door behind her.

"Just received the message."

She threw a note at me.

Zhou Yang caught it.

There were only a few words on the note.

The handwriting is illegible.

It was clearly written in a hurry.

"Huiming maintained close ties with the palace. Every month on the tenth, someone would leave through the Xihua Gate and head straight for Bao'en Temple. The goods carried in the carts were always carefully concealed."

Zhou Yang held the note up to the candlelight.

Burn to ashes.

"In the palace?"

"To be precise, it was the Directorate of Ceremonial."

Qin Shuang sat in the chair.

He rubbed his temples with his fingers.

"Eunuch Liu is just a minor figure. There are higher-ups."

"who?"

"Feng Bao."

Zhou Yang knew this name.

The Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

A favorite of the emperor.

"interesting."

Zhou Yang smiled.

"A eunuch, a monk, and a high-ranking official in the court."

"This Bao'en Temple is probably not a good place."

Qin Shuang looked at him.

"You suspect it's the Heavenly Principle Sect?"

"It's not a doubt."

Zhou Yang stood up.

Walk to the wall.

A map of the capital city hangs on the wall.

He pointed to the west side of the city with his finger.

"It's certain."

"After Fang Tian's death, the Heavenly Principle Sect lost half of its informants in the capital. But they couldn't possibly give up such a lucrative prize as the capital."

"Bao'en Temple is a popular place of worship, attracting a diverse range of people, making it a good destination for Tibetans."

"The abbot's origins are unknown, yet he has connections within the palace and protection within the court."

"What a coincidence!"

Qin Shuang nodded.

"That's what I think too."

So I'm planning to go take a look.

Zhou Yang turned around.

"The fifteenth is the day after tomorrow. That immortal master is going; this is the perfect opportunity."

"Too dangerous."

Qin Shuang frowned.

"If this is truly an important stronghold of the Heavenly Principle Sect, it must be guarded by highly skilled individuals."

"I know."

Zhou Yang took out a set of night clothes from the cabinet.

"So I went alone."

"You provide support from the outside."

Qin Shuang stood up.

Walk up to him.

The two were very close.

She could smell a faint scent of soap on Zhou Yang.

"I'll go in with you."

"no."

Zhou Yang shook his head.

"It's too conspicuous. Two people together would easily be exposed."

"and..."

He paused.

"If something happens to me inside, someone has to be out there to collect my body and avenge me."

Qin Shuang glared at him.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"truth."

Zhou Yang folded his night clothes neatly and stuffed them into his bundle.

"This matter needs to be investigated. But we need to be careful about how we do it."

"That immortal master goes there every month on the fifteenth, which means there's someone he wants to see at the temple, or something he wants to retrieve."

"I'll sneak in with him. I'll see who he meets and what he takes."

"You stay and guard the teahouse three miles outside the temple."

"Bring twenty skilled men."

"If I don't come out before sunrise tomorrow..."

Zhou Yang looked at Qin Shuang.

"You just lead your men and charge in."

"Tear down the temple."

Qin Shuang remained silent for a moment.

"good."

She reached out her hand.

I straightened Zhou Yang's collar.

My fingertips touched his neck.

It's cold.

"Get out alive."

she says.

"Add more money."

Zhou Yang smiled.

"You'll get your share."

Qin Shuang smiled too.

It's very light.

But there was warmth in his eyes.

"I'll go check which important officials will be offering incense on the fifteenth."

"Know yourself and know your enemy."

Zhou Yang nodded.

"Go."

Qin Shuang walked to the door.

It stopped suddenly.

Zhou Yang.

"Um?"

"If that immortal master is truly a high-ranking member of the Heavenly Principle Sect..."

"Kill him."

Zhou Yang spoke in a flat tone.

"The capital is my territory."

"It's not their place to run wild."

Qin Shuang didn't say anything more.

Push the door open and go out.

The footsteps faded into the distance.

Zhou Yang sat back down in his chair.

He took out a jade pendant from his pocket.

The jade pendant is engraved with twisted patterns.

It is the symbol of the Tenrikyo (Christian Church).

It was taken from Fang Tian.

He stared at the jade pendant for a long time.

The candlelight crackled.

A light bulb exploded.

Zhou Yang held the jade pendant tightly in his palm.

The sharp edges pierced the flesh.

hurts a little.

But it brought him to his senses.

fifteen.

Bao'en Temple.

He wants to see.

In this pool of water.

What kind of fish is hidden there?

The sky outside the window was already bright.

The capital city began to bustle.

Zhou Yang closed his eyes to rest.

His fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest.

笃.

笃.

笃.

Like some kind of countdown.