I became a prince in a martial arts world.

Chapter 97 Another attempt to extort a Yi Jin Duan Gu Dan

That evening, people from Wushe County and Fuli County returned to report that there were no signs of passage on the two paths.

The magistrate of Daxing Prefecture looked disappointed, and Zong Jian and the others were also very puzzled.

To be honest, if the wheel tracks were found, whether it went north to Kaiyan Prefecture or east to Hangu Prefecture, Dajingang Temple could be cleared of suspicion. But now that there is no clue, could it be that the treasure is still hidden in Daxing Prefecture?

When the magistrate of Daxing Prefecture saw Zong Jian with his white eyebrows lowered and his face ashen, and when he saw Wang Yu looking bored and indifferent, sweat began to bead on his temples.

"Prince Zhao—" the magistrate of Daxing Prefecture licked his lips, "What should we do next?"

Actually, compared to Zong Jian and Wang Yu, the one who was most anxious was the magistrate of Daxing Prefecture. One of them was a major Buddhist sect, a prestigious and orthodox sect, and the other was the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion, a country within a country.

Even if the treasure is not found, the Great Vajra Temple will only be splashed with dirty water, and the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion will be reprimanded. Even the imperial court will not actually take action against either of them.

In other words, unless these two forces openly rebel, the imperial court will not, and could even be said to dare not, take action against them.

However, as the magistrate of Daxing Prefecture, he had no trump card in front of the emperor and might be punished and imprisoned.

Wang Yu looked at Zong Jian and the other two with a playful expression, "Perhaps because the more you do, the more mistakes you make, that's why the group of thieves who stole the treasure didn't even bother to create an escape route. I wonder if they were afraid of being discovered by others."

Hong Yue glared and said, "King Zhenxi! You can't just say things like that. If you can't prove that it was my Great Vajra Temple that did this, what will you do?"

Wang Yu raised an eyebrow. "Did I say it was your Great Vajra Temple that did this? Doesn't this count as you admitting guilt?"

Hong Yue glared angrily, his fists clenched, wishing he could punch Wang Yu in the face.

"Amitabha!" Hong Hai chanted the Buddha's name, cupped his hands and said, "The fact that the thieves did not make any disguises actually shows that it was not the work of our Great Vajra Temple. After all, if we wanted to, it would not be difficult for us to create an escape route."

Wang Yu glanced at Hong Hai, then tapped the table. "Actually, I also think it wasn't done by your Great Vajra Temple."

Upon hearing this, not only Hong Yue, but even Zong Jian looked at Wang Yu with surprise, wondering what he was up to.

"But the treasure disappeared in Daxing Prefecture, and your temple is the prime suspect." Wang Yu sighed dramatically. "Logically speaking, no one could take the treasure away right under the nose of the Great Vajra Temple."

Zong Jian raised a white eyebrow and said calmly, "King Zhenxi, please be careful with your words. Dajingang Temple is a quiet Buddhist place and does not concern itself with military or political affairs. It is not a separatist force that occupies Daxing Prefecture."

Zong Jian's words had a hidden meaning, but Wang Yu ignored them, simply smiling and saying, "But if we can't find the real culprit, and there's no evidence that the treasure was sent out of Daxing Prefecture, I'm afraid it won't be easy for the Great Vajra Temple to clear its name!"

Strictly speaking, unless there is clear evidence that Dajingang Temple stole the treasure, no one would dare to take action against Dajingang Temple, and even the imperial court would not easily send troops.

But even if they dare not, secretly harboring suspicions and harboring selfish motives, it is inevitable that they will cause trouble later.

Wang Yu knew this, and so did the Great Vajra Temple; otherwise, Hong Yue wouldn't have been so angry upon hearing Wang Yu's sarcastic remarks.

If the treasure is not found, the rumors about the Great Vajra Temple will likely increase, and eventually, with the help of those with ulterior motives, they will become rampant, truly making the Great Vajra Temple a target of slander.

As for those who fueled the flames—

Zong Jian glanced at Wang Yu, having no doubt about Wang Yu's character.

"Your Highness, please speak frankly," Zongjian said calmly.

Wang Yu crossed his legs and said, "To be honest, I have no interest in helping the emperor find the treasure. The treasure was lost in Daxing Prefecture, and it was because of the food and drink provided by the government. At most, I will be punished for dereliction of duty, and I don't think the emperor will punish me."

The magistrate of Daxing Prefecture was sweating profusely.

Wang Yu continued, "And to put it bluntly, the master went to the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion to cause trouble for me a few days ago, but now I have to go to great lengths to help you clear your name. I am not comfortable with this either."

The magistrate of Daxing Prefecture was sweating even more. Although he knew that Dajingang Temple and Zhenxi Prince's Mansion were not on good terms, he did not know that it had come to their doorstep to cause trouble.

Hongyue's eyes widened. "If you're not happy about it, then go back!"

Wang Yu suddenly sat up, his eyes shining. "You said it! It's a deal, no backing out!"

"Hongyue, shut up!" Zongjian snapped.

If news were to spread that the Great Vajra Temple had expelled the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion from the joint investigation team, then the Great Vajra Temple would be in even more trouble.

Honghai stepped forward. "What advice does Your Highness have for me?"

Wang Yu slumped back into his chair, picked up his teacup and took a sip. "It's simple. If you make me feel at ease, I'll investigate the case seriously and guarantee to clear Dajingang Temple's name."

Honghai continued, "How can Your Highness find peace of mind?"

Wang Yu smiled slightly, "I ate one of your Great Vajra Temple's Tendon-Changing and Bone-Forging Pills last time. It tasted good and could be enjoyed with alcohol. Give me ten or so more, and I'll feel much better."

Hong Yue stared in disbelief. "Ten or so pills? You're dreaming! Do you think the Muscle/Tendon Strengthening Pill is like cabbage sold on the street?"

"Amitabha!" Honghai also put his hands together. "Your Highness, please forgive us. It may take the Great Vajra Temple two or three years to refine a batch of Tendon-Changing and Bone-Forging Pills. The entire temple does not have more than ten. Please ask Your Highness to change the terms."

Wang Yu raised an eyebrow. "The Great Vajra Temple owns tens of thousands of acres of fertile land, thousands of shops, a Buddha statue with a completely golden body, and a treasury of millions of silver coins. Wouldn't it have at least ten Bone-Strengthening Pills?"

Hong Hai smiled slightly, not angry at all. "The fertile fields and shops are only for the living, the golden statue of Buddha is only for the devout, and as for the million-dollar treasury, that's just a rumor."

Wang Yu tapped the table. "How many Muscle Strengthening and Bone Forging Pills do you have?"

Honghai shook his head. "That Yi Jin Duan Gu Dan is specially made for the Vajra Dragon Elephant Skill, a secret technique of our temple. It is of no use to Your Highness. If Your Highness does not mind, this humble monk is willing to give you a bottle of San Yang Zhuang Qi Dan to add to Your Highness's pleasure in the bedroom."

Wang Yu's eyes lit up, and he nodded, saying, "I want this too, and I also want the Tendon-Changing and Bone-Forging Pill."

Honghai looked up. "Your Highness?"

Wang Yu glared and said, "Whether I have the Tendon-Changing and Bone-Forging Pill or not is unimportant; what's important is that you don't have it, understand?"

Honghai's eyes flashed, and he understood.

Wang Yu is clearly trying to weaken the power of the Great Vajra Temple.

Thinking of this, Hong Hai shook his head inwardly, feeling a little amused. The fact that the Great Vajra Temple could become the orthodox Buddhist sect and had a constant stream of innate masters was not due to the mere Yi Jin Duan Gu Dan (Muscle/Tendon Changing and Bone Strengthening Pill).

This elixir can indeed accelerate the cultivation of the Vajra Dragon Elephant Skill, but whether one can achieve the Innate Realm depends entirely on one's aptitude and endowment. The Tendon-Changing and Bone-Forging Pill may accelerate the process, but it has no absolute effect.

Wang Yu's idea of ​​weakening the Great Vajra Temple and reducing its experts by seizing a few Yi Jin Du Du pills is simply naive and childish.

But considering that the Prince of Zhenxi's mansion only has a handful of big cats and small cats, and now it's just Zhao Rong holding the fort, such naivety is understandable.

Honghai couldn't help but turn to look at Zongjian, implying that it would be better to give him one, just like giving a beggar a handout. Using a Yi Jin Duan Gu Dan to wash away the dirty water that had been inexplicably splashed on the head of Da Jingang Temple was actually a worthwhile deal.

To be honest, compared to the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion being a long-time rival of the Great Vajra Temple, they actually hated the mastermind behind this treasure theft even more, who clearly used the Great Vajra Temple as a pawn.

If we can find this force, paying the price of a Bone-Strengthening Pill is not too high.

Once they find the other party, Daikonji Temple will definitely not let them off the hook.

Zong Jian raised his white eyebrows and said, "It's not impossible for Your Highness to want the Tendon-Changing and Bone-Forging Pill, but you must first find the bandits. If Your Highness can clear the name of my Great Vajra Temple, this old monk is willing to reward you with a Tendon-Changing and Bone-Forging Pill."

Wang Yu held up his thumb and forefinger. "Eight!"

Zong Jian said calmly, "One."

Wang Yu raised an eyebrow. "Seven!"

Zong Jian said in a deep voice, "One."

Wang Yu's eyes widened. "Five, no less!"

Zongjian's tone remained unchanged: "One."

Wang Yu laughed in exasperation, "Business is a two-way street, you can at least add a little something!"

Zong Jian shook his head. "One."

"Bang!" Wang Yu slammed his hand on the table. "One pill it is! But I want ten bottles of Sanyang Zhuangqi Pills!"

Everyone, "————"

Honghai clicked his tongue, "It's not that our temple can't afford it, but every medicine has its side effects—"

At this point, he heard Zong Jian say calmly, "Alright."

"Huh?" Honghai turned around, immediately understood, and then said to Wang Yu, "Amitabha, it's a deal. As long as Prince Zhao can find the mastermind behind the theft of the treasure, our temple will give him a Yi Jin Duan Gu Dan and ten bottles of San Yang Zhuang Qi Dan."

"Good!" Wang Yu slammed his hand on the table and said, "A gentleman's word is his bond!"

Although Honghai inwardly thought, "What kind of gentleman are you?", he still smiled and replied, "A promise is a promise."

Just then, soldiers from the Xionglue Army knocked on the gate of the county government office, saying that Zhang, the centurion, was requesting an audience.

Li Yunxiu's eyes lit up, and Wang Yu immediately waved his hand in agreement, "Bring them in!"

A moment later, Zhang Baihu hurried along, his expression anxious but his eyes shining.

Seeing this expression, the magistrate of Daxing Prefecture and the three monks Zongjian all twitched at the corners of their eyes, and a sense of disbelief welled up in their hearts. The three monks Zongjian even had a premonition that they had been deceived.

Have they found any clues?

When Zhang Baihu saw Wang Yu and Li Yunxiu, he glanced at the magistrate of Daxing Prefecture and the three monks Zongjian, hesitated, and remained silent.

Wang Yu simply asked, "Have you found any trace of them?"

Commander Zhang nodded repeatedly, "Your Highness and Princess are truly astute; this humble general has indeed discovered the trail!"

Wang Yu smiled. If Li Yunxiu's guess was just very logical, then the fact that Zhang Baihu had found the trail meant that the truth was basically set in stone.

Wei Gutong sighed, "I never imagined he would have such audacity."

Yan Ziyu glanced at Li Yunxiu and said, "He acted quite meticulously, but unfortunately he made a mistake and failed at the last minute."

Wang Yu looked at Hong Hai, stretched out his hand, and said, "One Yi Jin Duan Gu Dan and ten bottles of San Yang Zhuang Qi Dan, fair trade, no cheating the young or old."

Honghai couldn't help but ask, "But I wonder what clues Prince Zhao discovered, and who exactly is the mastermind behind it all?"