Reborn Cat Sheriff

Chapter 583 Visiting Jingyue Nunnery

"What you're talking about is actually well known to everyone in Baiyan City. Whew..."

With a sigh, Liu Yuan took the cigarette Nie Guoqiang offered, tapped Nie Guoqiang's hand with the lighter, and then took a deep drag.

"But what can be done? Wudongshan Scenic Area is one of the pillar industries of Baiyan City. It not only represents a world-class brand, but also means that at least one-fifth of the people in Baiyan City rely on this place for their livelihood, either directly or indirectly. Scenic area staff, tour guides, food, accommodation, transportation, news media, plus agricultural output... Nearly ten million tourists every year represent a very substantial economic income and a community that depends on it for their livelihood."

Seeing no response on the other end of the phone, Liu Yuan sighed and said, "Religion is really only a fine line away from superstition, right? The things it believes in don't exist, at least not for us. And Wudong Mountain, as a Taoist holy site, is inevitably closely intertwined with religion. The more a place relies on this kind of religious economy, the stronger its feudal superstitious ideas become, and it inevitably produces content that attracts tourists by relying on superstitious ideas. We can control this, but we can't eliminate it. Unless Baiyan City abandons its tourism economy and completely transforms, or education can completely eradicate superstition, or the generations that believe in superstition grow old and die, Baiyan City will inevitably be affected by this."

At this point, Liu Yuan couldn't help but laugh again: "Even the latter two are impossible to achieve, because it's an inherent part of the tourism economy. Tourists come to Wudong Mountain to worship the gods, right? They're not just here to see the scenery. Are you suggesting that Baiyan City hang a banner on Wudong Mountain saying there are no gods in the world? Impossible, right? So, if some people believe in this, then some people will inevitably believe very deeply, and some people will inevitably profit from it. Can this be changed? Perhaps, but it's not easy. So, do you think Baiyan City knows that the people in its jurisdiction are superstitious and believe in ghosts and gods? Actually, they do know. But, there's no way to deal with it!"

After Li Yiduo told Nie Guoqiang about Li Siyu's discovery, Nie Guoqiang contacted Liu Yuan, who then called Li Siyu. In response to Li Siyu's questioning, Liu Yuan said the following.

To be honest, it sounds pretty absurd. They know there's a problem, but they just can't seem to fix it. Liu Yuan even said that all the temples and Taoist monasteries, big and small, across the country spread this kind of superstition, and everyone from top to bottom is aware of it.

But after all, they rely on this for their livelihood, and if the government takes away their livelihood, it will cause a huge mess.

What methods do temples and Taoist monasteries use to attract tourists? Do they have unique houses? Do they wear different clothes, speak differently, or walk differently? Impossible! That's not enough!

In order to make a living, some unscientific things will naturally be produced, and efforts will be made to fool tourists.

Then there are those who have emotional vulnerabilities, and they happen to need this kind of comfort. Both sides get what they need, which inevitably makes this kind of unpleasant thing popular.

"And then that triggered this twenty-year-long series of murders?"

Li Siyu silently questioned the person on the other end of the phone.

"..."

Unable to explain, Liu Yuan could only sigh and say, "Isn't this the meaning of our police work? There's a subtle line drawn there; crossing it is breaking the law, and we arrest everyone who crosses it. As police officers, this is all we can do."

"So what should we do about this case? Should we investigate that gossipy old woman?"

Li Siyu was somewhat worried.

"Of course!"

Liu Yuan readily agreed, then, after a moment's thought, gave the order: "I'll leave this to you. Have Li Yiduo go with you to secretly investigate this gossipy old woman and see if she's connected to this case. After all, you and Li Yiduo aren't from Baiyan City, so generally you shouldn't be discovered as police officers. Hmm! Approach her under the guise of tourists or on the recommendation of that aunt you met today, and see what kind of person she really is. Oh, and if you can also investigate her previous resurrection method, if you can find any clues, it'll be another big case solved. Hehe... I'll recommend you two for credit then."

"And Mimi!"

Li Siyu will never forget her excellent partner.

"Of course Mimi! She's already made a significant contribution to this case, how could I forget her?"

Liu Yuan laughed.

Li Siyu was somewhat tempted and turned to look at Lin Ge, who was eavesdropping beside her.

"Mimi, what do you think?"

"I have no objection! It's good to go see that gossipy old woman. Just in case there really are any gods or ghosts in this world, we might see if she can restore my human identity. If not, we'll give that old hag who uses superstition to deceive people a good beating!"

Lin Ge nodded seriously.

So the next day, Li Siyu didn't go to the community police station, but went directly to Wudongshan to meet up with Li Yiduo.

To be honest, the round trip was a bit of a waste of time, but being able to take advantage of this rare break to get a good night's rest on the soft bed and take a comfortable hot bath made Li Siyu feel that the trip was still very worthwhile.

This time, Li Siyu didn't encounter anyone like the auntie on the bus. She quietly read the intelligence about Jingyue Nunnery sent by the Baiyan City police, as well as the clues they had collected about the gossipy old woman. The journey to the scenic area station was uneventful.

When I got off the bus, I saw that Li Yiduo was already waiting there, wearing a simple white T-shirt and ordinary jeans.

Despite being a wealthy man, Li Yiduo had absolutely no taste in clothing. He could wear a dozen plain T-shirts from Taobao for fifty yuan, and he didn't feel uncomfortable wearing a black silk shirt for two thousand yuan. The only oddity was his preference for jeans 365 days a year.

Aside from wearing his police uniform during work hours, he always wears jeans whenever he goes out, as if he wears the same pair of jeans for a year. And yet, this guy has a pretty good physique—a good height and not fat—and the jeans make his legs look even longer. It's just that his hair is a bit limp right now, as if he hasn't washed it for a few days, which slightly detracts from his appearance.

"My hair is so oily."

Li Siyu tiptoed and wiped Li Yiduo's hand, feeling both heartache and speechless.

"There's no way around it, there's no chance to wash your hair or take a bath on the mountain. To be honest, even washing your feet is a very difficult thing. There's only a limited amount of hot water available each day, and everyone takes turns washing, so it can only be done once every three days."

Li Yiduo smiled helplessly, then took Li Siyu's hand and said, "Let's not talk about work now! Let's change our identities. We're just ordinary people who've heard gossip and come to see some interesting things. I'm a rich second-generation, and you're my girlfriend. Our identities are that simple. And when we get there, we don't need to be too reserved. Just act like a rich person who doesn't care about anything and just treats it as a fun activity. Those kinds of people who spread all sorts of superstitions, gods, ghosts, and evil spirits are just trying to scam money. Let's just play along for now. Of course, if we're going to pay, we have to see the performance first, right? We'll see if she's just talking or if she can actually pull off some magic tricks."

"Because they are rich, it's perfectly reasonable for them to have a pet, right?"

Li Siyu picked up Lin Ge, who was walking on the ground, and put him on Li Yiduo's shoulder so that he could carry him.

Hmm! This cat already weighs over ten kilograms. Li Siyu tried to carry it a few times but felt she couldn't carry it anymore. Also, her shoulders are rather narrow, while Li Yiduo's are much broader.

Why did you put your breasts on my head?

Li Yiduo looked speechlessly at his girlfriend, then glanced sideways at the bastard cat who was leaning in for a closer look.

"Of course it's to cover up your greasy hair! Besides, this kind of reckless persona can hide your sometimes overly sharp policeman's gaze, which is why you'd be interested in her magic tricks. There's nothing wrong with that, right?"

Li Siyu said with a grin, not knowing why, every time she was with Li Yiduo, she felt that her mental age had become much younger, and she especially wanted to tease Li Yiduo and see his helpless and doting look.

The two laughed and joked as they rented a three-wheeled vehicle and had the elderly driver take them to Jingyue Temple.

This place isn't among the tourist attractions of Wudong Mountain, nor is it even among the main peaks. Aside from locals, probably only those drawn by the reputation of the gossipy old woman would bother to go there.

What the two men realized was that the old man driving the three-wheeled vehicle indeed knew about Jingyue Temple, and even looked at Li Yiduo with a look of envy and scrutiny, as if it was a very normal thing for rich people to go to Jingyue Temple.

However, Jingyue Temple was located in a very remote area, and the road conditions were terrible. It took the three-wheeled vehicle about half an hour to reach a deep, uninhabited mountain forest. However, high-voltage power lines could be seen overhead, so the place wasn't exactly deserted. Following the power lines, Lin Ge quickly spotted a corner of a building hidden in the woods halfway up the mountain. It was indeed an antique-style building and occupied a considerable area.

Upon arriving at the main gate of Jingyue Temple, I found it to be a Taoist temple courtyard. Although the area in front of the gate was gravel, the entrance and interior were paved with marble, which even looked quite old.

Ascending four stone steps, there are two red doors with rivets painted with black and white Tai Chi patterns. Above that are flying eaves, brackets, carved beams, and painted rafters, but most of the patterns have aged and peeled off.

Li Yiduo, leading Li Siyu with a linge on her head, stepped through the gate. Looking up, they found themselves in a small square, with red ribbons tied to the trees around it. In the center of the courtyard stood a stone sculpture of He Xiangu carrying a lotus lantern. Further on was the main Taoist temple building, the lowest level of which, built against the mountain, resembled a large archway. Climbing the steps through the archway led to the actual Jingyue Temple, a two-story building with double eaves, its carved beams and painted rafters now heavily faded. In front of the building were incense burners filled with both coarse and fine incense sticks, wisps of smoke rising from them. Looking out from there, the lush, verdant vegetation truly gave it the feel of a celestial abode.

To be honest, coming to a place like this, even without talking about seeing a god or making a wish, the atmosphere alone can make people feel solemn.

No wonder so many people say that the old women of Jingyue Nunnery are somewhat supernatural. The environment makes people believe that this is the abode of gods, and even non-superstitious people will feel a sense of awe.

"be careful."

Li Yiduo whispered a few words in Li Siyu's ear before stepping into the main hall of Jingyue Nunnery.

Upon entering and looking up, I found the interior rather simple. Directly in front was a female Taoist statue, its stone carvings simple and ancient, a stark contrast to the gilded and ornate appearances of some bustling temples. On the wooden pillars on either side were couplets inscribed with things like "Immortal Peach" and "Heavenly Flower," but these were so weathered and difficult to decipher. Below the statue was a simple offering table with three plates containing red steamed buns, slightly dehydrated oranges, and a plate of dried fruit. Frankly, these things were nowhere near the quality of those in grand temples, yet strangely, it felt more normal; deities shouldn't be so extravagant.

In short, this Jingyue Nunnery embodies the word "old" very purely. Of course, it's also possible that the gossipy old woman in charge of Jingyue Nunnery is only there to swindle money and doesn't care about any renovations.

Right next to the offering table, a female Taoist priest wearing a gray robe and a gray hat was meditating with her eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to the two people who had entered.

What made Li Siyu frown was that the female Taoist priest was quite old, with a face full of wrinkles and several very prominent black moles. To be honest, she didn't have the otherworldly air of Taoist priests and nuns in movies, but she was also strangely different from others and closer to reality.

If you're going to put on a show, you have to go all the way. Li Siyu and Li Yiduo each knelt down on the prayer mats and bowed three times to the statue of He Xiangu in front of them.

Even Lin Ge didn't dare to be presumptuous. He jumped down from Li Yiduo's head and obediently squatted at the door.

After the two finished their prayers, they stood up and turned to find that the ugly Taoist nun had opened her eyes. She flicked the whisk that was resting on her elbow, looked at Li Yiduo and Li Siyu, but did not speak.

"Excuse me, is it the gossipy old woman in person?"

Li Yiduo stepped forward to bow, and inexplicably found himself speaking in a pretentious manner, which made him smile inwardly.

“Excellent! This humble Taoist is none other than the gossipy old woman. May I ask what brings you two gentlemen here?”

The old Taoist nun, who called herself "Auntie Ba," didn't stand up. She simply nodded in return, her attitude arrogant, and her voice indifferent.

As soon as she said that, Li Yiduo and Li Siyu exchanged a glance and knew that this guy was no ordinary Taoist priest.

Is "八姑婆" a name or a Taoist title?
There's clearly something wrong with how this woman introduced herself! Even her way of saying hello is problematic.

How wonderful!

But that’s right!

If she were a proper Taoist nun, the two of them wouldn't need to make this special trip.

Li Yiduo didn't waste any time and went straight to the point: "Oh! I've heard that Jingyue Nunnery has some skills, and seems to have some real ability in helping people pray for blessings and exorcise evil spirits, so I came here specifically to take a look. My requirements aren't high. Let me see what skills you have first, and then we can talk about asking you to help with the ritual. Oh, by the way, I'm from Zhangzhou City, Chu Province, and my family is quite wealthy! As long as you really have the ability, you'll definitely get your share of the benefits."

This guy's mannerisms were that of a spoiled brat from the moment he opened his mouth; his attitude could be arrogant or rude in a way. But such characters were indeed easier to impersonate, and the two of them didn't need to feign politeness with the woman like spies for too long.

"Good."

The gossipy old woman wasn't angry. After all, everyone who came to her had a purpose, and she was used to it. She wasn't really good at anything too literary; this woman didn't even know that the Taoist chant was 'Infinite Heavenly Venerable'.

With her eyes carefully scrutinizing the two young people, Aunt Gossip pondered how to deceive them based on her experience, while also trying to figure out what she could gain from them.

Young people these days are harder to fool! They're more internet-savvy and educated than the elderly folks in the countryside. To fool them, you need some special methods, but of course, you can't kill them, or things will get really bad.

Then Aunt Gossip glared at him, pointing her whisk at Lin Ge, who was curiously squatting on the doorframe yawning: "I can tell at a glance that there's something wrong with the cat you brought! It's been possessed by an evil spirit and intends to harm you two lay Buddhists!"

"Hey?"

Lin Ge froze as he scratched his face with his claws.

"what?"

Li Siyu and Li Yiduo were both stunned.

The two people and the cat all turned to look at Auntie Ba at the same time, eager to know why this woman had suddenly said that.

Of course, Lin Ge felt a little guilty.

This woman doesn't use Li Siyu as an example when she's lying, nor does she mention that Li Yiduo encountered a ghost. Instead, she points to him. Could she have actually figured something out?
"You two lay Buddhists don't believe me?"

Once the gossipy woman has identified her target, she won't hesitate any longer. The same old lines she uses after targeting someone are all too familiar to her.

So, with a flick of her whisk, she slowly stood up and walked leisurely toward the side back door: "Hold that cat tight, and watch me perform a ritual to make it reveal its true form! But let me make this clear first: my actions are against the will of Heaven, and such acts can only be done once, not twice. Moreover, although your cat demon looks honest, it is actually a deeply disguised barbarian demon! After I cast the spell to make it reveal its true form, you two will need to use incense to open the Six Paths of Reincarnation so that the evil spirits within it can be completely eliminated."

"Yes! Yes! I understand the power of incense."

Li Yiduo nodded repeatedly, though he was already on the verge of bursting into laughter.

He just couldn't understand how this kind of story, which was almost a complete imitation of what was in a TV drama, could actually fool people. Was it that the story wasn't the point, and that the old woman's next trick was what was truly convincing?
After Li Siyu picked up Lin Ge, she noticed that Lin Ge's body was stiff and he seemed a little nervous, so she quickly comforted him in a low voice.

Thinking about how the gossipy woman was going to play tricks on poor Mimi, she was worried that what the gossipy woman was doing would hurt Mimi, so she quickly went up to Li Yiduo to discuss whether she should stop her from doing such a thing.

"Don't worry! Mimi is smarter than you and me. If something could hurt her, she would fight back."

Li Yiduo patted Lin Ge on the head.

(End of this chapter)