Records of the Cattle and Horses of Chang'an

Wang Mingqian saw the dull look in his eyes and thought he was frightened. Although he thought Lu Zhubu was a bit too timid, he was a kind man and kindly explained, "Your Shaoqing has practiced martial arts since he was a child and has extraordinary talent. There's no need to worry about him. If he takes action himself, the fake Taoist priest will be captured in no time. He won't be able to escape."

Cui Bianxu, that guy, was full of arrogance, but he was just chasing a fake Taoist priest, which was nothing. But Wang Leisheng asked: "Master Lu, does Wang Sizhi have any grudge against that fake Taoist priest?"

While you have nothing to do now, listen to some gossip. Work and life always need some variety.

Lu Xingzhou had turned around by now, although his fragile heart was still beating violently. He was really scared when Cui Bianxu jumped down just now. This was the third floor, at least eight or nine meters high, and he jumped down like that. If it were him, he would probably be crippled if not dead!

"General Zhonglang, you may not know that recently in the Dali Temple, there have been some..."

He didn't know how to put it. Anyway, unless new body parts were found near the morgue, no one except the three of them would go near it. They all avoided it as if it were the plague. Lu Xingzhou was also forced to do so. Who made him be assigned to Cui Bianxu as the chief clerk?

Otherwise, he could swear in front of the ancestral tablets and the statues of saints that he would never go near the morgue!

Wang Mingqian nodded in understanding. He had watched over the baskets of body parts being fished out. Thinking back on that scene, he felt sick and terrified.

"A gentleman does not speak of strange things, supernatural powers, or anything else. Such words should not come from my mouth."

He considered his words, hoping to save face for the Dali Temple. "Minister Wang said his wife loves him dearly and worries about this matter day and night. So she went to ask for some talismans, saying they're called talismans to ward off evil spirits. Just before we came out, when we were eating together in the cafeteria, he took them out and gave them to us."

After hearing this, Wang Mingqian had a much better impression of Wang Leisheng. Although he looked a little reckless and dull, he had a good character.

"But when Cui Shaoqing opened the talisman and took a look, he said it was a fake. It would have been fine if there was no seal on it, but the fake Taoist priest had pressed a few fingerprints on it..."

Well, Wang Mingqian felt that his understanding of Wang Leisheng was still too one-sided: "I'm afraid Wang Sizhi must have asked for it himself, right?"

He knew that both the Wang couple came from a merchant family. Ever since the wife of the Wang family got married, all the properties under Wang Leisheng's name and her dowry were managed by the wife.

Madam Wang is a smart and capable person. Not only does she manage her properties in an orderly manner, but over the years, her profits have increased several times over. She is well-known in Chang'an City.

He didn't believe that such a person would be deceived by a fake Taoist priest!

On the other side, Cui Bianxu climbed up and down on the roof for a while before he caught up with the fake Taoist priest who had turned into a small alley. At this time, Wang Leisheng and the others had disappeared. The fake Taoist priest was obviously very tired. The moment he stopped, he slid down against the wall and greedily breathed in the cold air.

Cui Bianxu squatted above his head and watched, very considerately preparing to let him catch his breath before taking him away, to prevent this weak body from suffocating and dying.

Unexpectedly, the fake Taoist priest was very safety-conscious. He just rested for a minute or two before getting up with trembling legs and continuing to run while holding onto the wall. Cui Bianxu felt a little sorry for him when he saw how exhausted he was and how he ran not much faster than he walked. They were all people of the Tang Dynasty!

Thinking of this, he simply jumped down. When the fake Taoist heard the noise, he wanted to look back, but he was kicked out in a flash, and only a quick "Ah" came out of his mouth!

He panicked and tried to turn his head to see what was going on, but the next second, a foot stepped on his skinny lower back, and a clear voice came into his ears: "Don't run, save your energy. If you have anything to say, go back to the Dali Temple and talk slowly."

The fake Taoist Qing Xuan felt as if he had been struck by lightning, as if the King of Hell had called his name. He began to tremble uncontrollably, begging for mercy: "Shangguan, please spare my life. I, I don't know what I have done to deserve the call of the Dali Temple."

Cui Bianxu said in a relaxed tone: "Nothing much, I just saw that we have a connection, so I invited you back for a cup of tea and a chat."

"what?"

The next second, Qing Xuan felt his eyes blur and he was lifted up out of thin air, like a turtle being pinched by its shell. He was about a meter above the ground, struggling weakly with his limbs. A flattering smile appeared on his face, and he twisted his neck hard so that Cui Bianxu could see his innocent expression. "I am a secluded person and have no dealings with the government. Let's forget about the tea, shall we?"

Cui Bianxu ignored what he said and strode out with him in his arms. As they were about to leave the alley, the noise of people started to get louder. Qingxuan stopped struggling and covered his face with his hands, not wanting anyone to see his appearance.

Wang Leisheng, who arrived late, was so anxious that his forehead was sweating, his face flushed, and he was out of breath. When he saw Cui Bianxu, he was stunned at first: "Shaoqing, what are you doing..."

Before he could finish his words, he saw his own Shaoqing standing out in the crowd like a crane among chickens, and he seemed to be holding a bundle of things in his hand?

"Great! You fake Taoist priest! You're actually here!"

Wang Leisheng's eyes widened in anger. This damned guy, it's one thing to cheat him out of his money, but he actually dared to run away?! He had chased him for so long, and now everyone in the Dali Temple knew that he had been cheated out of money by a Taoist priest!

The humiliated newcomer Wang Leisheng rushed forward with his fist raised, ready to strike him down. Cui Bianxu pressed a finger against his chest, "Wang Sizhi, do you really have no dignity at all?"

People really lose their voice when they are speechless. Cui Bianxu couldn't understand why this guy didn't feel ashamed? If he was taken back to the Dali Temple and beaten, at most only the people there would know. But if he was beaten in the street, wouldn't the people of Chang'an know about it?

It would be fine if he just embarrassed himself, but he brought shame to the Dali Temple as well. That's really outrageous!

Wang Leisheng blinked his confused eyes, and it took him a while to understand. He raised his hand and wiped the sweat off his face with his sleeve, then spat fiercely at Qingxuan: "I'll deal with you when I get back!"

The bailiffs from the Dali Temple also rushed over at this time. Cui Bianxu selected two people to hand Qingxuan over to them and take him back to the Dali Temple, while he took Wang Leisheng and continued to go to the East Market.

Wang Mingqian had already started eating. Lu Xingzhou was watching the situation from the window. Seeing Cui Bianxu and the others, he said hesitantly, "It seems that the General of the Central Army and the Junior Secretary haven't caught anyone."

"There's no way that's possible."

Wang Mingqian ate without even raising his head. However, there was always someone on duty in the cafeteria of the Jinwu Guards. There were many of them and they had to take turns on duty during holidays. However, the food in the cafeteria of the Jinwu Guards was even worse than that in the Dali Temple!

"He's a charlatan. If he can't be caught, everyone will laugh to death when the news gets back to Qinghe."