Li Mu's heart skipped a beat.
'I'd better not let too many people know about this secret chamber.'
Therefore, he took the initiative to walk out along the stairs.
"Amitabha. Benefactors, it's my pleasure to meet you."
With one palm on his chest, he walked out of the secret chamber step by step along the stairs.
"Who's there?"
"Stop!"
"Stay where you are. Don't move."
Rows of swords and spears were instantly aimed at Li Mu. More than a dozen soldiers with crossbows in their hands also aimed at Li Mu. They were waiting for their superior's order to shoot the little monk who suddenly walked out of the secret chamber into a hornet's nest.
"Who are you?" A middle-aged man in the armor of an eighth-grade martial arts club, who should be the leader, stared at Li Mu and asked sternly.
Li Mu said, "Can't you see? I'm a monk. "
"A monk?" The middle-aged man sneered, "Why would a monk appear in this manor at midnight? Were you the one who killed Ma San and the others? "
"That's not it. There was a woman in white who killed the people here. I was just passing by." Li Mu chanted the name of Buddha and said with a regretful look, "In fact, I came here to release their souls from purgatory. Unfortunately, I was one step too late and didn't make it."
Since the woman in white did not ask him to keep it a secret before she left, he guessed that she was not afraid of the government's investigation. Therefore, Li Mu did not take the blame for the woman in white like a saint. However, he did not conceal his purpose of coming to this manor.
"Wow, a monk really doesn't lie."
"I did it."
Li Mu praised himself inwardly.
The middle-aged man was stunned.
He originally thought that the little monk would definitely deny it. After all, according to the Empire's laws, murder was a serious crime. He didn't expect that the little monk would actually not play by the rules. Although he denied that he killed the man, he also said that he was here to kill. This made the middle-aged man's mind momentarily blank.
"Humph, you really killed them … A monk is not merciful. How dare you kill people. You are really guilty of the most heinous crime." The middle-aged man came to his senses and snorted, "I am Song Yi, the mayor of Peace Town. Little monk, are you going to surrender, or do you want me to order to arrest you by force?"
"What?"
Li Mu was stunned.
Hey, hey, hey, did you listen to me carefully? I already said that I didn't kill him. How could you say that?
Were all the officials of the empire so careless?
"So, you are the mayor of Peace County?" Li Mu's eyes involuntarily lingered on the middle-aged mayor for a while.
Granny Cai once said that this Mayor Song had just come to the town in the last year or two, and it was also after this Mayor Song came that Ma San and his gang of ruffians started to make a name for themselves. The townspeople all talked behind their backs that the reason why Ma San could be so arrogant was that Mayor Song backed him up.
If that was the case, then Mayor Song should have known about the existence of the secret chamber and what was inside it.
If Li Mu wanted to investigate the history and whereabouts of the spacecraft, maybe he should make a fuss about this Mayor Song.
But he did not show any of that on his face in case of alerting the enemy. Instead, he put on a disapproving look and said, "It turns out that Mayor Song is here. That makes it easier. Ma San and his gang have brought disaster to the town, murdered people for money, and disregarded human life. They are unforgivable. Buddha is merciful. Even if I release them from purgatory, it is a matter of heaven. How can they be guilty?"
The several Dutou Officials on the side could not bear to listen anymore.
"The conversation between the two is not on the same point at all. Are they just talking to each other?"
"Moreover, why do I feel that this little monk is even more unreasonable than the mayor?"
"Humph, you have a glib tongue. No matter what you say, according to the law of the empire, those who kill will die … Guards, handcuff him for me." Song Yi, the middle-aged mayor, waved his hand and ordered coldly.
He had some secret deals with Ma San, so he was anxious and did not want to argue with the little monk. He wanted to catch him first.
The guards behind him carried fine iron shackles and were about to put them on Li Mu's neck.
"Humph, Your Honor Song, I'm afraid you can't catch me today." Li Mu did not dodge but let the iron shackles be put on his neck. Then, he said with a smile, "I'm afraid you can't bear the consequences."
"Humph, are you kidding me? I'm arresting a homicidal maniac who has killed nearly a hundred people. I'm just enforcing the law. What consequences can I bear? You are a monk. How dare you threaten me? You really don't know how to spell the word 'death'. "Song Yi, the mayor, said sarcastically.
But he did not notice that Li Mu had changed his address from 'little monk' to 'I'.
Li Mu just smiled and did not say anything.
Just at this moment, footsteps could be heard from afar. Then, a soldier who looked like a Dutou Official walked in quickly and whispered something into Song Yi's ear.
Song Yi's face immediately changed.
He no longer had time to catch Li Mu. Instead, he spun around and headed for the outside of the hall.
Li Mu was well aware of that. So, he did not say anything but waited patiently.
Not long after, the mayor, who had been speaking righteously and sternly just a moment ago, slowly returned with a vermilion palanquin. When he arrived at the hall, he looked like a pug wagging its tail in front of its master.
"I didn't expect Mr. Zheng to come to Peace County. Your presence really brings light to our humble place." Song Yi said loudly.
"Well, thank you, Mayor Sun." Zheng Cunjian's voice came from the sedan chair.
Li Mu grinned.
The title of 'Heartless Scholar' was really well-known among the officials of Chang 'an government at all levels. This time, Li Mu had made the right decision to keep this guy by his side. At least, he could take care of all the miscellaneous affairs, which saved him a lot of trouble.
"Mayor Song, this Master Madcap is an honored guest of the magistrate of Chang 'an. Even the magistrate of Chang' an has to show respect to him. Mayor Song, why did you lock him up?" The voice of Zheng Cunjian, the Heartless Scholar, drifted out of the sedan chair.
Since his leg was broken by Li Mu, he had not fully recovered. He could ride a horse, but not walk. So, he had to come here in a sedan chair.
That was also what Li Mu had discussed with him in the inn.
At that, Song Yi broke out in a cold sweat.
"An honored guest of the magistrate of Chang 'an?"
"No wonder this little monk is so arrogant. It turns out that there is such a connection."
"This time, I really got into trouble."
Song Yi looked at Li Mu resentfully, thinking, "Why didn't you tell me earlier that you have such a great background? You are deliberately waiting for me to make mistakes."
Li Mu grinned and looked at him. "Even if I told you earlier, would you believe me?"
"Hurry up and take off the shackles on Master Madcap!" Zheng Cunjian, the Heartless Scholar, urged Li Mu. He was also anxious, fearing that if Li Mu got angry, his legs would be broken again.
Song Yi did not dare to hesitate. He stepped forward in person to loosen the shackles on Li Mu.
Li Mu took a step back with a smile and said, "Your Honor, it's easy to put on the shackles, but it's a little difficult to take them off."
Song Yi's face froze, and his heart skipped a beat.
"Damn it, why is this little monk so hard to deal with? He is like a wily old fox in the officialdom."
"Mr. Zheng, this …" Song Yi looked back at the sedan chair.
"Mayor Song," the Heartless Scholar's unique gloomy and cold voice drifted out of the sedan chair. "It's up to you, Mayor Song. If Master Madcap is not satisfied, you will definitely lose your position as an official. As for the rest … hehe."
"What else?"
"My life, of course."
In other words, it was not certain whether Li Mu could keep his life.
At that moment, Song Yi was really scared.
He didn't expect that the little monk had such a high position in the magistrate's heart. Judging from his tone, even the famous Mr. Zheng was extremely afraid of him. What kind of Buddha did he provoke?
"Well … Master Madcap, I …" Song Yi looked back at Li Mu again and almost burst into tears. It was an unexpected disaster. He begged, "I have eyes but failed to recognize Master Taibai. Master, as a monk, you are merciful. Please give me a way out. No matter what you want, I will do my best to satisfy you."
Li Mu grinned and said, "Mayor Song, you just need to answer a few of my questions honestly. If I'm satisfied with your answers, I won't blame you anymore."
Song Yi nodded repeatedly.
"Okay. Come with me." Li Mu turned around and walked to the secret chamber under the big chair.
Song Yi was very nervous. After a moment of hesitation, he followed Li Mu.
In the hall, the torches were crackling. None of the guards dared to open their mouths. Even they had heard of Zheng Cunjian, the Heartless Scholar. His name could stop babies from crying at night. Being with such a figure, even though he was in a sedan chair, they all had the impulse to turn around and run.
Time flew.
About half an hour later.
With Li Mu in front and Song Yi behind, the two of them walked out of the secret chamber.
Song Yi looked as if he had eaten a dead mouse. Cold sweat kept rolling down his forehead. He stumbled around in a daze. From his expression, it was impossible to guess what Li Mu had said to him.
Li Mu, on the other hand, looked thoughtful.
"Mr. Zheng." Li Mu opened his mouth and said, "I've stored some things in the secret chamber down there. You and Mr. Song can come up with a way to deliver them to Taibai County. Be quick and do it secretly. Don't make any mistakes. Do you understand?"
"Don't worry, Master Madcap." Zheng Cunjian hurriedly promised, "As long as it belongs to you, not even a speck of dust will be missed. It will be delivered to Taibai County in three days." Generally speaking, what could be in the secret chamber was nothing more than gold and silver treasures that those ruffians had plundered and stored.
Li Mu nodded.
"Mr. Song, you can handle the rest."
He turned around and walked out.
Zheng Cunjian did not dare to be negligent. He immediately ordered the bearers to carry the sedan chair and followed him.
Song Yi's heart skipped a beat when he saw this.
"What's the background of this Master Madcap? How could he make the Heartless Scholar follow him like a servant and listen to his every word? Why haven't I heard of this person before?"
-----
"I was a little tired last night. So, after writing a few hundred words in the second chapter, I lay on the bed and took a nap. I told Dao Sao to wake me up in 20 minutes. But Dao Sao was so worried about her husband that she didn't say a word. Dao Sao didn't wake up until seven o 'clock in the morning … What a trap!"
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