Dali Temple Conspiracy Records

Chapter 21 Finding the Victim

The West Market, also known as the Gold Market, is farther away from Sannei, and closer to Kaiyuanmen, the starting point of the Western Regions trade route. Therefore, there are many foreign businessmen living in the surrounding squares, especially the Hu merchants of Sasanian and Dashi.Although the East and West Markets are both famous and prosperous markets in Guanyu, they are relatively "official" because they are close to the Taiji Palace, Daming Palace and other imperial palaces, where many officials and dignitaries come and go.The commercial atmosphere in the West Market is more prosperous and free. There are many shops opened by foreign merchants, such as Sassan mansions, jewelry stores, warehouses, and wine shops. A collection of exotic treasures has become one of the wonders of Chang'an.

After Shenzheng's dismissal, Li Quan went to the West Market to walk around again.This was the third day in a row that he had come, but it was the first time he had brought a follower along.Even if he doesn't want to bring it, it's useless, Bai Sanxiu has discovered that he has been leaving Dali Temple on time recently, but has been staying out until very late before returning home.Rather than waiting for her to emerge by herself, he might as well take her with him.What's more, she often comes to the West Market to buy spices, so she is quite familiar with it.

"Si Zhi, what exactly do you want to buy? Although the West Market is huge, you've probably visited it all in three days."

"Recently, there have been frequent demon fogs appearing in the West Market, emitting a strange fragrance, and crowding around is suffocating."

"So it's for investigation! What kind of monster?"

"Fog of mist."

Bai Sanxiu was stunned for a moment, "Demon Mist? Is there another form like this?"

"It's also the first time I've heard of it." Li Guan folded his hands behind his back, and looked around as he walked, "At first, there were only complaints from stores and customers. I don't know who lit a lot of strong and strange fragrances, and the smell was disturbing; later, some victims reported that the fog In severe cases, they even suffocated and fainted. The West Market Order investigated for a long time without any results, so I asked the Jinwu Guards to pay more attention when patrolling the streets, and finally transferred to Dali Temple."

"So what case was demonized?"

"I'm not sure yet. There have been no homicides in West Market and its surrounding neighborhoods recently, only a few accidents, illnesses, and deaths from old age. It's just that West Market invited monks and priests to exorcise evil spirits, but it didn't work. Master Guo asked me to come." try."

Guo Ziming is the Minister of Dali Temple.As the West Market is a big city, the court of course attaches great importance to such incidents.Since no suspicious case records were found from Chang'an County, Li Quan could only go to the West Market to inspect in person to see if he could encounter the ghost fog that was elusive.

The two wandered around until dark, and then had dinner at Yiguan's house.Needless to say about the Xiao family wontons, when Bai Sanxiu was still sipping the smell of Lenghu Tuyu, there was a sudden commotion outside the shop.Li Quan quickly grabbed a passerby to ask.

"Administrative Bureau, Over there, the evil spirit appeared again!"

As soon as Li Quan heard this, he picked up Bai Sanxiu and left.Because the demon mist was fleeting, Li Quan felt that her pace was slow, so he simply carried her to perform lightness kung fu, and quickly rushed to the Peace and Approval Office on South Street.Who knew it hadn't arrived yet, Bai Sanxiu suddenly stopped on the way: "This is it, don't run away, Si Zhi, it's here!"

"What?" Li Quan stopped on the tiled roof of a silk shop.

Bai Sanxiu pointed to the alley between Juanhang and Buhang in front of him, a faint blush appeared on his fair face, but it was not so obvious because it was dark. "I smell a strange smell, go down and have a look."

Li Guan led her to jump down according to his words, and landed floatingly, and then felt a blur in front of her eyes, as if she had crashed into a fog.Now even he could smell it clearly, it was a strange smell mixed with many kinds of smells, besides the strong fragrance of powder, it was also mixed with other familiar but indescribable smells.

Perhaps it was Li Guan who was carrying the mahogany horizontal knife and the amulet, Yao Wu did not "difficult" the two of them, and disappeared like a gust of wind in a blink of an eye.The normal smell quickly returned to the alley.Li Guanzheng was at a loss, but Bai Sanxiu raised her eyebrows and thought hard. After a long while, she suddenly let out an excited "ah".

"what happened?"

"I remembered what it smelled like. I said where I smelled it... It smelled like water!"

"Watery smell?"

"It's the smell of fish and algae in the small river ditch. It's very faint, but it's the smell."

Now Li Quan really admired her.

(End of this chapter)