Chapter 65

"An incident of great bloodshed occurred at the Temple of the God of Wealth, and everyone is very afraid, not daring to approach the place."

Qixiang smiled faintly and said, "But the temple was converted into a hospital, becoming a public place for saving lives and treating injuries. Everyone felt that the government had done a rare good deed for the common people, and they all expressed their satisfaction, so naturally, no one opposed it."

For Lord Hai and Tian Shi, these were all minor details, not worth paying attention to.

What the two were most concerned about was the inside story of the shocking bloodshed.

"Inside story?" Qixiang spread his hands and said helplessly, "Over a decade ago, I was still being bullied by my teachers at school, and I didn't even live in Huzhou. How could I know any inside story?"

"Moreover, the old man who told me about this was himself vague and unclear, knowing the facts but not the reasons, so he couldn't possibly tell me any inside story."

Qixiang shook his head and said, "Anyway, the reasons for the relocation of the Temple of the God of Wealth are as such. If you two want to learn more, the best way is to ask someone to go to the police station and investigate the files from over a decade ago."

"Of course, after such a long time, whether the files from back then are still intact is hard to say."

Qixiang shrugged and said, "However, the old man said that the temple keeper who died unjustly was a kind person who often helped neighbors in need and was very beloved. So, under public pressure, the police conducted a thorough investigation and reached a conclusion."

"What conclusion?" Lord Hai asked hurriedly.

"This might be a revenge killing..." Qixiang explained, "Because the police found that there was no loss of property in the temple, naturally ruling out the possibility of a crime of opportunity."

"After much research, the police believed that a revenge killing was the most likely scenario. After all, the temple keeper had come to Huzhou from elsewhere many years ago, built the Temple of the God of Wealth with his own money, and worshipped day and night."

"People have the habit of worshipping at any temple they encounter. Over the decades, the townspeople also became believers in the Temple of the God of Wealth, but no one could clearly explain the temple keeper's background."

"So the police believed that the temple keeper's identity was unknown, and he was an unregistered resident. Perhaps he had committed some crime many years ago and was hiding his name to avoid trouble."

"But you can hide for a while, but not forever. He was eventually found by his enemy and brutally murdered."

Qixiang said softly, "From a logical standpoint, this makes sense. However, there is no direct evidence, and the murderer has not been caught. Since the temple keeper had no children, and the townspeople had to live their lives, they couldn't keep dwelling on this matter."

"Over time, the matter was left unresolved."

Qixiang sighed and pointed, "A few years ago, I heard this story from the old man and was very curious, so I asked about the new location of the temple. It should be there..."

Lord Hai and Tian Shi looked in the direction he pointed and saw a small temple with green bricks and black tiles standing in a distant forest.

The three hurriedly approached and saw that the temple's bricks and tiles were incomplete, and the front and back of the building were covered in spider webs, looking very dilapidated.

"After the temple was relocated, it was initially maintained. However, due to its distance from the city center, the number of worshippers gradually decreased, and it eventually fell into disrepair."

Qixiang also sighed, noting that even a small glimpse could reveal much.

Even though the temple was dilapidated, from its structure, it was clear that it had once been grand and meticulously constructed. The eaves were ornate, the roof ridges extended, and under the eaves hung small bells the size of fists.

Even though these bells, due to years of wind and rain, had become rusty and no longer rang,

From these details, one could still sense the temple's former glory.

The three walked to the entrance and saw that the wooden door was cracked with many gaps. Through the gaps, they could clearly see the condition inside the temple.

The temple was relatively spacious, with a central courtyard overgrown with weeds and scattered stones, looking very desolate. In the main hall, there was a statue of the God of Wealth, which was still intact and exuded a sense of solemnity.

At this moment, Tian Shi reached out to push the door. But halfway through, seeing the thick layer of dust on the door, he changed his mind, pulled his hand back, and nudged it with his toe...

"Bang!"

The almost rotten door panel, with little effort, immediately swung and fell, sending up a cloud of dust.

As the dust rose, the three reacted differently. Qixiang took a few steps back to avoid the dust. Tian Shi dashed into the temple, facing the challenge and moving away from the dust cloud.

Only Lord Hai pinched his nose and waved his hand, getting a bit of dust in his face.

"Phew, phew, phew..."

As the dust settled, Lord Hai looked gloomy, considering himself unlucky.

A moment later, the three gathered in the temple courtyard, examining the statue of the God of Wealth in the main hall. It was clear that the temple had been neglected for years, and its state of disrepair was worse than they had imagined.

The bricks on the walls and the tiles on the roof were either damaged or missing, allowing wind and rain to seep in. Over time, the structure had deteriorated severely.

Qixiang was very skeptical that the temple would collapse naturally in a few years, leaving only ruins.

Seeing this, he felt very embarrassed: "I apologize, I didn't expect the temple to be abandoned and unattended..."

Without anyone, the so-called Tao Zhu Gong would have no connection to this place.

"It's fine, it's fine..." Lord Hai waved his hand. "It's not your fault; it's our decision to come here."

As he spoke, Lord Hai turned to look at Tian Shi, his expression showing a subtle change.

After a moment, Tian Shi turned and asked, "Mr. Qixiang, was the temple moved here as a whole?"

"Probably..." Qixiang was uncertain. "According to the old man, when the temple was dismantled, the roof was removed, the walls were knocked down, and the materials were transported here in trucks and rebuilt."

"However, it seems that the reconstruction was somewhat perfunctory." Qixiang looked around and commented, "It was probably rushed, leading to its rapid deterioration."

"Yes, very irresponsible..." Lord Hai nodded lightly, carefully observing the temple, his eyes gleaming.

At this moment, Tian Shi slowly walked into the main hall and looked up at the statue of the God of Wealth on the altar.

The roof leaked, and when it rained, water seeped down onto the statue. Over the years, the statue had been affected, and the bright colors had faded.

However, the facial features of the statue were still vivid, showing the skill of the craftsman who carved it. The wood used was also very durable and had not rotted despite the water.

Qixiang walked in and saw the statue, which was as tall as a person, and was amazed.

"What a pity." Qixiang couldn't help but shake his head. "A once bustling temple has now come to such a sad end."

"Who would have thought..." Lord Hai agreed. "Time passes, and the world changes. It's all a matter of regret."

As the two expressed their feelings, Tian Shi suddenly turned and said calmly, "There's nothing to see in this dilapidated temple. Let's go back."

"Uh..." Lord Hai was taken aback, blinked, and then nodded. "Alright, we'll continue looking for Tao Zhu Gong after we return."

Hearing this, Qixiang felt even more embarrassed. "I'm sorry for wasting your valuable time."

"It's not your fault; you had good intentions." Lord Hai smiled. "We just don't have any specific leads and are wandering around like headless flies."

"Wanting to help but being powerless." Qixiang sighed and said regretfully, "Since that's the case, I won't trouble you two. I wish you all the best and hope you find your friend soon."

"Thank you... Wait!" Lord Hai suddenly paused. "Aren't you coming back with us?"

"No." Qixiang shook his head. "I have other things to do."

"What things?" Tian Shi asked, unusually eager. "Do you need our help?"

"No, no!" Qixiang was even more polite. "It's a small matter; I can handle it myself."

"Alright." Tian Shi nodded, offering to help. "But this is the outskirts, and there are no cars passing by. How about we take you back?"

"No, no..." Qixiang scratched his head and indicated, "There's a bus stop just a few minutes away. I can take the bus back myself."

"That won't do. Since we came together, we should go back together and not leave you behind." Tian Shi said firmly, looking very upright.

Qixiang was speechless, glancing at Tian Shi and thinking he might be crazy.

Lord Hai looked at Tian Shi, then at Qixiang, and suddenly clapped his hands, grinning. "You two, stop pretending. You both clearly see something wrong with the temple and the statue but are holding back..."

"Ai Hai, what are you... talking nonsense." Tian Shi's expression was very unnatural.

"Brother Shi, there's no need to hide. Even we can see it, let alone an expert like Mr. Qixiang."

Lord Hai said straightforwardly, "The entire temple is in ruins, the wooden door is rotten, and the rafters are cracked, but the statue of the God of Wealth on the altar shows no signs of decay. There's definitely something fishy."

"Maybe it's a clay statue..." Tian Shi said something he himself didn't believe.

"Heh heh!" Qixiang also laughed, walking directly to the statue of the God of Wealth, and lightly tapping it with his finger. The solid sound was enough to prove everything. A clay statue would not produce such a sound.

"What kind of wood is this?" Lord Hai walked over, pushed the statue, and saw that it didn't move at all, which surprised him even more. "It feels very heavy, very solid."