SLLBTT Chapter 49
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
⋇⊶⊰Chapter 49⊱⊷⋇
The Snow Wolf King stopped giving Liu Jiao the minced meat filling, expressing his dissatisfaction.
Unfortunately, Liu Jiao didn't notice anything unusual about the Snow Wolf King. Since the Great King stopped feeding him minced meat, Liu Jiao took matters into his own hands, tore open the bun, and dug out the meat filling. After finishing, he placed the dough on the Snow Wolf King's plate.
The Snow Wolf King glanced at Liu Jiao, who was carelessly enjoying the fresh meat filling. Feeling somewhat annoyed, the Snow Wolf King ended up eating the dough on the plate.
After finishing the buns, Liu Jiao told the shop owner, "Boss, the food here is delicious, but the portions are too small. I might need to eat dozens of baskets to feel full."
The shop owner didn't seem bothered and instead smiled at the Snow Wolf King. "This cat can really eat!"
The Snow Wolf King smiled and said, "Being able to eat is a blessing."
The shop owner shook his head. "Eating too much can make you a poor man!"
Liu Jiao remembered the matter of spending half a million in a month on his own meals.
Liu Jiao couldn't help but ask the Snow Wolf King, "Do you think I'll really eat myself into poverty?"
The Snow Wolf King laughed and replied, "Not to that extent yet."
The two walked out of the alley, strolling casually. Heading in the direction of the Temple of Heavenly Emperor, Liu Jiao thought they were going back. Unexpectedly, just a few meters before the main gate, the Snow Wolf King pulled Liu Jiao around a corner, heading towards Zhengqi Temple.
Liu Jiao, looking at the words "Zhengqi Temple," said, "This name sounds somewhat familiar..." After a moment of thought, Liu Jiao remembered, "Abbot Baldy told me he hired a Daoist from here to perform rituals at the temple."
"That's right," said the Snow Wolf King. "Let's go see that Daoist."
"Why? What? Do you think there's something wrong with that Daoist?"
The Snow Wolf King simply said, "The Chief Investigator just sent a message. He had someone tickle the feet of the goose demons one by one for over an hour, and they couldn't extract anything. It suggests they might be telling the truth. No one has entered or exited the temple recently. The main and side gates are monitored, meaning the only outsider who recently entered the Temple of Heavenly Emperor is this Daoist."
"If he is highly suspicious, wouldn't they have interrogated him earlier?"
"That's a valid point," agreed the Snow Wolf King.
They had indeed interrogated the Daoist early on.
This Daoist was the only outsider who had entered and exited the Temple of Heavenly Emperor after the supernatural events occurred. Right after the incident, the Chief Investigator immediately sent someone to Zhengqi Temple to interrogate the Daoist. Before any torture could be applied, the Daoist, frightened out of his wits, confessed, "I don't know anything! I'm just a fraud!"
"What? You're a fraud?" the investigator asked, "Aren't you a professional exorcist?"
The Daoist spilled everything, "I was originally a worthless scoundrel, just passing time in this temple. In reality, I have no skill in exorcism. All those positive reviews about my exorcism skills were written by me..."
"...And then what?"
The Daoist continued, "Just two months ago, when the Temple of Heavenly Emperor was haunted, the abbot asked me to perform a ritual. I didn't understand it at all, just followed the procedure of a grand deity dance, and the incantations were all copied from the internet."
The Daoist's testimony largely matched what others had said. This Daoist was a swindler. He performed the ritual, took the money, and then went to drink. After drinking, he spread the scandal about the haunted Temple of Heavenly Emperor and the Snow Wolf King's supposed father feigning death. Soon, everyone knew about the ghostly occurrences and the Snow Wolf King's father's fake death.
However, after this unscrupulous Daoist performed the "ritual," the "supernatural phenomena" did indeed stop, leaving room for speculation.
The Chief Investigator, reflecting on the matter, said to the Snow Wolf King, "This is clearly a plot orchestrated behind the scenes."
The Snow Wolf King remained noncommittal.
The Chief Investigator continued, "If the purpose of this 'supernatural event' is to assassinate the Great King, the crucial step is to incite you to personally break your father's stone pagoda, inhale the powder, and fall prey to the concealed snake demon. But how could one make you destroy your own father's pagoda? The means would be to spread rumors, claiming that your own father faked his death, tarnishing your reputation. This strategy aims to compel you to clear his name by breaking the tower and exhuming your father's grave."
"You make an interesting point," said the Snow Wolf King. "But how could the murderer be sure that I would personally break the pagoda, instead of sending someone else to do it?"
"The murderer doesn't need you to personally break the pagoda. They only need to ensure that you're present. The anesthetic in the dust is abundant, causing everyone present to faint. Logically, as long as you are standing in the Northern Pagoda, you would be affected," the Chief Investigator replied. "However, the murderer underestimated. Not only was he unaware that you had immunity, but he also didn't anticipate the presence of a snow leopard guarding him, leading to their failure."
The Snow Wolf King pondered for a moment before saying, "Something related to ensuring I'm present... and involved in this matter..."
"It's the abbot."
"But he's dead."
"The Daoist is suspicious," the Snow Wolf King then concluded.
"If the Daoist were an assassin, he should have run away immediately," the Chief Investigator said. "How could he still be working at Zhengqi Temple?"
The Snow Wolf King thought for a moment, instructing the Chief Investigator to interrogate the Daoist again. If nothing substantial came out, they were to release him. The Chief Investigator, skilled in interrogation, questioned the Daoist, but his testimony remained unchanged, leading to his release.
However, the Snow Wolf King and Liu Jiao paid another visit to Zhengqi Temple, specifically requesting to meet the Daoist. The receptionist at Zhengqi Temple was indifferent. "Him? After successfully exorcising the ghosts at the Temple of Heavenly Emperor, he's become our star performer. If you want him to exorcise ghosts, you'll have to schedule an appointment!"
The Snow Wolf King smiled and took out a stack of banknotes.
So, the Snow Wolf King got his wish to meet the Daoist. The Daoist wore the attire of his profession, but his face had a roguish quality, making him seem far from an upright individual. Seeing the Snow Wolf King and Liu Jiao dressed plainly, not looking particularly wealthy, he couldn't summon much interest and coolly asked, "What do you want?"
The Snow Wolf King said, "There have been ghostly occurrences in our home recently. We'd like to ask for Master's help."
"First, hand over fifty thousand as a deposit," the Daoist said.
"Fifty thousand?" Liu Jiao exclaimed, "That's so expensive!"
The Daoist scoffed, "You, a demon, asking me to exorcise ghosts! It must be ghosts even demons fear. It's gotta be formidable. Naturally, I'll charge a bit more for that."
Liu Jiao asked, "You can still tell I'm a demon?"
The Daoist said, "With that damn huge tail of yours, are you a demon or a cosplayer?"
The Snow Wolf King cut in, "Brother, please refrain from being disrespectful to my wife."
The Daoist jumped up. "Such a temper? I'm not dealing with you! Get lost! I won't take on your job no matter how much you pay!"
"No matter how much?" the Snow Wolf King asked. "What if I offer a million?"
The Daoist's eyes widened. "A million?"
The Snow Wolf King nodded, "Exactly."
"Are you fucking bragging?" The Daoist looked incredulous. "Aren't you going overboard with your bullshit? You can give me a million? I'll let you use my head as a football!"
"You're quite right. I indeed can't give you a million," the Snow Wolf King said thoughtfully. "But I can certainly use your head as a football."
After saying that, the Snow Wolf King kicked.
After just a couple of kicks, the Daoist was sprawled on the ground, calling the Snow Wolf King "Dad".
The Snow Wolf King said disdainfully, "I don't need a son like you."
The Daoist had blood streaming from his nose, his face swollen from the kicks, and pitifully said, "My lord, just let me go like you're releasing a fart!"
The Snow Wolf King thought for a moment and said, "Fine, but you have to do something for me."
"Not just one thing!" the Daoist begged, kowtowing. "I'll do a hundred things if you want!"
The Snow Wolf King shook his head. "No need for that."
The Daoist asked, "May I ask, my lord, what you want me to do?"
"Your specialty, exorcism."
"My lord, you're so mighty, why would you be afraid of ghosts?. If you can't handle the ghosts, I definitely can't!"
At the Snow Wolf King's words, he furrowed his brow, lifted his foot, appearing ready to kick. The Daoist hastily lunged forward, grabbing onto the Snow Wolf King's foot and even planted a kiss on it. "My lord, your foot smells so sweet! You are truly a celestial being! I'm willing to kiss every one of your toes!"
The Snow Wolf King closed his eyes, looking somewhat disgusted, and said, "Let go."
The Daoist immediately released the Snow Wolf King's foot. "My lord, whatever you say goes. As long as you don't kick me, I'll do anything."
The Snow Wolf King nodded, "I'll come find you tomorrow."
"No problem," the Daoist readily agreed, "I'll be kneeling, waiting for you tomorrow, Dad."
The Snow Wolf King coolly said, "I don't need a son like you."
The Daoist bowed and said, "Indeed, I'm not worthy of such a mighty father."
The Snow Wolf King had given up trying to communicate with the Daoist, only holding Liu Jiao's hand as they left Zhengqi Temple. Walking alongside the Snow Wolf King, Liu Jiao asked, "Where are we going now? It's getting late, should we not go back to the temple?"
The Snow Wolf King smiled gently, "I think it's not too late. How about we catch a movie first? What do you think?"
Liu Jiao paused. "Watch a movie? Aren't we investigating?"
"We'll continue tomorrow."
Since the Great King said so, Liu Jiao had no objections.
The two quickly arrived at the entrance of the cinema. Outside, a massive poster caught their eyes, featuring a blue-eyed, beautiful cat demon. Those captivating blue eyes, delicate white skin, flawless like jade — undeniably a peerless beauty.
Liu Jiao exclaimed, "This cat is stunning!"
Others simply said, "Do you even need to say that? Haven't you heard of the Northern Kingdom's number one beauty, 'Ragdoll Fairy'?"
Liu Jiao, surprised, asked, "Number one beauty? I really am ignorant. I had no idea! Does the Great King know?"
"I don't know either," the Snow Wolf King said, pulling Liu Jiao along and smiling, "You're the only number one for me."