The acting headmaster gestured with his right hand, asking the elders behind him to make way for Zhao Rang.
The expressions on their faces were different, completely different from the trust of Master Daidai.
Zhao Rang didn't care about their expressions. If he were in their position and saw that a young man in his twenties had gained the trust of his uncle and acting headmaster, he would probably have the same expression. .
"Borrow it, borrow it!"
Zhao Rang sideways passed in front of the elders and entered the small courtyard.
The layout of this courtyard is no different from the one he and Qingqing had.
The difference is that instead of vegetables, flowers are grown on the ground in this courtyard.
Flowers of various colors, sizes and shapes.
In the yard where the flower girl on duty lived, planting flowers was an extremely normal thing. Zhao Rang also found the "red lips" that the junior sister had given them previously from the neatly divided flower beds.
The little junior sister was separated from the courtyard, standing on tiptoes, looking in anxiously.
She already knew what happened from the comments of people around her.
However, the mountain guard's figure like a door panel and the shiny sword in his hand never gave her the courage to get too close. It was not until she saw Zhao Rang waving to her in the courtyard that she walked into the courtyard with her head held high and her chest held high.
"Do you live here too?"
Zhao Rang asked.
The junior sister shook her head.
He has his own residence, and only the three missing junior sisters live in this courtyard.
As a disciple who has just entered the monastery, you have to learn everything from scratch. Being a good flower girl is their first lesson, and the junior sister is the senior sister responsible for leading the three of them, so even if she doesn't live here, she will be in this courtyard most of the day.
"By the way, I haven't asked you yet, why did you come down the mountain?"
Zhao Rang met the junior sister and her senior sister at the foot of the mountain.
I just remember that the two people vaguely said that they were going to the city to do something, but they didn't say clearly what they were doing.
There was a tangled look on the little junior sister's face, and she unconsciously turned her gaze to the acting headmaster standing aside.
"You should answer truthfully whatever Mr. Zhao asks. Baiheshan has no secrets in front of Mr. Zhao."
With the Acting Headmaster's permission, the junior sister felt relieved and said to Zhao Rang:
"Master is sick and asked me and my senior sister to go to the city to buy medicine for him."
Zhao Rang frowned.
The master of the little junior sister should be the Kun Dao Gao Dao from the Southland.
Regardless of whether a person with such a level of cultivation will get sick easily, Baihe Mountain's Taoist medical skills are famous all over the world. Is it possible that there are still diseases that cannot be cured and need to go to the city to buy medicine?
The junior sister reacted slowly and couldn't understand what Zhao Rang was wondering about. Instead, the head teacher took over the conversation and explained:
"Prince Hagoromo's parents died in the war, and he was homeless for several years, so he contracted intestinal diseases and headaches. Whenever he had an attack, he would have a splitting headache and severe cramping in his abdomen. Forbearance. Fortunately, she once got a folk remedy that could temporarily suppress her condition, so she never needed treatment from a Taoist doctor. Instead, she sent her trusted disciples down the mountain to buy medicine."
The acting headmaster said it in detail, but it made Zhao Rang even more surprised.
The head and belly go up and down. I have never heard of any other connection between the two.
However, there are many things in the world, especially diseases, which are different for thousands of people. Zhao Rang couldn't give up and decided that the respected Taoist Priest Hagoromo was pretending to be sick.
What's more, people must have a purpose in doing things.
Zhao Rang couldn't figure out her purpose of pretending to be sick for a while.
"Mr. Zhao, regarding the situation of Taoist Master Yuyi, I can ask my disciples to invite her here. Can you ask her personally?"
Zhao Rang waved his hands repeatedly and said:
"No, no, no. If the Taoist priest is sick, then take a good rest. I asked because I wanted to know what she was doing when she went down the mountain. Because judging from the time, the time when these three disciples disappeared was when she went down the mountain to buy medicine. When you and I go up the mountain to meet our great uncle."
The acting headmaster highly recognized Zhao Rang’s analysis.
From Baihe Mountain to the medicine shop in the city, if you start early, it will take most of the day to go back and forth.
"Before the senior sister and I went down the mountain, we told the three junior sisters to do their homework well and remember to water the flower beds and not play around."
The junior sister's words further supported Zhao Rang's speculation.
"Well, they did listen to you. They didn't play around and watered the flower beds seriously and topdressed them."
The soil in the flowerbed is wet. It didn't rain on the mountain today, so it was obviously artificially watered.
The soil in the flowerbed on the other side still showed obvious signs of turning, and the fresh soil below was turned up, giving off a unique smell.
Everything in the entire courtyard was very peaceful and peaceful, and there was no trace of panic.
The three girls were extremely careful when tending the flower garden. They did not leave even a single shoe print in the soil, and they never trampled any flowers.
"Let's go inside and have a look."
A girl's boudoir has an inexplicable attraction to all men, but at this moment, Zhao Rang can't think about it at all. He just wants to find clues related to the piece of Longfanhui cloth as soon as possible.
"Mr. Zhao, that piece of cloth was found here."
Zhao Rang was still scanning the furnishings in the room, and the acting headmaster pointed to the ground next to the window sill and said.
There are two shaped tables side by side under the window sill. They are simple and heavy in shape and are carved from the thickest part of a whole tree.
There are two sets of paper and pens on the table, and an inkstone with still wet ink in it. Two copper paperweights of auspicious beasts pressed down the upper right corner of a "Shangqing Scripture" until it lay flat.
"At the table?"
Zhao Rang pointed to the ground and confirmed with the acting head coach.
"Yes, the chair was pulled very far back, and this piece of cloth was on the ground between the chair and the table."
Looking down, I saw that there were indeed two long drag marks under the chair. But there were no marks on the table legs, as if they had not moved at all since they moved into this room.
After looking at the place where he found the piece of cloth, Zhao Rang then walked around the room a few more times.
"Um……"
When the acting headmaster heard this, he thought that Zhao Rang had already figured it out, and asked in surprise:
"Mr. Zhao, do you have any clues?"
Zhao Rang shook his head and said:
"It's exactly what I thought!"
These words made the Acting Headmaster even more anxious when he heard this, and he urged:
"Master Zhao, please speak clearly."
Zhao Rang explained seriously:
"It's just as I thought. These people left no traces except this piece of cloth."
The acting headmaster was stunned on the spot.
He very much hoped that he had heard wrong just now, but his reason and brain told him that this was what Zhao Rang said, and there were no traces in the house, or he could not find it.
"Hmph, let me tell you, what can a child of a carefree family do? What's more, he is still a wanted criminal!"
"Let me tell you, the Acting Headmaster must drive this kid down the mountain as soon as possible. If someone from the government goes up the mountain to take him, wouldn't it be a stain on the reputation of our Baihe Mountain Taoist Sect?"
Seeing the headmasters all choked by Zhao Rang, they were speechless. The elders who were already doubtful of Zhao Rang's generals were ridiculing.
Zhao Rang looked calm, but in his heart he felt that the acting headmaster was really a bit useless... If Bai Hezi was still here, these elders would not dare to be so presumptuous.
Facing the accusations from the elders behind him, the acting headmaster also felt haggard... He just wanted to study Taoism in peace and had no idea how to deal with the turmoil at the mountain gate. Every day when he opens his eyes, there are countless troubles waiting for him to deal with and make decisions. If his uncle-in-law hadn't been there to support him with his last strength, he might have taken advantage of the thick fog at night and walked away.
But losing a disciple is a big deal.
This is the first time this has happened since the gates of Baihe Mountain were opened.
If it is not handled well, it will affect the whole body, causing the mountain gate to shake, and everyone will be in danger.
Thinking of all these, the Acting Headmaster couldn't help but sigh deeply, and his eyes met Zhao Rang unconsciously.
Zhao Rang calmly smiled at him, and then nodded, indicating that he could rest assured.
When the elders saw that Zhao Rang did not refute and left them alone to make irresponsible remarks, they found it meaningless and gradually became quiet.
Only then did Zhao Rang hold the piece of cloth found in the house in his hand, waved it to them, and said:
"Of course it's not that we didn't find anything at all."
"For example, this piece of stuff left at the scene, I probably know who has been here."
The acting headmaster's heart was filled with hope again, and he hurriedly asked:
"What Mr. Zhao means is that there are outsiders coming to the mountain?"
Baihe Mountain has been closed for several days since the headmaster went down the mountain to the first floor. Except for the two disciples who bought medicine for Taoist Master Haoyi, as well as Zhao Rang and Qing Qing, no one came in or out.
At this moment, Zhao Rang said that other people had come to the mountain, which shocked the acting headmaster and all the elders.
"This piece of cloth is part of the dragon flag of the Dragon Sailing Club."
The acting headmaster frowned even deeper after hearing this.
He vaguely remembered that he had heard this name somewhere, but he couldn't remember it clearly.
"Mr. Zhao is talking about the water bandit gang that has been running Taishang River for decades, Longfanhui?"
The elder who had the loudest voice of doubt asked.
Seeing the sincerity of his question, Zhao Rang knew that this person was not an unreasonable person, so he answered nicely:
"Exactly."
After this explanation, the acting headmaster also remembered all the things about Longfan Club.
No matter where he looked, it was his senior brother, Bai Hezi, who had solemnly mentioned it to him.
The matter was serious and after careful consideration, the acting headmaster turned around and waved his hand, asking the elders to lead his disciples to retreat first and maintain the daily routine in the mountain gate, while he stayed and prepared to have a detailed discussion with Zhao Rang.
Zhao Rang was inexplicably relieved to see that the acting head coach had finally toughened up.
He and Bai Hezi have been friends for many years.
Although their time together was short, he admired Bai Hezi's character and mind very much. Especially the various issues between him and Master Shiding, Zhao Rang realized that there is no dispute between Buddhism and Taoism, and after all, we reach the same destination through different paths.
"Mr. Zhao, are you sure this is the dragon flag of the Dragon Sail Club?"
After everyone left, except for the Acting Headmaster and Zhao Rang, the younger junior sister was the only one left in the room.
At this moment, she also looked at Zhao Rang extremely nervously.
Since Zhao Rang could know who was sneaking into the mountains, he would definitely be able to find the missing three people. This was what she thought in her heart.
"To be honest, I don't know. Because I don't know the Dragon Riders of the Dragon Sail Club at all."
Zhao Rang raised his hand and threw the piece of cloth away.
All its value has been squeezed out of it, and now the scrap of cloth is just a scrap of cloth, useless anymore.
"you……"
However, with his ambiguous attitude, even the extremely well-educated Acting Headmaster couldn't help but get angry!
"Acting Headmaster, don't worry. Although I don't know her, someone knows her. This is exactly what she told me."
"Is she Mr. Zhao's wife?"
Zhao Rang was helpless.
The matter was urgent, so I had no choice but to nod in recognition.
"How did Mrs. Zhao recognize it?"
Zhao Rang replied without thinking:
"She is from the first floor."
The acting headmaster responded quietly.
Trust in a person often comes from his origin and surrounding environment.
Nothing is more convincing than the "first floor" of the current situation.
Before going down the mountain, the headmaster Bai Hezi had a long conversation with his junior brother and the current acting headmaster. The word that appeared most frequently in the conversation was the first floor.
The Acting Headmaster could tell that his senior brother had full trust in this place, so after Zhao Rang revealed that Qingqing's identity was from the first floor, his heart that had been hanging around finally fell back to his stomach.
"Baihe Mountain and Longfan Society have never had any entanglements. Why did they send people to sneak into the mountain and kidnap three of my disciples?"
The acting headmaster asked.
Zhao Rang couldn't answer this.
He just told him that in the first floor, Bai Hezi once told him that there were people in Lily Mountain who had colluded with the Western Region and the Southern Region. But who it was, Bai Hezi did not say clearly.
In this situation, the Acting Headmaster also heard his senior brother talk about it during that long conversation.
However, the affairs of the sect are complicated, and just dealing with the daily turnover is already exhausted... Where is there any spare energy to dig out the sycophant who has been hiding for a long time?
Even if he wanted to, he didn't have the ability.
The two fell into silence for a while.
Zhao Rang caught a glimpse of the junior sister standing aside from the corner of his eye and suddenly asked:
"Every time I buy medicine for Daoist Hagoromo, do you and my senior sister go there?"
The junior sister nodded first, then shook her head quickly and said:
"Usually, as long as my senior sister and I have finished our homework and there is nothing urgent at hand, we go there. But a few days ago, before the master came down from the mountain, my senior sister and I happened to have something to do, and Priest Hagoromo became ill again, so he Let these three junior sisters go down the mountain together to buy medicine in the city."
"Oh, at that time, because the headmaster had not yet come down from the mountain, the door of Baihe Mountain was still open and not locked. Pilgrims and believers could still come in and out freely."
Zhao Rang showed a playful smile and said:
"That is to say, these three little girls helped Taoist Priest Hagoromo buy medicine, and they got up just a few days ago. You, the master, get sick frequently enough!"
The junior sister didn't hear the underlying meaning of Zhao Rang's words and replied:
"Master is indeed in poor health recently, and my senior sister and I haven't seen each other for a while."
"Then how did she ask you to buy medicine?"
Zhao Rang asked.
"Write a note! My senior sister and I go to the master's door once every morning and evening. If something happens, there will be a note written on the porcelain plate at the door. If not, we will salute and say hello through the door, and then leave. "
Zhao Rang made some calculations in his mind, and generally had a plan, so he said to the Acting Headmaster:
"I have to go back and confirm some things with Qingqing. Acting Headmaster, please don't be anxious. Maybe we can find out tomorrow."
After finishing speaking, he turned to his junior sister and said:
"You go find your senior sister, and then come to my room together."
The little junior sister saw that the acting headmaster had no objection to this, so she nodded in agreement and quickly went out to find her senior sister.
