Having learned that even the most common people in this world could provide a significant amount of the Power of Faith, Li Ang had devised his next course of action: to act as a charlatan, a revered and widely respected charlatan at that. To achieve this goal, he had to make use of his previously fabricated identity, 'Taoist Priest Xi Menzi,' creating as much presence for Taoist Head Xi Menzi as possible and spreading legendary tales of his deeds. Showing off miracles in front of people and increasing his trendiness value—or, in other words, showing off and slapping faces—was the best method to create presence.

Upon hearing Li Ang describe the segmented-body hiding corpses technique, all the guests in the hall turned pale with fright. They hurriedly grabbed their belongings, scrambled off the large sleeping mats, and fled from the two gloomy-looking travelers.

The inn's attendants, holding candles and long sticks, were also badly frightened. Looking at the two isolated guests, they couldn't fathom how those seemingly honest men could be so vicious.

What was more terrifying was the thought that these two might have used the lime-hiding-corpses method to harm countless lone merchants with valuables in other inns. Had the young Taoist Priest not unveiled their trick, the people in the inn might only have realized the next morning that a murder had occurred in the lobby the previous night.

Just in this brief moment, Li Ang saw the progress bar for the Power of Faith from the Divine Mark in his player information pane increase by almost thirty points. The unfortunate merchant who had been saved alone provided five points of this Power of Faith. This amount of Energy was already enough for Li Ang to transform five more Special Worms or to conduct a small-scale miracle.

Li Ang said indifferently, "Escort Master Yang."

"Present!"

"Please take a few people and search the baggage of the travelers staying in the corner. If you find lime and fabric in their bags, they are part of the same gang of criminals."

Li Ang stated coolly, "As for whether there may be accomplices within... Heh, let's send them to the tribunal later. Under the punishment of leg-crushing sticks, everything can be interrogated out of them."

In this era, there was no such concept as 'criminals also have rights,' especially in remote and meager places like Goose City, a border district. To achieve some merit, the district magistrate would resort to any means necessary.

Hearing Li Ang's words, the two travelers couldn't help but shudder, instinctively glancing behind them.

Perhaps to prevent robbery, the doors of Tongful Inn were exceptionally thick. Moreover, the Waiter had bolted the door shut earlier when the inn closed, so a forceful escape would definitely not be feasible in the short term.

The traveler on the left ignored the attendants who were holding sticks but dared not approach. After giving Li Ang a deep look, he whispered fiercely, "You nosy Taoist Priest with your fancy airs, aren't you afraid your meddling will get you killed?"

"Hehe, if I came across a murder case and did nothing to stop it, how could I live up to the standards of Master Holmes, Taoist Head Conan, and Hermit Kindaichi who taught me investigative skills?" Li Ang shook his head with a smile and said, "After I described the method of the murder, you should have knelt on the ground, crying out your motives for the killing, sincerely expressing regret, and then been taken away for interrogation. But from the looks on your faces, it seems you are not willing to be captured without a fight, hmm?"

"Hmph."

The traveler's face twisted into a fierce grin, and he shouted in a deep voice, "If not now, when to take action? Do you all want to be beheaded?"

As soon as his words fell, the previously pale-faced guests who had rushed over immediately put on ferocious expressions. They pulled out daggers from their clothes and held Li Ang, the innkeeper, the Merchant Team Manager, and others at knifepoint.

Even bandits needed to be observant in these times. After the three were seized, Yang Er and the other escorts grew anxious but dared not act rashly, fearing a quick slash from the criminals.

Because they were sleeping on the large sleeping mats, Yang Er and the others had locked their swords away in the adjacent room during the day. Ironically, this now made it easier for the criminals to act.

"One, two... seven, eight." With a knife held to his neck, Li Ang was not at all flustered. He calmly counted the number of knife-wielding criminals, sighed, and said in a mocking tone, "With you two included, there are a total of eight criminals. Is the money you obtained from harming merchants enough to split among yourselves?"

"Don't trouble yourself over it."

The traveler shook his head and said to a Waiter who also had a knife against his neck, "Go get some ropes and fabric, tie up the others, and bring the keys to the front door's lock."

The Waiter was a shrewd fellow. He understood that the criminals wanted ropes and fabric to tie up everyone in the inn and gag them, facilitating their escape. They intended to flee the inn and get out of the city under the cover of night.

But that was only the first layer, he thought. If he actually brought the ropes and fabric and tied up everyone in the inn, the first thing these criminals would do is cut everyone's throats. This would prevent people from shouting during their escape, which could alert the city guards and the army at the city gates.

"I... I'll go now."

The Waiter's back was pressed against the tip of a blade. Under duress, and though extremely reluctant, he could only slowly turn around. He prayed that the guests upstairs would hear the commotion below, sneak out over the wall, find the authorities, and bring officials to help.

Even though he knew that if the officials did come, the cruel criminals would probably not surrender obediently and wait to be caught... Was it possible that he was really going to meet his end here today? If I had known this would happen, I would have borrowed more silver from the manager and gone to the Happy Red Court to redeem that Qing Scholar...

The Waiter was being escorted by the criminals into the adjacent room, filled with a sorrow that brought him to the verge of tears. Just as he was thinking about fighting back with all his might, turning to grapple with the criminals to the death...

...he heard the short-haired Taoist Priest speak unhurriedly, "The heavens are clear and just; good and evil are distinct. You criminals commit offenses against the laws. Facing death, you still show no repentance. Do not blame this humble Taoist for taking action to punish you!

"God of Mercy, who saves from all sins and delivers from all suffering, whose grace extends beyond the heavens, pure and pervasive. All are supported by the power of the Great Way to subdue the Devil Spirit.

"Soul-locking Prison Master, where are you?"

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