Chapter 27: The Enigma of Past and Present

Zhuang Lin looked toward the person who was muttering complaints. Upon seeing Master Zhuang looking their way, the person’s expression turned awkward, and just as they were about to explain, they saw the former smile and speak.

"Everyone, there is no need to be discouraged. Anything is possible. If my Hidden Immortal Valley could truly arrive in the Jin Dynasty, it is not impossible that we might find a way back. Even if we cannot leave, we should learn to be content with our lot—it is not as if we have stopped living, is it?"

Zhuang Lin’s smiling gaze swept over everyone present, and the ease in his words infected many, causing them to relax significantly.

"That's right, if we could come, why couldn't we leave?" "Exactly! Didn't *The Peach Blossom Spring* say that later generations could never find the peach orchard again? That just means we returned!"

"That makes sense!" "Sigh, when you put it that way, it really does!"

"Yes, that's true!"

"Even if we can't go back, as long as Master Zi'an and the others are here, we will surely be able to live well!"

"Yes, yes!" "Mhm, well said!"

After all, with so many people together and the tallest among them bearing the weight of the sky, regardless of their initial state of mind, it was time for everyone to adjust their perspectives.

"But how did we get here?"

"Was it because of Master Tao?"

"Could it really be because of Young Master Liu?"

The crowd looked at each other in confusion before turning their eyes back to Zhuang Lin.

From the moment they received the script to experiencing all these events, Zhuang Lin had naturally become the backbone of Hidden Immortal Valley.

Regarding the current confusion, a slight flicker passed through Zhuang’s expression. As for how they arrived, perhaps he already had a highly probable hypothesis.

In any case, Zhuang Lin set a tone focused on reassurance, deciding not to spread what they had discovered for the time being to avoid panic, leaving other matters to be handled by those in the know.

***

When Zhuang Lin returned to the schoolhouse, the sound of recitation was still ongoing, though somewhat uneven.

As soon as Zhuang Lin’s figure appeared not far from the entrance, the reading inside suddenly became uniform and powerful, which left him speechless and amused.

One could only say that children of any era share many commonalities.

Upon reaching the door, Zhuang Lin smoothed his expression. He stepped onto the porch and, rather than staying outside, walked straight to his desk inside and sat down.

Some students instinctively looked back, only to find the master looking up at them, which frightened them into immediately turning around and sitting straight.

"Do not stop the recitation!"

Zhuang Lin said only this, and the students sat upright at their desks, chanting in unison, not daring to be even slightly lax.

*Heh!*

Zhuang Lin smiled. It wasn't that he intentionally wanted his students to experience the terror of having a teacher sitting behind them; it was just a coincidence!

The students' recitation continued. They were of various ages—some mischievous, some quiet—each with their own personalities and thoughts, but their awe of the master was universal.

However, if one were to speak of the most studious and diligent among them now, it would undoubtedly be the eldest Young Master Liu.

While other students were focused on being cautious of the master, Liu Hongyu was the most serious and immersed in his books. He knew he couldn't even compare to the youngest students, so he studied with extra focus.

Zhuang Lin watched the students for a moment before turning his attention away. He spread out a sheet of white paper, weighed it down with a paperweight, and picked up his brush, dipping it in ink to begin.

This time, Zhuang Lin was not writing text; it was more akin to painting. His lines leaned toward the impressionistic style, and with just a few strokes, he roughly outlined the topography of Hidden Immortal Valley.

Of course, this impressionistic work was perhaps something only Zhuang Lin could understand.

After outlining the general terrain, he marked many spots on the drawing, pointing out the concepts of the Five Elements: Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth. Relying on his imagination, he sketched another outline hidden within the valley.

A thin ink line traced an arc along the interior of one side of the valley, representing the waterway. Zhuang Lin contemplated the modifications and arrangements on the periphery of the valley. Though the drawing appeared somewhat chaotic, he had already mapped out the Yin and Yang in his mind.

Even the various fruit orchards on the perimeter were clearly divided into Yin-wood and Yang-wood on either side.

This was only what Zhuang Lin could discern, and given the flow of spiritual energy in the valley and the subtle converging effect on the surroundings, there might even be other configurations.

*Brilliant!*

Zhuang Lin praised from the heart. In the past, he would never have thought in this direction, but times had changed, and with his current insight, he had to marvel at the dedication of the old Daoist from back then.

Especially since all this was accomplished in the modern era, where spiritual energy was extremely thin.

However, just how thin it was would depend on whether he could successfully return and make a careful comparison.

To be honest, if his memory of that day was accurate, the concentration of spiritual energy in the valley during this current Jin Dynasty was indeed much higher than it was back then.

*It’s a pity the old Daoist has passed away; otherwise, if there were a chance, I would certainly pay him a visit!*

Even so, he had to visit the Daoist temple where the old man had resided. Zhuang Lin was now very interested in what the old Daoist had based his array formation on. That so-called "fragment of an ancient text" should still be there, right?

Amidst his inner ruminations, Zhuang Lin looked back at the paper.

*But then again, if it was possible back then, is it also feasible now?*

While thinking, Zhuang Lin set down his brush and closed his eyes slightly, sensing the flow of spiritual energy inside and outside Hidden Immortal Valley. As his thoughts expanded, everything instantly presented a different picture in his mind, becoming more brilliant and dazzling.

The flow of spiritual energy was very regular.

At this moment, Zhuang Lin felt as if he had unfolded a third perspective on a spiritual level. If one had to describe it, it was like standing high in the sky, overlooking the changes in the tides of spiritual energy and seeing these tides subtly deflected at the location of Hidden Immortal Valley...

As if twisted into a Taiji symbol.

Within this, the Five Elements had colors, and there was even a faint sensation of starlight and moonlight.

*No, there is a flaw!*

Zhuang Lin’s heart stirred, and he instantly withdrew from that sensation, but he had firmly grasped the flash of intuition he had just felt.

*Could it be damaged because of the disturbance last time?*

Zhuang Lin felt anxious, but he sensed that something wasn't quite right; his intuition told him it shouldn't be this way, and in the path of immortality, such intuition is often very accurate.

*That’s it! Observing the changes in the spirit of the valley, although there are fluctuations in strength, there is no fundamental difference between ancient and modern times!*

Therefore, the disturbance last time did not cause any damage to the valley, or at least it did not affect this array, which was a combination of the natural and the artificial.

*Then it is the array itself that is imperfect!*

In an instant, Zhuang Lin had arrived at the answer, though he did not know if this was the limit of the old Daoist's capabilities or if the old man's own knowledge had been incomplete.

*I will test it when the opportunity arises!*

***

In Wuling County, at the morgue adjacent to the county jail, the coroner had put down his tools and walked to a water basin at the side to reach out his hands.

His apprentice hurriedly took a bamboo jar placed on an empty table, pulled out the stopper, and poured water over his master’s hands.

As the rice-washing water from the bamboo jar fell, the coroner quickly scrubbed his hands clean.

Amidst the splashing sound of water, a man wearing a bailiff's uniform with a ring-pommel saber on his back entered the morgue.

Upon seeing the man walk in, the coroner, who was busy drying his hands with a cloth, immediately gripped the cloth and bowed to the newcomer. The apprentice also set down the bamboo jar and bowed along with him.

"Greetings, Chief Bailiff Lu!"

The newcomer was Lu Jing, who had just returned from Shangyong Commandery. Nominally one of the two chief bailiffs of Wuling County, in reality, the other chief bailiff also answered to him. He waved his hand and looked at the several corpses on the tables, then questioned the coroner.

"I hear the bodies have been here for nearly two days. Have you discovered anything unusual?"

The coroner handed the cloth to his apprentice and walked toward the bodies.

"Please, Chief Bailiff Lu!"

The chief bailiff followed the coroner, while two other bailiffs entered at the same time. Several other bailiffs had wanted to enter as well, but upon reaching the door, they covered their noses and retreated.

The group stood by the newly arrived corpses, and the coroner began to explain his findings for each one.

"This body has torn skin between the thumb and forefinger, the bones of the face are shattered, and the neck bone is broken. It appears he was trying to block a strike from above with a club or other weapon... The opponent possessed immense strength and acted with clean, swift precision. This man could not defend against it and was killed in a single blow. The weapon used by the assailant must have been a heavy, massive axe or a blunt, edged instrument!"

The coroner paused, then added, "This person has significant martial arts attainments, perhaps even a master who has mastered internal energy! For him to use such heavy force against mere ruffians like these... his personality is either ruthless and cold or he harbors a deep hatred for evil. Whatever the case, he strikes with the full force of a lion hunting a rabbit!"

"Mhm."

The chief bailiff nodded, his expression growing more severe. The coroner’s analysis was more thorough than his own.

The coroner then pointed to the two people next to them.

"Both of these men died from being pierced by sharp arrows. The person who fired them has superb archery skills, and the bow used had considerable draw weight. Furthermore, judging by the wounds, the arrows are quite rare..."

The coroner hesitated for a moment before continuing, "The arrowheads seem to have been crafted with a special method, causing the wounds to tear... In my opinion, such arrows require great force to penetrate, but once they hit, regardless of where, they would cause uncontrollable bleeding... But with such high-level archery, a single arrow could have been lethal. Why go to such lengths to torture them?"

These two bodies were indeed in the state the coroner described, and because the arrows had struck specific areas, they had been almost completely drained of blood.

"And this body... is similar to the previous two. The flesh on the neck is torn, and the blood has been almost entirely drained. It appears to be the work of claw techniques, or perhaps the tearing of a wild beast; it feels wicked..."

After the coroner finished, the chief bailiff looked at the two subordinates beside him and then back at the coroner.

"In your opinion, Li Bo, are these newly emerged assailants accomplices of the previous murderers?"

The coroner shook his head. "I am only responsible for the autopsies; it is not my place to comment on the case."

The chief bailiff nodded, not forcing the issue. He looked at the bodies with his two subordinates for a while longer before leaving directly.

However, as he was leaving the morgue, the chief bailiff turned back and said, "The bodies that arrived earlier have yet to be claimed by their families, and they are already beginning to smell. Handle them."

"Very well, I understand!"

The coroner responded. Once the bailiffs outside had all left, he frowned slightly, looked back at the corpses—especially the one tucked further inside—and sighed.

*It seems I washed my hands too early.*