Tracking

It was an old, dilapidated courtyard.

The yard was piled with old objects, seemingly collected by Qi Feng in the past.

Inside the house were some old clothes and some moldy food.

It looked like Qi Feng hadn't been back in a long time.

"Lord Song, I've had people watching this place all along."

"But Qi Feng has never returned."

Song Chengan nodded.

He sensed a somewhat familiar fishy smell.

A Fish Demon?

Another Fish Demon?

"Steward Zhu, Qi Feng has reappeared."

"It's at Old Man Huang's place."

Just then, someone came to report.

"Go take a look."

"Lord Song, you must avenge me."

"Lord Song!"

"He's trying to kill someone!"

As soon as Song Chengan arrived, he saw an old man in his sixties sitting in a chair, tears and snot streaming down his face.

It was unclear if it was from pain or fear.

"Stand up and speak first."

"Did you have a grudge against Qi Feng?"

Song Chengan looked at the man. On his chest was a horrifying claw mark, deep enough to see bone.

When Song Chengan arrived, the doctor was still dressing the wound to stop the bleeding.

"I didn't, I've always been kind to others..."

Old Man Huang's eyes flickered.

But Song Chengan remained silent, staring directly at him.

Old Man Huang immediately fell silent.

Fortunately, Steward Zhu took over the conversation at this point.

"This man's name is Huang Yun."

"When he was young, Qi Feng used to herd cattle for his family, but then the cow died of illness."

"He claimed the cow was poisoned by eating toxic grass after Qi Feng led it there, and ultimately made the Qi family sell everything they had to compensate him for the cow."

Song Chengan nodded: "It feels like you deserved it."

As soon as he said this.

Old Man Huang chuckled sheepishly.

Song Chengan walked out of the courtyard.

"I heard Qi Feng's parents died when he was young?"

Zhu Gui nodded: "We had just fled to the Refugee Quarter then. There were no rules here, and people committed crimes every night."

"People were often killed for their belongings at night."

"Qi Feng's father was killed one night, just for a few pounds of grain he was carrying."

"His mother was frail and sickly, and died a few years later."

Song Chengan looked at Steward Zhu: "It seems people have been bullying him all these years, but you didn't intervene."

Zhu Gui frankly admitted his mistake: "I have always strived to maintain stability in the Refugee Quarter, so for minor issues, I would smooth things over whenever possible."

"Looking back, I was wrong."

Song Chengan didn't say much more.

If he were Zhu Gui, he probably wouldn't have done much better.

With so many things happening, how could one possibly manage every single detail?

"Let's find Qi Feng first."

Song Chengan took out a Tracking Paper Crane.

Old Madam Yue, leaning on her cane, walked shakily into the courtyard.

She wanted to see how the vegetables she grew were doing. Her legs and feet were no longer nimble, yet she still needed to tend to the greens in her yard every day.

She had no income and no children; she lived entirely off this patch of land.

And some grain sent by people in small groups.

She was from Sanjiao Prefecture, from the generation that fled the disaster.

Her family had originally been a prominent household in Sanjiao Prefecture. She was the youngest daughter, with three older brothers.

She had been doted on by her father and brothers since childhood. After growing up, she married a young man who had already achieved the rank of Juren in his early twenties.

The couple lived in perfect harmony.

One could say that if things had continued like this, Old Madam Yue's life would have been one of happiness.

But that year, a great flood came.

Everything was gone.

Her parents and brothers all died.

Only her husband stayed with her as they fled.

In the end, her husband also died.

He starved to death.

Old Madam Yue looked out at the yard.

She saw that the vegetables she had planted had, at some point, been completely pulled up by someone.

Not a single one was left.

She didn't know exactly who did it.

But she could roughly guess who was responsible.

Those who hated Qi Feng.

Who didn't know that Old Madam Yue had been the one to support Qi Feng the most when he was a child?

One could say.

Qi Feng had been raised by Old Madam Yue since he was small.

Every time, she would save a portion of food for Qi Feng.

Whatever she ate.

Qi Feng ate the same.

Although it was all coarse food, and often she herself had nothing to eat.

It had still allowed Qi Feng to grow up.

And although Qi Feng was an unmotivated, lazy, and greedy person, who also liked gambling.

He would always leave some money to buy rice and grain for Old Madam Yue.

"Qi Feng, is that you?"

Old Madam Yue looked out at the yard.

There was a bag of rice.

"Come out and see your mother-in-law."

"Alright?"

She called out.

But the yard was silent.

There was nothing there.

"Stop causing harm."

"Enough people have already died."

"Please stop harming people, Qi Feng?"

"Mother-in-law has heard, they've invited an official from the Demon Suppression Division to capture you."

"Look at your mother-in-law, and flee for your life."

"Come out and see your mother-in-law. Mother-in-law is old and doesn't know how much longer she has to live."

"This might be the last time we see each other."

Old Madam Yue shouted.

When she first arrived here.

She was alone, and a young woman at that.

Naturally, she was easily coveted and bullied.

It was Qi Feng's father who protected her.

So in the end, she raised Qi Feng.

At first, it was to repay a debt of gratitude.

But later, Qi Feng became almost like a son to her.

There was no blood relation between them, but their bond was stronger than most family ties.

The door was pushed open.

A figure walked in.

He had a human upper body and a fish tail.

He exuded a bloody aura.

His skin was pale blue, and his lower fish tail was covered in small, pale blue scales.

Although it was a fish tail, he could move it freely, which was truly strange.

Old Madam Yue's heart skipped a beat.

Her eyes then turned red.

She was a person of great experience, how could she not know that the Qi Feng before her had transformed into a monster?

Qi Feng lay on the ground.

As if kneeling in worship.

"I'm leaving."

His throat rumbled, and after a long while, he uttered a few words.

Old Madam Yue waved her hand.

"Run."

"Run far away, and don't ever come back."

"Someone's coming!"

Qi Feng stood up.

He took one last deep look at Old Madam Yue, then left without looking back.

Song Chengan stepped into the courtyard.

He saw the sack on the ground and Old Madam Yue leaning on her cane.

"You were the one who raised Qi Feng back then," he said to the old lady. "You should know where he went."

"He has already turned into a monster; if we don't find him, more people might die."

The old lady looked at Qi Feng.

"You're from the Demon Suppression Division, aren't you?"

"I don't know."

"I don't know where he went."

After she said this, she remained silent.

Song Chengan frowned.

Finally, he cupped his fists.

"Then I shall take my leave."

Song Chengan did not press further.

Old Madam Yue had one foot in the grave.

She had nothing to fear.

Song Chengan also couldn't possibly use any coercive methods on such an elderly person.

Song Chengan took out another Tracking Paper Crane.