Black Bear Gulch Village

Chen Fan had joined the Brocade Guard only a year ago, yet relying on the "Body Tempering Fist," he had risen from a complete novice to a martial artist at the peak Divine Treasury Realm, having leaped across five gates.

If someone like Left Chiliarch of the Dragon Abyss Prefecture Brocade Guard Precinct learned of such talent, he would surely make an exception and grant Chen Fan a Divine Aperture Realm cultivation method, keeping him in Dragon Abyss Prefecture to personally nurture him.

"So that's how it can be done."

"Still, I only reached the peak Divine Treasury Realm not long ago. I need time to settle and consolidate, so a Divine Aperture Realm cultivation method isn't that urgent yet."

"Besides, until I drag out whoever harmed me, I won't be able to eat or sleep in peace!"

Chen Fan spoke with a sigh.

Lu Xuening also found it rather strange. With Chen Fan's strength, how could he have fallen into an ambush by demons not long ago and nearly lost his life?

Had he seen through the fact that the demon attack had been orchestrated by someone, so he deliberately pretended to be injured in order to make the person behind it lower their guard before exposing them?

But there had been no need for him to watch four of his colleagues die miserably at the hands of demons, had there?

Or had the demons picked them off one by one, killing his four colleagues first before encountering him?

No matter how she thought about it, she could not grasp the crux of the matter. The logic simply did not add up.

What she did not know was that the Chen Fan before her had long since become someone else, and that his strength had only risen over the past few days.

When he had encountered the Toad Demon, he had still been a tiny nobody!

"Perhaps there will be an answer after a while."

"And there are only so many people in the Brocade Guard. Ordinary Brocade Guard members and Squad Leaders have no standing to collude with demons."

"That leaves one Centurion and two Chief Squad Leaders. I know Huang Chengyue fairly well—he is upright and hates evil as though it were his mortal enemy. That means only Cao De and Li Mo remain."

"You only need to be a little more careful around those two. If they truly dare attack you, just kill them. With your current strength, killing them would not be difficult anyway!"

Lu Xuening said carelessly.

In her view, Cao De, the Centurion of the Ping An County Brocade Guard Precinct, definitely had a problem. She simply had not yet gathered irrefutable proof that he was colluding with demons.

Once it was confirmed, she could strike at him directly!

Or she could report the evidence, and Dragon Abyss Prefecture would naturally have people to deal with him!

"Since Huang Chengyue is so upright, why not have him come forward and accuse the Brocade Guard and the local government of colluding with demons to harm the people? Then we can strike directly and cut down every last one of them. Wouldn't that be satisfying?"

Chen Fan said, rather fancifully.

"Much of the information I learned was provided by him. He only knows that Cao De and Li Mo are not quite right and are very likely colluding with demons in secret."

"But Cao De is highly guarded against him and does not trust him at all, so he has no direct evidence that Cao De colluded with demons to harm the people."

"He does not even count as a witness, and we have no physical evidence at all. How could we possibly directly slaughter Cao De and the others?"

Lu Xuening shook her head as she spoke.

If things were really that simple, it would have been wonderful.

If she and Chen Fan were not officials, but merely wandering heroes who upheld justice, then sneaking into Cao De's residence in the dead of night and killing him would not have been much of a problem.

But the greatest taboo in officialdom was acting without restraint. Rules had to be followed!

After Chen Fan and Lu Xuening had a simple lunch, the two decided to investigate the side residence beside the County Magistrate Estate that night. They agreed to meet at the back gate of the residence at midnight.

Afterward, one returned to the yamen, while the other returned to the Brocade Guard garrison.

Chen Fan had barely returned to the Brocade Guard garrison when the Brocade Guard urgently assembled.

"Brothers!"

"Our Brocade Guard's ten-year inspection period is about to arrive, so we must send more men to patrol inside and outside the county seat. We must also inspect the towns and villages under Ping An County."

"Starting today, we will divide the areas and inspect the towns and villages under Ping An County. In squads, you will patrol the towns and villages, protect the people, and slay demons!"

"Now, I will announce the towns and villages assigned to each squad."

Chief Squad Leader Li Mo of the Brocade Guard began assigning duties according to a list prepared in advance. Because Chen Fan's Ninth Squad had relatively few members, they only needed to inspect several villages under Black Stone Town.

They would inspect once every three days. Riding at full speed, if nothing unexpected happened, a round trip would take only three hours, so it was not overly exhausting.

Yet Chen Fan felt things would not be that simple. If Li Mo was Centurion Cao De's man, and Cao De truly was colluding with demons, and if the person Chen Fan had seen at the wealthy merchant's side residence that day was indeed Cao De, then Cao De would surely strike at him again.

If nothing went wrong during this inspection, it would prove that Cao De might not necessarily be colluding with demons. But if they encountered powerful demons again, then Cao De's suspicion would become far too great.

"Before sunset today, complete one inspection of your assigned patrol areas. I will wait here for your return. Whoever dares falsify reports or muddle through their duties, once I learn of it, I will certainly not forgive them!"

Li Mo swept his gaze across the Brocade Guard and declared with great authority.

"Yes!"

The Brocade Guard shouted in unison.

Li Mo waved his hand, and everyone dispersed. They headed for the stables to select fine horses, while Ninth Squad, led by Wang Chao, rode straight toward Black Stone Town.

"Black Stone Town is the town closest to Black Mountain, and it is also frequently attacked by demons. Although we do not have many places to inspect this time, the danger is considerable, so everyone must stay sharp."

"If things cannot be handled, immediately return to the Brocade Guard Precinct to call for reinforcements. Never try to endure it head-on!"

"As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood. As long as a person lives, there are limitless possibilities. If you end up like our previous four brothers, then everything will be gone."

As Wang Chao galloped along, he spoke to Chen Fan and the others traveling with him.

"Don't worry, Chief Wang. We understand the stakes."

Everyone replied one after another.

"Our Ninth Squad needs to inspect seven villages this time, and we have exactly seven people. To save time, let's split up once we reach Black Stone Town."

"If you discover traces of demons, do not try to show off. Withdraw immediately and regroup with the brothers. After discussing it, we will decide whether to kill or retreat!"

Wang Chao cautioned them again, his peripheral vision sweeping over Chen Fan as he spoke.

Next, he casually assigned the seven villages they needed to inspect among Chen Fan and the others.

Chen Fan was assigned Black Bear Gulch Village under Black Stone Town. Black bears had appeared there long ago, so the village had received such a name.

After entering Black Stone Town and receiving his orders, Chen Fan headed straight for Black Bear Gulch Village.

The moment he entered Black Bear Gulch Village, a wave of foul stench drifted out from within. The entire village was deathly quiet, and the few people coming and going all had dull, numb eyes.

At the village entrance sat a ragged child, filthy from head to toe. The child glanced at Chen Fan, then quickly lowered his head and drew circles on the ground.

"Little brother, why are you here alone? Where are your parents?"

Chen Fan dismounted, walked over to the child, and asked.

"Dead."

"They were all eaten by the great masters."

"Father and Mother were eaten. Grandpa and Grandma were eaten. Yesterday, Elder Brother and Elder Sister were eaten too. Today, it might be my turn."

The seven- or eight-year-old child raised his head, glanced at Chen Fan, and spoke in a hoarse voice.

Chen Fan saw that the child's eyes were utterly gray, devoid of all light.

"With me here, you will not be eaten."

"Tell me, where are those great masters?"

A cold gleam flashed through Chen Fan's eyes as he did his utmost to suppress the fury in his heart.

"At the village chief's house, that Tile-roofed House."

The child pointed at a house in the heart of the village and spoke.