Dragon Cave Village

"Where were the places where the demons appeared, roughly located?"

"Reporting to my lord, they are about twenty li east of the city." Zhu Huan hesitated briefly, then added, "But I humbly suggest that the investigation wait until tomorrow."

"At night, visibility is limited. If we encounter demons..."

"Very well."

Wei Qing nodded in agreement.

Naturally, he understood the meaning beneath Zhu Huan's words.

Ordinary people all believed that demons feared the light, but that was not actually the case.

The claim that demons became vastly stronger at night was merely an illusion born from ordinary people's fear in the dark.

The reason he accepted Zhu Huan's suggestion

was that, after confirming his judgment, he needed to make some preparations.

Very soon.

After politely declining Fang Youting's offer to stay at the county yamen, Zhu Huan settled him in Qingcheng's finest establishment, the "Star Cloud Inn."

"Lord Wei, rest well tonight. I will come to fetch you promptly at the hour of the Dragon tomorrow."

"Sorry for the trouble."

After Zhu Huan left, Wei Qing strolled downstairs.

The innkeeper behind the counter looked up. His expression suddenly sharpened, and he respectfully cupped his hands. "Night Owl Guard Zhang Zhidong greets Lord Wei."

Wei Qing raised a brow slightly. "You know me?"

Zhang Zhidong broke into a smile. "How could the Night Owl Guard not know of such an important matter as the Heavenly Realm Division sending my lord here to eliminate demons?"

"I had intended to pay you a visit tomorrow, but never expected my lord to lodge directly at my humble inn."

Wei Qing lightly tapped the counter with his fingertips. "Has the Night Owl Guard made any new discoveries regarding the demons' traces?"

Zhang Zhidong's expression turned solemn. "Three days ago, an urgent report came from Yandang Mountain. Some villagers heard strange cries that shook the land for ten li, yet when the Night Owl Guard conducted a second investigation, we found nothing unusual."

Lowering his voice, he continued, "Late that same night, a blood-red strange light suddenly appeared over the Black Mist Wasteland and lasted for half an hour. I sent a Mechanical Flame Sparrow to investigate. When it returned..."

As he spoke, he took a short black blade from his sleeve. "This was stuck in its body."

Wei Qing's pupils abruptly contracted—this was clearly a specially made Ink Blade of the Heavenly Realm Division!

Information about Yandang Mountain and the Black Mist Wasteland immediately surfaced in his mind.

Yandang Mountain stood a hundred meters high and stretched a hundred li from north to south. It was the boundary between Ji Province and You Province.

In the third year of Mingxing, the Heavenly Realm Divisions of Ji Province and You Province had jointly exterminated a third-rank great demon, completing the cleansing of Yandang Mountain.

The Black Mist Wasteland was shrouded in dense fog all year round. No one who entered had ever come out.

Though rumors claimed demons lurked there, this had never been confirmed.

"Bring me a flask of Black Jade Dew," Wei Qing said in a low voice.

"Yes."

Understanding at once, Zhang Zhidong pressed a spot beneath the counter. With a soft mechanical click, a hidden compartment sprang open.

He took a red medicine bottle from the compartment and presented it to Wei Qing.

Taking the bottle, Wei Qing turned and returned to his room.

The night passed without incident.

At the first pale light of dawn, Wei Qing was already awake.

Suddenly.

His ear twitched. Deliberately softened footsteps came from three zhang outside the door.

Before the visitor could raise his hand, the door creaked open from within.

Zhu Huan's raised hand froze in midair. He then cupped his fists in greeting. "Good morning, Lord Wei!"

"Good morning, Captain Zhu. Please come in."

As he spoke, Wei Qing had already walked over and sat at the table in the room.

Smiling, Zhu Huan lifted the food box in his hand. "I assumed my lord had not yet eaten breakfast, so I specially prepared some Qingcheng specialties."

As he spoke, he opened the food box.

Pointing at a golden, crisp bird-shaped pastry, he said, "This is Golden Canary, made with minced mountain bird meat wrapped in honey sauce. Crisp outside, tender within."

He then pointed to a jade-green square cake. "Four Flavors Sticky Rice Cake, made with seasonal ingredients from all four seasons."

Lastly came a thin pancake glowing with amber luster. "Cloud Mushroom Fragrant Pastry, made from rare mushrooms gathered in the mists of Yandang Mountain."

"Let's eat together."

Zhu Huan hurriedly waved his hands. "I have already had breakfast. Please help yourself, my lord."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Wei Qing first ate a Cloud Mushroom Fragrant Pastry.

As the crisp crust shattered between his teeth, the rich aroma of mushrooms mixed with the savory fragrance of pork cracklings burst across his tongue.

His brows rose despite himself.

He finished the pastry in a few bites, then picked up a piece of Four Flavors Sticky Rice Cake.

With a light bite.

The mellow sweetness of chestnuts, the salty freshness of cured meat, and the clean fragrance of lotus leaves unfolded layer upon layer, finally harmonized perfectly by the springy chew of sticky rice.

Wei Qing could not help praising it. "This flavor is no less impressive than the signature pastries of Longxing Zhai in the capital."

Hearing this, the smile lines at Zhu Huan's eyes deepened. "I am glad my lord enjoys it."

When he finally sampled the "Golden Canary," Wei Qing deliberately slowed his movements.

The instant the crust split open, meat juices scented by fruitwood smoking flooded into his mouth, carrying the fresh fragrance of pine nuts and diced bamboo shoots.

Wei Qing picked up a piece of Golden Canary and asked, "Captain Zhu, do you have any thoughts on the demon causing trouble this time?"

"This... please forgive my shallow knowledge, but I have no clue at all about this demon for the time being."

Wei Qing rose and patted the crumbs from his hands. "In that case, take me to Dragon Cave Village first."

"Yes."

With Zhu Huan leading the way, riding along the twenty-li official road took less than half an hour.

Along the way, Wei Qing casually asked, "Has this matter greatly affected the villagers in those villages?"

Zhu Huan could not help shaking his head with a sigh. "Quite greatly. Those with connections have gone to seek refuge with relatives."

"Those who have work in the city have rented cheap inn rooms for the time being."

"For those without a livelihood who wished to leave their villages, Lord Fang has also arranged temporary lodging for them."

"Oh? Lord Fang is truly considerate toward the people."

"Lord Fang truly is a good official. For fifteen years, in order to govern Qingcheng well and let the people live good lives, he has worn more than half his hair white."

"What is even more admirable is that, in the face of rampant demons, Lord Fang has always chosen to remain in Qingcheng and actively deal with the aftermath brought by the demons."

"I know of other places. Wherever demons wreak havoc, the magistrates are replaced batch after batch."

"Officials like Lord Fang, who act as parents to the people—I cannot say there are none, but at least I have yet to encounter one."

Whenever Fang Youting was mentioned, Zhu Huan's face was filled with admiration.

Wei Qing nodded slightly.

To find an official who could face demons and hold fast for more than ten years—

at least in his memory, no such record existed in the Heavenly Realm Division's archives.

Before long.

The two arrived at Dragon Cave Village.

Golden wheat fields spread outside the village entrance, yet not a single person was harvesting within them.

Though it was harvest season, the place looked lifeless and desolate.

"My lord, Dragon Cave Village is ahead."

Zhu Huan pointed at the rows of homes a hundred meters away and spoke gravely.

Four yamen runners were also stationed at the village entrance. Their faces were tense, and they kept glancing back toward the village as though afraid that something terrifying might rush out.

"It's Chief Zhu!"

"Chief Zhu, you finally came!"

Upon seeing Zhu Huan, they looked as though they had seen a savior, and the tension in their faces eased at once.

Zhu Huan raised a hand in introduction. "This is Lord Wei Qing of the Heavenly Realm Division. He has come specifically to subdue the demon causing this trouble."

The moment the words "Heavenly Realm Division" were spoken, the yamen runners shuddered all over.

When they looked at Wei Qing again, their eyes were already filled with reverence. "Greetings, Lord Wei!"