To Lie Flat

Chapter 10: 10. In Order to Lie Flat

Star River County, outskirts

The evening wind howled with a chilling cold.

The trees in the suburbs swayed in the wind, flickering and groaning like ghosts.

Also stirred by the wind were the lanterns.

The lanterns of the morgue.

The lanterns swayed, casting a scarlet glow.

Under the red light, straw mats were neatly laid out, holding the corpses recently brought in, twenty-eight in total.

These corpses were all incredibly tragic. Between their legs and waists, only bones remained. Their chests were split open, their insides completely empty. Even their faces were pockmarked and ravaged. If not for the personal ornaments on their bodies that proved their identities, no one would have recognized them from their appearance.

At this moment, the county lieutenant of Star River County was solemnly examining these corpses.

Although the coroner was still investigating, there was no need to. These bodies had all died by the hands of ferocious beasts.

Just then, another yamen runner hurried over with some information. It was the missing persons report from Chenxiang Pavilion from a few days prior, detailing each person's appearance, clothing, and personal ornaments.

The appearances didn't match, but the personal ornaments could.

The county lieutenant of Star River County crouched slightly, comparing the report while scanning the corpses.

At that moment, footsteps were heard from the front gate of the morgue.

The county lieutenant of Star River County turned his head and saw an elder with a kind face but sharp eyes stepping inside.

"Old Han," the county lieutenant cupped his hands from a distance.

The man was none other than the "Eight-Armed Elder," Han Ba.

The county lieutenant said, "Of the ten people missing from Chenxiang Pavilion, seven are here. The remaining three likely left no remains."

Han Ba replied, "The rest are probably the woodcutters, hunters, and travelers who have gone missing in your county recently. Oh, and Old Man Ma. It's spring, and he often goes into the mountains to pick flowers to sell in the county for some extra money. I didn't expect him to die too."

The county lieutenant said, "You seem very familiar with them."

Han Ba replied, "Like you, I've observed this county my entire life. How could I not know who comes and goes daily?"

The county lieutenant grunted but didn't dwell on it. He continued, "We've been following your advice and suppressing the missing person cases, but we can't hold it back any longer.

Not far from the county gate, two hunter corpses were discovered. A crowd saw them.

The people in the county aren't fools. Once they saw that, they understood what happened to the previously missing people."

Han Ba asked, "Where were the bodies found?"

The county lieutenant took out a piece of paper from his coat and handed it over.

Han Ba unfolded it and saw small red circles marking various locations, each with a serial number corresponding to the order in which the bodies were found. In the bottom left corner, the estimated time of death determined by the coroner was noted.

Han Ba's gaze grew more solemn as he read.

The county lieutenant glanced at the people in the morgue and then subtly looked towards the door. "Old Han, shall we take a walk outside?"

Han Ba nodded.

The two of them went outside and walked under the ancient, somber locust trees of the morgue. Dense shadows fell from above, adding to the chilling cold.

The county lieutenant frowned. "Your methods are too different from Old Master Ning's style. Old Master Ning is a great philanthropist in the area. Even I admire him immensely.

But you... Ever since the first body was found, you've been telling us to keep quiet, to tolerate it, to wait for more bodies.

I know you want to get a more precise grasp of the beasts' movements, but these are living people."

Han Ba replied, "I will take note of the people. Ning Manor will help their families. Their lives will not be a problem."

The county lieutenant's frown deepened. "Did Old Master Ning teach you this?"

Han Ba shook his head. "Old Master Ning never does things like this."

He continued, "You say I concealed information and caused many deaths. But do you know that we are also risking our lives? How many of my brothers and I will return alive?

Gathering as much information about them as possible will increase our chances of success. If we fail, the entire county will fall. Then it won't be me, but you, who will have to face them."

Saying this, Han Ba forcefully placed the "map marking the order of death" into the county lieutenant's embrace and sighed heavily.

The county lieutenant fell silent, his gaze fixed on the distance with a somber expression. "Where did they come from?"

Han Ba replied, "This is something you'd have to ask a truly skilled geomancer or yin-yang master. I don't understand it either."

The county lieutenant sighed. "We rely entirely on Old Master Ning. If not for him, we would have been slow to react, and who knows how many more people would have died. Old Han, why do you think they eat one person on the outskirts here and another there?"

Han Ba explained, "If I were to attack a village, I would first send people to test the village's strength and see if there are any masters.

One way is to send people in to scout, and another is to kill a few people on the outskirts to lure people out of the village.

When people die, wouldn't they send out their masters?

This way, we can test if we can attack the village, right, County Lieutenant? Isn't that the logic?"

The county lieutenant asked, "These fiends have brains?"

Han Ba replied, "Yes."

Speaking, he also sighed and said, "Have you heard of the idiom 'a fox's cunning is at an end'? Although they are fierce tigers, Old Master Ning said they are new here and don't understand the situation, so... they are testing."

The county lieutenant asked, "Will it be over if we just kill them?"

Han Ba suddenly started laughing, chuckling as he wiggled, and pointed at the county lieutenant, laughing, "Sir, haven't you heard of the disappearances in the prefecture and other places, the natural disasters and man-made calamities? Old Master Ning said, it's only just begun."

The county lieutenant lowered his eyes, a thoughtful expression appearing, then curiously asked, "Then how do you fight them?"

Han Ba said, "Don't ask what you shouldn't."

The county lieutenant nodded, then shook the "Death Order Map" and said, "Have you noticed anything?"

Han Ba said, "There's one place that's very strange. People have died all around, but that particular area was unaffected.

Although it's deeper, there should still be herb gatherers or the like who go there.

The fact that nothing happened means it's extraordinary. County Lieutenant, please rest assured, once reinforcements arrive, we will investigate. With this map, we have a certain understanding of their movements, and it's time to make a move."

The county lieutenant looked curious.

Han Ba patted his shoulder and said, "Get closer to the Ning family, and you'll know more."

After speaking, he turned and left, his figure disappearing into the darkness.

Dawn.

The sky was dimly lit.

A carriage stopped near the city gate.

Inside the carriage, Xiao Jie pleaded, "Young Master, no matter where you go, please don't go.

People have died, so many people.

Young Master, actually, if I hadn't listened to you and helped you conceal it, you wouldn't have been able to get out at all.

The First Madam always thought you were just playing in those places you went to..."

Ning Xuan grabbed the bundle stuffed with gold and silver and placed it on Xiao Jie's fair, long legs, saying, "I have everything with me, what are you afraid of?"

Xiao Jie lifted her legs, using the smooth sides of her thighs to clamp his hand, preventing him from breaking free. Then, biting her lip, she looked at him and said softly, "I have some new tricks, they're very fun, how about..."

"Tonight," Ning Xuan pulled his hand away, then added, "Don't worry."

After speaking, he got out of the carriage and left the city.

Ning Xuan actually didn't want to go.

But he knew that the deaths were very likely related to the "Mountain Crashing Bear Demon."

The "Mountain Crashing Bear Demon" was nearby, which gave him a great sense of crisis.

He had to figure it out to better understand the [Heavenly Demon Scroll], otherwise, he would still be clueless the next time they met.

Giving up isn't waiting for death.

He wanted to give up, but he didn't want to wait for death.

Therefore, he had to know what kind of environment and world he was living in.

He skillfully retrieved the Heavenly Demon Scroll and took the Beast Slaying Saber, heading towards his usual training spot.

Just as he was about to reach the waterfall, Ning Xuan suddenly frowned.

He stopped in his tracks.

He felt like a wild beast sensing an invasion of its territory.

"I smell people. No, an outsider has arrived."

Ning Xuan was very familiar with the terrain. He wound his way through the paths and climbed to a high ground obscured by lush branches and leaves. This high ground was very steep and extremely difficult to climb, but it offered a panoramic view of the entire waterfall cliff area.

He climbed to the high ground and hid behind the leaves. With a quick glance, he saw dozens of people standing in front of the mountain wall where he trained every morning. They wore armor, carried crossbows, and were armed with swords and sabers, fully equipped.

He narrowed his eyes because he recognized some of these people.

They were guards from the Ning Family Manor, and also that "Eight-Armed Elder," Han Ba.

He didn't recognize the rest.

But since they were involved with Han Ba, they were likely all together.

"Not enemies, but... I can't go there either."

Ning Xuan didn't want to be discovered.

He decided to change his location.

Terrifying claw marks spread upwards, creating dense patterns on the hard stone wall everywhere.

Everyone standing at the foot of the cliff felt a strong sense of suffocation.

Many people's breathing became heavy and rapid, their faces either pale or flushed red, filled with fear and the resolve to die.

These claw marks...

Such density.

The opponent's physique had reached a level they could not imagine.

Han Ba looked at a Yellow Robe Daoist in the center.

The Yellow Robe Daoist had a calm expression, with two Daoist Boys at his side.

Han Ba scanned his surroundings and shouted in a hushed voice, "Spread out, widen the perimeter, protect the True Person!"

Instantly, a group of people pulled away from each other, expanding outwards a bit more.

The Yellow Robe Daoist was looking at the claw marks, and after a long while, he said, "This fiend is extremely strong, Old Han. This time, it's likely a battle for survival."

Ning Xuan was on his way.

He was changing locations.

But as he ran, he suddenly heard strange footsteps.

The footsteps were rapidly moving away from him.

Ning Xuan frowned, quickly realizing someone had discovered him.

His thoughts stirred, and he turned to follow the direction of the footsteps.

The footsteps grew faster.

His speed also increased.

Suddenly, the footsteps stopped.

Ning Xuan had already chased to a deep valley covered in dense vines.

He sensed for a moment, hearing suppressed, low breathing sounds, like he was gasping for air.

He walked over curiously, stopping behind a hanging vine, standing sideways by the cave entrance, avoiding a direct line of sight, then slowly lifted the vine "curtain" with his Beast Slaying Saber held diagonally.

As the curtain was slightly lifted, a whirlwind erupted, accompanied by a desperate roar.

A black shadow, carrying a foul wind, rushed out, and the vines shattered inch by inch.

Chii!

Bang!

The black, foul wind was pierced through by the Beast Slaying Saber, then Ning Xuan casually grabbed it with one hand, pinning it to the cliff rock.

Ning Xuan tilted his head, curiously looking at the weak black bear he had pinned.

"Awooo!"

"Awooo-awooo-awooo!"

The black bear's eyes flashed with human-like fear, letting out furious roars. Its teeth weren't too densely packed, and its body wasn't as terrifying as the Bear Demons in his nightmares.

Ning Xuan looked for a long time, confirming this thing was a Mountain Crashing Bear, but it seemed to be a lesser demon.

The Heavenly Demon Scroll had indeed come true, but what had arrived was likely not just one Mountain Crashing Bear, but a whole litter, or even a whole mountainside, an entire species.

He didn't know.

Ning Xuan stared at it for a couple of eyes, then suddenly pulled out his Beast Slaying Saber.

The lesser demon was startled.

Ning Xuan poked it twice more.

The lesser demon let out a wail that was both confused and pained. Just as it leaned against the stone wall preparing to die, the terrifying human suddenly sheathed his saber and, without a word, turned and left.

The lesser demon hurriedly clutched its wounds and scrambled towards a narrow passage.

Ning Xuan followed.

He hadn't even noticed this lesser demon, but this lesser demon could escape in advance, which meant it was likely a demon. It also possessed demonic cultivation techniques.