Strange Happenings in Little Pond Town

They found an inn that looked the cleanest, named Fortune Inn.

The innkeeper was a genial middle-aged man who, upon seeing the extraordinary air about the two, hurried over to welcome them with enthusiasm.

"Two guests, are you stopping for a meal or staying the night?"

"Staying the night. We need two premium rooms."

As Li Xiaoyu spoke, he took a silver ingot from his robes and placed it on the counter.

Seeing the silver, the innkeeper's smile grew even brighter.

"Right away! Please, follow me upstairs!"

Guided by the innkeeper, the two arrived at two adjacent guest rooms on the second floor.

Li Xiaoyu pushed open the window, and the warm sunlight spilled in, making him feel at ease.

He turned to look at Lu Xueqi in the room next door. "You should get some rest first. I'm going downstairs to gather some information and order some food while I'm at it."

Lu Xueqi looked at his concerned gaze, felt a warmth in her heart, and gave a soft, "Mm."

Li Xiaoyu went down to the lobby and found a seat by the window.

He ordered a pot of clear tea and a few side dishes, listening quietly to the idle chatter of the tea drinkers around him.

However, Li Xiaoyu soon discovered that the tranquility of this small town was merely on the surface.

Although the townspeople wore smiles, their brows were all hidden with worry.

"Have you heard? Butcher Wang at the east end lost another pig last night."

A tea drinker at the neighboring table lowered his voice.

"It's more than just pigs! A few days ago, didn't Tailor Li's big yellow dog disappear for no reason too?"

Another tea drinker chimed in, his face filled with fear.

"This is the fifth incident this month, right? First chickens and ducks, then pigs and dogs. What on earth is causing this?"

"Who's to say! The authorities sent people to investigate, but they couldn't find a single clue, only a foul, fishy stench at the scenes."

"I heard from my great-uncle that this matter is extremely sinister; it's as if a monster from the mountains has come out to harm people!"

"A monster?!"

Hearing these two words, the surrounding tea drinkers all gasped, their faces pale with terror.

Li Xiaoyu frowned.

A monster at work? Specifically draining the essence and blood of humans and livestock?

This method—how was it so similar to the Bloodthirsty Demonic Rat that Li Xiaoyu had encountered in Nameless City before?

But judging by the townspeople's descriptions, this monster seemed even more formidable and cunning.

A bad premonition rose in Li Xiaoyu's heart.

Just then, an old man wearing grey cloth robes, who looked somewhat scholarly, carried his teacup and moved closer.

"Young man, looking at your imposing manner, you don't seem like an ordinary person. Are you also here to investigate the monster in town?"

The old man asked in a low voice.

Li Xiaoyu nodded at him. "I am merely passing through. I heard there was something amiss in town and was simply curious."

"Old sir, could you tell me more about this monster?"

The old man sighed, his face showing distress.

"Sigh, it's a long story."

"This matter began half a month ago."

"At first, it was just some chickens and ducks kept by families in town that went missing for no reason. Everyone didn't pay much attention, assuming they had been snatched by weasels."

"But later, the missing ones became large livestock like pigs, sheep, and dogs."

"Moreover, every time they disappeared, there were no signs of a struggle at the scene, only a pool of blood and a foul, fishy stench left behind."

"That was when everyone realized something was wrong and reported it to the officials."

"The authorities sent a few constables to investigate, and they ended up finding the remains of those livestock near the Black Stone Cave, ten miles north of town."

"Those remains, without exception, had been drained of their essence and blood, leaving only skin and bones. The state of their deaths was extremely terrifying."

As the old man spoke, his body couldn't help but tremble.

"Ever since then, the people in town haven't dared to go out once it gets dark. Every household keeps their doors and windows locked tight."

"However, the night before last, something happened."

The old man's voice dropped even lower, his eyes filled with fear.

"Liu the Loafer from the west side of town is a compulsive gambler. That night, he lost all his money and drank too much. He wouldn't listen to anyone's advice and insisted on taking a shortcut home from the north side of town."

"As a result, he never came back."

"The next morning, someone found his drained corpse at the entrance of the Black Stone Cave!"

"Good heavens! It's even started harming people now!"

"The whole town is in a panic; everyone says a monster that eats people without spitting out the bones lives in that Black Stone Cave!"

"The authorities can't do anything about the monster either, so they can only post notices offering a reward for an expert to come and get rid of it."

"It's a pity, though. Little Pond Town is so remote; what expert would ever care about the lives of us common folk?"

The old man finished speaking and let out a long sigh, his eyes filled with despair.

Li Xiaoyu listened quietly, his mind already made up.

The monster in Black Stone Cave was certainly no simple creature.

Li Xiaoyu had not wanted to meddle in other people's business, wishing only to return to the Green Cloud Sect with Lu Xueqi as quickly as possible.

But at this moment, hearing the plight of the townspeople and seeing the desperate, helpless expressions on their faces, the sense of responsibility belonging to a disciple of the righteous path was stirred once again within Li Xiaoyu.

He could not bring himself to turn a blind eye or a deaf ear.

"Old sir, in which direction is that Black Stone Cave?"

Li Xiaoyu asked.

The old man was stunned by the question, then pointed toward the north.

"It's just north of the town; cross that mountain peak, and you'll see it."

The old man looked at Li Xiaoyu and advised him with some concern, "Young man, you must not be impulsive! That monster is incredibly fierce; even the authorities are helpless against it. It's too dangerous for you to go alone!"

Li Xiaoyu smiled at him without offering any explanation.

He stood up and bowed to the old man.

"Thank you for the information, old sir."

With that, Li Xiaoyu turned and headed upstairs.

He had to tell Lu Xueqi about this.

Li Xiaoyu returned to the room to find that Lu Xueqi had already finished freshening up.

She had changed into a clean, moon-white dress, her long, raven-black hair draped casually over her shoulders, making her look less cold and more gentle.

Seeing Li Xiaoyu enter, Lu Xueqi looked up, her clear eyes filled with inquiry.

Li Xiaoyu told her everything he had just heard from the townspeople, detail by detail.

Lu Xueqi frowned after hearing him out.

"A monster causing trouble and draining human essence—there is indeed something suspicious about this."

She pondered aloud.

"I want to go to that Black Stone Cave and take a look."

Li Xiaoyu looked at her and stated his decision.

"I will accompany you."

Lu Xueqi did not hesitate; she stood up and walked to his side.

Her answer was simple and firm.

Li Xiaoyu looked at her, a warmth spreading through his heart.

He knew that no matter what decision he made, this woman would unconditionally support him and stand by his side.

"Alright."

Li Xiaoyu reached out and naturally took her cool hand in his.

Lu Xueqi's body trembled slightly, and a blush crept onto her cheeks, but she did not pull away.

The two shared a smile, everything understood without a word.

Without alerting anyone, they quietly left the inn.

In the small woods outside the town, the two summoned their flying swords and transformed into two streaks of light, flying toward the Black Stone Cave in the north.