They found the cleanest-looking inn and checked in. It was called the Fortune Inn.
The innkeeper was a genial middle-aged man. Seeing that the two guests had an air of distinction, he hurried over to greet them warmly.
"Are you here for a meal or a room?"
"We'll be staying. Two upper rooms."
As Li Xiaoyu spoke, he took a silver ingot from his robes and set it on the counter.
The innkeeper's smile grew even brighter when he saw the silver.
"Right away! This way, upstairs!"
Under the innkeeper's guidance, the two went to a pair of adjoining guest rooms on the second floor.
Li Xiaoyu pushed open the window. Warm sunlight streamed in, making him feel refreshed.
He turned to Lu Xueqi in the neighboring room. "Get some rest. I'll go downstairs and ask around for news, and order us something to eat while I'm at it."
Lu Xueqi saw the concern in his eyes and felt a warmth in her heart. She softly answered, "Mm."
Li Xiaoyu went down to the main hall and took a seat by the window.
He ordered a pot of tea and a few small dishes, then quietly listened to the patrons chatting around him.
However, Li Xiaoyu soon realized that the town's tranquility was only skin-deep.
Though the townspeople wore smiles, worry lingered between their brows.
"Have you heard? Wang the Butcher, over at the east end, lost another pig last night."
A patron at the next table spoke in a lowered voice.
"And it's not just pigs! A few days ago, that big yellow dog belonging to the Li family tailor vanished without a trace, didn't it?"
Another patron chimed in, his face full of fear.
"This is the fifth incident this month, isn't it? First chickens and ducks, then pigs and dogs. What in the world is behind this?"
"Tell me about it! The authorities sent people to investigate, but they couldn't find a single clue. All they found at the scene was a foul, fishy stench."
"My great-uncle told me this business is downright uncanny. It's like some demon from the mountains came down to prey on people!"
"A demon?!"
At those two words, the patrons around them all drew a sharp breath, their faces filled with fear.
Li Xiaoyu furrowed his brow.
A demon on the prowl, sucking the lifeblood from people and livestock?
How was this not just like the Bloodthirsty Demonic Rat he had encountered earlier in Nameless City?
But from the townspeople's descriptions, this demon seemed more powerful—and more cunning.
A sense of foreboding rose in Li Xiaoyu's heart.
Just then, an old man in gray cloth robes, who looked fairly learned, came over with his teacup in hand.
"Young man, you have an impressive bearing, unlike an ordinary person. Have you come to investigate the demon in town?"
The old man asked in a hushed voice.
Li Xiaoyu nodded to him. "I'm just passing through. I heard something strange was happening in town and grew curious."
"Elder, could you tell me more about this demon?"
The old man sighed, worry clouding his face.
"Ah, it's a long story."
"It all started half a month ago."
"At first, chickens and ducks raised by some families in town would disappear without cause. No one paid it much mind; they assumed a weasel had carried them off."
"But later, it was pigs, sheep, dogs, and other larger animals that went missing."
"And every time something vanished, there were no signs of a struggle at the scene. There was only a pool of blood and a foul, fishy stench."
"That was when everyone realized something was wrong and reported it to the authorities."
"The authorities sent a few constables to investigate. Near Black Stone Cave, ten li north of town, they found the remains of those animals."
"Every last one had been drained of its lifeblood, reduced to nothing but skin and bones. The sight of them was horrifying."
As the old man spoke, his body trembled despite himself.
"Since then, the people of town haven't dared go out after dark. Every household keeps its doors and windows tightly shut."
"But the night before last, something happened."
The old man lowered his voice even further, his eyes full of fear.
"Liu Erlai from the west end of town was a hopeless gambler. That night, he lost all his money and drank too much. He wouldn't listen to anyone and insisted on taking a shortcut home through the north side of town."
"And he never came back."
"The next morning, someone found his drained corpse at the mouth of Black Stone Cave!"
"My heavens! Now it's attacking people, too!"
"Everyone in town is terrified. They say a monster that eats people without even spitting out the bones lives in Black Stone Cave!"
"The authorities can't do anything about it either. All they could do was post a notice offering a reward to any expert willing to come slay the demon."
"Alas, Little Pond Town is so remote. What expert would bother coming to care about the lives of common folk like us?"
When the old man finished, he let out a long sigh, despair filling his eyes.
Li Xiaoyu listened quietly, already forming his judgment.
The demon in Black Stone Cave was certainly no ordinary creature.
Li Xiaoyu hadn't wanted to meddle in other people's business. He only wanted to take Lu Xueqi back to the Green Cloud Sect as soon as possible.
But now, hearing what the townspeople had endured and seeing the hopeless, helpless expressions on their faces, he felt that sense of responsibility as a disciple of the righteous path stir once more.
He couldn't turn a blind eye or shut his ears to their plight.
"Elder, which way is Black Stone Cave?"
Li Xiaoyu asked.
The old man was taken aback, then pointed north.
"It's north of town. Just cross that mountain, and you'll see it."
Looking at Li Xiaoyu, the old man warned him with some concern, "Young man, don't act rashly! That monster is powerful. Even the authorities are helpless against it. It's far too dangerous for you to go alone!"
Li Xiaoyu smiled at him but offered no further explanation.
He rose to his feet and cupped his hands to the old man.
"Thank you for telling me."
With that, Li Xiaoyu turned and headed upstairs.
He needed to tell Lu Xueqi about this.
When Li Xiaoyu returned to the room, he found that Lu Xueqi had finished washing up.
She had changed into a clean, moon-white dress. Her long black hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and she looked less aloof and more gentle.
When Li Xiaoyu entered, Lu Xueqi looked up, a question in her clear eyes.
Li Xiaoyu told her everything he had just heard from the townspeople.
When Lu Xueqi heard it, she furrowed her brow.
"A demon on the prowl, sucking people's lifeblood? There's certainly something strange about this."
She fell into thought.
"I want to take a look at Black Stone Cave."
Li Xiaoyu looked at her and stated his decision.
"I'll go with you."
Without a moment's hesitation, Lu Xueqi stood up and came to his side.
Her answer was simple and firm.
Li Xiaoyu looked at her, his heart warmed.
He knew that whatever decision he made, this woman would support him and stay by his side without hesitation.
"Good."
Li Xiaoyu reached out and naturally took her cold hand.
Lu Xueqi's body trembled slightly, and a blush spread across her cheeks, but she didn't pull away.
They looked at each other and smiled. No words were needed.
Without alerting anyone, they quietly left the inn.
In a small grove outside town, they summoned their flying swords. Two streaks of light shot north toward Black Stone Cave.
Before you continue