Masters Gathered

Early morning.

In an attic at the center of the Soul-Calming Office's town, Lin Qing strode inside. The constables immediately stopped what they were doing and said in unison, "Greetings, my lord!"

Lin Qing nodded slightly and entered a room ahead. There, he went through the intelligence reports from across the Prefectural City for the past three days.

"Lin Qing, how does it look?"

Qiu Changming pushed open the door, toying with a compass in his hand.

"Not good. People have died all over the Prefectural City. Every victim was a Martial Artist, and every body was found in the same state: a dried-up corpse. The Spirit-Devouring Demon Child is using the Prefectural City as his hunting ground, feeding wherever he pleases and growing rapidly. Worst of all, we have no way to counter him. Finding him would be harder than climbing to heaven!" Lin Qing frowned, tapping a finger against the wooden table as he searched for a solution.

"Whenever an Evil Spirit descends, it may unleash a catastrophe. I only hope the Prefectural City isn't plunged into a sea of blood," Qiu Changming sighed.

"Whatever happens, we have to find the Spirit-Devouring Demon Child as soon as possible. I'm wondering what might interest him. If we can't find him, could we lure him out?" Lin Qing mused.

"There is something. The flesh and blood of a gifted Martial Artist would be irresistible to him," Qiu Changming said gravely.

"A gifted Martial Artist? In terms of Talent, only a handful of people in the Prefectural City can match me. It seems I'll have to go myself, use my own body as bait, and hook him." Lin Qing considered the idea.

"It could work in theory, but I think you should forget it. It's too dangerous. If anything goes wrong,