Arrangements for Crosswater Town

In a secret chamber beneath the Demon Suppressing Guard headquarters in Cangwu Prefectural City.

Dim candlelight flickered in the corner, stretching and shrinking the shadows of the figures gathered there.

A square-faced, middle-aged man sat in the seat of honor. He had a short beard beneath his chin and a steady gaze.

He was Zhou Jingyuan, commander-in-chief of the Cangwu Prefecture Demon Suppressing Guard, and the man who wanted the Baleful Lord's head more than anyone!

Three figures in black stood before him. All wore the Demon Suppressing Guard's specially made, dark-patterned nightwear. Their builds were slight, and the Martial Arts they practiced focused on scouting and concealment.

These three were Undercover Agents tasked with receiving secret reports from the front lines. For years, each had maintained one-to-one contact with informants across the prefecture.

Whenever the slightest breeze stirred the grass in or around Cangwu Prefecture, the news usually passed through their hands before reaching his desk.

Zhou Jingyuan looked down at the secret letter that had just arrived. Only after reading it word by word did he slowly lower it and turn his gaze to the figure in front. "Confirmed?"

The lead agent spoke softly. Years of covert work had made that hushed tone instinctive.

"Yes, Commander. Confirmed."

"The Heaven Overturning Cult Branch Altar has been unusually active lately, especially in the area west of Coiling Snake Ridge."

"Our people followed them on three occasions. Each time, different groups moved at night toward Crosswater Town, Bedrock City, and Black Iron Fort. They carried ordinary goods—ironware, pills, cloth—but in quantities far beyond what a normal merchant caravan would transport."

"There's a strong chance they're using those goods as cover."

Zhou Jingyuan fell silent for a moment. "Moving on all three places at once... Do we know where the Baleful Lord