Population Disappearances

After solidifying Punching, Yang Xiao waited a while before successively placing Boulder Stake and Wind-Breaking Spear into the equipment slot.

[Boulder Stake]

[Effect 1: "Boulder Stake" proficiency perfected.]

[Effect 2: Obtained trait (White) Sinking Foot: The lower body became stable and was not easily shaken or knocked back.]

[Permanent Solidification Condition: Equipped for one shichen.]

A surge of memories flooded his mind. Yang Xiao felt as though both legs had taken root in the earth, steady as a boulder.

[Wind-Breaking Spear]

[Effect 1: "Wind-Breaking Spear" proficiency perfected.]

[Effect 2: Obtained trait (White) Rapid Stab: Spear technique attack speed increased by ten percent.]

[Permanent Solidification Condition: Equipped for one shichen.]

Yang Xiao closed his eyes and sensed the spear technique memories surging through his mind. The Wind-Breaking Spear Technique emphasized speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness. With a single thrust, the spear pierced forward, cleaving through the wind.

Although these were only white traits, many a little made a mickle. Combined with his other martial arts and traits, his strength would rise another level.

He rose and loosened his muscles and bones, silently estimating his progress.

Before leaving Xiangyun County, he might be able to equip all the cultivation techniques in the storehouse.

By then, he should truly have perfected the fundamentals of martial arts!

The following morning.

After washing up, Yang Xiao changed into a clean constable uniform, hung the Spring Embroidery Saber at his waist, and pushed open the courtyard gate.

He did not need to patrol Wang Village today, so Yang Xiao planned to visit the County Yamen first and see what Constable Zhang wanted to tell him.

Halfway there, his stomach began to growl.

Yang Xiao turned into a bun shop by the roadside. Steam billowed from the entrance, carrying waves of fragrance.

He entered and found a seat in the corner.

"Boss, one basket of meat buns and a bowl of hot soup."

"Coming right up, sir. Please wait!"

A middle-aged man with graying hair poked his head out from the back kitchen. His eyes lit up when he saw Yang Xiao, but he quickly lowered his head again.

A moment later, the middle-aged man carried over a tray and set it in front of Yang Xiao.

"Sir, your meat buns and hot soup."

Yang Xiao glanced at them and froze.

The tray held a basket of meat buns, but there were clearly twice as many as in a normal basket. Two layers were piled atop each other, the meat juices seeping through the skins and giving off an enticing aroma.

"Boss, this..."

"Eat, eat." The middle-aged man waved his hand. His voice was somewhat hoarse. "Young people should eat more."

Yang Xiao watched the middle-aged man turn and walk away, his heart stirring faintly.

He did not refuse. Picking up his chopsticks, he began eating the buns.

The buns had thin skins and generous fillings. One bite sent grease flooding his mouth, and the flavor was indeed excellent.

As Yang Xiao ate, he listened to the surrounding diners' idle chatter.

"Hey, have you heard? The Rat Calamity in Liu Family Village has flared up again."

"I heard! Those Rat Demons really can't be wiped out. Kill one, and a whole nest grows back. There's no way to eradicate them."

"Exactly. The County Yamen has sent several groups to exterminate them. Every time, they kill them clean, but before long, they pop up again."

"These Rat Demons reproduce far too quickly. There's simply no way to eradicate them."

Yang Xiao listened silently, thinking to himself: The Rat Calamity in Liu Family Village really is troublesome. Demon rats reproduce at an astonishing rate—kill one batch and another grows in its place. Unless their nest is uprooted completely, it will be difficult to eliminate them for good.

At that moment, another diner spoke up.

"Speaking of Demons, do you know about what happened in Wang Village?"

"Wang Village? Isn't that where the Dog Demon ran amok?"

"Exactly. I heard that new Head Constable Yang wiped out all the Dog Demons by himself!"

"By himself? Don't joke around!"

"Of course not! I heard he even killed that Old Dog Demon who had lived for several hundred years, and uprooted the Dog Demons' lair!"

"My heavens, Head Constable Yang is that impressive?"

"Yeah. I heard he's only eighteen, yet he's already an expert at the Ninth Layer of Body Forging!"

Yang Xiao made no sound and continued eating his buns in silence.

At that moment, a diner sighed, his tone turning heavy.

"Wang Village was lucky. They happened to encounter Head Constable Yang, who wiped out the Dog Demons."

"But Li Family Hamlet... sigh. The situation there is what's truly heartbreaking."

"Li Family Hamlet? What happened?"

"Don't you know? People have been disappearing from Li Family Hamlet for the past few months. At first it was chickens, ducks, and other livestock. Then it was cattle and horses. Later... it was people."

"What? People?"

"Yes. Dozens have already disappeared. No one has seen them alive, nor found their corpses."

"Everyone in Li Family Hamlet is living in fear now. The moment night falls, they don't dare go outside."

"Didn't the County Yamen send people to station there?"

"They did. Second Constable Li Tie is stationed in Li Family Hamlet, but the disappearance case still hasn't been solved."

"That's strange..."

When Yang Xiao heard this, his brows creased slightly.

Li Tie...

His eyes lowered as though he were pondering something.

After finishing the buns, Yang Xiao rose, left several copper coins on the table, and walked straight out.

Xiangyun County Yamen.

Yang Xiao had just entered the gate when he saw Zhang Hu and Li Tie.

He walked toward them and again caught that faint scent of blood on Li Tie. This time, however, he also detected a faint medicinal odor.

It was not the smell of ordinary wound medicine.

It was more like blood simmered together with medicinal herbs. The scent was extremely faint; had he not equipped the Dog Demon's Inner Core, he would never have noticed it.

Yang Xiao's expression remained unchanged as he greeted the two men.

"You came at just the right time. There's something I need to tell you." Zhang Hu's voice was solemn.

Yang Xiao raised his head, signaling him to continue.

Zhang Hu looked toward Li Tie, indicating that he should speak.

Li Tie sighed. "It's about Li Family Hamlet."

"The disappearance case in Li Family Hamlet is becoming more serious."

"I'm leading a team stationed there. During the day, we have to patrol and investigate, and at night, we have to stand guard and remain alert. We simply can't handle it all."

Li Tie looked exhausted as he continued, "I reported the situation to Constable Zhang and hoped he could send someone to help."

"Head Constable Yang, you're now the Fourth Constable of the County Yamen, and your strength is beyond dispute."

"If you could come to Li Family Hamlet and help, that would be best."

After hearing him out, Yang Xiao's brows furrowed slightly.

The disappearance case in Li Family Hamlet was indeed troublesome.

And it was perfectly understandable that Li Tie could not handle it alone.

But Yang Xiao still had some doubts in his heart.

"Are there any clues in the disappearance case?"

Li Tie shook his head. "Not for now."

"There were no signs of fighting at the scenes. The missing people vanished as if they had disappeared into thin air."

"I suspect Demons are responsible, but we haven't found any trace of them."

Yang Xiao fell silent for a moment, weighing the matter.

Although he was suspicious of Li Tie, if Demons truly were responsible, he could uncover the whole truth and kill them all once he went there, earning some merit in the process.

Thus, he lowered his eyes and said, "All right."

Zhang Hu let out a breath of relief and patted Yang Xiao on the shoulder. "Sorry for the trouble."

"The situation in Li Family Hamlet is indeed bizarre. Once you get there, make sure to stay cautious."

A strange glint flashed through Li Tie's eyes, but it quickly returned to normal, and a grateful smile appeared on his face.

"Thank you, Head Constable Yang."

"With your help, the matter in Li Family Hamlet should be resolved soon. I'll wait for you there, then."