Map of Demonic Beast Distribution

"I see." Liu Yong's expression brightened considerably at those words, and his customary confident smile returned. "That's what I thought. Who would have nothing better to do than train their lightness skill to perfection?"

Zhou Si did not reply. She clapped her hands and said, "Come on. Let's go to the Fire Saber Sect first."

The five crossed Nanxi City and left through the south gate, following a winding mountain path toward the ridges beyond.

The Fire Saber Sect was built on the mountain behind Nanxi City, occupying the entire peak. Ancient trees towered along both sides of the path, and disciples who had yet to develop force could occasionally be seen chopping wood and carrying water among the mountains.

Halfway up the mountain stood a striking bluestone archway, engraved with three large vermilion characters: Fire Saber Sect.

Beneath the archway, two young disciples were dozing against the stone pillars, bored out of their minds.

At the sound of footsteps, both jolted upright. Their eyes fell on the dark, close-fitting outfits worn by Lu Feng and his four companions, and their expressions changed instantly.

People from the Demon-Slaying Bureau.

"Greetings, my lords!" The two hurried forward and bowed, their respectful voices tinged with nervousness. "What brings you to our Fire Saber Sect, my lords?"

Liu Yong stepped forward to stand at the front and looked down at the two. "Our business here is not yours to question. Why haven't you taken us to your sect leader?"

The two disciples exchanged a glance. Not daring to ask further, they hurriedly stepped aside to clear the way.

"Please follow me, my lords." One led the way, while the other had already dashed up the mountain, evidently to report their arrival.

As they passed through the sect gates, the view suddenly opened up before them.

A vast bluestone plaza stretched out ahead, large enough for over a thousand people to train at once.

Quite a few disciples were practicing their saber techniques in the plaza. Shouts rose and fell as saber blades flashed.

Lu Feng glanced over them.

There were indeed quite a few of them-seven or eight hundred at the very least.

But they wore no uniform sect attire. Most were dressed in coarse cloth or hemp, and some even wore patched clothes.

Their sabers were a mixed lot too: some were iron, some wooden, and a few disciples held nothing more than sharpened strips of bamboo.

This looked less like a sect than a shelter.

Zhou Si had evidently noticed it too. "There are plenty of them," she said quietly. "A pity none of them have developed force."

Lu Feng said nothing. He withdrew his gaze from the plaza and continued forward with the others.

A middle-aged man in a crimson robe, with a goatee, was already waiting at the entrance to the main hall. Behind him stood the disciple who had run up the mountain to report their arrival.

The man had a lean face and slightly sunken eyes, but his gaze was fairly clear.

When he saw Lu Feng and the others approach, he hurried forward several steps and cupped his hands in greeting.

"I am Zhu Ren, leader of the Fire Saber Sect. You demon slayers have come from afar, yet I failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive me. Come inside."

He led them into the main hall.

The furnishings inside were even plainer than those outside. There were a few old wooden tables and chairs, several yellowing saber-technique diagrams hung on the walls, and a rust-spotted iron saber was enshrined in the main hall. Beyond that, there was nothing.

It was called the sect leader's hall, but it looked more like a slightly larger farmhouse sitting room.

"Our sect is humble. I hope you will excuse its poor appearance, my lords." A trace of embarrassment flashed across Zhu Ren's face. He turned to the maid behind him and instructed, "Chunhua, bring our guests some tea."

"That won't be necessary." Zhou Si stood and waved a hand. Her gaze swept over the disciples standing in attendance in the hall, and her tone was polite but left no room for negotiation. "Sect Leader Zhu, we have important business to attend to."

Zhu Ren understood and immediately waved to the disciples in the hall. "You may all leave. I have important matters to discuss with our guests."

The disciples bowed and withdrew, closing the hall doors behind them.

Only when their footsteps had faded did Liu Yong stand and get straight to the point. "Sect Leader Zhu, the Demon-Slaying Bureau has received information that demonic beasts have been eating people in your sect's territory. More than ten people have already been killed. Do you know about this?"

Zhu Ren's expression changed instantly.

"Demonic beasts eating people?" His eyes widened, and his face was full of disbelief. "Where did you hear this, my lords? I have never heard of such a thing!"

Zhou Si's gaze turned slightly cold, and her voice deepened. "You need not concern yourself with where the information came from, Sect Leader Zhu. You need only answer truthfully: have demonic beasts eaten people in the Fire Saber Sect's territory?"

"I truly do not know." Zhu Ren shook his head, looking innocent. "If you do not believe me, my lords, you are free to investigate the sect. I will not stand in your way."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Just then, Lu Feng stood up.

"Sect Leader Zhu, may I ask whether any demonic beasts lair nearby?"

Zhu Ren froze for a moment, evidently not expecting the youngest-looking demon-slaying guard to suddenly speak up.

He pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Naturally. The mountain behind Nanxi City borders a vast stretch of wild ridges, and there are no shortage of demonic beasts. But our disciples usually avoid their territories and never provoke them."

Lu Feng nodded, his expression calm. "Could I trouble you for a map of the demonic beasts' distribution, Sect Leader Zhu?"

Zhu Ren glanced at him, as though trying to read something from the young man's face.

But Lu Feng's gaze was too impassive to read anything from it.

"Please wait a moment. I will fetch it right away."

Zhu Ren turned and went into the back hall.

The moment the hall doors closed, Zhou Si turned her head and asked quietly in Lu Feng's ear, "Lu Feng, what are you planning?"

"We'll split into two groups." Lu Feng lowered his voice as well. "You stay at the Fire Saber Sect and investigate. I'll go take a look at the demonic beasts. If we attack from both sides, we might find a lead."

"You're going alone?" Zhou Si frowned. "It's too dangerous. I'll go with you."

She turned to Zhu Lin and Luo Fang. "What do you think?"

Zhu Lin thought for a moment, then nodded. "That works. It would indeed save quite a bit of time."

Luo Fang had no objections. Liu Yong gave a huff, which counted as agreement.

A short while later, Zhu Ren emerged from the back hall with a neatly folded sheepskin map in his hand.

He walked over to Lu Feng and offered him the map with both hands.

"This shows the distribution of nearby demonic beasts as I know it. But there are still many places deep in the wild ridges that I have not explored, so the markings may not be complete. I hope you will forgive me, my lord."

Lu Feng took the map, unfolded it, and glanced over it. Seven or eight red dots had been marked in cinnabar, scattered in different directions across the mountain behind Nanxi City. Beside each was a note of the demonic beast's type and approximate number.

Most were first-tier beasts. The occasional locations marked with second-tier beasts had also been circled by Zhu Ren in conspicuous red.

"Thank you, Sect Leader Zhu." Lu Feng tucked the map into his robes.

Zhu Ren then personally arranged accommodations for the five of them.

They were called accommodations, but they were really just a few simple wooden huts joined together. The beds were made of planks, and the bedding was patched, but at least they were clean and tidy.

Compared to the communal sleeping quarters used by the Fire Saber Sect's disciples, this was already the highest standard of hospitality.

None of them complained.