Chapter 116: Hunting the Demon
Chapter 116: Hunting the Demon
In the northwest of Anyu County, a somewhat sparse forest stretched out.
Chen Mu stood atop a towering ancient tree, his entire body balanced on a slender branch that seemed ready to snap at any moment. His gaze swept across the seemingly endless forest below.
After a careful observation, he pointed westward, "Over there."
Not far away, Xu Hongyu stood on a delicate branch of another ancient tree, her eyes scrutinizing the forest below. Hearing Chen Mu's words, she immediately followed his gaze and after a moment of intense focus, she said, "Yes, it should be there."
Without further ado, both Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu leaped forward, not bothering to climb down from the trees. Instead, they moved along the treetops, traversing from one tree to another.
Xiao He stood on a slightly shorter branch behind the two, also carefully examining their surroundings. Quietly, she followed Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu, and the three of them continued their journey together.
The incident of the white wolf demon eating people had occurred a few days ago, and finding its traces in the remote forest was no easy task, especially for ordinary people, who would find it nearly impossible.
However, Chen Mu and the others were different.
Having entered the Sinew Transformation Realm, their enhanced Vital Energy made their senses sharper than ordinary people. Even in a sparse forest, they could quickly locate faint traces.
The white wolf demon, being a demon, especially in its frenzied state, often acted violently and recklessly. Along its path, it might leave footprints, break small trees, or tear through brushwood thickets, all of which were traces of its passage.
As they traveled, Xu Hongyu demonstrated exceptional observational skills and clear judgment. After all, this wasn't her first demon hunt, and even before becoming the Deputy Magistrate of the Southern District, she had accompanied the elders of the Yu Clan on demon-hunting expeditions. Compared to Chen Mu, who was on his first outing from the city, her experience was undoubtedly far richer.
Along the way, Chen Mu listened to Xu Hongyu's explanations about tracking, observation, and other aspects. Although he understood, this being his first time, he couldn't help but feel a bit unfamiliar, as it wasn't an innate ability etched into his bloodline.
However, after about half a day of tracking, while Chen Mu might still feel inexperienced in other aspects, his observational skills had already surpassed Xu Hongyu's," his gaze sweeping a wider area and capturing traces more keenly, often spotting the demon's remnants before Xu Hongyu.
After some tracking, they reached an ancient tree, not particularly robust, but beneath it lay a thicket of brushwood. The brushwood, still retaining a greenish hue, had been thriving before being broken, and its inherent resilience was such that even the wild boars and bears of the mountains would struggle to break it. The way it had been crushed and shattered suggested the work of a demon, not an ordinary beast.
"Over there," Xu Hongyu said, after carefully examining the brushwood and pointing to the south.
Chen Mu pondered for a moment, studying the broken brushwood and then glancing in the direction Xu Hongyu indicated. He nodded slightly, "Yes, it should be. Let's keep tracking. This demon is all over the place, making it quite a challenge to find."
Xu Hongyu took the lead, leaping onto the treetop and continuing their journey through the trees. "Since it's a full moon, its demonic nature is acting up. Its erratic behavior is to be expected, and its intrusion into the village was likely just a coincidence."
"Mhm," Chen Mu agreed, keeping pace beside her.
A third-rank white wolf demon couldn't have appeared out of thin air. It must have been living in these forests for a long time, never entering the village to eat people until now, when its frenzy led it astray.
Nevertheless, it was imperative to deal with the demon. Even if it hadn't specifically targeted the village, its frenzied rampage posed a significant threat. If left alive, it would be a constant danger to the villagers in the nearby mountains. Eliminating such threats was the very purpose of the Demon Slayer Bureau.
Moreover, a third-rank white wolf demon was highly valuable. Its fur, if intact, was worth at least a thousand taels of silver. Its bones and blood had medicinal value, and its meat, rich in Vital Energy, was edible.
As dusk approached, the group didn't rush. Tracking at night was difficult, so they decided to rest for the night and resume their pursuit at dawn the next day.
For two days, they navigated twists and turns but gradually ventured deeper into the forest.
"We're close," Xu Hongyu said, standing amidst a thicket, her eyes fixed on a dried bloodstain and some scattered fur.
Judging by the broken bones and fur remnants, it seemed a large and fierce beast, like a grizzly bear, had been crushed without a fight. Such beasts, though not demons, could be as dangerous as lower-ranked demons. The Black Crow Sect's first-rank demon, the Bloodline Demon, for instance, wasn't particularly strong and couldn't hunt large beasts like grizzly bears, often choosing to hide instead.
The evidence was clear: a large, powerful beast had been easily overwhelmed, devoured alive, and the blood had dried in about two hours.
After confirming this, Xu Hongyu took out a small jade bottle from her pocket, gently poured out a drop of light cyan liquid, and then with a light pat of her right hand, turned the 'Lavender' into a mist. She then took out a ribbon and shook it lightly, stirring the mist and absorbing it all.
"Let's go."
Xu Hongyu held the ribbon in her hand, "Although this should be the White Wolf Demon's territory, without other monsters, it's still best to use Lavender sparingly. Keep the concentration moderate to avoid any unexpected changes... Why are you staring at me?"
Chen Mu smiled, "I'm just admiring your skilled technique and listening to your instructions attentively."
"It's just a bit more experience, that's all."
Xu Hongyu's gaze shifted slightly, and she said with a hint of awkwardness, "These methods are usually used for hunting monsters during normal times. If we encounter 'Great Cold', 'Great Drought', 'Great Flood', or even more severe phenomena like 'Double Sun' or 'Eternal Night', the entire land will be in chaos, and we might directly encounter ferocious monsters everywhere. These methods will become mostly useless."
After hearing Xu Hongyu's words, Chen Mu fell into deep thought, "Last year's end should have been the 'Great Cold' phenomenon, and the last 'Great Drought' was five years ago... As for the 'Double Sun', it seems like it hasn't happened in decades. According to the Great Xuan Annals, these celestial phenomena don't follow a very clear pattern."
He personally experienced the Great Cold.
As for the Great Drought, the most recent one occurred four years ago. This phenomenon doesn't mean that it doesn't rain for a long time, but rather, within a very short period, rivers dry up, wells run dry, and other strange occurrences happen.
In the 16th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi, there was a great drought, and the rivers and wells dried up.
The Great Flood is the opposite; river water levels rise significantly, wells overflow, and it's often accompanied by heavy fog, with moist mist filling the sky, making it difficult to find anything dry, even starting a fire.
Of course.
These are relatively common celestial phenomena, occurring every few years, and they don't last long. The biggest issue is the monster chaos caused by these phenomena; some monsters are stimulated by the cold, some by drought, and they become frenzied, wreaking havoc everywhere. Although the Demon Slayer Bureau suppresses them, they still cause some disasters in various places.
Compared to this, the 'Double Sun' is a more severe situation. According to historical records, when it occurs, another sun, like a reflection in water, rises in the sky. The types and range of monsters influenced by this phenomenon are broader.
However, the most terrifying is the 'Eternal Night'.
According to historical records, when it happens, the sky darkens, the sun and moon lose their light, and the earth is plunged into complete darkness. Monsters roam freely under the cover of night, not just for a day or two, but for months or even half a year.
"Hmm, the last 'Double Sun' was 57 years ago, and the last 'Eternal Night' was 241 years ago. If we're talking about patterns, 'Great Cold' and 'Great Drought' often occur every few years, but 'Double Sun' and 'Eternal Night' are much rarer, lasting for much longer. Many people live their entire lives without witnessing them... Oh well."
Xiao He, standing behind Chen Mu, spoke in a playful tone, but before she could finish, she cried out in pain.
Thud!
A red mark appeared on Xiao He's forehead, and she looked at Chen Mu with teary eyes, holding her head.
Chen Mu retracted his finger with a sigh, "Don't talk nonsense! What if the heavens hear you and punish you?"
Xiao He pouted, holding her forehead, "If the heavens are going to punish me for a single sentence, then I must have committed some great sin in my past life..."
Xu Hongyu looked at Xiao He and couldn't help but smile, her lips curving upwards, "Alright, Xiao He, stop talking nonsense. Don't joke about the heavens."
Among the diverse people in the world, there are those who claim to be fortune-tellers, saying that bad things will happen if you speak them, but she never believed in such things. Even if fate exists, it's not something a few pretentious Daoists can predict. There's a rumor in a neighboring state about a sect called 'Mystic Pavilion' that can perceive the mysteries of heaven and earth, but who knows if it's true.
"Miss..."
Xiao He looked at Xu Hongyu pitifully, then at Chen Mu.
Just then, Chen Mu's ears perked up, and his expression shifted from playful to serious. He stopped walking and turned towards a direction, "There's movement. It seems like something's coming."
Xiao He also stopped her playful behavior and became serious.
Xu Hongyu halted as well, and soon she also sensed something. She lightly shook her right hand, drawing out her soft sword and holding it in her hand, her gaze turning serious and solemn.
Finally.
A commotion came from the distant forest.
It seemed like some fierce creature was charging through, not yet in sight but already exuding a menacing aura, causing the birds in the distant forest to take flight, squawking as they rose into the sky.
(End of Chapter)
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