Chapter Sixty-Four: Another One Dies

"Where is Chuqi?" Chen Jin asked in a low voice.

"She just ran out," the woman replied.

Just now? That meant when they were knocking at the door, she was still inside… Then the sobbing they heard from within…

Hmm...

"Which way did she run?" Chen Jin asked.

"There’s a hole near the yard," the woman pointed toward the courtyard.

"Take us there," Chen Jin continued.

"Alright..." The woman hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

Led by the woman, the three of them entered the courtyard. Walking a circuit around the yard, they soon found a large jar tucked into a corner of the wall. Behind it was a dog hole, just about the width of a person’s waist. A strip of cloth was snagged on the edge, evidence that Chuqi had fled in haste and her clothes had been torn.

Since she’d escaped through this dog hole, it meant she could have gone in any number of directions. She might have even headed to the other side of the courtyard.

Moreover, Chen Jin’s keen sense of smell hadn’t caught her scent—neither in the yard nor inside the house. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have needed the woman to reveal this.

So Chen Jin still suspected the woman of lying. But the scrap of cloth at the dog hole was genuine.

Maybe the person in question had something unusual about them—perhaps they simply left no scent behind.

"I’ll go after her. You stay here and protect her," Chen Jin said to Wang Tong.

"Alright," Wang Tong answered promptly, understanding the situation.

Honestly, I was a little worried about leaving Wang Tong to guard the woman. So I murmured an incantation under my breath, casting a protective spell on him: Body of Iron.

This spell would coat Wang Tong’s body in an invisible layer, like a thin bulletproof vest. Talismans were useless to him, so Chen Jin didn’t give him one. Besides, he had nothing better left on him, so this spell would have to do—at least it would keep Wang Tong safe. As for the woman, Chen Jin cast Body of Iron on her as well.

Chen Jin had always wanted the chance to say: "So-and-so, guard the northern flank with the Immortal Execution Sword; so-and-so, guard the south with the Demon Entrapment Sword; so-and-so, hold the west with the Severing Immortal Sword..." (Not to mention the Slaughter Immortal Sword...)

Alas, the most precious magical instrument Chen Jin had now was the Tiger Fang Flying Sword, and he alone could wield it. It wasn’t autonomous—not unless it became a true magical treasure.

Magical tools were divided into two grades: magical implements and magical treasures. Above those were the celestial artifacts, which Chen Jin knew nothing about.

Now, Chen Jin kept his Tiger Fang Flying Sword close, attached to his right arm with Primordial Qi, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

"Where does she live?" Chen Jin asked.

Since Chuqi had fled, she’d surely have taken a familiar route in her panic—probably home.

So Chen Jin inquired about her address.

"At Gao Village, outside the town," the woman replied.

"Gao Village?" Chen Jin paused, then nodded. "Alright, I’ll be back soon."

Gao Village—he wondered if he’d run into Pigsy and Miss Gao there.

After this brief jest in his heart, Chen Jin set off toward Gao Village as the woman had indicated.

The whole town was still bustling, preparing the materials Chen Jin had requested. It would take some time yet.

Chen Jin surmised the demon might kill Chuqi as well. So far, the two victims were connected, making it likely she would be the next.

To be honest, the whole affair felt increasingly bizarre—no, it was straying off course. The demon killings had been happening throughout the region, not just in this town, so it couldn’t simply be about some so-called borrowed seed. If it really was, then this whole area must be full of men proud to wear green hats—impressive indeed. If that were the case, Chen Jin would make a quick escape, lest he catch the same fate...

Gao Village was about ten miles outside of town, not far—just beyond the Ten Mile Pavilion and the long slope.

In only two minutes, Chen Jin had raced to Gao Village.

It was the dead of night, and the village lay silent, everyone deep in sleep. Yet the signs of life were there—Chen Jin’s sharp hearing picked up quite a few snores.

So it seemed nothing was amiss here.

But after circling the village, Chen Jin finally came to the courtyard the woman had described as belonging to Gao Chuqi—and saw a dark, motionless figure sprawled on the ground.

The air reeked of blood.

With his night vision, Chen Jin could clearly see the manner of death.

The corpse died in a way identical to Chen Sanquan: a gaping wound in the chest, the heart torn out.

His face was frozen in a rictus of pleasure, joy unmistakable even in death.

It was clear they had died at the hands of the same killer.

Chen Jin was now certain this was Gao Chuqi.

Footsteps approached—soft, rapid.

Chen Jin quickly rolled and vaulted over the courtyard wall into the neighboring yard. Gao Chuqi’s yard had only a fence for a boundary, but the neighboring house had high walls, so Chen Jin tucked himself there.

He knew an invisibility spell suitable for his level, but it required certain materials he didn’t have on him, so hiding was his only option.

The footsteps drew nearer. Chen Jin sharpened his hearing.

There were two people.

"He... Chuqi... he’s dead... He’s dead!" One voice started with a gasp of shock, the rest whispered as if through a covered mouth.

"Don’t shout! I can see," the other snapped quietly.

"Is that... is that the one?" the first voice, muffled and fearful.

"No, don’t talk nonsense. Be careful," the second replied curtly.

"Then... then... what do we do?" the first stammered on.

"We go to Laoshan. Right now. We find a Taoist. If not, we’ll just hole up in the mountains," the second said decisively.

"It’s so far... we might get killed before we even arrive!" the first protested.

"What choice do we have?! We leave tonight—immediately," the second replied angrily.

Chen Jin listened from within the wall, finding their conversation somewhat amusing.

As they were about to leave, Chen Jin leapt over the wall, landing squarely before them on the path.

"This mountain is mine, this tree was planted by me. If you want to pass..."