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After hearing Bibi Dong's description, the Blue Silver Empress couldn't help but sigh.
"It seems your journey won't be easy. The Pope has given you a minimum requirement task, after all, a Fallen One won't stand in front of you and announce 'I am a Fallen One.'"
Bibi Dong nodded in agreement: "Yes, so we need to be very careful and look for any clues or traces."
Lin Yongming thought for a moment before suggesting: "How about this: whenever we pass through a town or city, let's not rush to leave. Instead, we could stay for a day or two and investigate if there's anything unusual in the area."
Bibi Dong nodded: "That's all we can do. We can also gather information from the local Spirit Hall branches."
The Blue Silver Empress quickly added: "Indeed, and if Spirit Hall doesn't have any information, then taverns are the best source of news."
Lin Yongming nodded: "Then let's settle on this plan for now. If anything changes, we'll adapt accordingly."
All three of them were relatively inexperienced when it came to facing Fallen Ones. They had only encountered a Fallen One once a few years ago, but it was fleeting. They only knew that Fallen Ones had a cold, bloody aura, and occasionally their eyes would flash with a bloodthirsty red light.
After their discussion, Bibi Dong left the two and returned to her room next door, where she lay down.
Feeling it was still early, Bibi Dong sat cross-legged and began to meditate according to Lin Yongming's method, nourishing her external spirit bone.
"Xiaoming, there are two beds, one for each of us," the Blue Silver Empress reminded after her meditation.
"It's fine, I'll just hold you while we sleep," Lin Yongming said shamelessly.
"Do you think I believe you?" the Blue Silver Empress snorted coldly.
"Really, I'll just hold you," Lin Yongming said with a smile.
"Hmph, turn off the light. You always bully me. Remember, Bibi Dong is next door," the Blue Silver Empress said, turning her head away.
"Really, just holding," Lin Yongming persisted.
"Hmph, I'm ignoring you!" The Blue Silver Empress turned her back to Lin Yongming.
"And take your thing away," the Blue Silver Empress kicked out.
"Ah Silver, you smell so good!"
"Don't use your hands!"
"Ah Silver, it's been half a month, have mercy!"
"So annoying!"
Bibi Dong had been meditating for who knows how long when she was awakened by panting sounds coming from next door.
"That's... Ah Silver's voice. What are they doing?!" Bibi Dong listened carefully and could definitely make out the Blue Silver Empress's voice.
After listening for a while, Bibi Dong seemed to realize what was happening. Her cheeks turned red, and she softly cursed before quickly hiding under her blanket and covering her ears.
"That rascal Xiaoming, if I had known, I wouldn't have come with him!"
Although she tried not to listen, images kept forming in Bibi Dong's mind, making it impossible for her to sleep. Only after a long silence did she realize her palms were covered in sweat.
The next day, when she left her room, Bibi Dong could clearly see that the Blue Silver Empress looked more radiant than yesterday, with a rosy complexion and a glow about her.
"Good morning, you two!" Bibi Dong greeted.
"Bibi Dong, good morning!"
"Such a big change!" Bibi Dong mumbled with a knowing smile.
The three then inquired around the town about any unusual places or incidents where people had been hurt.
However, Fallen Ones weren't so easy to find, so the three left disappointed, heading to the next town.
Three months later...
Without realizing it, the three had been traveling through the Xiling Kingdom for three months.
Since they were tracing Fallen Ones, they couldn't fly around. They had to walk from one town to another.
The three arrived at a small city called Luben City.
"Sigh, it's been three months, and we haven't found any trace of Fallen Ones," Bibi Dong sighed as she looked at the city gates.
"Actually, that's good. No Fallen Ones means no casualties. It shows that Spirit Hall's previous efforts against the Fallen Ones have been effective. The villagers can live in peace, and we can consider this journey as sightseeing," Lin Yongming replied.
"Alright, let's enter the city. We've been in the wilderness for two days. Let's find a place to stay, then visit the local Spirit Hall," the Blue Silver Empress reminded.
The three entered the city, found a decent inn, and walked in.
"Innkeeper, we need two rooms. And they shouldn't be adjacent. It would be best if there's a room in between," Bibi Dong instructed as they entered the inn.
"Why? Isn't it better if they're adjacent?" the Blue Silver Empress asked, puzzled.
"You still ask? I can't stand you two, especially you, Ah Silver. You've disturbed me so many times these past three months," Bibi Dong said, turning her head away proudly.
"Oh! So you were eavesdropping. Why bother eavesdropping? You could have just come over and let Xiaoming give you a taste," the Blue Silver Empress teased.
"Pah! Who wants Xiaoming?" Bibi Dong took a key and walked upstairs.
"Look, Xiaoming, she's embarrassed!" the Blue Silver Empress shouted teasingly.
Lin Yongming shook his head helplessly. Over the past three months, the two had bickered no less than a hundred times.
The three then went to their rooms in the inn, freshened up, and then went out to find a restaurant for dinner.
Sitting on the second floor, they ordered six dishes and began to eat.
"Ah Silver, the chef's cooking is so much better than yours," Bibi Dong commented as she ate.
"Fine! Next time, don't expect to eat my grilled meat. I want to see how you, a little princess, will solve your food problems in the wilderness," the Blue Silver Empress immediately retorted.
"Hehe! I'll eat what Xiaoming grills," Bibi Dong replied.
"Oh! Wasn't it you who said in the inn, 'Who wants Xiaoming?'" the Blue Silver Empress countered.
The two women didn't miss a chance to bicker, even during mealtime.
Only Lin Yongming wisely kept quiet and continued eating. He had tried to interject before, but... well, better not to mention that.
At this moment, the silent Lin Yongming's ears twitched as he heard a conversation from the floor below.
"Have you heard? Last night, something happened in Shashi Village. It seems that out of about 300 households, half of the population was killed."
"Of course I've heard. The city guards and Spirit Hall have both been dispatched, but they haven't returned yet."
"Do you think it was sea beasts or some spirit masters?"
"We're close to the sea, and I've lived most of my life here, but I've never heard of sea beasts coming ashore to kill people."
"Ah Silver, Bibi Dong, something seems to have happened. I heard that a nearby village has had an incident," Lin Yongming interrupted the bickering women.
"Really? I didn't hear anything," Bibi Dong replied, coming back to her senses.
"I didn't hear it either," the Blue Silver Empress added.
"With you two constantly bickering, how could you hear anything?" Lin Yongming thought helplessly.
"Alright, let's hurry up and eat. After we finish, we'll go to Spirit Hall to find out what's happening," Lin Yongming said, quickly shoveling food into his mouth.
"Alright!"
Seeing Lin Yongming's serious demeanor, they stopped arguing immediately.
Ten minutes later, after paying the bill, the three quickly headed towards Spirit Hall.
"Who dares to trespass into Spirit Hall?!" guards stopped Lin Yongming and the others.
"We are from the Judgment Team of Spirit Hall Headquarters," Bibi Dong immediately took out a purple token with a golden small angel on it. In front of the angel were two crossed swords.
This was a Judgment Token that Thousand Desire had specially given to Bibi Dong and the others to facilitate their training, as it wouldn't be practical for Bibi Dong to constantly introduce herself as the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall.
"Members of the Judgment Department! Please enter, my lords," the guard immediately said.
"Let me ask, shouldn't there be ten guards patrolling outside a Spirit Hall like this? Why are there only two of you?" Bibi Dong frowned, asking with an authoritative tone.
"My lord, a nearby village had an incident. The others went with the kingdom's soldiers on a mission. They left early in the morning, but they should be returning soon," the guard replied.
"What exactly happened?" Bibi Dong asked further.
"This subordinate doesn't know. Only the Bishop knows the details."
"We're going in," Bibi Dong said, and the three entered the Spirit Hall.
Since Spirit Hall buildings were very uniform, the main hall was always in roughly the same location, so the three easily found their way to the great hall.
"Who are you?" an elderly man with graying hair asked, puzzled as Lin Yongming walked into the main hall.
"I am Bibi Dong."
"I am Lin Yongming."
"I am Blue Silver."
"So it's the Holy Maiden and the recipient of the Purple Record Medal."
"This old man is Lu Neike, greeting the two lords," Lu Neike immediately came down from his position to pay his respects.
"Bishop Lu, we just arrived in Luben City and heard that a nearby village had an incident. What happened?" Bibi Dong asked seriously.
"I'm not very clear about it either. Last night, someone came to the city asking for help, saying that three spirit masters attacked their village. The city guards informed us, and that's how we found out. So early this morning, we sent people there."
"But strangely, a whole day has passed, and neither our people nor the city soldiers have returned. This old man has a feeling of unease," Bishop Lu shared what he knew.
"Is it Shashi Village?" Lin Yongming asked.
"Yes, it's Shashi Village, about twenty li from Luben City," Bishop Lu nodded.
"Bishop Lu, this is a matter of life and death, so let's cut to the chase. Bring out a detailed map of the area around Luben City. We'll head to Shashi Village right away to see what's happening," Bibi Dong immediately said.
"Yes, Holy Maiden," Bishop Lu immediately took out a map of the surrounding area, which was much more detailed than the continental map in Lin Yongming's possession.
"Let's go!" Bibi Dong glanced at the map, which marked the location of Shashi Village.
"Holy Maiden, please be careful. I entrust the others to you," Bishop Lu accompanied them to the Spirit Hall's main gate and said.
The three then quickly headed outside the city.
"Although twenty li isn't far, we don't know what happened to the Spirit Hall guards and the kingdom's soldiers. Let's fly there directly," Bibi Dong immediately said.
"Do you need me to carry you?" Lin Yongming asked.
"It's fine. Although I haven't fully merged with the external spirit bone, as long as I don't fly too high, I won't lose control," Bibi Dong said as she summoned her Six-Winged Purple Light Wings.
"Alright, let's go!" Lin Yongming embraced the Blue Silver Empress and summoned his Purple Lightning Wings.
"Follow me, it's in the northeast direction," Bibi Dong led the way, consulting the map.
"Got it!"
The three moved quickly, and with their flight, it only took about half an hour to cover the twenty li.
Mainly because Bibi Dong's flight speed wasn't as fast as Lin Yongming's. Otherwise, Lin Yongming would have reached there in about fifteen minutes.
Soon, a large village with many fires appeared in their view.
The three landed directly at the place where the villagers were gathered.
"Who goes there?!"
"Don't panic, we are people sent by Spirit Hall. Where are the other Spirit Hall members and soldiers?" Bibi Dong asked, seeing that they were surrounded by villagers. According to Bishop Lu, there should be Spirit Hall guards and soldiers in the village.
"Oh, it's the lords from Spirit Hall. The other lords went to the back mountain to chase the culprits, because the culprits took away many villagers last night and ran into the back mountain," a middle-aged man stepped forward to answer.
"How many of your people were taken?" the Blue Silver Empress couldn't help but ask.
"They took all children, about a dozen or so. We can't count them now," the villager replied.
"That's not right. Bishop Lu said that when you went to Luben City for help last night, you mentioned only three spirit masters. How could three people take away more than a dozen children?" Bibi Dong asked seriously.
"There were indeed three when they came, but the three came several times in succession. My daughter was among them," the villager said sadly.
"So they were found in the back mountain, right?"
"Yes, my lord! Please, save our children," many people pleaded with Lin Yongming and the others.
"Stay calm, we're going after them now," Bibi Dong immediately nodded solemnly, summoned her external spirit bone again, and flew towards the back mountain.
Lin Yongming, seeing this, naturally took the Blue Silver Empress and followed.
"The villagers didn't lie to us. There are definitely man-made traces below, and they're quite chaotic," the Blue Silver Empress observed the ground of the back mountain.
"Yes, I see them. Let's make an extra effort and follow these traces," Bibi Dong was also looking at the marks on the ground and wild grass.
The deeper they went into the mountains, the denser the forest became, with many trees growing, and the ground visibility was low due to the tree cover.
"There's no movement below. We need to go deeper," Lin Yongming expanded his mind's eye but didn't detect anyone.
"There's a large mountain body ahead, and there must be caves in it," Bibi Dong reminded Lin Yongming.
"Wait, I sense the aura of death at the foot of the mountain ahead," Bibi Dong warned.
Soon, the three arrived at their destination and saw three cold corpses.
"These aren't Spirit Hall uniforms, so they must be kingdom soldiers."
"They should be nearby, but there's no sign of a fight. They might have been captured and taken somewhere."
Bibi Dong and the Blue Silver Empress said one after another.
"Bibi Dong, you're right. I sense a deep cave on the side of the mountain to our right. There are chaotic fluctuations coming from inside," Lin Yongming informed.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go."
The three could fly, which was fortunate, otherwise climbing in the mountain full of weeds and thorns would have been challenging.
"Who goes there?"
Just as the three approached the cave, someone walked out from inside and shouted.
"It's a Fallen One!"
"Got it. Third soul skill, Blue Silver Binding," the Blue Silver Empress released her soul skill, not just the ordinary entanglement, directly controlling the Fallen One.
"First soul skill, Death Blade!" Bibi Dong immediately attacked, instantly killing the Fallen One controlled by the Blue Silver Empress.
Lin Yongming and the others landed on the platform at the cave entrance.
"This is a natural karst cave. The Fallen Ones probably discovered this place while moving," the Blue Silver Empress explained, looking at the natural cave without any man-made traces.
"Regardless of whether it's a natural cave or not, as long as we confirm there are people inside, it's fine."
"Let's go in!" Bibi Dong immediately said.
"Let's go!"
Lin Yongming and the others walked into the dark cave passage. Water occasionally dropped from the tunnel's bottom, and the sides were very smooth, confirming it was indeed a natural karst cave.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 237 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 90 power stones I will publish the next chapter.