After running for an entire day, taking only brief rests to replenish their qi, the group pressed on through the dense forest. They never allowed their reserves to drop below half, knowing they needed to stay prepared for any sudden fight. Even the reckless Xie Lang agreed, understanding the danger of running into the demonic cultivator unprepared.
By nightfall, they were half a day from the village. The sky darkened into a moonlit veil, the forest's shadows growing longer. Xu Jin slowed his pace and gestured for the others to gather. "We're close," he said quietly. "If we keep this pace, we'll reach the village by midnight." He glanced around, voice lowering. "Once we're there, we won't go straight in. We'll scout the area first. If there's a traitor inside, showing ourselves might tip them off."
The others nodded, listening intently.
"We'll split into three teams. Xie Lang, you'll go alone." Xu Jin raised a hand as Xie Lang opened his mouth to protest. "You're the strongest of us, and you move fast. It makes the most sense."
Xie Lang grinned, clearly pleased. "Damn right."
"Yan Bai and Yan Hei will take the east side." Xu Jin turned to Lin Shu. "You and I will cover the west."
"Agreed," Lin Shu said quietly.
Xu Jin reached into his pouch and pulled out several small flares, handing one to each person. "If any of you encounter the demonic cultivator or anything suspicious, light this immediately. The rest of us will converge on your position. If none of us find anything, we'll regroup and enter the village to gather information."
With the plan set, they pressed on, the forest's quiet broken only by their footsteps and the occasional call of a night bird. When they finally reached the outskirts of the village, they wordlessly split off into their assigned teams, fading into the shadows.
Lin Shu and Xu Jin moved silently along the west side, carefully scanning the area. The village itself was dark and quiet, only a few dim lights flickering through the wooden shutters of the homes. The forest pressed close to the village's edge, offering plenty of cover for someone trying to stay hidden.
After over an hour of searching, the group reconvened at the rendezvous point.
"I can't believe we found nothing," Yan Bai grumbled, crossing his arms. "We searched the entire perimeter."
"Told you sneaking around was useless," Xie Lang scoffed. "If we'd just gone in and grabbed the bastard by the throat, we'd be done by now."
"Not this again…" Xu Jin sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"What if we're looking at this the wrong way?" Yan Hei suddenly spoke up, his quiet voice drawing everyone's attention. "What if the demonic cultivator doesn't have an informant? What if he's part of the village? If he knows the layout and the people, he wouldn't need a spy to feed him information."
The group exchanged surprised looks. Yan Bai clapped his brother's back with a grin. "Hah! That's my brother — sharp as always."
Lin Shu nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. But what if we take it one step further?" The others turned toward him, curious. "Before we enter the village, let's split into two groups. Xie Lang and I will stay outside and keep watch. If the cultivator isn't here right now, we can catch him returning or observe anyone sneaking out to meet him. Meanwhile, the rest of you go into the village and quietly gather information without mentioning us. That way, we'll cover both angles."
Xu Jin's eyes lit up. "That's brilliant. Whether he's an outsider or one of the villagers, we'll corner him."
The group exchanged nods, their resolve strengthening.
Xu Jin and the twins made their way toward the village, passing a worn wooden sign that read Windgrove Village. The night was quiet, save for the distant chirping of insects and the rustling of leaves in the wind. Lin Shu and Xie Lang remained behind, blending into the shadows.
Xie Lang shifted restlessly. "So, what do we do now?"
Lin Shu turned to him, voice low and calm. "You head east. I'll take the west. Find a good hiding spot and watch the area. If anyone suspicious shows up, follow them — quietly. Don't rush into a fight alone." He gave Xie Lang a hard look. "I know you're strong, but we can't afford reckless moves. We need to know who we're dealing with. If you spot the demonic cultivator, use the flare immediately. We'll ambush him together."
Xie Lang scratched his head, looking unimpressed. "Tch. Fine. I'll play along… but if he's weak, I'll crush him myself." He grinned, already itching for a fight. "See you later, Lin Shu."
They parted ways, fading into the night. Lin Shu moved silently, his eyes scanning for a vantage point. Eventually, he settled on a shadowed ridge overlooking the village. From here, he could see the outskirts and the forest beyond, the perfect spot to catch anyone sneaking in or out. His Ivory Dominion armor formed soundlessly around him, bone-white gauntlets gleaming faintly in the moonlight. He kept his qi steady, preparing to activate Ivory Monolith at the slightest hint of danger.
As he waited, a cold thought crept into his mind. If I find him alone… and I'm sure I can win… I'll kill him myself. No witnesses. I'll take whatever he has and blame the demonic cultivator's corpse for the missing items. Lin Shu's lips curled into a faint smirk. Only the strong survive, after all.
---
Inside the village, Xu Jin and the twins were stopped at the entrance by two guards, both weary and tense. The guards stiffened when the trio approached, but after Xu Jin presented their Stone Path Hall tokens, the tension eased. One of the guards silently led them deeper into the village.
They arrived at a modest but well-kept house near the center of the village. The guard knocked twice before stepping aside, allowing them to enter. The village leader awaited them inside — a short, middle-aged man with sharp eyes and an air of authority. Though he stood calmly, his qi was undeniable. Xu Jin felt a quiet pressure in the air, realizing the man was at the high stage of Rank 1. Not someone to underestimate.
"I assume you're the group sent by Stone Path Hall?" The man's voice was polite but firm, showing respect for their institute despite their youth. "I appreciate your arrival. We cannot spare the manpower to deal with that damned demonic bastard. The beast wave is coming… faster than expected."
Xu Jin frowned. "Faster?"
The village leader nodded grimly. "Yes. It was supposed to arrive in five days, but now we only have two. We don't know why they're moving so quickly, but we don't have time to worry about it. For your own safety, I suggest you complete the mission before the beasts arrive."
"What kind of beasts are you preparing for?" Xu Jin asked.
The leader's face darkened. "Blood-Eyed Hyenas. Over a hundred of them. Their pack leader is a high-stage Rank 1 beast. We can't fight them head-on — they'd tear us apart. Instead, we'll reduce their numbers slowly, launching hit-and-run attacks while they're still in the forest." He sighed, rubbing his forehead. "The empire hasn't sent any reinforcements. No messages. No help. It's like they've abandoned us."
Xu Jin exchanged uneasy glances with the twins. A beast wave and a demonic cultivator at the same time… it didn't feel like coincidence.
"What can you tell us about the demonic cultivator?" Xu Jin asked, pushing the thought aside for now.
The village leader scowled. "He's struck several times already. Killed two of our people — early-stage Rank 1 cultivators. We think he's at the middle stage. No one's seen his face, but after every attack, there are signs of Qi and corpses left drained of blood. We've found traces of his fights — torn clothing, dried blood — but no solid leads. Last time he was seen near the old granary on the village's south side."
Xu Jin nodded. "Understood. We'll investigate." He hesitated, then asked, "Sir… do you suspect someone in the village might be helping him?"
The village leader's expression tightened. "I've considered it. But without proof, accusing anyone would only spread panic." He let out a slow breath. "That's why I hired you. Solve this quickly. I can't have a demonic cultivator running loose while we're fending off a beast wave."
After gathering all the information they could, Xu Jin and the twins left the village leader's house and made their way toward the last known attack sites. The village was eerily quiet, the air thick with tension. Villagers moved quickly, reinforcing their homes and setting traps for the approaching beasts. Even the guards had grim looks, knowing the odds were against them.
As they reached the old granary, Yan Bai glanced around nervously. "Shouldn't we split up? Cover more ground?"
"No," Xu Jin said firmly. "We stick together. If the demonic cultivator shows up, we don't want to face him alone."
They settled into their positions, hiding in the shadows and waiting. The village's defenders would be leaving soon, heading into the forest to slow the hyena pack. The village would be left vulnerable. If the demonic cultivator was planning another attack, tonight would be the perfect time.
As they waited in the darkness, the wind whispered through the trees, carrying the distant sound of howling hyenas. The night stretched on, tense and silent. The hunt had begun.