Tang Bai Li

Chapter 11 There is a blade master in the village

The temporary command post on the outskirts of West Mountain was silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Upon hearing Yin Zhongxiu's words, shock was evident on Yin Shui'er's exquisite face:

“Fengqing Village is not within the protection zone?”

“What a joke!”

“You should know, the night watchman of Fengqing Village is, at best, a Rank 1异人 (yi ren). Furthermore, the case of Xiaokang Village has not yet been solved. If the group behind this attacks again, what will he use to resist?”

“Keep your voice down, keep your voice down! My hearing isn't good!” Under the barrage of accusations, Yin Zhongxiu could only cover his ears in a flustered manner. “You’ve read the case files of the Fifth Department, haven’t you?”

“I’ve read some, of course. What does that have to do with Fengqing Village?”

Yin Shui’er frowned, not understanding why her uncle suddenly brought up the Fifth Department.

The Guiye Domain had five Demon Extermination Divisions. Besides their Luobuo City, there were four other bases for the Demon Extermination Divisions, each located in the most densely populated towns of the Guiye Domain, with different responsibilities.

The Fifth Department was the most special. Its headquarters was located in a remote mountain forest, and it was responsible for investigating cases that the other four divisions could not crack.

Their strength might not be the strongest, but their abilities in deduction, investigation, and tracking were definitely top-tier.

Meeting the strange glances of everyone, Yin Zhongxiu awkwardly lowered his hands:

“The Liaoyuanhuo Cavern explosion case three years ago, I believe you remember it.”

Mentioning the name, Yin Shui’er’s eyes deepened. That volcano had erupted the first day she arrived in Guiye, so she naturally remembered such a significant event.

Liaoyuan Cavern was a large volcano with a deep geothermal vein, prone to eruption at any time. If such a place were to be corrupted by darkness and become a source of pollution, the 异鬼 (yi gui) it spawned would be terrifying. Therefore, their division had always wanted to resolve the issue of this volcano but didn't know how to proceed.

After all, the Guiye Domain was only so large. If that geothermal vein truly erupted, it would affect some villages, even destroy them, no matter how far away they were.

And on the second day after she took office, Liaoyuan Mountain actually exploded. Most crucially, the explosion did not cause any adverse consequences. Although the spectacle was astonishing, and the magma from the cavern splashed everywhere, the geothermal vein did not erupt violently. Instead, it flowed out slowly, without affecting the surrounding villages. The commotion was so small that some people didn’t even know the volcano was gone.

“This explosion was initially deemed to be man-made because the investigation revealed that the magma did not erupt in large quantities due to the perfect timing, location, and magnitude of the explosion. This level of precision was impossible even for a Lord-level异兽 (yi shou).”

“And even if it could do it, it wouldn’t deliberately control it. After all, its aim is to destroy humanity.”

Hearing this explanation, Yin Shui’er pondered and said:

“So, a supremely powerful 异人 (yi ren) happened to pass by and casually resolved the crisis of Liaoyuan Mountain?”

Following his line of reasoning, Yin Shui’er arrived at this conclusion without surprise.

But to her surprise, Yin Zhongxiu shook his head:

“There is such a person, but he didn't just pass by. He lives here.”

“And the case of the giant snake demon outside Maple Forest Town last year – the Rank 2 pollution source was cleared by an explosion as soon as it formed. The occasional 异鬼 (yi gui) corpses were also beheaded with a single strike.

“Yesterday’s massacre case in Xiaokang Village, and today I found countless 异鬼 (yi gui) corpses between West Mountain and Graveyard Mountain, also killed with a single strike. The ultimate origin of those corpses was Fengqing Village. This means that the swordsman, within Guiye, went from Fengqing Village all the way to Graveyard Mountain, then to West Mountain, possessing immense power!”

A hint of fire appeared in Yin Zhongxiu's eyes. The Demon Extermination Divisions governed everything in Guiye, and every ability user was registered. Only that swordsman, he could never find.

“There were also some smaller cases before you came here. In short, that person's methods were ruthless and his actions were swift. All signs indicate that this person has always been around us, and based on his activity trajectory, we have finally determined his approximate location.”

Seeing where the man pointed on the map, Yin Shui’er's pupils slightly contracted:

“You mean, that mysterious person has been living in Fengqing Village all along?”

“It’s highly possible.”

“Then why didn’t he protect Xiaokang Village!” Yin Shui’er was full of incomprehension. Such a powerful expert, living in Fengqing Village, couldn't possibly not have noticed the incident in Xiaokang Village.

“I don’t know either. His actions are truly baffling. But one thing is for sure: last night’s 异鬼 (yi gui) attack likely occurred twice. The first was repelled by that night watchman. The second one, however, enraged that mysterious swordsman, which is why there were so many corpses on Graveyard Mountain.”

As Yin Zhongxiu said this, he took a sip of his tea:

“The reason I recalled all of you so conspicuously, not to investigate cases or guard Fengqing Village, is to make the group behind this relax their vigilance, making them think the Demon Extermination Division is preoccupied and cannot attend to this area. This will then lure them into targeting Fengqing Village again, and then have that mysterious swordsman capture them all in one fell swoop!”

“And incidentally, allow me to find that person.”

Yin Zhongxiu revealed a smile. He was very satisfied with this plan.

But Yin Shui’er was utterly disbelieving. She never expected her uncle, whom she usually looked down upon, to possess such boldness.

“What if that swordsman isn't in Fengqing Village? What if you guessed wrong? Fengqing Village will be reduced to ruins like Xiaokang Village. You are gambling with people’s lives!”

Yin Shui’er almost shouted, and water elements even began to seep from her skin, indicating her extreme anger.

Her upbringing had taught her that human lives were paramount, above all else.

She could not allow Yin Zhongxiu to gamble with the lives of the common people.

But Yin Zhongxiu just silently took a drag of his cigarette. He didn't mind Yin Shui’er speaking to him loudly or arguing with him, but this plan had been decided long ago, and no one could change it.

The 异人 (yi ren) on either side also remained silent, not daring to speak rashly at this moment.

No matter how presumptuous Yin Shui’er was in front of the Governor, such a relationship was limited only to the two of them.

Yin Zhongxiu was notorious for his bad temper in the Demon Extermination Division. Anyone who provoked him would inevitably face a severe beating.

Yan Yu, standing nearby, couldn't stand the silence, as it should have been a time of chaos.

So he coughed and quietly tugged Yin Shui’er's sleeve, signaling her to sit down quickly.

Yin Shui’er stared blankly at her senior brother, then at the others: “You all knew about this plan long ago?”

“Not long ago,” Yin Zhongxiu squinted slightly. “You haven’t gained nothing. At least you know the night watchman of that village is an 异人 (yi ren). That’s enough. He must have a connection with the mysterious swordsman, so Fengqing Village.”

The man smiled confidently:

“Will definitely be safe!”

......