Chapter 63: Stay Here

After surveying the courtyard, Chen Qing stepped into the house.

“Great State Preceptor, the first scholar Zhang who was killed by the monster lived in this very house,” someone guided Chen Qing.

Chen Qing, however, remained still and began calculating with his fingers once more.

After a while, he turned to the crowd and asked, “After Scholar Zhao’s death, who came here to investigate?”

“We did.”

As soon as Chen Qing finished speaking, two cultivators and a local official stepped forward.

“Look around this house. Do you notice anything different from last time?” Chen Qing pressed.

The three surveyed the room. The official shook his head and was the first to speak. “This humble servant is dull-witted.”

The two cultivators, however, scanned the room several times before speaking in unison, “State Preceptor, there is indeed something unusual about this house.”

“Go on,” Chen Qing said.

“Scholar Zhao has been dead for over ten days, yet this house is unnaturally clean—there isn’t a speck of dust!” one of the cultivators pointed out the anomaly they had noticed.

Chen Qing smiled and stepped into the room where Scholar Zhang had lived. “For the next few days, I will stay here.”

“Great State Preceptor, the prefectural office has already prepared accommodations for you and Prince Ning,” an official cautiously reported.

Chen Qing glanced at him and waved his hand. “I won’t be going to the prefectural office. During my stay in Shanggu Town, I will reside here.”

“But…” The welcoming officials frowned and knelt in unison, their expressions fearful.

“Great State Preceptor, if we have failed in our hospitality, we beg for your and Prince Ning’s forgiveness!”

Chen Qing frowned, realizing they had misunderstood, though he couldn’t explain the true reason. He dismissed them with a vague response, “Enough. There’s nothing lacking in your hospitality. I have my own reasons for staying here. If there’s nothing else, you may leave.”

After addressing the officials, Chen Qing turned to Prince Ning with a respectful and amiable demeanor. “Your Highness has traveled far. Perhaps you should accompany them to the guesthouse for rest.”

Prince Ning chuckled softly, his star-like eyes sweeping the room. “This place seems tranquil and has two bedrooms. Why don’t I stay here with the Great State Preceptor?”

“If that is your wish… very well,” Chen Qing replied after a brief pause, choosing not to persuade the prince further.

“You may leave now,” Prince Ning instructed the welcoming party.

“But…” The group exchanged uneasy glances, hesitating to move.

Their mission had been to escort these two esteemed figures to the prefectural office. Yet now, though they had met them, they were returning empty-handed!

“Is there something else?”

Noticing their reluctance, Prince Ning frowned, his usually gentle scholar’s demeanor now tinged with the cold authority of a ruler.

“Your Highness, State Preceptor, the town is unsettled at present. If you insist on staying here, should we assign more guards for your protection?” an official ventured cautiously.

“Unnecessary!” Prince Ning waved his hand. “I have full confidence in the Great State Preceptor’s abilities!”

“Then… we shall take our leave.” Though reluctant to leave without their honored guests, the officials obediently withdrew.

The Great State Preceptor Chen Qing retained only two of his disciples for protection.

Once the others had left, Prince Ning immediately asked with a frown, “State Preceptor, have you detected something unusual here?”

“Your Highness is astute,” Chen Qing confirmed without hesitation.

“What is it?” Prince Ning’s expression grew tense.

The State Preceptor sighed. “Does Your Highness recall my earlier prophecy?”

“Of course.” At the mention of it, Prince Ning’s face darkened with worry. “Over a month ago, while meditating in the Star-Gazing Tower, you observed chaos among the eight imperial stars representing the various races. You prophesied the emergence of a calamitous demon that would plunge the world into turmoil, bringing untold suffering to all living beings!”

“But I don’t understand. Are you staying here because the demon will appear in this place?”

Chen Qing’s expression was troubled as he sighed again. “Not will appear—it already has! My calculations suggest that the one destined to bring chaos to the world is right here in Shanggu Town! If my divinations are correct, this person was hiding in the late Scholar Zhang’s house!”

Night fell quietly.

Under the cover of darkness, two shadowy figures lurked in a secluded alley near the northern city gate.

“Are you sure the monster will strike again tonight?” Yun Qingxue whispered, frowning at Hua Yin.

Today, the human cultivators had summoned reinforcements. That alone wouldn’t have been concerning, but the reinforcements had taken up residence in the deceased Scholar Zhao’s house.

If Hua Yin and she hadn’t sensed trouble and abandoned their temporary hideout in time, they might have encountered the human experts before the flesh-eating monster did!

After leaving, Hua Yin had stealthily returned to the house. Upon coming back, he had decided that they would take advantage of the monster’s next attack to break through the city’s protective barrier and escape.

Yun Qingxue suspected Hua Yin had uncovered something alarming during his reconnaissance—something dire enough to prompt this risky plan. But no matter how she pressed him, Hua Yin refused to elaborate.

The two waited in the darkness for a long time until a sudden gust of wind swept through the clear night.

Soon, dark clouds drifted in, blotting out the moon and stars, plunging the world into utter blackness.

Hua Yin and Yun Qingxue exchanged a glance. The monster was likely about to strike. They had to seize their chance to escape while the cultivators dealt with it!

“When I break the barrier, no matter what happens, don’t stop. Run straight for the city gates and keep running as far as you can. Understand?” Hua Yin’s voice was icy and stern as he instructed her.

“What about you?” Yun Qingxue felt a sudden, ominous premonition—that Hua Yin was hiding something crucial from her.

Hua Yin studied her for a moment before smiling faintly. “Remember what you once said?”

“What?” Yun Qingxue frowned. They had exchanged many words over the past days.

“You said we were merely strangers who happened to cross paths,” Hua Yin reminded her.

“So?” Yun Qingxue’s gaze held complex emotions.

“So…”

Hua Yin took a deep breath. “We were strangers, and though we’ve shared hardships these past days, as the saying goes, all gatherings must end. Once the barrier is broken, we go our separate ways.

I’ll create the opportunity for you. Whether you escape depends on your own skill. This is as far as I can help you.”

Yun Qingxue lowered her eyes. She understood Hua Yin’s meaning all too well…