The City God was gone!

Not only that, but throughout the whole Donglin Quarter, no Patrolling Wanderers or Netherworld Enforcers could be seen.

The two men suddenly realized.

Something was definitely wrong!

They immediately turned back. After casting a concealment technique to hide their forms, they returned to the Huang residence.

The celebration had ended now, and people had been returning home one after another.

People passing by wore smiles, some swaying with drunken staggers back to their houses.

“The Demonic Qi vanished!” Zhong Zhengyuan frowned. “That Old Dog ran away!”

Chen Changsheng looked toward the courtyard, spreading his Divine Sense, but found no sign of ‘Huang Shan’.

He had truly run away.

Meanwhile, Old Huang was tidying up things in the yard, seeming entirely unaware.

“Should we ask him?” Zhong Zhengyuan suggested.

But Chen Changsheng shook his head. “There are too many suspicious points here. Right now, it seems this old man might not know anything about this.”

He raised a hand, performing a quick calculation.

Suddenly, he froze, frowning. “I actually can’t divine anything?”

“Even you can’t divine it, Mr. Chen?” Zhong Zhengyuan was stunned.

Chen Changsheng’s brow furrowed tightly as he thought for a moment. “To the Yamen!”

The two left the Huang house and headed straight for the county government office.

If Huang Shan dared to hold such an outrageously large wedding feast, then the Yamen officials must surely know something. Otherwise, they would have already come to arrest him.

Chen Changsheng said, “The City God of this place, along with the Netherworld Enforcers… all are likely dead. That Old Dog shouldn’t have that level of power.”

Zhong Zhengyuan’s expression grew grave. “A Monster capable of defeating a City God must be formidable. There might even be a Great Demon involved. Yet…” he paused, puzzled, “If it was merely for some Essence Qi, why go to such extreme lengths?”

Chen Changsheng looked at him. “Perhaps since the moment we stepped into Donglin Quarter, everything here has been an act.”

This act perhaps wasn’t meant for Old Huang at all, but for the two of them.

Chen Changsheng and Zhong Zhengyuan arrived at Donglin Quarter’s Yamen.

Guards stood at the entrance. After casting another spell, the two strode boldly into the Yamen.

The guard at the doorway shuddered slightly.

He glanced back but saw no one.

Thinking it just a trick of his mind, he paid it no further attention.

Donglin Quarter’s Yamen wasn’t large. Including constables, clerks, and the Magistrate himself, it held barely twenty people.

At this moment, the Magistrate of Donglin Quarter sat in the Yamen’s rear courtyard, writing official documents.

Lin Yuankai looked at what he’d written and nodded in satisfaction.

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Suddenly, a sound came from behind him.

He turned around, saw nothing, and turned back.

But the moment he faced his desk again, he froze in place.

Two gentlemen stood unmistakably before his table.

“You…” Lin Yuankai’s eyes widened, filled with utter terror.

“Gu—” He tried to shout, but Zhong Zhengyuan merely lifted a hand. No matter how hard Lin Yuankai tried, no sound escaped.

Lin Yuankai gaped, attempting to yell but utterly mute. Cold fear seized him before a sudden understanding struck.

He stared at the two gentlemen, then fell to his knees with a thud.

Zhong Zhengyuan spoke first. “Magistrate Master, please rise. We have come today to inquire about a certain matter.”

Lin Yuankai paused, then pointed frantically at his mouth, signaling his desire to speak.

Zhong Zhengyuan gestured, lifting the spell.

“I—” Feeling his voice return, Lin Yuankai immediately kowtowed. “This humble official pays respects to the two Immortal Lords!”

“Stand,” Chen Changsheng instructed.

Lin Yuankai hurriedly agreed and stood up.

Shudders of fear ran through him; his legs trembled still as he stood.

Chen Changsheng then asked, “In Donglin Quarter, there is a Huang family. They had a son named Huang Shan who was conscripted into the army years ago, only to return inexplicably later. Are you aware of this?”

Lin Yuankai looked confused. “Weren’t all those conscripted last year allowed to return?”

Zhong Zhengyuan blinked. “All returned?”

Lin Yuankai nodded. “Yes. All twenty-three came back. My understanding is someone pulled strings with the higher authorities, arranging their specific release.”

Chen Changsheng and Zhong Zhengyuan exchanged a look.

Both were visibly surprised.

Zhong Zhengyuan’s eyebrow arched. “That’s… significant!”

Chen Changsheng pressed on. “As the Magistrate, you didn’t investigate this?”

“This…” Lin Yuankai stammered awkwardly. “I… I am only a minor magistrate…”

He reasoned that since the men were back and no complaints were raised, he hadn’t thought it necessary to look further.

Chen Changsheng stated flatly, “Those twenty-three men died at the Frontier Pass the year before last.”

Lin Yuankai’s whole body stiffened. Stuttering, he uttered, “Then… then those who returned were…”

Chen Changsheng regarded him steadily. “…were never human in the first place.”

Lin Yuankai stood rooted to the spot. A cold breeze swept past, and a sudden chill ran down his spine.

…

Learning this from the Magistrate, the two immediately set out to find clues within Donglin Quarter.

They saw several elderly folks sitting near a courtyard entrance.

The old men chatted idly amongst themselves.

“It’s this late already, why aren’t the boys back?”

“They said they were going fishing, didn’t they? They should be back soon.”

“I suppose so.”

The elders seemed unconcerned. Their casual words, however, were heard distinctly by Chen Changsheng and Zhong Zhengyuan.

“It fooled even us!” Zhong Zhengyuan exclaimed softly.

Chen Changsheng said, “By the looks of it, most common folk here are unknowing. That banquet was likely an Illusionary Trick itself, or simply a means to stall the two of us.”

Given the circumstances now, any Monsters in Donglin Quarter were assuredly long gone.

Chen Changsheng asked, “Master Zhong, do you know any Divine Ability for tracking people or Monsters?”

Zhong Zhengyuan thought it over. “I do, yes… but it requires Demonic Qi as its anchor.”

“Why didn’t you mention this sooner?”

“You never asked, Mr. Chen! Besides, I currently lack anything for the ritual to anchor on,” Zhong Zhengyuan replied, looking innocent. He honestly hadn’t remembered. Skilled in Divination, he’d studied few such abilities. Only Chen Changsheng’s question jogged his memory.

Chen Changsheng suggested, “Perhaps we can find something at the wedding feast.”

They returned to the Huang residence.

Standing at the entrance, Chen Changsheng’s eyes flashed subtly. He spotted the small clump of dog fur lying on the ground.

“There really is!” Zhong Zhengyuan looked startled.

Chen Changsheng felt this was oddly convenient, but said nothing. He simply handed the dog fur to Zhong Zhengyuan.

Zhong Zhengyuan raised his hand, swiftly drawing a Talisman character in the air with his finger. He infused the clump of fur with power.

“Righteous Arts of Heaven and Earth, Track the Monster! Seek the Trail!”

“Appear!”

The Talisman condensed into a streak of Golden Light, taking the shape of a small bird, which instantly darted off in a specific direction.

The two men shared a look.

“Let’s go!”