There were nothing but regular monkeys. What a waste of my efforts!” Pu Feixiang complained.


    That’s nothing surprising since it was a long shot in the first place. Things are rarely this easy,” Chu Han said. “What should we do next? Shall we continue lying in wait?”


    No, let’s just leave the traps there for now,” Mo Mian decided. “Instead, we will split up and go gather more information around the village. Perhaps there will be some useful information that can be found around the village, or perhaps some of the villagers will have things to add.”


    “


    “


    “


    “


    I think it is a good idea to look for more clues before planning our next move,” Zhao Yunxiao nodded.


    That settles it. It is getting late, so everyone should go and get some rest,” Mo Mian said. “There is no need to report to me tomorrow morning. Let’s go our separate ways and reconvene in the evening to put together what we’ve got.”


    “


    Even if they went around the village now, it was unlikely that they would be able to gather any useful information.


    Sometimes, there mighteven be clues that would be hard to spot when there were people around instead.


    East Stream Village was a poor fishing village, so they naturally could not afford to put up night torches.


    That was also the main reason why none of the villagers really stayed out after sunset.


    And that was not even due to the fact that his senses as a cultivator were more refined, but because he was absolutely not relying on his senses in the first place.


    Right now, Zhao Yunxiao was trying to do two things at once – explore the village, as well as practise his Earthen Clone Technique.


    The figure moving around East Stream Village was none other than a clone of his, while his true body remained in his assigned room and meditated.


    It sounded like a convenient way to get multiple things done at once, but there were limitations to it as well.


    Disregarding the sheer difficulty of doing so, perhaps the most significant limitation was that Zhao Yunxiao was unable to share in the physical senses of the clone, and thus had to rely solely on the spiritual sense of the clone to observe the surroundings.


    Though, in a way, doing so actually allowed him to gather more information than simply looking around through meresense of sight.


    Since there was no one else out and about, Zhao Yunxiao could move around without restraint, even employing the Xuanwu Movement Art to increase his pace.


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    Unfortunately, he did not manage to find anything related to the demon.


    Of course, Zhao Yunxiao had expected as much from the start, so he was not too disappointed at the result.


    After moving his clone a distance away from the village, Zhao Yunxiao promptly cancelled the Earthen Clone Technique, allowing his clone to crumble to the ground as a pile of earth.


    Since the villagers went to bed early, they naturally got up early as well. By the break of dawn, most of the villagers were already up and about.


    Zhao Yunxiao did not know if it was due to excitement or if it was simply in their nature, but the villagers did not care to control their volume during their conversation with one another.


    Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of these conversations were actually about them – about how the cultivators from the Black Tortoise Sect who arrived yesterday were definitely going to save East Stream Village, pulling it out of its current dire straits!


    He could only hope that hearing this would not rile up the emotions with Mo Mian and Pu Feixiang even further.


    Zhao Yunxiao chose not to check on the others, heading straight down to the first storey of the inn.


    “


    A simple fare will do,” Zhao Yunxiao said before taking a seat.


    “


    Zhao Yunxiao patiently waited in his seat while continuing to eavesdrop on the many conversations going on outside.


    It would appear that there were some people going fishing later, so the villagers were putting together a guard team as always.


    Zhao Yunxiao could not help but wonder who was the member who would be going with them later.


    “Apologies for the wait. Here are boiled eggs and buns, along with a pot of fragrant tea!” the innkeeper reappeared at his table soon after.


    “Thank you,” Zhao Yunxiao nodded in acknowledgement.


    “Well then, I won’t bother you any longer,” the innkeeper said. “It is nothing fantastic, but I hope you enjoy the food!”


    “Wait a minute,” Zhao Yunxiao stopped him from leaving. “If I wish to find out more about the demon problem, who do you think would be the best person for me to speak to? Apart from the village head, that is.”


    “The best person to speak to?” the innkeeper rubbed his chin in contemplation. “That, I’m not too sure... perhaps Old Lin? He is the most experienced fisherman in the village. Surely he will know a thing or two about the incidents that happen around the river.”


    “Old Lin?” Zhao Yunxiao replied. “Is he among the group that will be going fishing later?”


    “Great cultivator sir is all-knowing!” the innkeeper exclaimed in surprise. “Old Lin is indeed joining the fishing group later. he really is an amazing guy. Despite his age, he is still strong and healthy. Those young fishermen have nothing on him!”


    “That’s amazing indeed,” Zhao Yunxiao . “How about apart from this Old Lin? Is there anyone else who might be worth talking to?”


    Since many of the incidents involved those who were fishing by the river, it would make sense to talk to an experienced fisherman in the village.


    But since there was already a member of the Mystic Cavalry who would be going with the fishing group later, Zhao Yunxiao decided to just leave this matter to whoever that was.


    “Someone else?” the innkeeper fell into deep thought. “Let me think, who else is there...?”


    “Don’t worry about it if you can’t think of anyone else,” Zhao Yunxiao did not want to pressure the innkeeper. “It is not important anyway. I am just trying to make sure that we do not miss any clues, no matter how small.”


    “There is Madam Dian, but this might not be the best time to talk to her about this...” the innkeeper was hesitant with his suggestion.


    “Is there something wrong?” Zhao Yunxiao asked.


    “She had to witness her husband being taken by the demon just a few weeks ago, so I’m not sure if she will be in the right state of mind to answerquestions right now,” the innkeeper explained.


    “Let me try to talk to her. If I see that she is not comfortable about it, I will leave her be instead,” Zhao Yunxiao said. “Where can I find this Madam Dian?”


    “I just hope great cultivator sir doesn’t misunderstand or get offended if she says something strange because of her current emotional turmoil...” the innkeeper seemed to be more worried about Zhao Yunxiao’s feelings than the lady’s. “Her house is over on the other end of the village, the one with a sharp roof and a dirty chimney.”


    Zhao Yunxiao: “...”


    He had explored the village the night before, and almost a third of the houses had sharp roofs!


    As for a dirty chimney, which house in the village did not have a dirty chimney?


    But at least he had a name now.


    With that, he could simply ask around after getting to the other end of the village.


    After finishing the simple breakfast, Zhao Yunxiao placed a few copper coins on the table before leaving to look for this Madam Dian.


    And it did not take long before Zhao Yunxiao arrived at her doorstep.


    Zhao Yunxiao’s gaze could not help but wander to the roof of the house.


    It was sharp indeed, and the chimney was dirty indeed.


    at least the innkeeper was not wrong about those things.


    Now , it was just a matter of whether this Madam Dian would be in the right frame of mind to provide him with any answers!


    Just as he was thinking this, the door of the house opened, and a relatively young woman appeared while holding a child by the hand.