I Am What I Am
Though they have not spotted An Xin from the South coast and only found the ghost with the pipa, the travels of cultivators Quan Neng and Junior Fu were not useless.
Young Master Quan had casted a seeking spell towards the creature that was used to claw out Princess Jinzhu's eyes. It still existed today, and its scent was still present even in this ethereal woman. Almost like sulfur mixed with the rancid stench of dried blood.
"The creature is still close by. We must go northwest. Follow the path of the Road of Silk." He said, boarding his sword Yan Tong again.
In mortal terms, the Road of Silk was not really 'close by'. The South coast and the nearest path to the Eurasian trading route was thousands of li* away. But it was easy enough for cultivators to travel, especially powerful ones like Young Master Quan and Junior Fu.
Soon, they have spotted a suspicious wooden cart going far westward past the Himalayas with the same smell of sulfur and blood.