Clues

I almost jumped from the shock.

Figure changing was an advanced spell that wasn't difficult at all for Bai Ye, and any flaws in the effect would be well beyond a disciple's ability to discern. He obviously wanted to hide his identity from the group, but why? Where was he leading us? And how could he be here in the first place?

I was still staring at him stupefied when Xie Lun said, "We would appreciate the guide. Please lead the way."

Bai Ye the hunter nodded and gestured for us to follow him into the depths of the woods.

My heartbeat thudded in my ears as we trailed Bai Ye's footsteps. I had so many questions, and I quickened my pace, trying to catch up with him. But then I realized that I couldn't show my eagerness in front of the group. I slowed down instead, falling slightly behind so that I could watch him without others noticing.

His hunter disguise was of a stout build, with tanned skin, heavy muscles, and a stubble beard. There was no trace left of that god-like immortal in a white robe with long, flowy hair, and no hint of his usual scent of cedar. He seemed so distant and unfamiliar in such an appearance, yet at the same time, that measured and elegant gait was undoubtedly him.

The rest of the group remained silent and highly alert as we moved. Only my mood was brighter than ever. Following Bai Ye like this was strange but exciting in an unexpected way, and my eyes were glued to him so much that I ended up tripping over a tree root beneath my feet.

"Careful." Bai Ye was the first to turn around at the sound of me falling, though there was a fleeting smile on his face when he saw what happened. He must've understood why I wasn't watching my steps. "The forest floor gets less even here," he added. "We are in the heart of its most ancient parts. A lot of these trees are over a thousand years old, and their roots stretch far."

"How close are we to those dead wolves you saw?" Xie Lun asked, the suspicion in his voice growing stronger. The direction Bai Ye led us was opposite to what the village elder had suggested, away from the creek and deeper into the center of the woods.

"They are just past that pair of pine trees over there," Bai Ye replied calmly.

I regained my footing, and when we rounded the pine trees, Han Shu gasped. I couldn't help flinching as well.

Piled up behind the tree trunks were what remained of six or seven large wolves, dismembered and tangled in a gruesome heap. Legs were torn off, heads snapped backward, eyes missing from their sockets. Their bodies were covered in holes, and some parts were shriveled up as if sucked dry through their skin.

Was this what Bai Ye had found on his last trip?

Xie Lun frowned at the sight, and his hand tightened on his sword hilt. "How long ago did you find these?" he asked the "hunter".

"About a week ago," Bai Ye said.

"A week ago?" Qi Lian mumbled. "In late summer … how is there no sign of rotting or even a foul smell?"

The look in Xie Lun's eyes grew dark. He watched Bai Ye intently and backed into a tight circle with the other three members of the group. There was an unspoken understanding between them: this must be a trap.

My thoughts, however, were on something else. I was starting to understand Bai Ye's hints. "Senior Xie," I ventured, "the spiritual power here … have you sensed any abnormality?"

"What about it?" Xie Lun asked, not taking his eyes off Bai Ye.

"It's too strong in yin," I said. "In medicine, we use the yin spiritual power to preserve the potency in certain herbs. In a way, it extends their lives after they are gathered. The same thing could be happening here."

Xie Lun glanced at me. The moment his gaze shifted, Bai Ye looked my way as well, and I saw the encouragement in Bai Ye's eyes.

"Yin tends to condense at ancient locations rich in remnants of the past, such as bones or old trees." I continued, recalling Bai Ye's earlier words. "It's a strong power in itself … Could it be possible that the power attracted the demons here in the first place?"

I wondered if this was the reason why Bai Ye was here—to show us what he had discovered and guide us towards the answer. But why the disguise? Why not tell us directly instead of dropping subtle hints like this?

Xie Lun considered my hypothesis. He turned to Bai Ye and asked, "Where else have you seen dead wolves like this in the past few weeks?"

"There are a few more east of here, but this is the largest pack," Bai Ye said. "I don't usually hunt too far from my cabin. There could be more elsewhere."

"Your cabin is nearby?" Xie Lun asked.

Bai Ye nodded. "Just over that hill behind you."

Xie Lun pondered for a moment. "This may be a lot to ask," he said, looking at Bai Ye with something like a challenge in his eyes, "but would you be willing to let us stay at your cabin for a few nights? Even though you might not believe in demons, we'd like to make sure that you stay safe in this area, and staying close to this site will help us while we look into this matter."

His request startled the rest of the group. "Senior Xie—" All three of his juniors spoke at once. But Xie Lun raised a hand to quiet them, keeping his gaze trained on Bai Ye.

I watched the silent battle between Xie Lun and Bai Ye and suddenly understood the situation. Xie Lun was obviously still suspicious of the "hunter", but he had said that we would lure the demons into attacking us first, so this was how he planned to do it—by asking to stay with what he thought was the demon.

I sighed internally. Bai Ye likely didn't intend for things to get so complicated.

To my surprise, however, Bai Ye nodded. "You are most welcome to. The cabin is small for six, but I will leave before sunrise tomorrow for market day, so you can have it all to yourselves for a little while."

The three junior disciples exchanged a dubious glance between them. But Xie Lun had made up his mind. "We are grateful for your hospitality," he said and gestured for Bai Ye to show us the way.