Searching for Information

Back at the inn, the Mystic Cavalry convened in Mo Mian's room for a meeting.

"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."

"Why don't we just bash our way into the woods and search for that black armed monkey?" Pu Feixiang suggested instead. "After all, the earlier we get rid of it, the earlier the villagers can start fishing with peace of mind!"

"No, that will be too dangerous," Mo Mian disagreed. "There are far too many unknowns about the monkey demon right now. Rushing in thoughtlessly is not wise."

"If you say so," Pu Feixiang shrugged.

"What do you think, Junior Martial Brother Zhao?" Chu Han asked.

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

Some might say that they were being too careful right now, but Zhao Yunxiao actually preferred this line of approach.

He had always believed that ample preparation was the key to success.

In fact, had Mo Mian decided to take Pu Feixiang's suggestion and just bash into the wilds in search of the monkey demon, Zhao Yunxiao's evaluation of the party leader would have plummeted in an instant.

"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."

"Got it," the group agreed, and promptly returned to their respective rooms.

Indeed, it was already late at night, and most of the villagers had long returned to their homes.

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

However, there was still a slight difference between it being unlikely and it being impossible.

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

Under the dim illumination of the crescent moon, Zhao Yunxiao's figure quietly leapt out of the window of his second storey room, landing softly onto the empty ground outside.

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.

After all, there were only so many things that one could do without being able to see anything around them.

Thankfully, Zhao Yunxiao did not have to face this same problem.

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.

That was the reason why the lack of illumination in the village had no impact on him whatsoever.

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

After all, one's spiritual sense could even be extended to cover those nooks and crannies that were well hidden from the line 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.

East Stream Village was not large by any measure.

It did not take long before he managed to comb through the entire village and gain a full understanding of the overall layout.

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.

Even from his room on the second storey, Zhao Yunxiao could easily listen in to many of the conversations going on outside the inn.

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!

Zhao Yunxiao could not help but let out a bitter smile upon hearing that.

If he could hear this, then surely the other members of the Mystic Cavalry would be able to as well.

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

Now then, it was time to get to work.

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

Just like yesterday, the inn seemed to be devoid of customers.

"Good morning, great cultivator sir!" the chubby innkeeper immediately greeted him with a bright smile. "Would you like to have anything for breakfast?"

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

"Coming right up!" the innkeeper immediately went in to prepare.

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.

There was even news that the village head had managed to put in a good word, so one of the members of the Mystic Cavalry would be going along with them for assurance.

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 steamed 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. I have to say that he really is an amazing guy. Despite his age, he is still strong and healthy. Those younger fishermen have nothing on him!"

"That's amazing indeed," Zhao Yunxiao agreed. "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 answer your questions 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 actually 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 to go on 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.

The villagers were simply too courteous and cooperative. The moment he asked someone where this Madam Dian stayed, he volunteered to personally bring Zhao Yunxiao over.

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.

That was not very useful, but at least the innkeeper was not wrong about those things.

Now then, 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.