Culprit Part 1

By noon, the sun was high in the sky, casting a bright, intense light over the forest.

"What happened here?" A middle-aged cultivator knelt beside a corpse, his eyes narrowing as he examined the scene.

He wore a dark blue robe with intricate silver trim, which shimmered slightly under the bright sun.

His black hair was tied back neatly, and his expression was a mix of concentration and concern.

The corpse lay on the ground, its face a twisted mess of blood and shattered bone.

Any familiar human features were almost unrecognizable, completely disfigured. Blood had collected around the body, soaking into the dirt. 

Noticing the color of the blood, which had darkened to a deep, almost black shade, he realized that the brutal attack had occurred several hours ago. 

But the horror was not over yet. There were more things that caught his attention.

He moved from one dead body to another, his eyes narrowing as he took in the full extent of the massacre .

Nearby, the remains of others showed similar brutality—some had their necks twisted at unnatural angles, while others had the marks of savage blows. 

He continued his investigation until he reached a house. There, another corpse lay on the ground with a gaping hole in its stomach. 

Kneeling on the ground, he examined the size of the wound. "Whoever did this is at least Mid Initial Stage," he uttered.

SWOOOSH! 

Another cultivator arrived, dressed in a black robe. He had gray hair and dark eyes, and his older appearance gave him an air of maturity and wisdom. 

"What did you find out, Tao Bai?" asked the new cultivator. 

"I checked the house, and no one is here. I have some guesses, Master Cui Fang." Tao Bai clasped his hands in respect.

Although both of them was at the Qi Gathering Stage, Master Cui Fang was at a higher level of mastery.

"Tell me what you learned," Cui Fang demanded, his hands clasped behind his back like a seasoned cultivator. He stood tall, his eyes sharp and focused.

Tao Bai took a deep breath and spoke. "I think an evil cultivator did this," he declared, his voice tinged with disgust. 

Cui Fang's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. He remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable .

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice firm.

"Yes, Master. I think that Fang Xuan has been practicing forbidden techniques and hiding it all along. That's why he looks weak and fragile," Tao Bai explained his deductions. 

Cui Fang raised his eyebrows. "But there was no sign of him practicing such techniques.

He even attended the ceremony yesterday, and we didn't sense any evil aura from him."

Tao Bai pulled something from his pocket and held it up. " I found this in the cellar ," 

"That's an evil sealing talisman!" Cui Fang exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise. He took a step closer, scrutinizing the object.

"If Fang Xuan was using this, it means he was hiding his true power very carefully." His expression shifted to one of deep concern.

"We need to act quickly. We must find him before he cause more harm." 

Tao Bai nodded. He understood the risk well; an Evil Cultivator at large was a serious threat. 

They were notorious for being unstable and maniacs, often resorting to killing and practicing degenerate acts to rapidly boost their cultivation base.

"Let's go now. There's no need to return to the town. He's only one evil cultivator; we can handle him," Cui Fang ordered. 

Both of them exited the house and began tracking Fang Xuan through the footprints he had left on the ground. 

While normal people might missed them, the senses of a Qi Gathering cultivator were not to be underestimated.

The two moved quickly through the trees, leaping from one branch to another. Cui Fang led the way, jumping with ease and landing softly on each branch. Tao Bai followed closely.

As they moved through the treetops, they kept track of the footprints leading their way. 

The trees blurred around them as they jumped, but they stayed focused on their goal.

Each leap brought them closer to finding Fang Xuan.