Not daring to delay, Lin Ji quickly left the government office and returned to his study.
"Zhou Ying!"
"My lord." Zhou Ying hurried into the study.
"Is the demon hunter from Linchuan County still here?"
"He's waiting in the side hall."
"Bring him in."
Before long, a demon hunter with a pale face entered the study.
Lin Ji scanned him with his divine sense, noting his cultivation at the Second Realm.
Appearing to be in his early thirties, with only a few strands of hair left on his head.
"Linchuan County demon hunter Shen Li, greetings to Lord Lin."
Lin Ji nodded slightly, still holding a document in his hand. After glancing at it a couple of times, he asked, "The document says that several households in Linchuan County have had their children abducted?"
"Not just children, but women as well." Shen Li explained quickly. "The missing children are all under eight years old, and the women are mostly young and unmarried."
"How long has this been going on?"
"It started half a month ago when someone reported it. We investigated but couldn't find any leads." Shen Li lowered his head. "Later, the head of the demon hunters ordered us to keep watch in the county, and we found some clues."
"Go on."
"It was the work of mountain demons. They took on human form, but their demonic aura couldn't be concealed. Our head followed them out of the city, and by the time I left Linchuan County, they hadn't returned, only knowing they went into the mountains."
"Is your head at the Third Realm?"
Shen Li nodded.
"A Third Realm cultivator dared to follow a demon into the mountains? It's not surprising he hasn't returned."
Even Lin Ji, who only dared to wander on the outskirts of the Green Mountain Range, found it reckless for a demon hunter to act so boldly. But in the end, the head of the demon hunters died in the line of duty.
"After this matter is resolved, I will make sure to credit your head in the report. Does he have any family left?"
"My wife and children are in Linchuan County, taken by the demons."
Lin Ji's expression faltered.
"No wonder, a man of integrity."
Having Shen Li wait on the side, Lin Ji picked up a directory from the desk, which contained the names of all demon hunters in the Liangzhou Monitoring Bureau, along with their cultivation realms, backgrounds, achievements, and punishments.
After flipping through it for a while, Lin Ji said, "Shen Li, before coming to Liangcheng, did you seek help from the surrounding counties of Linchuan?"
"We did, but no one dared to intervene." Shen Li shook his head. "In these troubled times, everyone is focused on their own troubles. Who has the time to care about others' well-being?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Ji sighed softly.
He understood now.
The position of Chief Demon Hunter seemed lucrative but was actually quite treacherous.
In the past, when Liangzhou was peaceful, there weren't so many distressing matters.
If there were issues, one could simply give orders and maintain control over Liangcheng without any disturbances.
But in the current chaotic era, subordinates were already overwhelmed with their own troubles, unable to spare the energy to help others. If they encountered problems they couldn't solve, the Chief Demon Hunter would have to rush to various counties to put out fires.
"How far is Linchuan County from Liangcheng?" Lin Ji asked Shen Li.
"Three hundred miles."
Lin Ji opened the window, noticing the darkening sky outside.
"Let's depart now. We should arrive before noon tomorrow." Lin Ji stood up and looked at Shen Li.
"I will accompany you personally."
"Thank you, my lord." Shen Li quickly bowed.
Lin Ji helped Shen Li to his feet.
It was his duty after all.
In the evening, Lin Ji and Shen Li left the city together.
Linchuan County was southeast of Liangcheng, and Lin Ji adjusted his pace to accommodate Shen Li's, slowing down their journey.
Even so, the two of them arrived in Linchuan County the next afternoon.
Upon reaching the destination, Lin Ji went straight to the county office.
Upon hearing that the Chief Demon Hunter of Liangzhou had arrived, the county magistrate wanted to host a banquet, but Lin Ji scolded him and sent him away.
After a brief rest, Lin Ji asked directly, "Shen Li, where did your head and the demon chase into the mountains from?"
"I don't know." Shen Li shook his head.
Lin Ji asked several other demon hunters, but none of them knew either.
For a moment, Lin Ji was at a loss as to where to pursue.
The Green Mountain Range was vast, spanning across Liangzhou.
But just as Lin Ji was feeling somewhat helpless, a demon hunter spoke up, "My lord, there's no need to chase. Just wait in the county."
Lin Ji raised his head abruptly.
"What? The demon that killed the Monitoring Bureau's demon hunter dares to cause trouble again?"
Several demon hunters looked worried.
"It comes every night."
"Don't you try to stop it?" Lin Ji frowned.
"We can't. If that demon didn't seem to have no intention of harming people and appeared to be wary of something, we demon hunters probably wouldn't have survived until today."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ji narrowed his eyes slightly.
What he initially thought was just a demonic mischief now seemed to have hidden motives.
"Are you sure it comes every night?"
"Yes."
"I will keep watch tonight. You all stay in the county office." Lin Ji waved his hand, dismissing the demon hunters.
Unlike Qingyang County, Linchuan County didn't have Third Realm cultivators from sects coming out for training.
There was even a Third Realm cultivator named Zhong Xiaoyan.
In fact, Linchuan County was more of a typical county office, while Qingyang County was already beyond the norm.
But precisely because of this, when faced with an issue they couldn't resolve, with the demon hunter dead, these demon hunters couldn't be of much help.
"It's the chaos of the times that brings trouble. In the past, there weren't so many distressing matters." Lin Ji sighed softly.
Night fell.
Lin Ji sat on the eaves of the county office, with his long sword by his side.
Before long, Lin Ji's divine sense detected something amiss.
There was a demonic aura approaching from afar, not too fast.
Lin Ji could even sense that the aura was at the level of the Second Realm.
"Strange. If it wanted to make a grand entrance, it wouldn't conceal its aura. But if it's truly only at the Second Realm, the demon hunters in the county could handle it themselves. Why would they need to seek help from Liangcheng?"
But regardless of the situation, since the other party had arrived, Lin Ji had to meet it head-on.
Drawing his sword, Lin Ji headed towards the direction of the demonic aura.
After a moment, he intercepted the demon entering the county.
"Who dares to block my path? Seeking death!" a sharp voice rang out.
"What kind of demon dares to cause trouble in the county? Seeking death!" Lin Ji responded without backing down.
At the same time, he caught sight of the full appearance of the demon.
Humanoid, but with a bug's head, looking extremely ferocious.
Wearing tattered clothes, its arms were not arms but bug legs.
Legs covered its entire body.
"A centipede?" Lin Ji raised an eyebrow.
"I am Lord Centipede!"
With those words, the demon turned and ran, even faster than when it arrived.
"It's running away?" Lin Ji was momentarily stunned before quickly giving chase.
But he was also on high alert, sensing that this situation might be worse than he had anticipated.
(End of the chapter)