Chapter Fifty-One: Seeking the Thief

The records in the dossier were not exhaustive, but compared to the sheepskin scroll, they included more specifics: the situation in the victim's home, the approximate location of the disappearance, details of the search conducted the following day, inquiries made among neighbors, and so on. Though these might seem of little practical use, they only served to strengthen Liu Chou's conviction in his own deductions.

These dozen or so victims had not met their fate in the same place, nor had there been cries for help—this was no hunt, but rather an act of luring prey.

If that was the case, then the demon hunter's stakeout was utterly pointless. If it was indeed the work of a demon, then it must have regarded the entire city as its hunting ground—hiding by day, venturing out at night to lure people nearby, striking when their guard was down, silent and swift, then quickly removing the corpses to avoid the night patrol's scrutiny.

It seemed that only by searching at night could he discern whether those locations matched the pattern...

Upon hearing about the night patrol, the Left Watchman felt unease stirring within him. He was about to find some excuse to avoid it when Du Pu spoke ahead of him: "A night patrol may not yield results within ten days, nor can we know how long it might take. However, the affairs of the post must not be neglected. I ask that the headman remain at the post to oversee and coordinate matters, while I lead two men on patrol. If we discover anything, I will ask the headman to report to the county constable for assistance."

The Left Watchman was delighted, though he feigned indecision, then finally replied, "If that's so, I'll defer to your suggestion. I only regret that I cannot apprehend and dispatch the demon myself—such a great disappointment."

"The headman's coordination is the greatest merit," Du Pu replied modestly. "We are but minor hands, hardly worth mentioning."

"To pursue thieves with such vigor is truly heroic," the headman said, pleased that Du Pu was willing to share credit. "Aside from the two you need, is there anything else you require? Would you like crossbows?"

Though Great Zhou did not prohibit weapons, there were still restrictions: commoners could only carry swords, while professional demon-hunting guilds and county constables could be equipped with halberds, spears, and bows. Crossbows required special permission. To facilitate solving the case, the headman was willing to apply for crossbow use.

Du Pu shook his head and smiled. "I will not be fighting—only seeking out the demon. Crossbows are unnecessary. I only ask that the headman provide permits for patrol and allow us to go out at night."

There was a curfew at night; anyone out required documents issued by the county constable, which the headman had to apply for. In the current situation, this was not difficult. The Left Watchman agreed at once and went to the county office to handle it.

Du Pu wasted no time, selecting two post soldiers: one named Qi Se, one named Ren Fu, both of lowly status. Though the two were reluctant, Du Pu's usual intimidation deterred them from protest. They obediently took their weapons, donned armor, and followed him with anxious faces.

By then the sun was slanting westward, dusk settling in. Du Pu said nothing more, bringing the two to a tavern for a hearty meal, instructing the proprietor to add extra meat to the millet porridge. Recently, a fat dog had been slaughtered in the shop, and a large chunk of its meat was cut and added to the porridge, served to the three.

Dog meat was pungent and lacked seasoning, its flavor far from pleasant, but for Qi Se and Ren Fu it was a rare delicacy. They devoured it ravenously, satisfied, and each drank half a cup of wine. Their spirits rose, and the prospect of the night patrol seemed less daunting.

Afterwards, Du Pu led them along the routes where the victims had disappeared, slowly patrolling and searching for anomalies. Soon, a post soldier sent by the Left Watchman delivered the patrol permits, making their night patrol officially sanctioned.

So they proceeded, encountering night guards twice along the way. Du Pu produced the permits for verification, allowing them to pass unimpeded. Not long after, the hour of midnight arrived—the time when many of the incidents had occurred. He strained to hear every sound around, attentive as he walked, but only faint snores drifted from the houses, nothing else.

By the hour of the ox, still nothing.

Time passed, and after repeated patrols yielded no clues, Liu Chou sent the two post soldiers home. They dared not walk alone and agreed to return to the post together, while Du Pu returned to his ancestral courtyard in the west of the city, closing the door and entering the house.

At this point, Du Pu's figure began to change, transforming into a small, sharp-eared, monkey-faced man with uneven eyes.

It was Liu Chou.

During his days aboard the flying vessel, Liu Chou had diligently cultivated. The Ten Thousand Demons Formula had gradually advanced to its second chapter, granting him not only quicker transformations but also the ability to mimic someone's behavior and speech upon contact. It was this skill that emboldened Liu Chou to impersonate the fat cook, and later to shadow Du Pu for two days, observing his habits and acquaintances, paving the way for his recent actions.

Substitution was the most suitable survival tactic for Liu Chou.

With the formula in motion, demon energy flowed through his meridians, cleansing and refining them, expanding his pathways, transforming his life, merging external energy into his essence, making his demonic power ever richer and more refined...

Though Liu Chou was only at the low-level demon stage, his absorption of energy was as subtle as a mosquito sipping water or termites gnawing at a wall, unnoticed by anyone in the city. He tried it cautiously, then felt safe to boldly cultivate in Du Pu's home, immersing himself in practice.

He rested briefly as dawn broke, then returned to the post by noon.

For three consecutive days, Liu Chou led the post soldiers on night patrol. They mostly encountered guards or watchmen, and occasionally someone returning late, but these were usually officials or wealthy men accompanied by others—none suspicious.

The headman was not in a hurry; it had been months since the initial disappearance, and three or seven days more mattered little. The county constable, upon hearing reports from the night guards about the West Gate post's demon hunt, summoned him for praise, and the headman returned with pride.

At night they patrolled; during the day, Liu Chou took the post soldiers to investigate the sites of the disappearances, chatting in markets, questioning neighbors. On the fourth day, he arrived at the Ding household in the west of the city, visiting the widow and daughter of the deceased. Afterwards, Liu Chou traced the route from their home toward the tavern where the last meal was taken, examining everything along the way.

The Ding home was not far from the tavern, but the route passed two streets and a back alley. The main street was bustling, lined with shops, regularly patrolled by guards. Liu Chou quickly surveyed it, focusing his attention instead on the alley and side street, hoping to find clues.

The alley was bordered by the backyards of two prominent families, with high walls and thick gates. At its end were three ordinary homes; Liu Chou saw only commoners, nothing suspicious. The side street was less crowded, its shops less grand—mostly leather, dye, and net-mending businesses. Some kept dogs and sheep brought in from outside the city, and the air was thick with foul odors. Human and animal waste was more rampant here than on the main street, dried and mixed with dust, kicked up by feet and hooves, almost nauseating.

Even the guards seldom came here; only post soldiers and their associates frequented it, earning a few coins.

As Liu Chou walked, everyone he passed avoided him, bowing and smiling obsequiously. Those farther away retreated indoors, peering through windows and doors, as if he were a venomous snake, terrified lest he bring them ill fortune.

For such people, even someone like Du Pu was a figure beyond their reach.

This area was remote and filthy; ordinarily, the head of the Ding household would not have passed through, but the two adjacent streets were blocked by a massive estate stretching across three alleys, turning them into dead ends. The shortcut through this street saved nearly a mile, making it the preferred route for many.

This detail, however, raised no suspicion.

As he walked, Liu Chou soon reached the mouth of the alley, where he caught a faint scent of blood. Looking up, he saw a curtain raised high on a bamboo pole, with the ancient character "weasel" written in white powder, barely visible. Beneath the curtain was a half-open butcher's shop, with a dozen skinned, decapitated small carcasses on the counter. The wall was studded with pelts, gray and black, stretched and pinned—rats, in fact.

Beside the meat counter, an old dog gnawed at a heap of rat heads, delighted by the rare taste, unaware that it was itself purchased by the butcher as a treat, destined for slaughter at sunset. Fortune and misfortune, who among ordinary creatures could know?

According to the Western Zhou diet, nobles ate venison, bear, deer, and wild goose; officials and gentlemen ate beef, mutton, and goose; commoners ate dog, pig, chicken, duck, old horses, and sick cattle; only those of low status or the poor ate rats, fish, and various insect cocoons.

Here, rat meat was sold to the lowly, the most frequent customers among the post soldiers.

Liu Chou arrived at the door just as the short, stout butcher came out carrying a bamboo basket filled with seven or eight dead rat carcasses, not yet skinned or beheaded. He looked up and saw the three, quickly bowed and greeted them, smiling apologetically: "Greetings, Seekers! Greetings, gentlemen! What brings you here? If you wish for meat, just say the word. I’ll slaughter and clean it at once and deliver it to the post—no need for esteemed guests to trouble themselves."

Liu Chou had no particular opinion about rat meat, but seeing the eagerness in Qi Se and Ren Fu’s eyes, and wanting to ask some questions, he nodded casually: "Very well. Since we’re here, select some for me, and we’ll eat at the post."

This street was Qi Se’s haunt, and it was a rare chance to curry favor with the demon hunter. With Liu Chou’s approval, Qi Se puffed out his belly, reached in to rummage, and complained, "Thieving butcher Zhang San! These are all dry, scrawny things. How dare you serve them to the demon hunter? Go fetch some fat ones for slaughter!"

Butcher Zhang San bowed repeatedly, his face creased with worry. "Forgive me, Seekers, gentlemen, it’s not that I’m hiding the fat ones. Lately, it's strange—everywhere the catch is scarce, and hardly any big ones. I don’t know why."

"It’s autumn—yet the weasels aren’t fat?" Ren Fu challenged, scowling. "Zhang San, tell us, is this believable?"

Zhang San, frantic, bowed and pleaded, "If you don’t believe me, search the shop. If you find even one, you may kill me, and I’ll have no complaint."

Ren Fu snorted, turning to Liu Chou: "Sir, this fellow is most troublesome. Just the other day, I bought two fat weasels from Li Si's shop, and now he dares swear and deceive us. Perhaps this is connected to the case—is it not...?"

"Sir, I truly dare not lie!" Zhang San heard Ren Fu’s implication, fearing the case would be pinned on him, and knelt, knocking his head against the ground, crying: "You don’t know, sir—the weasels at Li Si’s are bought from outside the city. There are truly no big ones in town. Wang Wu, Zhao Liu, all their shops are the same. I stake my head on it!"

Ren Fu was unmoved, watching Liu Chou's face. Qi Se quickly stepped forward to vouch for him: "Master Du Pu, Zhang San is always dutiful and filial. Even I wouldn’t dare offend him. How would he risk punishment over meat? I believe he speaks honestly—let’s just take a few more, shall we?"

Zhang San immediately grabbed a lotus leaf, wrapped up all the rat meat on the counter, tied it, and respectfully placed it before them, bowing low.

The two post soldiers, adept at trickery, cajoled Zhang San into offering everything he had. Smiling, they presented the package to Liu Chou, but seeing his sour expression, puzzled, they heard him suddenly say:

"Qi Se, Ren Fu, go to every weasel stall in the city and bring the proprietors to the post. I have questions for them."

With that, he turned and left, leaving the two standing there, bewildered.