Chapter 167

But they weren’t that smart either.

They had assumed that as long as they followed the canal and ran a little further along its tributaries, they could completely avoid the investigations of the Bureau of the Lamp, but what they didn’t realize was that there was someone like me, so perceptive and ahead of the curve.

Just one glance was all it took to spot the peculiarity.

Cheng Guang planned to follow the tributary where the Devil Clan had been seen to see if he could find any clues and then track them down to the canal.

He knew that the Spacetime Rift used by the Devil Clan to smuggle themselves was near Crane-Crying Island, but how far it was from the island, he had no idea.

With a seal in place to isolate their presence, even if he passed right over that Spacetime Rift, he might not be able to pinpoint its exact location.

He still had to determine a rough area first, and then look for the specific spot.

Once he found the specific location, Cheng Guang felt that what came next wouldn’t require his involvement.

The rest could be entirely left to Cheng Zhihai.

With that thought, Cheng Guang didn’t hesitate. He immediately wanted to take Lin Cheng and Xu Hongfei away from the Capital city and head to the place they had mentioned.

But before they could leave the Capital city, he sensed the troubled gaze of Song Yunqi.

This time, the place Cheng Guang was going to was too far from the Capital city, and Song Yunqi was afraid that something might happen to him.

Song Yunqi hesitated for a moment, ultimately saying nothing. He sighed, led several other guards, and followed behind Cheng Guang.

The Princely Heir was now a Black Lantern Catcher of the Bureau of the Lamp, so the Director should allow the Princely Heir to leave the Capital city, right?

Besides, with him, a Gold Lantern Catcher, following behind Cheng Guang, safety should be assured.

One would think that nothing unexpected would happen.

Song Yunqi reassured himself with these thoughts, but still remained highly alert, carefully watching over Cheng Guang.

If anything were to happen to the Princely Heir, Song Yunqi felt that even a hundred heads would not be enough to atone for such a failure.

After leaving the Capital city, they hastened on their way.

Approximately three hours later, Cheng Guang arrived at Xiaobai Village as Xu Hongfei had described.

Xiaobai Village, nestled against a mountain with water in front, had a serene environment. Walking on the village path, one could see houses with white walls and black tiles, ponds with rippling green waves, and brooks covered with patches of moss.

Ten miles from Xiaobai Village, a river flowed by.

The river water babbled and surged, larger in volume than ordinary rivers as it emerged from the canal.

Following the river towards Xiaobai Village, Cheng Guang noticed that many trees along the way were broken and toppled, with signs that the Devil Clan had wreaked havoc here.

Upon reaching Xiaobai Village, the courtyard walls of every household were in disarray and mottled. The once tranquil environment appeared as if it had been ravaged by some fierce storm or hurricane, completely devastated.

A faint scent of blood still lingered in the air.

As Cheng Guang entered Xiaobai Village, it seemed that some villagers noticed their arrival and peeked out timidly.

Upon seeing Cheng Guang and his companions, they immediately relaxed, hurried out, and bowed to them, saying,

“We weren’t aware that officials from the Bureau of the Lamp were coming our way. We failed to welcome you from afar. Please, sirs, forgive us for this oversight.”

Cheng Guang sized up the newcomer.

Most of the villagers were elderly, with gray hair, dressed in simple garments, the typical image of rural farmers.

Dozens of old people gathered at the village entrance, curiously examining Cheng Guang.

In the entire Xiaobai Village, aside from these elders, no young faces were to be seen.

Xu Hongfei saw the villagers and frowned, asking, “Elder, why are you still here? There are traces of the Devil Clan’s presence; if they attack again, what will you do?”

After Xu Hongfei spoke, the village head of Xiaobai Village grimaced and said, “Sir, we’re aware of the risk of further Devil Clan attacks on Xiaobai Village, but now is the seed-sowing season of February and March. If we leave now and do not cultivate the land, there will be no harvest next year. Dozens of households in our village will have no food to eat—we would starve to death.”

“But please rest assured, noble officials, we have already sent the young people, women, and children of the village into the city. Only we old folks remain here. Even if we die, we aren’t worth much, so don’t worry on our account.”

Having said that, the village head of Xiaobai Village instead comforted Cheng Guang and his party, inquiring, “Why have the officials revisited Xiaobai Village? Could it be that Devils are afoot nearby again?”

“Alas, these cursed Devils, we don’t know when they suddenly appeared, but upon their arrival, countless lives were lost. We are fortunate to have the Bureau of the Lamp; otherwise, with just us villagers, how could we stand against those ferocious Devils?”

“However, officials should still be cautious. It would be terrible if you were injured by a Devil.”

The village head of Xiaobai Village seemed to be quite a chatterbox, able to keep talking incessantly even without any response from Cheng Guang and his group.

Hearing the words of the village head, Xu Hongfei wanted to say more, but upon glancing again at the villagers within Xiaobai Village, faces weathered by hardship, covered in the dust of their fields, he didn’t quite know what to say.