137: Inquire in person

After hearing Wu Shude's reply, Lu Ming seemed to cast aside his doubts, a clear look of disappointment appearing on his face, as if regretting that he had not achieved any merits on this trip.

"No problem, since we met, it's fate. Naturally, I can't let Chieftain Lu come for nothing. I've already arranged a banquet and lodging, perfect for welcoming the brothers."

With that, he made a gesture of invitation, seemingly intending to lead Lu Ming to see the lodging.

"I'll trouble Lord Wu then. As for the lodging, I won't look at it for now. Wu Lei, you take a team of men and go ahead to the location where the demon carcasses are piled to investigate. The rest of the men, led by their respective Centurions, are to patrol the town thoroughly to see if there are any traces of demons. Lord Wu, if you don't mind, I hope to meet the families of the victims."

Lu Ming issued a series of orders, and the several Centurions following him all clasped their fists in affirmation.

Wu Shude's expression stiffened slightly. He truly hadn't expected the other party to refuse him.

However, that expression only appeared on his face for a moment before quickly being reined in.

"Lord Wu, you don't mind, do you?" Lu Ming asked with a smile.

"Not at all. Since Chieftain Lu is so diligent and responsible, I couldn't be happier!" Wu Shude replied.

With that, he called two people from outside, ordering one of the yamen runners to follow Wu Lei to verify, and pushing the other young man in front of Lu Ming.

"This is my son, Wu Yaozu. He just passed the provincial examination this year and earned some scholarly fame. Originally, he was to be sent to other places for experience, but this year, with the plague, there have been many vacancies in my yamen, so I shamelessly kept him here as a clerk. He is very familiar with the situation in Xianshui Town, so let my son lead Chieftain Lu."

Lu Ming looked up. The young man in front of him appeared to be of similar age to himself. As a clerk, he was not wearing official robes; instead, he was dressed like a Young Master.

While Lu Ming observed the other party, the young man was also looking at him. Wu Yaozu stood tall, his brows revealing a hint of rebelliousness. Even though he knew Lu Ming was a Demon Suppression Division Chieftain, he didn't seem to care much, his eyes full of arrogance.

"Why aren't you greeting Chieftain Lu?" Wu Shude, seeing his son's prolonged silence, darkened his expression and immediately reprimanded him.

Only then did Wu Yaozu react. He scrutinized Lu Ming from head to toe, then spoke, "Chieftain? It seems Brother Lu has quite a powerful backing!"

"Presumptuous! How can you address Chieftain Lu as 'brother'?" Li Yunliang, who was not far away, heard this and immediately rebuked him.

The others also showed displeasure on their faces, sensing the other party's arrogance and disdain.

"Chieftain Lu, please forgive him. My son is mischievous by nature; he didn't mean it. Apologize to Chieftain Lu at once!" Wu Shude looked exasperated and immediately made a gesture as if to strike him.

"Lord Wu, there's no need for that. If Brother Yaozu is willing to address me that way, then so be it," Lu Ming said with a good-natured expression, smiling.

Upon hearing this, Wu Shude seemed to let out a sigh of relief, and a smile reappeared on his face.

After a few more exchanges, Wu Shude, citing other matters, left first.

Lu Ming's subordinates also followed orders and went to investigate.

"Observe carefully when you get there, confirm the wounds on the demon carcasses, and it would be even better if you can determine their cultivation level and time of death," Lu Ming said in a low voice to Wu Lei, who was about to leave on horseback.

The quick-witted Wu Lei immediately understood the other party's intention. He had originally wondered why the other party was so good-tempered.

"Sir, do you perhaps think..." Wu Lei's eyes widened, and he subconsciously looked towards the direction where Wu Shude had left.

"Don't overthink it. Go do your job." Lu Ming didn't say much; he merely gave a faint instruction... Walking on the main road of Xianshui Town, Lu Ming and Wu Yaozu walked side by side, with more than ten Demon Slayer Guards carrying sabers following behind him.

"Lord Lu, you don't know, but Xianshui Town, because it's located near important routes, often has merchants coming and going. Coupled with the local fishing industry, Xianshui Town was once prosperous, with no less than seventy or eighty thousand people residing here."

"But unfortunately, after this plague, many industries have fallen into disuse. Now, there are funerals everywhere. It can only be described as bad luck."

Although Wu Yaozu was arrogant, he also understood that in terms of status, the other party was on the same level as his father. In fact, to some extent, a Demon Suppression Division Chieftain's authority when handling cases outside exceeded that of the local government's chief official.

During their conversation on the way, Wu Yaozu seemed to open up and began to tell Lu Ming about Xianshui Town.

"Young Master Wu must have heard about the demon attack that happened recently, right? Have you heard any rumors?" Lu Ming asked.

Wu Yaozu's gaze paused, then a smile appeared on his face.

"I've never cared about demon matters. After all, they're just two or three small demons; they can't cause much trouble. Look, where we're going is a civilian household that was attacked by demons. Out of a family of five, only one survived. A good woman who hadn't been married for many years has now become a widow."

"The demon ate four people?"

"That's not it, of course. Only the head of the household died at the demon's mouth. His young son and the two old people above him both died of the plague. Brother Lu, why do you bother with these things? The previous batch of Demon Suppression Division people already cleared most of them out. Even if some were lucky enough to survive, it probably wouldn't count as any merit for you."

"Since you've finally come out, why not enjoy yourself? You don't know how beautiful that Little Woman is. Even I feel a stir in my heart when I see her."

Wu Yaozu said this, revealing a lewd expression that all men would understand.

Lu Ming smiled without speaking. He did not respond directly. From an angle the other party couldn't perceive, a scrutinizing glint flashed in his pupils.

As they spoke, everyone arrived in front of a dilapidated small courtyard near the edge of the town.

Through the bamboo fence, they saw a Little Woman carrying a bucket, laboriously filling a water cylinder. Similar to the other households they had seen along the way, white silk hung in front of the main gate. The Little Woman's face was pale, and she looked much more haggard.

With only her left in the family, this was undoubtedly a huge disaster for an ordinary person. She had no one left to rely on in life and had suddenly lost all hope for living.

"Little Lady, I've come to see you again." Wu Yaozu, looking enthusiastic, unceremoniously pushed open the half-open wooden door and was about to step into the courtyard.

When the Little Woman heard Wu Yaozu's voice, she seemed to have encountered a jinx. Even the arm holding the water bucket trembled several times, and a lot of water splashed onto the ground.