The group arrived at Flat Top Mountain.
As they approached the mountain village, their mood improved, even beginning to chat and laugh.
If they could stay in the village for the night, it would be relatively safe. They only needed to endure one more day before meeting up with the Restraint Officers.
Only Ren Qing's expression grew increasingly grave. He deliberately slowed the group's pace, using the opportunity to observe their surroundings.
The villagers who had suddenly left had not returned even after half a shichen (an hour). They must have encountered unexpected circumstances.
Or perhaps they were being driven by something?
Xiao Wu scratched the swollen mosquito bite on his face and couldn't help but say excitedly, "We're finally at the village."
"Li Quan, are you home?!"
Guo Qing shouted loudly as he rushed up the winding path toward the village at the mountain's peak.
But the only response was utter silence, save for the eerie howling of the mountain wind passing through the gaps between the thatched huts.
The strangely shaped trees around them, shrouded in shadows, seemed inexplicably eerie.
Guo Qing, refusing to believe it, charged into the village, with Wang Wen and the others quickly following.
Ren Qing stopped Xiao Wu and Zhu Ding. Standing at the village entrance, he used his Double Pupils to carefully survey the surroundings, soon spotting where the footprints converged.
He approached, bent down to examine the footprints, and noticed that their depth was uniform, with even the spacing between steps nearly identical.
"What's wrong, Brother Qing…?"
Xiao Wu's voice trembled, but when he noticed Ren Qing remained relatively calm, he quickly steadied himself.
"It's nothing. I'll take a look around, then we'll find a house to stay in for the night."
A suspicion arose in Ren Qing's mind as he followed the footprints deeper into the village.
Zhu Ding, now without a leader, couldn't help but lean in and ask quietly, "Runner Ren, why is there no one in the village?"
"Don't scare yourselves. They probably left temporarily for some urgent matter."
Ren Qing reached the end of the footprints, a towering ancient tree hundreds of years old. The villagers must have gathered here earlier.
The tree itself showed no abnormalities, but Ren Qing noticed streak-like marks on its bark, as if left behind by dried mucus.
Following the marks carefully, Ren Qing picked up a fragment of an insect carcass, which contained bits of minced flesh.
It was actually a snail.
Song Rong…
His target was indeed the Disaster Dispelling Forbidden Zone, and he had set out several days earlier than the Restraint Officers. He might have already found the forbidden zone.
As for why he risked exposure by the Restraint Officers to return to Flat Top Mountain Village and control the villagers, Ren Qing couldn't figure it out.
Subconsciously, Ren Qing gripped the blood heart the yamen had distributed beforehand. If he wanted, he could summon the Restraint Officers.
But now that he understood the situation, his mind settled instead.
Along the way, his Double Pupils hadn't detected any animals with eyeballs, meaning Song Rong didn't dare to recklessly plant spies.
Given Song Rong's cautious nature, he wouldn't easily reveal himself in such circumstances.
Moreover, he was already aged. Even with extended lifespan, his weakened body couldn't be reversed, making it even less likely for him to expose himself openly.
Ren Qing only needed to stay vigilant against wild beasts, and they should remain safe.
At that moment, Guo Qing walked out of a nearby thatched hut with a stunned expression.
He said to Ren Qing, "Runner, all the houses in the village are empty. There's even food left on the tables…"
Wang Wen, slightly slower to react, assumed the villagers had been relocated by the Restraint Officers and didn't pay it much mind.
"Since there are no signs of struggle, it means the villagers left voluntarily."
After discussing briefly, the group realized Flat Top Mountain would soon be engulfed in darkness, making night travel impossible.
Ren Qing quickly instructed, "Let's stay here for now. We'll set off again at dawn tomorrow."
He chose a larger thatched hut and soon lit a fire with flint, the warm flames gradually dispelling the chill.
They could even roast their dry rations over the fire to soften them.
The mountain's dampness was kept outside, with the temperature difference between day and night nearly ten degrees.
Xiao Wu yawned, and soon the exhaustion from a full day of travel overwhelmed everyone, making them drowsy.
Ren Qing, however, felt fine. Thanks to his alternate mouth, he continuously digested pig eyes in his stomach, replenishing his stamina.
"I'll arrange night watch first so everyone can rest."
Since there were seven of them, Ren Qing paired himself with Xiao Wu and Zhu Ding, while the remaining Corpse Burners and constables formed two pairs.
Each team would stand watch for about a shichen (two hours), allowing them to stay focused.
Ren Qing reminded them, "Remember, even if you need to relieve yourselves, don't go far from the house. There might be wild beasts in the mountains."
Everyone agreed. They barricaded the wooden door with furniture to prevent it from being blown open by the mountain wind.
Those not on watch slept by the fire, their snores occasionally rising.
Zhu Ding stood guard by the window, walking in circles whenever he felt sleepy.
Xiao Wu washed his face with water, then approached Ren Qing and said, "Brother Qing, you should rest for a while. Zhu Ding and I can keep watch."
"No time to rest. We can't afford to slack off in this situation."
Ren Qing's gaze swept over the mountain forest outside the window, where he could faintly see bats flitting past the treetops.
Xiao Wu didn't disturb him further. After adding some firewood to the flames, he went to stand guard.
Ren Qing quietly pondered Song Rong's motives for coming to the Disaster Dispelling Forbidden Zone. It felt like the answer was just out of reach, obscured by a thin veil.
He switched his train of thought.
If I were Song Rong, why would I go to the Disaster Dispelling Forbidden Zone…
Song Rong's cultivation required Supernatural Remnants of the same mutation path to advance. Could there be Ghost Envoy-level Supernatural Remnants of the Hundred-Eyed One and the Flayer in the Disaster Dispelling Forbidden Zone?
Impossible. The Disaster Dispelling Forbidden Zone hadn't exhibited such abilities.
Song Rong would never act without certainty.
Unless he had confirmed the forbidden zone contained the Supernatural Remnant he wanted, one unrelated to the Hundred-Eyed One or the Flayer.
Ren Qing suddenly realized something, his expression turning complicated.
To remotely control animals, even indirectly, the Hundred-Eyed One's illusion ability alone wouldn't suffice.
This meant Song Rong had a third technique.
In fact, the Disaster Dispelling Forbidden Zone had displayed a similar ability, controlling Corpse Burners from afar. The two likely shared the same mutation path.
This confirmed the forbidden zone indeed had the Ghost Envoy-level Supernatural Remnant Song Rong sought.
Ren Qing felt grateful for his information stream.
This proved the drawbacks of mastering techniques by consuming Supernatural Remnants were too severe. Otherwise, Song Rong wouldn't be stuck at the Half-Corpse realm.
No matter how cunning Song Rong was, once he entered the Disaster Dispelling Forbidden Zone, his fate would be left to the heavens.
Ren Qing had no good countermeasures. He could only wait to regroup with the Restraint Officers. Whatever they decided afterward would be beyond his concern.
A shichen passed in the blink of an eye.
The night watch shifted. Ren Qing lay by the fire, pretending to sleep while actually focusing part of his mind on meditating with the Blindless Method.
And in the darkness, a pack of mountain wolves was charging toward Flat Top Mountain.