The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 347: Chapter 341: Yin Woman

Xiao Ke asked, confused, "Lord Zhou, what is a Yin Month?"

He was a proper scholar who had earned his official position through the imperial examinations. Having studied the teachings of the Saints, he naturally had no knowledge of what a Yin Month was.

Zhou Lin patiently explained:

"The Astronomical Bureau establishes the calendar by arranging the Ten Heavenly Stems and the Twelve Earthly Branches. A full cycle is sixty years. Odd is Yang, and even is Yin. When the characters representing a time are all Yin, it becomes a Yin Year, Yin Month, or Yin Hour."

"Xinchou, Guihai, and Dingwei... these are all clearly Yin Months."

Xiao Ke suddenly understood.

Zhou Lin continued, "Women naturally possess more Yin energy than men. Those born in a Yin Month have even heavier Yin energy and are known in the mystic arts as Yin Women. A woman born in a Yin Year, Yin Month, Yin Day, and at a Yin Hour is said to have a ’Five-Yin Heavenly Curse’ fate."

"All the women on this list were born during a Yin Month."

Xiao Ke took the list from Zhou Lin.

The list had been compiled by the Patrol Office and was extremely detailed, including the young women’s birthdates.

Upon closer inspection, he saw that they were, indeed, all born during a Yin Month.

Zhou Lin’s expression grew grim.

He figured that the only ones who would abduct Yin Women were either Martial Artists practicing perverse techniques or Evil Demons.

They undoubtedly held the malicious intent of harvesting Yin to supplement their Yang.

Xiao Ke praised him profusely. "General Zhou, you are remarkably learned and knowledgeable. How impressive."

Zhou Lin gave a slight smile.

He owed this knowledge to his superior, who had a penchant for eclectic lore.

"Come, take me to the scene of the incident."

"Of course."

Xiao Ke immediately summoned an Official from the Patrol Office, who then led the two of them toward the place where the young woman had vanished.

A short time later, they arrived at an alley.

But to their surprise, someone was already there, crouched on the ground and inspecting it carefully.

Xiao Ke narrowed his eyes.

This alley was secluded, with hardly any passersby.

’Could that man be the culprit in the missing girls’ case?!’

At this thought, Xiao Ke’s posture became guarded, as if facing a formidable enemy.

The longer one lives, the more one cherishes life. His Qi and Blood were now in decline, so he had to be exceedingly cautious when confronting an enemy.

Just as Xiao Ke was secretly circulating his energy, ready to strike, Zhou Lin exclaimed in pleasant surprise, "Lord Bai?"

Hearing this, Xiao Ke was somewhat stunned.

’Lord Bai?’

A storm of thoughts immediately brewed in his mind.

’The only person Zhou Lin would call Lord Bai could only be the Lingzhou General, Bai Yuan.’

Xiao Ke hurriedly saluted. "This subordinate greets you, Lord General."

Hearing them, Bai Yuan slowly straightened up.

"There’s no need for such ceremony."

He had originally planned to go straight to the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office. However, he had chanced upon some roadside diners discussing the disappearances and learned that the most recent girl had vanished in this alley. He had come to check it out first, not expecting to run right into Zhou Lin and the others.

Zhou Lin had set out yesterday, so he didn’t know that Bai Yuan was also in Danshan Prefecture.

"Sir, what brings you to Danshan Prefecture?"

Bai Yuan answered, "I was traveling with a friend and happened to hear about the strange events in the city."

’Some coincidence... spanning hundreds of miles.’

Zhou Lin grumbled to himself.

’Bai Yuan was in Huanglong Prefecture just yesterday, and today he’s in Danshan Prefecture. There’s obviously a deeper reason for this.’

Since Bai Yuan didn’t elaborate, he knew better than to ask.

’But the fact that even Bai Yuan has come means this case is probably more difficult than I imagined.’

"Then what should we do now?"

Zhou Lin asked.

With Bai Yuan here, he certainly wouldn’t presume to take the lead.

"I’ve brought someone with me. Arrange for us to have identities as Patrol Officers."

Xiao Ke hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

’They say this General Bai is swift and decisive, preferring to get his own hands dirty. It’s certainly true.’

’Any other regional Chief Official would never stoop to doing such crude work, personally making arrests.’

"This subordinate will see to it at once."

Xiao Ke jogged off, returning in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

When he reappeared, he was holding two tokens, each inscribed with the single, powerful character for "Patrol."

They were the official tokens of the Patrol Office.

He respectfully handed the two Tokens to Bai Yuan. He had also brought along the two men who were the original owners of the Tokens.

Bai Yuan stared at the two men intently for a long time.

"Sir?"

Xiao Ke was puzzled.

The two constables were so frightened that their foreheads were beaded with sweat.

"For the next few days, you two will stay inside the Government Office. Make sure no one knows you’re there."

"Yes, sir!"

Although the two were confused, they still nodded respectfully.

Zhou Lin asked, "Sir, what are my orders?"

"Continue the investigation as usual. Act as if I was never here."

...

「Danshan Prefecture City. A teahouse.」

"Do you think someone angered the Fox Demon Grandmother?"

one of the patrons said in a hushed voice.

"I heard the Zhang Family’s youngest daughter went missing yesterday. That makes seventeen of them."

"Tsk, tsk. Good thing my kid’s a boy."

The other patrons all chimed in.

By now, the case of the missing girls had caused a huge stir in the city, plunging everyone into a state of panic.

"Hush! The Patrol Office is here."

At this, the crowd instantly fell silent, not daring to make a sound.

The Patrol Office was investigating the matter strictly. If those officers overheard them, they would likely be in for a good thrashing.

Commoners don’t fight with officials. In fact, you couldn’t even talk about them.

"Quite imposing, aren’t we?"

Bai Yuan glanced at Yue Xiaobai, who was walking beside him.

As expected, Yue Xiaobai would not interrupt his sword practice for such a frivolous question.

The Patrol Office officials walking down the street were, in fact, the two of them.

However, Bai Yuan had disguised them to look just like the two constables from earlier.

Bai Yuan strolled aimlessly through the streets with Yue Xiaobai, his interest piqued.

Danshan Prefecture had many other constables just like them.

This, of course, was also by his design; otherwise, Xiao Ke and Zhou Lin would not have done so.

’A Demon Seed?’

’I’m not sure yet.’

But one thing was certain: the culprit wreaking havoc in the city was extremely clever.

According to Zhou Lin, the culprit’s targets were all women born during a Yin Month, which fit the profile of a Martial Artist practicing perverse techniques.

It was just like that Elder Wang from the Divine Mansion Sect, who had practiced perverse techniques and abducted women to aid his cultivation.

"Do you think a Martial Artist is behind this?"

For once, Yue Xiaobai responded. "It’s possible."

Bai Yuan fell silent.

If Yue Xiaobai was right, then there were two possibilities.

One, it really was a Martial Artist who practiced perverse techniques.

Two, that Martial Artist was the vessel for a Demon Seed.

Bai Yuan guessed that the culprit was actually looking for an unmarried young woman with the "Five-Yin Heavenly Curse" fate.

But people with that fate were incredibly rare—there might not be a single one in all of Danshan Prefecture. That was why the culprit had to settle for the next best thing: Yin Women born during a Yin Month.

From this, it was clear that the culprit was either a fool or in a great hurry.

Bai Yuan was inclined to believe the latter.

Once a Martial Artist reached the "Awareness" realm, even a former brute would become a *rational* brute after their breakthrough.

He had told Zhou Lin to filter the Household Register for a list of Yin Women.

Now that security measures were in place, they just had to wait for their prey to fall into the trap.

And among the names, they had actually found a girl with a particularly special fate.

Born in a Yin Year, a Yin Month, and on a Yin Day. While it wasn’t a Five-Yin fate, it was still a Four-Yin, which was exceedingly rare.

Bai Yuan and Yue Xiaobai were now following the address to find that very girl.

Soon, they arrived at a dilapidated alley where sewage flowed across the ground.

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