Chapter 3203: A New Lead

( Read the A/N below)

Another month passed quietly, though in Pale Dusk City, quiet never truly meant peace.

The streets were still alive with noise and movement, and yet beneath that surface hum, something deeper seemed to stir. Lin Mu and his companions continued their investigative work tirelessly, moving from one case to another, solving matters that even the city guards hesitated to handle.

In this time, their name had grown into something far beyond what they had expected.

People now openly called them the "Wandering Righteous Blades."

It was a title that started as a whisper among the locals but soon spread like wildfire throughout the surrounding region. The guards of Pale Dusk City used the name with respect, the common folk with awe, and the criminals with dread.

It was the sort of reputation that would normally take decades to earn, yet Lin Mu’s group had managed it in mere two months.

News of their deeds spread far beyond the borders of Pale Dusk City.

Merchants who traveled to nearby towns and small cities carried stories of the group’s righteousness, telling how they had brought justice to the downtrodden and protection to the weak.

Each retelling exaggerated their actions a little more until they became something close to living legends. In taverns, bards had even begun to sing songs about them, calling Lin Mu the "Silver Blade of Dusk" and Little Shrubby the "Burning Lightning Fang Beast."

As the stories spread, so too did the admiration.

City officials from neighboring towns and cities began sending formal invitations, hoping to bring the Wandering Righteous Blades to their own jurisdictions. They promised support, resources, and even gold.

Some officials hoped to use Lin Mu’s reputation to stabilize their own cities; others were simply looking to bask in reflected glory.

But Lin Mu refused all of them.

They had a mission—one far greater than fame or coin—and every day they lingered away from that purpose was a day wasted.

He sent polite refusals to all the messengers who came, thanking them for their hospitality but explaining that their work in Pale Dusk City was not yet complete. Those who knew him could tell there was more behind his words, something he was not saying.

The truth was known only to the Imperial Court and a handful of high-ranking officials: Lin Mu and his companions were not wandering heroes but investigators sent to uncover traces of the Ephemera Sect.

The rest of the world believed them to be true paragons of virtue who could not turn a blind eye to the suffering of others. That misunderstanding worked in their favor.

Daoist Chu, ever the tactician, realized this and devised a plan to make better use of their rising fame. He proposed that they use their reputation as a network for information gathering.

With the support of the local guards and even the city officials, he had notices distributed across the city, encouraging anyone with knowledge of disappearances, strange events, or suspicious individuals to come forward.

Within a few days, the results began to show.

Every day, someone came with rumors. Some were worthless: talk of haunted houses, ghostly lights, or the exaggerated claims of gamblers. Others held a sliver of truth, which Lin Mu and his companions pursued diligently. With the entire city now serving as their eyes and ears, their ability to track unusual events expanded greatly.

For a time, nothing they found led to anything substantial.

There were still disappearances, still petty crimes, but none that hinted at the sinister schemes of the Ephemera Sect. The city itself seemed calm, though Lin Mu’s instincts told him that calm was only the surface of something much deeper.

Then, just as the second month came to a close and the first cool winds of autumn began to sweep through the city, something happened.

The morning had been like any other.

Lin Mu sat in quiet meditation within his room at the inn they had made their headquarters. The faint fragrance of incense filled the air, and his immortal sense was extended outward, monitoring the movements of his companions.

Cattaleya was training in the courtyard, her heavy steps shaking the ground with each strike. Elyon was somewhere above, likely on the rooftop, cloaked in shadow while observing the nearby streets. Little Shrubby dozed lazily under the shade, his tail flicking as sparks occasionally leapt off his fur.

Then the sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence. A moment later, the door slammed open, and Meng Bai burst inside. His breathing was heavy, his eyes wide with excitement and urgency.

"Another location is showing signs of getting colder!" he blurted out before even greeting anyone.

Lin Mu opened his eyes immediately, his calm gaze sharpening as he rose from his seat.

The others, alerted by Meng Bai’s outburst, entered the room as well. Elyon appeared almost soundlessly at the doorway, while Little Shrubby yawned and stood up, his fur crackling faintly with energy.

"Explain," Lin Mu said simply, his tone measured but carrying weight.

Meng Bai nodded, collecting his thoughts. "I was in the market district today, talking to a few traders. A group of porters arrived with a merchant caravan from the southern routes. They mentioned that the air around one of the old routes had suddenly turned cold... unnaturally so.

It was warm just a moment before, and then in the span of a few breaths, the temperature dropped. They said they could even see their breath in the air."

Lin Mu frowned. "That is not normal. Did they describe where exactly it happened?"

"Yes," Meng Bai replied quickly. "About three days’ travel from here, near the ruins of the old Birchwind Logging Outpost. The porters were frightened. They said the cold felt strange, like it was alive. The caravan master thought it might be a beast causing it, so they left quickly."

Cattaleya crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "A beast that can change the temperature in such a large area that fast? That would have to be something with at least a Fifth Tribulation Stage Immortal Realm cultivaiton or higher. But that kind of beast would not just appear without signs."

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