"As of now, we only have a rough understanding of the Face Stealing Demon's targets and the times of its attacks. However, the locations of its crimes are completely random, and the demon has never truly exposed itself. We don't even know what it looks like. Based on this, capturing it will be quite difficult," Luo Wen said before Nian Jiaojiao could speak.
The others agreed with Luo Wen's assessment. Nevertheless, they all turned their gazes to Nian Jiaojiao, hoping she had some other ideas.
Nian Jiaojiao shook her head and said, "For now, we can only collect information on handsome men in the city and send people to guard near their homes. I will write talismans. Once there's any sign of trouble, they will immediately transmit the message to me."
Although she said this, she mused inwardly, *This Face Stealing Demon is truly strange. Before, the city's residents posed no threat to it, so what is the meaning of it hiding its tracks like this?*
...
Half an hour later, the government and city lord's mansion guards, totaling fifteen small teams, began to stake out near the homes of the surviving handsome men in the city. Each of these team leaders held the talismans given by Nian Jiaojiao.
A team member in the third squad whispered into their captain's ear, "Captain, do you think such a small talisman is really that magical? What if that person doesn't arrive in time if we use it?"
The other team members showed expressions of unease. They weren't facing a vicious murderer, but an inhuman demon!
The captain of the third squad frowned and said, "Stop talking nonsense. Who doesn't know the reputation of the Gongyuan now?"
Upon hearing the name "Gongyuan," the others' expressions relaxed considerably.
Due to manpower limitations, Luo Wen, Luo Jin, and Nie Xian were also divided into three teams, staking out outside the courtyards where the handsome men resided. They also held the talismans distributed by Nian Jiaojiao. Nian Jiaojiao and her two husbands remained at the city lord's mansion, waiting to be alerted so they could immediately use their abilities to rush to the scene.
Soon, a day passed, and Nian Jiaojiao received no distress signals. By the early morning of the second day, she saw the dispatched teams returning one by one. Once everyone had reassembled, they confirmed that the Face Stealing Demon had not committed any crimes yesterday.
Luo Wen said, "Could it be that the Face Stealing Demon knows we've arrived and is hiding?"
Nie Xian added, "If that's the case, this demon is too clever."
Nian Jiaojiao's expression was grave. She didn't believe the Face Stealing Demon was afraid of them.
At this moment, the prefect rushed over in a panic. "Something's wrong! There was a victim yesterday!"
Everyone was startled. Could it be that a man they hadn't guarded had been attacked?
As everyone was speculating, they heard the prefect continue, "It's just strange. This time, the victim wasn't a man, but a woman."
"What!"
"What!"
Everyone was shocked by the prefect's words, especially the Luo sisters, who felt this news was simply terrible. Why couldn't this Face Stealing Demon be "consistent"?
The prefect also looked very confused. "But the woman's face was not taken, and when we found her, she was already dead."
Nian Jiaojiao said, "If that's the case, how can you confirm that the perpetrator was the Face Stealing Demon? It could be foul play."
The prefect replied, "Impossible. I've never seen such a way of death. The victim's lower body had already become rotten, emitting a strong smell of decaying corpse, as if she had been dead for over half a month. As for the victim's upper body, the coroner's examination showed it was a fresh corpse that had died not long ago. You tell me, if this wasn't done by a demon, could a human do this?"
Nian Jiaojiao: ... *Can you please stop describing corpses as 'fresh'...?*
Luo Jin said, "This method of death does indeed strongly suggest an extraterrestrial demon, but what if it's not the Face Stealing Demon?"
Nian Jiaojiao asked, "You mean, besides the Face Stealing Demon, there are other extraterrestrial demons in Re City?"
Everyone shivered. One Face Stealing Demon was already troublesome enough, and now another one...
Nie Xian said, "Why don't we quickly ask for reinforcements from the academy? I feel this is beyond our capabilities."
As soon as Nie Xian finished speaking, the Luo sisters immediately objected, "That won't do! If we ask for reinforcements, the reward won't be ours!"
Nie Xian was resentful. "At a time like this, with lives at stake, you're still thinking about the reward?"
Luo Wen smiled sarcastically, "Heh, easy for you to say. If it weren't for the reward, would you have accepted this mission?"
"You!" Nie Xian was so angry that the flesh on her face trembled. She turned to Nian Jiaojiao and said, "Senior, you are leading this team. What do you say? I, Nie Xian, will listen to you!"
Nian Jiaojiao glanced at the three people staring at her and said, "Regardless, we must first clarify the situation and determine if there are other demons in Re City. Otherwise, even if we request reinforcements, the academy might not send anyone."
Currently, extraterrestrial demons were appearing throughout the entire dynasty. Since so many people had already been sent to Re City, it would likely take some time to send more personnel. Therefore, it was better for them to investigate the situation. Besides, she was a cultivator in the Object Manipulation realm. Even if there were two demons, she should be able to...
Nian Jiaojiao's words made the Luo sisters beam with joy. Nie Xian also nodded decisively, "Since it's Senior's decision, I naturally agree."
Just then, the prefect interjected softly, "Um... shouldn't we have breakfast now?"
The prefect's words left everyone speechless. Hearing the tragic state of the victim so early in the morning, this person was still thinking about eating. Moreover, she had personally seen the partially decayed corpse...
The prefect innocently suggested, "What's wrong? Food is the most important thing for the people. Esteemed officials, the cook at the city lord's mansion is truly something!" The prefect gave a thumbs-up and continued to praise, "There's braised pork trotters with sauce, steamed buns, hand-shredded chicken, and oh, that cook's spicy pig intestines are even more amazing!"
Nian Jiaojiao's mouth twitched slightly. "Are you sure you want to eat these for breakfast?"
The prefect nodded affirmatively, then called out, "Esteemed officials, shall we all go together?"
Nian Jiaojiao shook her head. "I won't."
The others also stated one after another that they were not eating breakfast. The prefect lamented, "Indeed, esteemed officials are cultivators..."
...
Re City, Southern District, Qingliu Alley.
"Miss, my leg is injured. Could you send me back?"
Hearing this, the woman dressed as a scholar looked down at the ground. She saw a petite, charmingly beautiful young man looking at her with pitiful helplessness, asking for help. The scholar-dressed woman's body immediately trembled. As a scholar, it was her bounden duty to help an injured and pitiable young man!
Thus, she stepped forward without hesitation and said, "Young master, I will take you to the doctor's clinic." However, as she was taking him to the clinic, physical contact would be inevitable. She wondered if this handsome young man would mind...
At this moment, the young man said considerately, "No need for a clinic. My family has been practicing medicine for generations; we have medicine at home. Just carry me back."