Wu's house was rather boring, there were a few scrolls and books about cultivation but unimportant in regards of investigation. Suprisingly the smell of rotten meat wasn't coming from his rotting wounds. Infact his recovery would most likely happen in a week if he is at the peak of Body Tempering like I am. Following the smell of rot I found a drawer full of meat and a few Foreign Demon Beads, they gave a slight sense of chill when I grabbed them so most likely made out of some frost based beasts. I remember hearing those being sold to preserve food. Cultivators didn't need to eat as much as mortals outside of pleasure but it seems Wu enjoyed meat a lot.
Nothing else was worth mentioning within the house so I walked towards Wu's sitting form. I don't know whose idea was it to place him on a chair to treat him but I am no healer. Maybe this was the best way or maybe they just had a chair to put him on while tending his wounds and didn't dare to move him after that.
Unfortunately I had only a week to finish my mission and already lost two days travelling. So steeling myself I grabbed the shoulder of Wu to awaken him.
"Aaaaah!" Wu exclaimed in a voice too low to represent the pain he was in. Bandages covered his head, only leaving his lower face and one bloodshot eye visible. He looked at me with his lone eye, his need for sleep all too apparent. I took a deep breath in.
"I am sorry for disturbing your sleep Senior Brother Wu, unfortunately Sect sent me to check on you, you haven't been delivering the protection fees. As I can see this was not done out of your free will, please point me to the beast harmed you so I can clear your name."
I could see the anger in his eye, the way his visible skin tensed and hands formed a fist. He very much desired more rest to heal. His gaze softened a second after however. Tension of his body became more controlled. He was aware I could keep him safe from Sect's anger just by helping me do my job. He opened his mouth again to speak, barely making any noise at first but slowly he managed to form a sentence.
"...land....wolf.....bull...."
Words didn't mean much but wolf and bull was most likely referred to the Demonic Beasts. Land however was more curious. Especially with the brown useless soil around Green Hall.
"Thanks Senior Brother Wu, I hope this aids you in your recovery. " With kind words I left three Spirit Beads in his hand.
I could hear him swallow the beads as I left the house. If he was good with manipulating Qi from beads he would speed up his recovery quite well. I spotted the inn and Village Chief in front of it. I sprinted towards him but stopped a little before I reached him.
"Esteemed cultivator!" He exclaimed, clearly panicked from my sprint but he forced his emotions down as he bowed again slightly.
"Esteemed Cultivator, your room is ready in the top floor at the inn, I have made sure your meal was prepared with the best materials in town. Please do enjoy your rest."
"Well done Village Chief. I do not believe I will be able to enjoy your hospitality beyond this day however. There seems to be a duo of newly evolved Demonic Beasts." The Village Chief visibly paled from my words. I didn't like scaring the mortals but he needed to understand the trouble his village was in.
"Order villagers to stay in their houses. Not even their own gardens are safe. Don't even use lights at night if possible. Stumbling at night is safer than making the beasts focus their attention to here."
Last part was a little more than hopefull thinking. Beasts already attempted to kill Brother Wu, as such they were likely to follow his track to here eventually.
I went to my room at the inn after sending the Chief away. It was a spacious room. Bed was comfortable and a flowery scent made the air inside room calming. It would probably be easier to meditate here to breakthrough again. After all my journey to village did tire me out like a sword training.
I realised the smell of the beef and rice meal prepared for me. My stomach growled before I could ignore the meal.
"Perhaps indulging in mortal food every once in a while wouldn't be that bad." This would most likely increase the impurities within my body but I did miss the food from my mortal days. Sect food was mostly bland even though it was mainly snake meat. Clearing impurities from food removed most of it's taste too. Only the very best chefs could keep the taste and purity but those were for Inner Sect cultivators and for big families who could spend many spirit stones.
As my inner monologue went on I was already sitting in front of the meal and shoveling it to my mouth. The taste was simply amazing and my body felt complete for the first time in a long while. I was fully sated yet also light enough to do backflips. As soon as meal ended I sat down to cultivate. To my suprise the impurities left my body easier than expected. Within an hour I managed to get rid of enough impurities that would normally take me four hours. I still felt like I could do more but duty awaited me. I got up and stretched. My body felt great. Warmth spread from my stomach to my body.
"Maybe I needed to eat good food all this time." Clearly I must have just lacked a change in my diet. I let out a small chuckle as I left the inn.
I looked upon the horizon. Watching the forest that was a bit away from village's brown soil. I sprinted towards it and kept going deeper. After deciding I was deep enough I grabbed my last two spirit beads and threw them to ground while climbing a tree. Rest was a game of wait. Two beads was by no means the best bait but these creatures we're newly evolved Demonic Beasts. They desired any scrap of power they could get their hands on. My hand rested on my sword as I waited on top of the trap, muscles ready to burst into motion.