Chapter 360: hunt for the hidden cult
Morning mist still covered the small border town as the heavy sound of drums echoed through the streets.
"By order of His Majesty!"
Captain Zhao rode slowly through the marketplace with dozens of Imperial Guards behind him.
"Every household will be inspected."
"No one may conceal suspicious persons, forbidden rituals, or cursed objects."
The lively market gradually became silent.
Merchants stopped arranging their goods.
Children were pulled back into their homes by worried mothers.
An elderly villager stepped forward.
"Captain... has something happened?"
Captain Zhao dismounted.
His face was stern.
"We are investigating reports of forbidden black magic."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
"So the rumors are true..."
"I heard crying every night."
"My chickens died without reason."
"My neighbor’s son disappeared."
The Captain raised his hand.
"If anyone has seen unusual people, strange symbols, secret gatherings, or abandoned temples being used at night, report immediately."
"We will protect your identity."
Silence lingered.
Then an old woman slowly stepped forward.
"I know a place..."
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed toward the eastern forest.
"There is an abandoned farmhouse."
"No one lives there."
"But every new moon strange lights appear."
"My grandson heard people chanting."
Another villager nodded.
"I’ve seen black-robed figures carrying boxes there after midnight."
Soon another voice spoke.
"My ox refused to walk near that place."
"The animals become terrified."
Captain Zhao immediately ordered several soldiers.
"Mark the location."
More villagers gathered.
For the first time...
Fear began turning into courage.
A young hunter stepped forward carrying a bow.
"I know every trail in those woods."
"I’ll guide you."
Behind him came a woodcutter.
"So will I."
Then another.
"And me."
Within minutes nearly twenty villagers had volunteered.
Captain Zhao bowed respectfully.
"On behalf of the Empire..."
"Thank you."
---
Elsewhere...
The town’s wealthiest merchant, Master Wu, arrived with several influential noble families.
Behind him stood dozens of servants carrying crates.
Captain Zhao looked surprised.
"Master Wu?"
The merchant smiled.
"We heard your investigation lacks supplies."
He pointed toward the wagons.
"Food."
"Medicine."
"Oil lamps."
"Blankets."
"Everything needed."
Another noble stepped forward.
"Our family has donated silver."
"We’ll repair the abandoned watchtowers."
A third family added,
"We’ll pay craftsmen to strengthen the town gates."
The Captain looked genuinely moved.
"You are investing your own fortune?"
Master Wu nodded.
"If this evil spreads..."
"No business will survive."
"No family will be safe."
"This isn’t charity."
"It’s protecting our home."
The surrounding townspeople immediately applauded.
One after another—
Shopkeepers began offering help.
"I’ll provide bread."
"My family owns horses."
"I’ll donate grain."
"My sons will help patrol."
Even children volunteered to carry water for the soldiers.
Watching the scene, Captain Zhao smiled for the first time in days.
"The Empire is strongest..."
"...when its people stand together."
Far away, hidden inside the dark forest...
A pair of cold eyes watched the growing unity.
The hooded figure slowly smiled beneath a black mask.
"So..."
"They’ve begun searching."
The figure extinguished a black candle marked with strange crimson symbols.
"Let them search."
"They’re already too late."
A cold wind swept through the forest.
Somewhere deep in the darkness—
A woman’s eerie cry echoed once again.
And every bird in the forest took flight at the same moment.
A heavy silence filled the Imperial Study.
The morning sunlight streamed through the carved windows, but no warmth reached the room.
On the Emperor’s desk lay dozens of investigation reports from every corner of the empire.
Each scroll carried the same conclusion.
Nothing found.
The Emperor slowly closed the final report.
His fingers tightened around it until the parchment crumpled.
Across from him, Prince Liang remained silent.
He had personally overseen many of the investigations.
Hundreds of Imperial Guards...
Local magistrates...
County officials...
Village elders...
Even volunteer hunters and merchants had joined the search.
Yet...
Nothing.
Not a single ritual site.
Not a single practitioner.
Not one piece of evidence connected to black magic.
Prince Liang finally broke the silence.
"We searched abandoned temples."
The Emperor nodded.
"No traces."
"We searched caves."
"Nothing."
"We inspected wells."
"Nothing."
"Forest shrines."
"Nothing."
"Every suspicious house reported by the villagers."
Prince Liang sighed heavily.
"Nothing."
The room became quiet again.
Outside, even the palace birds seemed unusually silent.
The Emperor stood and walked toward the enormous map of the empire hanging on the wall.
Small red markers covered nearly every province.
Each represented an unexplained incident.
Dead livestock.
Mysterious crying.
Disappearing villagers.
Strange shadows.
People awakening from death.
Unexplained illnesses.
And yet...
No source.
No culprit.
No explanation.
Prince Liang walked beside him.
"It feels..."
"...as if someone is erasing every trace before we arrive."
The Emperor slowly nodded.
"I’ve reached the same conclusion."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"The enemy is always one step ahead."
Prince Liang folded his arms.
"Or..."
"...they are watching us."
Those words hung heavily between them.
The Emperor’s eyes darkened.
"Which means..."
"...someone knows every move we make."
Neither man spoke for several moments.
Finally, Prince Liang asked quietly,
"What do we tell the people?"
The Emperor didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he looked beyond the palace walls.
Far across the capital.
Toward the countless homes under his protection.
"I’ve received more reports."
Prince Liang looked over.
"What kind?"
The Emperor handed him another memorial.
Prince Liang’s expression gradually changed.
"...Families are leaving?"
The Emperor nodded.
"Entire villages."
"They fear staying."
"Some believe evil spirits have awakened."
"Others believe the Empire has been cursed."
Prince Liang continued reading.
Merchants had stopped using certain trade routes.
Caravans were delayed.
Farmers refused to work after sunset.
Temple offerings had doubled.
Fear...
Was becoming stronger than reason.
Prince Liang slowly lowered the report.
"This is worse than I thought."
The Emperor answered quietly,
"Fear spreads faster than disease."
"And unlike disease..."
"...it cannot be cured with medicine."
Another knock interrupted them.
"Enter."
The Minister of Revenue hurried inside.
His face looked exhausted.
He bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty."
The Emperor gestured.
"Speak."
"The southern markets have lost nearly forty percent of their trade."
"The western merchants refuse to travel."
"The price of grain has begun rising."
"The people are hoarding supplies."
Prince Liang closed his eyes briefly.
"The economy..."
The minister nodded.
"It is beginning."
"And if this continues..."
"...winter will be difficult."
The Emperor remained silent.
The minister hesitated.
"There is more."
The Emperor looked toward him.
"The neighboring kingdoms have begun increasing patrols near our borders."
Prince Liang frowned.
"They’ve noticed."
The minister nodded.
"Yes."
"They believe our empire has become unstable."
Silence returned.
The Emperor slowly walked back to his desk.
He knew exactly what that meant.
When one kingdom weakened...
Others watched.
When fear spread...
Enemies smiled.
Prince Liang spoke quietly.
"If they believe we’re divided..."
"...they may attack."
The Emperor nodded once.
"They will."
Neither man doubted it.
To neighboring rulers...
This was opportunity.
Not tragedy.
The Minister continued,
"Our spies report unusual military movements in the northern kingdom."
"The western alliance has also begun gathering troops."
Prince Liang clenched his fists.
"They’re testing us."
The Emperor’s eyes became cold.
"They’re waiting."
"Waiting for our people to panic."
"Waiting for our borders to weaken."
"Waiting for us to make a mistake."
He looked toward Prince Liang.
"We cannot allow that."
Prince Liang nodded firmly.
"What are your orders?"
The Emperor answered without hesitation.
"Increase border patrols."
"But quietly."
"I don’t want panic."
"Strengthen the capital’s defenses."
"Continue the investigations."
"And..."
He paused.
"...find me someone who understands these incidents."
Prince Liang looked surprised.
"A scholar?"
"No."
"A cultivator."
"A monk."
"A Taoist master."
"Anyone."
"If ordinary methods fail..."
"...we must seek extraordinary knowledge."
The minister bowed.
"It shall be done."
After everyone left...
The Emperor remained alone.
He looked once more at the map covered in red markers.
"So many people..."
"So many unanswered questions..."
His thoughts drifted toward the Empress.
Her mysterious sleepwalking.
Her near death.
The strange power surrounding her.
The attack outside the city.
Everything...
Felt connected.
Yet every path ended in darkness.
He whispered quietly,
"Who are you..."
"And what do you want from my kingdom?"
Far away...
Hidden within the palace itself...
A pair of cold eyes opened slowly.
A faint smile appeared in the darkness.
"They’re searching outside..."
"...just as planned."
The lantern flame flickered.
A black talisman slowly turned to ash.
And somewhere in the palace...
A woman laughed softly.
No one heard it.
But the game...
Had only just begun.
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