Morning light filtered through the paper windows, casting a warm glow over the minimalistic furniture of the inn. The disciples of Zhenmi Peak stirred, their stomachs rumbling in unison, a symphony of adolescent hunger. They shuffled downstairs, a parade of white hanfu and tousled hair, and gathered around the largest table in the dining hall.
Liu Feng, the eldest among them, took the lead. "Innkeeper, a table for eleven, please. With plenty of food." His voice was authoritative, a miniature version of the elder he aspired to be.
The innkeeper, a portly man with a gleaming bald head, bustled about, barking orders to his servants. Soon, the table was laden with an array of dishes: steaming bowls of congee, plates of crispy fried noodles, bamboo steamers filled with fluffy baozi, and pickled vegetables gleaming in their vinegar bath.
Xue Yang, seated at the far end of the table, eyed the food with wide-eyed wonder. His stomach growled loudly, earning him a few chuckles from his fellow disciples. He grinned, rubbing his belly. "I could eat a whole pig right now."
Liu Feng raised an eyebrow, smirking. "And where would you put it, little piglet? You're all skin and bones."
Xue Yang pouted, helping himself to a generous serving of congee. "I'm just saving it all for a growth spurt, Shixiong Liu. You'll see."
Liu Feng rolled his eyes and sat down next to where Elder Mo Chou should have been sitting.
"Should we get up to wake up the teacher?",-One of the younger students suggested.
Liu Feng, holding chopsticks in his hands and putting more food on his plate, looked at him and snorted, raising an eyebrow. "Do you think the teacher is some kind of person who sleeps at night?He is clearly engaged in meditation, and interfering with the Elder's meditation is not that dangerous, it is punishable!"
This student immediately fell silent and buried his nose in his own plate.
Xue Yang moved his chopsticks quickly, eating madder vegetables and meat that literally melted in his mouth. But when his chopsticks reached for the fragrant baoji, Liu Feng slapped his hand on his arm, frowning.
"..." Just give him something to eat at last.
"Eat slower, sheedy, do you want to choke?How am I going to justify myself to the teacher if he finds you dead?" said Liu Feng, taking a piece of baoji himself and taking a bite out of it.
Xue Yang pursed his lips and chuckled, rubbing his hand over the wrist that had been slapped. "The teacher says that I am strong, so I will not die from this..and anyway, maybe it's seriously worth going to call him, otherwise he might skip breakfast."
"Well, try it if you really want to get your hand on the head. As it is, the teacher is a strong caster. He can do fine without food for several weeks."
Min Hoo descended the creaky stairs, each step echoing like a drumbeat in his throbbing head. The nightmare had left him with a lingering chill, and his usual cheeky demeanor was buried under a mountain of exhaustion. He rounded the corner, entering the dining hall, and was met with a tableau of youthful exuberance—his disciples dug into their breakfast with the vigor of starving soldiers.
The clatter of chopsticks and hum of chatter faltered as they noticed his approach. Xue Yang, mid-bite into a fluffy bao, paused, his eyes widening. Liu Feng, ever the observant one, straightened up, his gaze flicking over Min Hoo's face. The other disciples followed suit, their laughter tapering off into an uncertain silence.
Min Hoo's expression was stormy, his golden eyes lacking their usual spark. He swept a glance over the table, taking in the spread of food, and the disciples who seemed to be shrinking in their seats. He didn't bother with a greeting, instead opting for a sarcastic, "Don't let me interrupt your feast."
Liu Feng stood, offering a respectful bow. "Teacher, would you like to join us?"
Min Hoo waved him off, striding past the table to the counter where the innkeeper was wiping his hands on his apron. "A pot of your strongest tea," he ordered, his voice gruff.
The innkeeper bobbed his head, scurrying off to fulfill the request. Min Hoo turned back to the table, leaning against the counter. He crossed his arms, his gaze settling on Xue Yang, who was trying to hide behind his bowl of congee.
"Enjoying your breakfast, I see," Min Hoo remarked, one eyebrow quirked.
Xue Yang swallowed his mouthful, offering a tentative smile. "It's very good, Teacher. You should try some."
Min Hoo grunted, pushing off the counter as the innkeeper returned with his tea. He took the pot, pouring himself a cup. The steam rose, carrying with it a bitter aroma that promised a much-needed jolt of energy.
He took a sip, hissing at the scalding heat, but welcomed the burn. It grounded him, pushing back the remnants of the nightmare. He turned back to the table, his expression softening slightly. "Eat up. We have a long day ahead of us."
The disciples exchanged glances, their tension easing at his words. They picked up their chopsticks, resuming their meal, though with less enthusiasm than before. Min Hoo watched them, his mind churning. He needed to get a grip on himself, push past the System's mind games. He had a role to play, and he couldn't let a bad night's sleep derail him.
He took another sip of his tea, steeling himself for the day ahead. The System might be a pain, but he'd be damned if he let it control him. He had a job to do, and a bunch of kids to mentor. And he wasn't about to let some nightmare screw that up.
The last thing he ate, if you don't count the first day, was tea. There was no coffee here, so we had to enjoy this strong 'miracle'.
In any case, maybe coffee does exist here, they just haven't brought it yet. Therefore, you should either just wait or search yourself. A morning without a cup of coffee is a bad morning.
In Min Hoo's head, he heard that robotic, already hateful, female voice again. "Oh, Host. For the first time ever, you more or less managed to repeat the character of Mo Chou, look how these people are trembling!"
Min Hoo slammed the tea bowl down on the table, causing the innkeeper standing nearby to flinch. The man's face darkened even more, giving the impression that thunderclouds were about to appear over his head.
"Listen up," he began, voice stern. "We're not here for sightseeing. There's a demon on the loose, and we need intel." He leaned forward, hands on the table. "Pair up. Talk to the locals. Find out if they've seen anything unusual. Anything at all."
The disciples exchanged glances, their earlier levity replaced with determination. Liu Feng nodded, turning to the others. "You heard the teacher. Let's move."
Chairs scraped back as they stood, gathering their belongings. Xue Yang lingered, looking at Min Hoo with those puppy eyes. "Teacher, what about you?"
Min Hoo leaned back, crossing his arms. "I'll be the anchor. You lot are the kites. Bring back something useful."
Xue Yang hesitated, then nodded, scampering off to catch up with the others. Min Hoo watched them go, a knot of worry tightening in his stomach. He hated sending them out like this, but the System's task was clear. Gather information. And he couldn't be in ten places at once.
The innkeeper approached, wringing his hands. "Elder, is there anything I can assist you with?"
Min Hoo glanced at him, an idea sparking. "Actually, yes. I need a room with a view of the town. Somewhere I can... meditate."
The innkeeper bobbed his head, understanding. "Of course, Elder. I have just the room."
Min Hoo followed him up the stairs, leaving the bustling dining hall behind. The room was small but clean, with a window overlooking Huishan's main street. Min Hoo dismissed the innkeeper, closing the door behind him.
He paced to the window, looking out. From here, he could see the disciples splitting up, disappearing into the crowd. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. This better work.
"System, any tips on what I'm looking for?" he muttered under his breath.
The System chimed in, its voice echoing in his mind. "Demonic activity leaves traces, Host. Look for unusual patterns, strange behavior. And remember, time is of the essence."
Min Hoo rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. You're a big help."
He settled down, eyes scanning the street. If there was something out there, he'd find it. He had to. The disciples were counting on him. And he wasn't about to let them down.
______
The disciples of Zhenmi Peak scattered through Huishan town like a handful of pebbles tossed into a pond. Each pair approached the task with varying degrees of enthusiasm and tact. Some were as subtle as a battering ram, while others tiptoed around the subject like timid mice.
Xue Yang and Liu Feng, an unlikely duo, found themselves wandering through the bustling market. Liu Feng, ever the assertive one, took the lead. He approached a wrinkled old woman selling medicinal herbs, her face a map of time and hardship.
"Excuse me, Granny," he began, his voice respectful yet firm. "We're looking for information about any strange happenings in town. Have you heard anything unusual lately?"
The old woman squinted up at him, her eyes shrewd. "Strange happenings, you say? What kind of strange?"
Xue Yang chimed in, his voice soft, "Like, um, anything that might involve... demons." He swallowed, his eyes darting around nervously.
The old woman cackled, a sound like dry leaves crunching underfoot. "Demons, eh? You youngsters and your imaginations." She leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But if it's demons you're after, you'll want to hear about Lue Hun."
Liu Feng raised an eyebrow. "Lue Hun?"
She nodded, her eyes gleaming with a mix of fear and excitement. "Aye, Lue Hun. They say it's a creature born of chaos, a monster that feeds on the life force of the living. It's said to appear as a black mist, creeping through the streets at night, leaving nothing but husks in its wake."
Xue Yang shivered, rubbing his arms as if warding off a sudden chill. "That's... terrifying."
Liu Feng, however, was undeterred. "Have there been any sightings recently? Any patterns to its appearances?"
The old woman shook her head. "None that I've heard of. But mark my words, when Lue Hun appears, death follows. You two be careful, yeah? Don't go poking your noses where they don't belong."
They thanked the old woman and moved on, their minds churning with this new information. As they delved deeper into the market, they encountered more whispers of Lue Hun. Each tale was more chilling than the last, painting a picture of a monster that seemed impossible to combat.
Xue Yang touched his chin with two fingers and looked at Liu Feng, who was slightly taller than him. "How can this demon steal souls and not leave a body?And if he steals the body in general..or eating.Then why are there no traces of blood? It's weird.."
Liu Feng furrowed his brow, considering Xue Yang's question. "I don't know, Xue Yang," he said, scratching his chin. "Maybe it's a type of demon we've never encountered before. Or maybe the stories are exaggerated." He shrugged, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
Xue Yang bit his lip, thinking. "But what about the missing people? They must have gone somewhere."
Liu Feng sighed, running a hand through his long black hair. "I don't have all the answers, alright? We're just here to gather information."
Xue Yang nodded, accepting the rebuke. They continued their rounds in silence, stopping at various stalls and shops to ask about Lue Hun and any recent disappearances. The sun crept higher in the sky as they searched for clues, but each lead seemed to dead-end into another urban legend or half-baked theory.
"We should probably go back now, sheedy." said Liu Feng, glancing at the younger man.
Xue Yang was about to say something, but suddenly, a woman ran up to him, her eyes reddened from crying.
"You're the spellcasters, right?! You've come to save us all! Save my son... save..." tears rolled down the woman's face, and her face twisted, making her wrinkles even more visible.