Ouchi Taming the Cat, starting with the Ten Tiger Forms!

Chapter 535 Changbai Town

Late at night, Zhao Feng and Li Xuan landed lightly outside Changbai Town.

The seven hours of continuous travel did not cause any impact on the man and the cat. Zhao Feng even seemed to be in high spirits.

Looking at Changbai Town, whose outline could already be seen not far away, Zhao Feng could not help but sigh:

“This is going much faster than I expected.”

Originally, Zhao Feng estimated that the round trip would take five days.

If we go all out, we might be able to shorten this time to three days.

But traveling in such a hurry would affect Zhao Feng's condition, and he didn't want to do so unless it was absolutely necessary.

In other words, according to Zhao Fengyi's original estimate, the one-way trip from the capital to Changbai Town would take at least one and a half to two and a half days.

But the fact was that it only took them seven hours to reach the destination, and Zhao Feng didn't feel tired at all and was in good condition.

"Ah Xuan, your Yin and Yang Qi really has infinite uses."

"When you moved like that just now, the breeze began to respond to me more enthusiastically."

Zhao Feng opened his arms, looking extremely enjoying himself, as if he was savoring the feeling just now.

He had just made a breakthrough recently and was still in the process of exploring his own path.

This experience of traveling gave him a deeper understanding of his own path.

Li Xuan had not expected that his Yin-Yang Qi could have such an effect against a third-grade warrior.

I don’t know whether this effect works for all top three warriors, or only for people like Zhao Feng who have just achieved a breakthrough?

The mysteries of Yin-Yang Qi are endless. Just like Zhao Feng has comprehended his own Tao, Li Xuan can always discover new uses for Yin-Yang Qi.

Zhao Feng pondered for a while on the spot, and finally withdrew his hand reluctantly.

"Forget it, there's no rush, let's get down to business first."

Then, Zhao Feng carried Li Xuan and walked towards Changbai Town.

As they left the capital and arrived at the northern border of Daxing, the temperature around them dropped and everything around them was covered in white.

Fortunately, Zhao Feng had great martial arts skills, otherwise it would have been difficult to walk in the snow that was almost half-body thick.

In order to avoid being seen, Zhao Feng avoided the main road and approached Changbai Town from the wilderness.

Changbai Town is a relatively large place near Daxing. It was prosperous for a period of time in the past because it was adjacent to the northern border and Beiliang.

But as Beiliang was covered by a cold wave, Changbai Town is no longer as good as it used to be.

But because it is adjacent to the Northern Territory, it is still relatively bearable. Many hunting teams in the Northern Territory pass through here for supplies, or enter Daxing from here, so life is still relatively bearable.

When Zhao Feng brought Li Xuan into Changbai Town, there were only one or two hours left until dawn.

The whole town is not big, and it doesn’t even have a city wall. It is just a bunch of wooden houses close to each other.

It is just a little bigger in scale, but it looks no different from a village.

The town was quiet, with only the occasional barking of dogs in the distance, but otherwise it was silent.

Li Xuan came to Changbai Town. Apart from the thick snow that could be seen everywhere, his impression of the town was its quietness.

The whole town was quiet, and it seemed even quieter because Zhao Feng made no noise when he walked.

Li Xuan could detect through his sensitive five senses that there were people living in each wooden house, but most of them were fast asleep. The noise of grinding teeth and snoring in their sleep was loud in the house. As the noise was muffled by the houses and layers of snow, the Cross Avenue in Changbai Town seemed eerily quiet.

Li Xuan looked at Changbai Town curiously, but Zhao Feng was used to it and rushed to his destination with an expressionless face.

Soon, they came to an inn with its door closed.

Zhao Feng didn't even knock on the door, but climbed in directly and soon found the innkeeper's room.

Zhao Feng and Li Xuan slipped in quietly and looked at the rough-looking and bearded shopkeeper lying on the bed.

The bearded shopkeeper was sleeping soundly, snoring loudly, completely unaware that there was an evil star beside his bed.

Li Xuan didn't know what to say about Zhao Feng's strange way of visiting.

I just don't quite understand what Zhao Feng is doing.

Zhao Feng just looked at the bearded shopkeeper silently for a while, then he stretched out his hand and snapped his fingers lightly.

The bearded shopkeeper continued snoring, but Li Xuan smiled slightly because the rhythm of the snoring had changed slightly.

“Has this been specially cultivated?”

"Even this instinctive reaction can be controlled."

Li Xuan couldn't help but think curiously.

If an ordinary person were to encounter such a shock while sleeping soundly, he would probably wake up with fright, let alone continue snoring.

But the bearded shopkeeper reacted very quickly. When he woke up, he chose to continue pretending to be asleep.

But he must have been feeling desperate at the moment. Being quietly approached by someone on the bedside must be terrifying no matter how you think about it, right?
"Well, it's not too bad. Get up."

Zhao Feng shook his head and sat down on a chair beside him.

Hearing this voice, the bearded shopkeeper who was sleeping soundly on the bed dared to quietly squint his eyes to look at Zhao Feng.

Only after he saw who was coming did he stop snoring.

The bearded shopkeeper immediately rolled off the bed and knelt down respectfully, saying:

"Agent Snow Eagle greets the Lord Steward!"

"Get up and talk."

Zhao Feng said casually.

Xue Ying did not dare to disobey, and immediately thanked him and stood up, but he kept bowing and maintained a humble attitude.

"Any news recently?"

Several people started talking in the dark room.

In response to Zhao Feng's question, Xue Ying immediately answered:

"Since someone saw members of the North Team being chased and killed three days ago, there has been no further news since then."

"At that time, they were fighting in the snowy wilderness ten miles northwest of Changbai Town, but they soon disappeared."

"There is always a lot of murder and robbery around Changbai Town, especially near the northern border, so it didn't attract much attention in the town."

"We have already detained the witnesses. Do you want to conduct the trial in person, Lord Steward?"

Xueying asked Zhao Feng for instructions.

"There's no rush for that. First, repeat to me the witness statements you got."

After receiving Zhao Feng's order, Xue Ying immediately recited it word for word.

This bearded shopkeeper looks rough, but he is no problem at all in doing these delicate jobs.

Li Xuan couldn't help but sigh. If he met such a person outside, it would be hard for him to imagine that he was a spy from the Imperial Household Department.

After listening to the eyewitness testimony recited by Xue Ying, Zhao Feng couldn't help but frown and said:
"I only saw one member of the North Team, and he was seriously injured..."

"Is there any problem with this witness?"

Xue Ying responded fluently and without any hesitation: "We have checked, and the witness is a local hunter in Changbai Town. His cultivation is only ninth rank, and he only dares to move around Changbai Town."

"That day he was chasing a snow fox and chased it to the place where he was witnessed. Then he hid and only saw those people quickly passing by. Soon the battle was far away."

"He was afraid that it would affect him, so he chose to retreat quietly at the first opportunity."

"How did he recognize the hunting officer?" Zhao Feng's suspicion has not been dispelled.

"The hunter said that the man being hunted was wearing the official uniform of the hunting officer."

"This hunter may not recognize other official uniforms, but he said he would definitely not make a mistake when it comes to the hunting officer's uniform." Zhao Feng and Xue Ying had no doubts about this.

Being a hunting officer can be said to be the dream of hunters all over the world. Hunting for the royal family, while enjoying a high position and generous salary, one can also travel freely around the world. Who wouldn't want that?
Just this situation made Zhao Feng's expression even more solemn.

"In other words, either someone is pretending to be a hunting officer and wants us to lure the snake out of its hole."

"Or the North Team is really in a life-and-death crisis and needs to send someone to ask for help."

Li Xuan listened silently. No matter which situation it was, it didn't seem optimistic.

"Master General, there has been no news of hunting officers appearing around Changbai Town since then."

“If we ask for help, we will probably be blocked by the snowfield ten miles away.”

"As for luring the snake out of its hole..."

Xue Ying didn't say much about this.

No matter what the other party’s purpose is, even if they really want to lure the snake out of its hole, I’m afraid the one they want to lure out is definitely not Zhao Feng, the “snake”.

Zhao Feng asked Xue Ying some more questions, mainly about the recent situation in Changbai Town and their actions.

Snow Eagle was very cautious, and the control of the hunters and interrogations were all handled in Changbai Town.

They have been operating here for many years and are very familiar with it. They think they have not left any loopholes.

Then, Zhao Feng took Li Xuan to see the hunter again.

As a result, the hunter had no idea that he was being controlled and thought he had just found a good job.

It turned out that Xue Ying kept him in the inn waiting for an employer in the name of introducing him to a good job.

Seeing Zhao Feng coming early, he thought it was his employer. His attitude was so humble that he answered almost every question.

The hunter thought that it was just a job of being a tour guide, leading people to hunt small animals, but the reward was good and he was very happy.

Zhao Feng just glanced at the hunter casually, chatted with him for a few words, and then sent him away, leaving him to Xue Ying for disposal.

As long as the hunter is not too smart, returning home alive should not be a problem.

After all, Snow Eagle still has to continue lurking in Changbai Town, so it’s better to avoid leaving any loopholes if possible.

But if the hunter is too smart, Snow Eagle will have no choice but to let him be robbed in the wild.

By the time Li Xuan and Zhao Feng understood the situation, it was already dawn.

After Zhao Feng asked Xue Ying to arrange things at the inn, he followed them to the scene of the incident.

Xue Ying naturally had no objection to this.

Zhao Feng flew directly to the snowfield and reached the distance of ten miles in a flash.

After experiencing flying with the wind, Xue Ying became more in awe of Zhao Feng.

After winter comes to Changbai Town, there is snow almost every two or three days.

The previous traces had long been covered by the snow, but Snow Eagle relied on his own memory to restore the various clues they had found at that time.

Although the snow covered many clues, the smell of blood had not yet dissipated, and both Li Xuan and Zhao Feng could detect it.

As for other clues that are easier to track, such as footprints, they are completely nowhere to be found.

Zhao Feng was also troubled by this situation, but he was well prepared for it.

"Ah Xuan, it's your turn to perform."

Li Xuan also jumped off Zhao Feng's shoulder, strengthened his five senses, and looked around for clues.

Snow Eagle, who was standing by, looked at the situation and although he felt somewhat puzzled, he wisely kept his mouth shut and just observed Li Xuan.

Generally speaking, when the Ministry of Internal Affairs goes out to investigate a case, they bring hawks and dogs with them. This is the first time I have seen Snow Eagle bring a cat with him.

But since it was Zhao Feng's decision, he naturally would not question it. He would only think that Zhao Feng must have his own hidden meaning in doing so.

Li Xuan noted the smell of blood at the scene, but he could tell that it was not just the blood of one person, but a mixture of several people.

It seems that the previous battle was indeed fierce.

After he memorized the smell of blood, he searched the surroundings with his five senses, but found nothing.

The wind and snow had a great effect in masking the smell. Even with Li Xuan's sense of smell, he could only smell gusts of cold air.

Then Li Xuan used the Yin-Yang Qi to sense the power of the five elements of heaven and earth around him, but he did not find any abnormal fluctuations.

He could not help but frown, then jumped onto Zhao Feng's shoulder, and wrote with Snow Eagle on his back:
"It looks like a wider search is needed."

"Do you have any information about those hunters? Tell me everything you can think of. It would be best if there are objects they have touched."

"I have blood samples of all the members of the North Team." Zhao Feng transmitted the message to Li Xuan.

Then, Zhao Feng took out blood bottles from his storage magic weapon, with names marked on them.

Li Xuan smelled them one by one, and then memorized the name of each blood owner.

This bottle of blood seems to be a little special, and the blood inside is still very fresh.

Zhao Feng explained to Li Xuan that this was the rule of hunting officers, and some blood samples were left every year.

On the one hand, the job of a hunter-gatherer is dangerous, and the blood may come in handy when someone is seriously injured.

It’s just that because blood samples are collected once a year, those from previous years will also be kept for backup.

In Zhao Feng's hand are the backups from previous years.

Another consideration is that if the bodies of the hunters are gone, these blood samples can remain as a memory for their families and can be used in their cenotaphs.

After all, when a hunter is hunting, he also runs the risk of being eaten by the prey.

This kind of thing has happened before, and once it happens, the team will be wiped out immediately, with very few survivors.

Because of this reason, hunting officials have the rule of leaving blood every year.

They carry the latest year's blood samples with them in case of emergency.

As for those from previous years, they are kept in the hunting official's office and are guarded by a special person.

Li Xuan memorized the smell of the blood of the thirteen hunting officers of the North Team, and then asked Zhao Feng to search around.

As a spy, Xue Ying would be of little use in the subsequent search and would also slow down the speed of Li Xuan and Zhao Feng, so Zhao Feng asked him to return to Changbai Town and wait for orders.

Next, Li Xuan and Zhao Feng began a carpet search along the direction from Changbai Town to the northern border.

As for the directions within Beiliang and Daxing, they were put aside for the time being.

The man and the cat continued to work together. After Zhao Feng understood the speed and range of Li Xuan's exploration of the surroundings, the speed of the search became faster and faster.

In order not to miss any clues on the ground, they adopted the strategy of flying mostly at low altitudes and occasionally looking out from high altitudes.

This carpet-style search lasted for two days, during which Li Xuan and Zhao Feng only rested for a few hours.

They all knew that human lives were at stake and that every second counted.

However, facing the endless white scenery, the two couldn't help but feel more and more tired.

"what?"

Li Xuan saw the strange sight that suddenly appeared before his eyes and immediately asked Zhao Feng:
"What's that, meow?"

In front of Li Xuan and Zhao Feng's sight, a huge white wall that connected the sky and the earth stood between heaven and earth, with no end in sight.

As they continued to get closer to the north, the snow fell more and more frequently, but now it was just snowflakes floating around them, far from affecting their vision.

The huge white wall in the distance was obviously more than just a blizzard.

"Ah Xuan, that's the cold wave."

(End of this chapter)