Zhou Youpan sat on the roof of the inn, waiting for the moment of dawn.
It was still dark at this time, and the streets of Linjiang City had already begun to become busy.
The noodle stall that specializes in breakfast has long been filled with dark-skinned dock workers. After dawn, a large number of merchant ships will dock at the dock, and then it will be their time to show off their skills.
Vegetable farmers outside the city began to carry fresh vegetables to the vegetable market.
Zhou You even saw a broad-shouldered butcher passing by, shirtless and carrying a big fat pig on his back.
The night watchman also finished a night's work and was ready to go home and rest with a tired face.
Many maids and women were also carrying vegetable baskets and looking in a hurry.
Wandering around the rooftop of the inn, watching all this silently.
The world is in a panic, but only a few taels of broken silver can solve the world's melancholy.
When the first ray of golden light fell, Zhou You took a red fire pill at the same time, and his body temperature began to rise, with wisps of white smoke rising.
Thirty-six weeks later, Zhou You breathed out his burning breath.
One day of practice is considered complete.
After returning to the room, Zhou You first changed into clean clothes, took the demon-slaying knife with him, then left the inn and walked straight towards the government office.
The government offices in Linjiang City are much more impressive than the county offices in Songbai County.
The high-walled courtyard, blue bricks, black tiles, and red painted wooden pillars show its grandeur.
Two majestic stone lions stand on the left and right sides, looking even more majestic.
Traveling around and moving forward.
"Who is it? What's the matter?" The officer on duty stopped Zhou You.
"Demon Slayer, Zhou You." Zhou You took out the token.
The yamen servant was suddenly startled and saluted respectfully: "I've seen you, sir."
This Demonic Slayer's signboard is useful in every inch of Qingzhou's land.
The three words "Demon Slayer" also represent one word, ruthless!
"I want to see Magistrate Song." Zhou You said calmly.
The yamen officer nodded repeatedly.
He first took Zhou You to a reception room, and then hurriedly walked out.
Soon, an elegant man wearing a red official uniform walked in.
"I am the magistrate of Linjiang City, Song Jue."
Zhou You also raised his hands and said: "Demon Slayer, Zhou You."
In fact, according to the rules, the prefect is at the same level as the senior demon slayer.
Zhou You had to bow to Song Jue when he saw him.
However, the Demon Slayer has never paid much attention to the rules of officialdom.
And these old-timers in the officialdom will not offend the demon slayer just for this little bit of face.
Gradually, it became like a demon slayer performing tasks outside. He would not salute anyone of any rank he met, and would only say hello at most.
"I wonder why Brother Zhou came here?" Song Jue frowned.
He remembered that not long ago, a demon slayer also came to deal with the disappearance cases in the past few years. After meeting twice, there was no news.
What does this sudden arrival of another demon slayer mean?
"My master's name is Xu Ling... He came to Jiangcheng a few days ago to handle a missing persons case... and then disappeared."
Zhou You said calmly.
"What? Mr. Xu is missing?!" Song Jue was extremely surprised when he heard the news.
Although Xu Ling didn't meet him often, his temperament was calm and capable, and he didn't talk much, but he always got to the point, which left a deep impression on him.
I didn't expect that I would be involved in this disappearance case.
"Yes... lost contact for twenty days." Zhou You nodded slightly.
"That's it." Song Jue understood. This Xu Ling's disciple came to find his master.
"If you need any help from me, Brother Zhou, just ask."
Zhou You said: "My master disappeared while investigating the case of a missing girl in Linjiang City, so I want to start with this clue."
"I understand." Song Jue pondered, and then called a burly man.
"This is Lu Ming, the head catcher of our government office, and this is Zhou You from the Demon Slayer Department."
Song Jue introduced the two of them.
Zhou You and Lu Ming, the catcher, nodded.
"Brother Zhou, this Lu Ming has been in charge of the case of the missing girl. If you have any questions, you can ask him."
"Lu Ming, you must also fully cooperate with Brother Zhou."
Song Jue briefly explained a few words and then left.
As the prefect, he has to deal with many official duties every day, and he cannot spend time here exclusively.
What's more, he has a specialization in the art industry, and this aspect of things is not what he is good at. If he stays here, it will be a hindrance, so he might as well leave.
"What is the relationship between Master Xu... and Brother Zhou?" Lu Ming suddenly asked.
"He is my master." Zhou You said with a smile.
"No wonder, I think you two are quite similar." Lu Ming suddenly realized, and then he was also a little strange, where did Xu Ling go?
"My master is missing. We will need more cooperation from Mr. Lu in the future." Zhou You said in a deep voice.
Lu Ming was stunned when he heard the news.
...........
Next, Lu Ming first took Zhou You to the archives room and pulled out all the case files of the missing girls over the years.
"At the beginning, we treated these cases as ordinary missing persons cases. Because Linjiang City has a population of millions, it is not uncommon for one or two missing persons cases to occur, let alone a girl."
Lu Ming said softly.
In the dirty and smelly trade of human trafficking, children are undoubtedly the most valuable, and girls are the second most valuable.
Their end is usually to be sold to a remote mountain village to be used as wives or brothels.
"But later on, this matter became more and more uncomfortable. A few cases a year are okay, but dozens of missing persons cases a year are too weird, and they are all women in their prime."
"I thought it was some Yaman organization that came to Linjiang City to commit crimes, so I tried hard to destroy it."
"But these cases are all done too cleanly."
"More than a hundred disappearances have been reported without any witnesses, and none of the missing women have reappeared..."
"In the end, I had no choice but to report it to the Demon Slayer Department."
When Lu Ming said this, he sighed deeply.
Zhou You's brows also frowned tightly.
This Lu Ming, who can be the head catcher in the government office, is certainly not an ordinary person. Even he is at a loss, and I am afraid that he will not be able to find any clues.
Since all his skills are devoted to slaying demons, his investigative skills are naturally not as good as those of Lu Ming.
No wonder Xu Ling would write on the envelope, "The fog is thick and the water is deep."
"It seems that we need to think of other methods." Zhou You murmured in his heart.
Xu Ling's disappearance must be related to this disappearance case.
It is very likely that he suddenly disappeared because he investigated something core.
Next, Zhou You decided to shift his focus to Xu Ling's whereabouts.
The answer he got was also extremely disappointing.
"At that time, Mr. Xu spent a day reading all the files and then left..."
"As you know, the whereabouts of the Demon Slayer are so unpredictable that it's really hard to determine." Lu Ming said with a bitter smile.