After the Disaster-Dispelling Forbidden Zone was sealed, the Restraint Officers prepared to withdraw.
As for the twelve eerie medicinal herbs on Twin Peaks Mountain, according to Song Zongwu, they grew under the forbidden zone's influence.
They represented the Supernatural Remnants contained within the forbidden zone.
While the herbs' appearance reflected the Supernatural Remnants' characteristics, Ren Qing couldn't shake the feeling one was missing.
The true number should have been thirteen, not twelve.
Knowing little about the Disaster-Dispelling Forbidden Zone, Ren Qing subtly reminded Song Zongwu, but after inspection, nothing unusual was found.
Under these circumstances, the constables naturally had no reason to remain at Twin Peaks Mountain.
After all this time, exhaustion was etched on the constables' faces.
Some, like Xiao Wu, had thrived under pressure, his formerly thin frame now noticeably more muscular.
Upon returning to Sanxiang City, Xiao Wu would undoubtedly be promoted to full constable status, with monthly wages increasing severalfold.
The group of several dozen then set off on their return journey.
The Restraint Officers followed behind the constables to guard against sudden beast attacks, except for Tudi who traveled underground.
After traveling dozens of miles, they found nearby mountain villagers had all evacuated, leaving empty settlements devoid of human presence.
Ren Qing didn't attempt to contact the Demon Seed Sutra's Supernatural Remnant, mainly because becoming a Restraint Officer would provide ample future opportunities.
The group marched from dawn till dusk before making camp in a clearing.
Restraint Officers dispersed nearby to cultivate without disturbing others, handling their own meals.
As Ren Qing prepared to consume beast eyeballs for technique visualization, he noticed several constables shivering by the campfire.
He approached and asked: "What's wrong?"
A constable chattered through trembling lips: "Nothing, just feeling cold."
Only then did Ren Qing realize several constables exhibited similar symptoms.
Yet with summer approaching in mid-April, how could it be cold?
The Restraint Officers hadn't noticed because the temperature difference was negligible to their enhanced physiques.
Unable to identify the cause, Ren Qing attributed it to mountain winds inducing chills.
He cut down several trees with his miaodao to provide ample firewood, which seemed to help.
The temperature didn't drop further.
Reassured by Song Zongwu's presence, Ren Qing settled on higher ground to focus fully on visualizing the Blindless Method.
While the information stream could forcibly advance techniques, true mastery required personal effort.
Ren Qing's double pupils now differed markedly from when he first reached Half-Corpse Realm, gradually revealing the technique's true potential.
"Predict enemies' moves" could now sense impending danger, no longer just enhancing reflexes.
Unconsciously, Ren Qing's soul began drifting outward, as if observing his body from above.
He dared not attempt movement, fearing soul damage would outweigh any benefits.
This soul-body separation practice prepared him for future advancement to Twin Nightmare Ghosts.
With intense focus, he could clearly hear nearby sounds, constables snoring, nocturnal insects hunting.
Suddenly, Ren Qing frowned.
Strange rustling noises reached his ears.
Something like flesh tearing, mixed with bones being crushed.
Disturbed from his trance, Ren Qing's eyes snapped open as he scanned the surroundings.
Yet the camp appeared peaceful, with no signs of abnormality or Supernatural Remnant interference.
Attempting soul separation again proved counterproductive, the harder he tried, the more elusive the state became.
He returned to technique visualization while maintaining environmental awareness.
Dawn arrived without incident, leaving Ren Qing somewhat mentally fatigued.
Well-rested constables ate simple rations with renewed energy.
Ren Qing cleared his mind and organized their departure for Sanxiang City.
The silent journey continued until sunset illuminated the towering city gates ahead.
The guards, seeing Restraint Officer escorts, waived inspection.
The bustling streets unfolded before them.
Vendors hawked wares while aromas of food and alcohol filled the air, with braised meat stalls everywhere.
Some constables grew emotional.
After the mountain camp, this felt like returning to the human world.
"Damn, I've been suffocating!"
Huang Ziwan, wearing a bamboo hat, dashed into the city.
Muyi and others bid farewell to Song Zongwu before dispersing.
Yet Song Zongwu seemed puzzled.
He stopped and said: "Ren Qing, take the constables to report at the yamen. I'll find you later."
Ren Qing couldn't help asking: "Senior Song, what's wrong?"
"Did you see Tudi along the way?"
"Only at the beginning. After he went underground, no."
Song Zongwu nodded: "Perhaps I'm overthinking it."
Even if Hui Shulu had ambushed Tudi, it couldn't have escaped so many Restraint Officers' notice, especially given his survival skills.
Dismissing the thought, Ren Qing accompanied the constables to the yamen.
The constables politely thanked Ren Qing and proposed celebratory feasts, which he declined.
They first needed to receive rewards from the magistrate.
Walking away, Ren Qing suddenly frowned.
Last night's sounds seemed to have come from underground?!
Surely not Tudi, a Ghost Envoy Realm Restraint Officer wouldn't disappear so quietly.
...
Dying campfire embers scattered ash across discarded firewood and leftover rations.
As night fell, cracks spread across the ground.
Nearby birds fled, sensing something amiss.
Soon, a blood-red sprout emerged on the hillside, growing several meters tall within moments, clearly one of the medicinal herbs.
Its stem bore human faces while leaves pulsed like hearts.
Had Ren Qing been present, he'd have recognized this as the missing herb from the Disaster-Dispelling Forbidden Zone, the Supernatural Remnant linked to the Demon Seed Sutra.
As the cracks widened, the giant herb's roots were exposed.
Horrifically, the root tips connected to a corpse.
The half-human, half-pangolin body clad in scales was unmistakably Tudi.
Frozen in death's instant, his face still bore a greedy expression while roots grew from within his abdomen, suggesting he'd swallowed the seed.
Pale mist spread as nearby animals dissolved into pus absorbed by the roots.
The herb grew rapidly to over ten meters tall while the mist's reach expanded.
When the mist cleared, the herb burrowed into Tudi's body like a living creature.
Tudi was reanimated, then departed stiffly from the hillside, like a walking log.