Chapter 22
While the others investigated the town, Bai Jiu and Ying Lei headed toward the hills in search of medicinal herbs.
The plague had spread quickly.
If they wanted answers, they needed medicine as well as demon hunters.
Ying Lei carried a basket on his back.
Bai Jiu carried three.
“Why am I carrying all of these?”
“Because you’re the doctor.”
“That’s not how medicine works.”
Before Ying Lei could argue, both suddenly stopped.
Someone was kneeling beside a patient beneath a tree.
The man carefully checked the villager’s pulse before handing over a packet of herbs.
His movements were calm.
Experienced.
Familiar.
Bai Jiu’s eyes widened.
“Master?!”
The man looked up.
“Bai Jiu?”
Bai Jiu immediately ran forward.
“Wen Zongyu Master!”
The physician sighed.
“You haven’t changed at all.”
Back in town, the group soon gathered around the famous doctor.
A nearby villager bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
“If not for Physician Wen, many of us would already be dead.”
The old man pointed toward the distant mountains.
“For generations, Kunlun protected Sinan.”
“We never suffered disasters.”
“Not floods.”
“Not droughts.”
“Not disease.”
His face darkened.
“But five days ago…”
“The plague appeared overnight.”
“Everything changed.”
The timing immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Five days ago.
Bai Jiu quickly turned toward Zhou Yi Chen.
“Gege.”
“This is my master.”
Zhou Yi Chen immediately cupped his hands respectfully.
“Senior Wen.”
“Thank you for assisting the people of Sinan.”
Wen Zongyu returned the greeting.
His sharp eyes briefly studied the young commander.
“So you’re the famous descendant of the Bing Yi Clan…”
Before Zhou Yi Chen could answer, another voice interrupted.
“There you are…I was searching for you , Yichen.”
Everyone turned.
Wen Xiao approached quickly.
The Baize Order shimmered faintly in her palm.
Her expression was serious.
“I found demonic energy.”
The atmosphere immediately changed.
“Where?”
Wen Xiao pointed toward the western hills.
“Lingxi Villa….”
Even the wind seemed colder after she spoke.
Wen Zongyu immediately stood.
“Then my work here is done.”
Bai Jiu blinked.
“Master?”
The physician dusted off his robes.
“I treat illnesses.”
“I don’t catch demons.”
“That part is your responsibility. Commander.”
With that, he prepared to return to Tiandu.
Bai Jiu looked disappointed.
“Master…”
“You’ll be fine…”
Wen Zongyu glanced toward Zhao Yuanzhou.
“Especially with that troublesome demon around…you all will be safe..”
The demon in question smiled.
“I choose to take that as praise…”
As Wen Zongyu departed, Zhao Yuanzhou casually rested a hand on Bai Jiu’s shoulder.
Golden cleansing energy flowed through the young doctor.
The exhaustion on Bai Jiu’s face eased immediately.
“You’re still recovering , kiddo.”
Zhao Yuanzhou said.
“The plague’s energy isn’t ordinary.”
Bai Jiu nodded gratefully.
Nearby, Zhao Yuanzhou’s gaze drifted toward Zhou Yi Chen.
Immediately.
Dangerously.
The look alone made Zhou Yi Chen suspicious.
“What.”
“Nothing.”
“Speak.”
Zhao Yuanzhou smiled.
“You look good when you’re giving orders.”
Silence.
Wen Xiao immediately covered Bai Jiu’s ears.
Ying Lei nearly choked.
Zhou Yi Chen closed his eyes.
Slowly.
Painfully.
“Shut your mouth.”
“Yichen like you asked me what and now…you scold me.”
“No.”
“You were being annoying.”
“Those aren’t mutually exclusive.”
The demon leaned slightly closer.
Just enough that only Zhou Yi Chen could hear.
He whispered something into his ear.
Zhou Yi Chen froze….
Then immediately turned red with fury.
“ZHAO YUANZHOU.”
The demon looked delighted.
“What?”
“You are writing the Rules of Tiandu two hundred times.”
“What?”
“Two hundred.”
“That’s excessive.”
“Three hundred.”
“Dear Zhou, let’s not be unreasonable.”
“Four hundred.”
Zhao Yuanzhou immediately surrendered.
“Fine.”
The ancient demon sighed dramatically.
“I’ll write them.”
Then he smiled.
“At least I’ll be able to look at your face while doing it.”
“Shut up.”
“Such cruelty.”
Ying Lei looked between them.
“…Are we sure we’re investigating a plague?”
“No.”
Wen Xiao answered.
“We’re investigating a disaster.”
Everyone nodded.
Including Bai Jiu.
Zhou Yi Chen looked ready to throw Zhao Yuanzhou into a river.
Completely justified.
A few moments later, Wen Xiao raised the Baize Order once more.
The golden light pointed toward the western hills.
Straight toward Lingxi Villa.
Her expression hardened.
“The demonic energy is strongest there.”
The laughter disappeared.
Everyone reached for their weapons.
Whatever was waiting inside Lingxi Villa-
it was connected to the plague.
And they were about to walk directly into its nest.
❄️❄️❄️❄️✨✨✨✨⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️
The path to Lingxi Villa wound through dense forests and abandoned mountain roads.
The deeper the Demon Hunting Team traveled, the colder the air became.
Even the sunlight seemed weaker.
As though something was deliberately swallowing the warmth around them.
Bai Jiu nervously clutched his medicine basket.
“I suddenly have a bad feeling.”
“That’s because you’re a coward.”
Ying Lei replied immediately.
“I am not.”
“You absolutely are.”
Before the argument could continue-
A violent gust of wind exploded through the forest.
The trees bent violently.
Branches snapped.
Everyone instinctively reached for their weapons.
“What was that?!”
Bai Jiu barely managed to shout before the black wind wrapped around him.
His eyes widened.
“WAIT-“
The ground vanished beneath his feet.
The demonic wind lifted him into the air.
“GEGEEEEEEE!”
His scream echoed through the entire forest.
“Bai Jiu!”
Wen Xiao immediately ran forward.
Too late.
The black wind carried him deeper into the mountains.
Disappearing between the trees.
For a heartbeat, everyone froze.
Then Zhou Yi Chen’s expression darkened.
“After him.”
Yun Guangjian was already in his hand.
At the same moment, Zhao Yuanzhou vanished from where he stood.
Only a swirl of dark robes remained.
The ancient demon reappeared several meters ahead.
Golden eyes fixed on the direction Bai Jiu had been taken.
“I’ll find him.”
“You aren’t going alone.”
Zhou Yi Chen immediately followed.
Neither hesitated.
Both disappeared into the forest.
Leaving the others behind.
Wen Xiao took a step forward.
“I’ll come too.”
“No.”
Pei Sijing’s voice stopped her.
Everyone looked toward her.
The swordswoman’s expression remained calm.
“The enemy wants to split us apart.”
“If we all chase after Bai Jiu, we’ll lose our direction.”
Wen Xiao frowned.
“But-“
“Commander Zhou and Zhao Yuanzhou are enough.”
Pei Sijing’s hand rested on her sword.
“If something powerful took him, more people rushing blindly won’t help.”
For a moment, Wen Xiao hesitated.
Then reluctantly nodded.
Pei Sijing turned toward Ying Lei.
“You stay with us.”
“What?”
The yellow-haired youth looked offended.
“Do I look weak to you?”
“Yes.”
“…”
“Very.”
Ying Lei pointed dramatically.
“I am a ten-thousand-year-old spirit.”
“And yet you’re still carrying vegetables.”
Ying Lei immediately lowered his hand.
“…fair.”
Without another word, the remaining group continued toward Lingxi Villa.
Meanwhile-
far ahead in the forest-
Zhou Yi Chen raced through the trees.
Branches blurred past.
His robes whipped behind him.
Beside him, Zhao Yuanzhou moved effortlessly through the darkness.
Following the lingering scent of demonic energy.
Following Bai Jiu’s terrified screams.
For several moments, neither spoke.
Then-
“He’s scared.”
Zhao Yuanzhou said quietly.
Zhou Yi Chen’s grip tightened on Yun Guangjian.
“I know.”
The ancient demon glanced at him.
A faint smile appeared.
“You worry about them.”
“What kind of leader wouldn’t?”
The answer came immediately.
Without hesitation.
Without thought.
For some reason, Zhao Yuanzhou found himself smiling.
A genuine smile.
One he rarely showed.
“That’s why they follow you.”