Chapter 4

Wen Xiao reopened the document, her brows slowly knitting together.
“…Wait.”
Zhou Yi Chen glanced at her. “What now?”
She turned the page.
Ink began to spread across the lower half of the paper—words that hadn’t been visible before.
The room fell silent as she read aloud,
“The case must be solved within five days…”
Her voice slowed.
“Failure will be deemed negligence… and those who sealed this document will bear responsibility… through self-sacrifice.”
A pause.
“…What?”
The young doctor leaned over her shoulder, eyes widening.
“They—wait—what?! They tricked us!” he blurted out. “They never said anything about self-sacrifice! They just said we had to solve it!”
Wen Xiao clicked her tongue. “Classic Chongwu Camp.”
Zhou Yi Chen’s expression darkened instantly.
His gaze dropped to the signatures.
Then—he froze.
“…Wait.”
Wen Xiao looked up. “What?”
Zhou Yi Chen’s eyes shifted slowly toward the side.
Toward Zhao Yuanzhou.
“…You didn’t sign it.”
Everyone turned.
Zhao Yuanzhou stood there, perfectly relaxed, as if this had nothing to do with him.
He smiled faintly.
“I didn’t feel like it.”
The young doctor groaned. “Of course you didn’t—so you’re not bound by it?!”
Zhou Yi Chen’s jaw tightened.
“So you’re free to walk away while the rest of us die?”
Zhao Yuanzhou looked at him.
Really looked at him.
Then—
He stepped closer.
“Who said that?”
Zhou Yi Chen frowned.
Before he could react, Zhao Yuanzhou lifted his hand slightly.
A faint pulse of power flickered between them.
“I’m already bound,” he said softly.
Zhou Yi Chen stilled.
“To you, Zhou Yi Chen.”
The air shifted.
Wen Xiao immediately turned around and grabbed the young doctor—and Pei Sijing.
“Alright! We’re leaving!” she announced loudly.
“What—why?” the young doctor protested.
“There’s a child here,” Wen Xiao said firmly, dragging them toward the door. “We shouldn’t witness this.”
Pei Sijing didn’t argue.
“…Agreed.”
The door shut behind them.
Silence.
Zhou Yi Chen stared at Zhao Yuanzhou.
“…What are you talking about?”
Zhao Yuanzhou didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he stepped closer.
Too close.
“Don’t move,” he murmured.
Zhou Yi Chen instinctively tensed.
“What are you—”
Before he could finish—
Zhao Yuanzhou raised his hand.
And bit into his own finger.
Blood welled instantly.
Zhou Yi Chen’s eyes widened slightly.
“Are you insane—”
But Zhao Yuanzhou had already reached for Yun Guangjian.
With a single motion, he pressed his blood against the blade.
A pulse of energy rippled through the sword.
It glowed faintly.
Then—
Stilled.
Zhao Yuanzhou exhaled softly, studying the result like an artist admiring his work.
“…Beautiful.”
Zhou Yi Chen stared at him.
Speechless.
A strange warmth lingered in the sword… and somehow—
In his chest.
“…You’re crazy,” Zhou Yi Chen muttered.
Zhao Yuanzhou smiled.
“Maybe.”
Scene: The Forest
The next day—
The newly formed demon-slaying team arrived at the forest where the Water Ghost Bride had first appeared.
The moment they stepped in—
A foul, fishy stench filled the air.
Bai Jiu gagged instantly.
“…What is that smell—?!” he choked.
Then—
He turned and vomited.
Again.
And again.
Wen Xiao winced. “Poor thing.”
Pei Sijing looked completely unimpressed.
Zhou Yi Chen ignored them all, scanning the surroundings carefully.
The forest was too quiet.
Too still.
Then—
Zhao Yuanzhou stepped forward.
His expression shifted—subtle, but serious.
He crouched slightly, brushing his fingers along the damp earth.
“…It happened here.”
Zhou Yi Chen glanced at him.
“You can tell?”
Zhao Yuanzhou closed his eyes briefly.
“The bride was taken from this spot,” he said calmly. “Dragged toward the water.”
His gaze shifted deeper into the forest.
“There was resistance… fear…”
A pause.
“And something else.”
Zhou Yi Chen stepped beside him.
“What?”
Zhao Yuanzhou opened his eyes.
“…Hunger.”
The word lingered in the air.
Unsettling.
Bai Jiu groaned weakly from behind them.
“Can we… solve this fast… before I die from the smell…”
Zhao Yuanzhou stood slowly.
His gaze flickered toward Zhou Yi Chen again.
A faint smile returned.
“Stay close,” he said softly.
“To me.”
Zhou Yi Chen didn’t even look at him.
“I’d rather die.”
Zhao Yuanzhou chuckled.
“We’ll see.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️✨✨✨

“The seventh victim,” Wen Xiao said quietly, reading from the record. “Daughter of a wealthy merchant from the capital. She was on her way to marry when—”
“A demonic wind stopped the escort,” Bai Jiu finished nervously.
Pei Sijing crossed her arms. “And the bride was taken.”
Zhou Yi Chen’s gaze remained fixed on the dark water before them…
“The body was found here,” he said.
The reed pond was silent.
Too silent.
The surface of the water barely moved, yet a faint, rotting, fish-like smell lingered in the air.
Zhao Yuanzhou stepped forward slowly, eyes scanning the surroundings.

“…A water-type demon,” he murmured.
Zhou Yi Chen glanced at him. “You’re sure?”
Zhao Yuanzhou crouched near the edge, fingers brushing the damp soil.
“The demonic energy is weak,” he said. “Almost… emptied.”
He looked at the water.
“As if something drained it.”
Wen Xiao frowned. “So the Water Ghost isn’t here anymore?”
“No,” Zhao Yuanzhou replied softly. “It comes and goes.”
He stood, expression thoughtful.
“…But this isn’t enough.”
Zhou Yi Chen stepped closer. “What do you need?”
Zhao Yuanzhou turned to him, eyes sharp again.
“I need something else to investigate.”
A pause.
“The bodies.”

“The morgue?” Bai Jiu’s face went pale instantly. “No—no, I can’t—”
“You’re a doctor,” Pei Sijing said flatly.
“I’m a living doctor,” Bai Jiu shot back. “Not a corpse doctor!”
Zhao Yuanzhou waved a hand lazily.
“Go on ahead,” he said. “I have something else to check.”
Zhou Yi Chen frowned.
“You’re going alone?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Zhao Yuanzhou blinked.
Zhou Yi Chen crossed his arms. “I’m coming with you.”
Zhao Yuanzhou’s lips curved slowly.
“…How romantic.”
“Shut up,” Zhou Yi Chen snapped immediately. “It’s just so you don’t go off and commit anything suspicious.”
Zhao Yuanzhou chuckled.
“Of course.”

At the morgue—
Bai Jiu stood frozen at the door.
“I can still quit, right?” he whispered.
Wen Xiao pushed it open.
“No.”
Inside—
Empty slabs.
No bodies.
Wen Xiao frowned.
“They’ve all been moved.”
Pei Sijing’s expression darkened.
“Chongwu Camp.”

Meanwhile—
Zhou Yi Chen and Zhao Yuanzhou stood inside the Qi Manor.
Servants whispered nervously.
“The Water Ghost will come again…”
“We’re all going to die—”
“Enough!”
Steward Fang snapped sharply.
“Stop spreading nonsense!”
The servants fell silent.
Zhou Yi Chen watched quietly.
Then—
His gaze shifted.
To Zhao Yuanzhou’s hand.
A dark bruise.
From a demon-slaying arrow.
“…You’re injured.”
Zhao Yuanzhou glanced at it carelessly. “It’s nothing.”
Zhou Yi Chen didn’t respond.
He reached into his sleeve, pulled out a small packet, and tossed it to him.
“Apply it.”
Zhao Yuanzhou caught it, slightly surprised.
“…You’re giving this to me?”
“Don’t misunderstand,” Zhou Yi Chen said coldly. “I just don’t want you slowing me down.”
Zhao Yuanzhou smiled faintly.
“Of course.”
He opened the powder—and deliberately hissed in pain as he applied it.
“…Ah. That hurts.”
Zhou Yi Chen frowned. “Stop exaggerating.”
Zhao Yuanzhou leaned against the pillar dramatically. “You wound me. I’m already injured.”
A pause.
Then—
“…It’s gone.”
Zhou Yi Chen blinked. “What?”
Zhao Yuanzhou flexed his hand.
“Completely healed.”
Silence.
Zhou Yi Chen’s expression darkened.
“…You—”

Before he could finish—
Zhao Yuanzhou suddenly grabbed him by the waist and pulled him back into the shadows.
“Stay still,” he murmured.
Zhou Yi Chen stiffened instantly.
“Where are you putting your hand—let go!”
“Quiet,” Zhao Yuanzhou said softly, too close.
Footsteps passed nearby.
Servants.
Zhou Yi Chen froze.
Zhao Yuanzhou’s hand remained firmly at his waist.
“…You’re doing this on purpose,” Zhou Yi Chen muttered.
Zhao Yuanzhou smiled faintly.
“Maybe.”
“…Let go.”
“Not yet.”
A pause.
Zhou Yi Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“…Mr. Qi is hiding something.”
Zhao Yuanzhou smiled faintly.
“Exactly.”

In a blur—
Zhao Yuanzhou moved.
Too fast to follow.
Zhou Yi Chen barely had time to react before—
They were gone.
Later—
Zhao Yuanzhou returned alone.
A body over his shoulder.
He dropped it onto the table.
“Since Chongwu Camp took the others,” he said calmly, “I brought one back.”
Bai Jiu stared in horror.
“…You WHAT?!”
“Autopsy,” Zhao Yuanzhou said simply.

Bai Jiu looked like he might faint.
“I don’t want to do this…”
“You will,” Wen Xiao said.

Hands trembling, Bai Jiu began.
After a long silence—
He spoke.
“She… didn’t die immediately.”
Everyone looked up.
“She was terrified,” he continued. “Extremely terrified… before death.”
He hesitated.
“…And this was in her hand.”
A scale.
Zhao Yuanzhou’s eyes sharpened.
“…I see.”
Zhou Yi Chen looked at him. “You know what it is?”

Zhao Yuanzhou nodded slowly.
“Ran Yi.”
The name settled heavily in the room.
“He’s a demon that controls dreams,” Zhao Yuanzhou explained. “He traps people in nightmares… until they die of fear.”
Bai Jiu shivered.
“…That’s horrible.”
Zhao Yuanzhou continued calmly,
“Only those who can break illusions can defeat him.”
A pause.
“Or…”
His gaze darkened slightly.
“…you cut a piece of flesh from his body.”
Zhou Yi Chen frowned. “And where do we find him?”
Zhao Yuanzhou shook his head.
“I don’t know.”

Back at the manor—
Steward Fang bowed.
“Master Qi, should we postpone the wedding?”
Master Qi didn’t hesitate.
“No.”
The room fell silent.
“My daughter will marry as planned.”
“But—sir—the Water Ghost—”
“I don’t care,” Master Qi snapped. “The Duke’s family has already paid the dowry.”
His voice hardened.
“This marriage will proceed.”
Even if it costs a life.
The storm was coming.
And this time—
They would be waiting for it.