Chapter 38
Several days passed after Ying Zhao’s funeral.
The grief remained.
But life, as it always did, continued moving forward.
Kunlun’s winds still blew through the mountains.
The rivers still flowed.
The stars still rose each night.
And slowly, everyone began walking again.
Zhao Yuanzhou was quieter than before.
Sometimes the others would catch him staring at the sky for long periods, lost in thought.
Thinking of Ying Zhao.
Soon, the Demon-Hunting Squad reached the borders of Kunlun.
Beyond this point lay the Great Wilderness.
The birthplace of demons.
The land spoken of in myths.
The place where countless ancient stories began.
Towering mountains stretched endlessly beneath the horizon.
Ancient forests covered valleys untouched by human hands.
Clouds drifted between cliffs like flowing silk.
Ying Lei immediately spread his arms dramatically.
“My homeland!”
Nobody reacted.
“…I practiced that.”
Still nothing.
“…heartless people.”
As they passed through the guardian deity’s boundary, golden light rippled around them.
The world seemed to change instantly.
The spiritual energy became richer.
Stronger.
Every tree and blade of grass carried an ancient aura.
Zhuo Yichen paused.
For a brief moment-
he forgot everything.
Before him stretched Huaijiang Valley.
Beautiful beyond words.
Crystal-blue rivers flowed through endless fields of flowers.
The mountains reflected against the water like paintings.
White birds soared between clouds.
Ancient trees covered the cliffs.
Their leaves shimmered like jade beneath the sunlight.
A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers through the valley.
The sight was so breathtaking that everyone unconsciously stopped walking.
Even Pei Sijing.
Even she looked impressed.
“…Wow.”
Bai Jiu’s jaw dropped.
“This is real?”
Ying Lei puffed out his chest.
“Of course.”
Then immediately tripped over a rock.
“OW.”
Nobody helped him.
Zhuo Yichen stood silently.
His eyes reflected the valley below.
The sunlight touched his hair.
His robes fluttered gently in the wind.
For perhaps the first time in many days-
he smiled.
A genuine smile.
Small.
Soft.
Beautiful.
“It’s incredible.”
His voice carried quietly through the mountain air.
For a moment everyone simply listened.
Then Zhao Yuanzhou looked at him.
And forgot about the scenery entirely.
The valley was beautiful.
The rivers were beautiful.
The flowers were beautiful.
Yet somehow-
the person standing beside him was still brighter.
Yichen noticed the stare immediately.
Without looking over.
“Why are you staring?”
“I wasn’t.”
“You were.”
“I was appreciating nature.”
Yichen finally turned.
“Nature?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you looking at me?”
“…”
The others burst into laughter.
Even Wen Xiao couldn’t hold it back.
Caught.
Again.
Zhao Yuanzhou sighed dramatically.
“Everyone bullies me.”
“You deserve it.”
Yichen rolled his eyes.
Yet the corner of his lips twitched upward.
A tiny smile.
The kind Zhao Yuanzhou had nearly forgotten existed.
And somehow-
that made his chest feel lighter.
After a while, Zhao Yuanzhou stepped forward.
His expression becoming serious.
“The scenery is beautiful.”
Everyone nodded.
“But don’t let your guard down.”
The mood immediately shifted.
Because they all remembered.
Huaijiang Valley.
The place where the Yao Water flowed.
The place where countless ancient demons once gathered.
And most importantly-
the place where Li Lun had been sealed.
Zhao Yuanzhou’s gaze swept across the distant mountains.
His expression darkened slightly.
“Li Lun knows this place better than anyone.”
The wind stirred.
Flowers drifted across the valley floor.
“He may already know we’re here.”
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The moment they stepped into Huaijiang Valley, everyone relaxed slightly.
The scenery was breathtaking.
The spiritual energy was rich.
The rivers sparkled beneath the sunlight.
Then-
everything flickered.
Like a painting disturbed by water.
A familiar courtyard appeared before them.
Bai Jiu blinked.
“…Wait.”
Ying Lei froze.
“No way.”
Wen Xiao’s expression changed.
The Demon-Hunting Division.
The exact same buildings.
The same gates.
The same training grounds.
Even the same old tree near the entrance.
For a brief moment, nobody spoke.
Then Zhao Yuanzhou sighed.
“Of course.”
Everyone looked toward him.
The demon folded his arms.
“This isn’t real.”
Ying Lei pointed dramatically.
“I knew it!”
“You were admiring the scenery five seconds ago.”
“That was strategic admiration.”
“No.”
Zhao Yuanzhou ignored them and looked around carefully.
This place carried traces of dream energy.
Ancient dream energy.
Only one person enjoyed these annoying games this much.
A familiar laugh echoed through the sky.
Low.
Lazy.
Dangerous.
“Yuanzhou.”
Everyone immediately tensed.
Li Lun.
His voice seemed to come from every direction at once.
From the rooftops.
The clouds.
The ground beneath their feet.
Everywhere.
“You took your time.”
Zhao Yuanzhou’s eyes darkened.
“Come out.”
Li Lun chuckled.
“You still have such a bad temper.”
“Come out.”
“No.”
“Li Lun.”
“Still no.”
Bai Jiu whispered,
“I suddenly understand why you two were friends.”
“We weren’t.”
“You argue like an old married couple.”
Pei Sijing immediately smacked him.
“Ouch!”
Li Lun’s laughter became louder.
Then his voice carried across the illusion.
“Huaijiang Valley no longer exists.”
Everyone froze.
The words echoed heavily.
“What?”
Li Lun sounded almost nostalgic.
“The rivers dried long ago.”
“The flowers died.”
“The valley collapsed.”
“Only memories remain.”
For a brief moment-
even Zhao Yuanzhou fell silent.
Because Huaijiang Valley had once been beautiful.
Once.
A long time ago.
Li Lun continued,
“I preserved a small pool of Yao Water.”
The group’s attention sharpened immediately.
The Yao Water.
The thing they desperately needed.
“But-“
His tone became playful.
Dangerously playful.
“If you want it…”
A pause.
Then-
“Find me.”
The illusion shifted again.
Every corridor suddenly looked endless.
Every path looked wrong.
A maze.
A giant maze.
Created by Li Lun.
Naturally.
Because being annoying was apparently his life’s purpose.
Ying Lei groaned.
“I hate him.”
“Get in line.”
Then Li Lun spoke once more.
This time his voice carried unmistakable amusement.
“Oh.”
“I almost forgot.”
Zhao Yuanzhou’s expression changed instantly.
Because he suddenly realized something.
Someone.
Someone was missing.
His gaze swept the courtyard.
Wen Xiao.
Bai Jiu.
Pei Sijing.
Ying Lei.
Everyone was present.
Except-
Except-
“Yichen.”
The name left his lips quietly.
Dangerously quietly.
Li Lun laughed.
A genuine laugh this time.
Satisfied.
Triumphant.
Cruel.
“Now you noticed.”
The temperature seemed to drop.
“What did you do?”
For the first time, there was no teasing in Zhao Yuanzhou’s voice.
No humor.
Only warning.
Li Lun sounded delighted.
“He is with me.”
The air itself became heavy.
Bai Jiu slowly stepped backward.
Because he recognized that tone.
Everyone did.
The terrifying calmness.
The one Zhao Yuanzhou only showed when he was genuinely angry.
Li Lun continued.
“I have to admit…”
“He is much prettier than I remembered.”
“What did you do to him?”
Li Lun hummed thoughtfully.
“Nothing yet.”
Yet.