Chapter 30
The crisis in Sinan Water Town had finally passed.
For the first time in days, nobody was chasing demons.
Nobody was investigating murders.
Nobody was being possessed by Li Lun.
And most importantly-
Zhou Yi Chen was no longer burning with fever.
That alone was worth celebrating.
As night fell, the Demon Hunting Team gathered in the courtyard of a small inn.
The moon hung bright above them.
Lanterns glowed softly.
A few cups of wine had already disappeared.
Bai Jiu was happily eating snacks.
Ying Lei was loudly criticizing the inn’s cooking despite finishing three bowls.
Then Bai Jiu suddenly stood up.
“Gege!!”
Zhou Yi Chen looked up.
“What?”
The young doctor grinned.
“Perform a sword dance.”
Immediately, Ying Lei slammed the table.
“YES!”
“A sword dance!”
Wen Xiao nearly laughed.
Even Pei Sijing looked interested.
Zhou Yi Chen raised an eyebrow.
“A sword dance?”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Gege…”
“No.”
“Gege…”
“No.”
“Handsome Commander…”
Zhou Yi Chen sighed.
Everyone stared.
Waiting.
Then surprisingly-
he stood up.
“Fine.”
The entire courtyard erupted.
Bai Jiu nearly fell off his chair.
Ying Lei looked victorious.
“I knew it!”
Wen Xiao laughed.
“You must be in a very good mood.”
Zhou Yi Chen ignored her.
The Yun Guang Sword appeared in his hand.
Silver light reflected beneath the moon.
He stepped into the center of the courtyard.
The moment he moved-
everyone quieted.
His sword cut through the air like flowing water.
Elegant.
Precise.
Beautiful.
The moonlight seemed to follow every motion.
Even Ying Lei stopped talking.
Then Wen Xiao suddenly smiled.
“Oh no.”
Everyone looked at her.
She turned toward another person.
Zhao Yuanzhou.
The demon was already watching.
Completely captivated.
Wen Xiao grinned.
“Join him.”
Zhao Yuanzhou blinked.
“What?”
“Join him.”
Bai Jiu immediately agreed.
“YES.”
Ying Lei pointed dramatically.
“You have to.”
Pei Sijing nodded once.
Which somehow made the pressure worse.
Zhao Yuanzhou looked delighted.
Zhou Yi Chen looked horrified.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Too late.”
Before Zhou Yi Chen could object further, Zhao Yuanzhou stood.
A black umbrella appeared in his hand.
Golden demonic energy flickered around him.
The demon stepped beside Zhou Yi Chen.
The commander looked annoyed immediately.
“Don’t embarrass me.”
“I never do.”
“You always do.”
The music began.
Or rather-
Bai Jiu and Ying Lei began aggressively attacking a pair of wooden clappers.
The rhythm was terrible.
But enthusiastic.
And somehow-
the dance began.
Sword and umbrella crossed.
Silver and gold collided.
Flames danced through the air.
Water spiraled around them.
Their spiritual energy illuminated the entire courtyard.
At first it looked like a duel.
Neither willing to yield.
Neither willing to back down.
Zhou Yi Chen attacked.
Zhao Yuanzhou blocked.
Zhao Yuanzhou countered.
Zhou Yi Chen responded immediately.
Back and forth.
Again and again.
The movements became faster.
More fluid.
Until it no longer looked like combat.
It looked like something else entirely.
Something graceful.
Something intimate.
The firelight reflected in Zhou Yi Chen’s eyes.
Water gathered beneath Zhao Yuanzhou’s feet.
The elements intertwined.
Separated.
Then intertwined again.
At one point Zhao Yuanzhou caught Zhou Yi Chen’s wrist.
Spun him around.
And guided him through an attack.
The entire courtyard went silent.
Bai Jiu’s mouth fell open.
Ying Lei slowly turned.
“…Are they aware?”
“Of what?” Wen Xiao asked.
“That this looks like a wedding dance.”
At that exact moment Zhao Yuanzhou’s arm landed around Zhou Yi Chen’s waist.
To stabilize him.
Supposedly.
The commander immediately glared.
“Remove your hand.”
“I’m helping.”
“You are not.”
“I absolutely am.”
The next movement somehow brought them even closer.
The moonlight fell around them.
Water spiraled upward.
Fire blossomed around the edges.
The contrast was breathtaking.
Bai Jiu stared.
Completely fascinated.
Then-
Wen Xiao suddenly covered his eyes.
“What?!”
“No.”
“I can’t see!”
“Exactly.”
“Why?!”
Wen Xiao pointed.
“There are children present.”
“I AM THE CHILD.”
“That’s why.”
Bai Jiu struggled.
“I want to watch the dance!”
“You’ll survive.”
Meanwhile, Ying Lei was taking notes.
“This is valuable research.”
Pei Sijing quietly moved farther away.
Pretending not to know any of them.
In the center of the courtyard-
the dance reached its peak.
Sword and umbrella collided.
Energy exploded upward.
Flames rose.
Water surged.
For one brilliant moment-
the two stood face to face.
Only inches apart.
Neither willing to retreat.
Neither willing to lose.
Especially Zhou Yi Chen.
His competitive instincts had completely taken over.
“You lost.”
“I did not.”
“You almost slipped.”
“I recovered.”
“Because I helped.”
“I would rather fall.”
Zhao Yuanzhou laughed.
The sound echoed beneath the moon.
Warm.
Genuine.
Rare.
And somehow that laughter made Zhou Yi Chen smile.
Just a little.
Only for a moment.
But everyone saw it.
Including Zhao Yuanzhou.
Who looked entirely too pleased afterward.
The dance ended.
The courtyard erupted into cheers.
Bai Jiu finally escaped Wen Xiao’s grasp.
“I MISSED EVERYTHING.”
“You missed nothing.”
“I MISSED EVERYTHING.”