Chapter 47: Return to Demon Mountain

Flying through the sky.

Yu Wushuang was in great agony. His hands, released from restraint, couldn't help but claw at his festering skin, tearing it until it was a bloody mess. He had witnessed firsthand the magical transformation of Yin Wuxiang’s face and knew the man was a formidable expert. Feeling unbearably distressed, he pitifully pleaded, “Senior, do you have any medicine to stop the itching and pain? I feel terrible right now.”

Yin Wuxiang replied, “Young Master Yu, please endure a little longer. I am not skilled in medicine.”

Yu Wushuang’s suffering had reached its limit. Desperate, he turned to Hao Meili and said, “Senior Sister Hao, Uncle Hao runs a pharmacy. Please, help me!”

“I don’t understand medicine; I can’t help you,” Hao Meili said, her face paling in horror at Yu Wushuang’s appearance. Not only was his face hideous, but the sores oozing pus were revolting. She dared not look any longer. Feeling isolated and helpless, Hao Meili turned to Xiao Bugui and said, “Brother Xiao, could you escort us back to Changle Palace first?”

Yin Wuxiang flatly refused, “We must return to the Demon Sect. You two are free to go as you please.”

Hao Meili was shrewd. She wouldn’t dare be alone with Yu Wushuang, fearing he might lose his mind and harm her. She also wanted to visit Demon Mountain, so she said, “There’s a divine healer named Hua Lan on Demon Mountain. She would be perfect for treating Young Master Yu’s wounds. Senior, please allow us to accompany you there.”

Yin Wuxiang replied, “Hua Lan is a veterinarian; Young Master Yu is a person. Go home and find a doctor who treats humans.”

Hao Meili argued, “A demon doctor is naturally suited to cure demonic poison.”

Xiao Bugui, fearing another refusal, quickly agreed, “Young Master Yu is injured. If Old Tiger Wang catches up to him, they will be in danger. Senior Yin, please allow them to come with us.”

In the end, everyone decided to return to Demon Mountain together to seek out Hua Lan.

In the flower garden, Hua Lan was assisting in the birth of a wild boar. The sow was howling in pain. Hua Lan could only soothe her, “Now you know what pain is. When you were being reckless, why didn’t you hold back?”

The sow retorted, surprisingly speaking human words, “I wasn’t reckless, nor was he. If all sows were reckless, we pigs would be extinct!”

Hua Lan said, “Then why haven’t you seen a boar come to visit you?”

The sow replied, “I’ve forgotten which beast did the misdeed.”

Hua Lan, tired of repeating the same insult, simply said, “No wonder pork is so cheap.”

Facing Hua Lan’s sarcasm, the struggling sow, enduring labor pains, could only swallow her anger.

Meanwhile, Yu Wushuang, whose condition was far worse, was in even greater torment. His body was covered in pustules, the itching and pain causing him to cry out desperately, “Divine healer, can you please see me first? I’m suffering terribly.”

Hua Lan snapped back, “Your poisonous sores won’t kill you, but difficult labor might. Wait your turn.”

Yu Wushuang had hidden silver ingots inside his clothes. Now, he pulled out a ten-tael silver ingot and said, “Divine healer, most of my wealth has been taken by demons. This is all I have left. Is there any medicine to relieve the pain and itching? Please give me some first. I will reward you handsomely in the future for saving my life.”

Hua Lan didn’t even turn to look at him. Her eyes and hands remained focused on assisting the wild sow. For patients she disliked, she preferred to scold them, “Can’t you see I’m busy?”

Yu Wushuang could only stand there quietly and meekly say, “Alright, divine healer, you may continue your work.”

Seeing Yu Wushuang’s suffering, Hua Lan’s healer’s heart softened. She said to Xiao Bugui, “Xiao Bugui, go bring a large jar.”

Yin Wuxiang said, “Let him get it himself. Xiao Bugui and I have other matters to attend to. Where is Yuan Lang? And Shang Qiufeng? What about the Seven Killers? What is the Sect Leader doing?”

Hua Lan replied, “They’re all drinking in the pigpen! Has the Demon Box been recovered?”

Yin Wuxiang said, “I brought it back. Xiao Bugui, come with me to the wild boar forest.” Seeing Xiao Bugui’s reluctance to leave Hao Meili, he deliberately added, “Your darling sister is still waiting for you.”

Hao Meili frowned but showed concern for Yu Wushuang. “Senior Brother Yu, I will help you.”

In the wild boar forest, a large goose roasted over a campfire. A grand table was laden with abundant dishes, scattered with wine cups and jars. The Seven Killers and the Sect Leader were deep in their cups, playing rock-paper-scissors. Hu Jiao’s face was flushed, as if drunk and listless.

Xiao Bugui felt an inexplicable warmth upon seeing them, especially toward Hu Jiao, to whom he showed his greatest enthusiasm. “Darling Sister Jiao, I’m back.”

Hu Jiao saw Xiao Bugui and said, “Xiao Bugui, it’s so good to have you back!”

Shiyu Huan was playing rock-paper-scissors with Gao Dazhuang, while Shang Qiufeng made a square shape with his hands, signaling to Yin Wuxiang whether the Demon Box had been found.

“Sect Leader, here is your Demon Box.” Yin Wuxiang presented the box directly to Shiyu Huan.

Shiyu Huan’s fingers, like keys, touched the box, which opened on its own, revealing a dazzlingly colorful spirit pearl. She smiled wickedly, “This pearl is beautiful. Sadly, if I swallow it, I will no longer be Shiyu Huan. You would call me Ji Qingcheng, and I don’t like that name.” Then she tapped a triangular symbol on the box, sealing the pearl again. To everyone’s shock, she swallowed the Demon Box whole and said, “You’d better keep calling me Sect Leader Shi. Yin Wuxiang, you found the Demon Box this time. What reward do you want?” It turned out Shiyu Huan had known the box was missing all along.

Yin Wuxiang, holding a trump card over Xiao Bugui, was modest. “Sect Leader, since Brother Xiao did most of the work retrieving the box, he deserves the reward.”

“Xiao Bugui, I reward you with a thousand taels of gold and a Demon Sect’s Jianghu Token. Yin Wuxiang, I gift you Mount Funiu. Go there and be its mountain lord.” Shiyu Huan’s words were sharp as a blade, her gaze scorching as it pierced through Yin Wuxiang’s body.

Wounded, Yin Wuxiang’s body stiffened. Cracks spread from the hole that pierced him, and his entire form shattered like a statue into a pile of stone fragments, leaving only a head with an expression of disbelief.

Shiyu Huan said, “If I swallowed the spirit pearl, I’d become Ji Qingcheng again. I want to remain Shiyu Huan forever. I don’t want to be Ji Qingcheng. Yin Wuxiang, you deserve to die!”

The unexpected turn left Xiao Bugui stunned.

Hu Jiao rushed over and embraced Xiao Bugui, using her body as a shield. She pleaded with the Sect Leader, “Sect Leader, please don’t kill Xiao Bugui. I’m willing to take the punishment in his place.”

Fortunately, Shiyu Huan’s gaze lingered on Xiao Bugui. The fiery look faded, and she had no intention of killing him. “Xiao Bugui, you just joined the Demon Sect and don’t understand the internal affairs yet. I won’t kill you. I destroyed his clone as punishment for his loyalty to Ji Qingcheng, not to me.”

“Thank you, Sect Leader, for sparing him,” Hu Jiao said gratefully on Xiao Bugui’s behalf.

Shiyu Huan said, “I’m tired. You all enjoy yourselves. I will rest a while. Tell Yin Wuxiang that destroying his clone was merely a punishment. I won’t kill him.”