The trace of demonic aura was incredibly faint.
Cold, obscure, and hidden beneath the damp scent of grass and earth.
Had Su Wan’s cultivation not improved over the past few weeks, sharpening her senses, she never would have noticed it.
Suppressing both her footsteps and spiritual energy, she quietly advanced, using the thick bamboo as cover.
In a small clearing deep within the grove sat a lone figure dressed in black.
His back faced her.
Dark patterns shimmered faintly across his robes, while wisps of black mist lingered around him. Only the slightest hint of demonic energy leaked from his body, as though it had been deliberately suppressed to avoid detection by the Qingyun Sect’s mountain-protecting formation.
He appeared to be injured.
The fabric over his left shoulder had been soaked dark red with blood, and his posture sagged slightly.
Su Wan hid behind a thick bamboo stalk, her heart skipping a beat.
I’m doomed…
It really is a demon.
Judging from the aura alone, this wasn’t some insignificant enemy.
With her current level of cultivation, she wouldn’t stand a chance.
Fight?
That would just be suicide.
Go call for help?
By the time she ran back to the sect and returned with the elders or senior disciples, the demon would have vanished without a trace.
Then she’d probably be accused of spreading false alarms and disturbing the sect.
And Xie Yanci would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to mock her again.
As she hesitated, the man in black seemed to notice her gaze.
Slowly, he turned around.
Moonlight slipped through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, illuminating his pale, striking profile.
His features were exceptionally handsome, but an unshakable gloom lingered over his face. His dark eyes swept toward her hiding place with chilling precision.
“I know you’re there.”
“How long have you been watching?”
His voice was low and hoarse…
Yet strangely familiar.
Su Wan’s entire body stiffened.
Seriously?
Of all people…
Isn’t that Xie Yanci?
I’ve been discovered.
Do I pretend I don’t recognize him…?
Or do I turn around and run?
She forced herself to stay calm while her mind raced.
Running isn’t an option.
Begging for mercy would only make me look pathetic—and probably wouldn’t work anyway.
Maybe…
I’ll just play dumb.
Slowly, she stepped out from behind the bamboo, blinking innocently as though completely lost.
Her voice was soft and harmless.
“Senior Brother, I’m so sorry.”
“I have night blindness, and I was trying to find the dining hall for dinner.”
“I accidentally got lost and wandered in here.”
“I didn’t know you were cultivating.”
“I truly didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“I’ll leave right away.”
She deliberately hid every trace of the original Su Wan’s arrogance, acting like an obedient and well-behaved junior disciple.
All she wanted was to fool him long enough to escape.
Xie Yanci looked at her in silence before letting out a quiet laugh.
“Night blindness?”
His voice had already returned to its usual lazy, teasing tone.
“Funny.”
“I’ve never heard that Junior Sister Su suffers from night blindness.”
Su Wan sighed inwardly.
Great.
He recognized me immediately.
Resigned, she raised her head and forced an awkward smile.
“So it’s Senior Brother Xie.”
“You’re still cultivating this late at night.”
“No wonder your cultivation improves so quickly.”
“I’m ashamed of myself.”
“I don’t think I’ll bother eating anymore.”
“I should hurry back and cultivate harder.”
Just then, laughter echoed faintly from outside the bamboo forest.
Several disciples were approaching.
Xie Yanci’s expression darkened.
The remaining traces of demonic energy around him disappeared instantly.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared directly in front of Su Wan.
Before she could react, his hand shot out and wrapped tightly around her throat.
Then he dragged her deeper into the bamboo forest.
Su Wan knew screaming for help would accomplish nothing.
Xie Yanci was vastly stronger than the approaching disciples.
Even if they heard her, they wouldn’t be able to save her.
So she didn’t struggle.
She simply allowed herself to be dragged away.
To Xie Yanci, Su Wan had always been a potential threat.
This seemed like the perfect opportunity to eliminate that threat once and for all.
His grip tightened.
Air rapidly disappeared from her lungs.
Realizing he truly intended to kill her, Su Wan desperately clawed at the hand around her neck.
Her voice emerged in strained, broken gasps.
“You… can’t kill me…”
“I… left… a note… in my room…”
Cough… cough…
Xie Yanci frowned slightly.
His grip loosened just enough for her to continue.
“I wrote…”
“If… I die…”
“The killer… must be… you…”
He smiled.
It was a gentle smile.
One that somehow felt even colder than before.
Releasing her throat, he said leisurely,
“Then I’ll simply kill you…”
“…and search your room afterward.”
“I’ll find the note.”
“You’ll still die.”
As he spoke, a sharp strand of sword qi condensed in his hand, aimed directly at her neck.
Panicked, Su Wan blurted out,
“I hid lots of notes!”
“You’ll never find them all!”
“But don’t worry!”
“They’re only there to protect myself.”
“I swear I won’t tell anyone what happened tonight.”
“I’ll pretend I never saw anything.”
“If I break my promise, may heaven strike me down!”
“May I die a miserable death!”
Xie Yanci sneered.
“Anyone can make an oath.”
“The dead keep secrets much better.”
“My mouth is sealed too!”
Su Wan said hurriedly.
“I really won’t tell anyone.”
“If you don’t trust me…”
“Then keep watching me every day!”
“If I ever reveal anything…”
“You can kill me then!”
Her heart pounded violently.
She was already speaking without thinking.
“If you kill me today…”
“There’ll only be another witness tomorrow.”
“If your demonic aura leaks again in the future…”
“I can even help cover it up.”
“I can also—”
“Enough.”
Xie Yanci interrupted coldly.
“You’re too noisy.”
He fell silent.
Su Wan was, after all, the direct disciple of a Qingyun Sect elder.
If she died mysteriously, the sect elders—and Ling Chen in particular—would certainly investigate thoroughly.
If Ling Chen became involved, Luo Qingyuan would inevitably be drawn into the matter as well.
Killing Su Wan would only create more trouble.
Su Wan knelt there nervously, not daring to utter another word.
After a long silence…
Xie Yanci suddenly held out a crimson pill.
Just from its sinister color, it was obvious it wasn’t anything good.
Without hesitation, Su Wan swallowed it.
If he truly wanted her dead, there was no need to waste medicine on her.
At worst…
It was simply poison to keep her under control.
Staying alive came first.
Seeing her swallow the pill without the slightest hesitation, surprise briefly flashed across Xie Yanci’s face.
It disappeared almost instantly.
“You weren’t even worried it might be poison?”
he asked mockingly.
Su Wan looked at him.
“If it really is poison…”
“Do I have the luxury of refusing?”
He let out a short laugh.
“At least you know your situation.”
“This poison is called Half-Month Devourer.”
“Every fifteen days, you’ll come to me for the antidote.”
“If you fail to do so…”
“…your internal organs will gradually rot away.”
“…and you’ll die.”
Just as I thought…
“What should be said…”
“And what shouldn’t…”
“I’m sure you understand.”
He lowered his head slightly.
Those dark eyes looked at her with chilling indifference.
Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the night.
Only after the overwhelming pressure of his presence completely vanished did Su Wan collapse against a nearby bamboo stalk.
She finally dared to breathe.
Her back was already soaked with cold sweat.
That was way too close…
She let out a bitter laugh.
There had never been any note.
She had made the entire story up simply to stay alive.
If she had actually left one behind, it might one day be used against her anyway.
Xie Yanci looked as elegant as polished jade…
But beneath that handsome face lurked someone terrifyingly dangerous.
She had no idea how much time passed.
The moon slowly drifted across the sky, stretching the bamboo shadows longer and longer.
The cool night breeze carried the scent of bamboo leaves, brushing across her sweat-soaked back and sending shivers through her exhausted body.
She remained slumped on the cold ground.
Almost unconsciously, both hands covered her throat.
The faint red finger marks Xie Yanci had left behind still lingered on her skin.
They felt like a brand she could never erase—
A constant reminder of how close she had come to death.
The composure and quick thinking that had sustained her moments ago completely collapsed the instant he walked away.
Every ounce of strength seemed to drain from her body.
She couldn’t even lift her arms.
Her heart continued pounding wildly inside her chest.
In the silent bamboo forest, every heartbeat sounded painfully loud.
Before she realized it, tears had begun streaming down her face.
His cold voice still echoed in her ears.
And somewhere inside her body, the poison called Half-Month Devourer seemed to settle deeper into her bloodstream, leaving behind a faint chill that spread through her limbs.
Your internal organs will gradually rot away…
Those five words pierced her heart like a poisoned blade.