As his memory experienced a sudden fracture, he opened his eyes, and the splitting headache began to subside, allowing him a moment to breathe. He saw Yu Shengyan standing with his back to him. Recalling the scene from his memory, the original hostility in his heart inexplicably vanished. At the same time… he remembered something crucial.
“Senior Brother? Senior Brother?” Yu Shengyan shook Lan Tian, calling out to him softly. Lan Tian had no choice but to open his eyes again slowly.
“Heh, fake.” Lan Tian coughed and slowly forced his eyes open, his complexion deathly pale. Seeing the anxiety on Yu Shengyan’s face, he simply spoke with cold detachment.
Yu Shengyan didn’t react, but he still helped Lan Tian lean back against the corner of the cave wall. “Don’t move around anymore.”
Lan Tian, momentarily devoid of strength, allowed himself to be moved. Yu Shengyan watched his defiant expression and shook his head helplessly. However… he was struck by the anomaly of that spiritual energy earlier; if he were truly a Demon Lord, how could he have absorbed that sliver of energy?
He bowed his head in deep thought, then turned away. No sooner had he turned than a figure lunged toward him. He knew it was Jialuo behind him and instinctively wanted to kick him away, but remembering Lan Tian’s actions earlier, he suppressed the impulse to see what the puppet was doing.
However… to his surprise, Jialuo wasn’t seeking revenge; he knelt at his feet. Jialuo prostrated himself on the ground, his entire body flattened in a display of profound respect, and suddenly shouted loudly: “Welcome, Holy Lord.”
Yu Shengyan froze, completely bewildered. Lan Tian, witnessing this scene, nearly vomited a mouthful of blood. What’s going on? Didn’t I save you? Why are you suddenly bowing to Yu Shengyan in the blink of an eye?
Min Yue watched from the back, his jaw practically hitting the floor. The squirrel, as if it knew everything, squeezed its eyes shut and shook its little furry head with a resigned expression, spreading its tiny paws.
“What Holy Lord?” Yu Shengyan wondered if Jialuo had been rendered simple-minded by his previous actions.
Jialuo raised his head. His face was earnest and solemn, and the eyes that had been dull and lifeless moments ago now glittered, looking entirely different from before. Min Yue quickly picked up his fallen jaw, watching them with a thoughtful expression. He gave a slow, knowing smile; it seemed… he had guessed correctly earlier… Jialuo was the triggering condition, the key person linking them to the plot… and now… the time was right.
Yu Shengyan wanted to make him stand; having a demonic puppet kneel to him felt highly inappropriate… and besides, he was the First Senior Brother’s…
Yu Shengyan thought of the First Senior Brother and turned back, only to find the First Senior Brother staring at him with eyes full of resentment. As expected…
Jialuo refused to rise, repeating the same phrase: “Please help us.”
Seeing that he wouldn’t listen and remained kneeling at his feet, Yu Shengyan considered just knocking him unconscious. Min Yue stepped in to stop him, walking over to Yu Shengyan’s side. “Wait. Take a closer look at him.”
Seeing that his Master had spoken, Yu Shengyan had no choice but to listen. He scrutinized Jialuo and finally noticed the strange detail: the demonic energy swirling around Jialuo had vanished by more than half. How could the demonic energy disappear? For a demon, demonic energy is like a lifeline. If it vanishes, yet he is still perfectly fine… there is only one explanation.
Jialuo was not a demonic puppet; he was a human upon whom demonic energy had been forcibly imposed.
“You’re… human?” Yu Shengyan exclaimed in astonishment.
“Yes,” Jialuo replied. “I am human. I only regained part of my memory after being awakened by the Holy Lord earlier. Please, Holy Lord, help us.”
Just then, Min Yue loosened his grip, and the little squirrel seized the chance to escape, leaping onto Jialuo’s head. Jialuo felt the warm, furry little ball land on him, straightened up, picked up the squirrel, and placed it in his hand, gently stroking it. The squirrel wore an expression of pure bliss.
Min Yue rubbed his hand in secret, feeling a pang of regret. Petting a squirrel actually felt pretty nice… too bad this one isn’t mine…
“You mentioned help? Help with what?” Min Yue asked Jialuo.
Jialuo paused, suddenly beginning to mutter to himself. “Help… help… help with what? I can’t remember clearly, I just have a feeling it’s very urgent…” He continued, “I only remember that I have to take the Holy Lord to the village…”
“Village?”
Yu Shengyan was perplexed. However, Min Yue and Lan Tian immediately understood—the village in question must be the Hidden Village.
“You can’t even explain what help you need; how can you expect me to go?” Yu Shengyan frowned, shaking his head, convinced that Jialuo had truly been rendered simple-minded by his own hand.
“I beg you, Holy Lord, this matter is critical. It is a matter of life and death.” Jialuo cradled the squirrel with one hand and reached out with the other, desperate to grab Yu Shengyan’s hem.
Lan Tian quickly sent a prompt to the Boss.
Lan Tian: “Boss, make Yu Shengyan agree, otherwise it’ll be impossible to continue the mission.” Main Plot Boss: “I know, I know. I’m thinking, I’m thinking.”
Lan Tian observed the situation, feeling that sitting here doing nothing was a poor choice. After a moment of thought, he shouted at Jialuo: “Jialuo! What are you doing!”
Jialuo’s body flinched. He turned his eyes toward Lan Tian, a flicker of apology in them. “Apologies, My Lord. I am merely burdened with duty…”
Yu Shengyan suddenly recalled the recent events. Sorting it all out: this Jialuo had appeared out of thin air and instantly recognized the First Senior Brother. Given the crisis at the time, he hadn’t given it much thought, but now that he did, it seemed illogical. How did he recognize the First Senior Brother as his ‘Holy Lord’? And the First Senior Brother had been acting strangely all along, and the fact that he could channel spiritual energy into him earlier…
Yu Shengyan tugged on Jialuo’s collar, curling his lips into a smirk, and threatened, “Helping you is fine, but first, you have to tell me about the Holy Lord.”
Jialuo nodded immediately: “Of course.”
Lan Tian: →_→ Why do I feel like I’m about to be sold out…
Yu Shengyan thought for a moment and asked directly, “First, how did you know he was your Holy Lord?”
Jialuo replied: “No matter where the Holy Lord is, he will automatically summon me. I can locate the Holy Lord through a unique aura.”
Yu Shengyan continued with the next question. “Did your Holy Lord forcibly impose demonic energy upon you?”
To his surprise, Jialuo shook his head and answered: “No, the demonic energy comes from the Heavens.”
From the Heavens? Yu Shengyan wanted to press further, but he was more interested in the next question, so he didn’t dwell on it.
“Final question: can my First Senior Brother be restored to human form?”
As soon as these words left his mouth, the cave fell silent. Lan Tian was astounded—was he still thinking about that? Hadn’t Min Yue already denied it?
Jialuo looked up, staring directly at Yu Shengyan, and answered word for word:
“Yes.”
Yu Shengyan stood frozen in place, while Min Yue and Lan Tian’s shock was no less than his own…