Chapter Twenty-Six: Trouble

A strange sound emanated from Qing Ling’s room.

“What is that…” Lei Yan’s expression changed abruptly. He hurriedly pushed open Qing Ling’s door in three quick strides. Inside, the flower demon sat on the bed, one hand pressed against Qing Ling’s lower abdomen. Red ripples radiated outward from the flower demon’s hand, and the sound was coming from these spreading red waves.

“So it’s true,” he immediately stopped the flower demon. “Xiao Lan, stop right now.”

Lei Yan had overlooked one crucial fact all along: the flower demon was a demon, and her healing relied on demonic energy. Using demonic energy to heal a human could restore their injuries, but Qing Ling was a cultivator. She possessed true energy, and the conflict between true energy and demonic energy was far more dangerous than ordinary injuries—any misstep could be life-threatening.

Upon hearing Lei Yan’s command, the flower demon stopped immediately. Her large eyes flickered as she looked at him. “Xiao Lan doesn’t want Daddy to be sad. I want Mommy to wake up soon. Did Xiao Lan do something wrong?”

Lei Yan gazed into those pure, innocent eyes. His own eyes glistened with unshed tears; he couldn’t bear to scold her since her intentions were kind. He placed the medicine on the table, then gently stroked the flower demon’s head. “I understand how you feel, Xiao Lan, but don’t do this again, alright? Your mother’s body can’t handle this kind of treatment.”

“Mm-hmm, Xiao Lan understands,” she replied, wiping her eyes and jumping off the bed.

Lei Yan pulled Qing Ling’s arm out from under the covers and placed three fingers on her pulse, closing his eyes to examine carefully. After a long moment, he opened them. Through the sensation in his fingertips, he finally detected the demonic aura hidden within Qing Ling’s body. Fortunately, the flower demon’s earlier stimulation had intensified it; otherwise, he might still have missed it.

Knowing the problem made it easier to treat. Pale light shone from Lei Yan’s fingertips, entering Qing Ling’s meridians and flowing toward the demonic aura. Under Lei Yan’s control, his abundant true energy instantly tore the demonic aura apart. Then, his true energy began circulating inside Qing Ling’s body, gradually joined by her own true energy.

“Mm… Brother Lei… Mm…” Qing Ling emitted a soft hum that sent shivers down Lei Yan’s spine. His scalp tingled, and he quickly withdrew his true energy. Sitting by the bedside, he had not yet recovered when Qing Ling suddenly opened her eyes and sat up, exclaiming, “Brother Lei!”

Qing Ling was still in bed wearing only her undergarments. As she sat up, her full curves appeared vividly before Lei Yan. He even saw the subtle movement of her breasts as she shifted, and his position beside her was awkward, right at her side—truly an unhidden view.

“Ah!”

Following Lei Yan’s gaze downward, Qing Ling let out a sharp scream and quickly pulled the blanket over herself. Her usually pale face now flushed red, her heart silently screaming, “Did he see?”

Lei Yan smiled. Such a spirited scream meant Qing Ling was well again.

“Oh… Mommy’s awake. Oh… Daddy doesn’t have to worry anymore,” the flower demon chimed in excitedly.

Her voice stirred Qing Ling’s memories, and her eyes narrowed angrily, fixed on Lei Yan as if ready to lash out if he gave no explanation.

Lei Yan laughed warmly at the lively flower demon. “Ling’er, thank you. I know you care about me, but next time, don’t be so foolish. I was just forging a demonic artifact. Oh, and this is her—she’s a flower demon fed with my essence. Her name is Xiao Lan.”

Ling’er suddenly understood but seemed to realize something else. “No, no, even so, she shouldn’t call me Mommy. Am I really that old?” She touched her cheek.

Lei Yan chuckled. “I’m her father, and you’re my woman. If she doesn’t call you Mommy, who else would she call?”

Ling’er snorted softly. Lei Yan standing there alive and well was enough to ease her heart. She called to the flower demon, “Xiao Lan, come here.”

The demon nodded and jumped onto the bed. “Mommy, Xiao Lan’s here.”

Perhaps it was a woman’s intuition—before long, the flower demon and Qing Ling were laughing and chatting together, the flower demon now calling Qing Ling “Sister.” Watching this, Lei Yan felt a warm glow in his heart. He smiled and said, “Ling’er, you need to rest now. If you need me, I’m just next door.”

Ling’er replied casually, then resumed chatting with the flower demon. Yet beneath her calm exterior, Qing Ling’s heart was far from peaceful.

Lei Yan shook his head and left her room.

Watching Lei Yan’s retreating figure, Qing Ling thought bitterly, “Brother Lei, why don’t you tell me anything? About forging the demonic artifact and even Xiao Lan… Am I really so insignificant in your heart?”

“Sister, sister, why aren’t you saying anything?” the flower demon asked, noticing Qing Ling’s sudden silence.

“Not at all. Brother Lei just doesn’t want me to worry,” Qing Ling reassured herself. She smiled at the flower demon. “It’s nothing. Let’s keep talking.”

The two of them resumed their conversation, laughter occasionally spilling from the room.

Lei Yan left Qing Ling’s room and headed straight to Ding Wei’s room. Upon entering, his face was serious. “Ding Wei, I’m going to help you open your meridians now.”

He had made a decision: he would journey alone to Niujia Village, uncertain of the dangers awaiting him, and didn’t want Qing Ling to follow. Helping Ding Wei unblock his meridians meant Ding Wei could handle some matters independently.

“Open my meridians? Master, doing this…” Ding Wei began.

Lei Yan waved his hand to cut him off. “No more talk. I’ve decided.”

Ding Wei saw the stern look on Lei Yan’s face and didn’t refuse. He nodded. “Master, what do I need to do?”

“Sit cross-legged, relax completely, and don’t resist. No matter the pain, grit your teeth and endure it, understood?” Lei Yan said coldly. To be safe, he took the golden pill out of the demonic artifact.

“Understood.” Ding Wei clenched his teeth and sat down. “Come on, Master. A little pain won’t scare me.”

Lei Yan nodded, grasped the golden pill with his left hand, feeling the vast true energy within it. He placed his right hand gently on Ding Wei’s head. A gentle stream of true energy slowly entered Ding Wei’s Baihui acupoint.

Ding Wei’s meridians were much clearer than Lei Yan expected. Most of his channels were already unobstructed, likely due to his cultivation as a postnatal martial artist. Following Ding Wei’s extraordinary meridians and the twelve main channels, Lei Yan was surprised at how smoothly it went. In just the time it took for incense to burn, Ding Wei’s meridians were fully opened.

******

On the main street of Yicheng, bustling with people, three men followed behind a group of fierce-looking men who resembled bandits. The leader among the three was a slender man waving a golden silk fan painted with a picture of a beauty bathing. Behind him were two middle-aged men clad in purple robes, swords at their waists, their faces dignified and refined.

The man with the fan frowned and spoke to the two behind him, “Yan Tao, have them surround that inn.”