Chapter Thirteen: The Blood Orchid Demon (Part Two)

After certain plants and animals evolve to possess emotions and consciousness, they are known as demons. The Blood Orchid before Li Yun’s eyes was displaying fear—a rudimentary emotion, but enough to classify it as a demon. For so many Blood Orchids to undergo evolution at once, there could be only one explanation: a fully evolved Flower Demon had appeared here.

Watching Li Yun’s tense expression, Lei Yan laughed and said, “Brother Li, there’s no need to worry. The flowers here can cure your poison.” As he spoke, Lei Yan began gathering the Blood Orchids with abandon. In the blink of an eye, the orchids within five meters of him were all picked, leaving behind a barren patch.

Li Yun’s heart was finally at ease after hearing Lei Yan’s words. The prospect of survival naturally pleased him.

“Bring out your king,” Lei Yan demanded, threatening a Blood Orchid he held with a porcelain vial after collecting the rest. He feared no plant-based demons, for the withering spirit powder in his hand was the bane of such creatures.

Just then, Yuan Hou, in tattered clothes, came running over in a panic. “The Blood Orchid has already transformed into a Flower Demon!” No sooner had he spoken than screams erupted among the villagers.

A towering Blood Orchid, over ten feet high, appeared behind Yuan Hou. Its crimson bloom resembled a moving chamber, surrounded by green leaves as sharp as arrows. These leaves, like the tentacles of the demon, darted and pierced the hearts of nearby villagers. Their blood flowed onto the leaves, instantly absorbed, while the massive flower quivered excitedly as it fed.

Seeing such a monstrous flower, the villagers were seized by terror.

“What a huge flower!”

“The flower is killing people!”

“Run!”

Cries of panic filled the air, but the Flower Demon moved swiftly. The fleeing villagers stood no chance, and in moments more had fallen to its attacks.

“Run!” Yuan Hou reached Lei Yan’s side, grabbing him in an attempt to drag him away.

“I have a way to deal with it,” Lei Yan said, shaking off Yuan Hou’s grip and charging straight at the Flower Demon.

Yuan Hou stared blankly, mumbling, “Has he lost his mind?” The memory of the demon’s power filled him with dread. The onslaught of leaves, the spray of corrosive venom, and, worst of all, its utter disregard for his own attacks.

“I saw the little flowers cowering from him earlier. Maybe he really does have a way,” Li Yun offered, half believing, half doubting.

“Brother Li, I’ll take my leave. If Brother Lei manages to subdue the Flower Demon, tell him I’ll be waiting at the inn before Wanjia Village.” Yuan Hou cared little for the truth of Li Yun’s words—his own life took precedence. If Lei Yan failed to show, he’d abandon the mission; at least he wouldn’t die.

Seeing Yuan Hou flee, Li Yun’s own resolve began to falter. He had witnessed Yuan Hou’s skills firsthand—and if someone of equal cultivation was no match, how could he hope to fare better? “Is Brother Lei really confident?” He couldn’t help but glance in Lei Yan’s direction.

Lei Yan strode boldly toward the Flower Demon, still holding the porcelain vial aloft.

“Stop!” Lei Yan’s voice thundered, deafening all around. The Flower Demon hesitated, its attack on a villager arrested mid-strike. The villager watched the leaf, sharp as an arrow, poised an inch from his brow, then collapsed to the ground, drenched in cold sweat and trembling uncontrollably. With a gasp, he screamed and scrambled backward in terror.

The scream jolted the Flower Demon back to its senses. Spotting a human advancing on it—the very one who had forced its hesitation—it flew into a rage. Though newly formed and still incapable of speech, it shrieked wildly, flailing its leaves like giant blades through the air. A villager, not far enough away, froze as his head was severed and his body fell to pieces.

“Hmph!” Lei Yan snorted coldly, pointing the vial at the Flower Demon. “This is withering spirit powder. Any plant it touches dies without exception. Care to test it?” With that, Lei Yan uncorked the vial, releasing a faint aroma of wine.

The wild flailing of the Flower Demon’s leaves ceased instantly. Its whole form trembled. It seemed to sense the menace in Lei Yan’s hand and dared not move further.

“Withering spirit powder?” Sun Jin, lurking in the shadows, eyed Lei Yan’s hand intently. His thoughts raced. “So the powder really works. If I seize it, could I control the Flower Demon?” Such a powerful demon—if harnessed by his family, what a triumph it would be! He already imagined himself basking in glory.

Lei Yan’s thoughts were not so different. He too wished to subdue the Flower Demon, but he knew the Blood Orchid Demon could not be controlled by the powder alone. He intended first to threaten, then to entice.

“I know you’re unwilling, but—” Before Lei Yan could finish, a figure flashed past and snatched the withering spirit powder from his hand.

Lei Yan’s full attention had been on the Flower Demon, even his abilities locked onto it, so he hadn’t noticed the danger beside him. Suddenly, his hand was empty. Realizing his lapse, he turned instinctively. “You!”

Sun Jin grinned smugly. “That’s right, it’s me. The powder is mine now, and so is the Flower Demon.” He spun, his face twisted with malice, and roared at the demon, “Kill everyone!” He could not risk the secret of the Flower Demon getting out; all witnesses had to die.

Seeing the powder now in Sun Jin’s possession, the Flower Demon’s hatred for Lei Yan, who had threatened it moments before, only deepened. With a shriek, it lashed out with its leaves at Lei Yan.

Lei Yan, however, showed no sign of fear as the leaves shot toward him like arrows. Their speed was indeed impressive, but under the perception of his abilities, they seemed to crawl. Lei Yan was no longer the man whose meridians had withered; now, with inner strength, his movement easily matched the speed his talents could sense.

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

Lei Yan danced among the flowers like a butterfly; the green leaves’ attacks could not touch him.

Li Yun watched in shock. Though he could evade such attacks by sound alone, to do so as effortlessly and unscathed as Lei Yan was impossible.

Sun Jin, beside the Flower Demon, was equally astonished by Lei Yan’s strength. He hadn’t expected such overwhelming power. He barked at the demon, “If you don’t want to die, unleash your strongest attack!”

The Flower Demon shrieked in rage. Unable to land a blow on Lei Yan, it needed no prompting from Sun Jin. Streams of red liquid, like arrows of blood, shot at Lei Yan, while the leaves lashed ceaselessly.

“Hmph!” Lei Yan snorted again. Though the attacks came thick and fast, they posed no threat to his agility. “You’re courting death!” he muttered, dodging as he retrieved a pill, crushed it, and smeared it on his hand. At that moment, a leaf sliced past his chest—Lei Yan slapped it with his palm.

Smack!

The leaf withered instantly at his touch. As Lei Yan moved, more and more leaves wilted in his wake; in moments, he had withered over a dozen. The excruciating pain drew cries from the demon, which dared not attack him further.

“Useless, utterly useless! You still can’t beat him—kill, kill them all, or I’ll end you myself!” Sun Jin raved like a mad dog. The Flower Demon’s resentment suddenly turned on him; a leaf flashed like a green bolt, stabbing Sun Jin in the chest.

With a hiss, Sun Jin stared in disbelief at the leaf protruding from his chest. He hadn’t thought the demon would dare kill him, not while he held the withering spirit powder. But Sun Jin was no weakling; though stabbed, he was not killed instantly. Grabbing the leaf with his left hand, he shook the vial violently, shouting, “So you dare kill me? I’ll take you with me! Die, die!”

“No!” Lei Yan cried, but it was too late. Sun Jin had already doused the Flower Demon with the powder, much of which scattered into the air.

The moment the powder touched the Flower Demon, it trembled and shrieked, flailing its leaves in a frenzy. Sun Jin was flung skyward, and as the leaves whipped about, his body was sliced to pieces, blood spraying in all directions.

In mere moments, the green leaves turned to withered husks, the crimson bloom faded to yellow, and ripples spread outward, turning every flower and tree in their path to lifeless sticks and dead leaves.