Chapter 871 - 857: Mission

Upon hearing these words, Xuan Yan’s face changed.

Even Su Muyao inside the house heard those words.

She and Xiao Jihan exchanged a glance and saw the solemn expression in each other’s eyes.

They first suspected it was related to the demon beasts.

It felt like the demon beasts were starting to rampage as the snow season passed and the weather warmed up.

Xuan Yan came to Su Muyao and said softly, "Wife, I’ll go for a while and be back tonight."

No matter how late or busy things were, Xuan Yan would come back at night.

"You haven’t finished your meal."

She knew Xuan Yan loved dumplings, yet he had only eaten half a plate.

"It’s okay, I’m not hungry anymore, you all eat."

Su Muyao looked at Xuan Yan with a bit of worry, "Be careful."

"Alright."

...

Su Muyao didn’t sleep until midnight.

She put the three Zaizais to bed and leaned in Xiao Jihan’s arms, not feeling sleepy, waiting for Xuan Yan to return.

She was still very worried about Xuan Yan.

She felt no drowsiness at all.

Probably only when Xuan Yan returned could she feel at ease.

No matter who goes out, Xuan Yan and Xiao Jihan will ensure someone is home.

To protect Su Muyao and the Zaizais.

Just then, there was a knock at the door outside.

Su Muyao’s eyes lit up, "Has Xuan Yan come back?"

Xiao Jihan said helplessly, "When does he ever knock when he returns?"

He set a barrier at home but wouldn’t guard against Xuan Yan, as Xuan Yan could pass through the barrier automatically.

Su Muyao collected her expression, "If it’s not Xuan Yan, who would knock at such a late hour?"

Xiao Jihan set up another layer of protective barrier around Su Muyao and the Zaizais before going out.

When the courtyard door opened, there stood a male beastman.

As Xiao Jihan opened the door, his eyes suddenly flashed a scarlet light as he attacked Xiao Jihan.

Next, a beastman was rushing towards the courtyard from its side.

But was bounced back by the barrier.

"Bang..."

They were repelled out.

Xiao Jihan’s speed was faster, and the Ice Blade in his hand had already followed the backlash force of the barrier, swiftly stabbing into their bodies at the first moment.

Their bodies gradually bled but carried a strong stench.

This aura belonged to a demon beast.

But they weren’t demon beasts, they were ordinary beastmen, manipulated by demon beasts.

Xiao Jihan killed them with ease.

Yet this matter made Xiao Jihan’s expression increasingly serious.

The presence of demon beasts threatened the safety of his wife, which he dared not take lightly.

Black Rock City was already unsafe.

He could feel the demon beasts were targeting his wife.

How they sensed his wife’s aura was unknown.

During the snow season, it was alright, but as the weather warmed, the demon beasts emerged.

Xiao Jihan vaguely felt that demon beasts might also fear the cold.

But now, the snow season was about to end.

Soon, several beastmen rushed over, seemingly using the Blood Burning ability, rapidly enhancing their prowess, their eyes showing a scarlet hue as if they’d lost reason, only knowing to attack madly, targeting the barrier set by Xiao Jihan.

Xiao Jihan understood the commotion in the East District might only be a diversion.

The demon beasts’ real aim was to attack his wife.

Since gaining the Power of Faith, Xiao Jihan could utilize more Divine Skills.

Therefore, with him here, no one could step into the courtyard.

Su Muyao’s heart was tightly clenched.

She could hear the commotion outside and understand how intense the battle was.

She quietly opened a window and, through a corner of the lattice, saw Xiao Jihan’s clothes fluttering, carrying an icy and captivating aura, constantly fighting with his superpower.

Just watching his figure gave her a strong sense of security.

Her heart felt both moved and sore.

He had always been protecting her.

Actually, Su Muyao wanted to do something for Xiao Jihan.

Su Muyao could also smell the unpleasant stench in the air.

She knew it was the smell of beast blood.

When beastmen or even wild beasts bleed, there’s only a bloody smell, not this kind of stench.

So it must be related to demon beasts.

...

The fight ended only when it was almost dawn.

Xiao Jihan came back.

And Xuan Yan had hurried back too.

It was only after rushing back that Xuan Yan learned what had happened here.

Su Muyao looked at him and asked, "Are you alright?"

"I’m fine; I just apologize for coming back late."

The riot in the East District was severe, especially since many beastmen lost their reason and attacked him and the patrol team.

There were even a few Level 5 beastmen, as well as beastmen from the patrol team, so the situation was quite chaotic.

Xuan Yan spent quite some effort resolving these beastmen and stabilizing the situation.

Xuan Yan saved a few for questioning overnight.

Su Muyao shook her head, "It’s nothing, as long as you’re alright."

"I’ll go to the kitchen."

Su Muyao made extra dumplings last night, and she quickly lit the stove and pan-fried the dumplings cooked last night for them to have some food.

Having been busy all night using so much superpower, they must be very hungry.

Eating the dumplings Su Muyao fried, the two finally relaxed their tense spirits.

After finishing the meal, Xuan Yan explained, "When the snow season first arrived, Eagle Clan beastmen attacked the city, which was manipulated by demon beasts."

"Demon beasts are skilled at deceiving minds; they bewildered some beastmen, convincing them that eating a red spirit grass would enhance their strength."

"Yet this spirit grass is a Demon Grass, cultivated with Demon Blood by demon beastmen; as soon as beastmen eat it, after a time, this Demon Grass will control the beastmen’s minds in their bodies."

"Then demon beasts implant their will into them, making them act according to orders."

"Those manipulated are mostly male beastmen eager to gain power."

"Moreover, eating this red Demon Grass certainly allows them to swiftly enhance their prowess, but this method accelerates the burning of their life force, though they’re unaware."

This was the information Xuan Yan extracted after considerable effort, and he even sought the clan doctor’s help to examine the condition of these manipulated beastmen.

It became known these beastmen, after a battle, would soon die without intervention.

The demon plant would ultimately devour them wholly.

Xiao Jihan said, "Male beastmen find it hard to resist such temptation."

Regardless of the means to gain power, ultimately, it’s an enhancement in power.

Here, enhancing power means gaining more food, living better, and having a higher competitive edge in front of females.

Xuan Yan said solemnly, "Indeed."

"My people are investigating; after dawn, we will also publicize this in the city."

"Last night, the rioting beastmen included those controlled by demon beasts; they secretly gave a portion of beastmen that red Demon Grass."

"Demon beasts fear the cold, as does Demon Grass; even when inhabiting beastmen, in cold environments, they remain dormant, but once it warms up, the Demon Grass becomes active."

"Thus, those beastmen became controlled and started the riots."

The system spoke, "Host, there must be an intelligent demon beast orchestrating this."

"It feels like they are intentionally targeting you."

"Their aim is to kill you."

Xuan Yan spoke with difficulty, "Their task in mind is to kill the wife."

"At all costs, kill the wife."

"It’s the command the demon beasts gave them."