Chapter 190: The Truth Behind the Black Energy

“Grandmaster.”

Once they reached the guest room, Yun Jiao finally voiced her confusion. “Those black fumes just now… were they—?”

“Demonic energy,” Ye Yuan answered without hesitation.

“It really was demonic energy!” Yun Jiao’s heart skipped a beat. She’d suspected it from the start, but hearing it confirmed still shocked her. The last time she’d seen such energy was when Sheng Heng unsealed the Crimson Demon Abyss—thick, oily darkness with weight and substance, so cold it pierced the soul. The black bead she’d just purified looked almost identical.

“No need to worry.” Ye Yuan glanced at her, his voice calm but carrying a trace of reassurance. “That was only residual demonic energy, nothing dangerous. Only mortals or those with weak constitutions can be invaded by such remnants. Cultivators with proper spiritual strength would never be fatally harmed by it.”

“Residual demonic energy?” she repeated.

“Yes. It’s what remains after demonic energy disperses,” he explained. “Once scattered, it’s not much different from ghostly or bestial miasma—no true power left.”

But Yun Jiao’s expression didn’t ease. Her brows drew together as she said quietly, “Then… how did these people get infected with residual demonic energy in the first place? Where did it come from? Could it be… from the Crimson Demon Abyss?”

Her heart tightened.

The Abyss had only been partially unsealed that time, and Zichen had remained stationed at the core of the sealing formation. It shouldn’t count as fully opened. Still, some of the demonic energy had leaked out. Could it have traveled all the way here?

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. Her shoulders slumped slightly, as if weighed down by guilt.

Ye Yuan looked down at her—his little disciple seemed to be blaming herself for failing to contain the demonic energy. His chest ached at the sight. He frowned, then gently reached out to rub her head, pulling her attention back. “Don’t overthink it.”

“Mm?” Yun Jiao blinked, meeting his gaze. His eyes held a quiet concern that puzzled her.

He sighed softly and continued, his tone deeper now. “Though there is a barrier between the Demon Realm and the Three Realms, demons are born from hearts gone astray. Any living being in these realms can fall into demonhood. The Crimson Demon Abyss is not the only place with demonic energy. There’s no need to blame yourself.”

Don’t be sad—I’m here, his expression seemed to say.

“…”

Blame myself? She hadn’t been doing that at all!

“It’s only a bit of miasma,” Ye Yuan added, stepping forward as if to pull her into an embrace. “I’ll help you disperse it.”

“Wait—Grandmaster…” Yun Jiao frowned slightly, pushing down his arms before he could hug her. Her face grew serious. “That’s not what I meant. The problem isn’t the energy itself. I mean—if it didn’t come from the Crimson Demon Abyss, then that’s even worse!”

Ye Yuan stared down at his rejected hands, expression blank for a moment. “…Hm?”

She refused my comfort?

(⊙_⊙)

“Let me put it this way,” Yun Jiao went on earnestly, oblivious to his mood. “Demonic energy doesn’t just disappear on its own. According to the records, the only way to disperse it is to seal it near a spiritual vein and let the spiritual aura wear it down slowly over centuries. That’s what was done with the Crimson Demon Abyss. Even after thousands of years, it hasn’t vanished completely. The only other way is if its master retrieves it.”

She raised her head, eyes steady. “Which means—if these people’s residual demonic energy didn’t come from the Abyss, there’s only one explanation.”

Her tone dropped low, each word measured.

“It came from a living demon.”

“……”

Ye Yuan stood there for a long moment before answering curtly—

“…Oh.”

He wasn’t happy about being ignored.

(︶︿︶)

“Grandmaster, you don’t agree?” she asked.

“Whatever,” he muttered.

“……”

What do you mean, ‘whatever’?

“Where are you going?” he asked when she turned.

“I’m going to inform Chang Yang,” Yun Jiao said. “This is too serious to wait.”

“……”

“Oh—by the way, Grandmaster, you mentioned something earlier about me blaming myself?”

“I didn’t!” he snapped, turning his face away.

“……”

Alright then. Whatever makes you happy.

———

Yun Jiao no longer thought this was a simple medical visit. If a true demon had appeared in the mortal realm, it was no small matter. She immediately went to report it to Chang Yang.

He was so startled that the formation book he’d been holding slipped from his hands and hit the floor with a loud thud.

“Th-this… Daoist Yun, are you certain? A demon clan?!” he stammered. The word alone was enough to chill the air—demons only existed in ancient legends.

“It’s only my conjecture for now,” Yun Jiao replied firmly. “But I can confirm that the black aura on that man was residual demonic energy.”

Chang Yang’s expression grew grave. He turned at once, picked up his transmission talisman, and said, “I’ll inform Hall Master Xu right now.”

He activated the talisman and relayed every detail of Yun Jiao’s discovery.

Hall Master Xu was jolted fully awake by the news. If anyone else had reported this, he might have doubted it—but coming from Yun Jiao, he couldn’t take chances. Whatever the truth, an investigation had to begin at once.

After a short discussion on the response plan, Chang Yang cut the transmission and turned back to Yun Jiao. “Daoist Yun, Hall Master Xu will need until tomorrow to assemble his men. But the situation’s urgent—the herb fields are near a village full of common folk. We can’t risk waiting. We must leave for Lijiao Village tonight.”

“Alright,” Yun Jiao agreed immediately.

Chang Yang left to gather several disciples with decent cultivation, while Yun Jiao used the spare time to set up a teleportation array leading directly to the village.

The group stepped in, and with a flash of light, they appeared outside a small mountain settlement. The sky was pitch black; not a flicker of lamplight anywhere.

Chang Yang frowned, quickly drawing a Blazing Sun Talisman. As it flared to life, its white light revealed a scattering of crooked, silent huts.

“Huh? This is the center of the village… why is it so quiet?” he murmured. There wasn’t even a dog barking, nor a candle flickering. Then Yun Jiao’s earlier words about demons struck him—and his face drained of color.

“Spread out and search!” he ordered his disciples, voice tense. “See if anyone’s still here—but don’t go too far. Report at once if anything seems off.”

“Yes, Master!” The spirit-healer disciples dispersed.

Yun Jiao turned toward Ye Yuan. He merely shook his head, and she exhaled in relief. So—no demon nearby, at least for now.

Moments later, the disciples began returning—most empty-handed. Just as worry started to set in, one came running back breathless.

“Valley Master! I saw light—firelight—in the herb fields!”

Firelight?!

(End of Chapter)