0138 A woman?

Bai Guo sniffed, and a faint, cloying scent lingered at the tip of her nose. Though it was a fragrance, it felt deeply unsettling.

Jiang Feng nodded. "That's right. Ku Zhan is coming soon. I need to go meet him."

Bai Guo grew anxious at once. "But the Master and Imperial Martial Sovereign Hua still haven't returned!"

Ku Zhan was a Demon general whose strength rivaled that of an Yiming Martial Sovereign. Making a deal with him was inherently perilous. How could they proceed without a powerful protector by their side?

Jiang Feng hadn't expected Hua Su and Gan Fuxing to be so delayed. He shook his head. "It isn't far, and my agreement with Ku Zhan is protected by a demonic pact; he cannot defy it. Nothing will happen." He smiled. "Besides, if something does go wrong, I'll shout. Our people are everywhere in this vicinity!"

Bai Guo hesitated for a long time, then suddenly stood up. "No, it's too dangerous. I'm going with you!"

Jiang Feng said, surprised, "But if I am in danger, you wouldn't be able to..."

Bai Guo rolled her eyes and cut him off. "What are you so smug about? I am a Tianming Warrior, after all—I'm stronger than you! How could I watch you go alone?" She added with an air of finality, "I promised the Master I would help you, and I am going with you!"

Jiang Feng met her gaze for a moment, seeing the resolve in her expression. He exhaled and said, "Alright, but no matter what, you must be extremely careful."

Bai Guo pursed her lips. "Worry about yourself!"

Jiang Feng shook his head and picked up something from the pavilion railing. Bai Guo didn't want to look, but her peripheral vision caught it anyway.

A rabbit? A fist-sized, incredibly cute rabbit? He actually kept such a pet!

As Jiang Feng walked out of the pavilion, the garrison soldiers saluted him with great respect. He returned their greetings with a smile, descended from the bridge, and walked along the Changchuan River. As he walked, he gently stroked the rabbit's fur, letting a sliver of Ming energy seep into its body.

Yexiao was a Ming beast, and Jiang Feng’s energy immediately stirred a faint response. But that was all.

When Yexiao had blocked a blow from Ku Zhan for him previously, it had been thrown aside by the immense force. Jiang Feng had examined it carefully afterward; aside from a few broken bones, there were no major injuries, yet it had remained unconscious ever since. Jiang Feng knew well that it wasn't just Yexiao in a coma, but also the fragmented soul within its body.

Ye Xiao... though he did not know who she was in life, she was undoubtedly a powerful figure, and quite possibly a member of the Demon-Suppression Army. If not for her power, Yexiao could never have survived that blow. To save him, she must have exhausted a great deal of her strength... he wondered how she was doing now.

Jiang Feng could do nothing to help Ye Xiao; he could only worry in silence, occasionally channeling a trace of Ming energy to help mend the rabbit's injuries. After three days, the bones had fully healed, yet there was still no sign of waking.

"...Could I touch it?"

Jiang Feng, lost in thought, took a moment to register the voice beside him. He blinked and turned to look. "What did you say?"

Bai Guo was walking beside him, her cheeks slightly flushed. She cleared her throat and said nonchalantly, "Your rabbit is quite cute. May I touch it?"

Jiang Feng was stunned again. He pondered for a moment and shook his head. "It saved me last time and is still severely wounded. I'm sorry, I cannot."

Bai Guo was rarely refused, and she felt a subconscious flicker of annoyance, but then she caught the meaning of his words. "It saved you? A rabbit?"

Jiang Feng nodded and described what had happened. Bai Guo went from surprise to silence, finally murmuring, "I see... it is only right that you cherish it. I hope it wakes up one day."

Jiang Feng smiled, his fingers gently brushing Yexiao's ears. "Yes, it certainly will."

The river water flowed past them, draped in moonlight; the rushing sound made the night feel incredibly quiet.

"Hmph!"

A cold voice rang out from their front left. A shadow emerged from beneath a withered tree and stood in their path. Ku Zhan had been waiting there for some time. He sized up Jiang Feng and Bai Guo, sneering, "You still have the leisure to dally with a girl at a time like this!"

A girl?!

Jiang Feng froze and looked at Bai Guo. Bai Guo was also stunned, her face turning bright red. "Who—who are you calling a woman?!"

Ku Zhan flicked his finger, and a gust of wind cut through the air. The fabric over Bai Guo's chest was sliced open, and a pendant beneath her clothes was severed, the bottom half clattering to the ground. Once the artifact was damaged, her presence shifted subtly—not to mention that her chest became noticeably fuller, nearly spilling out of the torn garment.

Bai Guo screamed and crouched down, clutching her chest. Jiang Feng finally realized she was indeed a woman, having used a specialized treasure to hide her gender. He gave a bitter smile. "Ku Zhan, that was uncalled for." He took off his outer robe and draped it over her, signaling her to cover up.

Ku Zhan said with disdain, "You humans love to hide and skulk, not even daring to show your true gender!"

Jiang Feng retorted coldly, "At least we don't meddle in others' business and expose their privacy at will!"

"Privacy? What is privacy?" Ku Zhan sneered. Jiang Feng suddenly noticed something and asked, "Are you injured? Has your strength declined?"

At that moment, a cloud drifted away, and the moonlight brightened. It was clear that Ku Zhan's right arm was gone, and a massive scar ran from his brow to his jaw, one eye completely missing. Most tellingly, the pressure he exerted was much weaker than before, indicating a significant loss of demonic power.

Ku Zhan scoffed, "Spare me the chatter. Don't worry, even like this, I can still fulfill the demonic pact!"

Jiang Feng understood immediately. "This was done by your own kin, wasn't it? You sealed the Demon Cave and ruined the plans of your... Grand Marshal? So they turned on you?"

Ku Zhan rolled his neck indifferently. "What is already known needs no repeating. The Demon Cave is about to reopen. Get ready!"

The air grew sticky, and the cloying sweetness became dizzying. Jiang Feng signaled to Bai Guo and took a step back. Bai Guo gripped his clothes tightly, her eyes rimmed with red. She understood his meaning and followed him closely.

Ku Zhan strode to the riverbank and gazed up at the moon. He let out a long howl and leaped into the Changchuan River. The air began to churn, and currents converged toward him. The light was distorted and refracted, turning the moon above into three.

Ku Zhan floated on the water, his feet barely touching the surface. He marched toward the center—the location of the previously sealed Demon Cave. He let his left arm hang limp and relaxed his body, but the surrounding currents grew increasingly violent. They set the water into a frenzy, gathering around him until he stood within a whirlwind of razor-sharp blades and chilling frost.

Bai Guo murmured, "So... so strong!" She had unconsciously relaxed, her eyes fixed on Ku Zhan in the river.

Jiang Feng frowned and whispered, "Something is wrong."

"What's wrong?" Bai Guo asked.

Jiang Feng replied, "Just a feeling. A master of Ku Zhan's level should have his aura contained. Why is he burning through his power before he has even begun?"

This intuition came from observing Hua Su. Even when Hua Su had effortlessly disposed of Wanqi Yu, no one—including those around him—had realized he had fully recovered his strength as an Yiming Martial Sovereign. His presence was indistinguishable from an ordinary person. Under normal conditions, his power was perfectly concealed, harmonizing with his surroundings; it was only in battle that he would unleash his full might.

But Ku Zhan was different. The Demon Cave had not yet reopened, and he should be accumulating energy. Instead, his power was being projected outward. Was this a difference between human martial arts and demonic nature, or was something wrong with Ku Zhan himself?

The river surged, and the powerful currents blurred everything. The night seemed filled with spectral shadows, as if monsters might leap from the darkness at any moment.

As Jiang Feng turned these thoughts over, the shadows suddenly twisted. Two figures appeared, arched their backs, and lunged fiercely at Ku Zhan.

Ku Zhan seemed prepared. He pressed his hand downward, caught one of them, swung its body with force, and smashed it into the other.

The two demons appeared! The one that had been thrown landed lightly on the water, then bounced back, shrieking, "Traitor!"

Ku Zhan sneered. The demon he held was motionless, completely drained of the ability to resist. He gripped its waist, pulled it toward his mouth, and with a crunch, bit off the demon's arm, chewed, and swallowed.

He said coldly, "What is the first principle of the Demon race?"

His voice seemed to emanate from his stomach, never interrupting his meal. After swallowing the arm, he spat something out. It transformed into a black shadow and struck the airborne demon like a lightning bolt. The demon screamed as it exploded into a shower of sparks in mid-air!

The Chaos Demon race was indeed as fearsome as rumored; he had dispatched two formidable kin with ease.

Then, another voice drifted from the void. "The first principle of the Demon race... is, of course, survival."

The shadows twisted, and a figure stepped out. He smiled. "Fighting for one's own survival, Lord Ku Zhan—you are not wrong."

Seeing this new demon, Ku Zhan's expression shifted slightly. He sneered, "They actually sent you!"