How to Handle a Sickly Yandere Demon God - Chapter 28

That morning before setting out, the woman had deliberately paraded before him in those tattered clothes. Now, the already worn fabric was stained with blood, and the blood on her face made his heart clench violently.

Bathed in the glow of flames, the woman spread her arms and rushed toward him, calling his name. Instinctively, he mirrored her posture, opening his arms as if to catch a falling butterfly, letting her tumble into his embrace.

The warmth of his own magic lingered in the body he held, a realization that stirred a peculiar sensation within him. The heat spread through him like vines, swift and pervasive, leaving him flustered in a way he couldn’t quite grasp.

Xu Xingxing’s heart raced, not from shyness, but from the adrenaline still coursing through her. The memory of her fight with Zhou Qing inside the barrier and her sudden escape with the ten cultivators flashed vividly in her mind.

Her palms were hot, her pulse quickened, and an intense excitement surged within her. Clinging to Xiao Hei, she regained a sense of reality before pulling away from his embrace. Looking up, she praised, “Xiao Hei, you’re amazing! Without you, I’d probably be dead by now!”

As she withdrew, Xiao Hei’s chest filled with a cold emptiness. Frowning, he suppressed the discomfort and asked, “So you knew you were risking your life?”

Xu Xingxing pointed proudly at the ten cultivators on the ground. “See? I saved them.”

“Senior Sister, you’re finally out!”

Fang Zhiming and Qin Feng, having settled a group of people, flew over to join them. Noticing Xu Xingxing covered in blood, Fang Zhiming asked worriedly, “Are you hurt?”

Xu Xingxing shook her head. “This blood isn’t mine. Go check on Lin Yue, her injuries are worse than mine.”

With the blood curse broken, most of the cultivation energy had returned to Lin Yue. Still, after being trapped in the formation for so long, it was better to have her examined.

Fang Zhiming stiffened and hurried off in the direction Xu Xingxing indicated.

Qin Feng pulled a pill bottle from his Qiankun pouch and handed it to her. “Senior Sister, your energy seems unstable. These pills can heal and protect, take one now.”

Once Xu Xingxing accepted them, he went to assist Fang Zhiming.

With the blood curse cleared, the ten unconscious cultivators were gently laid on the ground by the Nether Serpent, which then shrank to the thickness of a thumb and slithered to Xu Xingxing’s feet.

She picked it up, noting its stable condition, and stroked its head. “Can you get any smaller?”

The serpent obliged, shrinking further until it was as slender as a jade bracelet. Satisfied, Xu Xingxing coiled it around her wrist and held it up for Xiao Hei to see. “Pretty, isn’t it?”

The dark green serpent wrapped around her fair wrist like an elegant bracelet, its metallic sheen glowing in the firelight and accentuating the flawless jade-like smoothness of her arm.

The serpent’s eyes fixed on him, and it seemed to tighten its grip. For some reason, Xiao Hei found the sight unbearably irritating. He snatched the serpent off her wrist and flung it to the ground nearby.

“Hey! My snake!” Xu Xingxing stared in disbelief, scolding, “What’s wrong with you? Are you insane?”

She moved to retrieve it, but the brooding youth seized her wrist. Turning to Fang Zhiming, who stood closer to the serpent, he ordered, “Fang Zhiming, the snake is yours now.”

Fang Zhiming was momentarily speechless. Though unsure what they were bickering about, he obediently picked up the green snake and tucked it into his sleeve.

Xu Xingxing secretly rolled her eyes at Xiao Hei. Seeing she couldn’t break free from his grip, she moved with him to stand beside Fang Zhiming. “The commotion just now was huge, didn’t it alert the prefectural authorities?”

Xiao Hei released her hand only when he saw she’d stopped questioning about the snake.

“Of course it did.”

After giving Lin Yue the medicinal pill, Fang Zhiming sighed. “I had to reveal my Kunlun identity and claim the Zhou residence was harboring demonic creatures to keep them from acting. Thankfully, no one in the Zhou household was harmed, or we’d be in serious trouble. Oh, by the way, senior sister, what exactly happened inside? The moment the barrier broke, demonic energy surged into the sky, this Zhou Qing is definitely no good!”

“Do you know of someone who was very close with my father, but later lost both legs while protecting him during his cultivation?”

“Uncle Shi?” Fang Zhiming said in surprise. “He passed away long ago. Why are you asking about him suddenly, senior sister?”

“Uncle Shi?” Xu Xingxing frowned slightly. “Which Shi? Is he related to that Shi Chen?”

“It’s Shi Chen,” Fang Zhiming replied, even more astonished but answering honestly. “Shi Chen is Uncle Shi’s biological uncle. After he fell into demonic practices, the Shi family cut ties with him… Senior sister, how do you know about this cultist? Master never allowed us to speak of these matters to you…”

Everything clicked into place.

Xu Xingxing looked seriously at Fang Zhiming. “Give me a message talisman.”

“Is he very powerful?” Xiao Hei asked.

Xu Xingxing nodded.

She could tell Zhou Qing hadn’t used his full strength. It was only when she urgently shouted, “Father, you’re here!” that Zhou Qing froze in shock, allowing her to kick him into the blood pool and escape while he was off guard.

As soon as Xu Xingxing got the message talisman, she prepared to send a message to Xu Yi. Fang Zhiming, about to say something, watched as the talisman suddenly turned to ash and dissipated.

Zhou Qing’s voice echoed through the air: “Xing’er, Uncle doesn’t like children who tattle.”

Hearing this, Xu Xingxing turned to see Zhou Qing standing on the roof beam, poised like a pine tree. His deep blue robes were neat and clean, showing no trace of having fallen into the blood pool.

Did he change clothes?

Xu Xingxing twitched her mouth and retorted, “So what? I’ll still tell Father when I go back.”

“Tell him if you wish,” Zhou Qing’s voice seemed to waver slightly. “I just don’t want to see him.”

“Huh? He knows Master?” Fang Zhiming’s clear, foolish eyes widened. “But Master will be here soon.”

The air instantly froze. The surrounding flames ceased flickering, and sparks hung motionless in the sky as if time had stopped, all because of the man on the roof beam.

Even from this distance, Xu Xingxing could sense his shock. Zhou Qing stared blankly in their direction and spoke with difficulty, “Who? Is coming?”

Fang Zhiming, realizing he was being addressed, lifted his chin proudly. “The Kunlun Sect Leader, Xu Yi!”

“Hah, scared now, aren’t you!” Fang Zhiming continued gloating. “When I sensed something was wrong, I reported to Master. He happened to be nearby and was very worried about senior sister, so he decided to come personally. I suggest you surrender quickly, maybe Master will spare your life later!”

“Heh…” Zhou Qing chuckled lowly. “Very well. Until we meet again.”

With that, he turned to leave.

The next moment, Zhang Long and several prefectural experts appeared before him.

Zhang Long crossed his arms and said, “Brother Zhou, you haven’t explained the scattered demonic aura within this barrier to the governor. How can you flee without permission?”

“You can’t defeat me.”

“Can’t defeat you? We’re both at the Divine Transformation stage. Speaking like this is far too arrogant.” Zhang Long snorted coldly. “Besides, you’re alone. How can you overcome two opponents?”

With that, he and the government expert launched an attack toward Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing immediately summoned his sword to meet the challenge.

Zhang Long’s movements were incredibly swift, and the government expert’s strikes were ruthless. Yet, Zhou Qing fought both of them with ease.

The Void Refinement stage truly was a level above, a single realm’s difference could be overwhelming. As Zhang Long and his companion began to show clear signs of defeat, Fang Zhiming and Qin Feng also raised their swords and joined the fray.

“Let’s go too!” Xu Xingxing formed an ice sword and prepared to leap into the action when she saw Zhou Qing suddenly create some distance from the group, chanting an incantation.

As the spell was uttered, mournful ghostly wails echoed from the inner chambers of the Zhou residence. Yin energy and demonic aura erupted simultaneously, shattering the suspended Cold-Avoiding Pearls in mid-air.

The grand building collapsed abruptly, releasing thousands of vengeful spirits, all brimming with resentment, their faces horrifying and their cries piercing as they lunged toward the crowd.

Xu Xingxing tried to activate a barrier to block them, but it was already too late. Screams erupted as people scattered in panic, but the vengeful spirits pursued them instantly, tearing several individuals to shreds in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Long and the others were also entangled by the vengeful spirits. Zhou Qing coldly observed the chaos around him, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he turned to leave.

“Xiao Hei, stop him!”

Seeing that Qi Rongli and the government guards had arrived to rescue the survivors, Xu Xingxing and Xiao Hei chased after Zhou Qing. Not far ahead, dozens of Kunlun cultivators rushed past her, heading toward the vengeful spirits behind them. Some even politely greeted her as “Senior Sister” as they passed.

Huh? Could it be…?

Xu Xingxing, her mind filled with doubt, sped forward. Before long, she saw Zhou Qing standing ahead. Just from his silhouette, she could sense his stiffness. He seemed as if he had been immobilized by some spell, snowflakes settling on his shoulders, making his figure appear exceptionally desolate.

Not far away, facing Zhou Qing, stood a man with silver hair, holding a sword. The wind whipped at his robes, yet not a single snowflake clung to him, his presence was as refined as jade.

It was her father.

Xu Yi’s expression was as calm and unreadable as ever. He gazed at Zhou Qing for a long time before finally speaking, his voice colder than the icy blizzard around them:

“Long time no see.”

“Senior Brother.”

Zhou Qing suddenly laughed, his shoulders shaking violently. At first, it was a low, muffled chuckle from deep within his chest, but it gradually grew into a wild, unrestrained laughter. His laughter drifted through the wind and snow, carrying a chill even more biting than the ghostly wails in the distance.

After a long while, he finally stopped, wiping away the tears his laughter had brought. “Have you come to kill me, Junior Brother?”

Xu Yi’s expression remained unchanged. He slowly clasped his hands and bowed solemnly to Zhou Qing.

“Senior Brother, make your move.”

Zhou Qing stood frozen, the howling wind no match for the desolation in his eyes. After a long pause, he let out a bitter laugh and raised his sword to attack Xu Yi.

As Xu Xingxing watched the two locked in combat, she felt an overwhelming sense of sorrow. She seemed to understand the madness in Zhou Qing’s laughter and the reason behind Xu Yi’s bow.

“I committed grave sins to evade you, yet in the end, I was still a step too late.”

“I respect you, honor you, and thank you for sacrificing yourself for me, yet I must strike you down with my sword.”

A sudden snowflake struck the tip of her nose, jolting Xu Xingxing back to reality with its icy sting.

Just then, Xu Yi scolded her during a brief pause in the fight, “What are you standing there for?”

Zhou Qing forced him back a few steps and added, “Your uncle is here. Don’t be afraid of him.”

It truly felt like martial brothers sparring.

Xu Xingxing understood Xu Yi’s intention, this place no longer needed her; she had more important matters to attend to.

She let out an awkward chuckle, grabbed Xiao Hei, and set off to drive away the malevolent spirits.

When she and Xiao Hei returned, they saw that although the Kunlun cultivators had managed to restrain the spirits somewhat, it wasn’t very effective. The sheer number of malevolent spirits, combined with the demonic energy and the scattered, panicked crowd, made rescue extremely difficult.

Shattered bodies littered the ground, agonized screams filled the air, and ghostly wails echoed all around.

“This shouldn’t be. Why are these spirits so powerful?”

“They must have been nourished by demon blood.”

“How do you know that?”

“I don’t,” Xiao Hei shook his head. “But I do know that once the demon is slain, the malevolent spirits’ power will greatly diminish.”

“The Zhou estate is so vast. Where do we even begin to search for the demon?”

Xiao Hei turned to Xu Xingxing and said, “I know where it is.”