Marry First, Love Later With The White Cat Princess - Chapter 84.1

“I am currently a half-demon. If the formation in the bamboo forest only targets demons, I will be affected,” Liu Fenyun said, consciously stepping behind Meng Nie and holding hands with Lianyi.

Qi Ran walked at the very back. As soon as the group entered the forest, she smelled a thick scent of blood both familiar and nauseating. The surroundings dimmed, plunging them into pitch-black darkness.

Realizing she had fallen into an illusion, she immediately followed her memory of their positions and tapped Liu Fenyun’s shoulder: “Watch out for the illusion array!”

She didn’t know if Liu Fenyun could hear her, but a rope suddenly appeared in her hand. It felt normal to the touch, but her mind gradually cleared, and the surrounding light brightened.

“This is the Evil Warding Rope Knot bestowed upon my family by Lady Si Yangshen,” Meng Nie said as Qi Ran broke free of the illusion. “If you all hold onto it, you won’t have to fear the illusion array.”

“The illusion arrays in the bamboo forest are hidden by demonic arts, they only appear when triggered.” Liu Fenyun stared at the “mist” covering the system map. She commanded, “Go around those bamboos ahead. There’s a small squad heading toward Yellow Leaf Hill. Let’s follow them; even if we trigger a formation, we won’t lose our way.”

The group moved forward tensely and slowly. Lianyi gripped Liu Fenyun’s hand tighter, her palms sweating.

The moment Qi Ran triggered the illusion earlier, Lianyi had also entered it. Fortunately, Meng Nie reacted quickly and shoved the rope knot into their hands. Lianyi had only heard two claps of thunder in the illusion and was slightly startled, but she didn’t see anything more terrifying.

The patrol squad ahead soon noticed they were being followed. The captain was forced to stop and led a few men over, warning them immediately. “This area is the territory of the Guardian Spirit. Please leave at once!”

“We heard the Guardian Spirit Lord is in a fierce battle with a demon fox, and we wanted to lend a hand,” Meng Nie explained good naturedly. “Don’t worry, officer, we are just traveling physicians staying in the city temporarily. we only wish to contribute our meager strength.”

Liu Fenyun timely produced her rank token. The patrol captain took it and looked it over, frowning as he consulted with two subordinates. “Then stay close to the squad and do not approach Yellow Leaf Hill without permission. The battle between the Guardian Spirit and the fox has attracted many wild demons. If you get hurt because of it, you’re on your own, don’t blame us for not protecting you.”

As they followed the squad, Liu Fenyun kept her eyes on the map. She noticed the squad seemed to intentionally avoid many passable paths, taking a winding route to Yellow Leaf Hill. She wasn’t sure if they were avoiding formations in the forest or simply making them walk further.

Though they took the long way, they eventually made it out of the bamboo forest. Leaving the lush green behind, Liu Fenyun looked ahead to see a road covered in maple leaves stretching into the distance, winding up a hillside.

It should have been a beautiful sight, but before they had gone far along the maple path, a beast’s roar echoed from the hill.

The patrol squad naturally heard it too and immediately blocked the four women’s path. The captain shouted, “Physicians, fall back! Everyone else, prepare for combat!”

Before his voice had even faded, Liu Fenyun saw a cluster of red dots moving rapidly toward them on the map, all of them hostile red named characters, likely beasts drawn by the Great Demon’s aura.

She suddenly pulled out a Wind Talisman, and a gale whipped up from the ground. The wind blew away the maple leaves, quickly revealing the road’s true appearance, the path was stained with horrifying bloodstains, the maple leaves having served as a barrier to mask the scent of blood.

“What are you doing! Stop!” The flying leaves immediately caught the captain’s attention. “The smell of blood will draw the demons here! Do you want us all to die?!”

It was too late. Several demon beasts soon appeared on the high ground ahead, greed dripping from their mouths as they glared at the group.

Before anyone could raise their weapons, a black shadow suddenly flashed out, pouncing toward the beasts.

Qi Ran didn’t even need to reveal her true demon form. Simply using her demon energy enhanced hands, she easily ripped open the beasts’ soft bellies. Her demonic aura, mixed with the scent of blood and raw killing intent, stunned the hunting beasts. By the time they regained their senses, Qi Ran had already taken them down one by one, their limbs crushed, leaving them to let out piteous whines and roars of frustration.

Licking the demon blood off the back of her hand, Qi Ran turned back and said indifferently, “They won’t die.”

The patrol squad had experienced many demon attacks and were prepared to be heavily wounded, but they never expected the beasts that usually left them helpless would be dealt with so easily.

Looking at the incapacitated beasts, the entire patrol squad, including the captain, stood in a daze.

When did such powerful traveling physicians exist?

Seeing the red dots disappear and the attackers disabled by Qi Ran, Liu Fenyun put away the Wind Talisman and took Lianyi’s arm. “Let’s go.”

While Qi Ran was fighting, Liu Fenyun had specifically asked the system to analyze the power levels. Currently, Qi Ran held a steady upper hand, taking down the beasts as easily as “cutting melons and vegetables,” though she wasn’t sure what they would encounter further up the mountain.

“Wait! Don’t just wander off!” Seeing them heading up the mountain, the captain hurried to catch up. “This is just the foot of the hill, the demons up there are far more terrifying than these…”

“If we weren’t here, what would you do?” Liu Fenyun suddenly asked.

“This…” The captain hesitated, his professional training prompting a quick reply. “Naturally, we would continue our patrol.”

“Even knowing you would certainly face a demon attack, you would still stay here?” Liu Fenyun asked again. “Why haven’t you sought help from demon hunters?”

One of the patrol members who had helped move the wounded that morning recognized Liu Fenyun and whispered to the captain.

“So you are Physician Ran.” The captain’s expression immediately changed to one of gravity. “This is an internal matter of our country. Please return to the city quickly and do not interfere, or you will bring trouble upon yourselves.”

“I cannot watch humans go to their deaths,” Liu Fenyun shook her head. “You don’t want that either, do you? Though patrolling is a job where one risks their life, no one wants to see tragedy strike if it can be avoided.”

“How could this be avoided!” The captain clenched his fists. “Against an opponent that even the Guardian Spirit cannot settle, it wouldn’t matter how many demon hunters the court sent, they would just be sent to their deaths!”

“The lives of demon hunters are lives, but are yours not?” Liu Fenyun sighed. “In truth, the court is afraid that the presence of demon hunters would provoke that demon fox, fearing it would enter the city and start a massacre, right?”

The patrol squad fell silent. Only the captain spoke: “If you wish to go as demons to help the Guardian Spirit, we won’t stop you. Shengkun City is a human city. We would rather sacrifice ourselves than bear the crime of ‘interfering in demon disputes’ and drawing the demons’ wrath.”

Liu Fenyun had read many historical texts regarding the divide between humans and demons in the Candle Flame Kingdom, so she understood their concern.

The relationship between humans and demons in this world was very fractured. Humans in the human realm were mostly ordinary civilians, and even the number of demon hunters, beast tamers, and cultivators was scarce. Furthermore, Shengkun City was currently expanding and busy with war, no one would go out of their way to manage two demons fighting outside the city unless the fight reached the city walls.

“That is no problem. I can agree to that,” Liu Fenyun said. She activated the demon core within her, and soon a demonic aura enveloped her body, causing her to manifest demon traits.

She had formed her core long ago but had never used this power. Because her demonic aura originated from Lianyi, once she transformed, a pair of fluffy white cat ears appeared on her head.

“Then I’ll stay here and wait for you all to return,” Meng Nie proposed, having noticed the gazes of the patrol squad. She added intentionally, “I can’t beat demons anyway; going along would just be getting in the way.”

Liu Fenyun nodded to her, took Lianyi’s hand, and followed Qi Ran as they sprinted toward the top of the hill.