THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS
Chapter Thirty-Seven — Terrifying Zhuo Fan

BOOOOOOM!

The explosion tore open the night above the courtyard.

Golden light from the dragon’s detonation flooded the sky, turning darkness into day for one violent instant. The pressure that followed rolled outward like a collapsing sea, crushing down over the small border city.

Houses shattered beneath the shockwave.

Roofs split.

Walls collapsed.

Dust and debris swept through the streets like a storm.

The shrieking wind stabbed into every ear in Windforest City. Countless people clutched their heads and fell to the ground, writhing in pain. Only after nearly a full minute did the sound finally fade enough for them to breathe again.

But the terror of that golden dragon remained branded into every heart.

Miles away, two black-robed men were retreating while fighting.

Behind them, Long Jiu and the other two Hidden Dragon Pavilion elders pursued relentlessly.

“Where’s Jian Fan?” Long Jiu snarled, searching the area with his single eye burning red. “That old bastard must have used these two to draw us away while he ran.”

“No matter,” the Third Elder said coldly, shaking his golden hair. Killing intent flashed in his eyes. “We kill these two first.”

The three elders moved at once.

The two black-robed men broke into cold sweat but had no choice but to fight.

Then—

A violent explosion erupted from the direction of Hidden Dragon Pavilion.

Golden light turned the distant night sky white.

All five combatants froze at once and turned toward the source.

“What was that?” the Third Elder murmured, staring at the blinding glow. Even at this distance, the rumble still shook the air. “Is someone else fighting there?”

His face tightened.

“But what kind of expert could unleash a strike like that?”

“Fall back.”

Without hesitation, the Third Elder gave the order and rushed back toward Hidden Dragon Pavilion.

Compared with killing the two Nether Valley elders, the safety of the branch mattered more.

Long Jiu was unwilling, but even he could only grit his teeth and follow.

The two black-robed men finally released long breaths of relief.

They looked at each other, then toward the Pavilion’s direction with deep unease.

They had indeed left one elder behind to supervise the Black Wind Mountain side of the plan. But even that elder should not have been able to unleash such a world-shaking attack.

And against a group of Qi Gathering ants, there would have been no reason to use such power anyway.

Which meant only one thing.

There was another expert there.

A stronger one.

The two men wanted to investigate, but with Hidden Dragon Pavilion’s three elders already returning, going now would be walking into death.

After a moment, they turned and left.

Elder Yun…

You’re on your own.

Back at the courtyard, Lei Yuntian stared at the sky, mouth slightly open, unable to speak for a long time.

He had thought Zhuo Fan was using him as bait.

He had accepted that.

For the Luo family, he had been prepared to throw away his old life.

But he never expected Zhuo Fan’s plan was not to sacrifice him.

It was to use that fraction of time to unleash a strike powerful enough to erase a Profound Heaven expert from existence.

No body.

No remains.

Not even ash.

Remembering the destructive force of that golden dragon, Lei Yuntian slowly turned toward Zhuo Fan.

The young steward was breathing heavily now, clearly exhausted.

But in Lei Yuntian’s eyes, exhaustion did not make him look weaker.

It made him look more terrifying.

That had been a Nether Valley elder.

A Profound Heaven expert.

And Zhuo Fan had killed him in one strike.

This boy…

Was monstrous.

“Old Master Lei,” Zhuo Fan said after forcing his breathing steady.

Lei Yuntian immediately stepped forward.

“Steward Zhuo, give the order.”

There was a new light in his eyes now.

Not merely gratitude.

Not merely recognition.

Respect.

The deep, instinctive respect given only to strength.

Zhuo Fan nodded faintly.

“I’ll leave the Luo family in your care for now. I’m going to bring Miss Lei back.”

“Rest assured.” Lei Yuntian’s voice was firm. “Unless they step over my corpse, no one will touch Yunchang or Yunhai.”

Seeing his determination, Zhuo Fan relaxed slightly.

The Nether Valley elders were either being chased by Hidden Dragon Pavilion or dead. No other enemies had appeared for some time. That meant only those four had come.

With a Profound Heaven expert guarding the Luo siblings, their safety should hold.

Now he could retrieve that foolish girl without distraction.

Before leaving, Zhuo Fan glanced down and picked up the Evil Moon Wheel the black-robed elder had dropped.

A third-grade demonic treasure.

No reason to waste it.

Perhaps it would prove useful later.

In the dark forest outside the city, Yang Ming clutched his chest and fled through the trees.

He had already suffered internal injuries when Zhuo Fan’s formation blasted him away. Then Elder Yun’s slap had made things worse. After running only a short distance, stagnant blood gathered in his chest, making every breath burn.

The massive explosion behind him shook the night.

He did not dare look back.

He never imagined Zhuo Fan could fight Elder Yun to such a terrifying level.

“Stop!”

A clear shout came from behind him.

Yang Ming froze.

Then slowly turned.

Lei Yuting stood not far away, staring at him with eyes full of grief and hatred.

Seeing that no one else had followed, especially not Zhuo Fan, Yang Ming finally breathed out in relief.

His mouth curled into a familiar, sinister smile.

“Junior Sister,” he said softly, “you think you can stop me alone?”

Lei Yuting’s brows trembled.

Mist gathered in her eyes.

“Today, I clean Father’s house,” she said. “I’ll kill you myself, traitor.”

“Clean house?”

Yang Ming laughed.

“I was never part of Black Wind Mountain to begin with. How can you clean a house I never belonged to?”

He looked at her with contempt.

“Besides, with your strength, you think you can kill me?”

“Even if I can’t,” Lei Yuting said quietly, “even if I die by your hand, at least I won’t shame Father’s years of raising me.”

Her tears shimmered in the moonlight.

“There’s one thing I still want to know.”

She looked directly into his eyes.

“Did you ever care for me?”

Yang Ming sneered.

Green energy slowly gathered in his palm, cold and sinister.

“I am a genius disciple of Nether Valley. If I marry, it will be into one of the Seven Houses.”

His eyes turned cruel.

“You?”

“You were never worthy.”

Lei Yuting inhaled slowly.

The tears finally fell.

But her eyes became steady.

“Good.”

Her voice was quiet.

“Then we end this today.”

Lightning gathered around her two fingers.

She charged.

Yang Ming laughed and answered with a green palm strike.

Thunder met cold demonic energy.

Sparks burst between them.

Then Yang Ming shifted.

He slipped past her Thunderclap Finger and struck mercilessly toward her chest.

Lei Yuting closed her eyes.

She had expected this.

Still, something inside her broke all over again when she saw how easily he chose to kill her.

But before the palm landed—

A red light shot out of the darkness.

It slammed directly into Yang Ming’s green palm.

BOOM!

Yang Ming was blasted backward, blood spraying from his mouth before he even hit the ground.

The red light was also knocked away and fell weakly into the grass.

Lei Yuting opened her eyes in shock.

Yang Ming lay heavily injured, unable to rise for a moment.

The red light trembled faintly in the weeds, dimmer than before.

She recognized it.

Zhuo Fan’s Blood Infant.

“You saved me?” she whispered.

The Blood Infant gave no answer.

It tried to fly again, but barely rose before falling back to the ground.

Lei Yuting stared at it.

She did not understand that the Blood Infant was bound to Zhuo Fan’s very life. But she knew it was his treasure.

And Zhuo Fan had sent it to save her.

Warmth passed through her chest despite everything.

Then she looked back at Yang Ming.

For the first time, real killing intent appeared in her eyes.

She walked toward him slowly, lightning crackling at her fingertips.

Yang Ming’s expression changed.

He tried to stand, but his body refused to obey.

“Yuting,” he said quickly. “Show mercy. Have you forgotten how I treated you all these years? Have you forgotten the good times we shared?”

“Because I remember,” Lei Yuting said coldly, “I want to kill you even more.”

She rushed forward.

This time, there was no hesitation.

“Wait—wait! Help!”

Yang Ming screamed.

But there was no one around.

Just as Lei Yuting’s strike was about to land—

BOOM!

A powerful force swept in and threw her backward.

A bald elder descended beside Yang Ming.

“Elder Jian!”

Yang Ming’s face lit up with desperate joy.

After brushing so close to death, seeing Jian Fan felt like seeing family.

Jian Fan glanced at Yang Ming’s miserable state, and his face darkened with anger.

“How did you fall this low?” he snapped. “What happened to the plan?”

Yang Ming’s expression collapsed.

“I… don’t know.”

Jian Fan nearly kicked him to death on the spot.

You don’t know?

This plan had been arranged by the family for more than ten years.

You were the hidden piece placed in Black Wind Mountain.

And now, at the final stage, your answer is you don’t know?

If he did not still need information from Yang Ming, Jian Fan would have killed him immediately.

“Forget it,” Jian Fan growled. “We leave first.”

Then his eyes shifted toward Lei Yuting.

“But before that, this girl dies.”

The moment his words fell, Jian Fan moved.

His palm struck directly toward Lei Yuting’s head.

Facing a Profound Heaven expert for the first time, Lei Yuting froze completely.

The pressure alone crushed the courage out of her body.

So this was Profound Heaven.

She could not move.

Could not dodge.

Could only stand there, pale-faced, waiting for death.

Then—

A flash of silver cut through the air.

Jian Fan’s palm stopped mid-strike and withdrew violently.

He retreated to his original position.

A figure slowly landed beside Lei Yuting.

A sinister smile rested on his face.

“So,” Zhuo Fan said lightly, holding the Evil Moon Wheel in one hand, “Nether Valley elders enjoy bullying juniors?”

“Zhuo Fan.”

Lei Yuting’s voice trembled with surprise and relief.

She looked at his back.

And for reasons she could not explain, the moment he appeared—

Her fear vanished.

[End of Chapter Thirty-Seven]

 

Chapter Thirty-Eight — Another Profound Heaven Falls

“So it’s you again.”

Elder Jian narrowed his eyes.

Then his gaze locked onto the Evil Moon Wheel in Zhuo Fan’s hand.

His expression changed instantly.

“How is that demonic treasure in your possession?” he demanded. “Where’s Elder Yun?”

Zhuo Fan smiled faintly and raised the Evil Moon Wheel toward him.

“What do you think?”

For a brief instant, Elder Jian froze.

Then disbelief flooded his face.

“No…” he muttered. “Impossible. There’s no way that old monster died at the hands of some brat…”

Yet the Evil Moon Wheel was right there.

That treasure could not lie.

Shock.

Confusion.

Rage.

All three emotions twisted across his face at once.

But above all—

Killing intent.

No matter what had happened, Nether Valley’s demonic treasures could not fall into outside hands.

Zhuo Fan saw the murderous look in his eyes and smirked.

Without moving his lips, he sent a quiet transmission to Lei Yuting.

“In a moment, listen carefully. Aim for the old bastard’s heart. Close your eyes and thrust with Thunderclap Finger.”

“That’s all you need to do.”

Lei Yuting stared at him in shock.

Close her eyes?

Against a Profound Heaven expert?

Even with her eyes open, she stood no chance.

Then suddenly, she understood.

Zhuo Fan was ruthless.

Completely ruthless.

He intended to use her as bait.

A sacrifice.

A bitter ache passed through her chest, but she still nodded slowly.

From the moment she chased after Yang Ming, she had never expected to survive anyway.

Zhuo Fan flexed his fingers subtly, allowing the weakened Blood Infant to slip quietly back into his body.

Then he shouted—

“Move!”

The instant his voice fell, Zhuo Fan charged first.

Lei Yuting clenched her eyes shut and followed exactly as instructed, thrusting forward with Thunderclap Finger without hesitation.

Elder Jian was momentarily surprised.

He clearly had not expected them to attack first.

But it made no difference.

To a Profound Heaven expert, Qi Gathering cultivators were beneath notice. Their attacks could not even break his defenses.

Only the Evil Moon Wheel posed any threat.

Which meant he only needed to watch Zhuo Fan.

As for Lei Yuting?

Completely irrelevant.

Lei Yuting rushed forward blindly while Zhuo Fan weaved side to side.

Elder Jian sneered.

Cheap tricks.

Then Lei Yuting reached him first—

But at that exact moment, Zhuo Fan suddenly shifted directly in front of her.

The Evil Moon Wheel slashed diagonally downward.

CRACK!

Elder Jian caught Zhuo Fan’s arm effortlessly.

With a twist, bone snapped instantly.

“Hmph.”

Elder Jian sneered coldly.

“These childish distractions may fool others, but not me.”

His grip tightened.

“I’ve lived longer than you’ve breathed, boy. Don’t play games about primary attacks and hidden attacks in front of me.”

But Zhuo Fan smiled.

A terrifying smile.

“You still fell for it.”

Elder Jian’s heart jumped violently.

Before he could understand why—

A streak of red suddenly shot out from Zhuo Fan’s body and entered his own.

Instantly, blood exploded from Elder Jian’s severed shoulder.

The wound that had barely stopped bleeding burst open like a broken floodgate, spraying crimson across the forest.

Elder Jian’s eyes widened.

He stared at Zhuo Fan in fury.

“So it was you…” he hissed. “That thing inside my body before… it was your doing?”

He remembered now.

Back then, during the battle against Hidden Dragon Pavilion’s Third Elder, something had entered his body at the worst possible moment. That distraction had cost him an arm.

Zhuo Fan only grinned.

“Good,” Elder Jian snarled. “Very good.”

Veins bulged across his forehead.

“You cost me an arm. Once I force that monster out of my body, I’ll tear you apart piece by piece.”

Power surged violently through him as he gathered his Yuan Qi inward.

Inside his body, the Blood Infant immediately came under tremendous pressure.

But Zhuo Fan only smiled wider.

“Elder Jian,” he said softly, “you fell for it again.”

Elder Jian froze.

Then—

CRACKLE!

Thunder exploded.

Lei Yuting’s Thunderclap Finger pierced straight through Zhuo Fan’s side and stabbed directly into Elder Jian’s heart.

Blood sprayed.

Elder Jian’s body shook violently.

His eyes bulged in disbelief as he stared at Zhuo Fan’s smiling face.

“The main attack…” Zhuo Fan coughed blood but continued smiling. “Was never me.”

More blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

“You thought only the Evil Moon Wheel could hurt you. But you forgot something.”

His voice turned colder.

“You were already heavily injured.”

“And the moment you gathered all your Yuan Qi inward to suppress the Blood Infant…”

“You weakened your external defense completely.”

Elder Jian trembled.

For the first time in years—

Fear appeared in his eyes.

This boy…

This terrifying monster of a boy…

“Monstrous…” Elder Jian whispered hoarsely.

Then his body collapsed to the ground.

Dead.

Even as a Demonic Path expert, his final thoughts were filled with horror.

No one would believe it.

Two Qi Gathering juniors had just killed another Profound Heaven expert.

And every step of it had been calculated perfectly.

Using his own body as bait.

Using the Blood Infant to disrupt the enemy internally.

Using Lei Yuting as the true killing strike.

One mistake anywhere, and both of them would have died instantly.

But Zhuo Fan had forced every move exactly where he wanted it.

THUD!

Zhuo Fan collapsed onto the ground, drenched in blood.

Lei Yuting stared blankly at him.

Tears rolled down her face uncontrollably.

She had believed Zhuo Fan intended to sacrifice her.

But in the end—

He had sacrificed himself instead.

He used his own body to block Elder Jian’s sightline and create the opening for her strike.

Pain.

Warmth.

Guilt.

Something deeper.

All of it tangled together inside her chest.

Feelings Yang Ming had never once given her.

“Zhuo Fan…” she whispered weakly. “I’m sorry.”

Zhuo Fan waved a hand dismissively.

“It’s not your fault.”

He coughed lightly.

“When the Blood Infant was heavily injured earlier, I already suffered internal backlash.”

With a flick of his fingers, the Blood Infant flew back out from Elder Jian’s corpse and returned to him.

“This time…” Zhuo Fan muttered, exhausted, “it’ll take a while to recover.”

His own injuries meant little.

But damage to the Blood Infant was damage to his very foundation.

Lei Yuting finally understood.

That creature was not merely his treasure.

It was tied directly to his life.

And he had still used it to save her.

Her eyes grew softer as she looked at him.

But Zhuo Fan never noticed.

Instead, he pointed lazily toward Elder Jian’s corpse.

“Strip him.”

Lei Yuting blinked.

“Nether Valley elders should carry good things.”

A strange silence followed.

Then Lei Yuting hurried over and began searching the corpse with remarkable efficiency.

Even Zhuo Fan could not help raising an eyebrow.

As expected of a mountain bandit.

Professional.

When she finished gathering everything, she returned quietly and placed the spoils before him.

For some reason, she deliberately avoided his eyes now.

Zhuo Fan found it strange, but he did not care enough to ask.

He inspected the storage ring first.

That was naturally where the valuable items would be hidden.

A moment later, his brows lifted slightly.

Two jade slips appeared in his hand.

Black Wind Mountain’s low-grade Spirit Rank martial art—

Thunderclap Finger.

And the Cai Clan’s low-grade Spirit Rank technique—

Windbreaker Kick.

Zhuo Fan still did not understand the secret hidden behind the three clans’ martial arts. But since Nether Valley had been collecting them, he stored them away without hesitation.

The rest of the ring contained ordinary cultivation methods, martial arts, and spirit stones.

Trash.

At least by his standards.

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the entire ring to Lei Yuting.

“By bandit rules,” he said casually, “we split the loot.”

“The rest is yours.”

Lei Yuting immediately shook her head.

“You killed him. Everything should belong to you.”

“I don’t want it.”

Zhuo Fan looked disgusted.

“That garbage means nothing to me.”

Then his eyes shifted toward a small pouch among the spoils.

The pouch was only palm-sized, but Zhuo Fan recognized it instantly.

A living-storage pouch.

Inside were the Soul-Devouring Crows.

Zhuo Fan tucked the pouch into his robe with satisfaction.

That thing would be useful later.

Perhaps it could even help uncover the secret of the Violet Lightning Golden Eyes.

“Zhuo Fan…” Lei Yuting hesitated. “You should still keep the ring.”

She looked conflicted.

“There are Spirit Rank techniques inside. Even if the Luo family is wealthy, these things are extremely rare. They’ll matter greatly when rebuilding your clan.”

Zhuo Fan shrugged carelessly.

“Spirit Rank trash like that?”

He snorted.

“I have as much as I want.”

Then he casually pretended to throw the ring away.

Lei Yuting gasped and immediately grabbed his wrist.

“You’re insane!”

She snatched the ring back, glaring at him.

“How are you even qualified to manage the Luo family if you waste resources like this? At this rate, no matter how rich the Luo family becomes, you’ll bankrupt them eventually.”

Zhuo Fan laughed softly but did not explain.

Instead, he casually stored Elder Jian’s corpse away.

“Let’s go back.”

He slowly stood.

“After tonight’s mess, Hidden Dragon Pavilion is going to want answers.”

Lei Yuting nodded and hurried to support him.

But Zhuo Fan was too weak now.

His body leaned heavily against her shoulder.

Instantly, her cheeks flushed bright red.

Then suddenly—

Zhuo Fan stopped walking.

His eyes turned cold.

“Where’s Yang Ming?”

Lei Yuting froze.

The two immediately scanned the area.

Nothing.

During the battle against Elder Jian, Yang Ming had escaped.

“Damn it,” Lei Yuting muttered unwillingly.

Zhuo Fan merely chuckled.

“A small character.”

He waved dismissively.

“Not important.”

Then suddenly, Zhao Cheng’s face flashed through his mind.

The smile vanished from Zhuo Fan’s face.

Killing intent surfaced slowly in his eyes.

“But even small pests become troublesome if left alive too long.”

His voice turned icy.

“The next time I see him…”

“I’ll kill him.”

[End of Chapter Thirty-Eight]