THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS

Chapter Eighty-Nine — Borrowing the Plum to Replace the Peach

“The spring wind brushes the willow-lined shore. I drive my carriage searching for spirit pills. Men fail recognizing true greatness only because their dog eyes are too blind!”

A loud off-key song echoed across the wide road.

The young man lazily driving the battered carriage grinned while swaying the reins casually.

If the dead spirits of the Qi Clan could see him now—

They would probably scream themselves back to death.

Because both the carriage and the driver should have been impossible to exist anymore.

The carriage belonged to the Song Clan.

And the boy driving it—

Was Song Yu.

Except—

If anyone looked carefully at the crooked smile hanging from the boy’s lips…

…the strange cold amusement hidden within his eyes…

…they would instantly understand the horrifying truth.

That smile belonged to only one person.

Zhuo Fan.

WHOOSH.

The carriage suddenly stopped.

Zhuo Fan narrowed his eyes toward the massive city gate looming ahead.

Three giant words were carved above it:

Blossom Rain City.

“Finally.”

He exhaled softly.

“Hopefully I can find some true life-restoring medicine here.”

“Otherwise disguising myself all this way was pointless.”

The horse carriage moved forward again.

But suddenly—

“STOP!”

Several figures instantly appeared around the carriage and blocked the road completely.

Zhuo Fan glanced at them briefly.

Then his brows lifted slightly.

“Nether Valley?”

The leader smirked immediately.

“Oh?”

“You recognize us?”

His eyes swept over Zhuo Fan suspiciously.

“You look like some family young master.”

“State your name.”

Zhuo Fan remained calm.

“Strange.”

“This is Blossom Rain City.”

“If anyone should question visitors…”

“…shouldn’t it be people from Blossom Rain Tower?”

“Shut your mouth!”

The man immediately roared.

“If this weren’t Blossom Rain Tower territory…”

“…we’d already kill you for speaking nonsense.”

“Answer properly.”

Zhuo Fan lowered his gaze obediently.

“Song Yu.”

“From Rain Night City’s Song Clan.”

“I came under my father’s orders to attend the Hundred Pill Gathering.”

Then he calmly handed over the Song Clan seal.

The Nether Valley disciple inspected it carefully.

Meanwhile, several others searched the carriage thoroughly.

Only after confirming everything—

Did they finally relax slightly.

“Fine.”

“You can enter.”

Then the man suddenly tossed a paper directly at Zhuo Fan’s chest.

“If you ever see this person…”

“…report it immediately.”

Only after they disappeared did Zhuo Fan slowly unfold the paper.

Then he burst into laughter.

The paper contained a portrait of Zhuo Fan himself.

Below it—

The official Nether Valley Kill Order.

Anyone providing information about Zhuo Fan would immediately become an affiliated family under Nether Valley.

Anyone bringing back Zhuo Fan’s head—

Would become Nether Valley’s number one subordinate clan.

One family beneath Nether Valley.

Above ten thousand others.

Zhuo Fan almost laughed out loud.

“You blind idiots.”

“I’m standing directly in front of you…”

“…and you still can’t recognize me.”

He casually crumpled the paper and tossed it aside.

After the battle at the Qi Clan—

He already knew the entire Tianyu Empire would begin hunting him.

Thus—

He refined a Disguise Pill personally and transformed into Song Yu’s appearance.

Using the identity of a weak third-rate family young master—

He could move far more conveniently.

Especially inside Blossom Rain City.

With the Song Clan identity as cover—

Even Nether Valley wouldn’t easily suspect him.

Soon—

The carriage finally entered the city.

And the moment Zhuo Fan crossed through the gates—

Even he couldn’t help feeling slightly surprised.

Massive streets stretched endlessly throughout the city.

The scale alone surpassed Wind Forest City and Qingming City by over ten times.

The crowds were even more absurd.

Everywhere he looked—

Second-rate family heirs.

First-rate clan young masters.

Bone Tempering experts walking casually through the streets like ordinary civilians.

Compared to this place—

Wind Forest City looked like a rural village.

And someone dressed like Song Yu—

A mere third-rate family young master—

Looked painfully out of place.

Zhuo Fan sighed helplessly.

“So even chickens become obvious standing among cranes…”

He quickly urged the carriage forward.

The stares around him had already become unbearable.

Finally—

He spotted an inn.

Without hesitation, he immediately entered.

“Innkeeper.”

“Any available rooms?”

The innkeeper lazily raised one eyelid and glanced at him briefly.

Then lowered his head again completely.

Ignoring him.

Zhuo Fan’s face darkened instantly.

This bastard was openly looking down on him.

He slammed both palms onto the counter.

“I asked if you have rooms.”

“Or do you think I can’t afford spirit stones?”

The innkeeper slowly lifted his gaze again.

Then calmly extended one hand.

“Family seal.”

Zhuo Fan blinked briefly.

Staying at an inn required family verification now?

Still—

He handed over the Song Clan seal casually.

The innkeeper inspected it briefly.

Then immediately sneered.

“Song Clan.”

“A third-rate family.”

“So what if it’s third-rate?”

Zhuo Fan frowned.

“You opened this inn to earn money, didn’t you?”

“Do third-rate families use fake spirit stones?”

The innkeeper sighed deeply.

Then gently pointed outside.

“Young man…”

“Walk three miles east.”

“There’s a slum area there.”

“You can stay for free.”

Zhuo Fan froze.

Then his expression darkened completely.

“That’s a shantytown.”

“Even if we’re from a third-rate family…”

“…we’re still customers.”

“You really need acting this snobbish?”

The innkeeper only sighed again.

But before he could answer—

A loud laugh suddenly echoed from upstairs.

“Hahaha!”

“Song Yu!”

“You really are a country bumpkin!”

“You came all the way to Blossom Rain City without even understanding the rules?”

Zhuo Fan’s heart instantly tightened.

Someone who knew Song Yu?

That was dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Still—

He forced himself calm and turned slowly.

A handsome young man descended the stairs leisurely.

Four Bone Tempering elders followed behind him.

The young master himself was already fifth-layer Bone Tempering.

Clearly from a second-rate or even first-rate family.

Beside him stood a petite girl.

Not exceptionally beautiful—

But delicate enough.

Unfortunately—

The way she looked at Zhuo Fan carried obvious disdain.

Meanwhile—

Zhuo Fan cursed internally.

That useless Song Yu never mentioned having acquaintances here.

If he’d known—

He never would’ve disguised himself as this idiot.

But fortunately—

The young master showed no suspicion whatsoever.

Instead he laughed loudly.

“You’re still the same cowardly little rat as before.”

“No wonder my sister rejected your marriage proposal.”

Marriage proposal?

Zhuo Fan’s eyes instantly lit up.

Finally—

Useful information.

He immediately crossed his arms and snorted coldly.

“Hmph.”

“You still dare bringing that up?”

“From today onward…”

“…we’re no longer friends.”

The young master froze briefly.

Then sighed helplessly.

“Hey.”

“That’s between you and my sister.”

“What does it have doing with me?”

Then suddenly—

He revealed a vulgar grin.

“Don’t forget…”

“…we’re brothers.”

“We drank together.”

“We visited brothels together.”

“And we—”

He stopped mid-sentence while wiggling his brows obscenely.

Zhuo Fan instantly understood.

So this was the relationship.

Drinking buddies.

Whorehouse companions.

No wonder a second-rate family heir associated with Song Yu.

Seeing Zhuo Fan’s expression relax—

The young master immediately laughed harder.

“Hahaha!”

“Exactly!”

“Now you remember!”

“Don’t act innocent.”

“You’re far worse than me.”

“Back then, I only managed eight girls in one night…”

“…while you nearly died after ten!”

The girl beside him immediately shouted in disgust:

“Disgusting!”

Then stormed out of the inn angrily.

The young master ignored her completely and wrapped one arm around Zhuo Fan’s shoulder.

Meanwhile—

Zhuo Fan silently thanked the heavens.

He had finally survived the identity check.

[End of Chapter Eighty-Nine]

 

Chapter Ninety — A Very Interesting Conversation

After that—

Zhuo Fan and the young master chatted like old friends reunited after years apart.

Wine.

Women.

Brothels.

Every disgusting subject imaginable.

And through this ridiculous conversation—

Zhuo Fan gradually pieced together Song Yu’s entire history.

The young master’s name was Dong Tianba.

Young heir of the Dong Clan—

The strongest family within a medium-sized city.

Across the entire Tianyu Empire, the Dong Clan counted as a genuine second-rate family.

Far superior to the Song Clan.

Years ago, Dong Tianba traveled to Rain Night City under family orders.

That was when he met Song Yu.

The moment Song Yu learned Dong Tianba came from a second-rate clan—

He immediately clung to him shamelessly.

Treating him to drinks.

Women.

Entertainment.

Flattering him endlessly.

Eventually—

The two idiots truly became inseparable drinking companions.

At one point—

Dong Tianba had even planned marrying his own younger sister to Song Yu.

When Zhuo Fan heard this story—

Even he nearly laughed himself to death.

What kind of deranged older brother was this?

Someone bought him drinks and prostitutes for a few days—

And he immediately wanted gifting away his sister?

If Zhuo Fan were the Dong Clan patriarch—

He’d break this idiot’s legs first.

Meanwhile—

Dong Tianba still looked deeply emotional recalling the past.

“What womanizer?”

“What playboy?”

He snorted angrily.

“We’re men of true temperament.”

“How are we worse than those hypocritical fake gentlemen?”

Zhuo Fan nodded absentmindedly while suppressing laughter.

The four elders following behind Dong Tianba all looked utterly humiliated.

Their faces burned red with embarrassment.

Some even glanced around nervously—

Terrified others might overhear their young master’s nonsense.

Yet Dong Tianba remained completely oblivious.

“Tống hiền đệ!”

He suddenly leaned closer toward Zhuo Fan and whispered mysteriously:

“Where’s your sister?”

“She didn’t come with you?”

Zhuo Fan’s brows lifted slightly.

Then he smiled faintly.

“She escorted me partway.”

“Then returned home.”

“I personally sent her off.”

The moment he emphasized “personally”—

A strange cold smile flickered briefly across his lips.

But Dong Tianba failed noticing it entirely.

Instead—

His face filled with disappointment.

“A pity…”

“I truly wanted seeing Miss Song again.”

“If not for my grandfather constantly opposing it…”

“…I’d already bring betrothal gifts to your clan.”

Zhuo Fan nearly burst out laughing.

Your grandfather saved your entire family, idiot.

Aloud, however, he only chuckled casually.

“There are countless beautiful women in the world.”

“Why obsess over one crooked-neck tree?”

“My sister doesn’t deserve Brother Dong.”

“Blossom Rain City alone contains countless beauties superior to her.”

“Why remain attached?”

Dong Tianba immediately shook his head seriously.

“No.”

“You don’t understand.”

“The women in Blossom Rain City…”

“…absolutely cannot be touched.”

Zhuo Fan blinked.

“Why?”

Dong Tianba looked around cautiously before lowering his voice.

“Blossom Rain Tower is different from the other Seven Houses.”

“It’s ruled entirely by women.”

“For thousands of years, they expanded by recruiting talented men through marriage.”

“So in this territory…”

“…women possess extremely high status.”

Then he sighed helplessly.

“Over here…”

“Pursuing a woman and harassing a woman are basically considered the same thing.”

Zhuo Fan froze briefly.

Then slowly nodded.

“…Understood.”

Dong Tianba suddenly frowned suspiciously.

“Brother Song…”

“You really seem strange today.”

“You forgot our old competition already?”

“We once argued whether seducing women by force counted as romance.”

Zhuo Fan immediately burst into laughter.

“Right.”

“I remember now.”

Dong Tianba slapped his thigh excitedly.

“Hahaha!”

“I knew it!”

“You’ve definitely been stimulated by my sister rejecting you.”

“You even forgot how enjoying women works!”

Zhuo Fan nodded repeatedly with a completely serious face.

Meanwhile internally—

He genuinely began admiring Dong Tianba.

This idiot practically solved every problem for him automatically.

Traveling with someone this simple-minded truly felt relaxing.

“Oh right.”

Zhuo Fan suddenly glanced toward the innkeeper again.

“What’s the deal with the inn rules here?”

Dong Tianba finally remembered.

“Oh.”

“That.”

“During the Hundred Pill Gathering, too many families arrive.”

“So Blossom Rain Tower established strict lodging regulations.”

“Third-rate families stay in the outer slums.”

“Second-rate families stay in inns.”

“First-rate families receive personal hospitality from one of Blossom Rain Tower’s fifteen tower masters.”

“And the Seven Houses…”

He paused proudly.

“…receive direct hospitality from the main tower master herself.”

Zhuo Fan’s eyes narrowed instantly.

“The Seven Houses are here too?”

“Of course.”

Dong Tianba shrugged casually.

“The Seven Houses constantly fight each other.”

“But Blossom Rain Tower remains neutral.”

“So every gathering attracts at least two or three houses.”

“At minimum…”

“…people from Nether Valley already arrived.”

Zhuo Fan’s heart tightened slightly.

No wonder Nether Valley disciples searched people outside the city gates.

It wasn’t because they specifically came hunting him there.

A major figure from Nether Valley had already arrived personally for the Hundred Pill Gathering.

And anyone qualified representing Nether Valley publicly—

Would at minimum be elder level.

Possibly even higher.

“Who came from Nether Valley?”

Zhuo Fan asked calmly.

Dong Tianba frowned slightly.

But before he could answer—

BANG!

The inn doors suddenly slammed open.

A man rushed inside desperately.

“Young Master Dong!”

“Something terrible happened!”

“Miss Dong got into trouble!”

Dong Tianba’s expression changed instantly.

Without hesitation—

He rushed outside together with the four elders.

Zhuo Fan narrowed his eyes briefly.

Then followed quietly behind them.

Soon—

The crowd stopped within a nearby market district.

People surrounded a jewelry stall silently.

Not a single person dared speak.

At the center stood a young woman dressed completely in crimson.

Beautiful.

Arrogant.

And radiating overwhelming dominance.

She casually played with a delicate hair ornament between her fingers while staring down coldly at someone kneeling before her.

Dong Xiaowan.

Dong Tianba’s younger sister.

At this moment—

Her cheeks were swollen bright red.

Tears filled her eyes.

Clearly—

She’d already been slapped repeatedly.

Dong Tianba’s eyes instantly turned bloodshot.

“Xiaowan!”

He rushed forward immediately and helped her up.

“What happened?”

“Who did this to you?”

Dong Xiaowan trembled violently.

“Brother…”

“…let’s just leave.”

Her voice carried obvious fear.

But before they could move—

The woman in red suddenly spoke coldly.

“Who allowed her leaving?”

Her sharp phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.

“I ordered her slapping herself one hundred times.”

“She’s only reached thirty.”

“Does she think she can stop halfway?”

Dong Xiaowan’s body shook harder instantly.

“Please…”

“…we’ll leave immediately…”

The woman in red sneered.

“I don’t care who you are.”

“But if anyone dares disobey me…”

“…their entire family dies.”

The moment those words fell—

Dong Xiaowan tremblingly raised both hands again.

Then—

SLAP!

SLAP!

SLAP!

She began striking her own face repeatedly.

Fresh tears streamed endlessly down her cheeks.

Dong Tianba instantly grabbed both her wrists.

“Enough!”

Then he turned toward the woman in red with furious eyes.

“My sister saw that ornament first.”

“You stole it from her.”

“And now you humiliate her like this?”

The woman burst into laughter.

“Humiliate?”

“I asked politely.”

“She refused.”

“So I hit her until she handed it over.”

Her smile turned cold.

“Now I’m unhappy.”

“So naturally…”

“…I punish her slightly.”

Then casually—

She tossed the ornament onto the ground.

CRACK.

The jewelry shattered instantly beneath her foot.

Dong Tianba’s entire body trembled with rage.

“You bitch!”

“If I don’t beat your teeth out today…”

“…my name isn’t Dong Tianba!”

BOOM!

He charged directly toward her.

The woman in red only possessed ninth-layer Qi Gathering cultivation.

Against fifth-layer Bone Tempering Dong Tianba—

She should have zero chance resisting.

But right before he reached her—

WHOOSH!

A white figure suddenly appeared before her.

BANG!

Dong Tianba was blasted backward instantly.

The newcomer slowly unfolded a fan elegantly.

Young.

Handsome.

And carrying terrifying seventh-layer Bone Tempering cultivation.

Even among the Seven Houses—

Such talent counted as elite.

Zhuo Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

His fingers twitched instinctively.

This situation had already surpassed what Dong Tianba and his elders could handle.

If he interfered—

He would definitely create trouble.

And trouble directly contradicted his reason for coming here.

But—

His gaze slowly shifted toward the woman in red again.

This bitch truly was unbearable.

Even Zhuo Fan’s demonic temperament—

Was beginning losing patience.

Then suddenly—

A thought surfaced inside his mind naturally.

When a man reaches the limit of endurance—

Then there’s no reason enduring anymore.

That…

…was the true Demonic Path.

[End of Chapter Ninety]