THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS

Chapter Ninety-Five — The Poison-Hand Medicine King

The laughter had barely faded when a figure in green robes appeared at the entrance of the reception hall.

Everyone turned.

The newcomer was an old man with green hair.

Even his beard and pupils were a deep, unnatural emerald. A purple-gold gourd hung at his waist, its contents unknown, but the moment he stepped inside, both Elder Lin of Merry Forest and Nether Valley’s Fifth Elder narrowed their eyes.

Their faces turned grave.

“Master,” the young man behind him said with a grin, “your reputation really is terrifying. The moment you appear, even Nether Valley and Merry Forest stop making noise.”

The young man looked around twenty.

Peak Bone Tempering.

Yet standing before three Heaven Profound experts, he showed no respect at all. If anything, he looked even more arrogant.

The three experts’ faces darkened.

Anger rose.

But none of them moved.

They weren’t afraid of the boy.

They were afraid of the man beside him.

Fifth Elder’s voice turned low and harsh.

“Elder Yan, perhaps you should teach your disciple some manners. Is this how a junior speaks to his seniors?”

The green-robed elder stroked his beard calmly.

“Nether Valley’s Fifth Elder, why argue with a child? A senior should have tolerance.”

The young man sneered.

“Exactly. If you don’t act like a senior, why should juniors respect you?”

Fifth Elder’s face flushed red.

His fists clenched.

CRACK.

One corner of the table crumbled into powder beneath his grip.

Elder Lin glanced at him, then at the green-robed old man, and forced a dry laugh.

“I didn’t expect a small Hundred Pill Gathering to attract four of the Seven Houses at once. With Elder Yan here, this event will certainly be… lively.”

The green-robed elder laughed coldly.

“Lin Zitian, spare me the double meaning. I know none of you want to see me here. But this is called the Hundred Pill Gathering. Without me, the Poison-Hand Medicine King, how could it deserve that name?”

Elder Lin’s face twitched.

He turned away and stopped speaking.

Tower Master Peony stared at the old man, anger and hatred flickering behind her veil.

“Elder Yan Song,” she said coldly, “Blossom Rain Tower did not invite Medicine King Hall. Why have you come uninvited?”

Yan Song smiled.

“Peony, your temper hasn’t changed.”

His emerald eyes flashed.

“In the Tianyu Empire, I go where I wish. Who can stop me? I came to Blossom Rain City today. Are you planning to throw me out?”

“You—”

Tower Master Peony stepped forward, but Elder Lin quickly stopped her.

“Tower Master, please. Think of the bigger picture.”

He cast a cautious glance at Yan Song.

Peony clenched her fists, then turned away with a cold snort.

Yan Song’s disciple laughed.

“Master was right. Blossom Rain Tower really is the weakest of the Seven Houses. What great thing can a group of women accomplish?”

The hall fell silent.

Everyone’s gaze sharpened.

Then a soft laugh came from outside the door.

“Young man, Blossom Rain Tower may be ruled by women, but we have stood in Tianyu for a thousand years. That alone proves we are not something any child can judge.”

A graceful green figure entered the hall.

Qin Caiqing.

Tower Master of Green Flower Tower.

“Sister, you finally returned,” Peony said quickly, as if finding support at last. “Where did you go? These uninvited guests nearly made me lose patience.”

Qin Caiqing glanced at Yan Song, then smiled faintly.

“I was cleaning up the mess left by your precious disciple. I told you before, disciples must be disciplined. Do not let them stain Blossom Rain Tower’s name.”

Peony frowned.

“Who? What happened?”

Qin Caiqing sighed and clapped her hands.

Two female disciples brought Xiao Dandan in.

She was still wrapped in green silk.

Her graceful figure beneath the thin covering immediately made Yan Song’s disciple swallow hard.

Then two more disciples carried in the unconscious Lin Tianyu.

“Tianyu!”

Elder Lin rushed forward.

The moment he examined Lin Tianyu’s injuries, killing intent filled his face.

“Who did this?”

Yan Song’s disciple looked over deliberately.

“Master, is he badly hurt?”

Yan Song grinned.

“Badly hurt? If he survives, he’ll still be crippled. Whoever struck him was ruthless.”

The young man laughed.

“So Merry Forest disciples are this fragile? If the student is so useless, the teacher probably isn’t much either.”

Elder Lin’s teeth clenched.

He glared at the young man, but still didn’t attack.

Qin Caiqing looked at Yan Song’s disciple and smiled calmly.

“Young man, you speak too soon. I saw the person who did this. He is young, but his strength is no weaker than the geniuses of the Seven Houses. Even as Elder Yan’s disciple, you may not gain any advantage against him.”

The young man’s eyes flashed with dissatisfaction.

Peony turned sharply toward Qin Caiqing.

“Sister, if you saw him, why didn’t you capture him? Was his strength above yours?”

“Not necessarily,” Qin Caiqing said. “But you know my temperament. I do not bully juniors over small disputes. If he had been the one abusing our disciples, I would have intervened. Unfortunately…”

She looked toward Xiao Dandan.

“Dandan, tell them what happened. Honestly. No hiding. No exaggerating. I already know the truth.”

“Yes, Master Uncle.”

Xiao Dandan lowered her head and recounted everything.

When she finished, the hall fell into a strange silence.

The issue wasn’t that she had humiliated the Dong siblings.

To the Seven Houses, smaller families were little more than servants.

What disturbed them was the way the unknown young man responded.

If insulted, he didn’t merely resist.

He returned the humiliation.

Doubled it.

Crushed pride with precision.

Nether Valley’s Fifth Elder narrowed his eyes.

That style felt familiar.

Too familiar.

He slowly stroked his beard.

“Strange. Ever since Zhuo Fan appeared, it seems the other families have forgotten how to fear the Seven Houses. First him. Now another reckless brat dares attack our disciples publicly. If this continues, who will still respect us?”

Yan Song sneered.

“That only proves Nether Valley is incompetent. You still haven’t caught one little brat, and now the rest of us must share your embarrassment.”

Fifth Elder didn’t flare up this time.

Instead, his eyes drifted toward Yan Song’s disciple.

“Yes. Perhaps it is our fault. But if every minor conflict between juniors requires elders to intervene, wouldn’t that be even more embarrassing for the Seven Houses?”

He looked at Elder Lin.

“Elder Lin, it’s a pity you didn’t bring another disciple. Otherwise, your disciple could avenge Lin Tianyu and recover Xiao Dandan’s pride.”

Before Elder Lin could answer, Yan Song’s disciple stepped forward.

He appeared instantly beside Xiao Dandan and grabbed her hand.

“Come with me.”

“I’ll avenge you.”

Then he dragged her away before anyone could stop him.

Fifth Elder’s lips curved faintly.

Peony’s face darkened.

“That brat is lawless. He dares take my disciple right in front of me?”

Yan Song laughed.

“Women always follow men in the end. Blossom Rain Tower won’t last forever.”

With that, he vanished too.

Fifth Elder watched him leave.

His eyes narrowed.

“So the old poison dog noticed as well.”

Then he disappeared.

Peony looked around in confusion.

“Why did everyone leave?”

Elder Lin’s eyes flickered.

He looked at Qin Caiqing.

“Tower Master Qin, are you certain that young man wasn’t the devil causing chaos recently… Zhuo Fan?”

Peony gasped.

“What? That was Zhuo Fan?”

Qin Caiqing smiled faintly.

“I’m not certain. He was strange, but I did not see enough to prove he could kill Heaven Profound experts.”

“Perhaps,” Elder Lin murmured, “he was hiding his strength.”

Then he suddenly laughed.

“No wonder the Poison-Hand Medicine King went to watch. If that man really is Zhuo Fan, Yan Song’s disciple is walking straight toward death.”

Qin Caiqing’s smile deepened.

“And if Yan Song makes a move afterward…”

Her eyes flashed.

“…then we may finally see whether Zhuo Fan can kill someone even more dangerous than Ghost Seven.”

Elder Lin’s expression changed slightly.

Then he whispered:

“Let’s hope he really is Zhuo Fan.”

[End of Chapter Ninety-Five]

 

Chapter Ninety-Six — The Plague Woman

The sun was already sinking behind the western walls when Zhuo Fan wandered alone through a narrow alleyway.

Outwardly—

He looked relaxed.

Almost lazy.

But his soul perception remained spread across the entire surrounding district, silently monitoring every fluctuation nearby.

One hour.

Then another.

Still—

Nobody followed him.

Zhuo Fan narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

“Did I overthink things?”

“Maybe Qin Caiqing didn’t expose me after all…”

His voice faded softly into the cold evening air.

Eventually—

At the end of the winding alley—

A ruined settlement appeared.

Broken tiles.

Collapsed roofs.

Rotting walls.

And crowded everywhere between them—

Third-rate family heirs dressed exactly like him.

The moment Zhuo Fan entered—

Shouting exploded from every direction.

“This spot is mine! Get your crap out of here!”

“Bullshit, I got here first!”

“Open your damn eyes! You stepped on my foot!”

“Hmph. If you were really important, you wouldn’t be living in this dump!”

Zhuo Fan glanced around coldly.

The sight disgusted him instantly.

Outside—

These people acted like local tyrants in their own tiny territories.

But here?

They were just another group of weaklings scrambling over scraps abandoned by stronger families.

And even then—

They still fought endlessly among themselves.

Pathetic.

Zhuo Fan sneered.

“Third-rate trash really does stay third-rate.”

“No ambition.”

“No dignity.”

“No wonder Blossom Rain Tower dumped you all in this slum.”

No one dared answer him directly.

But countless hostile stares followed him as he walked deeper inside.

Everyone feared the same thing—

That he might steal their shelter.

Apparently, such fights happened constantly here.

But Zhuo Fan couldn’t care less.

He only fought when something mattered.

Risking his hands over a broken shack?

Humiliating.

Unfortunately—

After searching the entire district—

He still couldn’t find a single empty room.

Then suddenly—

His footsteps stopped.

At the far end of the slum—

Another row of houses stood quietly apart from the others.

Those buildings looked cleaner.

Less damaged.

And completely empty.

No shouting.

No fighting.

No people at all.

Compared to the filthy chaos behind him—

The place almost felt peaceful.

Zhuo Fan frowned.

Then looked back toward the crowd.

“You idiots blind?”

“There are plenty of empty rooms over there.”

The moment he spoke—

Everyone’s expressions changed.

One man immediately sneered.

“If you want dying that badly…”

“…go ahead.”

Another sighed helplessly.

“Brother, you must be new.”

“There’s a plague woman living back there.”

“Anyone who stays near her dies within three days.”

“Even people who never touched her directly ended up dead.”

“Locals never go near that place anymore.”

Another cultivator cursed loudly.

“Blossom Rain Tower really has no shame.”

“They force us into this cursed district while leaving that plague monster alive.”

The others immediately joined the complaints.

Listening silently—

Zhuo Fan only laughed inwardly.

These idiots really were shameless.

They barged into someone else’s territory.

Occupied her home.

Then blamed her for existing.

Who exactly was the dangerous one here?

Without another word—

Zhuo Fan walked directly toward the abandoned district.

“Brother!”

“Are you suicidal?!”

“No problem,” Zhuo Fan answered lazily without turning around. “My life’s pretty tough.”

Poison?

Disease?

To ordinary cultivators, those things were terrifying.

To Zhuo Fan—

They meant almost nothing.

The Heavenly Demon Art could refine all things beneath heaven.

Naturally—

That included poison.

The deeper he walked into the abandoned district—

The colder the air became.

Eventually—

Even Zhuo Fan frowned slightly.

Something felt wrong.

He sensed no poison.

No disease.

Only unnatural cold.

And that cold…

…felt strangely familiar.

Like formation energy.

Then suddenly—

“Who are you?”

A cold female voice echoed nearby.

Zhuo Fan turned instantly.

Standing beside a ruined house—

A village girl wrapped completely in coarse cloth stared at him silently.

Her body remained hidden beneath layers of rough fabric.

Even most of her face was concealed.

Yet the moment Zhuo Fan saw her eyes—

He froze slightly.

Beautiful.

Not ordinary beauty.

Those eyes alone carried enough life and sorrow to shake someone’s heart.

Zhuo Fan exhaled softly.

“What beautiful eyes.”

The girl stiffened slightly.

A faint blush seemed to rise beneath the cloth covering her face.

But moments later—

Her gaze turned cold again.

“Who are you?”

“And who allowed you entering this place?”

Zhuo Fan immediately cupped his fists politely.

“Song Yu of Rain Night City.”

“I came for the Hundred Pill Gathering.”

“As a third-rate family disciple…”

“…this slum’s the only place I’m allowed staying.”

The girl frowned.

“If you want shelter, stay in the outer district.”

“Why come here?”

Zhuo Fan sighed dramatically.

“Because those people out there are terrible.”

“Selfish.”

“Greedy.”

“Petty.”

“I’d rather die quietly here than stay among them.”

The girl snorted.

“Stop talking like some fake scholar.”

“You think I’ll believe that?”

Zhuo Fan instantly changed expressions.

His face collapsed into exaggerated misery.

“Fine, I’ll tell the truth.”

“I can’t beat them.”

“If I stay outside, they’ll beat me to death.”

The girl paused briefly.

That explanation actually sounded more believable.

Still—

Her eyes remained wary.

“You’re afraid of them…”

“…but not afraid of me?”

“You know who I am?”

“Oh, absolutely.”

Zhuo Fan nodded rapidly.

“The plague woman.”

“The terrifying poisonous beauty everyone fears.”

“That should be you, right?”

The girl’s gaze turned colder.

“And you still dare come here?”

Zhuo Fan smiled faintly.

“I’d rather die from your poison…”

“…than get beaten to death by idiots.”

Then he sighed emotionally.

“After all…”

“…dying beside a beauty isn’t the worst fate.”

“Shut up.”

The girl snapped instantly.

“And stop pretending to be cultured.”

After a long silence—

She finally pointed toward a ruined house nearby.

“You can stay there.”

“But remember something carefully.”

“At night…”

“…do not wander around.”

“If you do…”

“…you’ll die.”

“Yes, yes, absolutely.”

Zhuo Fan nodded obediently.

But by the time he looked up again—

The girl had already disappeared.

The moment she vanished—

The fake smile disappeared from Zhuo Fan’s face completely.

Cold calculation returned instantly to his eyes.

“Interesting…”

“I can’t see through her cultivation at all.”

“Either she’s incredibly strong…”

“…or completely ordinary.”

“But if she were ordinary…”

“…how could she remain so calm before me?”

He slowly entered the ruined house and sat cross-legged on the floor.

Night gradually fell.

Hours passed silently.

Then—

HUMMMMM.

A strange fluctuation suddenly spread through the slum.

Instantly—

The temperature dropped violently.

Zhuo Fan opened his eyes.

“As expected…”

“It’s a formation.”

A small porcelain bottle appeared in his hand.

Inside—

Concealment Pills refined back in the Ten Thousand Beast Mountains.

The same pills capable of hiding presence from spirit beasts.

Zhuo Fan flicked one pill upward.

WHOOSH!

A bloody shadow suddenly emerged from his body.

The Blood Infant swallowed the pill instantly.

Its already unstable form became nearly invisible afterward.

Even Heaven Profound experts would struggle sensing it now.

“Go.”

The Blood Infant transformed into a streak of crimson light and shot through the walls toward the deepest part of the slum.

Moments later—

Zhuo Fan’s eyes narrowed sharply through the Blood Infant’s vision.

The deepest section of the district had already become ruins.

And beneath those ruins—

A formation.

A third-grade formation.

The village girl sat cross-legged at its center beneath the moonlight.

Silver lunar energy continuously descended from the sky and entered the formation.

Then—

It flowed directly into her body.

Every time the moonlight entered her meridians—

A layer of frost spread across her skin.

At the same time—

A strange green mark occasionally flashed across her forehead before being suppressed again.

But each suppression caused visible pain.

Her brows twitched violently every single time.

Zhuo Fan’s pupils contracted.

“A third-grade Moon Yin Formation…”

Finally—

Everything made sense.

The people staying near her hadn’t died from poison.

They died because lunar yin energy invaded their bodies accidentally.

Ordinary cultivators simply couldn’t endure that level of cold energy.

But what truly shocked Zhuo Fan—

Was the girl herself.

She wasn’t cultivating.

She was suppressing something.

Suppressing poison.

And the poison inside her body had apparently become so terrifying that she needed massive amounts of lunar yin energy just to keep it contained.

But that method…

…was suicidal.

Too much yin energy would eventually destroy her meridians completely.

And once the poison finally erupted afterward—

She would die instantly.

Even Zhuo Fan fell silent for a moment.

Just what kind of poison…

…required such an extreme method to suppress?

[End of Chapter Ninety-Six]