THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS
Chapter Sixty-Five — Guilt

“Big Brother Zhuo!”

Xue Ningxiang cried out and rushed forward immediately, flipping Zhuo Fan over from the massive pool of blood beneath him.

The moment she saw the wound in his chest—

Her entire face turned pale.

A fist-sized hole pierced completely through his torso.

Straight through.

Blood continued flowing endlessly from the wound while his body temperature rapidly dropped lower and lower.

He looked like a corpse already halfway buried.

Tears instantly flooded Xue Ningxiang’s eyes.

“Big Brother Zhuo…”

“You have to wake up…”

“You have to wake up!”

Warm tears splashed against Zhuo Fan’s face continuously.

Perhaps the moisture stirred his fading consciousness.

Or perhaps the desperate cries beside his ears dragged him back from the darkness.

Slowly—

His eyelids trembled.

Then finally opened weakly.

“Big Brother Zhuo!”

Xue Ningxiang nearly cried with relief.

“You’re awake!”

Zhuo Fan’s lips moved slightly.

But no sound came out.

He was too weak.

Far too weak.

At this rate, death would claim him very soon.

His gaze slowly drifted sideways toward the Blood Infant lying motionless nearby.

Then, with tremendous effort, he barely managed raising one trembling finger toward it.

Xue Ningxiang followed his gaze instantly.

“You want me…”

“…to bring it here?”

Zhuo Fan could no longer speak.

He only blinked faintly.

Without hesitation, Xue Ningxiang rushed over and carefully picked up the Blood Infant before placing it gently against Zhuo Fan’s chest exactly where his eyes indicated.

The moment contact occurred—

A faint crimson glow erupted.

The Blood Infant vanished instantly into Zhuo Fan’s body.

Zhuo Fan exhaled deeply.

At once, a trace of color slowly returned to his pale face.

His breathing steadied slightly as well.

The Blood Infant was linked directly to his soul and life force.

As long as it survived—

He still had hope.

But now the Blood Infant itself hovered on the edge of death.

And the only way Zhuo Fan could stabilize it temporarily…

…was feeding it his own life essence.

Unfortunately, he himself already stood one step from death.

He could barely save himself anymore.

Still—

After the Blood Infant reentered his body, he finally regained enough strength to whisper faintly:

“Blood…”

Xue Ningxiang froze briefly.

Then immediately understood.

Without hesitation, she pulled a dagger from her sleeve and sliced directly across her own wrist.

Blood poured downward instantly.

Then she gently placed her bleeding wrist against Zhuo Fan’s mouth.

Warm blood flowed slowly into him.

Gradually—

The deathly pallor on Zhuo Fan’s face began fading.

Xue Ningxiang sighed softly in relief seeing his condition stabilize slightly.

A faint smile even appeared on her pale face.

Then suddenly—

Zhuo Fan grabbed her wrist violently.

And bit down.

Xue Ningxiang gasped painfully.

But she never resisted.

She simply clenched her teeth and allowed him to drink desperately.

Time passed slowly.

Zhuo Fan continued drinking without stopping.

Meanwhile—

Xue Ningxiang’s face became increasingly pale.

Her vision blurred repeatedly.

Her body swayed weakly.

Too much blood loss.

She understood this clearly.

But she did not care.

Not at all.

Finally—

Zhuo Fan released her wrist slowly and exhaled deeply.

Fresh life finally returned to his body slightly.

But the moment he saw Xue Ningxiang’s pale expression—

Something complicated flickered across his eyes.

“Thank you…”

For the first time since reincarnating—

Zhuo Fan’s voice carried genuine softness.

Xue Ningxiang immediately smiled brightly despite her weak condition.

And somehow—

That smile felt strangely beautiful.

Beautiful enough to make Zhuo Fan uncomfortable.

For the first time—

A faint trace of guilt surfaced inside him.

Without another word, a blue porcelain bottle appeared in his hand.

“Third-grade Heart Protection Pills.”

His voice remained weak.

“Feed me one.”

“Take one yourself.”

“Then check whether Tianyang’s still alive.”

“If he is…”

“…give him one too.”

Xue Ningxiang nodded obediently.

After carefully feeding Zhuo Fan a pill, she hurried toward Xie Tianyang.

Thankfully—

He still breathed faintly.

Moments later, after swallowing the medicinal pill, Xie Tianyang slowly regained consciousness as well.

Only then did Xue Ningxiang finally relax completely.

But when she looked toward the final remaining pill in her hand—

She hesitated.

Then silently placed it back into the bottle.

Zhuo Fan immediately frowned.

“Ning’er.”

“You’re injured too.”

“Why aren’t you taking it?”

Xue Ningxiang smiled softly.

“My injuries are light.”

“And third-grade pills are expensive.”

“You and Big Brother Xie need them more.”

Zhuo Fan suddenly laughed weakly.

“Expensive?”

“They were free from Hidden Dragon Pavilion anyway.”

“If something’s free…”

“…why not use it?”

Even in this condition, his tone still sounded shamelessly casual.

Truthfully, before entering the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range, Zhuo Fan prepared thoroughly.

The imperial family and Hidden Dragon Pavilion supplied massive resources already.

So aside from a few extremely rare medicinal ingredients—

He lacked almost nothing.

And any special pill unavailable within the Heavenly Yu Empire itself…

…he could simply refine personally.

Still—

He never expected himself burning through those preparations this quickly.

“Ning’er.”

A cold voice suddenly interrupted nearby.

“Eat the pill.”

Xue Ningxiang turned immediately.

Xie Tianyang had finally awakened fully.

His injuries remained severe, but unlike Zhuo Fan’s, they were not fatal.

At least—

Not immediately.

He stared coldly toward Zhuo Fan.

“This bastard owes you.”

Then his gaze darkened further.

“You still don’t know, do you?”

“From the very beginning…”

“…he planned sacrificing you.”

Xue Ningxiang froze instantly.

The blood drained completely from her face.

Slowly—

Very slowly—

She turned toward Zhuo Fan.

Her eyes trembled with disbelief.

Because until now—

She truly believed everything had only been a misunderstanding.

She wanted desperately for Zhuo Fan himself to deny it.

To explain.

To say Xie Tianyang misunderstood.

But Zhuo Fan remained silent.

For the first time—

He avoided her gaze completely.

And that silence…

…hurt more than any answer.

Tears slowly filled Xue Ningxiang’s eyes again.

But strangely—

She was not angry.

Only hurt.

Deeply hurt.

More painful than she imagined possible.

Because somewhere along the way—

This cold, terrifying, impossible man had quietly become important to her.

Very important.

Seeing her expression, even Zhuo Fan’s heart tightened slightly.

“Ning’er…”

His voice hesitated awkwardly.

But before he could continue—

Xue Ningxiang suddenly wiped away her tears forcefully and smiled brightly again.

A painfully forced smile.

“I know Big Brother Zhuo must’ve had his reasons.”

“He’s smarter than everyone.”

“So there must’ve been some misunderstanding.”

Then she turned away immediately before either man could speak further.

“I’m going to gather branches.”

“We need stretchers.”

“This place isn’t safe.”

Watching her hurriedly run into the rain, Xie Tianyang frowned deeply.

“Ning’er!”

“You’re just letting this go?”

“He sold you out!”

“He can’t even move right now.”

“If you want revenge, now’s your chance!”

But Xue Ningxiang never answered.

Perhaps she truly did not hear him.

Or perhaps—

She pretended not to.

“Shut up.”

Zhuo Fan’s icy voice suddenly echoed beside him.

“If you want to die…”

“…I can still kill you from here.”

Xie Tianyang snorted coldly.

“Hmph.”

“You’re more crippled than I am right now.”

“You think I’m scared of you?”

Still—

Despite his words—

He fell silent afterward.

Because he heard it clearly.

The killing intent inside Zhuo Fan’s voice was absolutely real.

After witnessing Zhuo Fan and Ghost Seven battle personally, Xie Tianyang finally understood what kind of monster this man truly was.

Yes.

They lost.

But forcing Seven Apertures Ghost Linglong into that state already bordered on unbelievable.

Now Xie Tianyang’s feelings toward Zhuo Fan had become unbelievably complicated.

Fear.

Hatred.

Admiration.

Respect.

Disgust.

All tangled together.

Soon afterward, Xue Ningxiang returned carrying soaked tree branches through the pouring rain.

She silently wove two simple stretchers together before dragging both wounded men behind her.

At some point—

Thunderstorms had begun pouring heavily across the burned forest.

Mud soaked the mountain paths completely.

And because of excessive blood loss, Xue Ningxiang’s body had already become dangerously weak.

She slipped constantly.

Fell repeatedly.

But every single time—

She climbed back up silently and continued dragging both stretchers forward through the rain.

No complaints.

No anger.

No hatred.

Only quiet persistence.

Watching her trembling figure struggle through the storm, both Zhuo Fan and Xie Tianyang fell completely silent.

At first—

They considered her the weakest among them.

Xie Tianyang even proposed abandoning her outright.

Meanwhile Zhuo Fan…

…went further.

He disguised abandonment behind noble words and used her directly as bait.

But now—

The two supposedly strongest among them had become useless burdens.

And the weakest girl…

…was the only one who never abandoned anyone.

For the first time in a very long while—

Zhuo Fan could not even meet someone’s eyes properly.

Eventually—

Chitter chitter chitter…

The Burrowing Mountain Rat suddenly burst upward from underground beside Xue Ningxiang excitedly.

The moment she saw the little spirit beast—

A genuine smile finally appeared on her face again.

Earlier, before the battle against Ghost Seven, she released it far away to avoid involving it in danger.

Now somehow—

It had found them again.

The little creature spun excitedly around her feet before suddenly racing ahead.

Then it stopped and looked back repeatedly.

Clearly—

It wanted them to follow.

Xue Ningxiang instantly understood.

“Big Brother Zhuo!”

“Big Brother Xie!”

“It found something!”

She immediately dragged the stretchers after the little spirit beast through the rain.

Not long afterward—

A hidden cave entrance appeared ahead.

Xue Ningxiang’s exhausted face brightened with joy instantly.

Finally.

Shelter.

A safe place to rest and heal.

Without hesitation, she dragged both men inside.

But the moment Zhuo Fan examined the cave interior—

His expression changed drastically.

“Get out!”

His voice exploded sharply.

“We can’t stay here!”

[End of Chapter Sixty-Five]

 

Chapter Sixty-Six — One Heaven-Shaking Roar

Xue Ningxiang froze and turned toward Zhuo Fan in confusion.

Zhuo Fan’s brows furrowed deeply as his eyes locked onto a patch of scattered purple grass growing throughout the cave interior.

“This place…”

His voice lowered slightly.

“…is covered in Sorrowless Grass.”

Xie Tianyang frowned.

“Sorrowless Grass relaxes exhaustion and stabilizes the nerves.”

“That’s supposed to be a good thing, isn’t it?”

Zhuo Fan rolled his eyes weakly.

“For humans, yes.”

“But for spirit beasts…”

“…it acts like a narcotic.”

His gaze sharpened.

“It attracts nearby beasts toward this place.”

Silence.

Then suddenly—

Xie Tianyang’s eyes widened violently.

“You mean…”

“…this cave is bait?”

Zhuo Fan nodded slowly.

“And not human bait.”

“A predator’s feeding ground.”

“The Burrowing Mountain Rat got lured here…”

“…and dragged us with it.”

Xie Tianyang instantly exploded in fury.

“You stupid little bastard!”

He glared toward the tiny spirit beast furiously.

“When danger comes, you can just burrow underground and escape!”

“But we can’t!”

“You dragged us into a death trap!”

The Burrowing Mountain Rat shrank pitifully beneath the scolding and lowered its head weakly.

Even it looked wronged.

Xue Ningxiang immediately hugged the tiny creature protectively while gently comforting it.

Then she turned toward Zhuo Fan nervously.

“What do we do now?”

Despite everything that happened earlier—

At the critical moment, she still instinctively looked toward Zhuo Fan for answers.

“Run!”

Before Zhuo Fan could answer, Xie Tianyang already shouted impatiently.

But Zhuo Fan remained silent for several seconds.

Then suddenly asked:

“What time is it?”

Xue Ningxiang glanced outside the cave entrance.

Dark clouds covered the sky completely while endless rain poured across the mountain range.

She shook her head helplessly.

“I’m not sure.”

“But at least a full day should’ve passed already.”

Zhuo Fan closed his eyes briefly.

Then sighed.

“In that case…”

“…we’re already too late.”

Xie Tianyang froze.

“What do you mean?”

“The Breath Concealment Pills expired already.”

Zhuo Fan’s voice became unusually calm.

“From the moment we entered this cave…”

“…the spirit beasts already sensed us.”

Silence.

Then—

Low growls slowly echoed through the rainstorm outside.

One pair of glowing green eyes appeared.

Then another.

Then dozens.

Hundreds.

Thousands.

The entire mountain forest outside gradually lit up with eerie green light.

Xie Tianyang’s face turned completely white.

“…a pack?”

Zhuo Fan narrowed his eyes.

“Bloodthirsty Ravaging Wolves.”

“Second-grade spirit beasts.”

“But they hunt in enormous packs.”

“And their Wolf King…”

“…is a third-grade spirit beast.”

He inhaled slowly.

“Even fourth-grade spirit beasts avoid provoking them carelessly.”

Xie Tianyang stared toward the countless glowing eyes outside in total disbelief.

Then suddenly laughed bitterly.

“Hah…”

“Wonderful.”

“Absolutely wonderful.”

“I, Xie Tianyang…”

“…genius heir of Sword Marquis Manor…”

“…survived Ghost Seven…”

“…only to die inside a wolf den.”

Meanwhile, Xue Ningxiang’s face also turned pale.

But strangely—

Zhuo Fan himself remained calm.

“Tianyang.”

Suddenly, Zhuo Fan spoke quietly.

“Give Ning’er your sword.”

Xie Tianyang blinked.

“What?”

“Even if I give her the Brightstar Sword…”

“…she’s only fourth-layer Qi Gathering.”

“She can’t fight thousands of Bloodthirsty Wolves.”

Then after a brief pause—

He glanced awkwardly toward Zhuo Fan.

“Not everyone’s a monster like you.”

“Sixth-layer Qi Gathering…”

“…yet capable of fighting Heaven Profound experts.”

Zhuo Fan chuckled weakly.

“She doesn’t need to fight them.”

“She only needs to break through the encirclement.”

As he spoke, another porcelain bottle appeared weakly beside him.

“Ning’er…”

“There are more Breath Concealment Pills inside.”

“Once you escape…”

“…leave the mountain range immediately.”

“And don’t return home.”

“Just leave Qingming City altogether.”

This time—

Xie Tianyang finally understood.

They intended staying behind.

To repay the debt they owed her.

At least before dying.

Silently, he summoned the Brightstar Sword from his spatial ring and placed it beside Xue Ningxiang.

The cave fell completely silent afterward.

Only the growling wolves outside grew closer and closer.

Finally—

Xie Tianyang smiled bitterly.

“At least now…”

“…our debt’s repaid.”

“If we die here…”

“…I can finally stop feeling guilty.”

Zhuo Fan remained expressionless.

“I don’t care much about repaying favors.”

“Even now…”

“…I still hate losing.”

His eyes lowered slightly.

“But I admit…”

“…I never expected that girl would actually do this much for me.”

Then suddenly—

Footsteps.

Both men looked up instantly.

Xue Ningxiang had already picked up the Brightstar Sword and walked directly toward the cave entrance.

“Ning’er!”

Zhuo Fan shouted immediately.

But Xue Ningxiang never stopped.

Instead—

She stepped directly outside.

The next second—

SHING!

A brilliant golden sword arc flashed across the rainstorm instantly.

Three charging wolves had their heads severed immediately.

Blood exploded across the cave entrance.

Zhuo Fan and Xie Tianyang froze completely.

Xue Ningxiang stood alone beneath the pouring rain with the Brightstar Sword planted before her.

Every Bloodthirsty Wolf outside circled around her slowly.

Yet none could pass.

“As long as I stand here…”

She smiled softly without turning around.

“…they can’t enter.”

“Ning’er, you idiot!”

Zhuo Fan roared furiously.

“The ones attacking now are only cannon fodder!”

“The Wolf King doesn’t care how many die!”

“But you’ll eventually get exhausted!”

Xue Ningxiang only smiled again.

“So what?”

Golden light flashed repeatedly through the storm.

Every wolf lunging toward her died instantly beneath the Brightstar Sword.

“I know the Wolf King treats them like disposable beasts.”

“But you two…”

“…are my friends.”

Her voice softened slightly.

“My first real friends.”

“And also…”

“…the most important ones.”

Another sword flash.

Another wolf died.

By now, blood already covered the cave entrance entirely.

Xue Ningxiang’s face grew paler and paler.

Her body swayed constantly beneath the rain and exhaustion.

But her eyes remained unwavering.

No fear.

No hesitation.

Only determination.

Inside the cave, Zhuo Fan stared silently toward her trembling figure.

Something inside his chest twisted painfully.

For the first time—

The word “guilt” truly became unbearable.

Suddenly—

Xie Tianyang cursed bitterly beside him.

“Zhuo Fan…”

“…I finally realized something.”

“We really are bastards.”

Zhuo Fan closed his eyes slowly.

“…Yeah.”

He did not argue.

Outside—

The slaughter continued.

Xue Ningxiang’s sword grew slower.

Her breathing became ragged.

Blood loss.

Exhaustion.

Injuries.

Everything had already pushed her beyond her limits.

But still—

She refused stepping back even once.

Finally—

“Aah!”

A wolf suddenly lunged sideways and bit directly into her sword arm.

The Brightstar Sword nearly slipped from her grasp.

Then another wolf pounced immediately afterward and clamped onto her other arm.

Boom!

Xue Ningxiang collapsed onto the ground instantly.

She tried struggling—

But no strength remained.

Not anymore.

Meanwhile—

More wolves slowly surrounded her from every direction.

Inside the cave, Zhuo Fan and Xie Tianyang both clenched their teeth violently.

Neither dared open their eyes.

Because they already knew what came next.

They could hear the growling.

The tearing sounds.

The heavy breathing of the wolves closing in.

But neither man could force themselves to watch.

Then—

A massive wolf over three times larger than the others slowly stepped forward.

The Wolf King.

Its green eyes glowed with savage hunger as it approached Xue Ningxiang leisurely.

The surrounding wolves immediately lowered their heads respectfully.

The Wolf King licked its fangs once.

Then slowly opened its enormous jaws toward the unconscious girl.

At that exact instant—

ROOOOOOOOAR!!!

A terrifying beast roar exploded across the entire mountain range.

The sound alone shook heaven and earth violently.

Zhuo Fan and Xie Tianyang both lost consciousness instantly beneath the pressure.

Outside—

The entire wolf pack collapsed flat against the ground in absolute terror.

Even the third-grade Wolf King trembled uncontrollably.

Then—

A streak of azure flame suddenly crossed the sky.

Fast.

Too fast.

Like a divine punishment descending from the heavens.

Wherever the flame passed—

Everything vanished instantly.

Wolves.

Trees.

Stone.

Rain itself.

All erased into nothingness.

Even the Wolf King disappeared without leaving behind a single trace.

Only one strange thing remained.

The azure flame intentionally avoided Zhuo Fan’s group completely.

Not even a spark touched them.

Then silence returned once more.

The burned forest smoked quietly beneath the rain.

And the three unconscious youths remained alive amid the ashes.

…

“Zhuo Fan…”

“Zhuo Fan…”

A distant voice echoed faintly.

Slowly—

Zhuo Fan opened his eyes.

White mist surrounded him completely.

The world around him felt strangely unreal.

No wounds.

No pain.

His body moved normally again.

He immediately frowned.

This was not reality.

Suddenly—

Two balls of azure flame ignited within the mist ahead.

Between them stood a figure dressed entirely in blue robes.

The flames wrapped around his body like living spirits.

Yet strangely—

Zhuo Fan could not see the man’s face clearly no matter how hard he looked.

“You’re called Zhuo Fan, correct?”

The figure’s voice sounded deep and calm.

“I heard those two little ones calling you that.”

Zhuo Fan’s eyes narrowed instantly.

“Who are you?”

“You don’t need to know.”

The blue-robed figure waved dismissively.

“This is my territory.”

“Only I ask questions here.”

Then his tone sharpened slightly.

“Why did you come to the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range?”

“To capture a spirit beast.”

“And refine a demonic artifact.”

“What spirit beast?”

“Sixth-grade spirit beast…”

“…Thundercloud Sparrow.”

The blue-robed figure paused briefly.

“And what do you want it for?”

Zhuo Fan answered calmly:

“To increase my strength.”

BOOM!

An explosion suddenly erupted inside Zhuo Fan’s head.

Pain nearly split his soul apart.

Then the blue-robed figure burst into thunderous laughter.

“Hahahahaha!”

“Little brat…”

“This is your consciousness space.”

“If you lie…”

“…I’ll know immediately.”

Zhuo Fan’s pupils contracted violently.

Consciousness space?

This person directly invaded another person’s soul realm?

Impossible.

That level of power already exceeded ordinary Heaven Profound cultivation entirely.

Perhaps even beyond mortal cultivation itself.

“You…”

Zhuo Fan inhaled sharply.

“…you’re from the Sacred Domain?”

This time—

Even the blue-robed figure froze briefly.

Then slowly nodded.

“You truly aren’t ordinary.”

“You even know about the Sacred Domain.”

His voice gradually became more interested.

“And you also understand ancient formations…”

“…Blood Infant refinement…”

“…and ancient demonic arts…”

Zhuo Fan felt genuine shock now.

This person knew everything.

Everything.

Even ancient Blood Infant arts from the Blood Demon Patriarch’s era.

Those secrets barely existed even inside the Sacred Domain itself.

Yet this mysterious figure recognized them instantly.

“Who exactly are you?”

Zhuo Fan asked again carefully.

But the blue-robed figure merely shook his head.

“I already told you.”

“You don’t have the right to ask questions.”

His tone suddenly became serious.

“Why are you searching for the Thundercloud Sparrow?”

“This time…”

“…answer truthfully.”

Zhuo Fan remained silent briefly.

Then finally answered:

“I want to enter Thunderfall Gorge.”

“And search for an Emperor’s inheritance.”

“I need the Thundercloud Sparrow to withstand the lightning there.”

Silence.

Then suddenly—

The blue-robed figure burst into wild laughter.

“Hahahahaha!”

“Good!”

“Excellent!”

“You absolutely should go there!”

Before Zhuo Fan could react—

The figure vanished instantly.

Then reappeared directly before him.

Fast enough that Zhuo Fan never even saw movement itself.

The man gently tapped one finger against Zhuo Fan’s forehead.

A tiny azure flame symbol appeared briefly between his brows before fading away.

Warmth spread gently throughout Zhuo Fan’s entire consciousness.

The blue-robed figure laughed softly.

“We have fate between us, little brat.”

“So I’ll leave you a small gift.”

“Perhaps someday…”

“…it may help you.”

Then his body gradually began fading into the mist.

But before disappearing completely—

His final words echoed clearly through the endless white space:

“You’re searching for the Thundercloud Sparrow…”

“…then head three thousand miles deeper into the third region.”

“As for whether you can tame it…”

“…that depends entirely on your own ability.”

[End of Chapter Sixty-Six]