Yan Fu and Jing Lan talked about many things from the past, but Jing Lan couldn’t remember anything, maintaining a look of complete confusion throughout.

Seeing this, Yan Fu’s eyes unconsciously reddened several times.

Finally, it was Mi Lu who stepped in to smooth things over, suggesting Yan Fu take Jing Lan and the others back first. Since they couldn’t immediately think of a way to restore Jing Lan and the others’ memories, it would be best to get them settled for now.

Naturally, Jing Lan was to return to Qi City with Yan Fu. Initially, Mi Lu planned to send the remaining people to Drunken City, but Yan Fu took it upon himself to help them regain their memories and find their families. So, Mi Lu let the others follow Yan Fu and Jing Lan back to Qi City.

As for Li Huai, he was to travel with Mi Lu and HuLü Yan to the Capital City.

Yan Fu seemed to have guessed something and didn’t express any opinions, but Jing Lan, who had spent several years with Li Huai, had grown fond of him, so she felt a bit worried about him as they parted.

Li Huai, too, had his own silent troubles. Thinking about the poison he swallowed that morning, he had to force a smile and reassure Jing Lan, saying, “Don’t worry, with the Sect Master and Lord HuLü around, I’ll be fine.”

Jing Lan nodded but still couldn’t help reminding him, “Not everyone on the righteous path is truly upright. Be cautious and don’t trust others easily.”

Li Huai nodded but thought to himself bitterly that people in the demonic world could be terrifyingly wicked, too! For example—

The person standing next to Mi Lu.

After giving Li Huai her advice, Jing Lan had wanted to say something to Mi Lu as well. But upon catching HuLü Yan’s sharp gaze directed at her from where he leaned on Mi Lu, she swallowed her words.

Forget it. Some things don’t need to be said out loud; staying alive is more important.

With that, Yan Fu, Jing Lan, and the others left on a flying magical artifact, while Mi Lu, HuLü Yan, and the rest began walking out of the forest to the nearest Jiu Yao County, where they planned to buy a few carriages to continue their journey.

Even though Jiu Yao County had mostly fallen under the demonic world’s influence, there were still plenty of righteous path practitioners who traveled there. Heading southeast would lead them into righteous territory, and constantly using a flying artifact would inevitably draw attention.

On the road, the attendants from the City Lord’s Manor and disciples from the Wu Wang Gang remained silent, except for HuLü Yan, who chattered nonstop to Mi Lu.

Li Huai wanted to join the conversation but didn’t dare, so he merely followed along with wide eyes, observing.

And so, he noticed something peculiar.

Wasn’t Mi Lu and HuLü Yan’s relationship a bit too close?

More than once, he saw HuLü Yan sneaking a kiss on Mi Lu’s cheek, and Mi Lu didn’t even react. The one time HuLü Yan’s persistent sneaking irritated Mi Lu, Mi Lu’s expression noticeably showed some annoyance.

Li Huai had thought Mi Lu would erupt in anger, but Mi Lu only gave HuLü Yan’s shoulder a gentle push.

Mi Lu said, “It’s too hot; don’t cling so tight.”

Instead of loosening his grip, HuLü Yan clung to him even tighter, whining, “It’s not hot at all!”

Mi Lu replied, “But I’m hot.”

HuLü Yan offered, “Then I’ll blow to cool you?”

Mi Lu asked, “How are you going to blow?”

HuLü Yan began blowing, “Huff, huff, huff~”

Mi Lu: “…”

Li Huai, hiding behind a tree: “…”

Taking advantage of Mi Lu and HuLü Yan’s conversation, Li Huai quickly washed his hands at a nearby stream and hurried away.

Who would have expected that, after running a short distance, he’d unexpectedly bump into someone emerging from behind another tree?

Dizzy and staggering, Li Huai took a few shaky steps back before he managed to steady himself. When he looked up, he found himself face-to-face with a tall, intimidating man whose arm muscles bulged in thick knots. Three scars ran across the man’s face, and his eyes held a sinister gleam, making him look even scarier than HuLü Yan.

Li Huai recognized this man; he was a Wu Wang Gang disciple and one of HuLü Yan’s right-hand men, named Zhou Shang.

Zhou Shang cast his gaze down, staring coldly at Li Huai, whose legs were trembling, and asked in a chilling voice, “Did you hear anything just now?”

Li Huai shook his head like a rattle. “No, no, no… I didn’t hear anything at all…”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely, definitely…”

Zhou Shang’s oppressive aura was so heavy that Li Huai’s breath came in weak gasps after uttering just a few words.

Fortunately, Zhou Shang didn’t ask anything more. He gave Li Huai a deep look before stepping aside to clear the path. “Go on.”

Li Huai wasted no time and bolted away.

From that day onward, Li Huai dared not linger nearby, and whenever he saw HuLü Yan clinging to Mi Lu, he made sure to keep his distance.

But HuLü Yan seemed attached to Mi Lu every moment, even while sleeping, leaving Li Huai no chance to speak with Mi Lu alone. Eventually, he gave up and, feeling shut out, stayed at the back of the group.

Mi Lu, of course, understood HuLü Yan’s intentions.

Sometimes, HuLü Yan was indeed childish. Even if he and Li Huai had only shared a close bond in the past, it would make HuLü Yan seethe with jealousy, unwilling to let Li Huai get close to him at all.

In truth, Li Huai simply had a young bird’s instinct. In such a large group, he was familiar only with Mi Lu, so he naturally gravitated toward him.

Every time Mi Lu saw Li Huai trailing along alone at the back, he’d feel a pang of sympathy. But remembering the ever-watchful HuLü Yan by his side, that sympathy would quickly vanish.

Once they reached the Capital City, things would be different.

By then, he’d arrange for the Situ family to take him in. With his family’s love and care, Li Huai wouldn’t have to wander along with them anymore.

—

After journeying at a leisurely pace, the group finally arrived at the Capital City just before the annual Sword Drawing Day.

As winter approached, the weather grew colder.

During this time, the Capital City was typically bustling, not only due to the upcoming year-end trade but also because people flocked from all directions to participate in Sword Drawing Day.

Consequently, the city gates were often congested, and the guards had to ease the entry conditions.

But this year, the atmosphere was unexpectedly bleak.

As they neared the city gates, they saw no other travelers around, and even the tea stalls that usually lined the city walls had disappeared.

The city walls, reinforced to an imposing height, cast shadows over the road, with fully armed soldiers stationed every few steps and cannons pointed down at intervals.

The autumn wind whistled, amplifying its sound against the carriage.

Mi Lu lifted the curtain, observing the scene outside with unease. He quickly called for Zhou Shang, who was driving, to stop.

Zhou Shang pulled the reins tight, issuing a low whistle, his face grim. He turned to Mi Lu and HuLü Yan inside the carriage, saying, “It looks like we’re walking into an ambush.”

As soon as he spoke, countless figures suddenly emerged from all directions, tightly surrounding their carriages in several impenetrable rings.

At the same time, the cannons on the city wall aimed directly at them.

“HuLü Yan! As a descendant of our HuLü family, not only did you willingly fall into the demonic path, but you even allowed those demonic cultivators to elevate you to the position of Demon Lord. How can you face the HuLü blood in your veins?” a furious voice called down from the city walls. “You actually dare return? Today, I’ll rid the HuLü family of a disgrace like you!”

Mi Lu looked through the window toward the voice.

He saw HuLü Xing flanked by soldiers, glaring furiously at them.

Standing near HuLü Xing’s right was a young man, dressed in the elegant clothes of a nobleman but with an expression twisted by jealousy. His venomous gaze fixed on HuLü Yan, making his face frighteningly sinister.

Without a doubt, that youth was HuLü Lan.

Mi Lu frowned slightly at the sight.

Although he didn’t have a good impression of HuLü Lan, he recalled that both HuLü Lan and HuLü Xing were extremely image-conscious, each playing a role: HuLü Xing as a tranquil and refined figure, and HuLü Lan as a cold, unreachable flower. They were both masters of appearances.

But now, the poison in their gazes was almost palpable, their expressions twisted like…

Snakes—greasy and disgusting.

With that thought, Mi Lu couldn’t help but glance at HuLü Yan beside him.

HuLü Yan’s skin was pale, his eyes dark and pure, though his expression was slightly displeased, it was much calmer than that of HuLü Xing and HuLü Lan, merely cold.

When their eyes met, HuLü Yan immediately softened his expression, curling his lips into a slight smile at Mi Lu.

In such a tense atmosphere, Mi Lu couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

He finally understood.

Why Ni Wenhui would rather break off her engagement to indulge her feelings for HuLü Yan.

HuLü Yan was worth liking.

At least, he was worth his liking.

A faint itch stirred in Mi Lu’s heart as he hooked a finger around HuLü Yan’s hand and asked, “Should we just barge in and take the sword?”

HuLü Yan replied, “Sure.”

Mi Lu continued, “And then visit the Wen family?”

HuLü Yan answered, “Sure.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Mi Lu murmured, “I also want to see my family.”

It had been five years since he left, abandoning a mess for his family to deal with. Although he’d thought of reaching out to his father Mi Hefeng and his mother Gu Qiu, he feared that attachment to his fictional parents would make him hesitate when facing death.

He couldn’t afford attachments in this world; they would only trip him up.

Now, back in the Capital City, he still wanted to see them, even wondering if they had faced trouble because of him.

As these thoughts weighed on him, a pair of arms wrapped around him, pulling him into a warm embrace.

“I’ll go with you,” HuLü Yan’s voice vibrated from above, his chin resting on Mi Lu’s head, sending shivers that stirred his heart.

Mi Lu opened his mouth, as though he had much to say.

In the end, though, he only softly murmured, “Mm.”