Shao Li had been too cold toward Ye Xi.
Shen Mingjin had not explained her relationship with Ye Xi clearly in Wanghe Village in time, so in the eyes of the villagers there, they should still have been considered partners. It wasn’t quite right for Shao Li to treat Ye Xi like an ordinary physician.
Shao Li’s attitude toward Shen Mingjin was fine, but it lacked a certain indulgence.
Ye Xi had always had decent observation skills. When she first arrived in Wanghe Village, she had carefully observed Shao Li. Perhaps because she was a great demon who had experienced wars and internal strife, and had followed the First Generation Leader, Shao Li’s gaze toward Shen Mingjin differed subtly from the other villagers’. Her eyes held the reverence and enthusiasm of an elder, along with the affectionate indulgence of one.
The Shao Li before them now lacked that look, and she didn’t respect Shen Mingjin as much either.
It wasn’t a secret in the Embracing Snow Clan that Shen Mingjin’s cultivation had issues, but the clan members respected her greatly and never spoke openly about her physical defects. In their hearts, the princess was perfect, and her status didn’t need cultivation to embellish it.
When Qiao Yan had said Shen Mingjin didn’t have much demon power, Shao Li had attacked her directly despite her coming from the General Bureau. Just now, to go with them to find Mao Xinqing and Yin Erou, she had brought up Shen Mingjin’s physical defects—an issue in itself.
Shao Li could have come up with another reason entirely.
Ye Xi didn’t believe a person could change so drastically in a short time. The only explanation was that the demon before them wasn’t Shao Li.
Unfortunately, Shen Mingjin’s demon power was insufficient, and Ye Xi’s own was still lacking.
During the chaos in Wanghe Village, Ye Xi had witnessed Shao Li’s abilities. If this fake Shao Li had the real one’s strength, they would have a hard time escaping. For now, they could only take it one step at a time.
Unlike Qiao Yan’s undisguised malice, the fake Shao Li hid herself well.
If Ye Xi hadn’t met the real Shao Li before, she might have truly believed this one was a warm-hearted Embracing Snow Clan villager.
Shen Mingjin hadn’t noticed anything amiss. She chatted normally with Shao Li and occasionally checked on Ye Xi, unable to spare much attention to Shao Li’s oddities. She pushed Ye Xi behind Shao Li into the residential complex, heading toward Mao Xinqing and Yin Erou’s place.
As soon as they stepped into the elevator, a fishy stench spread out. Ye Xi instinctively covered her nose but withdrew her hand upon seeing that neither Shen Mingjin nor Shao Li reacted.
The elevator’s decor wasn’t outdated, and it was spotlessly clean—no unusual traces.
If not for the stench growing thicker, Ye Xi might have been fooled by appearances.
Seated in her wheelchair, Ye Xi carefully scanned the elevator, but she couldn’t pinpoint the source of the stench. Still, she didn’t give up easily; she trusted her sense of smell.
Afraid Shao Li would notice, Ye Xi didn’t stare too obviously.
The elevator stopped on the eleventh floor. Even without spotting anything, she had to stop looking.
Shao Li left the elevator first. Ye Xi noticed her frown slightly the moment she stepped out. Before Ye Xi could figure out why, an even thicker fishy stench hit her.
The intense odor was like rotting meat mixed with expired blood, or like putrid salted fish, carrying a sour reek that made her stomach churn. Just smelling it nearly made Ye Xi vomit.
“Sister!”
Ye Xi instinctively looked toward Shen Mingjin. In this unknown environment, Shen Mingjin was her only solid anchor.
Shen Mingjin still hadn’t noticed anything wrong. “Ye Xi, what’s wrong?”
The question drew the fake Shao Li’s gaze, which made Ye Xi swallow all her words and suppress her doubts. She casually followed up, “Sister, are we here already?”
“Yes.”
Shen Mingjin hadn’t detected any danger and responded to Ye Xi gently and warmly.
Her expression unchanged, her voice normal.
It seemed Shen Mingjin truly couldn’t smell the stench.
Neither the earlier chill nor this stench registered for her. Why had she deliberately done that?
Had absorbing enough demon power awakened some special ability in her bloodline?
Though Ye Xi hadn’t figured out the mystery, she certainly couldn’t let the suspiciously off Shao Li notice.
Ye Xi continued sifting through the masks, urging Shen Mingjin on with a gentle and kind facade. “Then let’s hurry, Sister. Didn’t you say a demon was injured? If it’s too severe, it could be bad. I can’t treat a seriously wounded demon yet.”
Shao Li turned slightly, comforting the panicked Ye Xi. “Physician Ye, no need to worry too much. It shouldn’t be that serious.”
Shao Li’s voice was confident, as if she had seen it herself. Ye Xi didn’t know where that certainty came from, but she didn’t argue. She could only pray silently that Ye Tan would arrive soon. During their call, with Shao Li nearby, Ye Xi hadn’t spoken clearly, but given their current awkward relationship, Ye Tan should hurry over even without catching the hint.
Right now, their grandmother-granddaughter bond desperately needed mending—dinner with her should outweigh work.
If Shen Mingjin’s messages went through, Shen Minghuan could swoop in to save the day. She was a maniac, but she could really fight, and Shao Li definitely wasn’t her match.
While thinking of potential rescuers, Ye Xi let Shen Mingjin push her out of the elevator toward the clients’ home.
Yin Erou and Mao Xinqing’s place was at the end of Building Eleven. As they reached the door, they heard arguing inside.
The two demons quarreled fiercely, not even noticing the doorbell.
“Miss Mingjin, should I use demon power to unlock it?”
Before Shao Li finished speaking, the tightly shut door opened from within.
A drenched head poked out. Its owner had a bruised and swollen face, as if beaten badly. Her hair strands stood on end, electric currents crackling through the black locks, blue-white sparks flickering nonstop. A few water droplets fell to the floor near Ye Xi’s feet, sending a faint current up her leg.
It was easy to guess who this girl was.
An electric eel demon from the Qingdu Clan.
Yin Erou.
Ye Xi couldn’t help shrinking back her foot. Yin Erou didn’t notice her special ability had accidentally zapped Ye Xi. She greeted Shen Mingjin and Ye Xi a bit awkwardly. “Miss Mingjin, Physician Ye, you’ve arrived?”
Shen Mingjin frowned deeply at her battered face. “How did it get this bad?”
“It’s just minor injuries. Nothing Physician Ye can’t handle.”
That was what Yin Erou said, but her body blocked the door, showing no intention of letting them in.
This worried Shen Mingjin about Mao Xinqing. “Where’s Xinqing?”
Yin Erou’s gaze blanked for a moment. She stayed planted at the door.
Shao Li gave Yin Erou a strange look. “Aren’t you going to let us in?”
“Oh, oh, right! Come in, please!”
Yin Erou snapped out of it, enthusiastically stepping aside. “Miss Mingjin, Physician Ye, Xinqing’s fine. She just argued with me too long and got tired. She’s resting in the bedroom. All the injuries are on me.”
With the doorway clear, Shen Mingjin pushed Ye Xi inside. Shao Li followed once they were both in.
It was even colder.
Demons who were beautiful and clever survived better in the human world. Mao Xinqing and Yin Erou’s love nest was spacious, with a large living room—likely due to Yin Erou being an electric eel, they even had a massive fish tank.
At the bottom of the tank sat a pink pearl and a few matching pink shells. It looked lovely, the water glowing with a faint pink hue.
Ye Xi didn’t linger on the pretty tank. The air’s fishy stench was thicker now, and the chill heavier.
She didn’t feel like she had entered someone’s home; it was more like being shoved into an ice cellar.
Everything was wrong.
The cold sharpened Ye Xi’s mind instead of dulling it.
The most obvious issue was Shao Li’s claim of conflict between the Qingdu and Embracing Snow Clans. The one greeting them shouldn’t have been Yin Erou, but Mao Xinqing.
They had heard both arguing outside, yet after the doorbell, Mao Xinqing supposedly went to rest without coming to the door? That didn’t add up.
Ye Xi had seen how enthusiastic normal Embracing Snow Clan members were toward Shen Mingjin.
Even if Mao Xinqing knew Shen Mingjin was coming and didn’t greet her, going to rest at a time like this was impossible.
Not just Ye Xi had doubts now; even the less suspicious Shen Mingjin noticed. “Miss Yin, hasn’t your Qingdu Clan mediator arrived yet?”
Shao Li asked strangely, “Miss Mingjin, is there a problem?”
“Mediator Li usually arrived much earlier than me. This is the first time I’ve beaten her here.”
Demons needed to pass strict exams to live in the human world. They had to maintain human form year-round, never revealing their demon bodies even when emotional. Thus, demons in the human world had to be emotionally stable with steady cultivation.
Weak demons were largely barred, except for half-demons with human blood.
Mao Xinqing and Yin Erou were pureblood demons with strong, stable power, but as a couple, they quarreled often. Due to inter-clan tensions, the Qingdu mediator always arrived before Shen Mingjin, competing quietly.
“Miss Mingjin.”
Yin Erou called out to Shen Mingjin, then her voice cut off abruptly.
She looked up at the ceiling, her expression going blank for a moment. A dry, raspy voice squeezed from her throat. “Maybe she had something else to handle first.”
Shen Mingjin didn’t press the issue. Ye Xi followed Yin Erou’s gaze upward.
Their home’s decor was quite unique. The ceiling was embedded with pink pearls, small shells, and a starfish. The placement was eclectic but had a distinct charm.
Shen Mingjin’s gaze followed Ye Xi’s up. She spotted the pearl-inlaid ceiling. “New design?”
Yin Erou withdrew her gaze and nodded silently.
Ye Xi’s heart pounded. From the corner of her eye, she glanced at Shao Li.
Shao Li showed no oddity. Her gentle gaze fixed on Yin Erou. “What were you arguing about today?”
“Me and Xinqing…”
“No rush.” Ye Xi cut off Yin Erou before she could answer Shao Li, steering the topic. “Let me check your wounds first.”
“Physician Ye, no need to trouble yourself. Xinqing and I are fine, we…”
Yin Erou waved it off, but rolled up her sleeve to reveal an arm covered in bruises. Ye Xi and Shen Mingjin both darkened their faces—Shen Mingjin’s more gently. “Supervisor Lin said one of you was badly injured.”
“Oh, did he?” Yin Erou pursed her lips uncomfortably. She stiffly turned toward the bedroom. “I’ll go get Xinqing.”
Without waiting for Shen Mingjin or Ye Xi to respond, Yin Erou turned and left the living room.
Ye Xi felt Yin Erou was off too, but couldn’t pinpoint how. Shao Li and Yin Erou hadn’t interacted much.
Shen Mingjin pushed Ye Xi to the sofa edge. Just as she was about to set Ye Xi’s pink fur rabbit on the sofa for easier treatment later, Ye Xi clutched it tighter. “Sister, I’m still a bit cold.”
It wasn’t that Ye Xi distrusted Shen Mingjin; the place was too eerie. She needed the security from the pink fur rabbit to stay calm in her wheelchair.
“Still cold?” Shen Mingjin didn’t suspect anything. She gently lifted Ye Xi, rabbit and all, onto the sofa and held her close with both arms.
Shen Mingjin’s body held no warmth, but she had demon power.
She used her demon power to soothe Ye Xi’s chilled body. Ye Xi leaned into her embrace, gripping a corner of her clothing. “Sister, no need.”
Ye Xi wanted Shen Mingjin to conserve demon power for whatever came next, but Shen Mingjin clearly hadn’t thought that far.
The problem was Shao Li watching them like a hawk from nearby. Ye Xi had no chance to warn her.
Shao Li watched Shen Mingjin’s care for Ye Xi, a flash of malice in her eyes. “Miss Mingjin, you’re so good to Physician Ye.”
“This is… because…”
Shen Mingjin was already troubled by the deepening ambiguity between them. How could she possibly follow Shao Li’s words and push their relationship into even more imaginative territory? She hurriedly denied any special feelings toward Ye Xi. “The Ye Clan… the Ye Clan has contributed so much to the Demon Clan. It’s only right for me to look after the Ye Clan’s sole bloodline.”
This was the best excuse Shen Mingjin could come up with in her panic.
Shao Li’s expression darkened, and she could no longer maintain her mild demeanor. She curled her lips in sarcasm, silently rejecting Shen Mingjin’s words.
Ye Xi huddled in Shen Mingjin’s arms, secretly observing Shao Li.
She caught Shao Li’s mocking smile and grew even more certain that something was wrong with Shao Li—very likely sharing the same goals as Bian Rong and the others.
Shen Mingjin’s attentiveness was directed at caring for a specific person, not toward the dangers lurking around them.
Fortunately, she still had her auxiliary abilities as a backup.
Ye Xi’s negative emotions had reached Shen Mingjin long ago. She had always thought Ye Xi was displeased due to the cold, but now, holding Ye Xi and feeling her slight tremble, she detected a hint of fear.
Her gaze lightly swept over Shao Li. Instead of giving any more demon power to Ye Xi, she quietly adjusted her breathing and held Ye Xi even tighter.
Her embrace formed a protective barrier for Ye Xi.
At that moment, the missing Yin Erou emerged, carrying Mao Xinqing. Mao Xinqing’s injuries were indeed not severe—there were no obvious wounds on her face or body. Her eyes were slightly closed as she leaned against Yin Erou. “Miss Mingjin, Physician Ye.”
Her body showed subtle movements, and her breathing and voice were present, but something was off.
Despite having no injuries, she clung tightly to Yin Erou, completely nestled against her, unwilling to even open her eyes.
Although she had greeted Shen Mingjin and Ye Xi, her enthusiasm was lacking—something inexplicably eerie about it.
Ye Xi scrutinized Mao Xinqing and suddenly realized that although Mao Xinqing had made a sound, her mouth hadn’t moved.
Her pupils dilated sharply as her gaze locked onto Mao Xinqing’s flat abdomen, where an intensely fishy smell emanated—not the stench mixed with rotting flesh.
Ye Xi was certain the odor spreading from Mao Xinqing was the smell of blood.
Startled, Ye Xi tried to stand up, but her ankle knocked against the coffee table. The wound she had deliberately torn open bled again. She instinctively pressed her hand to it, her fingertips staining with shallow blood.
The blood smeared onto the Pink Fur Rabbit. The rabbit didn’t get stained, but its fur stood on end. Following Ye Xi’s bloodied fingertip, it pricked her finger.
A familiar blood mist gathered at Ye Xi’s fingertip, then quickly dispersed. At the same time, it burrowed into the abdomens of Shao Li, Yin Erou, and Mao Xinqing. Familiar phantoms emerged from within. The faint phantoms didn’t coalesce into form before scattering, but they undeniably existed.
Thinking about what those phantoms had transformed from, Ye Xi felt an even stronger urge to vomit.
Suddenly, she spotted a small blemish on the skin of Mao Xinqing’s neck near her chest—a dark red spot stark against her pale skin. After carefully identifying it, Ye Xi jolted in shock.
That looked like a postmortem stain!
With the appearance of the postmortem stain, Ye Xi caught a faint whiff of deathly aura. Mao Xinqing seemed to already be dead…
