Chapter 23: The Poisoning Is Discovered

Lingru's words immediately made Ji Yao think of the girl in black from that day.

“What is a Devourer Demon?”

“A Devourer Demon is a type of true demon. It feeds on the flesh and blood of living beings. It has neither form nor shape, moving alone like black smoke. Only when devouring flesh does it reveal a giant mouth, like a blood-red maw.”

Lingru’s explanation filled Ji Yao with a nameless dread. The sensation from the day she was shrouded in crimson light surged back, making her fingertips tremble and her face pale uncontrollably.

Seeing Ji Yao’s sudden change, Lingru panicked. She grabbed Ji Yao’s hand and began checking her pulse.

“Come with me,” Lingru said, frowning, and dragged Ji Yao into her cave dwelling without giving her a chance to refuse.

Lingru’s interruption snapped Ji Yao back to herself. Smiling helplessly, she let Lingru pull her inside.

“Are you poisoned?” Lingru’s question was cautious, and from her tone, she clearly already suspected something.

Ji Yao pulled her hand back and sighed. “It’s only been a few months since we last met, but your skills as an alchemist have improved so much! You must have a bright future ahead of you. If I cling to you for support now, is it too late?”

“Do you even realize you’re poisoned? How can you be so careless with your own life? I almost want to strangle you, you know?” Lingru shook Ji Yao’s shoulders, frustration written all over her face.

“My dear senior sister, my wonderful Lingru! I know, I know! Please, have mercy on your junior—if you keep shaking me, I’ll throw up!” Ji Yao quickly surrendered.

Lingru let her go with a cold snort and sat down on a chair nearby.

“Now, can you be honest with me?”

Ji Yao made a show of baring her teeth and massaging her shoulders before taking a seat across from Lingru.

“I was already poisoned before I met you.”

Lingru’s brows went up. “How did I not notice back then? You’re not lying to me, are you?”

Ji Yao spread her hands. “That’s why I said you’ve improved! I’m not lying.”

“I’ll take your word for it. Now, can you tell me what kind of poison it is?”

“You couldn’t tell?”

Ji Yao had assumed Lingru had figured it out, but apparently not, for she was met with this question.

“I could only sense that you were poisoned, not what kind or what the symptoms are. I’m still inexperienced, but I can ask my master. He should know.” As Lingru spoke, she raised her hand, ready to send a message to Master Zhaoming.

Ji Yao hurried to stop her. She didn’t want anyone to know what kind of poison she had, or she would have no way to explain how she was poisoned, where it came from, and why she was still alive despite it.

The real Ji Xiaoliu, who had been poisoned, was already dead. The cause and origin of the poison remained a great mystery to Ji Yao.

She was convinced there were far more terrifying secrets behind this mystery, possibly involving hidden truths no one knew. This was her intuition.

Besides, Situ Jing had told her this was no ordinary poison. At least in the current world of Micang, it couldn’t be found. If traced back, this poison first appeared in ancient times, when demons still existed in Micang—a world where darkness bred such beings.

Later, as human cultivators flourished, these demons were either scattered or sealed and suppressed during countless millennia of hunts. Eventually, they vanished, and the poison disappeared with them.

At least, for the hundred thousand years before the War of Immortals and Demons, it hadn’t appeared. Now, another hundred thousand years have passed since that war.

After two hundred thousand years, this poison’s reappearance was itself abnormal, strongly suggesting that demons had once again returned to the world.

With Lingru’s mention of the Devourer Demon, Ji Yao became even more certain that the nature of her poison could not be revealed lightly—certainly not now, and definitely not from her own lips.

She knew that no matter if it was Situ Jing, the Heaven and Earth Disk, or the Eternal Azure Jade, none could be exposed casually. Even if she had to speak, she would seek Situ Jing’s permission first.

Ever since learning of Situ Jing’s identity, Ji Yao had kept this suspicion to herself, never speaking of it. She had made a point to remember every detail, even rumors, since unraveling them might lead to the answers she sought.

In jest, even gossip might hide the truth people are searching for—one never knows.

Having dissuaded Lingru from contacting her master, Ji Yao finally explained, “I know what poison I have, and I know how to cure it. I just can’t get the antidote right now.”

She stopped Lingru from speaking further.

“Don’t worry! The poison won’t recur easily. I’ve already suppressed it with other medicines. As for the antidote, I just don’t have enough cultivation yet. Once I do, do you think I won’t seek it out?”

Lingru understood that Ji Yao’s words meant she saw her as a true confidant.

Despite Ji Yao’s seemingly easygoing nature, she was stubborn at heart. If she wanted to tell you something, she would; if not, no one could make her. The fact that she was speaking so seriously meant she really did have a solution and a thorough plan in mind.

Lingru nodded, trusting Ji Yao, though she still couldn’t help being concerned. “What level do you need? Can I help?”

Ji Yao smiled. “Don’t worry, I would never gamble with my own life. If I go after the antidote, you’ll be the first to know!”

“Then it’s a promise!”

“Mm!”

Lingru finally relaxed upon hearing Ji Yao’s assurance, but then suddenly recalled how pale Ji Yao looked outside her cave just moments ago.

“In all this talk, I almost forgot. What happened to you outside my cave just now? Don’t tell me the poison acted up!”

“Pah! Don’t jinx me. You’ve already cursed me twice today—what if it really brings bad luck?” Ji Yao tried to brush off the topic with a joke.

“Looks like your bad luck is coming right now! Don’t try to dodge the question—tell me, what’s wrong?”

Lingru fixed Ji Yao with a meaningful look, fingers unconsciously brushing her sword.

Not wanting to worry Lingru further, Ji Yao found it difficult to quell her curiosity.

After a moment’s thought, she didn’t answer directly but asked a different question instead.

“How can they be sure it was a Devourer Demon?”

“It’s not certain—they only suspect it. Several bodies were found in the wilds outside Guangqiong City. There were no wounds, the flesh and organs untouched, but all the blood was gone—not a drop left.”

Lingru knew that if she didn’t answer Ji Yao seriously, Ji Yao wouldn’t answer her either.

“And that’s it? But you just said a Devourer Demon leaves no corpse at all.”

“That’s because this one has likely only just gained consciousness—it’s very weak!”