Dragon Boat Festival and Sudden Turmoil

As soon as her words fell, Yan Yi suddenly felt several burning gazes land squarely on her.

Bu Yingxue instinctively glanced at his sister.

The two of them, in perfect tacit understanding, sensed that this newly arrived mortal physician shared an unusual relationship with the Demon Lord.

Bu Yingyue raised a brow at Yan Yi, already catching the strong scent of gossip in the air.

Yan Yi immediately realized she had spoken out of turn.

Guiltily, she glanced back at Wen Xiaoran.

The great villain appeared perfectly at ease, as though he had not heard her at all.

Only then did she secretly let out a breath of relief.

“Xiao Yi,” Bu Yingyue broke the silence, “in two days it will be the Duanyang Festival.

There will be dragon boat races in Tanzhou City.

Would you like to come with us?”

Yan Yi was deeply moved.

Not only was the invitation sincere, but after being confined in the Demon Lord’s residence for days, she was nearly suffocating from boredom.

This was the perfect opportunity to go out and breathe fresh air.

Though the original novel had cast her as a pampered canary trapped in a gilded cage, ignorant of freedom—

Who said a transmigrator could not change the plot?

“May I?” she asked cautiously.

Bu Yingyue frowned.

“Why not?

My father is here.”

Then she seemed to realize something and turned respectfully to Wen Xiaoran.

“Your Excellency, may we take her along?”

This was precisely Yan Yi’s concern.

If the unpredictable great villain refused to let her leave Mount Fuyu, all her hopes would be shattered.

“Granted.”

Wen Xiaoran agreed with unusual generosity.

Yan Yi instantly grew wary.

Was he plotting something greater to settle accounts later?

While she was busy speculating about his hidden motives, she suddenly heard him add,

“Do not cause trouble.”

Yan Yi nodded vigorously.

The canary was finally leaving the cage!

Bu Yingyue waved confidently.

“Rest assured, Your Excellency.

My brother and I are the most reliable.

We won’t let a single hair on her head be harmed.”

“Sister—” Bu Yingxue tugged lightly at her sleeve.

Yesterday at Mount Fuyu, she had nearly caused disaster by diving into Taihu without thinking, almost damaging Wen Xiaoran’s protective barrier.

Bu Yingyue coughed awkwardly.

“I promise not to act recklessly.”

Wen Xiaoran merely cast a glance at Yan Yi.

For some reason, she sensed a warning hidden within his gaze.

Was he worried she might attempt to escape?

How unnecessary.

Her system-assigned mission had barely begun.

Why would she gamble with her life?

“Yingyue, how will we get to Tanzhou City?” Yan Yi asked eagerly.

“A teleportation array.

Do you know of it?”

“I do.”

She grimaced, recalling her miserable nausea during the previous teleportation.

“Good.

We’ll come fetch you.”

At the doorway, Bu Yingyue turned back to Bu Shu.

“Father, when will you return home?

Mother awaits an answer.”

Bu Shu spoke softly to Wen Xiaoran before leaving with his children.

—

Two days later, under clear skies, Yan Yi rose early to prepare.

She dressed in bright clothing, unusually well put together.

Overexcited, she tucked a spare box of fragrant powder into her robes and paced the room while holding Xiao Li.

At last, Bu Yingyue and Bu Yingxue arrived.

“Xiao Yi!”

Bu Yingyue called out dramatically.

Yan Yi felt awkward, thinking she had overdone her appearance.

But Bu Yingyue laughed.

“I thought you preferred a simple look!”

Yan Yi smiled stiffly.

It was hard to focus on beautifying oneself when serving the greatest villain in the book.

Lowering her voice, Bu Yingyue asked curiously,

“What do you think of His Excellency?”

Yan Yi blinked.

“Quite good,” she answered insincerely.

“Did you know?” Bu Yingyue grinned.

“We grew up together—my brother, myself, Wen Feng, and His Excellency.”

Yan Yi was not surprised.

Their relationship clearly exceeded that of mere subordinates.

Soon, the teleportation array delivered them outside Tanzhou City.

Crowds thronged the streets.

“So many people!” Yan Yi exclaimed.

“Dragon boat racing is the biggest entertainment event in the Demon Domain,” Bu Yingyue explained.

“And other races often disguise themselves and mingle among us.”

Bu Yingxue added calmly,

“Some cultivators attempt shortcuts by infiltrating the Demon Domain to seek cultivation furnaces.”

Yan Yi understood perfectly.

They joined the queue and soon reached the banks of Miyun River.

Before the race began, the crowd surged.

At first Yan Yi thought it was excitement.

But suddenly, her wrist was seized tightly from behind.

The grip was strong enough to crush bone.

It was not Bu Yingyue or Bu Yingxue.

Her instincts screamed danger.

Suppressing panic to avoid chaos, she waited until they reached a clearer space.

Then she swiftly pulled out her prepared fragrant powder and flung it backward.

The powder contained pungent spices akin to pepper spray.

Yet the assailant seemed unaffected and tightened his grip, dragging her toward the river.

Cold sweat broke across her back.

Fortunately, Bu Yingyue reacted quickly, shielding her and striking the attacker with a palm infused with demonic power.

But the man stood firm as stone.

“Sister, he has been invaded by demonic energy,” Bu Yingxue realized.

“Yingyue, behind you!” Yan Yi cried.

Without hesitation, Bu Yingyue hoisted Yan Yi over her shoulder and leapt onto a stone bridge across the river.

Chaos erupted below.

The crowd of low-ranking demons surged forward, eyes vacant.

“There are too many!” Bu Yingyue said grimly.

“Yingxue, inform His Excellency.”

Bu Yingxue nodded and covered their retreat.

Soon they broke free of the city.

Once safe, Bu Yingxue set Yan Yi down.

She finally noticed his shoulder—

The fabric was torn, blood soaking through.

“You’re hurt!”

“It’s nothing—”

But his skin from shoulder to elbow had already blackened.

“It’s poisonous,” Bu Yingyue said gravely.

Yan Yi panicked.

“I—I didn’t bring my medical kit!”

The wound spread rapidly.

With no time to draw a teleportation array, they used spatial magic to return directly to the Demon Lord’s residence.

At the entrance, they encountered Wen Xiaoran leading guards.

“Your Excellency—” Bu Yingxue called.

Wen Xiaoran frowned at their disheveled state.

“What is this panic?”

His gaze fell upon Bu Yingxue.

“Injured?”

Realizing the misunderstanding, Bu Yingxue carefully lowered Yan Yi.

“Yan girl is unharmed.

She was merely frightened.”

Still dizzy, Yan Yi barely reacted.

Then she saw the blackened arm clearly and gasped, rushing forward to grab his wrist.

Only then did she notice Wen Xiaoran watching from nearby.

“Your Excellency—”

Suddenly feeling inexplicably guilty, she quickly released Bu Yingxue and hid her hands behind her back, not daring to speak further.