After hearing Niu Erhua’s account, Ye Yu was astonished. So all those injured bull demons had been struck down by Nangong Jingtang?
He did not doubt her power, only that she could commit such deeds. After all, during their time in Lunyao City, Nangong Jingtang had always been exceedingly gentle. (Note: Lord Zhu Rixian’s outburst didn’t count—she had just reincarnated, so a bit of morning grumpiness was understandable.) Later, she treated everyone with courtesy, even hiding behind him in unfamiliar surroundings. How had she become so aggressive now?
Puzzled, Ye Yu turned and asked, “What really happened?”
Nangong Jingtang gripped his sleeve. “I felt your aura here, so I came searching for you. They wouldn’t let me in, so I fought my way through.”
Ye Yu shook his head in wry amusement. Missing him so intensely that she’d become rash? He understood, though it was hardly advisable.
He opened his mouth to dissuade her, but she pressed on: “Those two she-demons tried to stall me so I couldn’t see you. I almost wanted to kill them both!”
Ye Yu’s eyes widened. At that moment, he could clearly feel the tangible murderous intent radiating from her. If her earlier rashness was understandable, this was downright pathological. What had sparked such a murderous rage?
He sensed something amiss.
Niu Erhua, furious, snapped, “Who stalled you? You’re the one refusing to say Brother Ye Yu’s name, then blaming us! Brother Ye Yu, judge for us—who’s at fault here?”
Nangong Jingtang fell silent, her gaze growing even colder. Ye Yu watched, troubled.
At that moment, Yue Wanqiu’s expression turned grave. She raised a hand and formed an intricate gesture. In the next instant, the spectral image of Bai Ze appeared behind her, a faint glow bathing Ye Yu and Niu Erhua in warmth—while a dense black aura swirled behind Nangong Jingtang.
Seeing this, Yue Wanqiu transmitted urgently to Ye Yu: “Your demon consort has been possessed by a heart demon! You must deal with it swiftly!”
A heart demon? A Demon King–level heart demon? Ye Yu frowned. He was no longer a novice; he’d faced many dreamscapes and knew that heart demons, once born, were hard to eradicate and could destroy a cultivator’s soul. Yet every realm possessed talismans and methods to suppress them—and few immortals ever succumbed. A Demon King–level heart demon was unheard of.
His first reaction was disbelief, but then he recalled that when he last left, Nangong Jingtang’s mind and memories were not fully intact—her diary written on bamboo slips hinted at disturbances by day seven. A heart demon could indeed have taken root.
Yue Wanqiu’s voice came again: “Trust me—I am Bai Ze. I see through right and wrong. She is truly possessed, and the demon has grown dangerously strong. We must purge it, or she may be lost!”
Ye Yu’s face turned solemn. At that moment, Nangong Jingtang’s grip on his sleeve tightened dramatically. He glanced back to see her trembling as if in agony.
In the next instant, she lashed out toward Yue Wanqiu—but Ye Yu gently blocked her and pressed her behind him.
“Don’t stop me! I want to kill that she-demon. She makes me uncomfortable!” Nangong Jingtang’s voice was icy. The black aura behind her issued a feral roar.
At that moment, Ye Yu believed wholly in her possession by a heart demon. He asked, “How do we exorcise this heart demon?”
Yue Wanqiu replied seriously, “I can help, but first you must subdue her.”
Ye Yu nodded and immediately cast Thousand Dreams Illusion. Nangong Jingtang fell into a deep slumber. He then drew the Spirit-Ghost Array Diagram and set nearly a hundred binding ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) formations, imprisoning her completely. “These arrays will hold her for about an hour—will that suffice?”
Yue Wanqiu answered softly, “It’s enough. I’ll take her to the main hall. We need a quiet space—please remain as her protector.”
Ye Yu readily agreed, glad to help. After watching Yue Wanqiu carry Nangong Jingtang into the hall, he surveyed the battlefield’s aftermath. From his sleeve he produced a storage ring and sighed, “I’m sorry for bringing such trouble to the Manniu Clan. I have many healing demon fruits here—please distribute them to your people.”
Niu Erhua refused the ring and spoke earnestly, “I don’t need healing fruits—we have plenty. I want to ask you something: I don’t like that woman. Why did you choose her as your demon consort? Isn’t Aunt Yue Wanqiu beautiful enough?”
Ye Yu paused, puzzled. How could he answer that? And why compare Yue Wanqiu?
Before he could find words, several powerful auras descended from the sky in an instant.
