Chapter 407 - 218: "Dan Demon

Chapter 407: Chapter 218: "Dan Demon

As his Incarnation "Zheng Shan," Zheng Xiu cut a dashing and unstoppable figure out in the world, peerless in his might.

But here in the World in the Painting, Zheng Xiu was courteous, gentle, and kind, a pitiable sight to behold.

This, however, was the first time Feng Bei had ever seen Zheng Xiu look so utterly weak, like a corpse.

In silence, she walked toward Zheng Xiu, one step at a time.

Here in the dungeon, gathered around Zheng Xiu, were his most trusted confidants.

Zheng Erniang, Zizi, Bobo, Pingping, and Lily.

Qing Shisan hadn’t told them who he was going out to retrieve, and they were even more clueless about the shocking events that had transpired in Ye Weiyang over the past several months. So when Feng Bei arrived under Qing Shisan’s escort, the women could not hide the astonishment on their faces.

Qing Shisan threw up his hands with a look that said, ’Don’t ask me, I don’t know anything either.’

Feng Bei walked right up to Zheng Xiu. He weakly opened his eyes and managed to squeeze out a smile. "Pardon my appearance."

With a flick of her wrist, she revealed an eye resting quietly in her palm, like a black pearl. "Open your mouth."

Zheng Xiu stared at the eyeball and said in a raspy voice, "Someone, take this to the furnace and have it roasted. Well-done, and hold the spice."

The flock of women around him froze at his words.

Without a second thought, Zizi waved to Qing Shisan. "Brother Shisan, hurry and get Chef He!"

But Zheng Erniang shook her head. "No! We can’t wait! I, Rong Erniang, will handle the cooking myself!"

With that, Zheng Erniang and Zizi actually moved to take the eyeball to the kitchens to prepare it.

’Now, of all times, you decide to get picky with me?’ Feng Bei found the situation both exasperating and hilarious, the gloom in her heart instantly vanishing. She deliberately put on a stern face, holding the eyeball to Zheng Xiu’s lips, and enunciated in an undeniable tone, "Eat. It."

Zheng Xiu grimaced. "But it’s an eyeball... and it’s raw."

Feng Bei’s expression melted into a charming smile as she said softly, "Be a good boy and stop fussing. Eat it, and I’ll give you a reward later."

"Really?"

Feng Bei smiled and nodded.

Zheng Xiu relented. "Fine... but at least let me dip it in some vinegar."

Feng Bei spoke softly to one of the four maids, "Quick, fetch a saucer of vinegar."

She pointed at Pingping.

Still dumbfounded, Pingping went to fetch the vinegar in a daze.

Zheng Erniang and the others were already dumbstruck.

What shocked them most wasn’t the dark, round object. It was Master Zheng’s attitude toward Feng Bei.

Feng Bei was acting for all the world like the rightful mistress of the house.

And Master Zheng’s reaction... he actually seemed to be enjoying it.

Zheng Erniang’s suspicious gaze darted between Feng Bei and Master Zheng, her mind filled with confusion.

Qing Shisan let out a soft "Oh-ho," a thoughtful look on his face, and tactfully melted back into the shadows.

’This is the Zheng Family’s private business. It’s not my place to get involved.’

Qing Shisan silently patted himself on the back for his astuteness.

’I hope they don’t start a fight.’

Qing Shisan soon reappeared in the main courtyard. Leaning against a wall with his long-stemmed pipe, he took a few puffs, still thinking.

From the darkness, a series of whistles rose and fell. The brothers were using the Brotherhood’s secret code, asking Qing Shisan what was happening inside.

Qing Shisan whistled back a reply, a lighthearted rebuke: ’Just stand your posts! Is the Master’s love life any of our business to comment on? Am I, Qing Shisan, the kind of person who gossips?’

Saying nothing was as good as saying everything. The phrase "love life" explained the situation inside perfectly.

The implication was clear: the Master was fine. In fact, he was in the middle of a romantic escapade.

A number of muffled chuckles immediately rippled through the darkness.

The laughter faded, and everyone let out a great sigh of relief. The collective exhale seemed to rise from the corners of the Zheng Residence as one, stirring the shadows of the trees.

「In the dungeon.」

Zheng Xiu dipped the eyeball in vinegar and swallowed it whole.

The moment he swallowed the eyeball, a foul, fishy stench surged up his throat. A searing heat followed, as if trying to burn a hole through his stomach. The pain made him break out in a cold sweat, his entire body trembling, but he clenched his teeth and didn’t make a sound.

Seeing this, the others thought, ’Oh no,’ and were about to rush forward to comfort him. But Feng Bei, as if by habit, stepped forward and gently cradled Zheng Xiu’s head. Instantly, his pain vanished.

Everyone froze, stunned once more by the sight.

’Feng Bei sure moves fast.’

Soon, Zheng Xiu’s shriveled skin began to plump up at a visible rate. The cracked lines faded, his complexion regaining its healthy luster.

After a long moment, Zheng Xiu opened his eyes again and smiled. "I’m all right now."

"Meow~"

The soft meow drew everyone’s attention.

Little Feng Miao had slipped in at some point and was now lying quietly to one side, watching them.

Zheng Erniang and the others glanced back, wondering if the secret door above hadn’t been closed properly. They didn’t dwell on it, however, as they watched Feng Bei help Zheng Xiu back to his room.

Along the way, Feng Bei stared blankly at her own hand.

Physical contact with Zheng Xiu seemed to have become a habit, a form of muscle memory. With everyone else, she would subconsciously keep her distance. But with Zheng Xiu alone—after ten years together, it had become second nature—she would forget her Omen, forget her Constitution.

It wasn’t until she had settled Zheng Xiu on a soft couch and saw him fall into a deep sleep that Feng Bei began to process her shock. Her heart raced with unease as she murmured, "This is impossible."

For the longest time, Feng Bei had believed she could touch "Zheng Shan" only because "Zheng Shan" was Zheng Xiu’s Incarnation—a kind of Miracle Technique used by Mystics. Her own Magic simply couldn’t overcome his, and that was why her Omen was powerless to harm him.

But this brief moment of contact sparked a sudden realization: the reason behind it all wasn’t as simple as she had imagined. There had to be another reason why Zheng Xiu could nullify her Omen.

"Why?"

Feng Bei couldn’t understand.

Was her affliction... gone?

She was itching to find another living creature to test it on, but at the same time, she was terrified of what she might find.