C13 Meeting the Detoxification Job.

Scarlet Flame sensed the information coursing through his blood and his understanding was immediate.

"Stinking bird, what's the situation? Do you have a solution?" Lee Yiran asked urgently.

"I can dispel this poison with a flick of my wrist."

Chen Ruian, visibly shaken, stepped forward with excitement: "Master Black God, you truly have a way? That's wonderful!"

"Hold your joy. I might be able to heal, but what makes you think I should do it for you?" Scarlet Flame retorted icily.

Lee Yiran opened his mouth to speak, but Scarlet Flame cut him off:

"Enough out of you. Haven't you learned from past lessons? Old Chen, I only helped your academy out of the trouble last time to repay the favor of you accepting Lee Yiran as your disciple. But what claim do you have over me now? Our past friendship? Please, I've never once considered you a friend!"

Turning to Chen Qing, Scarlet Flame continued, "And you—you're even less of a concern. You're neither a beauty that could topple empires nor someone who could serve as a slave. Why should I save you out of pity?"

Chen Ruian's mouth hung open, his face flushing with embarrassment.

Chen Qing remained silent. She glanced at her father, who was still hoping to plead their case, and said resolutely, "We appreciate the help you've given us before. Father, let's go. I'm not on my deathbed yet."

After seeing Chen Ruian and his daughter out, Lee Yiran couldn't help but grumble.

"Xiaoqi, have you forgotten your devoted disciple, Qi Meng? You saved her with good intentions, only for her to repay you with ingratitude and greed, causing trouble for so many."

Lee Yiran's mind drifted back to that rainy day when Qi Meng, soaked to the bone, had kowtowed and then turned to leave, severing all ties. He could still vividly recall the look of despair, hatred, and defiance in her eyes.

Lee Yiran remained silent.

Back at home, Chen Qing offered a few words of comfort to her disheartened father before retreating to her room alone. Staring out the window at the sky, tears streamed down her face. She couldn't pinpoint the reason for her tears—whether it was her tragic destiny or the lost chance at health.

The words of Chi Yan ignited a fury within her. Why? Why should this happen to me? How am I supposed to know why I've been dealt this hand? Why can't I just live a healthy life?!

The memory of Lee Yiran's pitying look sparked a shameful thought in Chen Qing. For a fleeting moment, she considered trading her dignity for health, her freedom for a second chance at life. But then she recoiled at the thought, feeling wretched. 'No, I'll just keep going as I have been. Haven't I managed to stay happy all these years?'

Chen Ruian sat in the living room, lost in a heavy sigh. He was overwhelmed by his daughter's suffering and cursed his own powerlessness.

Truth be told, he had been tempted to fall to his knees, to beg and plead. Maybe Lee Yiran would have taken pity and helped. But in the end, only the Black God had the power to save his daughter, and he feared that even his own death would leave the deity unmoved. The Black God, eh?

Suddenly, Chen Ruian felt the weight of a penetrating gaze upon him.

The following morning, Chen Qing rose early as was her custom, only to find her father absent. A letter lay on the table:

My dear daughter, there is hope for you to stand again! Last night, I returned to Ye Mansion to beg once more, and the Black God has finally consented to detoxify you, but at the cost of consuming my soul. Qing'er, do not hold any grudge against the Black God. This was my decision. Please, promise me you'll live well!

In a frenzy, Chen Qing dashed to Ye Mansion, only to find her father lifeless on the ground, his spirit gone. She collapsed onto his cold body, weeping uncontrollably, while Lee Yiran offered gentle words of comfort.

Chi Yan, with a chilling detachment, looked down upon her and said, "I will keep my word and assist with your detoxification shortly."

Chen Qing's emotions churned as she stared at Chi Yan—anger, helplessness, sorrow. Clutching her father's hand, tears streamed down her face. "Father, you were so foolish. I've never once blamed you. And now you've left me here alone." A resolve for death settled in her heart.

But as Chen Qing gazed at her legs, a spark of hope flickered anew. She could finally walk, finally explore the beauty of the world around her. With that, Chen Qing embraced a newfound will to live.

Suddenly, her fingers brushed against the bracelet on her father's wrist. It was a simple, homemade piece she had crafted as a child, yet her father had worn it all this time—a testament to his unwavering love for her.

Lee Yiran watched the emotions play across Chen Qing's face. Then, in a sudden, desperate act, Chen Qing's head collided with the sharp edge of the stone table.

Chen Qing had chosen death, and blood poured from her forehead. As the cold seeped in, and her vision began to fade, she caught sight of Lee Yiran's eyes—filled with a sad relief. She thought his eyes were beautiful, and it was a shame she would never see them again.

In the pitch black, a sliver of light appeared. She opened her eyes to her father's smiling face. Was this paradise? How wonderful!

"Enough sleeping, time to go out for food," Lee Yiran's teasing voice broke through. Chen Qing realized she wasn't in the afterlife; she hadn't died, and neither had her father.

Eventually, Chen Qing understood it had all been a test. Scarlet Flame wanted to gauge her true nature—whether she harbored thoughts of revenge, whether she would cling to life, or whether she would choose death as a declaration of her principles.

Feeling both humiliated and angry at being played, Chen Qing's mood shifted as she discovered the poison had left her body and sensation had returned to her legs. She was ecstatic.

"I was sure I hit my head on the rock and was dying. How am I alive with not even a scratch on my forehead?" she pondered aloud while sitting at the dining table, massaging her now-sensitive thigh.

"What kind of question is that? With my brilliant and heroic radiance shining upon you, dying would be quite the challenge," Lee Yiran quipped flamboyantly.

Without delving further, Chen Qing expressed her heartfelt gratitude to both Lee Yiran and Scarlet Flame. After their meal, she and her father made their way home. It had been an unexpected twist of fate. Chen Qing exclaimed joyfully, "I was terrified today. Father, I never imagined they'd be so formidable. And that Scarlet Flame isn't so hard to deal with after all. They were probably just putting on a show that day, huh!"

Chen Ruian's smile was forced as he considered the deception. It was a performance meant only for her and Lee Yiran. The thought of his pact with the Black God made him question whether this was indeed the right thing to do.

Trading the safety of ten thousand lives for his daughter's health—could he be any more selfish? Chen Ruian shuddered at the thought of what his daughter would do if she ever found out.

Back at Ye Mansion, Lee Yiran couldn't help but laugh. "I never expected you to change your tune so quickly. You were just testing her, huh? You could've clued me in sooner!"

"How else could I discern her true nature? I certainly can't act like some people," Chi Yan retorted evasively.

"By the way, what was that poison affecting Chen Qing? The first time I met her, I sensed something off. She emitted a fragrance that inexplicably made me take a liking to her. I had this desire to possess her, yet she seemed completely unaware."

"Initially, she was afflicted with a rare, extremely Yin poison that consumes the host's spiritual energy, making it nearly impossible to eradicate. Chen Ruian tried using Fire Melt Grass to neutralize it, but the poison mutated, gaining a sliver of consciousness. It tried to control Chen Qing to approach you, aiming to transfer itself to you and devour your spiritual energy to grow stronger."

"Ah, well, there's no helping it. My charm is simply too much for anyone to resist. Everyone wants to get close and win my favor, haha."

Ignoring Lee Yiran's self-indulgence, Chi Yan turned his attention to the peculiar poison. A toxin capable of autonomous growth could prove useful down the line.

Soon after, Uncle Zheng paid a visit to Lee Yiran, delivering the Ministry of War's decision to appoint him as the deputy captain of Lin City's Demonic Beast Treatment Squad, effective the next day.

Uncle Zheng emphasized that Lee Yiran's father had expended considerable effort on this matter and expressed hope that Lee Yiran would not disappoint the old master's expectations. He also provided some documents about the Demonic Beast Treatment Squad before excusing himself to report back to the old master.

After Uncle Zheng's departure, Lee Yiran perused the documents and learned that the Demonic Beast Treatment Squad was a standalone department in Lin City, comprising three teams with ten members each, plus various support staff. Their primary duties involved handling murder cases linked to demonic beasts within the city and monitoring the movements of demonic beasts entering and exiting Lin City. The squad wielded significant authority.

The headquarters was nestled in a valley on the outskirts of Lin City. Lee Yiran's chance to step up as the vice-captain of the first squad came only after the previous one was dismissed. The Demonic Beast Treatment Squad was known for its stringent recruitment standards, so it was evident that Lee Yiran's influential stepfather must have pulled some strings for him to land the position so directly.

Additionally, there was information about the origins of the Demonic Beast Processing Team, notable members, and some of the significant cases they had tackled.

Today, Feifei had vanished without a trace, and the scarlet flame was busy researching a strange poison. This left Lee Yiran with a rare moment of ease, immersing herself in the stories until she drifted off to sleep well past midnight.

Waking up the next day close to noon, Lee Yiran scrambled into her clothes and dashed off to report for duty, skipping breakfast in her haste.

The location was quite secluded, and it took a while to find. Encircled by mountains on three sides, the area opened up into a bustling plain, alive with human activity and punctuated by the occasional roar of demonic beasts.

At the entrance, after verifying her identity, a guard courteously escorted Lee Yiran to the first squad's office.

In the heart of the valley was a separate compound, dominated by a three-story building. The ground floor buzzed with lower-level personnel managing incoming cases, determining demonic beast involvement, and preparing reports.

The second floor housed the offices and strategy rooms for ten team members, while the third floor provided personal rest areas.

Upon inquiring, Lee Yiran learned that the first squad had been anticipating her arrival and was waiting to welcome the new vice-captain on the second floor.

Ascending the stairs, Lee Yiran reached the second floor's largest conference room. She swung open the door and exclaimed, "Haha, my apologies, everyone! I got turned around today and spent quite some time finding this place, even though I got up early!"

The sudden entrance of Lee Yiran startled the six men and three women inside. The first squad's captain, Tian Binn, had been on edge lately due to the investigation that followed the former vice-captain's mishap. And now, a new vice-captain had just been assigned by the higher-ups.

Despite feeling uneasy, the team had no choice but to assemble and welcome Lee Yiran's sudden arrival. After a lengthy wait with no sign of him, they wondered if this was yet another noble's son coming to make a name for himself.

Upon seeing Lee Yiran's smile, Tian Binn managed a strained one of his own and said, "Ah, it's Vice-Captain Lee. I'm Captain Tian Binn. My apologies for not greeting you sooner. No worries, you're here now. Let me introduce you to the team."

Tian Binn took Lee Yiran around, introducing him to the burly Lin Zhongshi, the striking Fang Anhe, the fire-twirling Ma Yi, the stoic Tian Sen, and the timid Wey Chengtian. The women included Ye Anan, whom he had previously met, the aloof Yi Man, and the ever-smiling Hua Zhenzhen.

Wey Chengtian was the only one to offer Lee Yiran a smile. The rest either gave a perfunctory nod or outright ignored him, their eyes brimming with contempt.

Lee Yiran, having arrived late, chose not to take offense at the team's chilly reception. Tian Binn had mentioned hosting a meal to welcome him, and then he resumed discussing the mission details that had been left unfinished.

"Vice-Captain Lee, please have a seat and listen to the briefing. Spend the next few days getting acquainted with the situation... Anan, you continue," directed Tian Binn, gesturing for Lee Yiran to sit and pointing to Ye Anan.

"Right, since An Da... Err, since Ann Yi released the Fire Thunder Beast, they've been heading south. They were wounded by the Second Squad's Leader Yuan Ruobai en route and disappeared near Nan Cheng Street. The Second Squad reports that the city gates are now heavily guarded, and since Ann Yi and company are... are severely injured, they're likely still within the city. The Second Squad is on an intensive search for them."

"Okay, I had Anan share this to prevent any further rumors. Pay attention, this issue is now under the Second Squad's jurisdiction, and no one else should interfere!"

Tian Binn turned to the assembled group and went on to say, "We have an urgent situation to address. A horrific crime occurred on North Leaf Street, where a family of fifty met a violent end. Evidence suggests they were devoured, and all of their hearts have vanished without a trace. There's a lingering demonic presence at the crime scene. Anan, please fill us in on the details."