He leaned back slightly, his voice calm but firm. “Do you doubt me?”

“I…” I stammered, struggling to process his words. “I don’t understand. Why would anyone poison me? I’m already a broken man. I’m practically dead.”

He chuckled darkly, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. “Some people are just that evil. Watching you die quickly isn’t enough for them. They want you to suffer—to writhe in agony until your very last breath.”

I pulled my hand back, trembling slightly. “I don’t feel any poison,” I said weakly, though his words had left a pit of fear in my stomach.

“You wouldn’t,” he replied. “Not at first. But it’s there, eating away at you slowly. Day by day, you’ll grow weaker until it feels like something is tearing you apart from the inside. The pain will become unbearable, but death won’t come easily. No, you’ll linger, too weak to even end your own suffering. You’ll lie there, trapped, as every second becomes a living hell.”

His words painted a picture so vivid and horrifying that my entire body went cold.

“Is this true?” I whispered, my voice trembling.

He leaned closer, his shadow looming over me. His next words were a whisper, but they struck me like thunder. “Someone… wants you… to die… a terrible death.”

I could barely breathe. My hands were numb, my mind spinning. Who would hate me enough to do this?

In the silence that followed, I felt utterly powerless. His presence was suffocating, his words haunting.

For the first time in months, I was truly terrified.

He laughed, a devilish sound that sent a chill down my spine. “Lord Lan, please do not humor me,” I said, struggling to keep my voice steady.

“I have no reason to humor you,” he replied, his tone dark and cruel. “If you don’t believe me, then don’t. I’ll simply sit back and watch you suffer. That poison in your body is a rare one. I’d like to see how long you can last and how thoroughly it destroys you. If its effects amuse me enough, perhaps I’ll use it on someone else for entertainment. It’s been a while since I’ve found something this interesting to stave off my boredom.”

My fist tightened on my lap, my nails digging into my palm. I had known from the very beginning that this man was dangerous, but I had underestimated just how depraved he truly was.

“I refuse to go with you,” I said, my voice firm with finality.

“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice dripping with malice. “Your companion over there seems to be enjoying herself. She’s oblivious to the danger she’s in. I haven’t had fun with a woman in a long time.”

My cheeks burned with anger, and my fists clenched tighter. This man was worse than I had imagined—a true devil. I should never have agreed to this meeting.

“I’ll ask her to return what you paid her,” I said evenly, though my blood boiled beneath my calm facade. “Do not harm her.”

He chuckled darkly. “Why are you so protective of that woman? Is her life truly that precious to you?”

“…It is,” I replied without hesitation.

He sighed as if disappointed. “I’ll give you some time to think about it. But for now, there’s someone I need you to see.”

“Who is it?” I asked warily.

“You’ll find out when we get there.”

“I have no intention of going anywhere with you,” I said firmly.

“Priest Wei Fan,” he began, his voice taking on a sharper edge, “you are a world-renowned alchemist. That title of Divine Mage wasn’t given to you lightly. Even though you’ve been banished, I doubt you’ve forgotten your vow to serve those in need. The man I need you to see is gravely ill and on the brink of death. Are you going to ignore him?”

I swallowed hard. “Give me his location, and I’ll find a way to get there on my own.”

“I’m afraid that won’t work,” he said smoothly. “They won’t let you in unless I accompany you.”

I furrowed my brows. “You are wealthy, my lord. Surely, you can afford the best physicians in the empire. I am not a healer. I refine elixirs and manufacture medicines for specific ailments.”

“The imperial physician has already examined him countless times,” he said, leaning forward, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. “They couldn’t find the cause of his illness. And do you know what I think?”

I remained silent, my unease growing.

“I think he’s suffering from the same poison as you,” he said, his words cutting through me like a knife.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. “You truly believe that I’ve been poisoned?”

“The symptoms are identical,” he said. “This man also vomits blood, just as you do. It isn’t a disease—it’s a slow, untraceable toxin that’s eating away at your bodies. He’s bedridden now, and it won’t be long before you are too. If you agree to examine him, you might find a cure for both of you. Not only would you save your own life, but you’d be richly rewarded.”

I shook my head. “If I knew what poison I had, I wouldn’t still be suffering.”

“That’s exactly the point,” he said smoothly. “Sometimes, understanding the poison in another person can reveal what you couldn’t see in yourself.”

I pondered his words. As much as I mistrusted this man, his logic made a disturbing amount of sense. “If I agree, how far will we have to travel?” I asked, trying to sound composed.

“Not far. About six hours. However, you might need to stay there for a few days to conduct your research and experiments. Don’t worry—all expenses will be covered, and you’ll be paid generously for your efforts. That way, you’ll have something to bring home to your so-called wife. Doesn’t that sound like a good deal?”

I hesitated. His offer was tempting for one reason: Jinjing. She had incurred a mountain of debt because of me, and I wanted nothing more than to ease her burden.

“So…” He leaned slightly sideways, resting his chin on his hand, his casual posture contradicting the tension in the air. “Wei Fan, do we have a deal?”

I took a slow, steadying breath. “Before I answer, I have a request.”

His eyebrow quirked, though I couldn’t see the expression, only the faint shift of his silhouette. “A request?”

“I wish to fully sever any ties with the Ethereal Frost Sect. I want to revert to my original name, Luo Fan.”

“…Luo Fan?”

I nodded, a faint sense of resolve hardening my voice. “My biological father was Luo Zhong. I want to honor him by reclaiming his name.”

There was a brief pause before he nodded. “Luo Fan, then. I think it suits you better anyway. And while you’re bearing a different name, it’ll make it easier to hide your real identity. No one needs to know you’re the former Divine Mage.”

His words gave me pause. Was he genuinely helping me avoid detection, or was this a clever ploy to lull me into a false sense of security?

“Since that’s settled,” he said, his voice smooth as silk, “let’s get back to our discussion. What’s your decision?”

I was about to answer when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the empty space.

“Ruan Yanjun!” a hoarse voice boomed, reverberating off the walls.

I froze in my seat, my heart pounding like a war drum.

That name. I knew it. Everyone knew it.

Ruan Yanjun—the infamous sect leader of the Eternal Damnation Sect, the largest and most feared sect across the five empires. The man who had driven out every rival sect from Xianru and Wun Empires. A name spoken only in hushed whispers, one associated with the murders of dozens of grandmasters and countless commoners.

A name synonymous with the devil.

My breath hitched as I stared at the imposing silhouette before me.

Am I sitting face-to-face with the notorious Devil of the South?