Chapter Twelve: The Blood Orchid Demon (Part One)

Early the next morning, hundreds of villagers gathered in the martial training grounds of Wan Family Village.

“Everyone, please quiet down,” the village chief called out, pressing his hands downward. “The reason I’ve summoned you here today is to rid ourselves of the monstrous beast that has been tormenting us. According to the analysis of the esteemed guests, the creature is hiding just a few miles away at Blood Orchid Slope. Our task is to find it, and when the time comes, the masters will naturally destroy it.”

In recent days, the villagers had suffered under the beast’s harassment—unable to eat well, unable to sleep soundly. Now, hearing that they would finally confront the monster, their hearts swelled with righteous fervor. Someone took the lead in shouting, “Destroy the beast!” and the training grounds erupted with deafening cries for battle.

The chief again pressed his hands downward, waiting for silence before ordering, “Everyone, set out! I will go inform the masters.”

As soon as his words were spoken, the vast group divided into teams of ten and marched toward Blood Orchid Slope. Meanwhile, notified by the chief, Lei Yan and the others also made their way there.

Blood Orchid Slope covered a considerable area—about ten miles across. The entire hillside was blanketed in blood-red orchids, swaying like a river of crimson as the breeze passed over them.

“Honored guests, the slope spans roughly ten miles,” reported the chief respectfully. “If the beast wishes to hide here, it will not be easy to find. Perhaps we should rest for a while at the foot of the slope.”

“That’s a good idea,” Sun Jin replied with a smile, inwardly wishing to delay as much as possible. If the family sent reinforcements, the blood orchids would surely fall into his hands. What he didn’t know was that the messenger hawk had already been killed by Lei Yan, and now he waited in vain.

Lei Yan and Li Yun nodded in agreement; it made sense. With such a vast area, searching would be fruitless at first. But Yuan furrowed his brow—any further delay would ruin his plans. Anxious, he addressed Lei Yan and the others, “I’ll go search ahead,” and without waiting, he sped up the slope.

Two hours passed, and Yuan had not returned since his departure.

“Could Yuan have found the blood orchid and decided to keep it for himself?” Sun Jin, pacing restlessly, grew increasingly agitated. “Why hasn’t the family sent any reply? This won’t do—I need to go look myself.”

“My friends, I will head up as well. Waiting here accomplishes nothing,” Sun Jin announced, making his way up the slope.

“Brother Lei, let’s go search as well. Sun Jin is right; waiting here won’t help us,” Li Yun urged as soon as Sun Jin left. He was anxious to find the blood orchids himself, in hopes of curing the poison afflicting his body.

Lei Yan nodded, and together they ascended the slope. The surroundings were barren, save for the blood orchids that stretched as far as the eye could see. If this were flatland, it would resemble a miniature prairie, but the slope was steep. Soon, Lei Yan and Li Yun split up, searching in different directions.

Lei Yan moved forward. Suddenly, a strange sensation enveloped him—he felt as if thousands of eyes were fixed upon him, each burning with intense hatred. The feeling was odd. He instinctively looked around, but saw nothing but the blood orchids and, in the distance, the villagers.

Seeing nothing unusual with his eyes, Lei Yan employed his special ability, spreading it outward. Immediately, he sensed that the overwhelming hatred emanated from the blood orchids themselves. They were mere plants, yet somehow filled with vengeance—enough to stop him and study them carefully.

He crouched down and reached toward the orchids. As a breeze swept past, the flowers seemed to recoil in fear, avoiding his hand. Lei Yan was stunned—was it the wind, or did the flowers truly flee from him? He reached out again, this time moving swiftly, and uprooted one of the orchids. A few drops of liquid, red as blood, fell from its roots onto the ground.

“Blood?” Lei Yan touched the scarlet fluid, sniffed it, and found no scent of blood. Instead, it carried a sweet, intoxicating fruit aroma. He put a finger coated in the liquid to his tongue; the moment it touched, a rush of sweetness flooded his senses.

The blood orchid in his hand seemed to mock him, twisting gently in his grasp.

“Remarkable,” Lei Yan muttered, frowning. He took a pill from his demon artifact and swallowed it. Despite its sweetness, the liquid was laced with poison—its alluring fragrance was nearly irresistible. Suddenly, his expression changed. “These blood orchids have mutated?”

He snorted coldly and retrieved a porcelain vial from his artifact. As soon as he uncorked it, a peculiar aroma wafted out, reminiscent of fine wine.

The fragrance sent the surrounding blood orchids into a fearful panic, huddling together. The orchid in his hand trembled uncontrollably.

Lei Yan hesitated as he held the vial. The powder within was called Wither Spirit Powder—harmless to humans, but deadly to plants. Any plant touched by it would instantly wither and die, and the death would spread like plague to neighboring flora. If unleashed, it could wipe out all vegetation here, even threatening the crops of Wan Family Village.

From nearby, Li Yun noticed Lei Yan’s actions and hurried over. “Brother Lei, have you discovered something?”

From the orchids here, Lei Yan deduced that they had undergone mutation—or perhaps evolution. Even a slight change was enough to grant them awareness and the ability to react. Such widespread transformation meant there was a blood orchid demon present; last night’s blood orchid must have become a flower demon, devouring the weakened wall python. Lei Yan frowned. “I think we’re in trouble. Take a look—do you notice anything different about these orchids?”

Li Yun gazed at the flowers. He saw that, unlike those elsewhere, these orchids clustered together in apparent fear. “You mean they’re afraid?”

“Yes, exactly.” Lei Yan nodded.

Li Yun immediately understood, his face paling. “So, there’s a flower demon here? What about the poison afflicting me?”

(Pardon the delay—I'll continue writing!)