In dispelling obsessions and resolving demons, Yan Sanhe had seen all kinds of people.

The person at the courtyard gate was unlike any Yan Sanhe had encountered before.

If Third Master Xie’s handsome face could charm countless young ladies and young wives, then this person, in his youth, should have been even more outstanding than Third Master Xie.

Even now, thin as a bamboo pole and looking somewhat aged, his refined features told Yan Sanhe: This person once had exceptional looks.

Zhu Yuanzhao turned back to Yan Sanhe: “This is my eldest brother.”

Yan Sanhe was slightly surprised. First Master Zhu looked completely different from his two brothers.

“Who does your eldest brother resemble?”

“My father.”

So Master Zhu also had exceptional looks?

Walking closer, Yan Sanhe discovered something else—First Master Zhu’s skin was abnormally pale, even somewhat unhealthily white, yet his pupils were exceptionally black, deep and dark.

While Yan Sanhe was observing First Master Zhu, he was also observing her.

No matter how many times he’d imagined it, he couldn’t have pictured the spirit medium looking so gentle, weak, cold, and aloof.

“Miss Yan, we’ve finally been waiting for you.”

“Why set up formations in the residence?”

Both voices rang out almost simultaneously.

Zhu Yuanmo smiled bitterly.

“Miss Yan was far away in Yunnan Prefecture, and my father’s heart demon was so dangerous. One after another died in the family. My second brother and I had no choice but to set up some formations to ward off evil spirits.”

He paused, then continued: “Miss also knows the Zhu family manages the Imperial Observatory and understands some strange arts.”

“Do they work?”

“At least I’m still breathing.”

Zhu Yuanmo clasped his hands to Yan Sanhe apologetically:

“I didn’t come out to greet Miss—please forgive me. My body isn’t suitable for leaving the Zhu residence. My second brother has also been avoiding people lately.”

Yan Sanhe looked at him coolly without speaking.

Zhu Yuanmo clasped his hands again to Xie Zhifei: “Third Brother Xie, thank you for your hard work on this journey.”

“It was nothing.”

Xie Zhifei returned the courtesy: “Brother Zhu looks much thinner.”

Zhu Yuanmo could only smile bitterly again.

He was still breathing, but growing thinner day by day. The most dangerous formation was a double-edged sword—warding off evil while also causing backlash to oneself.

“No more pleasantries.”

Yan Sanhe urged, “Let’s go down and have a look.”

Zhu Yuanmo’s gaze swept over the people behind Yan Sanhe. Were they all going down to view his father’s body?

“Miss Yan, you see…”

“They’re all my people.”

Hear that? We’re all the spirit medium’s people. Young Master Pei proudly raised his head.

“Brother Zhu.”

Xie Zhifei spoke: “They’re all family. No need to be guarded. Who knows, Mingting and I might even be able to help.”

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanmo picked up the white lantern from the ground, “Follow me, everyone.”

Zhu Qing and Huang Qi didn’t follow down. Instead, they stood guard at the gate.

Though they were just servants, even if Miss Yan spoke up for them, as servants they needed to be self-aware.

Li Buyan didn’t care about any of that—she walked openly behind Yan Sanhe.

The ice cellar was underground.

Following the steps down, everyone felt the chill growing heavier.

Young Master Pei, seeing Huang Qi hadn’t followed, could only stick closely to Li Buyan’s heels. If anything happened, this troublemaker’s side would be safest.

Xie Zhifei wasn’t particularly afraid. While keeping his eyes on Yan Sanhe, he also paid attention to Xie Erliu beside him.

Though Xie Erliu had experienced Yan Xing’s heart demon, this was his first time investigating a corpse. His heart felt uneasy—he was still afraid.

Reaching the last step, Master Zhu’s body appeared before their eyes.

Three benches supported a door plank, with Master Zhu lying on it, surrounded by a ring of ice blocks.

At the sight, Xie Erliu’s cold sweat began to drip.

This was also his first time coming down to the ice cellar. Previously, his two brothers-in-law had always come to check.

Compared to the day he’d just died, his father-in-law’s exposed face and hands had turned a dark, murky black.

How could this be?

Zhu Yuanmo walked closer and looked down: “Miss Yan, you see—he’s getting darker day by day.”

“That’s because too much time has been wasted.”

Yan Sanhe’s brow furrowed slightly: “Step aside.”

Zhu Yuanmo quickly yielded the closest position. Yan Sanhe stepped over.

The moment she stood steady, thick black mist began rising continuously from Master Zhu’s body—more and more, like a beast starved for countless days, it suddenly surged toward Yan Sanhe.

Yan Sanhe was instantly swallowed by the black mist, not even a hair left showing.

“Yan Sanhe.”

Xie Zhifei cried out in shock.

When exploring Lady Ji and Jingchen’s graves, he’d been nearby—one time closer, one time farther.

But however far, he could still see clearly.

Never had a mass of black mist completely enveloped Yan Sanhe inside.

“Shh!”

Li Buyan glared at him, signaling him not to speak lest he distract Yan Sanhe.

Turning her head, she saw Young Master Pei with most of his body hidden behind her, just half his head peeking out cautiously.

Damn, this man should just die of cowardice!

When the black mist engulfed Yan Sanhe, Xie Erliu hadn’t thought much of it, but Third Brother’s shout made his heart pound.

The two Zhu brothers in front of Xie Erliu exchanged glances, both eyes filled with shock.

Inside the black mist, Yan Sanhe actually hadn’t heard Xie Zhifei’s shout.

The black mist had come on fiercely, separating her from everything around her. Yan Sanhe could clearly feel a thick resentment within the black mist.

“Don’t rush, don’t rush. I’m here.”

She took a deep breath and reached out her hand, intending to place her palm over the deceased’s eyes as usual. Suddenly, she realized something was wrong.

Master Zhu wasn’t in this black mist.

Where was he?

Yan Sanhe’s heart filled with alarm.

Just then, the black mist churned violently. A huge force attacked from behind while another huge force pulled from in front.

Yan Sanhe couldn’t stand steady at all. Her feet stumbled and she lurched forward.

“Poof—”

Yan Sanhe felt she’d broken through something and abruptly stopped.

At the same instant, the two huge forces before and behind her mysteriously vanished.

She instinctively raised her head and scanned her surroundings. Her already pale face lost even its last trace of color.

This was a boundlessly vast wasteland where the horizon connected with the sky, radiating a dismal pale light.

In the distance stood an enormously huge tree without a single leaf—only bare trunk and branches.

A person seemed to be lying beneath the tree, motionless. Yan Sanhe decided to walk over for a look.

She walked quickly, drawing closer and closer to that tree. Just before reaching it, she suddenly stopped.

Something seemed to be watching her.

Yan Sanhe jerked her head up and met a pair of small, round eyes directly.

It was a crow, completely black, perched on a branch. Its eyes were extremely similar to human eyes, with a gaze that was sinister and cold, making Yan Sanhe very uncomfortable.

Yan Sanhe silently met its gaze for a while, then continued forward.

Drawing near, she discovered the person lying beneath the tree was Master Zhu.

The only difference was—

Master Zhu’s eyes, which had been closed, had somehow opened.