At Mo Caihuan's secluded residence, Wen Buhuo finally found a brief respite to retreat from the direct conflict and nurture his meridians, which had been severely damaged by the Bull Demon-Man.

Healing and Parting

• Meticulous Care: Seeing Buhuo with blood-stained robes and erratic breath, Mo Caihuan's clear eyes instantly clouded with mist. For several days, she never left his side—brewing medicinal tea and tending to his wounds with movements so gentle she feared causing him even a spark of pain. Such meticulous care was a rare treasure in the cold world of cultivation.

• Buhuo’s Admonition: Once color returned to his face, Wen Buhuo gazed at her and said, "The Chen Estate is destroyed; your revenge is taken. This world is perilous. Find a stable place to live a peaceful life from now on. Do not step into these whirlpools of deception again."

• Silent Devotion: Mo Caihuan neither agreed nor argued. She simply looked at him silently and longingly, as if carving his face into her very bones. A thousand words dissolved into a single bitter smile at the corner of her lips.

Gathering of the Yellow Maple Valley Sectmates

A few days later, the sect's Demon-Slaying Squad arrived, following the signal. This team gathered the few friends and fellow disciples Wen Buhuo had within the Valley:

The Appearance of Qing Wen

The team also included a junior brother who was naturally timid and unwilling to get involved in the muddy waters of the mortal imperial court. During the team's preparations, he privately deserted the group, hoping to strike out alone and avoid trouble.

However, shortly after being isolated, he ran into another group of demonic cultivators sent by the Emperor’s decree—a band of evil cultivators led by Daoist Qing Wen.

• Mistaken Expectations: Having heard that the Bull Demon-Man had fought a fierce battle with an Early Foundation Establishment cultivator, Qing Wen assumed the junior brother before him was the formidable "Wen Buhuo."

• A Tragic Gap: To his surprise, after only a single exchange, the junior brother was scared witless by the demonic arts. He offered no resistance and, losing all dignity, crawled on the ground begging for mercy.

• Cruel Refinement: Disappointed, Qing Wen sneered, "A rat like this couldn't be the one. Still, the flesh and blood of a Foundation Establishment cultivator is excellent material."

• Silent Demise: Because the junior brother had deserted in secret, Wen Buhuo, Liu Jing, and the others were busy discussing the plan to assault the Capital. They had no idea their fellow disciple had already perished at the hands of their old enemy.