Solution

It was just that Qing Geng was probably far too weak and uncomfortable. Even though it could see that the door of the demon-catching cage was open, it couldn't move at all.

"Qing~ Qing~"

Its faint cries came in fits and starts, mixed with the sound of its claws scraping at the cage.

Xiao Xiao raised an eyebrow and reached out to lift the Qing Geng out.

As soon as it left the demon-catching cage, the demon power that had vanished surged through its body.

"Qing—!"

Qing Geng cried out to the sky. Its wings spread wide, then beat once, and a dark shape shot upward.

Even though the sickness inside it hadn't disappeared, now that its demon power had returned, Qing Geng could use that power to suppress the sickness.

It was still uncomfortable, but it could move normally.

Once it found a place with abundant moonlight that evening, it would be able to fully digest the sickness inside it.

Xiao Xiao raised his head and followed Qing Geng's flight path. Feeling the demon's joy from the bottom of his heart, the corners of his mouth lifted into a faint smile.

That meant everything had been taken care of.

With Qing Geng—the "source of the sickness"—gone, the stall owner and his family should start getting better soon.

It wouldn't be long before the stall owner and his family recovered and were discharged from the hospital.

"Qing—! Qing—!"

A hoarse, harsh cry came from Qing Geng's beak. It circled a few times above Xiao Xiao's head, then flew off without lingering. Its distinct outline soon dwindled to a tiny black dot before vanishing on the horizon.

Xiao Xiao lowered his gaze, a little sorry that he hadn't gotten to see what Qing Geng looked like