"..."
Ning Ke fell uncharacteristically silent.
Although Lou Yunxiao had played along with what he said, putting him at ease, something inexplicably felt off.
It was as though... things were just as Aunt Bai had said.
This man was becoming the old Lou Yunxiao again.
"My demon poison has nothing to do with you. You're under no obligation to treat me." Ignoring the strange feeling in his heart, Ning Ke rose and swallowed two of the painkillers Feng Yu had given him. "Don't worry. As long as I don't get seriously injured, I won't risk demonization again. So all you need to do is let me go. I'll bring the Demon Clan back another day to discuss an alliance with you."
"You were misunderstood by everyone on Sword Sect territory, Demon Venerable, and I gravely wounded you. I feel guilty. If I cannot make it up to you, it will surely affect my Dao heart and leave me unable to find peace for the rest of my life."
At this point, Lou Yunxiao looked anguished, putting on a show of bitter remorse.
"So, Demon Venerable, consider it a kindness to ensure that your future ally is healthy in both body and mind. Please have some sympathy for me and stay in the Sword Sect. You can leave once I've cured you."
"..."
Ning Ke took back his earlier thought that Lou Yunxiao was reverting to his old self.
The man had upgraded.
He had switched to a gentler approach, determined not to let him escape.
"I told you, as long as I don't get seriously injured, I won't..."
Ning Ke tried to argue, but halfway through, heat flared in his chest. Something kept crawling upward along his half-healed wound.
From Lou Yunxiao's perspective, the demon marks spread over Ning Ke's