The police tape beneath Meredith's apartment building had yet to be removed. Several officers stood guard at the entrance, their faces drawn with exhaustion. Dean took out a fake alarm repair ID and waved it. "Officer, we received a report that the alarm here was malfunctioning. We're here to inspect it and prevent any more accidents."
The officer looked them up and down, his gaze lingering on Dean's leather jacket and Bai Haorui's backpack before he pointed at the apartment door. "Go on in. Be careful. The scene hasn't been cleaned up yet, and the medical examiner only just left."
They pushed open the door, and a powerful smell of blood mingled with a faint, sinister chill hit them, sending shivers down their spines. The apartment was a mess. The cream-colored sofa had been overturned, and shattered drinking glasses from the coffee table littered the floor, their fragments still stained with blood. The victim's outline had been drawn on the floor in white chalk. Beside it, the Z-shaped symbol was clearly visible, its edges seemingly still wreathed in faint black mist.
Dean took out his EMF meter. The moment he switched it on, it let out a piercing alarm, its needle spinning wildly before shooting straight to the maximum reading. "The yin energy really is heavy," he said with a frown. He moved the meter closer to the symbol, and the alarm grew louder. "This demon's energy is strong, and it hasn't gone far. It should still be roaming nearby."
Bai Haorui crouched down and took three Five Emperor Coins from his backpack, arranging them around the symbol in the positions of the three powers: heaven, earth, and humanity. He then took out a pinch of cinnabar and sprinkled it over the coins. They instantly glowed a deep, blackish blue-green, the light flickering as though struggling against some dark force. "Deep, blackish blue-green light. The yin energy concentration is three times over the limit," he said with certainty. "It's a Shadow Sha, what you call a Daeva. This evil spirit is bound to its summoning formation. To eliminate it, we have to meet two conditions at the same time: destroy the altar that summoned it, and use pure yang power to disperse or destroy the spirit itself. Neither will work without the other."
Sam went to the window and pushed it open. The night wind rushed in, dispersing some of the yin energy. Looking out at the tall buildings, he pointed to an abandoned factory not far away. "I did some research. The Daeva of Zoroastrianism originated in sixth-century BCE Zoroastrianism. They're creations of the 'evil god Ahriman,' known as 'darkness made manifest.' They feed on the hearts of the living and represent 'the fear and evil within human nature.' Legend says ancient Persian priests once controlled Daeva with summoning talismans, but they couldn't control their bloodthirsty nature, and the Daeva turned on them and wiped out their entire clan. They have no fixed form and can move freely through shadows on walls, ceilings, and floors. When they take shape, they look like black humanoids with claws as sharp as blades. Their defining traits are that they have to remain bound to an altar after being summoned and can't stay outside shadowed areas for long. The altar is most likely in some dark corner nearby. And Daeva feed on hearts, symbolizing the consumption of humanity's 'core life force.' That fits perfectly with the 'manifestation of human fear' in my dad's journal."
"That's right." A low voice suddenly came from the doorway.
All three turned at once. Dean instantly drew the silver gun at his waist and aimed at the door, while Bai Haorui tightened his grip on the peachwood sword in his backpack and warily watched the backlit figure. The man wore a black coat and was covered in dust. Blood seeped through the bandage around his arm, his stubble was unkempt, and the corners of his eyes and his forehead were etched with the hardships of life. It was John Winchester, the man they had been searching for all this time.
"Dad?" Dean's voice held surprise and disbelief. He unconsciously lowered his gun, his eyes instantly reddening.
John entered the apartment, his gaze passing over the symbol on the floor before turning to Bai Haorui and the peachwood sword and Five Emperor Coins in his hands. His eyes were appraising. "Taoist methods. Never thought I'd see them here. I met an old Taoist priest when I was young. He helped me with similar copper coins. They really were powerful."
"You're John Winchester?" Bai Haorui did not lower his peachwood sword. "I'm Bai Haorui. I hunt demons with Sam and Dean now."
John nodded and took a bottle of holy water from his pocket, its surface engraved with a cross. "Your methods really do work. This might help strengthen your talismans." He handed the holy water to Bai Haorui. "I've been tracking the Yellow-Eyed Demon. I followed the energy traces it left behind here. I didn't expect to run into you."
Dean could no longer hold back. He rushed forward and threw his arms around John with the force of a fired cannonball, his voice choked with tears. "Dad, where have you been? We've been looking for you for so long. We thought you... thought something had happened to you too. Do you know how scared I was that it was you every time we saw an unidentified body?"
John patted his back, guilt in his voice. "I'm sorry, Dean. I'm sorry I made you worry so much. I couldn't contact you. The Yellow-Eyed Demon has been tracking me, and I was afraid I'd lead it to you."
Sam stood where he was, watching the father and son embrace, his eyes filled with conflicting feelings. At first, he instinctively took half a step back, his fingers curling as images flashed through his mind: his father's constant absence during his childhood, him and Dean relying on each other to survive, and the flames when Jessica was attacked. Only when John turned toward him, apology and tenderness in his eyes, and said softly, "Sam, I know you resent me. You resent me for not being there when you needed a father most, for dragging you back into this world you tried so desperately to escape," did he slowly step forward and gently embrace his father, tears welling in his eyes. "I don't resent you, Dad. I just... just want our family to be okay."
Watching them, Bai Haorui quietly put away his peachwood sword, took a folded yin-expelling talisman from his backpack, and held it out. "You're practically drowning in yin energy, and there's a faint energy mark from the Yellow-Eyed Demon on you too. This talisman was drawn with a mixture of mugwort ash and cinnabar. It can give you an early warning. If an evil spirit approaches, the paper will heat up so you won't get ambushed."
John accepted the talisman and carefully attached it to the clothing over his chest. His fingertips brushed its rough texture, and he nodded. "Thank you." He suddenly leaned closer to Bai Haorui, lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear. "I know you're investigating the 'anchors,' those strange symbols. I can tell you they're connected to the Yellow-Eyed Demon. It's been using them to build an 'energy network.' Each anchor corresponds to an evil ritual. The Daeva is only one part of it. Protect Sam and Dean, and protect yourself too-the Yellow-Eyed Demon is stronger than you imagine."
Bai Haorui was shaken. He nodded. "Don't worry. We're brothers. Unless I go down first, I won't let anything happen to them."
Just then, Sam's phone vibrated. It was a message from Jake, the occult enthusiast. "I found some crucial information about that Z-shaped symbol. Meet me at the Black Rose bar in the south of the city, and we'll talk. I have copies of the case files from ten years ago."
"Looks like we have a lead." Dean dusted off his hands, his gaze sharpening. "Let's go meet this occult enthusiast. Dad, are you coming with us?"
John shook his head. "I'll look for the altar. The Daeva can't leave it behind. We have to find it to finish this for good." He looked at Sam and Dean, his gaze firm. "Be careful. The summoner is probably a follower of the Yellow-Eyed Demon, and their motives aren't simple. If you run into danger, contact me using our agreed signal."
The three split into two groups. John turned and left the apartment, his retreating figure looking especially lonely beneath the hallway lights. Sam, Dean, and Bai Haorui headed for the Black Rose bar in the south of the city.
The mingled smell of cigars and alcohol filled the Black Rose. Vintage oil paintings hung on the walls, the figures in them wearing eerie expressions. Sam pushed open the door and immediately spotted Jake, the occult enthusiast, sitting in a corner. He had shoulder-length hair and wore a T-shirt printed with a Zoroastrian "flame symbol." In his hands was a battered book of Zoroastrian scripture, the edges of its pages badly worn.
Sam went over and sat down, while Dean and Bai Haorui found seats near the bar, pretending to drink while actually watching their surroundings. Dean ordered three whiskeys and pushed one toward Bai Haorui. "Try it. Authentic bourbon." Bai Haorui took a sip and frowned. "Too harsh. Not as good as our baijiu."
"You're Sam Winchester?" Jake lowered his voice, his eyes darting around as though he were on guard against something. "The symbol you're looking for really is a talisman for summoning a Daeva. Three identical cases happened in Chicago ten years ago. The victims were all young women, their hearts had been removed, and that symbol was found at every scene." He took a stack of yellowed case-file photocopies from his backpack and handed them to Sam. "I had someone get these from the police archives. Look-the summoner from ten years ago was eventually killed when the Daeva turned on them. They died in their own apartment, and their heart was missing too."
Sam flipped quickly through the files, his frown deepening. "Who was the summoner? Is there any mention of the altar's location?"
Jake hesitated, glancing toward the bar's entrance before taking a slip of paper from his pocket and secretly passing it to Sam. "You might recognize this name. I don't know where the altar is either, but I heard summoning a Daeva requires 'the fear of the living' as an offering. That's why the summoner chooses women walking alone late at night."
Sam unfolded the note. Written plainly on it was the name "John Winchester." His heart sank. Just as he was about to ask more, a familiar voice sounded behind him. "Long time no see, Sam."
Sam turned, his heart giving a violent jolt. Meg Masters stood there in a red slip dress that outlined her shapely figure, a glass of whiskey in her hand and a seductive smile on her face. Her fingertips brushed the back of Sam's hand with deliberate tenderness, but their chill made him instinctively pull away.
"Meg? What are you doing here?" Sam's guard went up instantly. He remembered this woman. A few weeks earlier, she had hitched a ride with him on the highway, claiming to be a college student going to Chicago to visit friends. Now it seemed that encounter might not have been a coincidence either.
Meg sat opposite him and swirled the ice in her glass, making it clink sharply. "I came to meet a friend. I didn't expect to run into you." She leaned closer to Sam, lowering her voice with a hint of seduction. "I know you're looking for John Winchester. I can tell you where he is. I can even help you find the Yellow-Eyed Demon."
Sam's expression grew conflicted. He could sense a faint air of danger about Meg, but the words "Yellow-Eyed Demon" drew him like a magnet. He remembered the scene of his mother's death and the people the Yellow-Eyed Demon had hurt. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "What do you want?"
"It's simple." Meg smiled, a trace of cold killing intent flashing through her eyes. "Come somewhere with me. I'll tell you when we get there. Don't worry, I mean no harm. I just want to make a deal with John through you."
By the bar, Bai Haorui frowned. He discreetly took out three Five Emperor Coins, laid them in his palm, and silently recited an incantation. A faint black light rose from the coins, weak but steady, indicating a demonic presence nearby. "Something's wrong with that woman," he told Dean. "There's a faint demonic aura on her. She isn't a purebred demon. She's probably a follower possessed by one."
Dean chewed his gum, his eyes fixed on Sam and Meg as his fingers unconsciously rubbed the gun at his waist. "You sure? Sam isn't an idiot. He should be able to tell something's off."
"Haven't you seen what the Five Emperor Coins have done all this way?" Bai Haorui raised an eyebrow. "She wants to lure Sam somewhere. Odds are it's the altar. We'll follow them and take out her lair while we're at it. Saves us searching everywhere."
Dean immediately dropped the joking attitude and took out his car keys. "Come on. Don't lose them." Bai Haorui snorted. "Relax. Sam has a lot more self-control than you when it comes to honey traps."
As Sam followed Meg out of the bar, he winked at Bai Haorui and Dean, then turned and got into her black sedan. Dean and Bai Haorui hurried into their car and followed, keeping a steady distance behind Meg's car as they passed through several quiet streets and finally headed toward the abandoned warehouses in the south of the city. On the way, Sam sent Dean a message with two brief phrases: "Trap. Be ready."