Bai Ran scoffed, holding up Xiao Zi's hand and spreading it open. "Whether your medical skills are any good remains to be seen. Your ability to slander and fabricate is remarkably strong."
The female doctor clenched her fists in anger. She had clearly seen the human stuff something into the Demon Emperor!
Xiao Zi was about to erupt, but the effects of the pill began to surface. His body visibly weakened, and he could no longer even sit up.
His lips turned a purplish-black, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He lacked the strength to even open his mouth, let alone curse the female doctor.
Lin Ze watched from the side, inwardly marveling. It didn't matter if this vixen was sick or not; once Bai Ran arrived, she'd make him sick even if he wasn't.
"Fiddling around for so long, can you even treat him? Don't make things worse and end up harming the Demon Emperor!"
A shrill, sharp female voice rang out. The female doctor stood with her hands on her hips, her expression contemptuous and disdainful.
Bai Ran stopped what she was doing and obligingly made way for her. "Since that's the case, then this humble woman shall broaden her horizons."
The female doctor mistook Bai Ran's words as her being unable to diagnose the illness.
"Human woman, let me show you what a real doctor is."
She laughed wildly, her laughter laced with malicious sarcasm.
The female doctor swayed her body as she ascended the platform and knelt beside Xiao Zi, then removed her conical hat.
Thick makeup and a pungent perfume hit the senses, making Xiao Zi frown repeatedly.
He wanted to curse, but he didn't have the strength to speak.
Let alone Xiao Zi, Lin Ze, who was not far away, smelled the perfume and retreated with disgust.
"Demon Emperor, please extend your hand."
Xiao Zi's expression was grim, and he barely had the strength to speak, let alone extend his hand?
Seeing that he did not move, the female doctor took his arm and began to feel his pulse.
While claiming to be treating him, her seductive demeanor suggested she came from a pleasure house.
Bai Ran watched her perform, chuckling softly and shaking her head.
Anyone could see the female doctor's intentions. If she were lucky enough to catch the Demon Emperor's eye, her future would be secured.
"Doctor! Can you discern the Demon Emperor's illness?"
Bai Ran's voice, laced with a smile, echoed. The female doctor's expression grew increasingly serious.
She held Xiao Zi's pulse for a long time, then, in disbelief, moved her fingers to different positions.
The female doctor remained silent, but her expression was telling. She did not know.
"How can there be such a strange illness in this world? Weak in body and spirit, yet the spiritual energy remains potent."
It was indeed a terminal illness, but she did not know the cause nor could she diagnose it.
Such a complex illness could not possibly have been caused by this human; she lacked the ability.
Bai Ran raised an eyebrow, watching the female doctor with interest. "She actually has some skill."
"Doctor! How is the Demon Emperor's illness?"
The family heads below stared intently at the platform, eagerly awaiting her answer.
But to their surprise, the female doctor's face fell, her eyes cold. She shook her head. "The Demon Emperor's illness..."
"No one can cure it."
As soon as she spoke, the demons below collapsed to their knees, as if struck by lightning.
Bai Ran exchanged a look with Lin Ze, who immediately understood and stepped forward.
"The Demon Emperor's dying wish was for me to inherit the position of Demon Emperor."
"Although I have done many irreversible things in the past, there were reasons behind them. I hope all you family heads will abide by the Demon Emperor's last wish."
The family heads below wore somber expressions, whether out of genuine grief or pretense, it didn't matter as long as it was acceptable.
Now that the Demon Emperor was critically ill and the entire Lu Mansion was facing punishment, a strong leader was indeed needed.
"The Demon Emperor had placed a seal within me. Please rest assured, all you family heads."
"Under normal circumstances, I will not lose consciousness."
Lin Ze's strength was well-known. Now, with the protection of the seal, they could only accept him. There was no other choice.
The family heads exchanged glances and finally accepted their new Demon Emperor.
"Hail the succession of the new Demon Emperor—"
Lin Ze became the ruling emperor. His first order of business was to dismiss the women who had been sent as tributes.
His second task was to plan a grand funeral for the former Demon Emperor.
That's right, Xiao Zi 'died' on the third day.
The entire clan was draped in white to mourn the former Demon Emperor.
Xiao Zi, covered in a white cloth, had his limbs aching from pretending to be dead.
The moment he was about to be placed in the mausoleum, Bai Ran collected him into her spatial dimension, successfully smuggling Xiao Zi out.
"I never thought I'd witness my own death scene firsthand."
Xiao Zi rotated his arms and twisted his stiff legs; even the base of his tail had gone numb.
Bai Ran looked at him and chuckled. "Wasn't this your idea?"
To cooperate with their act, she hadn't even met anyone from the Medicine Valley.
If she hadn't failed to cure the Demon Emperor's illness, it wouldn't have caused such a stir, and she wouldn't have encountered disciples from the Medicine Valley.
However, from the second master of the Alchemist Guild, she had learned about the Blood of Gods and Demons.
Xiao Zi set up a teleportation array. In a secluded corner, two figures vanished from the demon realm.
Lin Ze stood with his hands behind his back in the empty palace hall, unable to suppress his feelings of loss.
"Alas..."
Back in the courtyard, Zhu Que pounced on him with a bear hug.
Jing Feng glared at Xiao Zi, grinding his teeth. "Vixen, why didn't you die in the demon realm?"
Xiao Zi spread his hands, looking helpless. "I'm truly sorry, but I already died in the demon realm."
This statement utterly confused Jing Feng.
"Miss Bai, someone came looking for you while you were away."
Jing Feng recalled the group of people in strange attire and spoke to Bai Ran.
"They claimed to be from the Medicine Valley, searching for their young valley master."
Jing Feng had never seen the real Medicine Valley, so he couldn't be sure if these people were genuine.
Medicine Valley? Bai Ran frowned. Why would they come looking for her?
Jing Feng handed Bai Ran two items. "This is the communication jade pendant they left behind, and a portrait."
The portrait had been enchanted, and it would be destroyed immediately after one viewing. Jing Feng hadn't dared to sneak a peek.
Bai Ran put away the jade pendant and untied the rope of the portrait.
The entire portrait unfurled, depicting a handsome young boy with lifelike detail.
But... why did this appearance seem so familiar to Bai Ran?
Xiao Zi looked at the portrait and felt as if he had seen it somewhere before, finding it very familiar.
"Ah!" Zhu Que shrieked, drawing everyone's attention.
"The scent on this portrait is exactly the same as that on Master's teacher!"
Xuan Qing Hong!
The portrait ignited, turning into powder in the air and dissipating into nothingness.
In an instant, the figure in the portrait merged with the image of her master. Bai Ran's eyes grew serious.
Was her master the young valley master of the Medicine Valley?
And was he actually a handsome young boy?