So it turns out I'm the demon!

The girl ran very fast.

The front of her dress heaved violently, and even through the fabric, one could see the rapid, youthful rhythm.

"Your friend was captured by a monster in their dream?"

Jiang Mu raised her hand and touched Chu Lingzhu's smooth forehead. "You don't have a fever. Go away, I'm busy."

He needed to find Ling Ye to prevent him from leaving the city.

After all, the girl has already resorted to emotional and moral blackmail, so I have to help her out to some extent.

The emotions the other party showed last night cannot be faked, and Qiu Yuexin's mention of what happened three years ago coincides with the time period Ran Qingshan mentioned before.

This also proves that the girl wasn't lying.

"Oh dear, I'm not lying!"

Chu Lingzhu grabbed the other person, stamping her feet in frustration.

"My friend suddenly collapsed this morning and can't be woken up no matter what I do. He must have been kidnapped by that monster in his dream!"

"Believe me, she's cried to me more than once before, saying that a monster was chasing her in her dreams. I asked other demon slayers, but they didn't believe me. You must be powerful to have killed that fish demon..."

Seeing that the girl's expression didn't seem fake, Jiang Mu was surprised.

A monster that can hunt you down in your dreams?

That's quite unusual.

Could it be that someone has given him some kind of hallucinogenic drug?

Jiang Mu thought for a moment and said, "Lead the way."

Chu Lingzhu's face lit up with joy, and she quickly tugged at his sleeve to pull him outside.

……

On the way, Jiang Mu learned the general situation from Chu Lingzhu.

The girl's name was Lan Rou'er. Due to her family's decline and the early death of her parents, she was raised by her aunt from a young age.

Although they are relatives, living under someone else's roof is not an easy life.

He lives a humble and cautious life in his daily life.

Only her cousin, Han Yushu, took good care of her.

But this favor was only because she was on good terms with Chu Lingzhu, and Han Yushu wanted to use this opportunity to gain favor with the goddess.

"Miss Chu, you've finally arrived."

As soon as the two arrived at the gate of the Han residence, a thin, pink-clad maidservant approached them with tears in her eyes. "Miss is dying. Master has invited a high-ranking monk who is currently performing an exorcism in the courtyard..."

"Exorcising evil spirits? Do those charlatans even know how to do it?"

Chu Lingzhu's pretty face turned ugly as she grabbed Jiang Mu and rushed into the courtyard.

A simple altar was set up in the courtyard.

Four monks, each holding a wooden fish and a copper bell, chanted sutras around a young girl lying unconscious on a straw mat.

The one lying there was Lan Rou'er.

Standing nearby were Han Yushu and a middle-aged couple.

"Spirit Bamboo!"

Han Yushu's eyes lit up when he saw Chu Lingzhu.

However, when his gaze fell on Jiang Mu following behind, his expression suddenly darkened:

"What are you doing here!?"

Last time, Han Yushu was kicked by Jiang Mu at Yanchun Tower, and he was so angry that he went to the Demon Slayer Bureau to report it, but it was all ignored.

When he got home and mentioned it to his parents, his father waved his hand and said "Never mind" as soon as he heard that the other party was from the Demon Slayer Division.

He was scolded by his mother again, who berated him for not knowing his own limitations.

With both old and new grudges, they naturally didn't have a pleasant expression when Jiang Mu arrived uninvited.

Jiang Mu ignored the giant baby and walked to the straw mat, bending down to take a closer look.

"Who are you, benefactor?!"

An elderly monk, dressed in a kasaya and seemingly in charge, stepped forward and sternly rebuked, "This is a sacred place for Buddhist rituals. Unauthorized personnel must immediately step back and not disturb the Dharma!"

Jiang Mu was too lazy to waste words and directly showed the Demon Slayer Division's hall master token.

The old monk immediately put his hands together in prayer, bowed, and smiled apologetically.

"Amitabha... So you are a high-ranking official from the Demon Slayer Division. This humble monk has been disrespectful."

The couple also came over.

The man was in his early forties, with a square face; he was none other than Han Chenghu, the head of the Han family.

The woman beside him looked to be in her thirties, very well-maintained, with a mature and alluring charm in her eyes and brows.

Her gaze swept over Jiang Mu, her expression indifferent.

Han Chenghu glanced at the token, his brow furrowing slightly: "This sir has come to...?"

Jiang Mu said calmly, "I received a report that there are demons causing trouble here, so I came to take a look."

"monster?"

Han Chenghu glanced at Chu Lingzhu beside him, his expression somewhat displeased.

"You've misunderstood, sir. My niece just accidentally got some dirt on her. The master is performing an exorcism now, and she'll be fine soon."

Whether or not there are monsters is up to me to decide.

Jiang Mu put away the token and said calmly, "Carry the person back inside first."

Han Chenghu's lips moved as if he wanted to argue, but the lady beside him gently tugged at his sleeve.

"Master, since the lord is here, it wouldn't hurt to let him take a look. After all, the Demon Slayer Division is the real expert."

Madam Han's voice was cold and clear.

Han Chenghu hesitated for a moment, but ultimately said nothing more, and waved for the servants to carry Lan Rou'er into her boudoir.

The monks fell silent, retreating to the side.

Jiang Mu followed her into the house.

The side room was simply and elegantly furnished and quite clean.

There was also a pot of orchids on the small table by the window.

He looked around but didn't see anything unusual. Then he walked to the bedside and reached out to lift Lan Rou'er's eyelids.

The girl's pupils were somewhat unfocused, and the whites of her eyes were covered with spiderweb-like blood vessels.

"Although there's no obvious demonic aura emanating from it, these symptoms..."

"nightmare?"

These two words popped into Jiang Mu's mind.

He suddenly remembered that he had seen in the Demon Slayer's files that there was a special kind of monster called "Nightmare".

It delights in devouring people's vital energy and soul in their dreams.

It is said that those who are afflicted by it will fall into endless nightmares once they fall asleep, their spirits will gradually wither away, and they will eventually die in their dreams.

The problem is, how do we deal with this thing?

He has no experience.

Jiang Mu frowned, then suddenly a thought struck her.

Since it's something on the spiritual level, I wonder if demonic energy will work?

He grasped Lan Rou'er's icy wrist and tried to mobilize the demonic energy in the magic tank, injecting a wisp into her body.

hum!

The moment the demonic energy entered her body, Jiang Mu felt a wave of dizziness.

A huge black vortex seemed to appear before his eyes, pulling at his consciousness.

He felt a chill run down his spine and immediately withdrew his hand, severing the connection to the demonic energy.

Sure enough!

Jiang Mu was overjoyed.

This demonic energy could actually act as a bridge, pulling his consciousness into Lan Rou'er's dream.

"You all get out."

Jiang Mu turned to the group of people who had followed her in and said.

"No!"

Han Yushu was the first to jump out and object.

"What kind of decorum is it for a man and a woman to be alone in a room? Besides, Lord Jiang's reputation for womanizing... if it gets out, it will damage my cousin Rou'er's reputation."

Chu Lingzhu glared at Han Yushu, about to say she would stay and look after things, but Madam Han spoke first, saying calmly:

"I'll stay. Rou'er is my niece after all, it's better if I take care of her."

Jiang Mu pondered for a moment, then ignored it.

Han Yushu wanted to say something, but after being glared at by his mother, he reluctantly followed the others out.

The door closed.

The room immediately fell silent.

Only the unconscious girl, Jiang Mu, and Madam Han remained.

Jiang Mu took out a protective talisman from his pocket, handed it to Madam Han, and said solemnly:

"Madam Han, I am now going to help your niece exorcise the demon. Take this talisman and stay by her bedside, carefully observing her condition. Once her breathing stops, immediately stick the talisman on her, understand?"

"Um."

Madam Han responded, but did not reach out to take the talisman.

Jiang Mu looked at him with some confusion.

But the beautiful woman who had been dignified and aloof just moments before now stared at him with her eyes filled with resentful tears.

Her eyes, as they moved, seemed to be able to draw out threads.

"?"

A sense of foreboding suddenly rose in Jiang Mu's heart.

The next moment, a fragrant breeze wafted over.

The woman's soft body nestled into his arms, and without a word, she pecked his cheek hard with her red lips.

A voice, tinged with reproach and resentment, whispered in his ear:

"You rascal, it's been so long since you remembered to come see me. I thought you'd forgotten about me."

Jiang Mu was dumbfounded.

I curse Jiang Chen, you damn god!

Are you a pile driver?

I never expected to find a lover here.

At this moment, Jiang Mu felt an urge to draw his sword.

He gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath, forcefully pushing away the soft, fragrant body in his arms:

"Madam, please have some self-respect."

"How long has it been? I've gone from a sweet little girl to a lady?"

Madam Han playfully poked him in the chest.

"You little devil, you're really heartless, you even beat up your aunt's son."

"But so be it. You're my man, and my son is your son too. It's only right for a father to discipline his son."

"I'm still not satisfied... You can bully your aunt tonight, that's fine too~"

"Auntie, you can hit me however you want~"