71: Chapter 71 House Arrest

The clamor of discussion that had previously arisen over the word "Gu" seemed to freeze in everyone's throats, turning into a chilling, deathly silence.

On every Face, there was a clear reflection of shock, disbelief, and a fear that seemed to originate from the very marrow of their bones.

Demons.

Unlike the exotic beasts and Spirit Fish that could be hunted and harvested for materials, these were filthy existences that brought only calamity and destruction.

The history books of the previous dynasty were stained with blood: when the Drought Demon emerged, the land turned red for a thousand miles, and corpses of the starving littered the fields; when the Plague Demon ran rampant, cities became graveyards, leaving nine out of ten houses empty; furthermore, evil demons bewitched the hearts of men, turning people into Demonic Martial Artists who turned against their own kin, causing countless tragedies.

Everything about a Demon—their flesh and blood, their Aura, and even the traces left behind after death—was toxic and polluting to humans, requiring special methods for purification and containment.

Situated by the sea with busy shipping lanes, Donghai Prefecture was well-informed, and everyone present had, to some extent, heard terrifying rumors from afar regarding Demon uprisings.

Yet those rumors always took place in distant frontiers, chaotic disaster zones, or forbidden regions sealed off by major Sects and the imperial court's heavy troops.

How could... how could it appear here in Donghai Prefecture, on the body of a direct descendant of a prominent family like the Li Family?!

The moment Li Chongshan heard those four words, his expression became extremely unsightly.

On that square, dignified Face, which usually showed no emotion, his red beard and hair now moved without wind, and deep within his eyes, it seemed as if magma was surging, cooling, and then freezing into ice.

He did not immediately fly into a rage to demand answers, nor did he lose his composure to ask for details.

He simply stared fixedly at Guo Yanlin, as if to confirm whether this Daoist was spouting nonsense.

Guo Yanlin calmly met the gaze of this Dragon Elephant Realm family head, his eyes open and honest, without the slightest hint of evasion or hesitation.

Silence, like a solid block of lead, weighed upon everyone's hearts.

After a few breaths, Li Chongshan slowly closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, the surging waves in his eyes had been forcibly suppressed, leaving only a bottomless, gloomy depth.

He turned his head and quickly whispered a few words to the head Steward, Steward, who had been standing by his side with an equally pale Face.

His voice was kept extremely low, but those with slightly higher cultivation and keen hearing present, such as Jiang Hanzhou, still vaguely caught a few fragmented words: "...seal the news... investigate thoroughly... Guanchao Cliff... people who have come into contact... not a single one missed..."

Steward nodded heavily, his expression extremely solemn.

After giving his instructions, Li Chongshan did not look at anyone in the room again, not even glancing at his unconscious son on the bed.

He flicked his sleeves abruptly, turned around, and strode out of the inner chamber.

His crimson figure passed through the crowd, and that Aura, heavy as a mountain yet suppressing monstrous rage, made everyone subconsciously hold their breath and step aside; no one dared to stop him, and no one dared to ask.

After Li Chongshan left, the air in the inner chamber seemed to begin circulating again.

But that heaviness and trepidation did not dissipate.

Everyone looked at each other, their exchanged glances filled with confusion and unease.

Being involved with a Demon... this had far exceeded the scope of a typical medical dispute, and even went beyond the scope of internal power struggles within a prominent family.

This was a heaven-shaking matter sufficient to alarm the Prefectural Governors Mansion, the Naval Yamen, and even higher levels of power!

The Li Family's head Steward, Steward, took a deep breath and walked to the center of the inner chamber.

His Face had returned to its usual steady and gentle expression, but the lingering trace of trepidation deep in his eyes exposed the turmoil within his heart.

He bowed to everyone in the room, his voice clear and steady: "Honorable physicians and gentlemen, today's matter is of great importance and far exceeds our expectations. Our family head is emotionally agitated and must excuse himself for now; we hope for your understanding."

He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping over every Face, his tone gentle yet carrying an unquestionable force: "To prevent the news from leaking and causing unnecessary panic, and to facilitate subsequent investigations, I am afraid I must trouble you all to reside in our residence for a few days. During this period, all food and accommodation will be arranged by the residence. If any of you have family members or Disciples outside who need to be notified or settled, you may inform me, and the Li Family will handle it properly and compensate you for any losses incurred due to this delay."

The words were spoken politely, acting with courtesy before resorting to force.

But the meaning was clear: until the matter was cleared up, no one should think about leaving the Li Residence easily.

Hearing this, the expressions of everyone in the room changed.

Some frowned in displeasure, some showed worry, and others had flickering eyes, deep in thought.

But in the end, no one voiced any objection.

Firstly, the Li Family was powerful and could be considered a feudal lord in this Donghai Prefecture, not someone to be easily offended.

Secondly, this matter involved "Demons," and the nature of it was too sensitive.

As those who were in the know, if they were easily let go, the Li Family would likely be the first to be uneasy, and the authorities might not necessarily approve either.

Temporary house arrest was, on the contrary, a form of protection for them.

At least, on the surface, it was.

Thirdly, Steward had lowered his posture enough and promised to compensate for losses, which was giving them enough Face.

Seeing no objections, Steward nodded slightly: "Thank you all for your understanding. Shortly, servants will lead you to the guest courtyard to rest. Lunch has been prepared in the reception hall; please follow me."

Everyone followed silently, leaving the inner chamber that was permeated with the smell of medicine and a cold, eerie Aura.

Jiang Hanzhou walked among the crowd, his expression as usual.

There was not much turmoil in his heart.

Staying temporarily at the Li Residence was not necessarily a bad thing for him.

The place was heavily guarded, which instead provided a quiet environment to Cultivate.

As for potential risks... given his current strength and trump cards, as long as it wasn't a Dragon Elephant Realm expert like Li Chongshan personally making trouble, escaping should not be difficult.

As his thoughts flowed, everyone had already been led to a spacious and elegant reception hall.

Two sumptuous banquets were already set up in the hall, with mountain delicacies and seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, and fine wines, all fully provided, showing that although the Li Family had encountered a change, their hospitality remained thorough.

But at this moment, most people looked at the table full of delicacies but found themselves having little appetite.

The two words "Demon" loomed over the banquet like a shadow.

Only Daoist Master Guo remained calm and composed, even taking the initiative to lift his chopsticks and pick up a piece of steamed sea bass to savor carefully.

Such demeanor of his immediately made him the focus of everyone's attention.

Previously in the inner chamber, it was he who had revealed the secret with one word, diagnosing the "Gu" and the "Blood of a Demon."

At this moment, he naturally became the most mysterious expert in everyone's hearts, and the one most likely to know the inside story.

"Daoist Master Guo's medical skills are profound and his knowledge extensive; today has truly opened our eyes!" An old physician from the prefecture capital took the lead in raising his glass to toast, his tone flattering.

"Indeed, indeed! If not for the Daoist Master's Wisdom Eye, I fear we would still be like blind men touching an elephant, unaware of the truth." Another Jianghu physician hurriedly echoed.

"The Daoist Master has traveled far and wide; surely you must have unique insights into that 'Demon' matter? Would you be willing to enlighten us a little?" someone asked tentatively.

For a time, the sounds of toasting, flattery, and inquiry were endless.