Chapter 7: The Beauty Within the Blade

In front of the Earth God Temple on South Street, a pile of flammable wood had been stacked, half a man's height, soaked with kerosene.
Juliana Mabbett was tied to the pile, surrounded by an agitated crowd.
The burly woman who had accused her before held a torch, cursing loudly as she approached.
Juliana looked up at the gloomy sky, a bitter smile on her lips.
She had imagined dying many ways—torn apart by a demon, pierced through the heart by an enemy, even falling into a trap and dying slowly. But she had never imagined dying at the hands of the very people she sought to protect.
Fate seemed to be playing a cruel joke on her. She had risked her life to protect these people, and now they wanted her dead.
Turning her head slightly, Juliana noticed the broken clay head of the Earth God statue lying on the ground, seemingly mocking her.
Just as the woman was about to set the wood alight, a one-armed man pushed his way through the crowd.
"What are you doing? Killing someone in broad daylight—where's the law?"
The man was a butcher from the market.
"The law? The law can't deal with evil spirits!" someone shouted.
"Over a hundred children have been cursed because of this woman! Burn her, and the children will be saved!"
"The law won't punish us all, especially since we're dealing with an evil spirit!"
"That's right! Burn her!"
The crowd's angry shouts grew louder, and many urged the woman to hurry and set the fire.
The one-armed man was frantic. "You can't burn her! Adrian brought her here! She can't be an evil spirit!"
The mention of Adrian's name caused a moment of hesitation, even for the burly woman. But soon, someone in the crowd shouted again.
"There were no other outsiders yesterday—only her! Since she arrived, strange things have been happening. She's definitely an evil spirit! Adrian can make mistakes too!"
More and more people joined in, yelling to burn her.
The one-armed man was pushed aside by several strong townsmen. Alone, he was no match for the crowd's fury.
Falling to the ground, he yelled at them, "You're the ones possessed! You're the ones under a curse!"
The burly woman raised the torch, ready to set the wood ablaze.
But suddenly, the torch wouldn't budge, as if frozen in midair.
She turned around, startled.
A hand had firmly grabbed the torch.
Behind her stood a cold-eyed young man, dressed in black, with a sword strapped to his back.
"Has Sephton Town been too peaceful these past few years? Are you all so bored that you have to create trouble?" Adrian Waller's icy words made the woman immediately release the torch and step back.
The crowd fell silent.
People began stepping back, creating a large space around the temple.
Adrian held the torch and looked around. "You all want to see an evil spirit, right? Fine, I'll bring one back tomorrow. You can have your fill."
There was a rumble of thunder in the distance, and the people shuddered, taking more steps back. It seemed that, in that moment, Adrian was more terrifying than any spirit.
A small, wiry man squeezed through the crowd and slapped the burly woman across the face, spinning her in place three times.
"You disgraceful woman! Who told you to come here and cause trouble? The woman Adrian brought back can't be an evil spirit! Are you out of your mind?"
The woman, feeling wronged, muttered, "Hitting your wife doesn't prove anything! Our son is barely alive. If it's not a curse, then what is it?"
The wiry man glared at her. "Even if our son dies today, I believe in Adrian! If it weren't for him, we'd all be dead when the mine was cursed last year! If anyone doesn't trust him, speak up now!"
The townsfolk lowered their heads in shame.
Adrian's presence in Sephton Town was almost legendary. The people might be ignorant, but they weren't stupid. They knew that the town's safety wasn't due to the magistrate's governance but because of this demon hunter from Bluffhove Mountain.
A group of yamen officers rushed over, led by Zayden Wrath.
After understanding the situation, Zayden was furious, threatening to arrest everyone involved. The scene in front of the temple quickly turned chaotic, filled with apologies and pleas for mercy.
Adrian untied Juliana and led her away from South Street.
By the time they returned to Cloth Alley, it had begun to rain heavily.
"Why did you come?" Juliana asked softly.
"To take you to Jadesford City." Adrian gestured to the Lunar Jade hanging from his neck. "This thing's surely worth two hundred taels, right?"
Juliana smiled gently and nodded. "It is."
"What happened on the mountain wasn't exactly me saving you. I would've killed that wolf demon whether you were there or not. This jade will be the escort fee."
Adrian tucked the Lunar Jade into his collar. "But let me be clear: I'll only take you to Jadesford City, not a step further. After that, you're on your own, and we settle our accounts."
Juliana looked at the young man in black before her, her voice soft. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me. It's just business. You want it, I do it—two hundred taels is still a job I can handle," Adrian replied.
"Do you have any old clothes? I'd like to take a bath."
Juliana's white dress was stained with oil, and her hands and feet were covered in kerosene. She looked disheveled.
"There's a set in the cabinet. If you want to bathe, you'll have to do it here in the room." Adrian pointed to a wooden tub in the corner.
The room was small, with only one partition, and even the cooking had to be done in the yard.
Adrian found a gray robe and heated water, filling the tub.
"I'll wait outside." Adrian picked up his blade and opened the door.
The rain outside poured down heavily.
Juliana hesitated for a moment before saying, "No need. Just turn your back and don't look."
Adrian paused, then closed the door again and sat on a stool, facing away from the tub.
"Don't worry, I keep my word. I won't turn around."
"I trust you."
Seeing Adrian seated with his back turned, Juliana bit her lip and began to undress and bathe.
The rain poured down outside, while the room remained quiet, save for the soft sound of water.
Lady Juliana had never bathed in the presence of another person, and her cheeks were flushed red the entire time.
Halfway through her bath, she bit her lip and glanced back.
Adrian sat quietly on the stool, his back to her, tinkering with his long blade.
"You are a gentleman," Juliana whispered softly.
Adrian just snorted in response.
A gentleman?
Only a fool would be a gentleman.
Adrian adjusted the angle of his blade, continuing to admire the reflection in its surface.
Each time he glanced, he swallowed involuntarily.
When Juliana had finished and changed into the clean robe, the rain outside had stopped.
The robe was a bit too large for her, as it was a man's garment.
Juliana used the belt from her dress to cinch her waist, tied her hair into a simple ponytail, and looked clean and refreshed—less like a delicate lady, more like a spirited warrior.
"When are we leaving? You're the employer, so you decide. But I'd suggest sooner rather than later," Adrian said as he sheathed his blade and turned around.
"I'd like to see the children who were cursed first," Juliana said.
"They wanted to burn you, and now you want to visit them? Even the Bodhisattva isn't that merciful," Adrian replied.
"The people are ignorant and easily deceived. I could see that someone incited the mob. I don't blame them. I'm just worried about the children. Over a hundred children falling ill at the same time isn't normal. I've learned some medicine from my teacher, and I might be able to help. I'd feel uneasy if I left without trying," Juliana said.
"I know most of the people in town, but there were a few unfamiliar faces in that crowd. The longer we stay, the more dangerous it gets," Adrian said.
"You'll protect me until we reach Jadesford City, won't you?" Juliana said with a playful smile.
"Employers always have their demands. Fine, do what you want until we reach Jadesford City—it's a job worth two hundred taels, after all," Adrian replied.
The two left the house and headed to the nearest family with an afflicted child.
The family of three lived by selling wild fruits they gathered from the mountains. In winter, they chopped wood to make a living. Their lives were hard.
Their daughter, a four-year-old girl, lay on the bed, her eyes rolled back, occasionally frothing at the mouth, her breathing faint—she didn't look like she had long to live.
When Adrian entered, the couple stared blankly at their daughter, at a loss.
"What did the doctor say?" Adrian asked.
Seeing Adrian, the couple seemed to grasp a lifeline.
"The doctor said it's the same as with the other children—cursed, and there's no cure."
"Adrian, please save our daughter! We beg you!"
Adrian glanced at the girl, who was barely breathing, and said, "She isn't cursed, and there's no evil spirit in your home. I can't help."
Hearing this, the couple collapsed to the ground, sobbing.
"Let me try," Juliana said, walking over to the girl and checking her pulse carefully, her delicate brows furrowing.
The couple quickly wiped their tears and waited quietly.
After a long while, Juliana withdrew her hand and said, "Bring a basin of clean water and make her drink it—enough to make her vomit. Make her vomit at least three times."
The couple hurried to comply, fetching the water.
They were desperate and willing to try anything. They couldn't afford a doctor from a big city, so they had nothing to lose.
The little girl drank the entire basin of water, vomiting three times.
Afterward, her complexion improved, her breathing grew steadier, and before long, she slowly opened her eyes.
The couple, overjoyed, kept bowing in thanks.
Juliana instructed them to spread the word to help save the other afflicted children before leaving the house.
"I was wrong. It really is an evil spirit," Adrian said.
"No, you were right. The girl wasn't cursed—she was poisoned. I can't tell what kind of poison it is, but this method seems to alleviate it. Luckily, it worked," Juliana said, worry evident in her eyes.
"Using even young children... If that isn't evil, then what is? There are many evils in this world that wear a human face, that look just like us but are crueler than any demon," Adrian said coldly.
Juliana fell silent, feeling a pang of guilt.
The quiet town had turned into someone's chessboard ever since she, a noblewoman, had arrived.
The innocent townsfolk had become pawns in someone else's game.
"Let's leave now," Juliana said, her resolve firm.
Only by leaving could Sephton Town return to true peace.
At the street corner, Zayden Wrath and two constables hurried over.
"Adrian! There you are! The magistrate wants you to come and examine a body!"