“Jared, what about that demon lord hiding in your consciousness field?” Flaxseed whispered, eyes flicking to the dark between trees. “Why hasn’t it lifted a finger to help you?”

Flaxseed squinted at Jared, curiosity flickering across his pockmarked face. Why isn’t that Vermilion Demon Lord stirring?

If you fall, his soul goes down with you, yet he’s quieter than a grave at midnight. Jared frowned, the crease between his brows deepening. He reached inward, voice low and tentative. “Mr. Vermilion, can you hear me?”

Only silence answered. “Uhm… I think he‘s playing dead,” Jared muttered at last. “We can’t count on  anymore…”

“What about your fire unicorn?” Flaxseed pressed, hope creeping into his tone. Jared shook his head. “Fire unicorn, Divine Bow, those are last-resort trump cards. I won’t draw them unless the heavens themselves close in on us.”

He tapped the coiled whip at his waist. “If those Blackshade Demon Palace hounds keep dogging our trail, I’ll test the Demon Flogger. It was forged in the Ethereal Realm, but we no proof it can tame celestial realm’s demon cultivators. if its bite isn’t fierce enough, wielding it means nothing.”

Flaxseed bailed his fist, frustration flashing in his eyes. “Are we meant to run forever?”