This was why Xing Zhi wondered why Hu Lu didn't report the kidnappings to the heavens.
Those from the Demon realm are not immortals though they are long-lived.
[Translator/Editor: otwentyfirst]
[July 7, 2019]
...
The man in Shen Li's grasp was so scared by the sight of her red eyes that he almost fainted. The immortal next to him was like-wise really frightened. He quickly apologized to Shen Li, urging her to release his friend, however Shen Li was too angry to hear his pleas.
Instead the guy she was holding turned blue as her grip tightened.
This was not good so Xing Zhi called out to her.
Shen Li glanced at Xing Zhi. Although she didn't release her grip, she did loosen it enough for the man to breathe.
"Cruel... bar...baric... savage..." As soon as he got some air, he commenced talking again.
Shen Li turned to him and gave him a cold smile. "I wasn't going to kill you, but since you've worked so hard to convince me, I'll do you the favor. Aren't you lucky?"
Shen Li tightened her grip further causing his color to change from blue to purple as he foamed at the mouth. Out of fright, the other immortals cried out in alarm.
Xing Zhi reached out to her and touched her hand but he didn't force her to let go. All he said was, "Hurting him will make things more difficult for the people of the Demon realm."
Shen Li gnashed her teeth. "This person is full of venom, spewing slander against my people and insulting my emperor. Now I can't even maim or kill him. It's hard for me to settle the anger in my heart."
"Shen Li..." Xing Zhi sighed helplessly.
Shen Li didn't understand why it was bad to give vent to her anger by hurting the immortal in front of her. He and his kind constantly bad-mouthed her people with malicious gossip. It was frustrating to constantly be told to endure.
She roughly tossed the immortal onto the ground then walked away, kicking the shrubs in her path as she did so.
The other immortals rushed to aide their fallen comrade. He was dizzy and slightly bruised, but otherwise unhurt. They still felt the need to complain.
"He only said a few words, such uncalled-for anger. The demon people really have no empathy, so unforgiving!"
Shen Li was amazed at the irony of the words coming from the group of immortals. "Empathy?" She laughed a laughter filled with qi. The force shocked the immortals and shook their hearts, forcing them to cover their ears from the power. "Isn't it because I empathized with you that I came and rescued you?"
In a fit of anger, she had continued speaking with qi in her voice and she would have continued some more had a hand not swiftly covered her mouth. All the qi was pushed back inside, making her take a step back in surprise.
She b.u.mped into Xing Zhi when she did so. His chest was warm and his aura wrapped all around her. It was like a cool breeze had blown in and dispersed her resentment. All that remained was a stuffed up feeling in her chest that left her feeling fl.u.s.tered.
"My friends, just because those who captured you used demon magic doesn't mean someone from the demon race is involved. This could be a deliberate attempt to undermine the relations.h.i.+p between the two realms. My friends, I hope you do not listen to idle gossip and a.s.sist the villain inadvertently."
Shen Li felt the vibrations in Xing Zhi's chest as he talked. It had a lulling effect on her and she zoned out without realizing it, but her annoyance came back upon seeing the immortals in front of her nodding along to what he was saying. She pushed his hand away from her mouth and struggled out of his embrace. Once successful, she turned around and gave him a glare before walking away and kicking the rocks and gra.s.ses underfoot like an angry child.
Xing Zhi shook his head lightly and smiled as he watched her walk away. He continued, "I won't keep you all in the dark. I stayed in the Demon realm with the demon people for several days not too long ago. They are not a bloodthirsty race. The people are straightforward and direct. If the act of kidnapping immortals in the Mortal realm was meant to start a war, then they would have prepared for it with the appropriate military preparations. I saw no evidence of this at their military camps while I was there."
The gathered immortals mulled over what he said. A white-haired old man of the group touched his beard and spoke. "As far as I know, the only immortal who visited the Demon realm recently was the Heavenly Emperor's grandson, Fu Rongjun, who is wedded to a person in the demon world. Could it be the woman who just now proclaimed herself to be the Azure Sky King is Fu Rongjun's wife, from that rumored married couple?"
Xing Zhi's brow twitched slightly and he glanced over at Shen Li.
Shen Li had not heard the old immortal. She was some distance away from them leaning against a tree and looking at the waterfall. The corner of Xing Zhi's mouth arched up slightly. It was incorrect to call Shen Li and Fu Rongjun a married couple. "Fu Rongjun and the Azure Sky King are not yet wed." [the ambiguous 3rd person speech between him and the old gramps created a misunderstanding. The old gramps thinks Xing Zhi is Fu Rongjun. Not sure if Xing Zhi is playing along or just didn't catch on.]
"Ah, if great immortal says so then it must be the case."
"The Azure Sky King is deeply dedicated to the Demon people and can not stand anyone speaking poorly of them. What happened just now was simply because she is short-tempered. I hope everyone can forgive her." Xing Zhi smiled as he continued. "She is a very direct and honest person with a righteous nature who approaches matters with a sincere heart. That kind of conviction and morality… even I can not beat."
The old immortal tugged at his beard. "Great immortal is very good to the king… unlike in the rumors… hahaha." His sentence trailed off in awkward laughter. [Fu Rongjun was a well-known play boy, but here Xing Zhi (Fu Rongjun) is singing Shen Li's praises and is in generally treating her very well.]
Xing Zhi's smile drooped a little but he remained silent. "Well she is worth it." [I'm guessing Xing Zhi is dense and not aware of the misunderstanding between him and the gramps.]
Xing Zhi asked the group of immortals some more questions about their kidnapping before letting them disperse and return to their respective territories. It was unlikely their kidnappers would appear again so soon so they wanted to use the opportunity to report to heaven.
