He understood the importance of apprehending the mastermind, and he knew Shen Li wanted him to give chase as it would help prove the Demon realm's innocence, and yet…
He couldn't walk away.
His grip unconsciously tightened as he stared at the pale face of the woman in his arms. She never painted her lips red or lived her life like other women. She was strong and had never hid behind anyone's back. She was much like the red-ta.s.seled silver spear she wielded, forceful and unyielding.
As she said, there was no Xing Zhi before, no one who could protect her. She was used to relying only on herself, to fighting alone, to guarding and bearing the burden of the Demon realm alone.
To see such a formidable woman in such a weakened state was both strange and distressing. She was like a cat that liked to reach out and lazily scratch at his heart with her claws. By the time he noticed those lazy scratches of hers, it was too late and the scratches had become itchy and painful. It was a hard to describe feeling.
"This person… so troublesome." The four words drifted from his lips into the empty room. He remained where he was, cradling Shen Li against is chest.
...Xi carried the unused medicine box as she followed Fu Rongjun around the exterior of the temple. He had allowed her to be his personal attendant.
Xi's martial art skills were not great so it took a lot of effort for her to keep her tail hidden. She quietly called out to Fu Rongjun.
At her call, he turned around with a bright smile on his face. He asked, "Tired sweetie? Want to rest?"
Xi wanted to hand the medicine box to Fu Rongjun. "Great immortal, I very much want to help, but I'm afraid I might accidentally change into my true form…"
"That won't happen." Fu Rongjun replied, still beaming as he circled around her. "This lord's power has imprinted on your body! It is absolutely impossible for your form to s.h.i.+ft."
Saying as much he opened up a broken fan and teasingly toyed with Xi by puffing a bit a wind at her legs. It was an ambiguously playful motion that was suggestively flirty.
Xi blushed in embarra.s.sment and took two steps back.
Fu Rongjun wore a carefree smile as he advanced one step forward his target, his fan still open.
Suddenly, out of nowhere Yan wedged himself in between them with a black sword pointed at Fu Rongjun's chest. This made Fu Rongjun take two steps back.
"Great Immortal Fu Rongjun, please conduct yourself appropriately." Yan only said the single sentence before grabbing the medicine box in Xi's hand and hurling it to the ground. Then he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back into the temple.
Fu Rongjun's face turned green. "Ah! So you would let your lover touch you like that ha?"
The words stunned Xi. She looked at Yan only to see him barely turn his head to the side. In a cold voice he said, "I and Little Xi have no such feelings for one another. I ask that great immortal not slander Little Xi's good name." He tugged at Xi's hand to pull her back, but she refused to move. He was incredibly annoyed as he looked at her. "What are you still standing there for? Do you want to stay here and be taken advantage of?"
Xi tucked her head down, feeling the reprimand was unfair. "You're being so fierce."
Yan furrowed his brow. He was about to speak when a clamor by the temple gates caught his attention. He saw a white billowy figure hurriedly carrying a b.l.o.o.d.y figure into the temple. The man's voice was low but it resonating loud and clear. "Where is Fu Rongjun?"
Fu Rongjun had also noticed the scene. He immediately became respectful and hurriedly followed behind Xing Zhi into the temple. "What happened?"
Xi was also curious. She craned her neck to see what was going on.
Yan watched as Xi followed Fu Rongjun with her eyes. It made him unhappy so he moved his body in front of her to block her view. "Do you want others to take advantage of you?"
"Great Immortal Fu Rongjun is a good person…"
Yan's face turned extremely ugly. "Shut up."
Xi mumbled to herself, "I didn't do anything wrong… why are you so unhappy? You're being so hard on me for no good reason. You should just go back and take care of that other person."
Yan shot Xi an uncomfortable glance. "Little Xi… I do have my reasons."
Xi turned her head away. "Whatever Brother Yan does is right. There's always a reason, and I'm always wrong." She quickly walked away after saying her piece, leaving Yan to stare blankly after her.
Meanwhile inside the temple Fu Rongjun was staring at the blood covered Shen Li in shock. "How? How can she be so injured?"
Instead of answering, Xing Zhi carefully laid Shen Li on the ground. Then he held her right wrist, listening to her pulse. "Hold her left wrist and perform the divine purification spell."
Fu Rongjun didn't dare be slow. He immediately complied and held Shen Li's left hand. He was shocked the moment he touched her skin. Her body temperature was perilously low. On top of that there was something indescribable rus.h.i.+ng around inside her body mixing with her blood. He couldn't tell if it was poison or some kind of spell. He muttered apprehensively, "It was only a while ago that you left. How did this happen? It may be better to wait and confer with someone better versed in this matter."
"She doesn't trust you." Xing Zhi spoke softly. He knew Shen Li wouldn't trust Fu Rongjun or anyone from the heavens. Had her injury not been so severe, he knew she would have chased after the mastermind with a tenacious stubbornness.
Fu Rongjun ground his teeth. Even though the divine purification spell was already initiated, he couldn't help but grumble. "This guy is not the least bit feminine. She's not at loveable. I have no sweet feelings for her at all. Is there anyone who would dare marry and take such a crazed warrior woman home?!"
Xing Zhi glanced up at Fu Rongjun. His words left a sour mark in Xing Zhi's heart. He had bestowed the marriage as a gift after all. He curled his lips as he tilted his head down to look at Shen Li.
In the quiet of the temple Fu Rongjun thought he heard someone softly say, "There is." He stared up at Xing Zhi confused, but Xing Zhi's expression was the same benign one he always wore. The other didn't dodge his gaze so Fu Rongjun wondered if he misheard, after all Xing Zhi was an unfeeling G.o.d that even his sister, Luo Tian, couldn't tempt. How could someone like that have any feelings of tenderness toward a woman as masculine as Shen Li?
