Shen Li's injury was more serious than Fu Rongjun initially thought. It took them all afternoon just to stop the bleeding and bring some color back to her skin. She no longer looked like someone knocking on death's door.
Fu Rongjun relaxed as things improved. He asked, "High G.o.d, what kind of monster had the ability to injure the Azure Sky King like this?" as he directed the qi in Shen Li's body.
Fu Rongjun's impression of the king was that of a b.l.o.o.d.y monstrous general that no one could take down. It really shocked him to see her in such a vulnerable state.
"This matter with the immortals may be more complicated than expected…" Xing Zhi muttered. "The mastermind behind it all is still loose. Furthermore, I don't know if there are any other conspiracies. Shen Li is severely poisoned. It's not a good idea for her to return to the Demon realm in her current condition. The best course of action is to rest for tonight. Early tomorrow morning you should go to the Demon realm and tell the emperor about the situation so he can mentally prepare himself. After that you must return to heaven. This is a grave matter so you should not delay."
Fu Rongjun blinked. "Me? Go?" He was somewhat unwilling. "It was with great difficulty that we resolved the matter with Yangzhou. But… I didn't have any time to play…"
Xing Zhi looked Fu Rongjun in the eyes. With a smile he said, "My lord wishes to have some fun? Would you like me to call forth two divine creatures for you to play with?"
Divine creatures from the Heavens Beyond the Heavens were not to be trifled with; people, even immortals, couldn't handle them, much less survive "playing" with them.
Fu Rongjun quickly nodded his head. "I will leave tomorrow, however there are still many in Yangzhou who have inhaled the miasma. What should be done about them?"
"I have already cut off the miasma's origin. The four cardinal seals have also been restored to their proper state. [seals from c22-24, wood from the forest, water from the lake, stone from the practice drilling platform, and metal from the chains in front of the Ruins. The unifying fire seal was a separate one inside the Ruins.] The miasma will eventually peter out on its own. As for those sick patients, I have a solution." Xing Zhi checked on Shen Li's complexion before continuing. "There is no other issue here to resolve. Go and prepare to leave early tomorrow morning."
Fu Rongjun curled his lips unhappily. He turned away and left looking for Xi. The sound of his voice drifted inside as he called for her.
..."Catch," Shen Li whispered. She opened her eyes with difficulty. She was awake and coherent.
Xing Zhi raised her up and held her against his shoulder so she would be more comfortable. "Are you hurting anywhere?"
Shen Li tugged at Xing Zhi's clothes. "Fu Sheng, did you capture him?"
"Fu Sheng?"
"The one that burned Xing Yun's yard that year." Shen Li clenched her teeth. "I hadn't noticed anything amiss at the time, but the events of that night were too well orchestrated. That time we went to Prince Rui's [prince with the semi-dead princess] manor and Xiao He [lotus demon raised to be sacrificed by Prince Rui] found out about the secret he was keeping from her, there was demonic aura in the air, but I had ignored it. It never occurred to me…"
At the time, Shen Li had felt a faint demon aura, but had dismissed it thinking that it was coming from those sent by the emperor to retrieve her.
"Now he's even s.n.a.t.c.hed the land G.o.ds and turned them into strange beasts. Just shameful! I don't know how a n.o.body b.a.s.t.a.r.d like him got the audacity to use magic to commit such evil deeds, but when I catch him…"
Xing Zhi looked thoughtful. He didn't know what he was feeling. He patted her back and said, "First heal your wound. Everything comes later."
Shen Li slowly let out a breath. It was an automatic reaction to being held by his side. The realization that she was so relaxed in his presence made her uneasy so she tried to twist her body away. "It's better if I lie down."
Xing Zhi acted like he didn't hear and instead moved cold air from his hand into her body. Shen Li a.s.sumed he was healing her so she obediently remained in his embrace and stopped trying to twist away.
"Is the poison in my body hard to purge?"
"It is somewhat difficult." Although his words were worrisome, his voice was light and relaxed so Shen Li wasn't worried, instead she asked. "When can we return to the Demon realm?"
"In time," Xing Zhi answered absentmindedly. His voice was faint as he spoke. "Wait until I reduce the miasma concentration further and after I teach the people here how to dispel the residue."
...That night Fu Rongjun dismantled the barrier around the temple after the miasma stopped flowing. He took Xi to sit on the rooftop. "Do you want to see the stars?"
Xi blinked her large, hopeful eyes at him. "Is that possible?"
Fu Rongjun smiled. "If you want to see them, I can show you." So saying he waved his hand and a cool breeze blew across the sky. The sheet of miasma hanging above Xi's head disappeared to reveal a clean crisp sky dotted with stars.
Xi gasped in admiration. "They really appeared! How pretty!"
Fu Rongjun gazed at Xi affectionately. "In my eyes, you are as beautiful as the stars."
Xi turned to stare blankly at Fu Rongjun. He held her gaze as his lips slowly descended on hers.
"Xi!" A loud voice clearly filled with anger yelled out Xi's name nearly breaking her ear drums.
Xi turned to the source of the voice at once. She could see Yan standing below them. Ru Fongjun shouted angrily down to Yan before she could say anything.
"You again?!"
Yan's eyes were like sharp arrows stabbing straight into Fu Rongjun's body. Fu Rongjun was the kind of person to take advantage of the weak but was himself afraid of those stronger than him. He knew Yan could kill him but he also knew Yan couldn't act on that desire. In the current situation all Yan could do was try to kill Fu Rongjun with his fierce glare.
"He's always like that. Don't pay him any mind." Fu Rongjun said as he took Xi's hand in his.
Xi drew back and pulled her hand out of his grasp. "I… I should go down."
Fu Rongjun moved closer and whispered in her ear. "I know you like him, but right now he has another woman. How terrible is that? If you don't let him be a little jealous, a little nervous, you're going to always in the palm of his hands." Fu Rongjun smiled at Xi with a twinkle in his eyes. "Isn't this lord a master of love? Believe in me."
Xi stared like a hopeful fool at Fu Rongjun. "Great immortal is helping me?"
"Of course! But payment is required. You must reward this lord with a kiss."
Xi's face turned beet red. Waving her hand she immediately said, "I can't. I can't."
Fu Rongjun burst out in laughter. "You are so fun to tease." He reached for her waist and pulled her against him in an embrace. He turned them around so even their shadows were out of sight.
Yan was stunned as he stood below the roof looking up at them. A myriad of emotions washed over him one after the other. Astonishment was quickly replaced by anger only to by shoved aside by a growing sense of panic. It tore at his heart. This girl, that had grown up beside him, that had always belonged to him, was being stolen by this guy! He couldn't contain his panic.
