Chapter 26: An Unwanted Visitor |
[Feb. 26th, 2019] . . .
It was so dark that it was hard to tell time. Shěn Lí didn’t know the direction they were walking or what their goals were. On top of that, she wasn’t sure how Xíng Zhǐ measured “two laps.” Several times she wanted to ask how much longer they had to walk, but his steps ahead of her were so sure and steady she could only clamp her mouth shut before the words could spill out. As a king, she needed to appear calm and collected.
Nonetheless she sighed repeatedly as her patience wore thin. The situation felt increasingly hopeless, like they were taking two steps forward only to retreat three. It was frustrating he wouldn’t take the necessary steps to resolve the dilemma. . .
A strong wind suddenly blew by her ear. The killing intent it brought with it was unmistakable. Shěn Lí’s face tightened. “Monster beasts.”
“Finally, I was becoming impatient,” was Xíng Zhǐ’s nonchalant reply.
Shěn Lí was shocked by his words. She was still wondering about them when a high shrill erupted nearby, making her unconsciously summon her spear. She moved forward ready for battle.
Xíng Zhǐ held is arm out stopping her. He tilted his head in her direction and asked, “Do you wish to see what the Ruins look like?”
See the Ruins? Shěn Lí looked at him uncertain. Her heart wasn’t prepared when a dazzling ball of light appeared. It danced on the palm of Xíng Zhǐ’s hand before rushing off and slamming directly into something not too far away.
Though the impact was loud, the shrill scream that accompanied it was even louder. An explosion of light followed, puncturing the darkness and illuminating the world around them.
The monsters huddled in packs, many displaying grotesquely wide grins full of sharp jagged teeth. Some had their tongues hanging out with spit and drool dripping from their open mouths. Others withdrew behind the fallen body, retreating, but still looking at Shěn Lí and Xíng Zhǐ with vicious eyes.
Shěn Lí was shocked. Even though the tiny hairs on her body rose up, she maintained an air of outward calm. The darkness gradually returned as the ball of light faded away. She asked, “This whole time we were walking. . . you knew they were watching us?”
“Of course.”
His light tone made Shěn Lí ponder silently. It had cost so much for her to kill the single fox-tailed scorpion. The person in front of her was able to dispatch a monster beasts while chatting. He could stroll so casually while surrounded by so many. This kind of power was mind boggling.
“Azure Sky king.” Xíng Zhǐ abruptly stopped. Turning to look at her he asked, “Does the air here feel nerve-wracking, fearsome?”
“No. . . ”
“Is that so.” His expression was grim as he said, “Make sure no one approaches the Ruins after we leave.” He glanced at Shěn Lí briefly before grabbing her hand. Energy moved from his hand into hers.
She watched as dark miasma ejected out of Xíng Zhǐ’s injured arm, while she felt something forced out of her body at the same time. Both things happened in the blink of an eye.
“Hold your breath.”
Shěn Lí immediately did as told, sucking in a deep breath and holding it in.
Sensing something, the surrounding monster beasts shrieked and began moving, launching themselves forward as one.
Shěn Lí’s head throbbed at the deep piercing shrieks but the sounds quickly faded away. She looked around, dazzled by the bright moonlight shining overhead. She raised her head and saw Xíng Zhǐ’s face in profile gradually becoming more distinct. His breath was erratic and droplets of sweat clung to his forehead.
Shěn Lí was confused. “Didn’t you say two laps around?”
“Hm.” Xíng Zhǐ massaged his forehead with the hand not holding hers. “Your Highness is very clever to realize we hadn’t completed two laps around the Ruins.”
“Then were you lying to me earlier?”
“No. It’s true we couldn’t leave the Ruins with the miasma on us. But the circumstances changed. I feared we would not be able to leave if I did not forcefully evacuate us at that moment. I used a powerful spell to physically transport us out.” His breath was hitched as he spoke. “The spell requires a lot of energy and injures the caster, even an immortal high god caster such as myself. I just need to rest for a moment.”
He released her hand and took a couple of steps away from her, now massaging his temples with both his hands in an effort to alleviate his condition.
Shěn Lí stared at him. Her wrist felt cool as a breeze blew by, highlighting the dampness his touch left behind on her skin. She realized his hand had been soaked in a cold sweat. It seemed even the immortal high gods weren’t invincible.
Even before being injured by the monsters in the Ruins, Xíng Zhǐ had spent a considerable amount of energy reconstructing the seals. The injury itself was complicated enough that he couldn’t drive the miasma out; however, it didn’t distract him from the murderous group of monster beasts following them inside the Ruins. Left with no other recourse, he was forced to use a powerful spell to eject the miasma out and escape the Ruins.
Shěn Lí covered the area his grasp had been with her other hand. Even this awesome god could get injured and suffer discomfort. . . Ha! He liked to front just like everyone else!
The two walked back to camp together. It was much smaller than before with far fewer tents pitched. The general left behind to manage the camp was stunned to see them. He stared dumbstruck with a torch in one hand as they approached. “Immortal High God, Your Highness. . . this. . . this. . . ”
“What’s going on? Where is General Shàng Běi?” Shěn Lí asked.
“Your Highness! You disappeared for over five days! General Shàng Běi thought you ran away again. He tried searching for you, but failed! He had no choice but to return to the capital and report to the emperor to receive his due punishment!”
Shěn Lí sighed. Sure enough. . .
Xíng Zhǐ asked, “When did General Shàng Běi leave?”
“General Shàng Běi left yesterday with the troops.”
“Such a large army will be slow even in normal circumstances. It will be even slower with the number of injured soldiers in the party. We may be able to overtake them and reach the capital first.”
Shěn Lí was quick in deciding. “We leave immediately.” Only after speaking did she look over at Xíng Zhǐ for confirmation.
Xíng Zhǐ smiled saying, “Your Highness need not worry. I will be able to keep up.”
Shěn Lí nodded in acknowledgment and immediately summoned a cloud over. Xíng Zhǐ followed closely behind on his own cloud.
The general below looked at their retreating figures. He wondered to the foot soldier next to him, “Tch. San Zi, am I oversensitive or was there something going on between them?”
“General. . . If you’re overly sensitive then so am I. . . ”
. . .Shěn Lí and Xíng Zhǐ did indeed reach the capital before the army. From her perch above in the clouds, Shěn Lí saw a rare sight: the streets lined with flags and banners in celebration of the army’s triumphant return.
With obvious pride in her voice she said, “I love coming back from a successful military campaign and seeing this. The colorful flags, everyone’s happy faces, they make me realize what I’m fighting for.”
This certainly surprised Xíng Zhǐ. He looked up at her and the smile that lit up her face. The sight left a favorable impression of her on him, making him more inclined towards her. “Mm. Your Highness is likewise also inspirational.”
When Shěn Lí finally caught sight of her residence she said, “Immortal High God, can you continue forward to the palace on your own? It would be improper for me to meet the emperor as I am now. I will go home first and wash up before presenting myself.”
“I . . .” Xíng Zhǐ didn’t get to complete this sentence before a mournful female cry sounded below.
“You Highness! Your Highness! You’re finally back!”
Shěn Lí frowned as she moved toward the direction of the voice. There running towards her from the guest quarters was a weeping girl with a bucket in her arms. It was Ròu Yā. She prostrated below Shěn Lí, bitterly crying like no tomorrow.
At the sight, Shěn Lí jumped down from her cloud and walked over. “What’s wrong? Why are you so agitated?”
Ròu Yā looked up with eyes puffy from crying. Her expression was so foolish and disbelieving that Shěn Lí was prompted to ask, “What is it?” a frown on her face.
At that question, Ròu Yā tossed the bucket away and threw her arms around Shěn Lí’s waist, hugging the other like her life depended on it. Through tears she mumbled, “Wuu wuu! Your Highness! There’s a demonic beast that’s bullying me!”
Shěn Lí’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of a g beast. Before she could interrogate Ròu Yā further, the doors to the guest rooms opened with a loud bang.
A man, braving the weather with only a tiny cotton sheet around his waist, came out. The mist from the room behind him shrouded most of his body in wispy tendrils of white vapor. “Girl, you are dead!” He was practically spitting in anger. “You’ve scalded this lord! Look at this skin! It’s peeling!”
A burst of cold air blew by as he finished. The mist from the room dissipated and left him completely exposed, save for the minor cover of the cloth. He finally realized there were two other people in the courtyard. He stared.
Xíng Zhǐ stared back, somewhat surprised at the scene before him.
Shěn Lí looked at the slightly blanched red body of the man in front of her. She narrowed her eyes as she demanded, “And who are you?”
The one being questioned remained steadfastly silent. The only sound in the courtyard was Ròu Yā’s incessant weeping accompanied by her wretched cries of, “Your Highness. . . Your Highness. . . ”
At those identifying words the man knew – he knew without a doubt – the identity of the new woman. His face turned green at the realization.
Xíng Zhǐ faintly smiled as he swiftly draped a white robe over Fú Róng, saying as he did so, “Lord Fú Róng, did the Immortal emperor not teach you it’s impolite to show up so poorly clothed in front of others? It’s important to be properly dressed when going out.”
Though the smile was there, Fú Róng felt no warmth from it, instead there was a distinct chill that made him shiver uncontrollably. He hurried back inside and closed the door behind him.
The courtyard became quiet with him gone.
Shěn Lí stiffly turned to Xíng Zhǐ. “That’s Lord Fú Róng? The Immortal emperor’s grandson?”
Xíng Zhǐ nodded in answer to her question.
Shěn Lí grimaced and looked down at Ròu Yā who was still hanging onto her waist. Shěn Lí picked her up by the collar and coldly asked, “Why was that thing allowed into this king’s residence?”
Ròu Yā renewed her crying. “I didn’t want to! But. . . but it was the emperor’s command! I couldn’t disobey! Wuu wuu!”
Shěn Lí felt a headache coming on. She released Ròu Yā and massaged her temples while Ròu Yā continued tearfully explaining.
“You Highness said Your Highness was going into seclusion to meditate, but it was obviously to run away! After Your Highness left, a palace official came and caught Parrot lying on the bed mimicking Your Highness’s human form. The official shook Parrot a few times and forced Parrot to revert to his bird form. The official took Parrot away and he hasn’t been back since. I was so heartbroken. Wuu! Wuu!”
“Afterwards. . . afterwards word got around that Lord Fú Róng came to the Demon realm. The emperor arranged lodgings for him here! I had to wait on him this entire time! He’s so high maintenance!”
“He’s a picky eater and he annoys Cook! He throws stuff and gives Mrs. Zhang[notes] endless work! I have to get his bath ready at a moment’s notice. The water’s always too hot or too cold with him! Wuu wuu! He’s so troublesome! Your Highness, you should just beat him to death!”
“Such impudence!” The door banged open with a fury as Fú Róng stepped over the doorway. “How dare a servant speak that way!”
Shěn Lí pushed Ròu Yā behind her as she coldly eyed Fú Róng before formally speaking to him. “My servant dares speak so. If Lord Fú Róng is dissatisfied, then speak. I, Shěn Lí, will listen.”
Fú Róng unconsciously gulped as he remembered the rumors about Shěn Lí eating the monsters. With fear clear in his eyes he said, “I was just expressing an opinion . . .”
“Your Lordship may have been offended when I descended to the Lower realms, however, I still expect an to answer my question. Why come to the Demon realm to purposefully seek discontentment when both comfort and happiness are readily available in the Immortal realm?”
She was blunt and to the point; her words were cold and did nothing to disguise her contempt. “Is it possible Your Lordship is unaware of my failed attempt to flee the marriage several days ago? Does Your Lordship not understand you're the last person this king wishes to see right now?”
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