[Bonus Chapter 18]
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"Hold still, Lijing. Do not make impulsive decisions." Li Xinyuan warned him to stop before it was too late. "Tread with caution. We may as well be in the enemy’s territory." He swallowed.
"I amno child, Xinyuan." Hu Lijing snapped, his voice was tense. "I know when to be calm."
Li Xinyuan drew in a deep breath. His eyes slid shut, his closed fists on his knees trembled. Mind running a losing race, countless thoughts swam, drowning in the sea of his thoughts.
"We—"
"—Soone is approaching." Hu Lijing interrupted the surgeon, his stance charged. Ambers of voracious flas crackled through his person as he awaited the approach. "You will remain where you are. Do not move."
Li Xinyuan thought to protest, but then stopped himself. Hu Lijing was right. "Very well."
Hu Lijing grunted in relief before cutting off the technique’s connection. Muscles taut in his person, the nine-tailed fox stood tall without moving even an inch.
Head held high, the divine fox of flas watched the human approach. That man had a formidable aura around him.
He was not to be easily crossed with, that he could sense.
Slowly, the man drew near, his flowing robes fluttered gracefully. His hair was deep, bone-chilling shade of scarlet, lustrous and akin to blood.
Hu Lijing clenched his fists but held his ground. He would let the man approach before attacking.
His eyes took in his surroundings. Every towering tree was void of wildlife. Behind the trees, hidden were innurable demonic martial artists. Every single branch hid at least one martial artist.
"Who are you?" Coldly, Hu Lijing questioned. He dared not remove his gaze from this crimson-haired man.
"My, my," Crooning, the man chuckled. His disposition was entirely too leisurely, hands folded behind his back. As if Hu Lijing was no threat to his agency. "Such hostility? Is it not you who has trespassed into this forsaken region?"
Hu Lijing looked up at him, amber eyes blazing with flas. "Do not mince your words."
The man grinned coldly and stepped closer. The Qi surrounding his body made his crimson hair flutter. Unfettered, he leaned closer, invading Hu Lijing’s space.
"Why don’t you give Us an introduction first?" He whispered. His gaze pierced through Hu Lijing and scrutinized the carriage he was guarding. "And who are the people behind your honoured self?"
Hu Lijing clenched his teeth. Sothing in this man’s voice told him there was no need for introduction.
"It is none of your concern."
"Oh, when I tell you it is of my concern, you ought to believe ." The man grinned widely and effortlessly passed by Hu Lijing before the latter could react.
Suddenly, the tightly drawn curtains flew open, leaving the window bare.
Li Xinyuan froze, but the next mont—his world skewed.
What—?
Bai Huiqi had thrown him aside, tightly guarding the window in his stead.
"You’re not welcod here." In a low voice, the white fox hissed. His beautiful sapphire eyes were frigid as he looked down at the crimson-haired man. "Leave."
The man stilled, body tilted forward as he stared at the ethereal creature in front of him. "... Oh dear, I’m afraid I require you to step aside, young one. He murmured, smiling. The smile was wide, twisted... almost sinister yet tender.
Bai Huiqi bristled at the ’request’. "Leave." He growled in defiance. He was not the younger one among the two.
Li Xinyuan stilled with his back pressed tightly against the wall of the carriage. His ears rang as the intruder’s words rang in his mind.
Young one.
Did this man just fucking call Bai Huiqi ’Young one’? Oh, god no.
Without a thought, Li Xinyuan moved. His hands possessing a mind of their own as the long, thin needles charged with Qi tore through the air, shooting towards the crimson-haired man.
Standing up, Li Xinyuan reached to pull the white haired spirit behind himself. This was a dangerous gambit.
The intruder rely moved aside to dodge the needles, still smiling widely. "Ah, there you are. Spectre of Blood Moon, the prodigious disciple of Divine Phoenix Li Jinhua."
Behind the man, Hu Lijing stiffened, bright flas dancing in his hands as he monitored the movents of the other martial artists.
"How do you—"
"—I’m afraid this is not a very courteous manner of asking for aid, Heavenly Demon." Li Xinyuan interjected, pointing his halberd at the man, while keeping his distance.
The man, Heavenly Demon Cheon WuHui, stopped smiling. Abruptly, his expression turned stone cold as he spoke. "But The Spectre cannot deny that it is becoming of Us."
Li Xinyuan’s eyes narrowed, he held the halberd tightly. "Indeed it is. To address one’s self similar to the Emperor is indeed becoming of soone arrogant as you."
To that, Cheon WuHui stepped closer, allowing the pointed end of the halberd to graze his flesh. Undeterred. "In the abyss of JiangHu, We are the Heaven."
"You an hell," behind Li Xinyuan, Bai Huiqi spat resentfully.
Cheon WuHui canted his head slightly, eyes filled with interest. His smile returned ever so slightly as he replied. "Perhaps."
Li Xinyuan frowned at the man, observing his gaze before he looked back at Bai Huiqi.
Oh, fuck no. No, no, nope. Nada. Nein.
He is not allowed to corrupt Bai Huiqi. Distract. Divert attention.
"Since the Heavenly Demon has besieged us in such a fashion, I surmised I must hear your business before refusing."
Cheon WuHui turned his attention back to Li Xinyuan. "Many thanks." He nodded slowly. "But such a matter cannot be discussed out in open, I’m afraid."
Despite his fears, Li Xinyuan couldn’t help but glance the man up and down. Syphilis? Herpes?
"If it is the Unnad Poison, it’s still treatable. If it is the other..." He trailed of aningfully.
Cheon WuHui’s eyes widened at the implication. Almost defensive, he replied. "We’re not such a frivolous person, Spectre of Blood Moon! Do not mistake for that kind. It is a different, grave, matter entirely."
Oh.
"Allow to apologize for the assumption, Heavenly Demon." Li Xinyuan bowed, lowering Sui Yue. "Is the matter so grave that you were forced to deploy a demonic illusion array."
Cheon WuHui drew in a deep breath before slowly nodding. "We are afraid so." He sighed gravely.
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