Little Dragon, Come to Qingqiu
The pale robes Feng Qi wore were quickly stained red with blood. Ji Chaoyun’s breathing came in short, rapid bursts, his hands trembling uncontrollably.
“Go...” Ji Chaoyun’s voice was low and trembling. “I can’t move. Feng Qi, I don’t know why I...”
“Don’t be afraid, Little Dragon. I’m here. Don’t be afraid...” Feng Qi’s expression quickly returned to its usual composure. He took half a step forward, and Ji Chaoyun’s sword hand suddenly exerted more force, driving the slender blade deeper.
Feng Qi let out a muffled grunt, then suddenly raised a hand and gripped the blade tightly. “Bai Qiuyue, get the hell out of him!”
“...You figured it out.” Bai Qiuyue’s refined, gentle voice suddenly sounded through the night sky. He laughed softly and said warmly, “I told you I would prepare a grand gift for you. Feng Qi, do you like my gift?”
Feng Qi’s voice was cold. “You couldn’t possibly have entered the immortal residence. Where exactly are you hiding?”
“You’re so clever. Why not try guessing for yourself?”
Feng Qi swept his gaze over their surroundings before it finally settled on Ji Chaoyun.
The intense pain made his breathing slightly unsteady. He drew a deep breath and asked coldly, “Just when did you...”
His words abruptly stopped.
Since his return, Bai Qiuyue had never had an opportunity to come into contact with Ji Chaoyun. Moreover, if he truly had done something to Ji Chaoyun, there was no way Feng Qi would have failed to notice.
The only possibility was that it had happened earlier, on Wenqu Peak.
To help ease Ji Chaoyun’s fear of illusions, Feng Qi had once sought Bai Qiuyue’s help, asking him to cast a spell that would let Ji Chaoyun enter a dream and weave an illusion for him.
Could it have been then...?
Horror rose in Feng Qi’s heart. He asked coldly, “You’ve been plotting against him... since that long ago?”
“Looks like you figured it out?” Bai Qiuyue said. “That’s right. When you asked me to cast a spell to send Ji Chaoyun into a dream, I left an opening in his spiritual consciousness so that I could control him. I originally had no desire to resort to such petty tricks, but since you used divine blood to plot against me, I could only repay you in kind.”
Feng Qi closed his eyes and asked softly, “Get out of his body. You can do whatever you want with me.”
“All right.” The amusement in Bai Qiuyue’s voice deepened as he said softly, “Withdraw the divine power protecting your body and let him kill you with one strike of his sword. Then, naturally, I’ll let him go.”
Ji Chaoyun’s eyes were blood-red, and suddenly his entire body began trembling uncontrollably.
His limbs seemed to be tightly pinned down by some unseen force and refused to obey him. Even speaking was extremely difficult. “No... Feng Qi, go...”
Feng Qi did not move.
The golden light surrounding him rapidly faded. Feng Qi smiled gently and raised his bloodstained hand, his fingertip brushing lightly across Ji Chaoyun’s cheek. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Then that hand slid down Ji Chaoyun’s arm and closed around his icy fingers. Feng Qi exerted a little force and abruptly pulled the longsword free.
Scalding blood sprayed out, splattering across Ji Chaoyun’s face.
Feng Qi stumbled several steps backward before dropping to one knee. Blood poured from his waist and abdomen, and his face instantly turned pale.
The teleportation array behind him was still pulsing with light, casting the contours of Feng Qi’s profile into even sharper relief.
Feng Qi raised his head, his gaze gentle and tender. “Come here, Little Dragon. Come to me.”
“No...” Ji Chaoyun shook his head with all his strength, yet his body disobeyed him and walked forward. Beads of blood slid from the longsword clenched tightly in his hand, splashing against the ground like blossoms of blood.
Feng Qi stared steadily at the gleaming blade, the hand hanging at his side slowly tightening.
Ji Chaoyun closed his eyes. The spiritual power continuously surging from the dragon pearl, aided at last by the pure power within his abdomen, broke through the restraints binding his body.
The instant he regained control, Ji Chaoyun struck out with all his strength, his palm slamming into Feng Qi’s shoulder.
“Chaoyun!”
The full-force blow sent Feng Qi falling backward. His body disappeared into the light of the teleportation array and vanished instantly.
The longsword fell from Ji Chaoyun’s hand with a clang. As though all his strength had been exhausted, he dropped to his knees, gasping continuously.
The feeling of losing control swept over him once more. The demonic aura emanating from his spiritual consciousness quickly regained control of his body.
Bai Qiuyue’s voice sounded softly beside his ear. “What use is there in helping him escape? With you in my hands, he’ll come back sooner or later.”
“...Little Dragon, come to Qingqiu. I’ll be waiting for you.”
☁
The following morning, a black-canopied boat came across the water and stopped at the shore.
Ji Chaoyun sat quietly inside, wrapped in a plain white cloak. Traces of blood that had yet to be wiped away still remained along his cheek.
Suddenly, someone called from outside the boat, “Young Master, we’ve arrived at Qingqiu. The Clan Leader sent this subordinate to receive you.”
Ji Chaoyun did not recognize the voice. His expression remained unchanged as he said coolly, “He was the one who invited me here. Tell him to come out and receive me himself.”
“This...”
Before the man could answer, another voice suddenly sounded outside the boat. “Ji Chaoyun, don’t refuse the face you’re being given. Why should the Clan Leader himself come out to welcome you?”
Ji Chaoyun paused slightly.
That voice was... Wei Shaoyang.
Wei Shaoyang stood waiting on the shore with a group of Heavenly Fox Clan members. When Ji Chaoyun still did not leave the boat, his expression darkened with embarrassment and he shouted angrily, “What are you all standing around for? Drag him out!”
His words had barely left his lips when a fair, slender hand lifted the boat curtain.
Ji Chaoyun stepped onto the shore and looked calmly at Wei Shaoyang. “I didn’t realize Yunlucheng truly had become a running dog of the Demon Clan.”
Wei Shaoyang had not expected this attitude from him and was momentarily dumbfounded. “We... Pah! Who are you insulting?! We merely assessed the situation and sought another worthy master! The Immortal Realm’s allotted fortune has run out. With someone as stubborn and unyielding as you, your present circumstances are exactly the fate you deserve!”
Ji Chaoyun’s lips curved faintly.
Gusts of sea wind swept across the shore, lifting the hair behind him.
A few traces of blood still remained along his cheek, making his face appear even paler, yet lending him a touch of eerie allure.
Wei Shaoyang was momentarily dazzled by that smile. He coughed awkwardly and looked away.
Ji Chaoyun stepped forward and said softly, “The present circumstances? The allied forces are already waiting outside, ready to storm Qingqiu at any moment, encircle and destroy the Demon Clan, and sweep away scum of the Immortal Realm like you. As for me, if I die while exterminating the Demon Clan, my death would be no great loss. Before I die, however, I certainly wouldn’t mind having Young City Lord Wei join me in the grave.”
With that, he walked past Wei Shaoyang and continued forward.
“Ji Chaoyun!” Wei Shaoyang’s face alternated between green and white. He suddenly raised a hand and struck toward the center of Ji Chaoyun’s back.
No one around them dared intervene. Just as Wei Shaoyang was about to touch him, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his wrist. No one saw clearly how Ji Chaoyun turned around. In an instant, he seized Wei Shaoyang’s wrist and wrenched it hard.
“AAAHHH!”
Ji Chaoyun released him and looked coldly at Wei Shaoyang as he crumpled to the ground.
Clutching his dislocated wrist, Wei Shaoyang broke out in a sweat from the pain. “You dare act so arrogantly? Aren’t you afraid...”
“The question should be why you dare act so arrogantly.” Ji Chaoyun leaned forward slightly and slowly enunciated each word. “I am still useful to Bai Qiuyue. He won’t kill me. Whether he would kill you, however, is much harder to say. So stop provoking me.”
Ji Chaoyun gave him a courteous nod, then turned and continued forward.
Qingqiu was a solitary island in the sea. Its mountains were steep, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Ji Chaoyun followed several members of the Heavenly Fox Clan into the mountains. Only after walking for a little less than half a shichen did he finally see the enormous bronze gate standing among the mountains.
All manner of vines crawled over the gate. The forest was cold and damp. Ji Chaoyun stopped before the massive doors and raised a hand to wipe the thin sheen of sweat from his forehead.
Before long, the bronze doors opened, revealing the imposing palace within.
The buildings here were uniformly constructed from bluestone and jade. Ji Chaoyun was led into a side hall, where the doors slowly closed behind him, leaving him alone.
It appeared to be a sleeping chamber. The windows were tightly shut, allowing no light inside, and only a few lamps provided illumination.
Ji Chaoyun looked around, while the hand hidden beneath his cloak instinctively came to rest over his lower abdomen.
“Tired? Sit down and rest.”
A voice came from the inner chamber. Bai Qiuyue lifted the beaded curtain and stepped out.
Ji Chaoyun’s breath caught as he watched him warily.
Bai Qiuyue walked over and seated himself at the front of the hall as though nothing were amiss. He poured two cups of tea and pushed one toward Ji Chaoyun. “Sit. Have some hot tea to warm yourself. Don’t be nervous. I won’t hurt you.”
Ji Chaoyun was silent for a moment before walking over and sitting down.
Bai Qiuyue took a sip of tea and said leisurely, “I heard you injured Wei Shaoyang just now?”
“I did,” Ji Chaoyun said. “What, are you going to seek justice for him?”
“Of course not.” Bai Qiuyue shook his head with a smile, his voice refined and mild. “Yunlucheng may have defected to my side, but their power is insignificant and they are of little use to me. If Wei Shaoyang has displeased you, why don’t I have him brought here and let you deal with him however you please?”
“...No need.”
Bai Qiuyue smiled and said nothing more.
He sat quietly drinking his tea, his left hand resting casually at his side. His broad sleeve hung down over it. Ji Chaoyun’s gaze swept across the sleeve, and he vaguely sensed that something was amiss.
As though noticing his gaze, Bai Qiuyue stood and walked over to him, looking down from above. “Are you looking at this?”
He raised his left arm.
His sleeve slipped down, revealing only the end of his wrist. The severed stump was wrapped in bandages, with traces of blood faintly showing through.
That hand had actually been forcibly severed.
Ji Chaoyun was horrified. “You...”
“Thanks to your Divine Lord, that divine blood caused me quite a bit of suffering.” Bai Qiuyue’s gaze traveled over Ji Chaoyun. Suddenly, he reached out with his remaining hand, seized Ji Chaoyun’s wrist, and lifted it. “Back on Wenqu Peak, you stabbed me once and cost me a hand. I’ve already repaid that sword strike to Feng Qi. By my rule of repaying every grievance, shouldn’t I claim one of your hands as well?”
Ji Chaoyun’s face turned pale. He instinctively tried to pull free, but his body once again stopped obeying him.
Bai Qiuyue released him, the amusement in his eyes deepening. “Don’t be afraid, Little Dragon. I won’t touch you for now.”
Ji Chaoyun asked, “Why exactly did you bring me to Qingqiu?”
“It wasn’t my idea.” Bai Qiuyue’s smile faded slightly. He lifted Ji Chaoyun’s chin and rubbed his fingertip over the dried blood on his cheek. “Someone wants you kept alive. I’m merely following orders.”
“Yan Huaqing?”
Bai Qiuyue did not answer. He suddenly withdrew his hand, turned, and walked toward the doors. “You’ll stay here for the time being. I won’t mistreat you when it comes to food, clothing, or anything else you need. Once I open the gate to the Demon Realm, we’ll go there together. When the time comes, you’ll understand.”
The doors opened and closed again, leaving Ji Chaoyun alone once more in the empty hall.
The lamplight flickered on the table. Ji Chaoyun glanced at the untouched hot tea, then rose and walked into the inner chamber.
The furnishings in the hall were extremely simple, though it was fully equipped with tables, chairs, and a bed.
He lay down on the bed without removing his clothes, pulled his cloak tightly around himself, and curled up slightly.
The spiritual power within his abdomen fluctuated faintly, seemingly somewhat uneasy.
Ji Chaoyun stroked his lower abdomen again and again and whispered, “Don’t be afraid. Papa is here. Nothing will happen to us.”
☁︎₊˚⊹ The Author’s Jade-Slip Aside ⊹˚₊☁︎
Small red packets will drop for the first thirty commenters on this chapter.
Also, I really didn’t want to be writing this kind of stuff during the New Year, but the plot has already reached this point, so there’s nothing I can do. I can’t exactly spend all seven days of the New Year writing nothing but everyday fluff, or people will start accusing me of padding the word count again, hahahaha【x
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