The Chef's Immortal

Chapter Twenty-Four

Pengxia Cliff was in sight, the Elders awaiting their arrival.  Xiaojun could not concern himself with the old birds now.  As the Pengdaxia's Rider, he was also granted the ability to communicate with the Elders and top generals.  So, he informed them of the situation as soon as he flew into Hai Steppe territory.  He received the exact location of the Sacred Healing Tree and headed straight there.  Xiaojun failed to mention just how gravely injured Mingzhu was.  He dove into the depths of the sandstone peaks and entered the Healing Tree.  There was an altar of intertwining roots in the center of the large chamber, he laid Mingzhu upon it and stepped back to the entrance.

The Chosen One earned this general's respect over the last few years.  She not only loved her husband dearly, but she also loved and respected her subordinates.  Along with all of the Pengxie, heavenly beasts, and wildlife who lived in the Abyss.  He'd even witnessed the care she took with the plant life here.  She was not your typical arrogant goddess.  She became his Pengdaxia long ago.  And he would protect her.  As he stood guard outside the chamber under the Healing Tree, Elders and generals alike came to question him.  His only response was that the Pengdaxia was in need of a rest.

Six weeks later, when there was still no change, the heavenly beasts Jialong, Longma, and Baihu came.  Longma explained that he was equipped with healing abilities and he would see Mingzhu before he would leave.  Xiaojun allowed them inside.  Longma undressed the young goddess and examined her thoroughly.  When he turned her over he found a fist-sized crater in her mid-right back.  The dragon-horse lay his forehead to the crater and a bright gold light poured into the deep wound.  The muscle, flesh, and bone began to writhe and mend.  It took only minutes for there to be nothing but a slight scar on the goddess' back.  He lay her back down, covering her.

"She will not awaken right now but the bone, muscle, and flesh are mended," explained Longma, then he turned and left.

"You've been up for days, guarding her.  Get some rest.  Baihu and I will guard the two of you at the entrance.  She is a dragonlight child, I will not let any harm come to her," Jialong offered.

"Thank you," was all Xiaojun could manage.  He returned to Shenmi on Mingzhu's forearm for some much-needed rest.

The Pengdaxia stayed under the Healing Tree in a coma for a total of four months before she was able to stand on her feet.  Mingzhu was surprised she was still alive.  When she'd collapsed on the mountain she thought she was surely dead.  But when she was told how long she slept, she was disheartened.  She slept for so long, but Wudi had yet to return.  What would they do?

Mingzhu, still weak and unstable, gathered the Elders, generals, and each top territorial heavenly beasts.  She explained the situation at the Demon Gate and what was headed their way.  She knew that she did not look the part of Commander right now but if they would trust her to organize the forces while she recovered a couple of weeks, she would be able to lead beside them in no time.  The entire room agreed to her proposal.  The battle strategy and formations she'd left for them to study convinced each and every general present that she was a capable Commander.  She was injured in the line of duty and still, she wanted to work with the Army while recovering.  They now knew she wasn't just capable, she put her heart into her position as well.  Always concerned for soldiers and civilians alike.  She was their Pengdaxia and she was a true daughter of the Abyss, which meant a lot considering, customarily, only punished gods inhabited the Abyss.

Her plan was simple, she would set up two camps to serve as lines of defense.  One on the Hai Steppe just outside the Redwood Forest.  The second between the Bamboo Forest and the Sandstone Peaks.  They couldn't go past those two locations because of the Dragon Fiends.  This was the closest she could get the soldiers to the mountains.  Every able-bodied Pengxie would participate in the defense of the Abyss.  The civilians would not participate in the offensive advancements but they were more than capable of helping in other areas.  Whether it be cooks, supply envoys, healers, woodworkers, metal workers, blacksmiths, messengers, or laundry workers, they were all needed in the base camp.