Accompanying the Phoenix

Chapter 22: Fixing the First Seal

Three days later...

Xing Zhi undid Shen Li's sling and dismantled her splint. Then he applied pressure above an acupuncture point and concentrated on treating her injury. Shen Li suddenly smiled and asked, "Earlier you said you left behind four items in the area around the two seals in the ruins. But none of the soldiers on patrol have ever encountered them. Do you still remember where they are?"

"Mm. One is on a hill top, another is in a lake, another...hm," Xing Zhi replied as he released her hand. "Move your arm now."

Shen Li sat up as she obediently moved her arm first bending it a bit before stretching and turning it several times in a circular motion. Her body was unexpectedly loose and pain-free. This kind of recovery speed was astonishing. An injury like this would normally take at least two weeks of rest.

Yet it only took Xing Zhi three days to heal her.

"It seems like the issue is resolved," he grabbed her hand and held it in his own, palm to palm.

Shen Li automatically pulled her hand back without thinking. Xing Zhi looked at her confused. It was an awkward moment and Shen Li coughed before saying, "Yes? What is it?"

Xing Zhi gave an easy chuckle. "The formidable Azure Sky king is unexpectedly shy?" He grabbed her hand and entwined his fingers through hers. "Simply examining your joints. Try to grip my hand as hard as you can."

This earned him a fierce stare from Shen Li but he didn't notice, so she quickly glanced downwards. No pressure came. They were like that for some time until Xing Zhi asked in confusion, "Are you hurting somewhere?"

"No..." Shen Li pulled her hand back and rubbed the space between her brows. "I was just worried I'd break your hand if I put pressure into my grip."

Xing Zhi gave her a blank stare. He laughed out loud after a second. "Your Highness can be at ease. Please feel free to grip my hand as hard as you want. I promise I won't break."

The words reminded her that the man in front of her was Beyond the Heavens Immortal High God Xing Zhi, a person with an immortal body. It wouldn't be like gripping that mortal man's hand. Despite knowing that the one in front of her wasn't Xing Yun she still hesitated, her heart still unsure. Their attitudes were so different but their faces were so similar. That laugh and that smile... Shen Li found it hard to control her emotions. She angrily grabbed Xing Zhi's hand, laced her fingers through his, and gripped hard.

The moment she did Xing Zhi said, "Mm. Good. You've recovered well." He pulled his hand back after saying so. "Your Highness is healed enough and should be able to guide me around the area later this afternoon."

"This afternoon?"

"This evening would be fine as well."

"No, this afternoon works." He completely suppressed her. This Immortal High God Xing Zhi was seriously hard to deal with.

...

"The only thing around here are the destroyed barracks and camp for the soldiers, but farther south is a tall hill. No matter what we do, we can't get anything to grow there. Before, hundreds of years ago, miasma would flow around the borders, but the hills blocked it from entering the land. It's too late for us to go to the lake, so we'll investigate the hills first." Shen Li took out a map one of the soldiers earnestly drew for her. This was what she used to guide Xing Zhi.

Shen Li turned to find him slowly fidgeting with his robe. She was really annoyed and had to restrain her temper before speaking to him, "Immortal High God, we should head out to out soon."