Accompanying the Phoenix

38: Hm

He understood the importance of apprehending the mastermind, and he knew Shen Li wanted him to give chase as it would help prove the demon realm's innocence, and yet...

He couldn't walk away.

His grip unconsciously tightened as he stared at the pale face of the woman in his arms. She never painted her lips red or lived her life like other women. She was strong and had never hid behind anyone's back. She was much like the red-tasseled silver spear she wielded, forceful and unyielding.

As she said, there was no Xing Zhi before, no one who could protect her. She was used to relying only on herself, to fighting alone, to guarding and bearing the burden of the demon realm.

To see such a formidable woman in such a weakened state was both strange and distressing. She was like a cat that liked to reach out and lazily scratch at his heart with her claws. By the time he noticed those lazy scratches of hers, it was too late and the scratches had become itchy and painful. The feeling was hard to describe.

"This person... so troublesome." The four words drifted from his lips into the empty room. He remained where he was, cradling Shen Li against is chest.

...

Xi carried the unused medicine box as she followed Fu Rongjun around the exterior of the temple. He had allowed her to be his personal attendant.

Xi's martial art skills were not great so it took a lot of effort for her to keep her tail hidden. She quietly called out to Fu Rongjun.

At her call, he turned around with a bright smile on his face. He asked, "Tired sweetie? Want to rest?"

Xi wanted to hand the medicine box to Fu Rongjun. "Great immortal, I very much want to help, but I'm afraid I might accidentally change into my true form..."

"That won't happen." Fu Rongjun replied, still beaming as he circled around her. "This lord's power has imprinted on your body! It is absolutely impossible for your form to shift."

Saying as much he opened up a broken fan and teasingly toyed with Xi by puffing a bit a wind at her legs. It was an ambiguously playful motion that was suggestively flirty.

Xi blushed in embarrassment and took two steps back.

Fu Rongjun wore a carefree smile as he advanced one step forward his target, his fan still open.

Suddenly, out of nowhere Yan wedged himself in between them with a black sword pointed at Fu Rongjun's chest. This made Fu Rongjun take two steps back.

"Great Immortal Fu Rongjun, please conduct yourself appropriately." Yan only said the single sentence before grabbing the medicine box in Xi's hand and hurling it to the ground. Then he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back into the temple.

Fu Rongjun's face turned green. "Ah! So you would let your lover touch you like that ha?"

The words stunned Xi. She looked at Yan only to see him barely turn his head to the side. In a cold voice he said, "I and Little Xi have no such feelings for one another. I ask that Great Immortal not slander Little Xi's good name." He tugged at Xi's hand to pull her back, but she refused to move. He was incredibly annoyed as he looked at her. "What are you still standing there for? Do you want to stay here and be taken advantage of?"

Xi tucked her head down, feeling the reprimand was unfair. "You're being so fierce."

Yan furrowed his brow. He was about to speak when a clamor by the temple gates caught his attention. He saw a white billowy figure hurriedly carrying a bloody figure into the temple. The man's voice was low but it resonated loud and clear. "Where is Fu Rongjun?"