Fresh Embers of Love

Chapter 75

Fuzangloong stared in disbelief at the man kneeling in front of him, unable to process the news he had just delivered. Mother was sobbing next to him, but he couldn't move to comfort her.

"Say that again" Fuzang said quietly.

Uncle Linyou looked up nervously. "The Emperor has fallen" he repeated.

Fuzang sat down, stunned. Fallen?

"How... did he...?" Fuzang started to ask, but couldn't finish his question.

Uncle Linyou cleared his throat. "The Phoenix, Xu Feng, used a sneak attack, hitting the Emperor at point-blank range to the chest with Pure Glass Fire. He fell... at least a Li, perhaps more, to the earth, hitting with a tremendous impact. By the time I made it down there, the Flower Immortal informed me that his Primordial Spirit had left his body, and his body had disappeared completely" he summarized.

"Where is Xu Feng now?" Fuzang asked, still calm, but a hard edge had crept into his voice.

"Xu Feng has turned to ash, after I parted his head from his shoulders with the Red Cloud Sword" Uncle Linyou informed him.

Fuzang nodded, his lips pursed. Death was too good for that traitor.

"And where is Tangyue?" Fuzang asked sternly, his thoughts turning to another traitor.

Uncle Linyou looked uncomfortable. "We... think... he might have died" he responded.

Fuzang arched an eyebrow. "You think?" he asked.

"The Fire Immortal fought with my son. Sheng-Da wounded him critically, but did not take the final death blow. He was interrupted by Xu Feng" Uncle Linyou grimaced when he said that name, "who wounded him badly before I arrived. After the battle, the Fire Immortal could not be found, even after an exhaustive search. He was too injured to have moved himself, so our best guess is that he died during the battle between Xu Feng and I, and his body turned to ash with no one to notice" Uncle Linyou explained.

Fuzang frowned. "QingWa Sheng is wounded badly?" he asked, worried about his best friend.

Uncle Linyou's jaw set, and he nodded once.

"Where is he now?" Fuzang asked.

"He is recovering at Dongting Lake" Uncle Linyou replied.

"I'll send our best doctor to him" Fuzang promised.

Uncle Linyou looked away, he didn't seem happy about the offer. No matter, he would send the doctor anyway.

"How can we be sure that Tangyue wasn't rescued by the Fox Spirit?" Fuzang asked Uncle Linyou.

"The Fox Spirit was slain by the Lady Dongting" he answered succinctly.

"Really?" Fuzang asked with interest. Mother stopped crying long enough to look up.

"Auntie Qintian must be quite an impressive warrior" Fuzang commented.

Uncle Linyou nodded again.

"Where is the Princess now?" Fuzang asked, relieved to hear that the Fox Spirit was no more.

"The Flower Immortal has taken her to the Flower Realm. Her baby is due any day now, and the Flower Immortal thought that it might shock the Shangshen of the Heavenly Realm to see her in her current condition" Uncle Linyou informed him.

Mother nodded in agreement. "Guihua did the right thing" she interjected.

Fuzang frowned worriedly. Nuwa must be distraught, after what had happened to Father. She would feel alone in the Flower Realm, with most of her friends and family living up here. But her safety was paramount. He had already lost Father, he didn't want to lose her too. He was still concerned, however, because the Flower Realm had very light security.