Warring Kingdoms: The Tale of the Jade Phoenix and the Dragon Blade

Chapter 51: Dance of the Cicadas (李将军和陆青)

Swirling dust devils greeted the morning air in the city of Siyu. The residents have have been used to this kind of thing since most of the area that surrounded them are desserts with no oasis.

The citizens are busy preparing for their morning hustle when two swarms of cicadas encircled their whole city. Women gathered their children off the streets and went inside their homes afraid that the cicadas might cause diseases or worse, an epidemic. The cicadas swooped down on the streets entering every house. Screams of men, women and children were heard from faraway.

Qing Luan sat at the nearby table as QiuShan Li finished his last meal. A pregnant woman with her child in her womb. The murderers never left any traces after fleeing.

YingLuo removed her hand from one of the corpses. Their body soul was intact however, it's gravely scathed. She instructed FeiXian to bury the dead and uphold a small burial ceremony for them. Her eyes teared up as she saw dead pregnant women.

'How cruel.' She whispered with her breath. Only demon cultivators use forbidden techniques that have been locked inside Emei's deep treasure library.

After the burial, both of her and FeiXian rode the fjords of sand heading to Emei's direction. The quickest route going there was to take a route towards Soul Reaver forest. It was an ancient warpath hundreds of years ago but is deserted now because the people from Siyu feared that souls might be roaming at the forest. YingLuo discarded this idea and together with FeiXian they went inside the Soul Reaver Forest. On their way to Emei, they both talked.

"FeiXian. You must behave properly. Emei is strict with their principles and laws. You know that."

"I know I know..."

"Hmm... Are you scared General Hua?"

"No... Why would I be scared?"

"You saw the dead bodies. The murderers killed young children even unborn children."

"That makes me want to smite them more YingLuo."

"FeiXian... I- Can we stop right here? I'm getting dizzy."

"Alright."

As soon as she got off the horse, YingLuo ran at a nearby cactus and puked out. She vomitted a lot causing her to cough.
FeiXian was a bit befuddled. It was his first time seeing YingLuo vomit. Afterwards, a smile flashed on his face. He may look naive but he already knew what YingLuo is experiencing. YingLuo's face paled as she saw FeiXian went closer.

"Xian... I can- take care of myself."

"You're not in a good condition. Come here."

"N-No... What are you doing FeiXian?"

"Carrying you."

"F-FeiXian. Put me down!"

"No!"

FeiXian carried her to the horse and tied the other horse on the other's saddle. He rested YingLuo in his arms as he saddled the horse slowly.

"What are you doing? You should saddle fast. We're going to Emei and tell the Grandmaster quick!"

"No... It will harm you..."

"Harm me? I'm fine FeiXian... You..."

"When I say no... It's a no. You might harm Xiaoxiao."

YingLuo's eyes widened.

"Xiaoxiao?"

"I never thought of a name for him or her so I call him or her Xiaoxiao for now."