The Rise of the Divine Oracle

Chapter 38 - Escape

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Wuxian can feel his heart flipping in his chest. It's an odd uncomfortable feeling that's causing him pain. When he felt Cheng carry him, he grabbed his robes to ground himself from the dizziness the running was causing him. Cheng suddenly stops and yells for everyone to fight, which causes Wuxian to open his eyes to see what's going on.

Cheng kneels on the ground, placing Wuxian partially down to free one of his hands to use Zidian. Wuxian speaks faintly: "What's going on?"

Cheng looks agitated : "Forest spirits are not allowing us to pass."

Wuxian looks around to see the young disciple struggling with the amount of spirits heading towards them. Wuxian tries to sit up properly: "Where is my Chenqing? I can help."

Cheng whips a close spirit then says forcefully: "Just sit still and let us handle it."

The spirits keep coming. The more they vanquish, the more forms anew. Cheng was getting extremely frustrated, especially when he saw Wuxian frown and grab his chest in pain. Suddenly, a wave of white energy is fired from behind them towards the spirits. Cheng sighs in relief and looks back, expecting to see Lan Wangji. Instead he sees Lan Clan disciples running at full speed with Taiho holding his guqin in hand. Bhao takes his position in front of Cheng and Wuxian while the other boys spread out to help the rest fight the onslaught of spirits.

Wuxian breaths hard: "Cheng.. something is.. wrong. Hurts."

Cheng grabs him again and carries him. He yells out: "FALL IN FORMATION! WE NEED TO FIGHT AS WE MOVE." They tried to move but every few paces, the ground would start to shake again and more spirits started to form. Cheng was getting fed up. He looks around and sees Jin Ling and Sizhui closest to him. He yells at Sizhui: "You! Come here and guard Wuxian." He places Wuxian on the ground and touches his cold forehead. When Wuxian opens pained eyes to look at him while he smiles down at him and says: "Take deep breaths and concentrate on regulating your energy. I will go clear the way so we can continue moving." Wuxian nods and closes his eyes again. Cheng grabs Sizhui's collar and yells: "Keep an eye on him! If he gets worse let me know!" He gets up and grabs his sword from Jin Ling and rushes to clear out the spirits.

The fight lasts longer than Cheng would've liked. If this continues then Wuxian will not survive. Cheng looks around desperately, trying to find a way out. All of a sudden they hear a zither being played from above. A figure in white lands and with a big wave of white energy wipes half of the spirits out. Hanguang Jun has finally arrived. Cheng lets out a sigh of relief and shouts: "HE'S BEEN POISONED! TAKE HIM AND GO NOW!" Wangji nods and runs towards his soul-bond, who's lying on the ground. Without hesitation, he scoops up Wuxian and jumps into Bichen, flying towards the city. Lijian jumps onto his sword to follow them.

Lijian debriefs Wangji about what happens on their way. Wangji looks at a bundled up, shivering Wuxian in his arms with worry. The smaller man opens his eyes and smiles in pain when he sees his soul-bond: ".. Zhan." Wangji nods: "Stay strong."

They arrived in a sea of commotion. Wuxian was rushed to see a healer who made many potions and stuck him with many needles. Wangji stayed with him the whole time, seething when the healer told him that the poison was administered days in advance. Someone will pay with their lives when Wangji finds his proof.

Cheng arrives with the disciples hours later. It took them forever to clear out the spirits. He found Wen Ning sitting outside the healer's chamber waiting for them to finish treating Wuxian. If the man can shed any tears, this would be the time. Cheng joined him, along with Ouyang and Lan disciples and Jin Ling. They waited until the sun had set. They waited until the moon had risen. Half way into the night, the healer steps out and addresses the cultivators surrounding his chamber: "Treasure Wei is no longer poisoned. You can rest assured that in time he will recover."