Chapter 83 Return to the Palace

Chapter 83

When Ling Jiayan returned, he saw Yingji squatting by the stream, carefully washing the dried blood from her hands. Kong Fan sat on the other side, his head slightly tilted, looking at Yingji. The night breeze gently blew his wide sleeves and the hem of his clothes, but his gaze remained fixed.

Hearing footsteps, Yingji turned around and asked, "Have you found Jianfeng?"

Looking into Yingji's eyes, Ling Jiayan was stunned. Her tears had disappeared, and her eyes were resolute and calm.

Ling Jiayan quickly recovered and said, "We've made contact. He's being hunted by the Nightmare Demon and his horde of demons. Because of his spirit body, he has special abilities to hide. He said he can't contact us for now, fearing his whereabouts will be exposed. He'll come back to find us once he's gotten away from the Nightmare Demon."

Yingji nodded slightly and said nothing.

Ling Jiayan looked at Yingji's expression, hoping she would be happier, and quickly added, "The poisonous fruit is still in Jianfeng's hands."

Yingji's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she nodded again. She felt a slight sense of relief. She had already lost Bajiao for the poisonous fruit, and she didn't want anything to happen to Jianfeng again.

Suddenly, a streak of light flickered in the pitch-black night, and flew briskly towards Kong Fan. Kong Fan raised his hand and took the letter sent from the Xihuang Palace.

Kong Fan glanced at the ten lines and then frowned slightly.

"What's wrong?" Yingji asked. "If you have something to do, you don't have to stay with me."

"I need to go back to Chaoxi." Kong Fan explained, "My mother is sick."

Kong Fan was well aware of Empress Dowager Xue's illness. She had suffered several serious injuries in her youth, and she had long suffered from old ailments. She had never told him about her illness before, and Kong Fan had learned about it from other sources. For such a strong-willed person, this was the first time she had personally written to him about her illness, hoping he would return home. He was afraid her condition wasn't good.

As for his biological mother, Kong Fan felt that he did not spend much time with her. Now thinking about it, he felt a little indebted.

Ying Ji suddenly raised her eyes and stared at Kong Fan, a strange look in them. It seemed that the time had come for Empress Dowager Xue to keep her promise.

Ying Ji subconsciously placed her hand on the Qiankun bag. Through the Qiankun bag, her fingertips seemed to be touching the jade coffin where the hibiscus and banana trees were placed.

If Basho cannot be saved, the better option is to send Basho and Hibiscus to the Well of Reincarnation together and give them a new life!

"I'll go back with you!" Yingji said anxiously.

"Okay." Kong Fan agreed.

Yingji hesitated. If she and Kongfan went to Chaoxi right now, what about Jianfeng? Jianfeng was still in danger. But the only thing she could do to help Jianfeng was to avoid contacting him and expose his whereabouts.

Ying Ji thought about it and decided that since she couldn't help Jian Feng at the moment, there was no need to wait around. If anything happened, she could just use the Thousand Miles Talisman to find him.

"When are we leaving? Now?" Yingji stood up. She couldn't wait to open the reincarnation well and give Mujin and Bajiao a new life.

Kong Fan nodded slightly and stood up.

Ling Jiayan, who was standing by, immediately said, "I won't be going with you."

He looked at Yingji's expression, paused, and added, "I'll keep an eye on Jianfeng's situation at all times. Ah Ying, if you need anything, I'll be there at your beck and call."

Ying Ji nodded at Ling Jiayan, then looked away.

Ling Jiayan opened his mouth, but found nothing to say, so he pursed his lips helplessly. When he returned, Bajiao wasn't there, so he assumed Yingji had taken her away. He didn't dare ask further.

Ling Jiayan was acutely aware of the subtle change in Yingji's attitude towards him. But it was only natural. He still felt a surge of self-blame over the incident with Basho, and now he felt a bit ashamed.

He bowed to Kong Fan, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Kong Fan wanted to persuade Ying Ji not to vent her anger on Ling Jia Yan, saying that things in the world are based on cause and effect, and fate has already been written. But seeing Ying Ji's downcast eyes, Kong Fan swallowed all his words of comfort. He simply walked towards Ying Ji and gently took her hand.

Perhaps because she had been washing in the stream for a long time, her hands were very cold.

A hint of coolness fell into his palm. Kong Fan slowly retracted his long fingers and held her hand more tightly in his palm.

Yingji's drooping eyebrows slowly lifted up. She looked into Kongfan's eyes and said softly but earnestly, "Kongfan, can you promise me one thing?"

Kong Fan hesitated for a moment before saying, "You go."

"When we get to Chaoxi, I want you to hold my hand and kiss me in public."

Kong Fan was stunned for a moment.

Yingji frowned and asked, "You don't want to do that?"

"No." Kong Fan let out a light smile. "I just didn't expect it to be such a simple matter."

Yingji laughed.

Kong Fan had thought... she'd just asked him for the Bodhi Pill. He stared at Ying Ji's smile, feeling bewildered. The Poison Fruit was already in Jian Feng's possession, and as expected, it would soon fall into Ying Ji's hands. So, of the nine demon refining items, she only lacked the last, the Bodhi Pill.

After what happened with Basho, Yingji's determination to refine the monster is probably even stronger.

Sooner or later she would come to him to ask for the Bodhi Pill.

Kong Fanya lowered her eyelashes slightly, her gaze falling on the two people's clasped hands.

Kong Fan promised that after bringing Ying Ji back to Chaoxi, he would hold her hand and kiss her in public. In fact, from that moment on, he never let go of her hand.

He took Yingji's hand back to Chaoxi and walked through the bustling night market in front of the Chaoxi Palace.

The people of Chaoxi stopped what they were doing and looked towards the Buddha-like existence in their hearts. There were rumors that Kongfan had broken his vow of chastity and had a female companion.

Rumors were everywhere, but Chaoxi's followers refused to believe that their Buddha was tainted by the mundane world.

Even at this moment, when they saw with their own eyes their Buddha holding a girl's hand, they were still a little bit in disbelief.

Later, there were whispers among the crowd.

There were even followers of Kongfan in the crowd sobbing quietly.

Yingji turned her head to look at Kongfan. She wanted Kongfan to hold her hand and kiss her in public just because she wanted Queen Mother Xue to see it with her own eyes, to prove with her actions that she had fulfilled the deal with Queen Mother Xue.

But listening to the people around her talk, Yingji felt a little uncomfortable. She had heard so much criticism that she didn't care about her reputation, but she didn't like the way those people spoke of Kong Fan with such regret.

She twisted her wrist slightly, trying to free her hand from Kong Fan's palm.

Kong Fan exerted a little force but did not let go.

Yingji looked at him puzzledly.

Kong Fan didn't look at her. He stared straight ahead, calm and composed. Ying Ji felt a moment of daze, as if Kong Fan was still the same as when they first met, untainted by her.

Arriving at the Chaoxi Palace, the palace servants on both sides of the palace gate bowed to Kong Fan and withdrew. The palace gate had been closed, but now the heavy gate slowly opened for Kong Fan.

Inside the palace gate is luxurious and brilliant, while outside it is dim and dark.

The bright light from inside the palace gate leaked out from the gradually opening door, illuminating the figures of Kong Fan and Ying Ji.

Kong Fan took a step forward, but Ying Ji stopped.

Kong Fan turned his head to look at her.

Yingji looked into Kongfan's eyes and pursed her soft lips gently.

Kong Fan understood.

He took a step towards Yingji and leaned over to kiss her in the dazzling light.

He fulfilled his promise to her.

A purposeful and performative kiss that could not evoke any ambiguity on this sad night of losing Basho.

Yingji quickly pushed Kongfan away. "Let's go."

Kong Fan agreed, and he took Ying Ji by the hand and walked into the Chaoxi Palace. He said, "I'm going to visit my mother. Do you want to go and rest first, or come with me?"

"With you."

Kong Fan thought to himself, as expected.

He knew what was going on and kept silent, taking Yingji to the palace of Queen Mother Xue. Yingji was temporarily placed in a side hall to rest, while Kongfan went to visit his mother alone.

Yingji sat alone in the silence, her fingertips caressing the wooden box containing the jade coffin. She couldn't help but wonder what Mujin and Bajiao would become in their reincarnations after they went to the Samsara Well. Would she ever see them again?

It's better not to meet. She is extremely unlucky and ominous, and will only bring them bad luck. There is no need to meet. As long as they are fine, that's the best.

Yingji fantasized about the future of Mujin and Basho. As time went by, she became more and more nervous, and her fingers that were stroking the wooden box began to tremble.

Why haven't I seen Queen Mother Xue yet? Time is really hard to bear.

After an unknown amount of time, the palace maid came to invite her.

Yingji let out a long sigh.

When I saw Empress Dowager Xue again, she looked completely different. She no longer had the dignity she had when we first met, but instead looked like an ordinary old person.

"Queen Mother, it's time for you to fulfill your promise to me."

Empress Dowager Xue looked at her meaningfully and asked, "What did I promise you?"