After traveling day and night for half a month, they finally arrived at the outskirts of the capital. In just two more hours, they would reach the palace.
During this time, Old Xu stayed by Dongfang Youyu's side almost every day, never saying a word, remaining silent but never leaving his side. Whenever Dongfang Youyu had any needs, such as needing water or needing to urinate, Old Xu would take the initiative to take care of him.
Old Xu was a man who had experienced many hardships. He knew that compared to people as cold-hearted as An Honghan, he also knew that His Highness the Crown Prince had committed a terrible crime, so he did not plead for him.
An adult should pay the price for their actions.
Although Dongfang Youyu was a child he had watched grow up, he had also caused countless people in Fengzhou to suffer the devastation of losing their homes and becoming homeless.
Therefore, Dongfang Youyu must bear the consequences himself.
Xi Xizhi shook her head helplessly as she watched Old Man Xu's behavior.
Although Old Man Xu is only the Grand Preceptor of the Kingdom of Luyun, he is like a teacher and a father to Dongfang Youyu. Perhaps, for Old Man Xu, Dongfang Youyu is the one he cares about for the rest of his life.
Old Xu was right about one thing: Dongfang Youyu's time is running out. Even if the rest of them don't deal with him, he won't live much longer.
As a human, he devoured a demon core with his human body; how could his flesh and blood withstand such powerful demonic energy?
Don't be fooled by the fact that Dongfang Youyu hasn't shown his full power yet; once he suffers a backlash from demonic energy, the torment he endures will be excruciating.
Having failed to devour the dragon's inner core, a backlash was inevitable for him.
Nothing in this world can save him anymore.
Old Xu was aware of the backlash, so he always wanted to make Dongfang Youyu's final days as comfortable as possible. Several times, Old Xu approached Xi Xizhi, hoping she could plead for An Honghan to release him from his restraints and assure her that Dongfang Youyu would never escape.
Xi Xizhi hates owing favors the most. When she first arrived in this world, she was very grateful for Old Man Xu's help, and this kindness has always been buried in her heart.
Since Old Man Xu now needed her help, she felt guilty if she didn't even try. So, after Old Man Xu's repeated requests, Xi Xizhi couldn't help but go to An Honghan.
But he knew in his heart that An Honghan would never agree to this request. After all, An Honghan was the kind of person who liked to keep things under his control. Untying Dongfang Youyu's demon-locking rope would only increase the risk of the matter.
Xi Xizhi finished speaking cautiously, then carefully raised her head to observe An Honghan's expression.
"So? Do you think it's okay? If you agree, I'll have Master Feng untie the demon-locking rope on Dongfang Youyu."
An Honghan quietly looked at the girl and guessed what she was thinking. If it were any other request, An Honghan would do his best to fulfill it, but he couldn't do that for Dongfang Youyu.
Thinking of this, An Honghan slowly shook his head. "No."
Xi Xizhi raised her head with little confidence, "Why? Old Man Xu has already guaranteed that he won't let Dongfang Youyu go."
“But if Dongfang Youyu really wants to escape, then Grand Preceptor Xu has no ability to resist. Tell me, how can I give Dongfang Youyu even the slightest chance to escape? If Dongfang Youyu escapes, how can I face the people of Fengzhou, how can I face those who lost their lives in the flood?”
An Honghan said, "I know you owe Grand Preceptor Xu a favor, but this favor cannot be repaid in this way."
Xi Xizhi understood this principle and did not continue to persuade him. After leaving the carriage, she gave Old Man Xu a look that said, "Look, I have done my best."
National Preceptor Xu did not force the issue, saying, "Thank you, I know my request was excessive."
For the next two days, Old Man Xu did not come to see Xi Xizhi again.
Xi Xizhi could only watch him silently, noticing that he, already aged, had become even thinner.
That night, a scream suddenly erupted from the procession returning to Beijing. The scream was sharp and shrill, like a lightning bolt streaking across the night sky, instantly shattering the silence.
Xi Xizhi was suddenly awakened from her dream. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw An Honghan, who had also been woken up.
An Honghan gently stroked the girl's hair, looked at the carriage behind them, and said, "Dongfang Youyu's demonic power has backfired."
The bursts of reference were like the roars of wild beasts, filled with despair and pain, making them unbearable to listen to.
Xi Xizhi wrapped herself in a fox fur coat to keep warm and quickly jumped down from the carriage. She had just walked to the carriage behind when she was startled by the blood seeping out of it and stopped in her tracks.
Drop by drop, seemingly endless blood gushed from the gaps in the carriage.
Accompanied by Dongfang Youyu's painful howls, it seemed as if they were about to pierce one's eardrums.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, please bear with it, I'll get you some painkillers right away!"
"Where are the painkillers! Where are the painkillers! Where are they?!" Old Xu shouted in terror and helplessness, trying to tear his clothes to temporarily stop Dongfang Youyu's bleeding. But as soon as he put the strips of cloth on Dongfang Youyu's wound, he was met with a heart-wrenching scream.
"Grand Preceptor! It hurts so much...it hurts so much..." Dongfang Youyu rolled around in the carriage in pain, his flesh and blood seemed to be about to explode, cracking bit by bit, and the blood in his veins seemed to have found a breakthrough, constantly surging into his veins. His body was already stained red with blood, and if you looked closely, you could see blood oozing out of every pore.
Xi Xizhi had just lifted the carriage curtain when she was startled by what she saw inside.
Dongfang Youyu was almost completely covered in blood.
A few words suddenly popped into my head.
He was overcome by demonic power and died from his body exploding.
After losing the dragon's inner core, the demonic power within Dongfang Youyu's body finally became uncontrollable and erupted completely.
Xu Guoshi was so frightened that he was completely at a loss. When he saw Xi Xizhi arrive, it was as if he had seen a savior.
"Miss Xi, Miss Xi, please, is there any way to save my prince..."
"Your master is incredibly powerful. I don't ask that you can save His Highness's life, I only ask that you find a way to ease his pain..."
Grand Preceptor Xu was in tears, wanting to step forward to help Dongfang Youyu, but not daring to touch him in the slightest.
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