Chapter 33 Take Me With You
Chi Li's command instantly swept across the entire demon realm.
All the main roads leading to the human world are heavily guarded, and the spatial arrays are temporarily blocked. Anyone attempting to enter or leave will be subject to the most stringent checks.
Meanwhile, a bloody purge targeting the "Shadow Pavilion" and all its affiliated forces was quietly and swiftly unfolding within the demon realm.
Deep within the royal palace, in the sleeping quarters.
Tang Lu sat on the edge of the wide bed, her small face still wet with tears, her eyes red and swollen like two peaches.
Before her lay clean cloths and spiritual spring water, and the female official was about to wipe the bloodstains belonging to Chi Li from her face.
She suddenly dodged away, her small hands tightly gripping the blood-soaked hem of Chi Li's clothes.
"Lili...Lili is bleeding a lot..." Her voice was hoarse and thick with nasal tone as she repeated it over and over again.
The little body was still trembling slightly from lingering fear.
The dark blue short blade, the muscles that tensed instantly when Lili stood in front of her, and the blood that kept gushing out, carrying an ominous black aura...
The image lingered in her mind.
The other end of the soul resonance was now filled with a cold, violent, and destructive killing intent, making her feel unfamiliar and terrified.
She knew Lili was angry and seeking revenge for her, but... but she was more worried about Lili's injury!
"Your Highness, His Majesty is incredibly powerful and will surely be unharmed. Would you please allow me to clean you up first?" the female official gently reassured her.
Tang Lu suddenly raised her head: "No! I want to find Li Li!"
She couldn't stay here; she needed to know how Lili was doing!
That poison...that poison looks very potent.
She remembered that her wood spirit energy seemed to make Lili feel a little better, even if it was just a little bit.
Ignoring the female official's attempts to stop her, Tang Lu jumped off the bed and ran outside barefoot.
Guided by the faint resonance of her soul and the lingering, faint scent of blood belonging to Chi Li in the air, she stumbled and ran toward the Hall of State Affairs.
The atmosphere inside the council hall was heavy and oppressive.
Chi Li sat on the throne, the poisoned blade on her shoulder removed. A layer of crimson-gold divine light swirled around the wound, as it fought against the stubborn, dark blue poison. Wisps of black energy were forced out, yet they kept trying to retaliate.
Her face was somewhat pale, but her posture remained upright like a pine tree, and her eyes were as sharp as ever.
Below, several core demon generals and elders stood solemnly, reporting on the progress of the purge operation.
"...The seven secret strongholds of the Shadow Pavilion in the Demon Realm have all been eliminated, and fifty-three members have been captured and killed. Those who resisted have been exterminated and their souls shattered in accordance with His Majesty's orders!" A leopard demon general, his body reeking of blood, reported in a deep voice, his tone filled with satisfaction.
"The three major merchant guilds with close ties to the Xuantian Sect have been shut down, and those involved are currently being interrogated..."
"News has come from the border that the Xuantian Sect's protective array has been fully activated, and its affiliated sects are converging on it, seemingly preparing for a last-ditch resistance..."
Chi Li listened quietly, her fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest of the throne, each tap striking the hearts of the demons.
"Not enough." She finally spoke, her voice slightly low from suppressing her injuries, but carrying a will to crush everything.
"Shadow Pavilion, leave no one alive. Xuantian Sect... I want to watch their mountain gate turn to ashes with my own eyes."
Just then, with a "bang," the heavy doors of the council hall were suddenly pushed open a crack.
A fluffy, teary-eyed little head peeked in.
"Lili!"
All eyes immediately turned to that direction.
When Tang Lu saw Chi Li sitting upright with black energy still swirling around her shoulders, her little mouth twitched, and she couldn't hold back any longer. She burst into tears and rushed in.
Completely ignoring the somber atmosphere in the hall and the murderous demon generals and elders, she crashed directly into Chi Li's arms like a small cannonball.
"Waaah—Lili, your wound is still bleeding! Tanglu is scared, Tanglu doesn't want you to die!"
She cried her heart out, her little hands tightly wrapped around Chi Li's waist, burying her tear-streaked face in Chi Li's uninjured chest, as if she wanted to cry out all her fear and grievances.
All the demons: "!!!"
They were all stunned, unsure how to react, when they saw the little tree spirit who had suddenly barged in, hugged His Majesty, and burst into tears.
This is the council hall where important matters of conquest are discussed.
And their emperor is furious!
Chi Li was also taken aback by this sudden "attack".
The soft little body in her arms trembled violently with fear, and hot tears quickly soaked her clothes. The pure worry and fear shattered the high wall in her heart that was built by rage and murderous intent.
The icy, bone-chilling aura emanating from her body visibly subsided.
"Nonsense..." she scolded softly, but her arms involuntarily wrapped around the little one in her arms.
She patted her back gently, her movements clumsy yet tender: "Who sent you here? I'm fine."
"Liar! There's clearly something dark here!" Tang Lu looked up, her eyes brimming with tears as she gazed at the wound on her shoulder.
She reached out her little hand, wanting to touch it but not daring to.
In the end, he simply and eagerly transferred the faint, fresh, life-giving wood elemental energy within him without reservation:
"Tanglu will help you... Tanglu is so warm..."
That meager amount of wood elemental energy was like a drop in the ocean compared to the battle between the domineering demonic poison and the phoenix divine power within Chi Li's body.
But when that vibrant energy merged in, Chi Li did feel the needle-like, cold, stinging pain in her wound lessen slightly.
More importantly, that aura soothed her restless and violent soul.
Chi Li sighed inwardly, hugged Tang Lu even tighter, and waved to the dumbfounded demons below: "Proceed according to plan, all of you may leave."
The demons, as if granted a pardon, hurriedly bowed and retreated, glancing with mixed emotions at the sobbing little figure in His Majesty's arms as they left.
They finally understood that this young prince was not only the emperor's favorite, but also the only one who could quell the emperor's anger and stir his mind.
Once only the two of them were left in the hall, Chi Li lowered her head and gently wiped away Tang Lu's tears and... the bloodstains she had previously stained with with her fingertips.
"You see? I'm really fine." She tried to make her tone sound relaxed. "It's just a little poison; I can get rid of it quickly."
Tang Lu sobbed, carefully examined her face, and sensed the emotions on the other side of her soul—though still filled with murderous intent, they were no longer out of control—before she felt slightly relieved.
But her little hands still clung tightly to her clothes.
"Lili... are you going to fight? To fight those bad guys?" she asked softly.
“Yes.” Chi Li did not hide anything. “They hurt my Tang Lu, and they must pay the price.”
Tang Lu paused for a moment, then raised her head, her eyes still glistening with tears, yet unusually earnest:
"Then... can Tang Lu come along? Tang Lu will be very good and stay in Li Li's protective shield!"
"Tanglu...Tanglu can help heal everyone who is injured!"
She knew she was weak and couldn't help in the fight, but she didn't want to be like before, helplessly waiting and only able to sense Lili's danger through vague resonance.
She wanted to see Lili safe and sound with her own eyes.
Looking into the pleading and insecure eyes in her arms, Chi Li couldn't bring herself to say no.
Having experienced the fear of almost losing her, why would she want to leave her alone in the seemingly safe but potentially dangerous palace?
She hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "Alright. But you must promise me that no matter what happens, you must never step outside the divine power shield."
Tang Lu nodded vigorously, her tears turning into a smile, and hugged her tightly: "Tang Lu promises! Tang Lu is the most obedient!"
Feeling the small body in her arms, now warm and clinging to her, a complex mix of emotions flashed in Chi Li's eyes.
The conquest of Xuantianmen is destined to be a bloody battle.
Bringing Tang Lu along is undoubtedly like bringing along a glaringly obvious "Achilles' heel".
But she did it willingly.
Her strength was precisely for the purpose of protecting everything she wanted to protect.
And the little one in her arms is the source of all her protective meaning.
On the Demon King's path of conquest, there is destined to be one more small, warm figure.
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