Chapter 44 What should be done?
On the surface, Chi Li's "captive breeding" policy appears to be very effective.
Tang Lu spent most of her time obediently staying within her sight, like a precious spiritual plant carefully cultivated in a greenhouse, with all the "sunshine" and "rain" provided by her.
However, the instinct for life always stirs quietly in unseen places.
Chi Li began to notice some extremely subtle changes.
For example, Tanglu started spending more time sitting by the window basking in the sun.
She no longer simply nestled beside Chi Li, but would tilt her head slightly, her amber eyes gazing quietly out the window.
My gaze passed through the exquisite window frames, landing on the ordinary flowers and plants growing freely in the courtyard, on the wings of birds that occasionally flew across the sky, and on the faint outline of the lush mountains and forests beyond the palace's perimeter in the distance.
That look seemed to hold a hint of longing that Chi Li couldn't fully decipher...?
For example, when Chi Li takes her for a walk in the garden, and they pass by demon servants or injured spirit beasts that she had helped before but now only dare to bow to from afar, Tang Lu's steps will unconsciously slow down.
Her gaze would drift over things, lingering for a moment on the slightly limping leg of the wolf demon general she had once healed, and then on the spirit beast cub she had saved, now lively but too afraid to approach.
She no longer approached proactively, but simply watched.
Sometimes her little hand would unconsciously twitch, and a faint, almost imperceptible green light would appear on her fingertips, only to quickly disappear, as if she had forcibly suppressed it herself.
These small movements, as subtle as the fluttering of a butterfly's wings, would have been almost imperceptible to Chi Li if she hadn't focused all her attention on her.
Chi Li felt as if something had gently pricked her heart.
She suddenly realized that her little tree spirit might not be as content with the status quo as she appeared.
Her innate kindness to heal all things had not disappeared; it had simply been quietly suppressed by her own commands and possessive embrace.
This realization made Chi Li feel a strange unease and... irritation.
She recalled the moment Tang Lu first awoke from her coma, when her pure eyes occasionally flashed with sensitivity and heartache for her wounds.
That wasn't just an instinctive reaction to Chi Li, but to all pain.
Her tree spirit was born to stretch out its branches and leaves, embrace the sunlight, and benefit all living beings.
Instead of being confined to a small space, becoming her exclusive solace.
This thought sent a sharp pain through Chi Li, as if her precious treasure was about to be torn apart.
Possessiveness, like a vine, instantly wrapped around her heart, suffocating her.
no.
She silently rejected it in her heart.
The assassination attempt by Xuantianmen is still fresh in our minds. The three realms may seem peaceful on the surface, but in reality, there are turbulent undercurrents.
Tang Lu's abilities are too unique and too eye-catching.
Letting her do as she pleases is tantamount to putting her in the eye of the storm.
The best way to protect her is to keep her firmly under my wing and shield her from all potential dangers.
As for that instinct...
Over time, you'll naturally get used to it.
Chi Li told herself this.
So she selectively ignored those subtle signs and even went to great lengths to get Tang Lu's attention.
"Tang Lu, my old wound seems to be getting cold again."
"Tang Lu, I have many official duties to attend to today, and my mind is exhausted."
"Tang Lu..."
Her calls became more frequent, filled with an urgent desire to confirm ownership.
Tang Lu always responded immediately, her little hand covering her with a warm green light, earnest and focused.
When Akari closes her eyes contentedly and pretends to sleep, the little guy will secretly and quickly glance out the window.
That glance, so quick it was almost an illusion, inexplicably made Chi Li, who was pretending to rest, feel a sinking feeling in her heart.
That night, Chi Li was startled awake from a light sleep.
It wasn't because of old injuries or nightmares, but rather a strange sense of emptiness.
She instinctively reached out to her side, where Tang Lu was sleeping peacefully, breathing evenly, her small body radiating a reassuring warmth and the fragrance of grass and trees.
Chi Li breathed a sigh of relief and was about to lie down again when her gaze suddenly froze.
The cool moonlight shone through the gauze curtains and fell on Tang Lu's peaceful sleeping face.
And in her small palm, which she had placed beside her pillow, a tiny, yet perfectly formed, golden flower, condensed from pure wood spirit energy, was silently blooming.
The little flower slowly rotated in her palm, radiating a soft glow of life. It was probably a silent expression and creation of some unspeakable longing that she unconsciously desired.
Chi Li stared blankly at the small flower in her palm, her heart felt like it was being tightly gripped, and her breath caught in her throat for a moment.
Even in her slumber, her little tree spirit still yearns to grow and blossom, driven by her power and instincts.
Can the protective barrier that you have carefully built, which you thought was airtight, really trap this vibrant new shoot that is destined to grow tall forever?
At this moment, the unwavering certainty of the past cracked open with a tiny fissure.
For the first time, His Majesty the Demon King wavered slightly about his method of protection.
She gently stretched out her hand, her fingertips hovering over the small golden flower, but she didn't bring it down for a long time.
Should we pluck this "overstepping" little flower to maintain a semblance of tranquility?
Or... should we let it grow and face the unknown, potentially stormy future?
The night is long and the moonlight is silent.
The answer, carried on the night breeze with the fresh scent of grass and trees, awaits the dawn.
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