Dragon's Roar Breaks Evil and Calms the Storm
The sounds of the battle within the provincial government grew increasingly intense, like rumbling thunder, shaking the ground beneath their feet. The flames flickered alternately with a strange green light, illuminating half the night sky in flickering hues, interspersed with Gao Lian's exasperated roars and Gongsun Sheng's cold rebukes.
I clutched the warm "Purifying Heart Talisman" tightly in my arms, leaning against the broken ancient locust tree, my heart in my throat. Waves of dizziness from mental exhaustion washed over me, but I stared fixedly in the direction of the flames, not daring to relax even a moment.
Suddenly, a dazzling golden lightning shot up from the center of the provincial government office, tearing through the pervasive evil aura, accompanied by a deafening thunderclap!
The righteous method of the Five Thunders and Heavenly Gang!
It was Gongsun Sheng who used his true magical powers!
After the lightning, Gao Lian's roar stopped abruptly, replaced by a shrill and unwilling scream, and the evil green light that shot into the sky was quickly extinguished like a candle in the wind.
The sound of fighting stopped.
The gloomy atmosphere that enveloped the city quickly dissipated like melting ice and snow, taking with it the unsettling feeling of oppression. Although the night sky remained dark, it had regained its former clarity. A few stars even broke free from the clouds, casting a faint but pure starlight.
Success! Gongsun Sheng wins!
My heart finally settled down, my whole body went limp, and I almost collapsed to the ground.
Not long after, a green shadow floated out from the provincial government office and came in front of me after a few rises and falls.
It was Gongsun Sheng.
He was still wearing the same blue cloth Taoist robe, and after such a fierce battle, it was still spotless. However, his face was paler than usual, and his breathing was slightly rapid, obviously exhausted. But his eyes were brighter than the stars, with a clarity and majesty that came from being cleansed of filth.
"Master!" I struggled to stand up.
He reached out his hand to support me, his eyes fixed on my sweaty, pale face and the half-collapsed ancient locust tree next to me. His eyes moved slightly: "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." I shook my head and asked anxiously, "Gao Lian..."
"The evil magic has been broken, and the soul is severely damaged. Even if he doesn't die, he will be a cripple." Gongsun Sheng said calmly, as if he was just dealing with a trivial matter. "The Five Ghosts Gathering Yin Formation has been destroyed, and the Taoist veins here will gradually return to clarity."
I breathed a sigh of relief. The danger in Gaotang Prefecture was finally over.
"We need to leave this place as soon as possible." Gongsun Sheng looked at the provincial government office, which was beginning to see commotion and flames. "The government will react soon."
I nodded and forced myself to stand. However, the aftereffects of my mental exhaustion kicked in. As soon as I took a step, I felt the world spinning, my vision went black, and I fell forward.
The expected cold ground did not come, and a steady arm wrapped around my waist in time to support me.
It’s Gongsun Sheng.
He looked down at me, who was so weak in his arms, frowned slightly, and then said nothing more. He used his arms to hold me horizontally.
"Master...Master!" I exclaimed, my cheeks instantly burning hot. This posture... is too intimate!
"Don't say anything, just hold on tight." His voice was still cold, but it carried an unquestionable tone.
He held me in his arms and ran as fast as lightning in the night, swiftly and steadily avoiding the officers and soldiers who were beginning to assemble and the chaotic crowd, and soon returned to the inn where we stayed.
Inside the inn, several of the accompanying minions had been waiting anxiously for a long time. When they saw us return, especially when they saw Gongsun Sheng holding me, they were all stunned, but they immediately reacted and quickly packed their bags.
Gongsun Sheng gently placed me on the bed in the room and instructed one of his men, "Make me a bowl of ginseng soup."
"Yes, sir!"
He sat at the table, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing to recover his depleted energy.
I leaned against the headboard, watching his silent silhouette, a mixture of emotions welling up in my heart. Everything tonight felt like a dream. The terror of facing the demon alone, the success of my music in overcoming the evil, and now... the warmth and unquestionable protection of his embrace.
The ginseng soup was served quickly. After I took it, a warm current spread and I felt a little better.
"How does it feel?" he asked, opening his eyes.
"Much better." I answered in a low voice, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Master, you...are you not hurt?"
"No problem." He replied calmly, his eyes fixed on my still pale face. After a pause, he suddenly said, "You did a great job today. If you hadn't restrained the wooden ghost in time, I wouldn't have been able to break the formation so smoothly."
This was the first time he had so clearly affirmed my role.
An indescribable warmth and sense of accomplishment surged in my heart, as if all the fatigue and fear were rewarded at this moment.
"It's thanks to the Taoist priest's good teaching." I said modestly, but the corners of my mouth couldn't help but rise slightly.
He looked at the faint but genuine smile on my face, his eyes seemed to soften for a moment, but soon returned to his usual indifference.
"Rest for two hours. We need to leave Gaotang Prefecture before dawn."
"yes."
In the second half of the night, I slept restlessly, replaying the hideous ghost beneath the ancient locust tree and the thunderbolts blazing from the prefectural yamen. But whenever I was awakened by a nightmare, I'd see the green figure sitting quietly outside the window, and my heart would inexplicably find peace.
Before dawn, we had packed up and quietly left the city that had just experienced an extraordinary battle.
On the way out of the city, I could clearly feel a difference from when I came in. Although the streets were still deserted, the suffocating gloom had disappeared. Some brave people had begun to peek out, their faces filled with the bewilderment of having survived a disaster and a faint glimmer of hope.
We successfully left the city, met up with the gang members waiting for us outside the city, and rode back to Liangshan at full speed.
A few days later, we returned safely to Liangshan Lake. Meanwhile, news arrived from Cangzhou: Yin Tianxi had been beaten to death by Li Kui (slightly different from the original novel, but with the same outcome). While Chai Daguanren was in trouble, he was protected by Liangshan's secret support. Gaotang Prefecture's prefect, Gao Lian, was seriously injured and unconscious, and the prefectural government was in chaos, unable to investigate.
In the Juyi Hall, Chao Gai once again held a banquet to celebrate Gongsun Sheng and me.
"Sir, you have great powers, and Miss Bu is very brave! This trip to Gaotang Prefecture not only helps Mr. Chai out of trouble, but also eliminates harm for the people and spreads the reputation of Liangshan! The truth will be revealed!" Chao Gai was in high spirits and raised his glass to toast.
Everyone echoed, looking at Gongsun Sheng with even greater awe. Their gazes towards me had completely changed, too. No longer was it the curiosity or disdain with which they viewed a dependent, but rather genuine respect and recognition. Being able to assist Ruyunlong in breaking the formation and restraining the demonic creature with a mortal body was a feat no one could ignore.
Even the wise man Wu Yong, when he toasted me, spoke with a much more sincere tone: "Miss Bu has extraordinary skills and has made many remarkable achievements. Wu Yong admires her."
I humbly returned the greetings one by one, but my eyes unconsciously drifted towards Gongsun Sheng who was sitting at the top.
He continued to drink tea instead of wine, his expression calm. But amid the clamor of toasts, his gaze passed through the crowd and briefly met mine in the air.
There were no words, no expression, but I seemed to be able to read the faintest trace of approval and relaxation beneath that calm gaze, which only I could detect.
I know that this trip to Gaotang Prefecture not only allowed me to gain a firm foothold in Liangshan, but also created a huge gap in the seemingly insurmountable wall between Gongsun Sheng and me.
He saw my value, recognized my courage, and even... in times of crisis, showed an extraordinary desire to protect me.
Yunlong was already confused by the sound, and his feelings were gradually blossoming.
(End of Volume 2)
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