The Rise and Fall (Part 2)
Ever since she sensed that strange resonance that day, Yun Shu's unease grew like wild grass.
After taking the medicine, he secretly used his remaining spiritual power to investigate the destination of the dragon energy that Murong Jin had transferred in—to no avail. The dragon energy was completely normal; each time it entered, it merely searched along the meridians for the deeply rooted demonic poison and forcibly suppressed its spread.
Each time Murong Jin came, he showed great concern and there was nothing unusual about it.
But what alarmed him was that the once crystal-clear hustle and bustle of the city outside the palace walls now sounded as if from another world to him, completely vanished. Only the sounds of political discussions in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the footsteps of palace servants, Murong Jin's movements and breathing, and even the flow of that pure dragon energy, became increasingly clear.
Even yesterday, when Jinzhu excitedly told him that several more flowers were blooming in the Imperial Garden while holding a small flower basket, he neither noticed nor heard her.
"Tap, tap."
He knew that the emperor, in his dragon robe and golden boots, had once again entered the Yilan Palace.
"Xiaoxue, how are you feeling today?" Murong Jin finished the court session and, as usual, came to see him first. Her warm fingertips naturally touched the corner of his eye, and the dragon energy that could alleviate the demonic poison was once again infused into him. "Today, is there any pain anywhere? Are you feeling unwell?"
The ambergris was still strong, enveloping Yun Shu's entire body in wisps and strands, making her feel drowsy.
It's a bit too cloying.
Yun Shu lowered her eyelashes and shook her head slightly: "No. I just slept for a long time and am still a little groggy."
"Feeling drowsy?" Murong Jin paused, seemingly hesitant about something, but her tone remained worried. "But the Imperial Guards' patrols are too noisy, disturbing your rest?"
The more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. He said with annoyance, "It was Ah Jin who didn't think it through... How can the five senses of a fox spirit be compared to those of a mortal? I'll give the order right away to have them walk even more quietly at night, or perhaps change into softer boots, okay?"
“It’s alright,” Yun Shuwei sat back slightly and leaned against the soft pillow. “Ah Jin is already busy with official duties, why should she keep thinking about me, a free person, all the time? Besides, the Imperial Guards bear the heavy responsibility of protection and cannot be changed for my convenience.”
Murong Jin's hand, which was about to touch the fox ears, froze in mid-air, as if he were somewhat embarrassed and aggrieved, but he quickly regained his composure: "Don't talk nonsense again. Xiaoxue is my best friend, and also an auspicious omen for our dynasty... Your affairs have always been the most important. Tired?"
The nine-tailed celestial fox, who can summon wind and rain and live as long as heaven and earth, is only one step away from becoming an immortal. At the same time, it is also a meritorious minister who assisted the current emperor in ascending the throne and a miracle that sent down sweet rain to eliminate disasters and help the people overcome famine. Its auspicious name is well-deserved.
Yun Shu did not answer directly. He stretched and yawned, his nine tails unfurling like a night-blooming cereus.
“Ah Jin,” he said softly, yet with a hint of just the right amount of weariness, “I feel stiff and sluggish all day. It’s as if the demonic poison has gotten used to the medicine’s effects and is trying to cause trouble again… Ah Jin, could you stay a little longer? With your dragon energy surrounding and enveloping you, perhaps it will be more docile… just like when you were young, when we leaned against each other.”
It had been a very, very long time since Yun Shu had wrapped Murong Jin in her nine tails and let him sleep peacefully.
The child who nestled with the fox in the cold palace, willingly tearing his only cotton coat to wrap the fox, the young man who fought his way out of internal and external troubles, donned the dragon robe and ascended the throne, and the emperor who had worked diligently for nearly a thousand years, promising to share a peaceful and prosperous world with the fox spirit and to bring lasting peace to the people—all of these have not, for a very long time, cast aside all worries and burdens to rush to the fox spirit's side and weep.
Is that child still alive?
The nine fox tails swayed slightly, awaiting an answer.
Murong Jin wavered. His golden boots clattered heavily on the jade bricks.
"Issue my decree," the Supreme Emperor said in a deep voice, "After noon today, no one is allowed to enter or leave Yilan Palace unless it is for important business."
"Yes. I will obey Your Majesty's decree."
The palace maids left, leaving only the two of them in the inner room.
Murong Jin removed the heavy crown and golden boots, took off the thick dragon robe, and slowly sat down beside Yun Shu.
After pretending for a while, he finally bent down and embraced the magnificent nine-tailed fox spirit along with the fox spirit herself. He carefully buried his face in Yun Shu's neck, his warm breath almost soaking Yun Shu's thin inner garment.
After a moment of silence, Yun Shu also put her arm around him. The nine-tailed fox seemed to have a life of its own, spontaneously raising its head to pat Murong Jin's trembling back, as if to comfort him, or as if to say: Are you tired? Now, rest for a while.
His palm pressed firmly against Yun Shu's back, and a dragon energy far more refined and powerful than ever before slowly flowed into her, but it was not as lively as usual. Instead, it was deliberately slowed down, as if... she was afraid of something.
Yun Shu closed her eyes.
The familiar dragon aura, warm and powerful, carrying the oppressive aura of an emperor, surged into his meridians, weakened by the demonic poison. Like the most dutiful guards, it swiftly enveloped the sinister entity upon finding it, suppressing its agitation and gradually taming the demonic poison. As the poison subsided, the dragon aura also settled near its source. Then, the dragon aura slowly seeped outwards, further entangling the immortal essence within the great demon's body.
Just as the dragon energy and immortal essence became completely intertwined, reaching a certain balance with the demonic poison—
The same fluctuation, a hundred times purer than the demonic poison within Yun Shu's body, reappeared. But this fluctuation did not originate from Murong Jin; instead, it pointed to a more distant location... no, not just one location. This fluctuation was like a giant net, spreading outwards layer by layer from Yi Lan Palace as its center.
Yun Shu was the prey caught in the net.
Was this fluctuation caused by dragon energy an accident, or inevitable?
He sighed almost imperceptibly, as if the dragon energy flowing into his body had soothed his pain.
Ah Jin...do you know about this?
Was I used? Or...?
Yun Shu forced herself to kill the thought that followed. After all, why would Murong Jin harm Yun Shu?
"Xiaoxue..." Murong Jin said softly, suppressing a nasal ache, his fingertips brushing against Yun Shu's eyes again, "Are you feeling any better?"
Yun Shu smiled weakly and nodded, "Yes. Thank you, A-Jin."
After a moment, he said again, "Ah Jin, you should rest well with me today. Even though you are the emperor, you should still take care of your health."
"Okay. Whatever you say..." Murong Jin nestled in his arms, snuggling against him affectionately. After a while, she seemed to remember something and hesitated, not daring to speak.
"Does Ah Jin have something to say to me?" Yun Shu, understanding her needs, loosened Murong Jin's hair to help her lie down more comfortably. A faint demonic energy emanated from the tip of her tail, encountering a barrier at the gate of Yilan Palace.
That's exactly right.
Ah Jin... what exactly are you hiding from me?
Yun Shu's heart sank, but she didn't show it on her face.
Murong Jin, oblivious to what was happening, said in a muffled voice, "The winter hunt is in two days, and I've already ordered people to prepare the finest tents and sedan chairs... Xiaoxue, you're currently in poor health, so perhaps... you shouldn't go on the winter hunt this time? In case you catch a cold, I..."
Winter hunting...is there a problem?
The fox's ears twitched sharply, and Yun Shu chuckled, saying, "Ah Jin's words are inappropriate. In previous years, during the winter hunt, both the palace and the common people would worship the fox spirit, but I rarely made an appearance... Now that I'm living in Yilan Palace, how can I possibly slack off again?"
Murong Jin froze for a moment, then quickly resumed his normal tone: "...Xiaoxue is right. With the fox spirit personally attending the winter hunt, the entire court will certainly put in even more effort. The people's enthusiasm will also be high, and the winter plowing will be even more..."
The ambergris incense made Yun Shu feel drowsy, and the dragon energy soothed her pain and calmed her mind. Yun Shu couldn't hear what was said after that; she only remembered ruffling A Jin's long hair and trying to cheer her up.
In the last moment before his consciousness sank into sleep, he only heard his best friend's hoarse apology and the warm, moist breath beside his ear.
"Xiaoxue...I'm sorry..."
Those who rule as gods have no tears to shed.
The nine-tailed creature coiled around Murong Jin's forearm and shook it gently, as if to say: It's alright.
Ultimately, in the eyes of the fox spirit, the nearly thousand-year-old supreme ruler, the true dragon emperor, was just a child.
Yunshu is the most tolerant person when it comes to children.
Demon Realm, Pharmacy.
When it flew crookedly to Wu Ying's hand, the almost broken Demon Firefly used its last breath to utter the message it was conveying.
"The Ash Leaf Orchid has been obtained."
Then, with a "splat," the firefly fainted.
"Your Majesty!" Wu Ying suddenly stood up, casually tossing Mo Yiheng's Demon Firefly to the veterinarian, ignoring the overturned medicine jar in front of her, and shouted sharply, "You lot, immediately come with me to the Demon Abyss to meet Your Majesty!"
Half an hour later, they finally found Mo Yiheng on the steepest cliff in the Demon Abyss. He was covered in blood and grime, almost blending into the charred rocks. If it weren't for the faint light of the Soul-Suppressing Golden Lotus, it wouldn't be surprising if they had just passed by him.
Without delay, Wu Ying and the others immediately bent down to examine him. They saw that Mo Yiheng's wounds were deep enough to expose bone, especially his left arm, which was particularly horrifying. His demonic energy was weak and chaotic, and his breathing was barely perceptible. Only the jade box in his arms was intact, clearly indicating that he had risked his life to protect it.
"He has twelve broken bones and is poisoned by flames, but fortunately, his heart meridian has not been damaged..." Cold sweat dripped down his forehead. Wu Ying sealed several of his major acupoints to prevent further blood loss and called out, "Carry the Venerable One back, be careful! Be careful not to touch the box!"
Back at the Demon Palace, after another chaotic rescue effort, Mo Yiheng's condition finally stabilized, and he was at least out of danger.
"...You two, go to my private treasury and fetch two Qi-Strengthening Pills." Wu Ying let out a soft breath, composing herself. "Issue the Imperial Pharmacy Order: This matter is strictly forbidden to be divulged! Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"
The two physicians who were called upon kept their eyes downcast and bowed as they left, not daring to look at them again or utter a single word.
Frowning as she cleaned away the bloodstains, Wu Ying felt a mix of emotions as she watched the new Demon Lord still calling out for his master in his unconscious state. She carefully took the cold jade box and opened it just a crack. The immense power, extremely intense and pure, yet mixed with celestial energy, instantly emanated from it, scalding her and invigorating her, but also making her frown even more.
Perhaps because it grows in the deepest part of the Demon Abyss, this Ash Leaf Orchid is of far superior quality to what is recorded in ancient texts, almost a divine object. However, precisely because of this, the power it contains is too domineering. If it is taken rashly without any other adjustments, it may not only fail to cure Yun Shu's poison, but may also accelerate his depletion.
But His Majesty is in such a state now... She looked at Mo Yiheng, who was clutching the corner of the blanket, tears welling in his eyes, muttering incoherent words.
"Master, the medicine tastes bitter..."
"Master...candy..."
"Don't go... Master, don't go..."
...Sigh. Wu Ying pinched her brow, precisely spotting someone who had climbed over the wall.
“Night Demon,” she turned to the silent figure, “keep an eye on His Majesty for me for a while. I’m going to check the prescription; I don’t want them both to die from poisoning.”
Night Demon stretched his arms, silently sat down on the edge of the bed, and asked in a low voice, "How long?"
"It takes half a day to examine the prescription, and three to six months to prepare the medicine for the Ember Leaf Orchid. Some of the auxiliary medicines, although not as precious as the Ember Leaf Orchid, need to be planted on-site... not counting the time for drug testing."
“I asked him,” Night Demon pointed to the bed, “when will he be better?”
Wu Ying was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "I can only guarantee that His Excellency will wake up within five days. As for recovery... it depends on whether he will continue to act recklessly."
“Alright.” Night Demon nodded, his words concise. “I’ll watch over things for a few days. You focus on refining the medicine. As for the humans… the unusual activity in the imperial city has been increasing lately. I’ve already sent people to keep a close eye on things. If anything happens, the Imperial Pharmacy will be notified immediately.”
Wu Ying nodded solemnly, took the jade box and left quickly, leaving only Ye Xiuluo, who had higher combat power, to guard it—not to protect against assassins.
Three days later, Mo Yiheng woke up as expected. The first thing he did after waking up was to get out of bed and run outside.
Fortunately, Ye Xiuluo stayed by the bedside, browsing ancient books. As soon as Mo Yiheng straightened up, Ye Xiuluo pressed him back down and thoughtfully pulled the covers up.
“Your Excellency,” he said in a flat tone, “the wound has reopened.”
Mo Yiheng's arm bandages were indeed stained red with blood again, and faint streaks of blood were also visible on his shoulder and chest. If Ye Xiuluo had been any slower, this Demon Lord would definitely have been covered in blood again. Fortunately, it was Ye Xiuluo who was guarding him; if it had been Wu Ying, she might not have been able to hold him down.
Mo Yiheng had no time to worry about the wound; he grabbed Ye Xiuluo's hand and asked, "Where is Jin Yelan?"
"Here it is! Here it is!" Hearing the noise from afar, Wu Ying hurriedly ran over with the box and medicine. "Your Majesty, you can rest assured that Jin Yelan is in excellent condition thanks to the nourishment of the demonic flames."
Upon opening the jade box and seeing that the orchid was intact, Mo Yiheng finally felt relieved, but a trickle of blood welled up from the corner of his lips again.
Huan Ye Xiuluo helped the man up, and Wu Ying handed him a bowl of medicine, unable to help but advise, "Your Majesty, your injuries have not yet healed, you still need to rest..."
"I am unharmed." Mo Yiheng drank the medicine in one gulp, his voice weak but undeniable. "When will this medicine be ready?"
Wu Ying told him the truth. Mo Yiheng was clearly dissatisfied—it had taken too long—but he also knew that this matter could not be rushed, so he didn't say anything more. He then asked about the situation in the Night Asura Human Imperial City.
“The investigation is still ongoing,” Ye Xiuluo said calmly, pulling out a clean bandage to change his dressing. “But the Emperor has been frequently visiting the Imperial Preceptor’s residence lately. That Imperial Preceptor… he seems to have a particular fondness for fox spirits, often bringing a large retinue to the fox spirit temple in a grand display of power to worship. Furthermore, regarding the ‘Flaming Sun Grass,’ no such thing has been found. It can be basically concluded that it was fabricated by the Emperor, and his purpose should be…”
At this point, Ye Xiuluo deliberately raised his eyes to observe Mo Yiheng's expression before saying, "Aggravate the fox spirit's injuries and prevent her from leaving the protection of the Human Emperor's dragon aura."
"Snap, crack."
The medicine bowl shattered instantly, and a few drops of the dark medicine soaked the bedding. Wu Ying dared not complain, lowering her head and pretending to be dead, afraid of offending the Demon Lord.
Mo Yiheng's eyes were icy and terrifying, and his demonic energy surged uncontrollably, causing him to cough again. Suppressing his churning blood, he asked in a cold voice, "Latest developments?"
"Winter hunting in the heart of the Northwest."
"Prepare a medicinal bath and magic crystals. I need to recover at least 50% of my strength within three days."
"……yes."
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