I Need To Find A Way To Make Her Love Me Again - Chapter 46

Exhausted, Yan Xingyu and her companions fled back to the city of Fucheng. They found a random inn, hurried upstairs, and only allowed themselves a sigh of relief once the door was firmly shut.

The group was covered in dust and sweat. Jiaoyu looked at Guan Fei, whose face was a sickly shade of pale blue-green. Worried, she said, “Yan Xingyu, go back to the other room. I need to treat Guan Fei’s injuries first.”

“Can you handle it, little one? Do you need my help?”

Jiaoyu glanced at Xiao Yin, now shrunk in size and perched on Yan Xingyu’s shoulder. After a moment’s thought, she said, “Go back and stabilize your own spiritual energy first.”

“If anything happens, I’ll call for you.”

During the heat of the battle, Yan Xingyu hadn’t felt much, but hearing Jiaoyu’s words made her realize that the energy within her body was racing wildly, causing a wave of discomfort.

She could only nod. “Fine. Call me if you need anything.”

She turned to leave, but just as she stepped into the adjacent room, a loud thud echoed behind her. Startled, she rushed back into the room to find Guan Fei collapsed stiffly on the floor, having knocked over the surrounding tables and chairs.

Yan Xingyu’s voice cracked with alarm. “Guan Fei! What happened?”

Jiaoyu lifted the fallen woman and carried her to the bed. Yan Xingyu followed closely, noticing that the white silk ribbon covering Guan Fei’s eyes had partially slipped off. Seeing those tightly closed eyes, she realized the injuries were far more severe than she had imagined. “How did she get hurt this badly?”

Jiaoyu leaned down to adjust the silk ribbon. Recalling the illusion they had fallen into, she pressed her lips together and said, “That woman conjured the person Guan Fei least wanted to face. She used her heart-demon to trap us. We were entangled for a long time until Guan Fei discovered the secret to escaping: she had to wound herself severely to break the barrier.”

“Guan Fei used an attack meant to be fatal, against herself.”

Jiaoyu spoke with a hint of irritation born of concern. “That foolish woman… she knew you all would come for us soon. Why was she so impatient to break out?”

Watching her friend covered in wounds was painful for Yan Xingyu. Suppressing her frustration, she moved to forcibly transfer spiritual energy to Guan Fei, hoping it would help.

Xiao Yin noticed her intent and slithered down onto Guan Fei’s body to stop her. “Master, you cannot do this.”

“Why?” Yan Xingyu demanded.

“Your body was forced to accept a massive amount of spiritual power that you shouldn’t be able to handle. I’ve only been able to maintain your normal functions by siphoning off a portion of it,” Xiao Yin explained.

“You must focus on refining the energy within you as quickly as possible. If you try to force energy into Young Palace Master Guan now, your internal balance will shatter. You will die.”

Xiao Yin paused, then added, “Though you wouldn’t actually die, you would fall into a deep slumber for a long time and lose this hard won spiritual power.”

Hearing this, Jiaoyu spoke up. “Yan Xingyu, look after yourself. I have Guan Fei.”

As she spoke, she leaned over and blew gently toward the nose of the woman on the bed. Seeing Guan Fei’s nostrils twitch slightly, she watched her transition from a semi-conscious state into a deep, restorative sleep.

Jiaoyu ushered her out again. “Go back. I don’t want to have to knock another person out.”

Seeing her determination, Yan Xingyu didn’t argue further. She knew they were both stubborn. She returned to her room, intending to refine the unexpected surge of spiritual energy before coming back to help.

An Unexpected Return

When Yi Rong emerged from the Yulan Palace and tracked down the group’s lodgings, she sensed the barriers they had placed around their rooms. She couldn’t enter, but she saw Xiao Yin coiled around the ceiling beams.

Seeing her, the snake dangled down, its pupils slanting as it stared at her. “Didn’t expect you back so soon.”

The tone was decidedly unfriendly. Confused, Yi Rong said, “I don’t believe I’ve ever offended you.”

Xiao Yin knew it was being temperamental. Coiling back onto the beam, it replied, “You haven’t. But looking at your face, I can’t help but remember the days at the Jiuxuan Palace.”

Yi Rong knew what it meant. “That wasn’t me.”

“I know.” Following Yan Xingyu, Xiao Yin had learned the truth about the misunderstandings. Yet, seeing that face still triggered a subconscious reaction. It flicked its tail. “Master is refining her energy. Young Palace Master Guan is healing. Wait out here for a moment.”

Yi Rong nodded in agreement.

Inside, meditating on the couch, Yan Xingyu sensed something and opened her eyes. Xiao Yin quickly slithered back into the room to her side.

Seeing the shadow outside the window, she called out, “Yi Rong.”

She dispelled the barrier. As Yi Rong pushed the door open, Yan Xingyu rose and saw the tattered hem of her robes and the exhaustion on her face. She rushed forward, grabbing Yi Rong’s hand and checking her for injuries. Seeing no major wounds, she sighed in relief. “Yi Rong, you’re finally back.”

Feeling her wrist being held, Yi Rong moved to check Yan Xingyu’s pulse instead. Knowing what she was doing, Yan Xingyu spoke first: “I’m fine. How did you get out of Yulan Palace? How did you lose Yan Xiaoling and the others?”

Yi Rong finished checking her and, finding her breath stable, replied, “Liu Ruoni helped me.”

It was exactly as Guan Fei had predicted, that Liu Ruoni would help Yi Rong. Remembering everything she had been told, Yan Xingyu felt a strange, unsettling sensation.

Seeing her dazed expression, Yi Rong asked, “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing. I’m just glad you’re back,” Yan Xingyu said. Then, thinking of the two next door, she added, “Guan Fei is badly hurt. She won’t be able to move with us for the next part of the journey.”

Yi Rong nodded. “Understood. What do you plan to do next?”

Yan Xingyu thought for a moment. “I want to meet Liu Ruoni alone.”

As if remembering something, Yi Rong released the Blood Swallow hidden within her shadow fish. “She must have guessed you’d want that. She had this follow me.”

Yan Xingyu watched as the Blood Swallow transformed into a streak of red light and flew into her ear. A familiar woman’s voice whispered to her.

Seeing the shift in Yan Xingyu’s expression from melancholy to deep thought, Yi Rong asked, “What did she say?”

“She told me that Yan Xiaoling is controlling human ghouls and has allied with the Sect Leader of Qingding Mountain to create a massive array. Many Qingding Mountain disciples are lying in wait nearby. She told us not to return to Yulan Palace, but to go to a place called Tongshan Village near Qingding Mountain. She will meet us there.”

“Are you going?”

“Yes.”

To this unhesitating answer, Yi Rong simply said, “I will go with you.”

Those four words brought Yan Xingyu an immense sense of comfort. She started to smile, but then sensed movement in the next room. The barrier Jiaoyu had set up was dissipating.

She hurried next door and pushed the door open to find Jiaoyu sitting by the bed, propping herself up with one hand, her face still pale. “Little one, are you both alright?”

“I’m okay. Guan Fei probably won’t wake up until later.” Jiaoyu looked up at the two entering. “And you?”

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Yan Xingyu looked at the unconscious woman on the bed and sighed. “I didn’t realize Yulan Palace had become a den of vipers, and we walked right into it. Guan Fei was seriously injured again because of it. It was my carelessness that failed you both.”

“You two stay here and recover. I will handle the rest of this myself.”

Jiaoyu didn’t agree or disagree. Her eyes flickered. “Wait until Guan Fei wakes up, then tell her yourself.”

“I can’t wait for her to wake,” Yan Xingyu said. “I have to get to Tongshan Village to meet Liu Ruoni.”

“Little one, stay here and take care of Guan Fei. I’ll be back as soon as I’ve settled things. Don’t worry, Yi Rong will be with me.”

Jiaoyu looked at the travel worn Yi Rong, who had just fought a fierce battle to cover their retreat, and then at Yan Xingyu’s impatient expression. “Aren’t you being a bit too hasty? Can’t we discuss this once Guan Fei is awake?”

“No.”

Yan Xingyu’s refusal was categorical. She understood Jiaoyu’s concern, but ever since leaving Yulan Palace, she had been plagued by an inexplicable sense of dread.

This unease felt like an omen of something terrible, and she needed to resolve it immediately. Having seen Yan Xiaoling’s atrocities with her own eyes, she could no longer afford to move slowly.

Seeing her mind was made up, Jiaoyu stopped trying to persuade her, though her tone grew sharp. “Fine. Just don’t come back missing an arm or a leg.”

Yan Xingyu knew what she was implying and gave a soft laugh. “I’ll come back in one piece.”

“Little one, I’m counting on you to look after Guan Fei.”