Chapter 486: Chapter 486

Chapter 486: Chapter 481: Tired

Li Ji’s brows twitched slightly upon hearing these words, clearly not approving of the Heavenly Ghost receiving a name from their master as he had.

Despite the reluctance apparent in his eyes, he did not speak out in contradiction.

Xihe stood calmly with downcast eyes, her demeanor serene.

Baili An, observing the flabbergasted look on the flute-playing ghost as if he were either greatly shocked or simply dumbfounded, assumed he was too proud and untamed to appreciate being named without consent and therefore added, “If you fancy this name, I’ll celebrate by cooking a red-braised dog’s head for you when we return. Then you shall be mine.”

“If you prefer to keep fighting us, then let’s draw lines and battle it out, though we aren’t afraid of that either.”

Caught between the choices of a red-braised dog’s head and drawing lines for a fight, Long Di pretended to struggle and weigh his options, before eventually opting for a full meal.

The journey to the Bronze Divine Tree was hardly fruitful.

Everything had unfolded within Baili An’s predictions.

If there was an unexpected gain, it would be the Demon Clan’s Young Lord, Mi Lu.

They couldn’t keep Erhe Zangxin within the spiritual world of the Bronze Divine Tree, which was a great pity.

But not even Erhe Zangxin, skilled as he was, could save the Young Lord from such a predicament.

Naturally, both siblings from the Demon Clan fell into Baili An’s hands.

On their way back to the tribe, Baili An and companions rode the fast sword qi winds of Li Ji.

With each motion, Li Ji conjured great gusts of wind; his sword qi was unparalleled, and under the clear and bright night sky, his moves were as majestic as a legendary roc spreading its wings—awe-inspiring to all who watched.

When the elderly woman with trembling hair stepped into these winds, she was so nervous she didn’t know where to put her hands and feet, appearing not as the venerable founder of the Taixuan Sect, but more like an aged countrywoman unacquainted with the world.

Even now, she felt as if she were in a dream, unable to believe the disaster had passed so easily.

Baili An followed closely behind Su Jing. As he ascended, a lock of black hair brushed against his face. The woman before him seemed to trip over something heavy and wobbled slightly; she fell sideways like a fluttering sheet of paper.

The sudden calamity transpired so unexpectedly,

And Baili An, startled, took a moment to react to the old woman’s cries before swiftly catching the woman before him.

Holding her weightless body, Baili An truly understood her frail and slender frame.

Su Jing had not lost consciousness but was chillingly cold to the touch—pale and weakened as she lay in his arms. As cold and proud as she was, now she couldn’t muster the strength to push him away. Like a wilted autumn leaf mired in mud, she could not rise again.

Moonlight spread over her pale cheeks like water, casting a mournful halo upon her skin.

Baili An felt her thin back through her clothes, soaked with cold sweat.

Walking ahead, Xihe turned around to examine Su Jing intently, touching her forehead with a fingertip to probe her condition.

Her expression grew more and more furrowed, which made Baili An increasingly anxious. He asked, “What’s the matter?”

Xihe withdrew her finger, speaking calmly, “Nothing serious, she only courted death, right?”

Su Jing faintly lifted her eyes, filled with fatigue as if even speaking was a struggle.

Baili An frowned and pressed, “What do you mean ‘courted death’?”

Xihe feigned admiration, “In recent months, her Three Souls and Seven Spirits have been destabilizing her spirit platform and physical body gravely. Her old wounds haven’t healed, and despite her weakened state from constant battles, she recklessly left her body to negotiate with the Divine inside the Bronze Tree without sufficient rest and care. Isn’t that seeking death?”

Hearing this, Baili An’s heart raced with fear,

Musing how Su Jing always pushed herself to such extremes. It was all the more impressive that she never let any sign of distress show.

If not for her body reaching its limits, perhaps she would’ve returned to the tribe without anyone noticing her discomfort.

Baili An reluctantly lifted her sideways and carried her into the Huaxu Sword winds, and they continued south.

The wind howled incessantly in his ears while snowflakes and ice pelted their faces painfully.

Baili An thought for a moment, then unwrapped his winter cloak, snugly enveloping Su Jing and carefully surrounding her face with fur to shield her from the snow and wind.

Her fingers were feeble, and any movement was excruciatingly difficult. She couldn’t help but cough lightly, her pale lips turning a faint, sickly red with the effort.

Such a cold woman, when ill, seemed particularly vulnerable.

Although Xihe appeared detached, she couldn’t bear to see the girl suffer any longer since she had taken a liking to that child at first glance.

After a moment of hesitation, she said, “Sir Si Chen, soul wounds aren’t easily healed by external means, yet the source of the Divine Tree sap that saved Mi Lu today would greatly benefit her.”

Baili An asked, “That’s your Bronze Tree’s spiritual medicine, can we use it?”

Xihe smiled, “As our leader, Sir Si Chen, you naturally have the right to use anything from within the Bronze Tree.”

Baili An nodded, “Then I’ll trouble you.”

Xihe presented a sapling, dripping a clear liquid from its center, radiating an aura as refreshing as the essence of life, invigorating to the soul.

Baili An took the thick green liquid filled with sap, knowing its value, and carefully fed it to Su Jing, drop by drop.

Just after feeding her the last bit, wiping her mouth with his sleeve, Baili An heard Xihe speak up again, “Sir, it just occurred to me that, while this sap source has excellent uses, it does carry some side effects.”

Baili An stiffened, his lips twitching, “Why didn’t you mention such a crucial detail earlier?”

After consuming the sap, Su Jing’s breath stabilized rapidly, her pale cheeks gradually regained color, and the waver in her spirit platform and soul began to settle into her Divine Treasure.

Still as weary as if she had just recovered from serious illness, her strength was partially restored. Slowly propping herself up, she touched her throbbing forehead and whispered, “I feel much better. It’s just a minor side effect; I’ll be fine after enduring the night.”

She had assumed the side effects Xihe mentioned were merely delayed spiritual power and a weak, cold body, like the chills of her childhood.

But in reality, she was gravely mistaken.

Seeing her unwell complexion, Baili An gave her space and looked up at Xihe, “I have a cold disposition; I fear I’m not the best at tending to her. Maybe you should warm her up?”

Upon hearing this, Xihe furrowed her brow; she was reluctant to be near humans, but she did make an exception for Su Jing, thinking that since they were both women, it wouldn’t be an issue.

As she was about to lean in, Su Jing slowly lifted her defined eyes and gave Xihe a calm look.

Xihe swore it was just a plain, calm glance, yet she felt an unexplainable chill and a discomfort that made her instinctively not want to approach.

Thus, Xihe took two honest steps back, neither agreeing nor declining.

Su Jing seemed to discomfort as she coughed lightly, her tired eyes growing heavier. Her cool voice, now slightly husky, said simply, “I’m tired.”