TDIC 07

Chapter : 07

In just a few days, the small courtyard had completely changed in Li Lingjiang’s memory. The dense mist of Bu Gui Mountain had thickened, obscuring the view, yet she could still make out the vividly blooming flowers. She looked for a few seconds and could vaguely recognize them—Charming Flowers.

Because these flowers induced illusions when they bloomed and were extraordinarily beautiful, each glance made one feel as if waves of astonishment surged through the heart. For this reason, their blooming period was short, and they were extremely difficult to cultivate. In the past, Li Lingjiang had only managed to grow two or three plants. Yet now, even in this small courtyard, these flowers covered a significant area. She had no idea how Yin Wu had managed it.

The little immortal stood nervously, clasping her hands, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at Li Lingjiang, as if waiting for something.

She spoke, “Master, do you like it?”

Li Lingjiang walked around once more. All sorts of rare and unusual flowers were in full bloom, and they were all flowers of the Demon Realm.

The little immortal, never one to hold back her words, expressed her feelings openly. She looked at Yin Wu and said honestly, “They’re beautiful. I really like them. How did you manage this?”

“And where did these flowers come from? Judging by their growth, were they transplanted?”

Yin Wu forced a laugh, cleared her throat, and with a mysterious look said, “Master, these all came from Bu Gui Mountain. I discovered them while collecting Dragon’s Whisker Grass. When I brought them back, I found they were easy to cultivate. Look, they bloom so well.”

“Bu Gui Mountain?” Li Lingjiang repeated in doubt. She suppressed the suspicion in her eyes and spoke softly, “Besides the undead, only beings who have cultivated for many years can survive there. And there’s the lingering aura of fallen Demon Lords from past generations… how could—”

She sighed lightly, and the look in her eyes changed slightly as she turned to Yin Wu. “Yin Wu, where exactly did you find them?”

Yin Wu, hearing clearly, felt panic rising in her eyes. She anxiously told Li Lingjiang the location. Seeing the faint spark of interest in her master’s eyes, she hurriedly added, “Master, you don’t intend to go, do you? Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. I’m worried something might happen to you.”

Li Lingjiang leaned against the railing, her face pale. Her hair fell over her shoulders, accentuating her delicate beauty. Her eyes were cold and clear, and the visible bandages only added a touch of allure. Her voice was soft as she said,

“I’m not going. I’m only worried about unexpected changes… But since I haven’t been to Bu Gui Mountain in years, I don’t know if anything has changed there. If something happens next time, then someone from the demon clan should go and check.”

She braced herself with one hand, but as soon as she moved, a sharp pain shot through her chest. She bent over uncontrollably, coughing violently, her knuckles gripping the wooden railing tightly. Her vision blurred.

The pain seemed to radiate from her heart. Li Lingjiang had never felt anything like it—like her muscles and bones were being torn apart alive.

The pain came in dull, throbbing waves. She could feel her mind being pulled, her body trembling. Her internal organs twisted in agony, leaving her almost unable to make a sound—it was as if her very bones were being crushed and scattered.

Yin Wu’s eyes tightened. She rushed forward to support Li Lingjiang, her fingers discreetly probing for her pulse, assessing her inner strength. She frowned in confusion. Although Li Lingjiang’s magical energy was nearly depleted and she was severely injured, Yin Wu had been nurturing her with both demonic dragon and spiritual power. Outwardly, nothing seemed wrong; internally, she should have been stable. How could it suddenly feel as if she were collapsing?

She didn’t fully understand, and her eyes trembled slightly.

Li Lingjiang continued to cough, struggling to catch her breath. In her blurred vision, she looked at her own hands and suddenly realized just how weak she had become. Straining herself, she tried to push Yin Wu away, mumbling incomprehensibly, “G…go…away.”

Her beast ears twitched slightly, and the blood-red hue returned to her eyes. Once strong and formidable, she now appeared fragile.

Back turned to Yin Wu and weakened by sudden illness, Li Lingjiang barely maintained consciousness. Yin Wu concentrated her magic, trying to reconstruct her tendons and veins, her expression growing increasingly grim, and she firmly pulled Li Lingjiang into her embrace.

Li Lingjiang’s head tilted, resting against Yin Wu’s chest, gasping. Her body was unbearably hot, her face unnaturally flushed.

The little black dragon paced anxiously nearby but was dragged away by the white dragon’s tail, low growls useless against Yin Wu’s authority.

Time passed before Li Lingjiang’s consciousness gradually returned. Her eyes cleared, and after a few seconds, she realized her situation. Her mouth was full of the strong taste of medicine. She had been placed on a lounge chair in the courtyard, while Yin Wu, serious, wielded an axe, chopping at the body of a demonic dragon.

The sound of bones cracking made her flinch.

The black and white dragons stood on either side of the lounge chair, staring at her intently but cautiously approaching, likely intimidated by Yin Wu’s aura.

Li Lingjiang observed curiously. The little immortal, holding her breath, pressed her lips tightly, the axe striking not at a corpse but as if she were attacking an enemy. Her aura was cold and unyielding, her body splattered with blood.

Li Lingjiang’s eyes widened. Struggling, she raised her hand and noticed large patches of blood on her sleeve. Only then did she realize—it was her own blood.

Before she could speak, she coughed heavily. Yin Wu immediately put down the axe, rushing over, eyes red and tears streaming freely. Her voice trembled, “Master.”

She shuffled forward, squatting beside Li Lingjiang, whispering, “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t planted the flowers, this wouldn’t have happened. You were trembling just now, and your beast ears were bleeding. I wiped them for a long time but couldn’t clean them. You couldn’t hear anything I said, kept crying out in pain… I was so scared that something might happen to you!”

Li Lingjiang didn’t understand why the little immortal worried so much. She sighed lightly, tried moving her body—it didn’t hurt too much—then raised her hand to Yin Wu’s face, gently wiping away her tears.

“Are you made of water or something? Why do you cry so much?”

Li Lingjiang was exhausted from the ordeal, but seeing Yin Wu’s gaze soften, though faintly tinged with gloom, she reassured her:

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Trust me, I’m fine. It has nothing to do with you—it’s my own problem.”

Yin Wu didn’t speak, lowering her head and crying.

Li Lingjiang withdrew her hand, feeling the warmth between her fingers. She glanced at the gray, overcast sky—it looked like the weather was about to change.

She lowered her gaze to Yin Wu, pulling a red string from her wrist. Her beast ears twitched. “Hold out your hand.”

Yin Wu looked up and extended her hand. Li Lingjiang’s expression was serious, her movements slow and deliberate as she wrapped the red string around Yin Wu’s wrist, explaining,

“Thank you for taking care of me. You should know the ruler of the heavens—this is one of her magical artifacts.”

She sighed, “I don’t need it anymore. See if it suits you. Even if you can’t use it, it’s still a high-grade magical tool.”

Yin Wu was stunned, clearly overwhelmed by such a precious gift. She shook her head, “I… I don’t want it. You keep it—”

Before she could finish, both of them sensed a powerful aura of authority. Li Lingjiang didn’t look up but rubbed her eyebrows in helplessness. These past few days had offered no peace.

Dressed in black, stained with blood, her frail body battered yet still imposing, she softly called out, “Demon Lord…”