None of the items I had in my possession worked.
Phoenix Feather. Nothing. Not even a flicker of life.
Resurrection Stone. Dissolved into useless dust.
Elixir of Resurrection. A mere golden droplet sizzling away like water on hot iron.
Liquid of Revival. No reaction.
Starussertion. The rarest, most expensive revival catalyst I had ever owned… and still, nothing.
I refused to panic. I had one last measure... one that shouldn’t fail.
I took a deep breath and invoked Divine Word: Raise.
The world didn’t shake. No golden light enveloped their bodies. No breath returned to their lungs.
It was a slap in the face.
But more than that, it was terrifying.
It told me just how out of my depth I truly was. How foolish I had been to think a few legendary artifacts and divine invocations were enough to defy death itself in this world.
No wonder Shenyuan’s moniker was the "One True Death," huh?
I closed my eyes for a moment, swallowing the bitter frustration rising in my throat. Then, I carefully recovered their cadavers and stored them in my Item Box.
When I turned to Ren Jingyi, I expected to see despair or anger, some reflection of what I felt. But she only looked a little more glum than when we started.
And then, to my surprise, she smiled.
“I believe in you, Master,” she said softly.
A moment passed before I reached out and gently patted her head. “Thanks,” I murmured.
Even with everything happening around us, even after seeing me fail so utterly… she still smiled.
And for some reason, that alone made me feel just a little stronger.
In my Divine Sense, I sensed someone approaching us.
Yue Ruo was looking mildly chafed as if she had been interrupted from something important, or perhaps something frustrating. Or maybe she was just pissed at me for being unable to protect her son. I wondered how much she knew. Did Ren Jin tell her already? I managed to talk to Ren Jin a few moments ago.
“Honorable guest,” she greeted me, her tone polite but lacking warmth. A stark contrast to the last time I was here, when she had addressed me as Young Master with a more accommodating demeanor.
Her gaze flickered toward Ren Jingyi, who shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny.
I decided to ease the tension. “Jingyi, Lady Ruo is a nice woman,” I said, keeping my voice light. “Though she and her husband tend to act like rabbits.”
Yue Ruo let out a perfectly timed cough, feigning innocence.
Ren Jingyi blinked, her eyes bouncing between me and Yue Ruo, utterly lost. “Rabbits…?” she echoed, her voice laced with confusion.
I smirked but said nothing more. No need to explain things that weren’t meant for children’s ears.
Yue Ruo, regaining her composure, clasped her hands together. “I have come to escort you to your resting chambers.”
I glanced at her, then at Ren Jingyi, who still looked a little wary. This woman was technically the Lady of the City, but the true power rested with her husband, Governor Ren Jin. Still, the fact that she personally came to attend to us said a lot about Yellow Dragon City’s stance... or perhaps even the Emperor’s.
Whether it was a show of respect or a way to keep me under watch, I’d have to figure out.
Still, there was a more important matter at hand.
I sighed inwardly, steadying myself before speaking. “Lady Ruo, I apologize… for being unable to protect your son.”
"I see... So, it finally happened." Yue Ruo’s expression didn’t waver. “Ren Xun made his choice,” she said, her tone measured. “My husband and I… we encouraged it, but ultimately, it was his decision. The fact that he was able to be of service to you," she inhaled softly, her voice steadying, "was enough.”
I maintained a neutral expression, but inside, I was too aware of the lie she was telling. Through my Divine Sense, I could tell. The truth lay beneath the surface, beneath her composure. Pain. Regret. The grief of a mother who had lost her child.
“I have his body,” I offered, my voice even. In my mind, I hesitated. I’d rather keep it. Not out of selfishness, but because I believed. Or maybe I was just being arrogant, that only I could bring him back. That only I had a real chance at undoing his death.
Before Yue Ruo could respond, Ren Jingyi suddenly raised her voice.
“Don’t worry, miss! My Master can bring Ren Xun back to life, no worries! His Eminence is mighty and powerful! He can do everything! My Master’s the greatest!”
Ren Jingyi’s enthusiasm was infectious, her tiny face full of unshakable confidence. What made it even worse was how she kept switching between Master and His Eminence, as if she couldn't decide which title fit me best.
I messed with her hair, ruffling it playfully. "Easy there, little goldfish. You're making me sound like a god."
Ren Jingyi pouted, swatting at my hand. "But it's true! Master is almighty!"
Adorable? Absolutely. Embarrassing? Even more so.
Then, Yue Ruo chuckled. A rare, harsh sound that quickly turned into a cough.
I sighed, stepping forward and instinctively rubbing her back. I considered using a spell to help, but she raised a hand, signaling for me to stop.
“Thank you,” she rasped between coughs. “I’ve never had a laugh like that before.”
Ren Jingyi frowned in confusion. “But… it wasn’t a laughing matter?”
I sighed again. This girl…
Yue Ruo shook her head, her expression composed but her eyes betraying a deeper emotion. “You may keep Ren Xun by your side… as long as you do not cease in your efforts to bring him back.”
I raised a brow, genuinely surprised. Did she hear this from Ren Jin? The last time I spoke with the Governor, I had told him the truth and my intention to keep Ren Xun by my side. Well, half of the truth, at least. I left out the part about how the Emperor’s invitation had been an elaborate ploy to maneuver me into a confrontation with Shenyuan. Some things were better left unsaid.
Still, I nodded. “I promise.”
Yue Ruo led us through the dimly lit halls, her presence refined yet oddly comforting. Finally, we arrived at the resting chamber. The moment we stopped, I turned to her and Ren Jingyi. “I’ll take my leave here.”
Ren Jingyi blinked. “Where are you going, Master?”
“Business,” I smirked.
Yue Ruo clapped her hands lightly. “Then leave Ren Jingyi to me. I shall keep her company.”
I inclined my head slightly. “Thanks for playing babysitter.”
At the word babysitter, Ren Jingyi huffed, her small face scrunching up in protest. “I am not a baby!”
“Meh… you’re still a baby,” I teased, reaching out to flick her forehead.
She pouted, rubbing the spot. “I am not! And I know what babysitter means, too!”
That made me pause. I tilted my head, genuinely impressed. “Huh. Not bad for a goldfish.”
Ren Jingyi huffed again but didn’t argue. I chuckled, giving her one last ruffle of her hair before turning on my heel and stepping away.
Time to take care of business.
I channeled my Egress spell, and in the next instant, the world blurred. The pull of space warped around me, and when it settled, I found myself before the towering Imperial Capital Gates.
Huh. It looked like the game mechanic of only being able to teleport to gates with the Egress spell remained true in this world.
I hadn't thought much about it before, but now that I did, it made sense. The spell never let me appear inside cities, only at their designated entry points. Security measure? Rule of the world? Whatever the case, I didn't have many opportunities to use this spell anyway. Spatial travel was convenient, but with so many unknowns in this world, I couldn’t rely on it too much.
“Hello? I can sense you by the way… Can I come in?”
Massive walls stretched into the night sky, their stone surfaces etched with ancient runes that shimmered faintly under the silver moonlight. The Imperial Seal was embedded in the center of the colossal gate, golden inscriptions glowing softly, exuding an oppressive, majestic aura. Just like in Yellow Dragon City, it was night here as well, though the Imperial Capital never truly slept. Through my Divine Sense, I could see what it was like inside… Lanterns bathed the streets in flickering light, and the distant hum of life echoed from beyond the walls.
A voice called out, sharp and commanding. “Who goes there?”
I turned to see a guard stepping forward. His Seventh Realm cultivation didn’t intimidate me one bit. He wore imperial armor, its gleaming metal adorned with intricate engravings of dragons. His aura flared slightly, a silent warning.
Before I could speak, a breeze stirred beside me. A figure descended gracefully from the sky, her white robes billowing like clouds under the moonlight.
Her presence was serene yet authoritative. The faint medicinal fragrance that clung to her was unmistakable. I had only known her as a skilled physician, but from Ren Jin, I had learned her true title... the Divine Physician.
She turned to the guard, her voice calm yet firm. “Stand down. The one beside me is a guest of His Majesty.”
The guard stiffened at her words, his gaze shifting between us. Finally, he bowed, stepping aside.
“Welcome to the Imperial Capital, honored guest of His Majesty. May the heavens shine favorably upon your stay.”
Then, turning to Xin Yune, he lowered his head even further, almost to a bow.
“Divine Physician, this humble one is honored to witness your grace once more. If there is anything you require, simply command it, and it shall be done.”
Xin Yune waved a dismissive hand. “No need for the formalities, just do your job properly.”
“Of course, my lady!” The guard stepped aside, making way for us.
The gates creaked open, revealing the grand streets of the Imperial Capital bathed in the dim glow of lanterns. The city was just as alive at night as Yellow Dragon City, though the atmosphere here was different... orderly, disciplined, and unnervingly perfect.
As we stepped inside, our pace slowed to a leisurely walk. I turned to Xin Yune. “Sorry for suddenly leaving like that. Hope the Emperor doesn’t mind.”
Xin Yune glanced at me, her expression unreadable. “He probably doesn’t.”
I raised a brow. “Why the ‘probably’?”
She smirked. “You tell me. Since when did you care about politeness?”
I shrugged. “You healed me. That’s enough to show you a bit of respect.”
“What about the Emperor then?” she asked, amusement flickering in her eyes.
I let out a dry chuckle. “Respect is earned.” As for the Emperor? I wanted to smack him in the end.
Xin Yune hummed, then remarked, “If it weren’t for the Emperor, you’d probably still be trapped in Hell, with no way of returning.”
I gave her a sideways glance, lips curling in a half-smile. “I’m fairly certain it was the Emperor who put me in that situation in the first place.”
Xin Yune outright laughed. “Your insight is sharp. That was indeed the case.”
I frowned. “You’d just admit it so openly? Won’t you be in trouble?”
She shrugged. “If I was going to get in trouble for saying that, I’d already be in trouble. Since I just said it now and nothing happened, that means he doesn’t care.”
I clicked my tongue. “What a casual way of admitting to scheming.”
As we walked deeper into the city, Xin Yune began listing off the rules of the Imperial Capital.
“No flying unless you’re part of the Imperial Guard or have a permit.”
“No using of spells.”
Alright. Restrictive, but fine.
Then she added, “And absolutely no littering, public indecency, or, most importantly... no shitting on the road.”
Xin Yune kept a straight face. “No shitting on the road. That’s an offense punishable by public flogging.”
I stared at her, waiting for her to say she was joking.
“…What kind of city needs a law like that?”
She sighed. “You’d be surprised.”
Okay. I had long stopped thinking this world was some barbaric backwater. In fact, I’d grown to appreciate the little things it had to offer: the intricate craftsmanship, the cuisine, the martial arts, and yes, even its strange laws.
Hearing the word "shitting" come out of Xin Yune's mouth had been both a shock and a strangely humbling experience. A beauty like her, one of the highest-ranking healers in the world, casually talking about public defecation? It was almost surreal.
But more than that, something about the way she said it rubbed me the wrong way.
I frowned. "Hold on."
Xin Yune tilted her head. "What?"
I squinted at her. "Why did you feel the need to specifically tell me not to shit on the road?"
She blinked. Then, a smirk tugged at her lips. "No reason."
I suddenly felt a deep, unsettling sense of self-awareness. Was this how I had been treating other people? Looking down on them, assuming they were incapable of understanding things just because they weren’t from my world?
Maybe this was karma.
I sighed. "For the record, I'm not that kind of person."
"Good to know." Xin Yune chuckled.
I clicked my tongue. "Anyways, before we see the Emperor, can you take me somewhere to pick up my armor?"
Xin Yune’s playful expression faded into something softer. She stared at me for a moment, then gave a quiet nod.
Wow... so accommodating... I wondered what was the Emperor playing this time?