Zu An’s eyes lit up. “Will any request do?”
Zhuanxu saw the gleam in Zu An’s eyes and chuckled. “It has to be within my means. I won’t be able to help you if you request to become a saint.”
Zu An replied, “I don’t need that much. I just want you to save my lovers, such as Chu Chuyan, Qiu Honglei, Ji Xiaoxi... I want them to recover from their afflictions.”
Zhuanxu’s smile froze up. “You’re a sly one. You’re making several requests of me at once.”
He did some calculations on his finger as if divining their conditions. A while later, he slowly replied, “Saving Miss Chu is your fate; I can’t intervene in that. As for Miss Qiu, you have saved her, and she should recover in due time. As for Miss Ji...”
Zhuanxu’s gaze fell on the lady in Zu An’s arms. A divine light shone on her. “Emperor Jun has triggered her Cruel Poison Constitution through the Myriad Souls Banner. I can only temporarily suppress it. You need to treat her in time, and I believe you already know the way to do so.”
Zu An was stunned. I still have to find those medicines in the end. But at least Xiaoxi’s Cruel Poison Constitution has stabilized for the time being.
“So there’s nothing you can help me with. Is this all you’re capable of as the Celestial Emperor?”
Zhuanxu’s eyelids twitched. “Fine, I’ll take that as a gift from me. You can make another request, but I suggest you think things through. You won’t be granted another chance.”
Zu An pondered hard, but in truth, he already knew what he needed. “You’ll fulfill my request as long as it’s within your means.”
“Of course. I, the Celestial Emperor, will not renege on my promise,” Zhuanxu replied in displeasure.
“I want the power insignias of the Celestial World and the Human World.” Zu An quickly added, “You said you wouldn’t renege on your promise.”
Zhuanxu was speechless.
It was a long time before he finally replied, “You... I might have obliterated you on the spot for your insolent request had I not known about the karmic effects beforehand.”
Zu An was stunned. He knows what I’m doing?
A golden light suddenly manifested in Zhuanxu’s hands. He gently flicked it into Zu An’s hands. “This is a sliver severed from the Celestial World’s power insignia. It should be enough for you.”
Zu An couldn’t help but ask, “Do you already know that I’m using the power insignias to forge the Six...”
Zhuanxu interrupted him before he could finish that statement. “Some things mustn’t be said out loud... The Human World’s power insignia isn’t with me, but you need not worry. It’s fated to fall into your hands very soon.”
Zu An was shocked. It felt as if Zhuanxu knew everything. For a moment there, he wondered if he was nothing but a piece on a chessboard.
He wanted to ask more questions, but Zhuanxu interjected, “Alright, I have to settle the war between the Shamans and the Fiends now. Farewell.”
His figure vanished right after.
Everything soon reverted to normal. Xihe and the Goddess of Wu Mountain anxiously said, “Let’s hurry up and leave. We’ll be in danger once Zhuanxu comes...”
Zu An replied, “He was already here.”
“He was here?” The two women were confused. They were unaware of the conversation that had just taken place.
Zu An was also awed by Zhuanxu’s abilities. He had no idea how the other party had achieved such a formidable feat.
It was then that Xihe suggested, “It’s too dangerous to get implicated in the war between the Shamans and the Fiends. Why don’t you come to Scalding Valley with me? It should serve as a safe refuge for the time being.”
Zu An hesitantly replied, “I might have to take a trip back to Wu Mountain. I feel uneasy for some reason, as if I've overlooked something.”
The Goddess of Wu Mountain and Ji Xiaoxi had no objections to that.
Xihe said, “I have to bring the Golden Crows back to Scalding Valley as soon as possible to nourish their impaired body and souls. I won’t be able to accompany you for the time being.”
Saving the Golden Crows had always been her goal, so Zu An didn’t stop her. Silence loomed between the two of them. They vaguely realized that this could be farewell for them.
“I’m sorry for the things I've done in this time. Don’t worry, the lady named Xie Daoyun is fine. I’m only temporarily occupying her body. As for Miss Pei, she came to look for me, but I was worried that she would see through my impersonation, so I captured and imprisoned her in a formation. You just have to do this upon returning to rescue her...”
Xihe quickly shared the imprisonment location and the formation details. She then turned to the Goddess of Wu Mountain and remarked, “Miss Pei truly resembles Yaoji. If I’m not mistaken, Yaoji should be her former incarnation.”
The Goddess of Wu Mountain had already guessed as much. Given their striking resemblance and inexplicable connection, there had to be some kind of link between them. Still, when she thought about the intimate relationship she would have with Zu An in the future, she couldn’t help but blush furiously.
“Xihe, I...” Zu An’s voice was hoarse. He wasn’t sure what to say in this situation.
He thought about their time together, including their intimate moments. They had been no different from a real couple. But at the same time, he had also shot down nine of the Golden Crows and used the Golden Phoenix ability against her. He had done her a great injustice.
Xihe placed her finger on his lips. There was no point in thinking so much about it now. The outcome was better than she'd expected, and the time she spent with him was enjoyable. She had never experienced such love before. Her marriage to Emperor Jun had always been a political one; there was no true love between them.
“Can I hug you one last time before we part ways?” Xihe looked at him carefully, worried that he would turn her down.
Zu An pulled her in for an embrace. The two of them hugged each other tightly. Words failed them at this moment.
The Golden Crow Tenth Prince stared dazedly at this scene as the ten souls in him broke into an uproar.
The Goddess of Wu Mountain tactfully walked away to give them some privacy.
Ji Xiaoxi wanted to walk away too, but she was in Zu An’s arms and was currently sandwiched tightly between the duo. Her face was flushed. I shouldn’t be here. No one can see me. Oof, big sister Xihe is too big. Crap, I’m running out of breath...
...
Xihe eventually left.
Yumen Beiqing’s body fell limply, and Zu An rushed forward to support her. He first checked her vitals and confirmed that there was nothing wrong. Xihe had warned him that she would require some time to recuperate before regaining consciousness.
Ji Xiaoxi suddenly exclaimed, “What’s that?”
Zu An looked in the direction she was pointing and noticed a droplet of golden fluid on his shoulder. It appeared to be a teardrop Xihe had left behind when embracing him earlier.
The Goddess of Wu Mountain walked over and took out a jade bottle to store the golden fluid. “You mentioned that you were looking for an ingredient called Defying Spirit Tears. I pride myself on being knowledgeable, but I have never heard of that before. However, I think I get it now.”
“Is this it?” Zu An was astounded. He would never have thought that what he was looking for had been by his side all along. And yet, he felt bitterness instead of joy.
“This is incomplete. It’s still lacking something,” the Goddess of Wu Mountain remarked with a glint in her eyes. Before Zu An could ask anything, she added, “It isn’t safe here. Let’s return to Wu Mountain first.”
Zu An nodded. He morphed into a rainbow and transported them out of the Celestial Court.
As they landed on Wu Mountain, the Goddess of Wu Mountain suddenly remarked with a frown. “Someone barged into my cavern.”
Zu An was shocked. He anxiously flashed into the cavern, but the Mermaid Queen was nowhere to be found.