67: Fulfilling the Promise [Two-in-One Chapter]

Chapter 67: Fulfilling the Promise [Two-in-One Chapter]

Inside the hot spring palace.

The walls were painted with the sun, moon, and stars, and the pillars were adorned with intertwining floral branches.

Moreover, there was no dome above the main hall; one could look up and see the Blood Sea Soul Transference Array.

The hot spring here drew living water, and the wide, tranquil hot spring pool, built with mutton-fat jade, was enveloped in mist.

Li Yunshu walked to the hot spring and stopped, gently lowering the Empress from his back.

Pei Xuanji stood by the hot spring, her head bowed as her slender jade fingers brushed the water's surface, creating ripples.

She gazed at her reflection in her hand, lost in thought.

How could she have imagined that one day she would become a Mortal with no cultivation whatsoever?

This feeling of powerlessness made her throat feel as if it were blocked by a foreign object, making it difficult to breathe.

Unbeknownst to her, a petal drifted over, following her fingertip, unwilling to leave.

Pei Xuanji looked up to see Li Yunshu, who had found flowers from who-knew-where, scattering them into the pool, petal by petal.

Watching this scene, for some reason, her heartstrings trembled.

With a gentle push of her slender hand, she parted the water, pushing the petals away to reveal the clear pool water, which was limpid and subtly fragrant.

The Empress lifted her Dragon Robe and sat by the hot spring pool, her exquisite feet first touching the petals in the water before sliding into the fragrant bath.

Against the backdrop of her jade-like skin, the petals appeared even more vibrant and rosy.

She gently rubbed her feet, and the bloodstains on their soles were washed away by the warm water.

Pei Xuanji's jade hand lightly tugged at her sash, and her Dragon Robe drifted down.

Even the softest and most delicate silk in this world, with its lingering affection for her skin, could not stay on her for a moment.

The pool water reflected the Empress's skin like flawless beautiful jade, exuding a radiant, soft luster.

Her long black hair slid down past her slender neck, her chest half-hidden by her flowing tresses.

The Empress slowly entered the water, her soft hair spreading out in the water, allowing petals to surround her.

She scooped up a handful of floral liquid, which sparkled brightly.

Warm water flowed down her creamy forearms, her translucent skin radiating a sacred glow, making her even more breathtakingly beautiful.

The hazy mist gently caressed the Empress's rosy face, and a shallow pool of clear water collected in her collarbone, holding a single vibrant red petal.

The Empress gathered her lustrous long hair from behind her head to the front; her hair, moistened by the warm water, was now scented with flowers.

By the pool.

Li Yunshu stood by, lost in a daze.

He took a deep breath; the Empress's body fragrance mingled with the floral scent, lingering in the air.

With everything settled, his mind had already begun to fantasize about how the Empress's jade feet would look in black stockings.

After all, the Three-legged Toad was still in his hands.

He had won this bet.

Although the Empress's cultivation was currently Sealed and she couldn't do anything to him.

But given her vengeful nature, she would certainly settle the score in the future.

Soaking in the hot spring, Pei Xuanji took out the Medicinal Pill she had refined earlier and swallowed it.

In the past, by relying on the Medicinal Pills she refined and daily hot baths, she could basically suppress the Seal within her body.

Since that night at Jingming Temple, it had gradually lost its balance.

After the battle just now—

Pei Xuanji looked down at the runes on her body; the previous Medicinal Pills and hot baths were no longer effective.

Gazing at Li Yunshu's reflection in the water, she bit her thin lip tightly, even drawing a hint of blood.

"Come here."

Hearing this, Li Yunshu turned his head, looked at the Empress's fragrant shoulders emerging from the water, and walked step by step to her side.

Through the water, he could vaguely see the runes on the Empress's body, which had not diminished in the slightest.

If absorbing Pure Yang Qi could suppress the Seal, then he knew what he should do.

Of course, he couldn't bring it up; he had to wait for the Empress to speak first.

Pei Xuanji glanced out of the corner of her eye at Li Yunshu, who was standing stiffly by the hot spring, and clenched her fist.

"Come down."

When she had cultivation, her commanding tone was righteous.

Now, suddenly without cultivation, facing Li Yunshu again, for some reason, a hint of timidity arose in her heart.

Li Yunshu hesitated for a moment, took off his boots and socks, and jumped directly into the water.

Standing in the hot spring, their eyes met, and Li Yunshu remained motionless.

Pei Xuanji looked up at the Formation in the sky; how could she possibly say such a thing?

"The Formation is complete. Unless it's broken by human effort, you can only be trapped here."

"Once Your Majesty breaks the Seal on her body, breaking this Formation will be effortless."

"You already know?"

"This official has read the Sun's Notes; it only mentions that the Restriction Breaking Pill requires the Three-legged Toad."

Since things had come to this, Pei Xuanji did not deny it.

"I cannot refine that Medicinal Pill now, so—I can only find another way."

After speaking, she gave Li Yunshu a look that implied he should understand.

Seeing the Empress's expression, Li Yunshu knew she was struggling.

Perhaps the Empress was waiting for him to speak first.

But he wouldn't.

Li Yunshu pretended not to see the Empress's gaze and bowed his head to express his loyalty.

"Your Majesty, please command; this official is willing to serve you as a dog or horse."

"You—are you truly foolish or just pretending?"

"This official does not understand Your Majesty's meaning?"

Pei Xuanji extended her index finger and poked his chest.

"You know perfectly well!"

She simply didn't have that much time to waste here. Not to mention, it had been several days since she left Great Chu, and the court was prone to instability.

Such a large commotion from the Blood Sea Soul Transference Array would surely attract the attention of the various Sects of Western Zhou.

If someone outside broke the Formation and discovered she had no cultivation, could she still leave Western Zhou alive?

Li Yunshu suppressed the smile in his heart and gave the Empress an opening.

"Perhaps there's a better method than oral consumption."

Pei Xuanji's eyelids drooped slightly, and her throat involuntarily swallowed.

She turned around and pointed backward with her hand.

"Isn't it enough if I take it orally!"

After saying this, the Empress picked up the Dragon Robe on the ground, wrapped it around herself, and walked out of the hot spring.

"You, you hurry up and do it. Tell me when you're done."

Li Yunshu: ?????

He was just about to reach out and embrace the Empress's slender waist, but he grabbed at empty air.

"How can I do it myself?"

By the hot spring, Pei Xuanji frowned slightly, as if she had made an immense decision in her heart.

Blushing, she turned her head away and closed her eyes.

She silently repeated to herself that it was all for the sake of restoring her cultivation.

"Then just do it while looking, alright?"

Li Yunshu blinked, then let out a dry laugh, looking at his hands.

"I need your help."

Hearing this, Pei Xuanji opened her eyes.

"How can I help?"

Li Yunshu scrutinized the Empress from head to toe, as if making a choice.

"You still remember our bet, right?"

"At a time like this, you're still thinking about the bet."

"Your Majesty is a person of her word; she wouldn't go back on it, would she?"

"You just agreed to give me the Three-legged Toad."

Li Yunshu crossed his arms, looking like a rogue.

"But Your Majesty didn't want it just now, so the Three-legged Toad is still in my hands."

When he faced the old woman from Western Zhou, he indeed thought about giving the Three-legged Toad to the Empress.

Who knew the Empress had this trick of transforming into a Dragon, completely unafraid of the old woman.

To prevent the Empress from reneging, it was better to settle the bet now.

Otherwise, once the Empress truly recovered her cultivation, wouldn't he be at her mercy?

Pei Xuanji re-wrapped her Dragon Robe tightly and said in a huff,

"I didn't bring that thing."

Li Yunshu raised the storage ring in his hand and took out black stockings and high heels from it.

"I just saw them."

The storage ring in his hand belonged to the Empress. Since the Empress's cultivation was Sealed, she could only rely on him to retrieve Medicinal Pills from the storage ring.

And when he was taking out the Medicinal Pills earlier, he had seen both the black stockings and high heels in the storage ring.

Pei Xuanji stared at Li Yunshu's starry eyes.

"What exactly do you want to do?"

In the hot spring, Li Yunshu walked to the edge and handed out the black stockings and high heels.

"Your Majesty, if you want to help me, you must first fulfill our agreement."

After a long pause.

Pei Xuanji stared at the two items in Li Yunshu's hand, not moving.

Seeing her motionless, Li Yunshu kept holding them up.

Both of them stared until their eyes were almost dry, yet neither spoke.

In the end, Pei Xuanji compromised.

What if someone outside broke the Formation in a moment? Then both of them would die here.

Her life was much more valuable than this guy's.

"I am a person of my word; I admit defeat."

She snatched the items from Li Yunshu's hand, turned around, found a chair nearby, and sat down.

After taking a deep breath, she crossed her legs on the chair.

Putting on the black stockings took nearly a quarter of an hour, exhausting her and making her sweat.

She really wanted to know who invented something so difficult to put on.

As the Dragon Robe fell, only her calves, encased in black stockings, were visible.

After her slender fingers hooked on the high heels, Pei Xuanji slowly stood up.

This feeling, like walking on stilts, made her sway involuntarily, always feeling as if she was about to fall the next moment.

She had to admit that once worn, these shoes matched the stockings on her legs very well, making her legs appear even more slender and shapely.

However, probably only the wearer knew how tiring these shoes were.

Pei Xuanji instinctively stretched her arms out to maintain her balance.

Li Yunshu stood in the hot spring, having watched for a full quarter of an hour.

During this time, he didn't know how many times he had swallowed, and now his mouth felt somewhat dry.

Now, his eyes only saw those black-stockinged jade feet approaching him.

She looked up at Li Yunshu, whose gaze in the hot spring was focused to the point of blankness.

In just a few steps, she had already easily mastered these new shoes.

For some reason, after putting on these shoes, a new sense of Aura filled her heart.

Tap, tap, tap.

In the main hall, the sound of slender heels striking the ground echoed.

Pei Xuanji advanced step by step, and she did not stop even when she reached the edge of the hot spring.

With a single step, the tip of her shoe landed on Li Yunshu's shoulder.

"I have now fulfilled my promise, what now?"

At this moment, the world became silent.

Li Yunshu lowered his head slightly; it was the first time he experienced a heart-pounding, suffocating sensation.

His heart was as if someone had floored the accelerator into the gas tank, suddenly picking up speed.

That instant of excitement made him forget everything around him... Outside the Imperial Palace.

Such a large Formation covering the Imperial Palace naturally spread quickly throughout the capital.

At this time, everyone was in a state of panic, discussing animatedly.

"What exactly is this great Formation?"

"I don't know; this great Formation suddenly appeared, and we only learned about it after our servants reported it."

"What kind of Formation is this?"

"I can't tell, but this Formation has a bloody Qi to it."

"I heard that someone saw the Great Chu Empress enter the Imperial Palace, and then the Formation activated."

"Could it be a Formation she set up?"

Listening to the discussions around him, only Wenren Jin knew that this Formation was called the Blood Sea Soul Transference Array.

Moreover, he had set up the Formation under the Empress Dowager's orders.

He knew that this Formation was prepared for Pei Xuanji.

So, Pei Xuanji really came to Western Zhou?

It's just, why, after activating the Blood Sea Soul Transference Array, did His Majesty and the others not come out beforehand?

Wouldn't they be refined within this Formation?

After this terrifying thought arose in his mind, he immediately understood the Empress Dowager's intention.

So, from the very beginning, the Empress Dowager had no intention of letting His Majesty live.

Gazing at the Formation before him, he always felt a sense of unease.

There had been no news from Mizang Forest until now, and the Great Chu Empress had suddenly appeared in Western Zhou.

He kept muttering the sequence of events, always feeling as if he had overlooked something.

The more he tried to sort out a clue, the stronger the feeling of unease in his heart became.

Logically speaking, since the Empress Dowager had activated the Blood Sea Soul Transference Array, the Possession should not take too long.

Why was there still no movement at all?

"What's going on?"

Just as he was feeling restless, an aged voice echoed throughout the capital.

An old monk, holding a Zen staff, appeared in the air.

"Blood Sea Soul Transference Array!" Seeing the Formation above the Imperial Palace, he immediately frowned, "Who set up such a bloody and terrifying Formation?"

Wenren Jin's lips moved, but he didn't know how to explain.

This was the Buddhist Head of Western Zhou, whose strength was comparable to the Empress Dowager's. Should he tell him that this Formation was set up by the Empress Dowager?

Moreover, the situation within the Formation was unclear.

If this old monk ruined the Empress Dowager's plans, the Western Zhou imperial family would be in danger.

However, not everyone knew the inside story like him.

At this moment, many people had gathered outside the Imperial Palace, including many Western Zhou officials.

The Imperial Palace being surrounded was a huge matter, and it concerned their own interests.

"Master Yuanmie, what kind of Formation is this exactly?"

The old monk, whose Dharma name was Yuanmie, had a solemn expression.

"This is a Formation for Possession using the power of blood sacrifice."

"Ah?"

At these words, everyone was in an uproar.

Those who could serve as officials in the capital were all shrewd individuals.

Naturally, some quickly reacted, realizing that if anyone in Western Zhou needed to possess another, it was probably only the Empress Dowager.

If the Empress Dowager wasn't nearing the end of her Lifespan and unable to govern, why would she hand over real power to the current Emperor?

They could understand that the Empress Dowager wanted to possess someone, but setting up such a Formation in the Imperial Palace was perplexing.

Could it be that she intended to blood sacrifice everyone in the entire Imperial Palace?

Yuanmie struck his Zen staff and shouted loudly,

"Everyone, move aside! This old monk will break the Formation!"

"No!"

Hearing this, Wenren Jin was the first to object.

The officials exchanged glances, all knowing that Wenren Jin was deeply trusted by the Empress Dowager.

His current obstruction further confirmed everyone's suspicion: this Formation was most likely set up by the Empress Dowager.

Yuanmie snorted coldly.

"Once this great Formation is activated, countless innocent lives will be lost here. This old monk absolutely cannot stand idly by!"

Saying this, he flashed past Wenren Jin and appeared before the Formation wall, bringing his Zen staff down heavily.