Ren's eyes got a little wide as he saw the former master of the universe carrying Xiao Liu in his arms wrapped up in his robe, he blinked a little as Dong Hai put Hong Liu down and his robe slide down from her head. Hong Liu look up to meet Dong Hai eyes and he was staring back at her, the sky had calm down the rain that was hitting like stones was now a gentle drizzle. Ren's mind however going through a cold shock as he looks at the pair and a memory burned his mind that was buried for thousands of years. He shook his head in utter disbelief.
Emperor Bai Lei, however, was sighing in relief as he saw his granddaughter intact.
"You...my dear child, don't you dare ever do that again!" Bai Lei hugged her, Hong Liu sigh as her tense muscles loosen. Dong Hai blink as his stare broke and he met Ren's eyes, it was something Ren's eyes that made Dong Hai harden his and Ren noticed it. He opens his mouth but Dong Hai raises his hand to stop Ren silently and he did, though his hans muscles was loosen but it was a command that Ren can't help but obey.
"Don't worry grandfather, I am fine," Hong Liu reassures Bai Lei. He released her and look at the First Lord.
"First Lord," He nodded.
"I am done here, I bid you all farewell," Dong Hai disappear in blue rays. Hong Liu comes out of her grandfather embrace to look at the rest of the blue rays disappear. She stares at the empty space in a daze.
"What happened there?" Bai Lei asked. Hong Liu sigh, looking down that she was still wrapped up in his robe. She told him, she loves him. Oh Lord, she thought as her eyes got heavy and she felt a strange ache coming from her nose then warm liquid run out of it. Hong Liu touches her nostrils and looks at the red liquid in her fingertips. Ren notices her pale face.
"Bai Lei, she went through a lot, let's take her home first so she could rest,"
"You are right," Bai Lei nodded.
Hong Liu was taken back at the cocoon in a half-conscious state, her vision was burly but she can hear everything. Bai Changxi and Yi Tai gasped as they saw Bai Lei and Ren enter the cocoon with Hong Liu leaning on them, pale as a sheet. Hong Liu can't keep her head from wobbling as they took her to her room and laid her down
"What happened?" Bai Changxi asked.
"Let me examine her first then we will tell you," Ren checked her pulse and then her eyes, touched her forehead then put his finger down to her nostril, peach rays come out of his hand as checked her heart. He breathes out in relief.
"She is fine, she just in a little weakened," Ren stated.
"But her nose was bleeding," Bai Lei said
"Its nothing, Let's leave and let her rest," Ren said. Everybody did as Ren suggested.
The Bai's heard what happened and next day Hong Liu's parents and grandmother come rushing to Eastlands. Hong Liu woke up fine and better, after having Ren's prescribed medicine she was restored to power but she was still weak but after Hong Liu told them what happened and that the Red headless beast is dead. They took it for retribution. King Bai Yu Hong Liu's father was phasing a hole on the floor as everybody else sits in the logging area looking at him, Hong Liu was buried in her aunt's arms for comfort as she looks at her father while Yi Tai rubs soothing circles on her back, everybody except Ren and Hong Liu's grandparents were looking at him warily. Getting tired of his son's phasing and getting everybody nervous, Bai Lei finally decided to intervene.
"Ah child, don't worry so much and have a seat,"
"Don't worry? Father, how can I? this girl had never given me a single chance to sit down in peace!" Bai Yu exaggerated.
Hong Liu shrinks in her aunt's arm, whimpering.
"What does she think of herself? first, taking the gold dust pearl just because she can and helped the Crown Prince to get in the green forest? She almost got herself killed on Silver River and now this? What does she think? That if Xi-Xi didn't want to won't let the crown prince in the Green Forest or that First Lord actually needs her help, just not once but twice she got hurt for him and now she killed the red headless beast and we can't even predict what kind of punishment heaven will decide for her, Xiao Liu," Bai Yu address her daughter directly. Hong Liu didn't meet his eyes.
"Do you have any idea? How many rules have you broken in the last few years? And How much you worried all of us?"
"Brother, she meant it well. She helped Xian Yu for me, we had misunderstanding if she hadn't done it..." Bai Changxi tries to pacify his brother.
"Don't take her side, she is like this because of your influence. You were exactly like this impulsive with no care how will it affect the people that surround you, who care for you," Bai Yu scolded his little sister, that made Bai Changxi seal her mouth.
"Son, take a deep breath and think about it. If she hadn't helped the First Lord..." Bai Lei began.
"That's right Father, he is the First Lord. The former master of the universe why does he need help and why does he need help especially from my daughter. I am sure he didn't ask for it and so what so important that she has to help him and get risked to suffer punishment for him,"
That was stepping on the fresh wound for Hong Liu, she flinched internally. Yi Tai squeezes her hand reassuringly.
"Bai Yu that's enough if she hadn't intervened this time, not only one all of the four beasts would have been dead with the First Lord going in an unrecoverable state like you said he is the Former Master of Universe if anything happens to him. I am afraid there won't be any universe to live in," Ren's voice was polite but firm, it was rare to hear him like that.
"Then why...?" Bai Yu started.
"That's enough, son. You are done here and stop tormenting my granddaughter. She has been through a lot and she is strong enough to get through any punishment that heavens will decide for her, Let her rest now and gather her strength."
"But Father..."
"That's enough I said," Bai Lei order.