Pure Flowers Palace had been destroyed into a mess and was currently being rebuilt. Originally, the pool where the Noble Consort and the Son of Heaven soaked in it naturally couldn't be opened to Li Jinglong and the others. However, in the northwest corner of the Pure Flowers Palace, where green peaks stood in great numbers, there was a side hall that had been rebuilt in the valley. It was quite elegant and tranquil.
The hot spring was in a pine forest. Last night, it had even snowed on Mount Li, so the pine trees were covered in snow and ice. Crown Prince Li Heng had personally instructed the servants in the other hall to treat the Exorcism Division's members as honored guests. As soon as Li Jinglong arrived, someone came to greet him. He was prepared to spend three days and two nights here.
In the afternoon, clouds and mist curled around the mountaintop. Several side peaks surrounded it, forming a waterfall that poured down from the valley where the other hall was located. It seemed like dawn, but also like dusk. Birds chirped incessantly, squirrels leapt about in the forest, and red-crowned cranes were raised in the courtyard. It was truly a pleasing sight.
"Compared to our Exorcism Division, which place is better?" Li Jinglong casually asked as he walked through the corridor with everyone.
"Each has its own advantages." Qiu Yongsi stood in front of the courtyard and replied, "The decorations and paintings can't compare to our place."
Li Jinglong smiled and nodded. Hongjun stood in front of the corridor and stretched lazily. He noticed Li Jinglong's expression and said, "Chief Scribe has been smiling a lot lately."
Li Jinglong's face reddened for no reason as he replied, "You're free to move about. Gather at dinner time."
Thus, everyone dispersed and returned to their rooms to change their clothes and soak in the hot spring. Hongjun was assigned to a small room at the far side. Tea, hot towels, and bathrobes had already been prepared. In the courtyard, the Carp Demon was holding a sarira and standing on the bridge looking down at the koi. It even grabbed some fish food and ate it while feeding the fish below.
"You're not going?"
"Not going." The Carp Demon replied, "What's the point of soaking in the water every day? I don't like sulfur. "
"Let me see?" Hongjun changed into a bathrobe and came out to take the sarira the Carp Demon was holding. "I heard them say that your savior seems to be a very impressive master."
"He has become a Buddha." The Carp Demon said, "The Buddha of Sandalwood Merit. I still remember him telling me that I have to accumulate more merit in order to become a dragon. It's useless to just jump through the dragon gate."
Hongjun sent the Carp Demon away to find some entertainment, then he walked along the corridor toward the hot spring at the back of the mountain. He happened to pass by Li Jinglong's room. Looking inside, he saw that Li Jinglong had already changed into a bathrobe and was sitting cross-legged in front of the table, revealing his broad chest. His head was lowered as he mixed medicinal ingredients in a small bowl.
"Come in and do me a favor," Li Jinglong said.
Hongjun smelled the pungent smell of medicine. It seemed to be medicine for wounds. Without asking any questions, he went over to help Li Jinglong adjust the medicine and said, "This is an ointment to stop bleeding. Are you injured?"
Li Jinglong glanced at Hongjun but did not say anything.
"Your father used to be a doctor?" Li Jinglong asked.
Hongjun nodded and answered, "Ever since I was young, Chong Ming taught me medicine."
Li Jinglong lowered his head and adjusted the medicine, "It must be because of your father that your adoptive father let you learn medicine to save people."
Hongjun immediately understood after hearing Li Jinglong's words. He remembered the day he opened his eyes when Chong Ming shed a tear. He and his father, Kong Xuan, were good brothers. Perhaps it was just like him and Li Jinglong. If Li Jinglong died one day and his child fell into his hands, the grief would be unimaginable.
Thinking of this, he finally understood what kind of feelings Chong Ming had hidden in his eyes every time he looked at him.
Li Jinglong taught him many things. Many details that he had never thought of before gradually became real and emerged from the haze.
Hongjun curiously watched him adjust the medicine. It was not until the sun was setting that Li Jinglong carefully adjusted the bowl of medicine paste. He stood up and said, "Let's go."
The other three must have finished bathing and went to the valley to relax. In the dim light of dusk, the bathtub was filled with dense steam. There was a screen placed on the side of the bathtub.
"Take off your clothes. Don't rush into the water. Let me take a look at you." Li Jinglong said while holding the bowl of medicine.
"Ah — —!" Hongjun did not expect Li Jinglong to make such a strange request. He immediately felt a little embarrassed.
"Look at your body. Do you have any injuries?" Li Jinglong said seriously.
Hongjun replied, "I'm already better …"
Li Jinglong did not speak. He looked into Hongjun's eyes and said, "Why are you embarrassed?"
Li Jinglong put down the bowl of medicine. He took off his bathrobe and threw it on the ground. His muscles were thin and tight. His chest muscles were beautiful and firm. His abdominal muscles were neat and strong.
Hongjun's face immediately turned red. Although they were all men, he had never seen his colleagues' bodies. His heart suddenly beat wildly.
"Quickly take it off." Li Jinglong's face also turned red as he urged.
Hongjun's breathing was rapid. He could not help but look at Li Jinglong. He took off his bathrobe and put it aside. After a moment, he felt a little more natural. He could not help but look at Li Jinglong. He thought, "Wow, Chief Shi's body is really good!"
Li Jinglong's shoulders were wide and his legs were long. At the age of fourteen, he was a natural clothes hanger. He was diligent in martial arts. His body was the standard body of a martial artist. His skin was a healthy wheat color. His muscles were smooth and soft. His skin was like brocade.
This was the body and skin color that Hongjun envied the most. He always felt that he was too white. Li Jinglong's muscles were not more or less. They could only be described as perfect. Moreover … his there was so big!
Li Jinglong's thing was thick, long, and beautiful. It looked like it was ready to explode. If it hardened, it might not even be a foot long.
Hongjun: "…"
Hongjun suppressed his nervousness. While blushing, he could not help but look at Li Jinglong. Li Jinglong unnaturally pressed his nose a few times. When he saw Hongjun's body, he almost had a nosebleed. He raised his eyes and looked at him from head to toe.
"Why are you looking at me?" Li Jinglong said.
"Chief Shi, you're so big." Hongjun was a little covetous. Li Jinglong's strength had always been admired by young men like him.
"I'm not asking you to look at this …" Li Jinglong said awkwardly, "Turn around, turn around."
Hongjun: "???"
Li Jinglong asked Hongjun to stand at the edge of the hot spring and let him look into the pool. In the cold pool, two naked reflections appeared.
Hongjun's skin was white, his eyebrows were thick and black, and his eyes were clear. Although he was only sixteen, his body frame had already begun to mature. Unlike Li Jinglong's general figure, his body was slender, and because he often played with throwing knives and the Five-colored Divine Light, his chest and abdominal muscles were not very obvious.
His skin was as smooth as spilled milk. The two of them looked down into the water. When they saw Li Jinglong's body, Hongjun's thing actually rose up a little.
"What's the difference between you and me?" Li Jinglong suddenly asked.
Hongjun was startled. He turned to look at Li Jinglong. Li Jinglong raised a hand and put it on his shoulder.
At that moment, Hongjun suddenly had an impulse to turn around and lean on Li Jinglong's shoulder.
"You're also a human, aren't you?" Li Jinglong asked again.
"Of course." Hongjun was baffled. He did not expect Li Jinglong to ask such a question. He replied, "What's the matter?"
Li Jinglong looked into Hongjun's eyes. He wanted to say something but stopped. Both of their faces were flushed. Hongjun's heart was beating faster and faster, and he was already a little dizzy. Li Jinglong said again, "Then …"
"… Then go down." Li Jinglong suddenly pushed Hongjun into the hot spring pool. Hongjun was caught off guard and his whole body slipped in, and he screamed.
Li Jinglong laughed and quickly went to get the medicine bowl. Hongjun emerged from the water and said angrily, "You're messing with me!"
Li Jinglong also entered the hot spring. Hongjun pressed his head and was about to push him into the water when Li Jinglong said, "Don't mess around! I'll apply medicine for you. "
He locked Hongjun's wrists and made him lie down on the side of the pool. He said, "I'll wash you first."
Hongjun's face was red. "I thought you wanted to say something …"
"Let me see?" Li Jinglong said, "Don't move your head."
Hongjun reached out to scratch Li Jinglong. He did not expect that he would grab his ear. Li Jinglong could no longer hold back and was immediately very embarrassed. He retreated a little and said seriously, "Stand properly for me. I'll look at your wound!"
Hongjun obediently lay down on the side of the pool. His back and shoulders rose and fell with his breathing. Li Jinglong held a piece of cloth and said, "Don't keep touching your ear."
Hongjun's ear was injured that day. He applied medicine himself once, and after a long time, it became a little itchy. He would often reach out and press his ear to make it fit. Sometimes, he would accidentally touch it when he was sleeping.
"Why is it suppurating?" Li Jinglong frowned and said with heartache.
Hongjun laid his head on the side of the pool. His eyes turned around and looked at Li Jinglong. He replied, "It'll be fine after it forms a scab on its own."
The hot spring water was hot. Li Jinglong moved closer and washed his wound first. The two people's breaths were intertwined and the bridge of their nose was very close. Hongjun's heart beat wildly again.
"Chief, what are you thinking about?" Hongjun felt that Li Jinglong was a little strange today.
"I'm thinking … So your body doesn't smell like fish." Li Jinglong wiped his wound and took a bowl to apply medicine for Hongjun.
Hongjun said, "Thank you."
"It's all my fault." Li Jinglong sighed and said, "If your father finds out one day, he'll beat me to death. Why are you thanking me? "
Hongjun said, "He won't find out. By the time he finds out, my ear will have healed."
Li Jinglong carefully applied medicine on Hongjun's ear with a wooden spoon and said, "Didn't you want to bring me back to your house to take a look? When are we going? "
"Ah?" Hongjun had forgotten. He was drunk and unconscious that day. After that, it was completely blacked out.
Li Jinglong reminded him about his drunkenness. Hongjun immediately felt awkward. Li Jinglong said, "I don't care, you promised."
Hongjun had always done what he promised. But Li Jinglong and his companions were exorcists, and the people living in Dazzling Gold Palace were all demons … How was he going to explain this?
Hongjun had been troubled by this problem for a long time. Every time he thought of this, he always had a strong feeling that his companions would dislike him.
"Do you have something to say to me?" Li Jinglong lowered his head. He didn't look into Hongjun's eyes, but focused on applying the medicine on his ear.
"I … Yes." Hongjun's heart thumped. He stared into Li Jinglong's eyes, but Li Jinglong deliberately avoided his gaze.
At this moment, Li Jinglong's fingers trembled slightly.
Before this, Hongjun had thought about it many times. Qing Xiong once said that they could return to Chang City after expelling the Chang 'an Demon King. But if they returned, would there be a conflict with the Exorcism Division? Father is a demon, mother is a human, then am I a demon or a human?
He had also asked the Carp Demon. The Carp Demon's answer was that even if Chong Ming entered the human world again, he would never harm the common people like a fox demon. Of course, none of them were "good people". Perhaps conflict was inevitable.
"You've always had something on your mind since you came to the Exorcism Division." Li Jinglong said, "Is it because of your parents?"
After applying the medicine, Li Jinglong took a bandage and said, "After bandaging it, don't move your ear again. Change the medicine once every three days. I'll change it for you."
Hongjun grunted. Li Jinglong said, "Although I don't know your past, I still hope that one day you can tell me what you're worried about, if you believe me."
Hongjun suddenly felt an impulse in his heart.
"Chief … I …"
Li Jinglong went to the side and sat down, resting his elbows on the pool. Hongjun turned his head, hesitated, and finally said, "Chief, there's something I've been hiding from you."
Li Jinglong frowned, his eyes filled with confusion.
"I … actually have half a demon bloodline." After Hongjun said this, his heart suddenly hung in the air, unable to calm down.
However, when he heard this, Li Jinglong suddenly laughed and said, "Yes, as expected."
Hongjun: "…"
Li Jinglong picked up a cloth towel and wiped his arms, asking, "Your father is also a demon, right? He even saved the Imperial Consort's life? "
Hongjun said blankly, "You … don't dislike me?"
"When I saw Zhao Zilong." Li Jinglong said indifferently, "I guessed that you must have a deep relationship with the demon race. Hongjun, we once entrusted our lives to each other. Let me ask you a question. If you don't want to answer, you don't have to."
"You were sent by another group of demons. Am I right?"
Hongjun was suddenly guessed by Li Jinglong and was somewhat caught off guard. However, with Li Jinglong's meticulous handling of matters, all of this was within his expectations.
Hongjun could only obediently nod and answer, "Expelling the Demon King of Chang 'an was a task given to me by Chong Ming and Qing Xiong before I went down the mountain."
"And then?" Li Jinglong stared into Hongjun's eyes as if he wanted to see through his heart.
Li Jinglong had a vague premonition that there was a battle going on in the dark about the human race's capital city. The two demon races' factions used Chang 'an as the battlefield. Now that the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox had lost, would the force behind Hongjun smoothly take over?
This was what he was most worried about.
"I don't know." Hongjun said, "But no matter what, whether Chong Ming comes back or not, he will never eat or harm people."
Chong Ming was a Phoenix. He didn't even drink water from the well or snow from the ground. He was also extremely picky when it came to food. How could he eat mortals who were full of smoke and fire?
"You are a human." Li Jinglong said seriously, "Hongjun, you are a human. After taking off your clothes just now, what do you think is different between you and me? "
Li Jinglong knew that Hongjun didn't know how to be tactful. He wouldn't be able to understand the hidden meaning in his words.
Only then did Hongjun understand. Li Jinglong smiled and said, "Actually, I was worried today that there would be something different about you compared to mortals. That's why I came so late to avoid being seen by others."
Li Jinglong said as he stepped forward, took Hongjun's hand, and pressed it on his chest. His other hand pressed on Hongjun's chest.
"Listen." Li Jinglong said, "My heart and your heart are in the same place. The blood of the human race flows in your body."
Hongjun smiled and said, "That's right."
He felt Li Jinglong's vigorous heart beating powerfully, glowing with a warm light.
"I believe that your adoptive father sent you to Chang 'an because of this." Li Jinglong said, "But this may be my wishful thinking."
Hongjun said, "Elder Shi, if there comes a day when the two of us have to fight …"
"At that time, I definitely won't bear to do anything to you." Li Jinglong suddenly answered, and then said seriously, "Why do you say it like I can beat you?"
Hongjun laughed. Li Jinglong put a hand on his head and patted it hard, saying, "However, I will still try my best to resist. I just hope that you will be merciful when the time comes and not beat me up too badly."
Hongjun laughed loudly and said, "I won't, Elder Shi! I'm human! I'm human too. "
Li Jinglong moved to the side to let Hongjun sit beside him. The two's arms were close. Hongjun leaned a little towards the back of the pool. Li Jinglong raised his arm to let Hongjun rest on the back of his head, so that his ears wouldn't touch the water.
"Last night when Gui Fei mentioned my mother, I had this feeling …" Hongjun turned his head and whispered in Li Jinglong's ear.
The green mountains were far away and the sun was setting in the west. The two soaked in the hot spring as light snow drifted down from the sky.
"Oh!"
"What are you two doing!"
"Wow, are you two talking about love?!"
Qiu Yongsi, Mo Rigen, and Atay were caught off guard and jumped into the pool. Li Jinglong was shocked. He didn't expect that they hadn't soaked in the pool yet. He quickly covered Hongjun's ears and said, "Be careful, they were just bandaged!"
The three hurriedly came over to check. They were only relieved when they confirmed that the bandage on his ears wasn't soaked.
"Come, come." Mo Rigen smiled and said, "Hongjun, sit on my lap?"
Hongjun: "…"
Qiu Yongsi said, "Hongjun, ignore him. Come and sit on Big Brother's lap."
Hongjun's face turned red and said, "Stop fooling around!"
Atay smiled and said, "Then I'll sit on your lap?!"
Li Jinglong said, "I'm leaving, you guys have fun …"
Li Jinglong wanted to go ashore, but he was dragged back by Mo Rigen. Li Jinglong said angrily, "Are you guys rebelling?!" Qiu Yongsi then laughed and the three of them took turns to push Li Jinglong into the water. Hongjun hurriedly said, "Hey! How can you guys do this to the official? "
"Why?" Mo Rigen smiled and said, "Do you feel bad?"
Li Jinglong's head was covered with water. Just as he was about to beat them up, Hongjun said, "You guys didn't even call me along when you did this to the official! You're too despicable! "
Hongjun also pounced on him as he said that.
Li Jinglong: "…"
Dusk fell and dust rose from the desert. The horn sounded and the setting sun was as red as blood.
On top of the city tower, the soldiers shouted in panic.
"Enemy attack!"
"The enemy is coming!"
"Is it the Xiongnu?"
"I don't know …"
"Dong — dong — dong —"
High up in Singing Sand County, the alarm bell rang. Babies cried and women screamed in panic.
"How many people are there?!" The general of the city guards rushed up the city tower and shouted.
"Three thousand … no, twelve thousand … more than that! More than that! "
"Line up! Close the city gate! "
The soldiers pushed the rollers and the city gate was closed. Thousands of soldiers rushed up the city tower and drew their bows. Dust rose and a large black mass appeared. A total of fifty thousand cavalrymen in black armor arrived outside the city.
The Gobi Desert was completely silent. Even the neighing of the war horses could not be heard. The soldiers in black armor lowered their heads and held their spears. They pretended not to see the rows of arrows on top of the city tower.
At this moment, there were less than five thousand city guards in Singing Sand County. The besiegers were caught off guard and the Great Wall in the sky was silent.
"Where did they come from?" The general of the city guards asked in a trembling voice.
The general in black armor raised his spear and pointed at Singing Sand County. The fifty thousand cavalrymen raised their spears and shook their reins. In an instant, only the sound of the horses' hooves could be heard. The sky shook and the earth shook as they charged toward Singing Sand County!
"Release the arrows! Release the arrows! "
Tens of thousands of arrows were fired from the city walls at the same time, shooting at the incoming enemy like a tidal wave. However, there was no scene of people and horses being thrown off their feet. Instead, the arrows pierced into the bodies of the attacking soldiers and horses, turning them into scarecrows. Then, the charging troops crashed into the city walls!
The city wall made of rammed earth collapsed instantly. Tens of thousands of soldiers in black armor crossed the ruins and rushed into the city!
The general of the city guards was trampled to the ground by a horse. Then, a spear pierced through his chest and nailed him to the ground. Before he died, he opened his eyes wide and saw the murky eyeballs in the enemy's helmets.