"Where's Atay?" Hongjun slept beside Li Jinglong.
Li Jinglong's body was no longer as warm as before, like a furnace. His weak body made his hands and feet cold, and the bed was like an ice cave.
"We got separated when we escaped from Luoyang," Li Jinglong said. "He must be looking for us."
Hongjun did not ask any more questions. Li Jinglong only stared blankly the entire night. Hongjun did not dare to ask what to do in the future.
What to do? It had already become like this. He did not know where An Lushan's troops were fighting. In Luoyang, what was the reason for Li Jinglong's failure? Why did the Immovable Wisdom King appear when he triggered the earth veins … Hongjun did not dare to ask any more questions.
He looked up at Li Jinglong. He could not even rest on his arm like before because his shoulder was still wrapped in a splint.
"Are you warmer?" Hongjun asked.
"Much better," Li Jinglong answered.
Hongjun gently hugged Li Jinglong's waist and placed the Phoenix feather on his chest, using his body temperature to warm him.
"When you're better, I'll take you back to Dazzling Golden Palace," Hongjun said. "Chong Ming and Qing Xiong will definitely have a way."
"I don't have the face to go up," Li Jinglong answered softly.
Hongjun said, "I don't have the face to go home either."
When he left last time, Hongjun also knew that he had broken Chong Ming's heart. Now that he had to take Li Jinglong back to beg Chong Ming to treat him, it would most likely make him even angrier. Besides, he usually followed Li Jinglong and did not ask about his adoptive father. Now that his lover was so seriously injured, he had to go home to beg Chong Ming … Hongjun could not help but feel disgusted.
"But I don't regret it," Hongjun said again.
"I'm sorry," Li Jinglong whispered.
"Stop talking," Hongjun said. "Jinglong, pull yourself together! You're not like that! "
"You're right." Li Jinglong slowly closed his eyes and let out a tired sigh. Just as Hongjun thought he was going to pull himself together, Li Jinglong said, "I've thought a lot these days. Don't you think this is like me?"
Hongjun frowned and looked at Li Jinglong in surprise. Li Jinglong said, "Actually, this is the real me."
Li Jinglong sighed and said, "I've never told you about the moment after I obtained the Mind's Lamp."
Hongjun asked in surprise, "What do you mean?"
"That feeling is hard to describe." Li Jinglong closed his eyes and murmured, "It's as if my entire world has lit up …"
"When?" Hongjun realized that something was wrong.
"What kind of person do you think I was in the past?" Li Jinglong suddenly asked.
Hongjun said, "You were the best."
Li Jinglong was silent. Hongjun really felt that Li Jinglong was a very, very good person. He was kind, brave, smart, decisive, and firmly believed in his ideals. In Hongjun's eyes, he could almost be described as perfect.
"But I know in my heart," Li Jinglong said in a low voice. "I wasn't like this in the past."
"What?" Hongjun suddenly remembered something that completely changed their fates.
Sure enough, Li Jinglong said, "That was after I obtained the Mind's Lamp. To be exact, it was after I met you. "
Hongjun's breathing became rapid. Li Jinglong said again, "When was the boundary? Perhaps when I opened my eyes in Pingkang and saw you appear in front of me, I vaguely had this feeling. Until I accepted the order to enter the Exorcism Division and saw you again … "
"… It's like a beam of light shining into my heart," Li Jinglong said, "What I once cared about and cared about is no longer important …"
Hongjun had heard a lot about Li Jinglong's past. Other than the members of the Exorcism Division, anyone who saw him with Li Jinglong had a strange look in their eyes, as if they were vaguely mocking him, but also as if they understood in their hearts. Moreover, he also knew that Li Jinglong had offended a lot of people since he was young. Even when facing the Emperor, the Imperial Concubine, the Prime Minister, and the officials, he was indifferent, which was why he was so down and out.
But after he began to lead the Exorcism Division, he seemed to be very successful, as if the Li Jinglong he heard and the Li Jinglong he really saw were not the same person.
"Now that feeling is back," Li Jinglong said, "It's heavy and pressing down on my heart."
Could the power of the Heart's Lantern change a person so strongly? Hongjun had never heard Qing Xiong mention it before. Then if the Heart's Lantern disappeared, where did it go? He frowned and looked at Li Jinglong.
"So when the Heart's Lantern disappeared, do you feel … a little uncomfortable?" Hongjun was puzzled and looked at Li Jinglong.
"I've become a mortal again." Li Jinglong whispered to Hongjun, "What you see, what I used to be, is an illusion given to me by the Heart's Lantern. That's not the real me."
"Then … what is the real you like?" Hongjun asked doubtfully.
"Cowardly, selfish, and lecherous." Li Jinglong said in a deep voice, "Giving up halfway, greedy for grandiose achievements, incompetent … The only thing I was proud of was my birth and my archery skills. Now I don't even have martial arts. "
"So?" Hongjun said.
Li Jinglong turned his head slightly with difficulty and looked at Hongjun with red eyes. Hongjun leaned forward and kissed him.
Li Jinglong: "…"
Li Jinglong's eyes suddenly widened. This was the first time Hongjun took the initiative to kiss him so passionately. When Li Jinglong was kissed, his mind instantly went blank and his heart started to beat wildly.
Li Jinglong: "Mmm …"
Li Jinglong's original intention might have been to say that the current him was not worthy of her, or that the current him could not protect her, or some other discouraging words. However, Hongjun's kiss was like a storm. There was no hesitation at all and he violated him in a fierce and domineering way.
Li Jinglong: "Okay, listen to me …" Before he could finish his sentence, Hongjun did not dare to touch his chest. He only used his hand to support himself on the pillow and pressed on Li Jinglong's body. This only allowed Li Jinglong to catch his breath and another round of deep kisses.
Li Jinglong often spoiled Hongjun, but he did not expect that once this guy became stubborn, he would destroy heaven and earth. He wanted to raise his hand to push Hongjun away, but he did not have the strength to do so. Even turning his head was difficult. Hongjun's lips and tongue teased, as if he was in a no-man's land. He forcefully held onto Li Jinglong's neck and kissed him for nearly half a quarter of an hour.
Li Jinglong was almost out of breath and his mind was dizzy. Before this merciless kiss, his mood improved again and again. Just as he was about to push Hongjun away, Hongjun was merciless and blocked his lips until Li Jinglong's consciousness blurred.
Hongjun kissed him while reaching out to touch his lower body. When he touched a sticky hand, he was shocked.
"You …" Hongjun suddenly laughed out loud.
Li Jinglong had not had sex for too long. His whole body could not move, but his feelings were still there. He was confused by Hongjun's kiss and was touched by Hongjun's hand. Almost at the moment of contact, he could not control himself and spurted out.
Li Jinglong: "…"
Li Jinglong's face was red. There was finally some color on his face, but he was still slightly gasping for breath.
Hongjun said: "No matter what you become, your skills in bed are still very good. That thing is still very big."
Li Jinglong was feeling helpless. When he suddenly heard this, he could not help but laugh. He laughed a few times and immediately affected his fracture. He groaned: "It hurts."
Hongjun jumped off the bed, boiled some water, uncovered the quilt, and wiped Li Jinglong's body. His body was still the same as before. On his strong chest, the peacock tattoo was still there. Hongjun lowered his head, kissed the tattoo, and then kissed Li Jinglong's lips.
"Do you want it?" Li Jinglong asked.
"Come again when you're better." Hongjun said this, but his eyes kept glancing at Li Jinglong's naked body. Li Jinglong could not help but feel a burst of shame. After a while, Hongjun still could not hold back. He took off his clothes and lay down beside Li Jinglong, using his hands to take care of himself.
"Hongjun." Li Jinglong said softly.
Hongjun wiped the two of them clean and pulled the quilt over them like an obedient child.
"I'll protect you in the future." Hongjun said, "Don't think about it anymore." As he said this, he yawned and used his fingers to separate Li Jinglong's big hand. His ten fingers intertwined and he fell asleep.
In the kitchen, Chao Yun whispered: "Hey, Zhao Zilong, Little Highness seems to be awake."
The Carp Demon laid on his side on the stove that was still warm. He turned over and said: "I'll help you talk to him tomorrow."
Chao Yun said: "Do you think he'll accept us?"
"He will." The Carp Demon replied, "He even forgave me. How can he not accept you?"
Chao Yun was still a bit worried. The Carp Demon said again: "You made a great contribution by saving Li Jinglong. He'll give you anything you want, let alone being his subordinate."
Chao Yun repeatedly confirmed Hongjun's personality, temper, and what he liked to hear. The Carp Demon repeatedly comforted him that their family was not as troublesome as An Lushan's. Only then did Chao Yun lie under the stove and fall asleep.
On the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, Shan County was so cold that a drop of water would turn into ice. The next morning, several people moved to Li Jinglong's room and warmed themselves by the fire with a Phoenix feather. Lu Xu, who was outside, was still a bit shivering. The Grey Wolf reached out his claws and pulled him to his front.
"Do you have to become like this?" Lu Xu said with a numb face.
"To ward off the cold," the Grey Wolf said in a low voice, pressing his chest full of soft fur against Lu Xu.
"It's so cold here," Hongjun said.
"The main reason is that there's no one in a hundred li radius," Li Jinglong said weakly. "Chang 'an is prosperous. There are many people, so it doesn't feel cold. This village is also on a plain. There's no shelter at all. "
Hongjun tried his best to lift Li Jinglong up and put the bedding and pillows behind him. He sat him down. The Carp Demon came in and laid out the dishes.
"There's also fish!" Hongjun said.
"Didn't you say we can't eat carp?" Lu Xu said to the Carp Demon.
"There's no other way." The Carp Demon said, "During this special period, there are even people eating people outside."
Everyone: "…"
The Carp Demon said to Hongjun, "There's a demon who saved Second Brother. She wants to come in and get to know you. Is that okay?"
With that said, Hongjun remembered. Last night, he heard Lu Xu say that it was that snake demon who saved Li Jinglong at the critical moment. He hurriedly said, "Where's our benefactor?"
"En Yao." The Carp Demon corrected, "She's waiting outside."
Hongjun hurriedly invited her in. Chao Yun was outside enjoying the cold wind. Hearing this, she came in and bowed to Hongjun. Hongjun hurriedly said, "I should be thanking you!"
Hongjun also knelt to Chao Yun. Chao Yun was frightened out of her wits and screamed, "You can't! Little Highness! You'll break my cultivation! "
"Alright, alright." The Carp Demon said, "Why does this look like a wedding ceremony?"
Only then did the two of them get up. Hongjun thanked Chao Yun profusely again. Chao Yun hurriedly declined modestly and said, "It's what I should do. The Princess Consort is in trouble, so I should help!"
Hongjun was feeding Li Jinglong porridge, but Li Jinglong instantly spat it out when he heard this.
It turned out that Chao Yun was once a snake in Miluo River. She originally wanted to cultivate into a dragon, but she didn't expect to eat the wrong thing and cultivate wings. The Water Clan was not like the Water Clan, and the Winged Clan was not like the Winged Clan. There were dozens of small snakes in Xiangjiang. With the help of his demonic power, they all cultivated into winged species. However, since ancient times, to cultivate into a dragon, one had to be from the Water Clan. The normal way was to cultivate into a dragon first, then go through the heavenly tribulation.
Chao Yun really didn't know what to do with these two wings. She couldn't shed them, nor could she cut them off herself.
"Let me see?" Hongjun curiously checked Chao Yun's wings and flipped open the Demon Subduing Record to compare. The book did indeed record Chao Yun's snake transformation clan.
"What did you guys eat to grow wings?" Li Jinglong asked.
Chao Yun rubbed her head with an expression that said, "You're asking me, but who am I supposed to ask?". It was so long ago that she couldn't remember.
"No way!" Hongjun said in shock, "You ate Qu Yuan!"
The book said that after Qu Yuan jumped into Miluo River, he was eaten by a snake. The snake that ate Qu Yuan became a snake transformation … Chao Yun hurriedly clarified, "No! It's all fabricated! I wasn't even born at that time! I'm only four hundred years old this year … "
Hongjun agreed and said, "I'll bring you to see Chong Ming then."
Chao Yun said, "I'm just afraid that they're all birds, we …"
"It's fine." Hongjun said, "If he doesn't want you, you guys can follow me. Where are the other brothers?"
Chao Yun felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and some hope finally ignited in her eyes. She said, "There are more than sixty brothers. They've all spread out to lure the pursuers away. I'll let everyone wait at Jingshui after this matter is over."
Hongjun nodded and accepted Chao Yun. Chao Yun then carefully sat at the side, trying to perform better.
Li Jinglong looked at Hongjun for a while with a smile in his eyes. The Carp Demon then distributed food to everyone. It was all the food that Chao Yun went to find — rice porridge, braised carp, and a few stir-fried wild vegetables. Li Jinglong drank the porridge and recovered some of his strength. He said to Hongjun, "I'll do it myself."
"Can you move?" Mo Rigen said.
"Barely." Li Jinglong's hand couldn't help but tremble. He pinched the spoon, which seemed to weigh a thousand pounds. He tried his best to bring it to his lips, but there wasn't much porridge left. Hongjun wanted to feed him, but Lu Xu said, "Let him move around. He'll be fine slowly."
Hongjun looked at Li Jinglong worriedly. For a moment, everyone was watching him eat.
"You guys eat." Li Jinglong said.
Under the effect of the Fire Revolving Pill, Li Jinglong's meridians were being repaired. But even after the repair, he couldn't return to his previous condition.
During this meal, everyone had their own thoughts. The room was very quiet. Hongjun only wanted to find a few words to say, but Lu Xu saw through him and said, "How long do you plan to stay here?"
"Let's wait for Jinglong to recover a little." Hongjun said.
"Why don't you guys make a trip back to Dazzling Golden Palace first?" Mo Rigen said. "Chao Yun can fly … Speaking of which, can you fly?" He asked Chao Yun as he spoke.
"Barely," Chao Yun answered. "I'm not like a dragon. I can't fly too far. After flying for two hours, I need to rest."
After all, a snake wasn't at the level of a demon king like a dragon, a kun, or a golden-winged roc. When a dragon soared into the sky, it would create a strong wind barrier around its body. It could travel two thousand miles in a day. But a snake couldn't do that. If one flew back on it, they would only be buffeted by the cold wind.
"I'm not going." Li Jinglong said to Hongjun. "At least, I don't want to use this method to go up."
Everyone fell silent again and didn't force him. Hongjun could only nod and say, "Okay, then we'll talk about it later."
Lu Xu seemed to have something to say, but was stopped by a look from Mo Rigen. The Carp Demon put away the bowls and plates. There was still tea to drink. Amidst the cold wind, everyone sat at the long table, each holding a cup of hot tea. For a moment, the despair and worry of the future lessened significantly.
Lu Xu stared at the dark green tea in the teacup and thought of Mo Rigen's story about the fire on a winter night.