Yuan Kun staggered and roared, "Qing Xiong!"
Qing Xiong's face was gloomy. Yuan Kun suddenly quieted down. Behind him, Yu Zaoyun slowly walked in. The hostile atmosphere between Kun Shen and the Roc King suddenly disappeared, as if nothing had happened.
"When will the King return?" Yu Zaoyun looked straight at Qing Xiong and asked calmly.
"Soon," Qing Xiong said coldly.
Yu Zaoyun looked at Yuan Kun and said leisurely, "Kun Shen seems to have experienced a fierce battle and is now fighting with the exorcists?"
Yuan Kun didn't answer and turned to leave the hall. Yu Zaoyun cast a meaningful glance at him from behind.
Qing Xiong said in a low voice, "Yu Zaoyun, what are you trying to say?"
"The Ghost King asked me to ask you." Yu Zaoyun said softly and raised his eyebrows, "You just left Xie Yu underground. Don't you need to send someone to look after her?"
"It's none of your business, Fox."
Yu Zaoyun looked at Qing Xiong for a long time and then sighed, "Well, we are brother and sister after all. I was wondering if I should have a chat with him before I die."
"You have to ask the exorcists." Qing Xiong answered. Obviously, she didn't want to continue this topic. She asked again, "Where are your beastmen?"
"On the way," Yu Zaoyun said calmly, "I think they will be here soon." After saying that, he was about to leave. Qing Xiong said again, "Help me tell the Ghost King that he doesn't need to worry about the matters here."
Yu Zaoyun snorted, as if she was mocking and angry. Qing Xiong stood up and said, "I always remember that I will plead for you."
Yu Zaoyun said lightly, "Thanks." Soon after, he also left the main hall, leaving only Qing Xiong sitting in the empty hall. It was just like how Chong Ming sat alone in the middle of the Dazzling Gold Palace many years ago.
Hongjun was locked up in a cell in Luoyang. His hands and feet were cuffed and shackled. He recognized these shackles. They were iron chains used to shackle flying birds in Dazzling Gold Palace. There were strange patterns engraved on them, and when he exerted his strength, the shackles shimmered with light.
However, this was no longer necessary. Hongjun discovered that when he slightly raised his Qi, his entire body's Qi would be blocked, and the Qi in his chest would be blocked, unable to go up. The Phoenix Primordial Fire was concentrated in his Dantian, unable to spread to his limbs and bones. This was a type of poison that was specially used to treat birds. It made him dizzy and difficult for him to concentrate and think. He tried to pry open the handcuffs, but his whole body was unable to exert any strength.
"Can you escape?" a voice asked in the darkness.
Hongjun immediately turned his head and saw a pair of flickering blue eyes in the dark.
"Yu Zaoyun!" Hongjun hurriedly crawled to the corner. Two foxes came out from the darkness. One of them was Yu Zaoyun, while the other white fox avoided Hongjun's line of sight. It cried out a few times and tried to pry open his handcuffs with its claws.
"It's my subordinate." Yu Zaoyun said. "It doesn't matter."
Hongjun hurriedly asked, "You know all about it?"
Yu Zaoyun raised his head and looked at Hongjun. He then turned his head and moved closer to the little white fox's ear. He whispered a few instructions, and the little white fox crawled out of the cell.
"I can't open it." Hongjun tried almost everything, but to no avail. He said, "I've been poisoned. I don't know what kind of poison Qing Xiong put in my body."
"Ba Snake's poisonous fangs." Yu Zaoyun replied in a low voice. "After you left, I saw him collecting venom. Snake venom has a strong suppressive effect on birds like you. Back then, Chong Ming was bitten by a Hei Jiao. That's why he was poisoned for a long time …"
Hongjun: "Why did Qing Xiong …"
"Shh." Yu Zaoyun turned his head and listened with his furry fox ears. He seemed to be judging the movement. "Let's make a long story short. Hongjun, Qing Xiong and Yuan Kun are in cahoots. Did you know?"
Of course, Hongjun knew. He told Yu Zaoyun about the incident at the Holy Mountain. Just as he spoke of Yuan Kun's sudden appearance, Yu Zaoyun interrupted him and replied, "I understand. To tell you the truth, ever since you left and came to the Holy Land, I've been paying attention to those two guys. That bastard Qing Xiong already felt that something was wrong when he moved the Dazzling Gold Palace here. As soon as you left, Qing Xiong asked Yuan Kun to kidnap you and bring you back. He didn't want you to be in cahoots with the exorcists anymore. "
"He didn't want to kill me," Hongjun murmured.
"I don't think so." Yu Zaoyun said in a low voice. "But that's enough. You're the Demon King, and they're openly plotting a rebellion!"
"I didn't want to be …" Hongjun said. "Why did it have to be like this?"
Yu Zaoyun suddenly held his breath, and all the hair on his body seemed to stand on end. Hongjun felt it and looked at Yu Zaoyun quietly. The aura of a fox emanating from Yu Zaoyun's body suddenly filled the entire prison cell.
"Say that again?" Yu Zaoyun said coldly.
Hongjun knew that it was angry because of what he said.
"I'm sorry," Hongjun said. "I take back my words … It's just that …"
Yu Zaoyun's aura of majesty gradually disappeared, and it stared into Hongjun's eyes. Hongjun was silent for a moment and avoided its gaze, but he felt that there was no part of his body that was not under its gaze.
"It was Qing Xiong who pushed me to this position," Hongjun said helplessly.
"It was Chong Ming who bestowed the position of Demon King to you," Yu Zaoyun's tone softened and said. "This was the hope that your father and adoptive father had for you. Do you think that the position of Demon King is something that he can just do as he pleases? "
Hongjun turned his head and stared into Yu Zaoyun's eyes. Yu Zaoyun said again: "We — — The Battle Corpse Ghost King and I — — acknowledge you, but we definitely won't acknowledge the Golden Roc. Today, we must make this clear to you. Otherwise, in the Holy Land, our Beast Race will not pledge loyalty to you. "
Hongjun's heart was filled with complex feelings, and he said again: "I'm sorry."
The first "I'm sorry" was an apology for his slip of the tongue. The second time, he truly understood Yu Zaoyun's hope.
"Why?" Hongjun said.
"Because only you have this ability." Yu Zaoyun said in a low voice, "You can allow the Demon Race to continue on."
While speaking, the little fox held a wooden bowl in its mouth. As it walked, it spilled most of the water in the bowl, leaving only the bottom. It placed it on the ground and gently pushed it in with its claws.
Hongjun said: "I'm ashamed to say this, but I've never thought about it."
"Drink." Yu Zaoyun said.
Hongjun raised the bowl and drank the water that the little fox brought. The water had a salty taste, but it made him feel much better. At this time, Yu Zaoyun said again: "You're willing to use your own body to endure the torture of the Demon Seed and suffer for the people and demons of the world. However, your personality is too weak."
"I … … have no choice." Hongjun raised his hand and wiped the corner of his mouth. He smiled bitterly and said, "The Demon Seed is in my body. I was destined to die in the past, so what could I do? Speaking of which … … Why do I feel like I've seen you before? "
The little fox raised its head and looked at Hongjun. Its bright eyes reflected Hongjun's face.
"Stop talking nonsense." Yu Zaoyun waited for Hongjun to finish drinking the water before saying in a low voice, "We have to think of a way to help you escape. Those two bastards have already planned to gather all the Demon Race in the world and accuse you of colluding with the human Exorcists to kill Li Jinglong and the others. Then they'll seal you under the Famen Temple … …"
Hongjun's heart trembled. He knew that Li Jinglong would definitely come to save him. Tianma was said to still be in Luoyang and Qing Xiong must have laid a trap. He hurriedly said: "Qing Xiong is fine, but Kun Shen can predict the future and is very dangerous! He will definitely know that you're here! "
"It's exactly the opposite." Yu Zaoyun said, "Yuan Kun thinks highly of himself. I've tested him a few times. His prediction of the future is not completely accurate and he knows what he's thinking … …"
Hongjun: "!!!"
Yu Zaoyun was still very vigilant and kept looking outside with the little fox. He only heard it explain in a low voice: "Yuan Kun can see the future, but his prediction power will still be interfered with. The demon power of the Great Demon, the divine power of the Immovable Wisdom King, the power of the Burning Lamp … … They're all mixed together and are constantly interfering with his judgment. "
"Also, he has to use his magic power to gain insight into some details. For example, if he's thinking about tomorrow, then he'll focus all his attention on predicting tomorrow's events. Today, at this time, he might not notice. We can take advantage of this opportunity to rescue you. "
Hongjun said: "As long as I untie the chain, I can get out."
Yu Zaoyun said: "This is the magic treasure of your Dazzling Gold Palace. I can't untie it. We have to wait for Qing Xiong to come. Be careful, Hongjun, Qing Xiong is the most dangerous."
Hongjun frowned and looked at Yu Zaoyun.
"Kun Shen can predict the future and Peng Wang can see through people's hearts." Yu Zaoyun said in an extremely low voice, "Qing Xiong's greatest ability is to read minds. As long as you stand in front of him, he will know what you're thinking with just a thought. Nothing can be hidden from him … … When he comes to find you … …"
Suddenly, Yu Zaoyun and the little white fox turned around at the same time and hid in the darkness. Hongjun felt danger and immediately turned his head.
The sound of footsteps could be heard. Hongjun decisively lay down and the two foxes closed their eyes in the darkness.
The prison door opened and a figure entered. It squatted on the ground and used its sharp claws to pinch Hongjun's throat. Hongjun couldn't breathe for a moment and was dragged up in shackles. He opened his eyes wide and wanted to shout but couldn't. He saw a dry and almost pitch-black face — — Han Ba!
It's back! This also meant that it had broken free from the Demon Binding Rope! Hongjun's heart beat violently. He thought of his companions in the Sacred Mountain of the Aral Sea and wondered if they were still safe or had already been Qing Xiong … …
At this moment, a voice entered his ears.
"They're still alive. I overheard it. Don't worry, stay calm."
That voice was very familiar. Hongjun remembered the little fox's appearance and heard the young man's voice again. He trembled. That's Du Hanqing! He rescued the little fox from the imperial examination case and let Li Jinglong release it! After so many years, he actually ran into it again!
Hongjun's heart was filled with mixed feelings. His voice became weaker. "King, the water you drank contained my tears. I can temporarily let you hear my voice, but in front of Qing Xiong, please don't think of me … …"
His voice became softer and softer. Han Ba's demon power was too strong. He dragged Hongjun through the prison corridor. Du Hanqing's voice was completely cut off.
Yuzhou City, Exorcism Division's temporary base. Li Jinglong galloped on his horse. He hadn't slept for several days. When he entered the hall, he almost fell to the ground. Mo Rigen hurried forward to support Li Jinglong.
"Hongjun has been … …" Li Jinglong was speaking when he suddenly saw the Demon Binding Rope on the table. Lu Xu, Qiu Yongsi and Atay had already returned.
"Father — —!" Chen Feng ran over from the corridor and hugged Li Jinglong's leg. "Where's my mother?"
Li Jinglong let out a long sigh and knelt on the ground. Qiu Yongsi poured a cup of water for him. Only then did Yuzhou tie up his horse and come in from outside. Everyone looked at each other in dismay. Obviously, there was no need to say anything to know what had happened.
Spring in Yuzhou was very cold. Specks of light rain flew all over the Ba Mountains and Shu Lands, rolling here and there. Li Jinglong wrapped himself in a thick fur coat and drank three cups of water in succession. Then he said, "We have to prepare to leave for Luoyang. We can win. Everyone, believe in me. I also believe in everyone. "
"Qing Xiong?" Qiu Yongsi only asked these two words.
"Kun." Li Jinglong replied. He closed his eyes and fell to the side.
"Elder Shi!"
"Father — —!"
Everyone hurried forward. Qiu Yongsi waved his hand to indicate that it was okay. He touched Li Jinglong's forehead and said, "He's sick. He caught a cold. Grab some medicine and drink it. He'll be fine in one night."
"I'll go pack up and prepare to leave." Mo Rigen said.
Trandol got up to grab the medicine. Everyone set out one after another.
Snow fell and melted in Luoyang. It had been a full year since they last left. The ruins of the Ming Hall had become an open-air hall, covered in white snow. The collapsed pillars, the broken dragon chair, the overturned tables, and countless old objects were covered in a layer of snow. The ghost town was incomparably quiet. The only sound that could be heard was Hongjun's shackles dragging on the ground.
Qing Xiong sat in the center of the hall. He was still dressed in the same attire. His bronze chest was bare and he only wore a pair of trousers, revealing the dark brown tattoos on his back.
Han Ba brought Hongjun in front of Qing Xiong. He turned around and left without saying a word.
"I let you be the Demon King, not to teach you to love the human race and be like a family." Qing Xiong opened his mouth in this silence.
"So you want to kill me because of this?" Hongjun muttered.
"If I really wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have brought you back." Qing Xiong replied.
Light snow swirled down. When it fluttered, it only made way for Qing Xiong. Hongjun's eyebrows and hair were covered in snow. He raised his eyes and calmly looked at Qing Xiong. There were many things that he wanted to say.
"Have you always been able to read minds?" Hongjun asked.
"Yes." Qing Xiong coldly replied.
Hongjun only felt that the Qing Xiong now was completely different from the one who taught him to read, write, hunt, and tell him about the world of mortals.
"Then, no matter what I answer, it doesn't mean much." Hongjun replied. "If you want to know, just ask."
"Your heart is clear." Qing Xiong said. "You can say whatever you want. This is very good. However, after reading minds for a long time, it's inevitable that you will also know some dirty thoughts, including that dirty lover of yours."
Hongjun frowned slightly and sized up Qing Xiong.
"He's not dirty." Hongjun said.
"You know what he's thinking?" Qing Xiong said. "On the day the Holy Land was completed, Li Jinglong, Marquis of Shu, was thinking of using magic to seal Tian Luo Mountain and turn it into a huge furnace. He wanted to use the Light Lamp, Wisdom King Fire, or some other kind of fire to burn all my demon race to death inside."
Hongjun did not answer.
Qing Xiong pondered for a moment and leisurely said, "It's a pity that I can't project his thoughts into your mind. Otherwise, I would really let you see the scene in his imagination …" Matching his subtle movements, Qing Xiong murmured and narrated, "The beast race, the bird race, everyone struggled in the golden sea of fire and was burned to ashes. It was really exciting."