"Ahh… is this because of King Yama's pill?" Li Jun grinned as she quickly snatched up the small cloth pouch that had fallen. She reached out to steady Wang Wuyue, who was injured, trying to help her stand.
But Wang Wuyue immediately shoved her away, cheeks burning red. "Don't hug me!" she snapped. Li Jun frowned, concern tangled with embarrassment. "You're hurt… let me help you!"
Meanwhile, the twin poison siblings staggered to their feet, brushing off dirt as they eyed Li Jun warily. Their hands still trembled from the shock of her sudden "attack."
Seeing the twins preparing to strike again, Li Jun puffed out her chest with courage. "You think you can scare me? Come at me!" she shouted. She thrust her palm forward for a powerful strike… but nothing happened.
She tried again and again, slicing her hand through the air, each attempt only producing a whooshing sound. The twins blinked at her, wide-eyed, unsure whether to laugh or flee. The bizarre scene left everyone watching her movements in utter confusion.
Li Jun frowned, shaking out her hands. "Huh? Why isn't my energy coming out?" she muttered, staring at her palms. Something was wrong—her inner power wasn't responding at all, and she had no idea why.
"Damn it… why didn't King Yama give me an instruction manual? How am I supposed to use this power without any guidance?!" Li Jun grumbled, frustration sharp in her voice.
The twins exchanged wary glances and whispered, "Is she just pretending?"
Drawing in a deep breath, Li Jun puffed out her chest once more. Her eyes gleamed with determination, ready to strike again—even if she still didn't know how to control her newfound strength.
Just as she prepared to move, Wang Wuyue suddenly seized her arm. "Fool! What are you doing? Let's go…" she scolded, pulling Li Jun away from the twins before anything else could happen.
With the last of her qi, Wang Wuyue dragged Li Jun along, her body light as she propelled them forward with swift qinggong. Their feet barely skimmed the ground as they leapt over rocks and trees, moving faster than the eye could follow.
"Wait! Don't think you can escape us!" the poison twins shouted, fury and determination fueling their pursuit.
But the lingering effects of poison gnawed at Wang Wuyue's strength. Her qi began to falter, her pace slowing under the weight of exhaustion.
At last, her energy gave out entirely. The two of them stumbled and plunged over the edge of a towering waterfall, crashing into the raging waters below.
"Master… Your Majesty…" Shen Yuqing, who had been following in secret, gasped in horror as she watched Li Jun and Wang Wuyue vanish into the depths.
Poison North caught hold of Poison South as they landed, shouting for him to halt the chase. "Go back and report to Her Highness!" he commanded. "Falling from such a height, it's impossible anyone could survive." The poison twins retreated.
Shen Yuqing stood frozen at the cliff's edge, grief crashing over her as the tumultuous waters swallowed them from view. Her heart ached with helplessness, and for an instant she even felt the urge to hurl herself into the abyss.
The shadow guards rushed forward, seizing her firmly. "Commander Shen, we still have a duty to protect the Empress Dowager and the Grand Emperor. Please—don't act on such thoughts," one of them urged.
Shen Yuqing drew a trembling breath and wiped her tears. "You're right… Your Majesty, once I've fulfilled my duty, I will follow you," she whispered, eyes red as she struggled to hold back her sobs.
---
The rushing water dragged them downstream, yet somehow—miraculously—they survived the fall. Li Jun gasped, struggling to keep her head above the waves. Suddenly, she realized Wang Wuyue had vanished beneath the surface, and panic surged through her.
Without a second thought, Li Jun dove into the churning water. She searched frantically until she spotted Wang Wuyue sinking, her face pale and lips turning blue.
Summoning all her strength, Li Jun swam toward her and reached her just in time. She pressed her lips to Wang Wuyue's, breathing air into her mouth. Wrapping her arms tightly around her, Li Jun kicked and fought against the raging current.
Little by little, they were carried into calmer waters. At last, both women gasped and coughed as they collapsed onto the shore—soaked, exhausted, but alive.
Li Jun turned to see Wang Wuyue lying unconscious, her face still pale as the poison from earlier continued its cruel assault. Li Jun's heart pounded with fear. She scooped her up into her arms and dashed toward a nearby cave, desperate to find shelter where she could tend to her.
Inside the cave, she laid Wang Wuyue down gently, her mind racing. She had no medicine, no antidote… and then a thought struck her. Her body could resist poison, could her blood serve as the antidote?
Recalling a scene from a movie she had once watched, Li Jun bit her finger and drew fresh blood. She pressed it to Wang Wuyue's lips, praying it would counteract the venom in her veins.
"Come on, wake up… you have to fight," Li Jun whispered, her hands trembling as she watched the woman she cared for teeter on the edge of darkness.
Each drop of blood made her finger sting, yet Wang Wuyue remained unresponsive. Panic swelled in Li Jun's chest as she realized precious time was slipping away.
Determined to save her, Li Jun carefully lifted Wang Wuyue into her arms and left the cave, scanning the surrounding mountains for any sign of help. The forest was quiet and desolate; no villagers or travelers appeared along the narrow paths. She walked higher and higher, the cold wind biting at her face, until finally she spotted a small, simple bamboo house nestled among the trees.
Li Jun accidentally stepped into the flower-covered yard—only to be met by the furious glare of an elderly woman. "Who dares step on my flowers?!" the woman shouted, rushing forward with a wooden staff in hand.
Li Jun had no choice but to stand still, holding Wang Wuyue helplessly as the woman swung at her. She shut her eyes tightly, bracing herself while protecting the unconscious woman in her arms.
Just as suddenly, the elderly woman froze, her eyes widening in recognition. "Wuyue? Is that you?!" she exclaimed. Her anger vanished in an instant, replaced by concern, as she rushed forward to help.
"Come inside…" she urged, opening the bamboo door.
"Do you know her?" Li Jun asked nervously as she carefully laid Wang Wuyue on the simple bed.
"Of course… I am her Shishu[1]," the woman replied, her eyes softening. "But… who are you?"
"I… I'm her husband," Li Jun stammered, her face flushing with both pride and embarrassment.
The woman suddenly burst into loud, hearty laughter. "Her husband? Hahaha! Impossible!" she said, checking Wang Wuyue's arm. The mark of her shougong sha was still there.
"The sun will rise in the west before Wuyue ever marries…" she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. Her laughter softened into gentle chuckles.
"What's so funny? You'll see—she will marry me," Li Jun shot back with a grin.
"If you want to marry her, then you'll have to work hard," Shishu replied. After examining Wang Wuyue, she explained, "She's been poisoned by a rare northern toxin. Strangely, her body shows no outward harm, but her meridians have been gravely damaged. Years of cultivation have been disrupted. For now, she must not use her qi. Did you give her an antidote?"
Li Jun shook her head. "No… I gave her my blood," she admitted.
"Blood?" Shishu's eyes widened in shock. "How can your blood be so miraculous?" she demanded, disbelief clear in her voice.
[1] martial uncle