Heart Protection

Chapter 107

Although Yan Hui had made up her mind to return the neidan to Tian Yao, doing so in reality would be difficult.

Tian Yao's personality was explicit. He wouldn't want the neidan. Therefore before the neidan was placed back in his body, he absolutely couldn't find out about the plan. The Qing Qiu King gave Yan Hui a spell that could made Tian Yao sleep for 6 hours. All Yan Hui had to do during those 6 hours was take out the neidan in her heart and then put it into his heart.

"I'll give you a spirit pearl," said the king. A pearl, which was emitting a faint glow, floated from the king's direction to in front of Yan Hui. "The pearl has abundant spiritual power and can temporarily the neidan's power. It will replenish your life for one month. After returning the neidan, it's unavoidable that Tian Yao will find out. He will be very upset and mad, prone to making a mistake."

The king even considered Tian Yao's emotions........

Yan Hui bitterly smiled.

For the future of the demon clans, as the king of the Qing Qiu, he couldn't allow Tian Yao to make any mistakes before his own death. However towards Yan Hui, the amount of consideration put it seemed much less in comparison.

But that was as it ought to be.

Yan Hui looked down and watched the pearl slowly enter her chest.

"After taking out the neidan, the spirit pearl will naturally activate."

Yan Hui rubbed her chest: "And I only have one month?........"

The king was silent for a moment before speaking: "This pearl should have successfully accumulated spiritual power. It originally was in Lu Mu Sheng's body."

Yan Hui was stunned by those words. This pearl.........was what Su Ying wanted to use for Lu Mu Sheng to regain his past life's memory. "But.........didn't that pearl shatter?" She broke it during her fight with Su Ying.

"Correct, so this really isn't the original pearl. This pearl gathers spiritual energy from the earth and also records memories to help people remember their past lives. In this boundless world, perhaps this is the only pearl. Before when Lu Mu Sheng entered Qing Qiu, I sought out the pearl in his body and made an imitation. That is why my remaining magic is gone."

Yan Hui remained silent for a long time after hearing those words: "You made the spirit pearl........because you wanted to find your wife?"

The Qing Qiu King seemed greatly amused by Yan Hui's words. He smiled and looked off at the moon: "Even in my dream I look for her." 

It was a tranquil night. Yan Hui didn't speak further. It was the king who broke the silence: "I won't meet her again in this life. That fate has already ended. It is difficult to go against Heaven's will, and I can't demand for it. I only hope to see departed friends on the road in the Underworld."

Yan Hui dipped her head: "Your wife will definitely be waiting for you."

"But when I think of her waiting there for me for so many years, I also hope that she could move on earlier." The king looked at Yan Hui. "Giving the pearl to you can be considered the last of my meager contribution. Miss Yan Hui, we owe you a lot in this war."

"It doesn't matter who owes or doesn't owe." Yan Hui looked down. "This is what I wanted to do for my former shifu's wish."

If there really was someone who was unworthy of another in this matter, it would be her who was very much unworthy of Tian Yao.

He had to be tricked and abandoned. He had to realized that his future would be spent alone in his grief........Just thinking about that made Yan Hui feel heartbroken and........

Really unworthy of him.

Without further words, Yan Hui studied the spell from Qing Qiu's king and then left the palace.

The next day Yan Hui spent the entire day in her courtyard staring up at the sky. She thought about many things that day. She was thinking that the day she gave the neidan back to Tian Yao, she had to start counting down her remaining days of life. It seemed like the one month's time wasn't enough to think back on all her memories.

Yan Hui suddenly realized there were actually many places she hadn't visited, many things she hadn't done, many words she hadn't said.

Yan Hui was lost in thought into the afternoon. Huan Xiao Yan, sitting on top of Zhu Li's shoulders, came riding into Yan Hui's courtyard. She happily waved at Yan Hui: "Master, Master! Look, look! Aren't I so mighty and strong now!"

 Huan Xiao Yan grabbed Zhu Li's hair, actually treating one of the Qing Qiu's young princes like a horse.

Yan Hui was shocked at the sight. She asked Zhu Li: "What despicable thing did you do that you're willing to be bullied by that brat?"

Zhu Li had no reaction.

Huan Xiao Yan jumped down from Zhu Li's shoulders and looked up to say: "He can't hear anything right now. He's under my very, very strong illusion spell. He won't understand anything someone is saying. He only listens to me."

Yan Hui stared blankly: "You........" She suddenly remember when she hurriedly left to find Tian Yao, Huan Xiao Yan was saying something about learning a strong illusion spell, understanding the secret behind Su Ying's spell formation.

Yan Hui immediately became alert and stood up, circling around Zhu Li twice. After seeing he really had no reaction, she said: "Make him crouch down."

Huan Xiao Yan said: "Crouch down."

Zhu Li crouched down. 

Yan Hui eyes widened a little: "Make him do the splits!"

"Splits!"

Thus Zhu Li did the splits!

Yan Hui gasped out a "Whoa!" Huan Xiao Yan also followed with a "Whoa!" That boy was surprisingly flexible!

A servant was passing by the courtyard. Huan Xiao Yan still protected Zhu Li's face and hurriedly yelled: "Get up! Get up!" Zhu Li stood up. Huan Xiao Yan looked up at the color of the sky: "Oh no, I can't play with him anymore. I think he had something important to do today." 

Saying that, she snapped her fingers. The light in Zhu Li's eyes immediately came back. He was surprised to see Yan Hui. Then he turned and was surprised to see Huan Xiao Yan too. "How.......Ah......" Zhu Li slightly bent over "Why do my legs hurt.......What happened......."

"Today is the last day of the month. Did you say you had something to do on that day?" Huan Xiao Yan didn't answer his question but instead changed the topic. Zhu Li was stunned and asked: "Today is the last day?"

Yan Hui nodded.

Thus Zhu Li raised the him of his clothes and hobbled out of the courtyard. He didn't even leave any time to say bye.

Huan Xiao Yan waited until he was far away before bursting out into laughter. She turned towards Yan Hui and stuck out her tongue.

Yan Hui only said: "You didn't do anything excessive right? If he hears something from another person and wants to peel your skin, don't blame me for not protecting you."

"No problem. If he tries to peel me, I'll just cast another illusion spell on him."

Huan Xiao Yan said it so casually. Yan Hui's mouth twitched. She didn't plan on paying the illusion demon anymore attention, but then she suddenly remembered something. Yan Hui's focused her gaze on Huan Xiao Yan.

"Master, I'm going to go now. Continuing to use illusion spells control someone is pretty tiring. Tonight I'm going to eat other's dreams to replenish."

"Wait there."

Yan Hui yelled at the demon. Huan Xiao Yan was stunned and turned to look at Yan Hui. She didn't understand why Yan Hui's expression was so solemn.

Yan Hui stared at Huan Xiao Yao and steadily assessed her. Qing Qiu's king had the consideration to give Yan Hui a month to live, so she could maintain living past the battle between Tian Yao and Qing Guang. However if she gave the neidan to Tian Yao, would he notice it when cultivating? Also losing the neidan was bound to hurt her body. When Tian Yao saw her, wouldn't he notice that she was near her limit?

All that said, after giving the neidan back to Tian Yao, merely living and appearing in front of Tian Yao wouldn't be enough. She had to properly appear in front of him. Furthermore, Tian Yao couldn't discover anything was wrong with her, and furthermore, he couldn't discover that something was different about his body than before.

To do all that, perhaps he would have to be in a fantasy---- He had to believe he hadn't retrieved the neidan. He had to believe the Yan Hui in front of him was still as healthy as before. It was only this way that he could go fight Qing Guang without any worries.

"Huan Xiao Yan." Yan Hui called the demon's name. Huan Xiao Yan was a little stunned by that. She couldn't help somewhat cautiously asking: "Master.....what is it?" She had never seen Yan Hui talking to her like this before and felt worried. "Is there......some bad news you have to tell me?"

"I do need to tell you something," said Yan Hui. "But no mater how unhappy you are, you have to promise me after hearing it......" Yan Hui's grave expression softened after seeing Huan Xiao Yan's nervous expression. She tousled Huan Xiao Yan's head. "Promise me you won't cry." 

But from that moment on, Huan Xiao Yan had a slightly feeling of crying.

Yan Hui brought the illusion demon into her room. Huan Xiao Yan was struck dumb after hearing Yan Hui explain the entire situation. She blankly stared at Yan Hui.

Yan Hui opened her mouth, but before she could get a comforting word out, Huan Xiao Yan's tears already started to fall down her face.

Yan Hui sighed: "Didn't we agree that you wouldn't cry."

Huan Xiao Yan hurriedly covered her mouth, but she couldn't stop her tears from flowing out. Her sobs were muffled: "But........Master, for such a big matter......you.......you......."

"It doesn't matter how big it is," said Yan Hui. "You have to rationally think about it. Compared to all of the demon clans, my matter isn't all that big. You have to be obedient, work with me......."

Yan Hui hadn't finished when Huan Xiao Yan put her hands down. The demon looked at Yan Hui through tear-filled eyes: "But you're going to die." She cried like a little child. "But after doing that, you're going to die. Wah........this is a big matter. I don't care. I don't care how you compare to all the demon clans. I just know you're going to die. You're going to die........"

Huan Xiao Yan cried so broken-heartedly that Yan Hui couldn't console her. Her words were drowned out by the illusion demon's sobs. She could only cover Huan Xiao Yan's mouth and tightly hug her. Yan Hui feared that Tian Yao would pass by at this time and over hear the plan. She repeated murmured in Huan Xiao Yan's ear: "Don't cry........don't cry.......it'll be okay......it'll be okay."

Under Yan Hui's soothing, Huan Xiao Yan's sobs slowly subsided. Only then did Yan Hui release Huan Xiao Yan from her arms: "You have to be strong. Throw away feelings. Just look into my eyes and answer me. I have many things to do. Will you help me?"

Huan Xiao Yan gritted her teeth and was silent for a long time. Finally, her red eyes looked at Yan Hui, and she nodded.

Yan Hui was her master, but Yan Hui never told her to do anything before. This was Yan Hui's one and only request, but it might be her last.