A massive stream of fiery light tore through the dome of the Nine Heavens. In an instant, the entire Nine Heavens shook like an earthquake. Even the immortals seated at the Immortal Viewing Terrace nearly fell from their chairs due to the violent tremors.
“Don’t panic,” Er’er commanded in a low voice. “The disturbance isn’t directly above us.”
She had experienced a prophetic dream where numerous fiery streams pierced through the Nine Heavens, causing countless gods and immortals to perish. Upon awakening, she had Li Ye reinforce the barriers around the Immortal Viewing Terrace and invited the immortals to arrive early to avoid this calamity.
Looking up and scanning the immortals standing solemnly around her, Er’er suddenly frowned: “Where are Zhen Huan Gong and Yan Cha? Haven’t they arrived yet?”
Meng Wan cupped her hands and answered: “Zhen Huan Gong is ill, perhaps they’ll arrive later.”
Her pupils contracted, and Er’er immediately rose to leave.
“Immortal, please reconsider!” a chorus of voices called from behind. “This place is the safest right now. The Immortal bears the responsibility for all under heaven, you must take care!”
Li Ye didn’t try to dissuade her, but simply picked up the cloak she had draped over her chair back and followed leisurely. Seeing him accompanying her, the crowd fell silent, obediently making way for Er’er.
Er’er ran swiftly, muttering as she went: “It can’t be such a coincidence, it can’t possibly be those two.”
…
…
“Zhen Huan Gong values his cultivation above all else, how could he possibly…”
“I must be overthinking.”
The flames ahead grew increasingly intense. Li Ye glanced at them, then reached his arm around Er’er’s waist, pulling her back.
Er’er had been charging ahead with her head down and was caught off guard when he held her in his embrace. She felt somewhat anxious: “Let me go see!”
“Not that way,” Li Ye spoke softly, turning her in another direction.
The fiery streams had burned countless holes in the Ten Directional Cloud Sea. Someone was dragging another person toward the edge of the cloud sea. Her arm was injured, making the dragging extremely difficult. Losing her grip, half of the body of the person she was holding slipped to the edge of a hole, about to fall heavily downward.
Yan Cha burst into tears with a “wah,” desperately pulling at Zhen Huan Gong while crying out: “Help… help…”
Er’er’s face paled as she immediately rushed over to grab Zhen Huan Gong.
Zhen Huan Gong was severely injured—not only was his physical body burned, but his divine consciousness was also unclear. The protective barrier around him had been completely burned away.
Li Ye came over and pulled both Er’er and Zhen Huan Gong to a flat area nearby. After scanning his condition, he slightly frowned: “How could he fail to dodge even a fiery stream?”
Yan Cha still gripped his arm tightly, her eyes bloodshot and tears streaming down her face: “He could have dodged it. It was me; I couldn’t dodge in time.”
The fiery stream had come too fast and too suddenly. Zhen Huan Gong’s first reaction was to dodge, but she ran too slowly. After running for a while, she still couldn’t leave the impact zone of the falling fiery stream. He looked back and, without any hesitation, immediately turned to pull her along as they ran together. With two people, their speed wasn’t fast enough. When it became evident they couldn’t escape, he directly shielded her with his body.
When his barrier was burned through, he used a magic formation. When the formation was burned through, he used his physical body. When his body was burned, he used his last bit of divine consciousness to protect her and help her escape.
Yan Cha’s entire body trembled. She had never been so frightened, yet she had also never felt so secure, as if as long as this person had even one breath left, he wouldn’t let her lose her life.
Er’er looked at her with heartache and reached out to help her calm down.
But rather than calming, Yan Cha cried even louder with a “wah,” prostrating herself beside Zhen Huan Gong, desperately channeling her weak immortal energy into him.
“Let me,” Li Ye gestured to Er’er.
Er’er quickly pulled Yan Cha away, allowing Li Ye’s barrier to descend upon Zhen Huan Gong.
“I thought the person I saw in my dream wouldn’t be him,” Er’er murmured with complex emotions.
Although it was Supreme Lord Chu Yuan’s instruction for him to protect Yan Cha, Zhen Huan Gong wouldn’t be the type willing to sacrifice his life to fulfill a promise. This injury would cost him at least a thousand years of cultivation. With his temperament, how could he bear such a loss?
Would he blame her senior sister when he woke up?
Worried, Er’er transmitted a message to Li Ye: “Can I give him some of my cultivation?”
Li Ye, who was examining Zhen Huan Gong’s divine consciousness, replied coldly upon hearing this: “No.”
“This was for saving my senior sister, not for personal gain…”
“No need,” Li Ye rolled his eyes. “He won’t blame your senior sister.”
So generous? Er’er clicked her tongue, feeling somewhat guilty for having judged him poorly. Zhen Huan Gong was such a noble immortal.
Li Ye silently observed the images of Yan Cha that filled Zhen Huan Gong’s divine consciousness.
The once-in-a-millennium fiery streams erupted fully two hours later. Only a small number of immortals in the Nine Heavens were injured, and no one perished. Er’er sat cross-legged in her chair, watching the fiery streams colliding and sending sparks flying across the dome, murmuring: “Next year should be a good year in the mortal realm.”
After fiery streams, blessings would follow. The heavenly beings had already received their share of fortune, but for mortals, this event would bring a good harvest in the coming year.
Three days later, peace returned to the Nine Heavens, and the damaged buildings were gradually repaired.
Er’er and Li Ye went together to visit the Upper Armor Palace, thinking that with Zhen Huan Gong’s temperament, he might make those around him suffer during his recovery period. They could help Yan Cha share some of the pressure.
However, upon entering the great hall, they found the attendants all relaxing in the outer chamber, drowsily nodding off.
Er’er raised an eyebrow and immediately lightened her footsteps, sneaking like a cat to peek into the inner chamber with half her head.
Yan Cha sat by the bedside, one hand holding a book, the other supporting Zhen Huan Gong. His face was still somewhat pale, but his spirit seemed much improved. He lay in Yan Cha’s lap, staring fixedly at her.
That gaze was so fervent it made even Er’er feel somewhat embarrassed.
Yan Cha seemed to be reading a medical book, extraordinarily focused, not even noticing that her hand had shifted to rest on Zhen Huan Gong’s face. Zhen Huan Gong naturally wouldn’t remind her, simply smiling slightly and nuzzling his cheek against her palm.
Withdrawing her head, Er’er solemnly transmitted to Li Ye: “We seem somewhat superfluous. Perhaps we should go home and look after our child?”
Li Ye didn’t care about such niceties. Since they had already come, how could they leave empty-handed? So this great figure extended his leg and kicked the partition.
With a “crack,” Yan Cha was startled, raising her head to see Li Ye standing at the partition with Er’er beside him, desperately pinching his arm.
“Why has the Immortal and Supreme Lord come?” Hurriedly putting down the book and returning Zhen Huan Gong to the bed, Yan Cha rose to welcome them, adding, “Huan Gong is still recovering and may not be able to offer proper greetings.”
Gritting her teeth and releasing Li Ye’s hand, Er’er said: “We were just passing by to see if you needed any help.”
“I can manage,” Yan Cha smiled. “Huan Gong’s appetite improved yesterday, and he can sleep soundly at night. After another half month of recovery, he’ll be able to get out of bed.”
Li Ye gave a deep look at the person pretending to sleep in the bed, seemingly wanting to speak but stopping himself.
This man was, after all, a Supreme Lord. Even with injuries from the fiery stream, with his help in healing, Zhen Huan Gong should have been able to get up after just one day. Yet he planned to stay in bed for half a month?
Shameless.