CHAPTER TEN

"Hey... Am I hallucinating from your bonking or is that really Shu Xin?"

Guo Feng's voice jolted Chen Li Sha awake. Picking up her gun, she shot without batting an eye.

"Deng yixia! Wait!" Guo Feng shouted but bullets already flew midair.

What Guo Feng feared did not happen. Shu Xin eluded the attack. The woman summoned the weapon they were so familiar with.

The last time Chen Li Sha saw her, the sword Shu Xin was holding appeared ordinary but now, her blessing as a demigod was evident and made everything more complicated.

The glowing white sword followed the shape of a lightning bolt. She had enough missions with Shu Xin that she was fully aware that it could cause electric shocks which could burn anyone to death with a single stroke.

"What the hell are you planning, Shu Xin?" she shouted.

The woman only threw her a glare as she poised to attack. Her sword glimmered as it struck Chen Li Sha with precision but she managed to get away.

Chen Li Sha grabbed her dagger and two metals clashed. Each strike was a calculated move on both sides. It was almost the same as their training days if not for the murderous intent surging from Shu Xin.

"Shu Xin!" she called her attention as their faces were inches apart. "Just what do you want?"

A smug grin crept on her face. "What do you think?"

The voice sent chills to Chen Li Sha's spine. It was the same but there was a warning of viciousness. "Who are you?"

'Is the also an illusion by the Desastre?'

But it was too real to be such. Then again, more often than not when illusions tend to be more perfect than reality. She glanced on Guo Feng's side but her eyes widened.

No wonder, she did not hear a single shit-talking out of him. He was nowhere to be found. Dread instantly coursed through her veins.

"What have you done to him?"

The woman shrugged before sidestepping. She launched another attack while Chen Li Sha was distracted. The sword almost grazed her arm but she managed to back away.

Chen Li Sha had no more time to be preoccupied. She lunged forward with her dagger. Only sounds of clamoring steel filled the open area.

She was not aware how many minutes passed as sweat trickled on her forehead. She was an expert in guns but her swordsplay did not fall short to anyone either. Yet here she was — stagnant in a battle for a person she never deemed worthy as her opponent before.

The realization solidified her conclusion that it was a mere illusion. However, how could an illusion be so strong?

Chen Li Sha deflected another blow. This time, she moved farther away as she tried to summon something that could help her but before she could do it, her jaw dropped on the floor.

A talisman was in between Shu Xin's fingers. Chen Li Sha was in a complete state of stupefaction. Her body seemed frozen as she watched how a magic circle appeared over Shy Xin's ahead. It grew bigger and brighter, facing in her direction, but her mind was too numb to process what she was seeing.

"Chen Li Sha!"

As the scream coincided with the activation of the magic circle, Chen Li Sha finally gathered her senses. She jumped but her ankle got caught from the lightning attack. She fell to the ground in an instant. Gathering the dirt on the floor, a protective shield appeared before her.

"Do you want to fvcking die?"

Guo Feng was already crouching on her side while she ignored his scolding. Her gaze landed on Shu Xin. The wicked smile had not been wiped off her mouth as she disappeared in thin air.

All the hope that the woman was just an illusion shattered. Only demigods born from Chinese gods could use lingfu. Those talismans were made to be activated by the qi inborn from demigods so how could an illusion be able to replicate such a special ability?

Not to mention, she used lightning strikes. There were only five elements that could be utilized in talismans: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Aside from that were special talismans that could be used when bestowed with an ability by their godparent. Shu Xing was an example of that.

She was the daughter of Len Gong, the thunder god, so how could a mere Desastre recreate her blessing?

"Are you even listening to me?" Guo Feng questioned and shook her shoulders.

"I'm not," she assented with a straight face.

Guo Feng pulled out his hair. "Damn it. How is your foot?"

At the mention of it, the pain finally made its way to her senses as if on queue. There was a bloodied gash on her ankle. A groan escaped her mouth upon seeing its state. As her face contorted in pain, Guo Feng's expression actually softened.

"Can you stand up?" He stood up and offered his hand

She reached out to balance herself but her body quivered from the sting.

Without a hint of taunting on his face and a voice barely a whisper he spoke, "Are you okay?"

Seeing him uneasy, lines appeared between her eyebrows.

"You care now?"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm just contemplating how carrying you back will be a hassle."

"Am I not heavy?"

"It's good that you're self-aware."

Her eyelids narrowed. She let go of his hand and stooped to the ground. "Don't you have a healing talisman?"

"I might have used the last one yesterday."

"Are you dumb? You know healing talismans are the most important spells we should have."

He sent her a droll stare. "Rich words coming from someone who doesn't even have a single talisman in her hands. Why can't you even conjure one anyway?"

"I'm not a god. I could summon medicine but it won't take effect right away. Even the magic of creation has limits. Besides, the lingfu are imbued with magic and blessed by the gods, idiot."

Without a response, his hands slipped to her on her back and under her knees.

"Wait, wait, wait! Stop!" Pink splashed on her face with his sudden move. Even the ache on her ankle disappeared as the throbbing transferred to her chest from his gesture.

"What? Do you wish to stay here forever with that bloodied foot?"

They were not new to physical contact but this was different. The unexpectedness boggled Chen Li Sha's brain which was already in havoc.

There was a different kind of intimacy she did not want to venture when she was this in position. She did not even know where to put her hands or where to look without being awkward while he had the full view and advantage of whatever she was doing.

"Can't you carry me on your back?"

"A piggyback?" He smirked. "As expected of a pig head."

She pinched his arm.

"Stop it or you'll fall," he reprimanded as he knelt. He laid her down with caution before facing his back on hers.

Chen Li Sha bit her lip before she slung her arms on her neck. Her chest was pressed on his body. She could swear she was as ripe as a tomato right now. 'Will he even feel my heartbeat?'

This was not the first time but the effect from his princess-carry seconds ago still took a toll on her.

Guo Feng held on to her limbs before grunting to get up.

"Fvck. Your skin and bones but you're heavy."

With her hands on his neck, she tightened her hold to choke him.

"Ow!" He flinched but his arms were still wrapped on her legs.

"Care to repeat it?"

"What? I'm just telling the truth! Have you ever weighed yourself lately?"

"Do you think I have time?"

"Oh yeah. You only know how to sleep, eat, and fight. Why did I bother asking what you do in your spare time?"

"Can you just shut up, dog fart? I'm getting dizzy from all your yapping."

He clicked his tongue but did not reply anymore. They walked with only their breathing could be heard in the surroundings. It was clear they were still in the Mist but she could not sense anyone beside them.

"By—"

"What—"

Their words overlapped and Guo Feng gave in. "You go first."

"Where did you go earlier? You disappeared in the middle of the fight."

A grin tugged his lips. "Worried about me?

"Of course not. Just wondering how you managed to shut up for a long while. Ends up you're gone."

"You say it as if I'm a chatterbox." His eyebrows scrunched together.

"Are you not? Anyway, what happened?"

"The Desastre from earlier reappeared."

Her eyes widened. "What? Did you kill it?"

"No. I escaped again just to see you almost being killed from stupidity. Why didn't you dodge?"

"I thought she was an illusion but..."

Guo Feng turned his head, enough for her to see the bewilderment on his face. "So was that really Shu Xin? How is Shu Xin alive?"

"Beats me. I want to know too."

"Isn't the good news? You are cleared from your case."

"I don't think it's that simple. She's the same. Her looks, her powers, but somethings bugging me."

"What?"

"I don't know. Also, everything's weird lately. Do you trust the staff of Maharlika?"

"Trust is a big word."

"You know what I mean. You said they are investigating Desastres but isn't it strange why is it only happening in this country?"

"Aren't you paying attention? This is where the Pearl of the Orient Seas is located. It is expected that incomprehensible things could happen."

"But the people. There's a lack of staff but it's too impossible that there are missions everywhere and besides—"

Guo Feng stopped in his tracks. He flicked his fingers on her forehead. "Enough with that conspiracies. Can your brain capacity even handle it?"

"Shut up. Hear me out. Remember I lost my talismans earlier? Carlos was the only one who had my bag. If not him, who would even touch or know it was my bag?"

A long pause traversed between them as Guo Feng continued walking.

"Are you sure?" he eventually spoke.

"Yeah." She had some hunch with Carlos and it was further proven today. 'Does he think I'm stupid or is he stupid?'

"Just sleep and don't fry your brain from overthinking."

"I'm being serious!"

"If he did, why is it only your bag?" he countered.

"If I had an idea, I wouldn't be here talking to you in the first place."

Guo Feng let out a breath. "Well, there's nothing wrong with being alert. You should tell Yang-ge about this."

"I plan to. I wasn't just expecting Carlos to move so soon. It feels like they are rushing for something more—"

Her sentence hung midway as the scene changed again. In an open terrain, the dark red soil was not due to the environment. Body parts scattered on the cracked land. She had already been used to the nauseating smell since they entered the Wu but the distinctive stench of decay wafted in the air.

A sense of foreboding wrapped her skin. She wished it was an illusion but if these were true bodies, she could only imagine the gore that happened as these people fought to survive.

"I think the main body is here," Guo Feng said.

"I think so too."

The eeriness surrounded them like a thick miasma. One misstep and there was a bone on your feet. One had a head with half of its skull exposed. Some had their muscles exposed as if they were peeled off. Others could not even be identified by their skin tone when they had been drenched by blood — dried and new as if it piled over on their skin.

Chen Li Sha shuddered. "Do you think Liu Hui and Yang-ge are here?"

"Hopefully not."

The resentment of the monster was apparent from the savage torture that these people had gone through. Was it a mindless killing or simply revenge for the same pain they had gone through when they were just inanimate things?

"You should leave me here. You can't fight with me in your back," she suggested upon realizing the gravity of the situation.

"Hell no!" The strong opposition to his tone caught them off-guard.

She felt the need to explain. "Chill. I'm not sacrificing here like a martyr. I can protect myself while you fight."

"Did I ask?" He clicked his tongue. "I thought you had water in your brain again." 

Guo Feng put her down. With her situation, she could only sit in a place that was for sure soaked with blood. Hopefully, it would only be human's. 'That's also worse on second thought.'

"You can search the area instead of standing there and be my guard dog," she said after not feeling any side effects from the dried blood around her.

His flippant expression made her mind at ease. It's not that she loved to be alone but she never wanted to admit that having Guo Feng on her side always gave her the opportunity to relax even in the worst situation. But still, someone needed to go. 

"Stop looking at me like that. Don't you remember Shouxi's teachings? Sai weng shi ma, yan zhi fei fu." (A bad thing may become a good thing under certain conditions.)

Guo Feng's crossed his arms, his eyes a bit colder. "You even remember Er Lang Shen's words?"

"Hey! It's Shouxi. Why are you calling our Chief with his given name when we're way younger?"

"What? Is it illegal?"

"No, but hello? Filial piety? And can't you sit down? My kneck hurts looking up at you."

The two went on a stalemate. But just like a sheep waiting to be butchered, it seemed they did not need to wander when the Desastre drew nearer. It must had sensed there were living people in his territory.

The crack in the soil grew wider as vines erupted. The thick plants flayed at them at uncontrollable speed.

Guo Feng's metal staff multiplied and attacked countless while Chen Li Sha steadied her gun and shot as much as she could but it was not enough. Some disappeared like smoke while some fell to the ground. It was a mixture of reality and illusion, taking more effort when they could not differentiate it.

They could not even locate the main body. The deranged whips of attacks were never-ending. The vines twisted and turned, their movements not slowing down.

"Guo Feng! Come over here!"

He ran to her side amidst fighting the shifting vines. "What?"

"I have to make a barrier. Cover me in the meantime."

With that, her left hand touched the land. Chances that vines could erupt from where they were standing were probable. But just like a jinx, a vine emerged where her hand was located.

The vine almost poked her eye if not for Guo Feng pushing her out of the way. But when her attention returned to Guo Feng. Her mind went black.

"No... No..." She crawled on his bloodied body. The vine was right on his chest. She had no idea if it was in his heart but her hand trembled as her vision blurred. It was as if the air suddenly disappeared from her lungs as she tried to take in what was happening.

More vines were approaching them but a flash of light emitted from her body. Her black irises turned into molten gold. She took off the glove restricting her hand and unreadable marks glowed on her body which travelled further to her face.

With just one wave of her hand, all the vines became specks of dust. Because when her right hand was finally freed, all hell broke loose.

After all, the Queen of the South had not bestowed her dearest child one gift. She was given the name Li Sha which meant sweet as the peaches that the Queen guarded but... Sweetness could also be poison.

As the goddess who could grant immortality, Xi Wang Mu also ruled over life and death. Having such a powerful godparent was a blessing and a curse. A balance should always be achieved. And of course, even her favorite child could only follow the law of equilibrium.

If there was creation, only one ability that could neutralize it...

Destruction.

U n S c e n e s

*insert main character moment bgm*

Chen Li Sha: *screams in OPness*

Guo Feng: *dying on the side*

Note:
How badly I jinxed myself last chapter ><

See you next next week.

Crossfingers xo