22 Ultimate Beauty (6)

Just like Huashe suspected. Now everything made sense how I had been suffering from this ultimate beauty poison.

"Those souls once served the Bear-Heart Palace, where my master had lived before." He said, as though he was explaining. "Purple irises were her beloved flower, it would be foolhardy to assume that the servants weren't entangled with the poison."

"Why were those servants caught up as well?" Mr. Fang couldn't help asking bluntly. Apparently, the wealthiest man in the country also love to gossip around. Despite this serious conversation, his quizzical expression made me distracted, which was kind of funny.

"Attempting to murder Celestial Harem; threatening the Celestial Palace." His full lips tightened into a hard line. "The ultimate beauty was once a sacred item presented to the Celestial Palace. It has the ability to give a sudden attractiveness by small amount consumption, but can be deathly if overdosed. Celestial Emperor's favorite consort was one of the people who were poisoned by it. Not only she had her face distorted, she also lost all her cultivation base, making her no less than a mortal in an immortal body."

I gaped at him in shock.

Not that I hadn't expected it, but I was horrified by it more dreadful that I thought. It wasn't named ultimate beauty for nothing. Being in a presence with real immortal and mythical beasts, I had grown to know the importance of cultivation base. The difference between a mortal and celestial-being was about the power within them. It was no surprise that all the servants would be caught in hand with their master. Either because the treachery of turning an immortal into a cripple, or messing with Celestial Emperor's favorite consort were considered a grave sin. That kind of dramatic scene was common in TV dramas—I had guessed it supposed to turn that way.

Another realization of Huashe's words clicked in the back of my mind. Like what Kylin had told me in my inner core, the poison was born within me along with strong feelings of hatred, anger and vengeance. What if I was one of the souls who wanted to seek justice for the master I served?

The dry throat was sadly disappointing—no volume. My head was filled with questions, but I couldn't afford to ask. I would probably wait another time to ask about these things, when I was back to my "normal" self.

Gods, I wondered what had happened to his master.

Huashe must have seen the shock in my eyes. "It's not pretty. Not only the poison incident, my master was also accused of being evil; bearing the child of evil. Which led her banished to the Eighteenth Layered of Hell's Dungeon along with her loyal servants. And the worse thing, she was imprisoned there while she was pregnant."

Both Mr. Fang and I let out a collective sigh.

"Gracious, how can they be so cruel?" Mr. Fang commented to Huashe, then peered at Jie Moshu.

I couldn't agree more to Mr. Fang. Even if she had done treachery, but being punished while pregnant was too much.

"It's how Sky Realm works. In the eye of Celestial Emperor, everything is equal." Jie Moshu said quietly. I was surprised by how steady and calm his voice was. Mr. Fang and Huashe was surprised too. Huashe must have expected him to say something indifferent. Something more human.

After a moment, Huashe turned to examine my face. His expression became more troubled as he did. "What that poison does, I've heard the experience isn't pleasant. To think that one fallen petal can make a god bedridden for a hundred of years, you, female human is sure an odd one. Considered yourself lucky that you've made a contract with me.

Seemed like someone had predicted this beforehand." His voice was mere whisper, as his eyes looked Jie Moshu over, slowly, from head to toe.

Aha. He was practically rubbing Jie Moshu's nose in it. That moment when he involuntarily made a blood oath with me. It was basically Jie Moshu's doing.

"Shouldn't a familiar be honored to protect its master?" He said it with absolute surety. Not even taken aback.

Note to self: shamelessly—directly confrontational.

"Haa-haa," Mr. Fang laughed awkwardly, breaking the rising tension. As if I could read his inner thoughts: Oh God. Not again.

"Thank to Heavens that Ms. Liu could finally awake after five days. If it weren't for Master's refined pills and constantly transferring genuine Qi, Ms. Liu would probably—"

"Yuansheng!" Jie Moshu cut off the rest of Mr. Fang's words. "That's enough."

"Refined pills? What kind of pills?" Huashe frowned, thinking deeply. His green eyes suddenly shone, and spun at Jie Moshu, "Don't tell me it's the godly herbs. You went to that deathly place, but how? Isn't that supposed to be a restricted area? You..."

A beat of silence followed as Huashe suspected him, as if already accused him of being guilty.

I didn't know what Huashe meant, but I had figured out two possibilities. One, that godly herbs he mentioned might be an extremely sacred item for healing, or, two, it might be something about Jie Moshu that was beyond my expectation. Otherwise, Huashe wouldn't be that flabbergasted.

Whichever one was correct didn't matter. What did matter was that I owed my life to him. I studied Jie Moshu a beat, sensing but not quite able to identify what was bothering him.

"Well, do whatever you want," Huashe looked away, as his gaze were set on the bottle, "as long as this female human is alive, I'm fine with it."

Jie Moshu ignored Huashe's remarks. He then settled down on the bed, sliding his hands on either side of my face overwhelmed my senses. My skin tingled at his touch. I knew he wasn't seducing me, but my temperature roared up a few degrees. His dark eyes met mine as he examined my face. I quickly looked away before invisible flames made my cheeks blushed. He always had his ways to make my blood rose to the surface, even only by looking. That was one unbeffiting emotion for a stranger.

"Your face is very red. Could it be that the poison triggered a fever?" Jie Moshu muttered under his breath, as he watched me with a worried expression in his face.

Argh! I was so sure that it wasn't the poison's doing—it was his!

The heat from his hand left me. He turned to look up at Mr. Fang, "Yuansheng, the pills."

"Ah!" It was as if Mr. Fang had been awaiting for that command, he swiftly opened the box he was holding since he went in. "Here it is, Master."

Oh, goody. All my insecurities were long gone the moment I laid my eyes on that pill. My stomach was churning.

Black means dreadful, frightening, threatening. Moreover, with that size... I swallowed hard as images of century egg rolled around my mind.

When I was a kid, Baba once made me a plate of it. I was skeptical by the looks of it, thinking that blackish thingy was even edible. Then, I used my chopsticks to take a bite of it, and... Ugh! The smell of sulphide rose up to my nose. It went worse when I put it in my mouth, which made me doubt myself what kind of food I had just eaten. I remembered Baba and Mama were grinning from ear to ear, as they saw me gulped ten glasses of water to dissipate the bad aftertaste. It was a bad childhood memory and it haunted me for years. And this was pretty much looked like one of it. I questioned that the edibility of that century-egg-liked pill.

Jie Moshu picked the pill, "Now, your medicine."

I clamped my lips shut, and shook my head aggressively. There was no way he was asking me to eat that pill.

"Come on, this is for your recovery." He said, his hand swaying the pill like playing planes to feed a kid.

I glared at him, my voice dropped into a rough growl. No. Not in a million chances. If my senses had returned, I would just run away and hid myself from him. But it wasn't like that all, especially this moment.

"Just one gulp, and I can promise you'll heal in no time."

My mouth insisted on rejecting such thing to melt in my mouth. I suddenly recalled my telepathy ability with Huashe, the little voice in my head was screaming for help: 'Huashe, save me!'

Huashe just shrugged. Or at least, he tried to. His face was all not-my-business expression, stuck out that snake-like tongue of his for mocking me. Why that damn useless familiar!

Jie Moshu waved his hand at me, invisible magic rolled over me. There was a sudden pressure that forcing me to open my mouth. I fought with that internal force by gritting my teeth. No, mouth. No!

But... what power did a mere mortal like me have to deal with an immortal's power? My mouth surrendered to the force, widely opened.

He put the pill into my mouth. I could feel the size of that big pill grazed my teeth, made it difficult for me to munch it. Again, he used psychic power. Ugh! I swallowed the big pill. I squinted at the lingering bitter taste on my throat.

Without warning, Jie Moshu landed his lips on the corner of my mouth. I gasped at the sudden, unexpected sensation. Shock wave jolted through me in buzzing waves that left my heart quickened.

As he pulled away, his mouth was twitching... with devilish amusement? This was driving me crazy!

His demeanor was all cool, sophisticated—a sense of indescribable gentle sweetness. "Now, it doesn't feel any bitter, right?"

His words let my mind kept rerunning the feeling of his lips on my skin. Soft, firm, smooth. Heat pulsed though my body. I couldn't help the blush that crept up my cheeks. And again for today, I wanted to hide!!

As if there was an invisible barrier in the room, Huashe gave a Mr. Fang nudged, "Hey, old man. I don't think they even realized we're also in this room. Time to storm away then."

Mr. Fang eyes still widened at what just happened. He nodded in agreement, before meekly offered, "The housemaid has prepared tea. Would I have the honor to get a mythical beast joining me for an afternoon tea?"

Huashe hissed in excitement. His eyes lit up, practically hungry for Human World delicacies. "Do you have anything that is sponge-like and sweet things? I need to counter that sweetness."

The old man smiled and took it as Huashe agreed. He raised his hand to cover his mouth, acting all secrecy.

Huashe leaned forward to hear Mr. Fang. It took him a moment to make his brows rose, "Oho. Old man, being wealthy is good, huh?"

Mr. Fang cleared his throat, he adjusted his necktie. "It was basically a part of the family business—ready at all time and places."