24 Chapter 23

Ju sat crossed-legged, trying to calm down the storm of lightning in her gut. Amos sat next to her, rolling a marble across his knuckles.

"Can you still make candies?" Ju asked, watching the tendons of Amos's hand contract and expand. Amos snapped his fingers and a sphere candy appeared in front of Ju. Ju grabbed it and popped it in her mouth.

"Still the best candy I've ever had," Ju said, sucking on the candy.

"Why don't you ascend to godship? You'd have some type of protection against the mortals," Amos asked suddenly. Ju looked up at the sky, a finger on her chin.

"It takes a lot to stay relevant and not fade away. If I want to stay, I'd need to claim children. Chances are, those children are going to suffer terribly if my aura started to pop up everywhere. I can't make them subject to that fate," Ju answered.

"You know, a lot of people would be surprised that you care this much about people who don't even like you," Ju shrugged, rolling the candy in her mouth with her tongue.

"So? I like most people, and I like to believe that everybody has good in them. It's better for me to protect the world behind the scenes,"

"I really can't convince you to join me in godhood," Amos said, shaking his head. Ju rolled her eyes.

"You're a god who's been missing and you serve a child. You don't claim children either, so it's a surprise that you haven't faded yet," Ju said, glancing down at Amos's hand.

'Gods, his hand is gorgeous," Ju forced her eyes away from his hand, opting to close her eyes.

"More gods have left this world to go to different ones," Amos said.

"Really? Like who?"

"Themis was one of them," Ju opened her eyes and stared at Amos, surprise in her eyes.

"Themis, the Ink Keeper?" Amos nodded.

"Really? The old man left?"

"Yes, he left after the war,"

"He didn't take a seat as one of the main gods? He seemed like the type of person to do that," Ju muttered, cracking the candy with her teeth.

"Apparently, he went to create his own world. He sometimes comes back for reunions and meetings, but aside from that, nobody really knows what he's been doing," Amos glanced over at Ju, noticing that her eyes were following the movement of his hands. A smirk took over his lips as he leaned over.

"Do you still find my hands to be attractive?" Amos asked, his voice slowing to a low rumble. He watched in amusement as he saw the hair on the back of her neck raise, her head subtly rolling to the side as she took in a deep breath.

"Don't fucking tease me," Ju muttered back, rubbing her neck. Amos chuckled, earning a shiver from Ju.

"I'll never find your reactions to my hands and voice to be boring. It's so amusing to know how easy it is to unravel you," Ju scowled, her eyes darkening.

"This is bullying," Ju protested.

"Quite possibly, but you still love me,"

~~

"Has the box been located yet?" Sect Elder Tang asked.

"Not yet sir," a young woman said. Sect Elder Tang sighed, pinching the space between his eyebrows.

"This is troublesome. Have you made sure to check everywhere, including under stones?"

"I don't think it will be necessary," Sect Elder Tang turned and stood up quickly, bowing before Sister Rong.

"Sister Rong! What do you mean? Has the box been found?" Sect Elder Tang asked. Sister Rong raised a hand, stopping him.

"The box has been opened. There's no point for us to continue searching," Sister Rong said.

"The box has been opened? Then, what will happen to the sect?" Sect Elder Tang asked.

"The sect will start to lose spirit since the box has been opened. Without spirit, we can't power the cultivation rooms. In short, we'll become low on materials," Sister Rong said, taking a seat on the couch.

"Sister Rong, the students, where will they go then?"

"Do not worry, I have someone coming and they will stop at nothing to find that box," Sister Rong reassured.

"Sister Rong, I do have one question,"

"Yes?" Sister Rong asked, turning to Sect Elder Tang.

"How did you know that the Sect Leader was having a heart attack?" he asked, hands twitching. Sister Rong paused, casting a side glance at Sect Elder Tang.

"I've always had an interest in medicine. It is not strange for me to know the basic symptoms of a heart attack," Sister Rong replied, her hands folding in her lap.

"Then how do you explain that the plants in your greenhouse are secretly a formation?" Sect Elder Tang asked, shutting the door. A large smile spread on Sister Rong's face as she propped her head on her fist, staring at Sect Elder Tang with glittering eyes.

"Oh?"

"You also claim that you brought in a formation expert, but there are no cultivators who have studied that job branch,"

"Get to the point Sect Elder Tang. I hate people that beat around the bush,"

"Were you behind the sudden decline of Sect Leader's health?" Sister Rong stood up, sighing.

"How unfortunate, it seems I have been caught,"

"So you really are a traitor! I will report you to the Sect Leader!" Sect Elder Tang declared, opening the door to escape.

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that," Sect Elder Tang stopped, blood dripping past his eyes like tears.

"Boss, you've arrived," Sister Rong said, bowing to the man that was on the other side of the door.

"I am disappointed Sister Rong. You were sloppy this time. If I hadn't arrived, you would've gotten more blood on your hands than needed,"

"I could have handled the situation even without your help. Just because I am a doctor does not mean I am completely helpless,"

"Well, it's fine. You are not known as the Medicine General for nothing,"

"Since you are here, does that mean I can return to the upper realm soon?"

"Of course, but do not get so hasty. Our main mission is already partially failed. That box has been opened and that brat from before is not happy,"