A New Bodyguard

Consciousness returned, but the fatigue made Xiao's eyelids too heavy to even open.

What the fuck just happened? The last thing that Xiao remembered was that the two demonic cultivators were about to close in on them, and then, everything went to black.

Every strand of muscle in her body ached, caused by her burning meridians. She was no sun wukong, but Xiao felt as if her entire body had been flattened by Buddha's palm.

Yet even as her body wracked in agony, there was solace to find in the softness and warmth of where her head was buried. Even the beating heart soothed her physical torment.

Wait a minute, Beating heart?

Xiao opened her eyes to find that she was on top of the demonic cultivator from earlier. Her heart skipped a beat. Being off-guard and up close, she could freely admire her foe. Even as she was covered in sword grazes, it did nothing to diminish her ice-cold beauty.

Luqing's bestial instincts told her she was being surveyed, her eyes went wide open and the two of them share a glance.

A glance that made Xiao gulp, she was fucked. She had no strength left in her and her master seemed unresponsive. All she could do now was plaster an amicable smile hoping that it would be enough to placate the gorgeous woman.

A glance that made Luqing knit her head in confusion and anger.

The overbearing aura that the masked woman exuded as they fought her from before was no more. The only thing she exuded right now, is an awkward smile that was pissing Luqing off.

Suddenly, Luqing reversed their position in the blink of an eye. With her now on top of Xiao, the spirit beast brandished her claw and pointed it straight to Xiao's neck.

"Did you kill Weixin?"

Luqing's intense gaze told Xiao that she was going to end up dead if she didn't choose her answer carefully.

"Your comrade from before? I don't know where he is! When I woke up I was already on top of you!" The anxious Xiao explained while in her panic mode. If her master was listening, now would be a good time to fill her in on the blanks, or better yet, extend a helping hand.

The hell? Did Weixin just abandon her? No, that man prioritized the order above all, he would not simply leave behind a comrade alongside their enemy.

As Luqing was trying to unsolve the mystery behind Weixin's disappearance, agony assaulted her core as she felt a foreign qi wreak havoc in her gut. She was forced to remove herself on top of Xiao as she clutched her stomach. As Luqing writhed on the floor, she vomited blood. The pain wasn't just physical, but internal as her meridians in her gut felt like it was being frozen.

Luqing knew what happened. It was something that Luqing could easily purge from her system without her limiter, but with it on, she was restricted to only 'Peerless Daeva'.

When a cultivator would face off against those several leagues below them, their qi would sometimes imprint on the opponents. What the hell was the masked woman's real cultivation base for her turn out like this?

"You…gwah!..." Luqing vomited blood once more. "...if you have a detox pill, spare me one and I promise I won't kill you!"

Debating whether she could trust the word of a demonic cultivator, Xiao was internally struggling on whether she would help Luqing who looked like she was in unimaginable pain. Then again, she did try to kill them, so it would only be fair if Xiao left the woman to suffer.

Abandoning her pride, Luqing's face softened, she would rather beg than be subjected to the icy torture a second longer.

"Please…I'm begging you."

Xiao's heartstrings tugged, she internally cursed. Fucking damn it, was she really going to help the demonic cultivator just because she doesn't want to see a beauty like her suffer?

With a sigh, Xiao produced a detox pill along with a healing pill for the woman's wounds. Free from her wounds and the agony, Luqing stood stretched. She turned to the masked woman.

The coldness in Luqing's stare was enough to chill even Xiao, forcing her to take a step back.

"W-wait. You gave your word!" Xiao stammered.

But instead of claws or fangs, it was Luqing's nose that came too close for comfort, sniffing Xiao.

"You have that fox's scent on you."

Luqing nonchalantly declared, making Xiao red as a tomato under her mask. She gave Yanmei her word that they wouldn't hide what they are, but she still preferred it if every spirit beasts they encountered couldn't discern with a single glance…or smell, that she and Yanmei liked to go at it like rabbits.

Composing herself, Xiao rebutted, "How I smell is none of your business."

"Damn right." Luqing turned around, ready to leave. Panthers are equally as territorial as foxes. It was a good thing that she didn't need to stick around near the masked woman or her instinct to erase the foxes' scent and cover it with her own would kick in.

Like a beating heart, ice qi pulsed from Xiao's mask. After making her recovery, the sultry voice of Zhen resounded from Xiao's mask, echoing for the other two to hear.

"I wouldn't leave just yet, unless you want Shangying to punish you. If she is as I remember, she can be quite strict with those under her command."

With the name of their leader uttered, Luqing's expression went grim as she hounded Zhen, "How did you know the name of our leader, speak!"

"Settle down, allow me to explain…" And explain Zhen did, about how Shangying worked under her many centuries ago. About how if she was the same Shangying, then she and Zhen should still have the same goal. About Weixin's departure. Zhen gave Luqing the necessary details, except for one that she altered.

"You can't be serious!? This woman doesn't need a bodyguard, she has you!" Luqing argued.

"I am hiding my identity for the same reason as Shangying. I won't always be able to make an appearance."

"You and I are one. With all due respect, I am calling you out on your bullshit, master. " Even Xiao was against it, the woman was a demonic cultivator for crying out loud. Was it her master playing matchmaker again, like she did Yanmei?

Zhen's voice suddenly appeared inside her head, her tone livid as her precious student couldn't discern that she was doing this for her benefit.

<<I am doing this for you, you imbecile! You need to lay with a demonic cultivator to unlock the secrets of your dual cultivation!>>

"I am not fucking this vile woman!" In her outburst of anger, Xiao broadcasted her innate thoughts out loud.

Vain isn't something that Luqing would define herself as, why would she care if the masked woman didn't want to fuck her when she didn't want anything to do with her as well? That's right, she should just let the matter go and return back to the Shadow Order's headquarters.

"You think you're a prize just because you have that fox's musk on you? I can easily grind that Huli jing into paste, just so you know."

Xiao chuckled at the spirit beast's naivete before she replied.

"And what should I care if you can? You think just because you're stronger than my lover I would automatically prefer you?"

Naturally. Why can't she grasp a concept so simple? Does she need Luqing to explain it out loud for her? Very well.

"You should because I can protect you better than that fox. If I were to go after your life, you think your little 'lover' can stop me?" With a haughty grin, Luqing awaited for Xiao's reply.

Sensing Xiao's agitated heartbeat, Zhen stepped in to mediate, her sultry voice once echoed out loud.

"Both of you, that's enough. The sun is about to rise soon, Xiao, you need to rest your body. And you. You are free to leave if you want to receive Shangying's wrath, if not then follow us."

Thus, the three of them returned to the Transient Blades sect.