Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]

Chapter 197: Swaying Jasmine — XXI

"Your Highness," Liu Mingyun put away the handkerchief at the sudden formal address, "do you realise what you have brought to Us?"

What a strange question. But the complete solemnness on the Heavenly Demon’s face told him the matter was of importance.

"Whatever is it, Heavenly Demon?"

"Your fortune appears to be quite incredible, Your Highness."

Liu Mingyun could not understand what Cheon WuHui meant, and he was not sure if he should ask. After all, his luck had always been incredible from the day it was born. For a moment, he contemplated if he was being ridiculed.

But the Heavenly Demon’s body was honest, sincere, even. How bizarre.

Not to mention, for him to give such a ’strong reaction’, Liu Mingyun could not help but wonder if he had allowed a particularly destructive technique to fall into wrong hands. From a single and quick read, he had not found the technique to be either feasible, or beneficial for the user.

Curiosity and suspicion slithered around his heart, squeezing as he awaited the Heavenly Demon’s reply. Was it something that could lead to mass destruction?

Cheon WuHui let out a long sigh, shoulders tense as he rolled the scroll close. "This technique is considered Xiajin Yao’s ultimate technique." He placed the scroll on the table and rolled his neck. "However, you may have gauged it already. It is a rather pernicious technique."

"It does seem so," Liu Mingyun leaned forward slightly, eyebrows furrowed together, wariness brewing in his chest. "Karmic Flames? A grand name, for the purpose it serves."

"It is a fairly useful technique in a desperate situation with no way of escape," Cheon WuHui glanced down at the scroll, as if it was something undecipherable, "though it harms the user and the subject of attack according to their deeds, these flames are extremely difficult to put out. They are quelled only when it has burnt its target to ashes, regardless of whether it is a living being or not."

How terrible. Liu Mingyun frowned, worry gnawing at the back of his mind like an incessant worm. This technique was not only in the wrong hands, but also created by wrong hands.

"They must not have used it as often?" He probed, privately hoping he was correct in that assumption.

Cheon WuHui gave him a look but did not respond with words.

That was all Liu Mingyun needed to know about the Xiajin Yao clan he did not already.

Heavens.

"Their arbitrary use of this technique is the reason XiajinYao is such a danger, commander," Cheon WuHui stood up, exhaustion seeping into his bones as he ran a hand through his hair, feeling suddenly older by a decade. "The flames are hard to put out, harder to be targeted by, and worst of all, indiscriminate by nature."

The Crown Prince’s frown deepened, lips pulled in a grimace as he shook his head, a shiver running down his spine. "Indiscriminate? Which human has not sinned at least once in their life? What metric do these flames apply to make such judgements?"

Cheon WuHui hummed thoughtfully, hand on his chin as he considered for a few silent seconds, then shook his head.

"We, too, are at loss." He looked back down at the scroll, a troubled look flashing in his carmine eyes. "This technique may as well be of divine origins for all that We know."

As his words fell, a tense silence filled the tent, a subtle ache throbbed in the Heavenly Demon’s shoulder at the thought of Karmic flames.

"Anyhow,the daybreak approaches, commander." clearing his throat, Cheon WuHui sat down again, glancing out of the window. "Our camp stays here for two days more, it will be prudent for you to be rested. You may leave."

...

"Xin’er?" Liu Mingyun called out in a low voice, probing to see if the doctor had woken up yet. No response. Li Xinyuan must still be asleep, he turned to leave, unwilling to disrupt his betrothed’s rest.

From the bed, under the blanket, came a low groan. The bedsheet rustled as the doctor pulled the thin duvet off his face and rose groggily. "Your Highness?"

The Crown Prince grew still, a bolt of heat shooting up his ears at the sound of Li Xinyuan’s raspy, barely awake, voice. Missing a beat, he padded towards him, humming.

"You have returned?" Immediately the last traces of sleep vanished from the raven-haired youth’s face, eyes snapping open as he become more awake. "Are you hurt?"

Liu Mingyun stamped down a smile on the verge of spilling on his lips as he shook his head and took a seat on his bedside, gingerly reaching his hand to smooth down the few strands of Li Xinyuan’s hair that were raised up.

"Hardly can men as weak as them injure me, Xin’er." Slowly, his eyes roved down the doctor’s torso, eyeing the bandages wrapped tightly with chagrin. "Are you well, do your wounds hurt?"

Li Xinyuan followed his gaze and shrugged dismissively. "They do not, My Liege." The Crown Prince’s lips tugged down. He clearly did not believe the raven-haired youth. "However, I have known better days."

The mirthful tone of the doctor’s face served to deepen the silver-haired youth’s face, crimson eyes flashing with worry.

"You ought to rest more," said he, voice deep but subdued, "go back to sleep."

The doctor waved him off, but before the Crown Prince could protest the flippant attitude towards the wounds, the former winced, having tugged the wound painfully. Liu Mingyun’s hands shot forth, clasping on his naked shoulders as he supported his body.

"Listen to This Prince," Liu Mingyun’s eyes narrowed, face stern, "He advises for your own good. You were stabbed. The wound was, still msut be, severe. I do not wish you to be in more pain than necessary."

Li Xinyuan canted his head to the side, a smile spreading on his face. And suddenly, The Crown Prince was reminded of his Lord Father’s cat who roamed the palace unbidden an caused mischief.

"And how much is necessary, My Liege?" Slowly, coyly, the doctor batted his lashes at the Crown Prince.