Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 112: Buds of A Marigold — VII

Li Xinyuan wanted nothing more than to throw Hu Lijing over his shoulder, turn around and make a run for it.

Because that was what any normal person would do, should do, when someone they know, someone they care about was insistent on going back to the place where their life would be in the most danger.

But that’s under circumstances when they do not have to retrieve the body of their loved ones to give them a funeral they deserved.

In that respect, Li Xinyuan had no right whatsoever to intervene in Hu Lijing’s decision, so the best he could do was to follow him to that place to at the very least give himself some sort of mental peace.

Even if, admittedly, that place was sure to be extremely dangerous through and through.

The surgeon watched as Hu Lijing took a step forward, his expression pensive as he frowned slightly, perhaps in contemplation. Not that Li Xinyuan would know exactly.

However, as soon as he took a step forward to follow after him, the nine-tailed fox spirit raised an arm, pressing it against Li Xinyuan’s chest to deter him.

Seeing this, Li Xinyuan’s eyebrows drew together as he glanced at the fox spirit and opened his mouth to speak. But Hu Lijing beat him to it.

"Wait," he murmured softly and twisted around to look back at him as he raised his hand, palm facing up as his gaze flitted between the open hand and Li Xinyuan. "Something nearly slipped my mind."

"What did?" Li Xinyuan cocked an eyebrow in question as he as eyes alternated between looking at the nine-tailed fox’s hand and his face. "Are you asking something of me?"

"Is it not obvious?" Hu Lijing returned his question with one of his own, flexing his fingers, he urged the surgeon. "Hurry up and hand me your halberd."

Li Xinyuan’s both eyebrows raised in inquiry as he opened his mouth to ask questions before promptly closing it, having thought better of it.

The surgeon then raised his arm slightly and flicked his hand, and waited. A few seconds passed and nothing happened.

Hu Lijing looked at him suspiciously when even a few moments later nothing happened. "Where did you toss your—"

"Hush, it’s coming." Li Xinyuan interrupted him, his expression firm as he waited patiently.

Thankfully, his wait wasn’t as long.

In the darkness of the dead of the night, from the inside of the thicket that they had left behind in favour of sitting by the stream, a piercing light slashed through as it zoomed towards them.

The light from the moon fell on the crystalline halberd as it reflected from its sleek body, a sharp whistle cut through the air. The only warning of its approach.

Li Xinyuan’s gaze sharpened, giving Hu Lijing a smug smirk, he turned on his heels, whirling around as his robes swished with him, hair swaying with his movements as he braced himself, arm stretched out and hand poised to hold Sui Yue on its tracks.

A few seconds later, the halberd flew towards him, the surgeon twisted his body sideways as he firmly grasped the shaft with one hand, the force of he impact making him dig his heels in the ground as he flexed his fingers on the shaft, stopping Sui Yue from flying off, even though he knew it wouldn’t.

The moment he stopped Sui Yue, shockwaves rippled through the air, making Hu Lijing raise an eyebrow, his expression showing his surprise.

"Phew, I need to get used to the recoil." Li Xinyuan heaved a sigh of relief, spinning Sui Yue in his hand. "Almost had me flying."

Hu Lijing stared at the beautiful halberd and let out a hum. "Or you could just not toss it away, I suppose?" He said teasingly as he propped a hand on his hips. "But I must admit, this halberd is quite a weapon. By all means, I did not expect the Crown Prince to give you something of this calibre."

Li Xinyuan shot him an amused look from the corner of his eyes. "I want to look cool too." He smiled slightly. "Yes, neither did I. It was a surprise for me too, considering Sui Yue is a weapon that is on par with Can Ri."

That had Hu Lijing’s eyebrows riding higher. "What a surprise. He values you, I would like to think. Or else why would he gift you something of similar value and level of power as his own legendary sword, hm?"

The surgeon bowed his head as he looked down at the halberd in his hand and gently traced his fingers over the name engraved on the shaft. "Let us hope so." He chuckled while shaking his head. "Here. What did you want to do to Sui Yue?"

He held the halberd out for Hu Lijing to grab as he looked at the nine-tailed fox spirit’s face with an inquisitive look on his own.

"Nothing too extreme," the divine fox of flames shook his head, pursing his lips as he held the halberd. "If we are going to Spirit Realm together, I would like for you to have an extra layer of protection. Or else I would not feel assured." He inspected the weapon and let out a hum of approval. "Lighter than it looks." He commented and held it with both hands. "Step back."

"Aw, are you worried about me?" Li Xinyuan grinned teasingly while trying to hide the worry that gnawed at the valley of his heart. "Don’t worry, ah. I might be not the best at my clan’s martial arts, I can definitely hold on my ow— what the fuck?!"

The surgeon abruptly cut himself off as he all but jumped a few steps away from Hu Lijing the moment the nine-tailed fox closed his eyes, Sui Yue in his grasp as the halberd started glowing.

And not long after the weapon started glowing brightly, so much so that Li Xinyuan had to hide his face behind his arm to protect his eyes from the blinding glare.

What was Hu Lijing doing? He took a sharp breath, arm covering his face as he squinted whole watching from a small space creaked at the crook of his elbow.

Sooner than later, akin to those fantasy manhwas — Li Xinyuan had no better comparison to give to himself, honestly — the nine-tailed fox’s slender and tall form was surrounded by brilliant amber light as waves of Qi formed into swirling runes that were unintelligible to the surgeon.

Li Xinyuan felt his breath hitching as he watched, mesmerised by the sight of glowing runes swirling around the fox spirit, the light fell into his eyes, golden irises reflecting the breathtaking sight.

Locks of Hu Lijing’s amber hair fluttered in the air as he stood on the bright circle of amber runes whilst his lips moved, words flowing with the wind and to Li Xinyuan’s deaf ears as he kept his eyes closed, holding Sui Yue firmly as the floating ribbons of runes slithered through the air and into the halberd.

Ah.

Li Xinyuan blinked, realisation dawning upon him. So Hu Lijing was enchanting Sui Yue!