Deming, still heavy with the lingering warmth of sleep, stirred, a soft whisper brushing his ear. Guozhao Zhiqiang's warm, strong breath tickled his left ear, sending a pleasant shiver down his spine. He slowly opened his eyes, only to find Guozhao Zhiqiang leaning over him, lips dangerously close, a tender smile on his face. With a quick, instinctive move, Deming covered his mouth with his hand, a playful shyness.
"What are you doing?" Guozhao Zhiqiang teased, a smile playing on his lips, his eyes twinkling. "Refusing to let me kiss you?"
Deming's voice was muffled by his hand, a soft, embarrassed sound. "I haven't washed my face or brushed my teeth," he mumbled, a blush creeping up his neck.
Guozhao Zhiqiang chuckled at Deming's innocent, almost childlike gesture. "Go wash your face, silly. I have the water ready for you."
Deming looked towards the table in the bedroom, spotting a wooden basin and a clean towel. He lifted the blanket, and to his surprise, he was already dressed in his clean robes. "I remember being naked last night," he said, a puzzled frown on his face as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Did you dress me?"
"Well..." Guozhao Zhiqiang's smile widened, a hint of tenderness in his eyes. "It's cold at night. I didn't want you to get sick. You were sleeping so peacefully."
"I don't remember anything after..." Deming mused, still a little bewildered, a faint blush returning to his cheeks.
"You were very tired," Guozhao Zhiqiang replied, his voice soft, his hand gently stroking Deming's hair.
Deming slipped on his boots and went to the table, splashing cool water onto his face, awakening his senses. He dried himself with the soft towel, then looked up to see Guozhao Zhiqiang walking out onto the porch. Deming followed him, stepping out into the crisp morning air. "What are you doing outside, Zhiqiang?" he asked, then gasped softly as he looked down at Cloud City. A thick, ethereal fog had enveloped the entire city, making it appear as if it floated among the clouds, a breathtaking, mystical sight.
Guozhao Zhiqiang's smile was profound, his gaze sweeping over the misty landscape, a deep contentment in his eyes. "City in the clouds," he murmured, his voice filled with reverence, then turned to Deming, opening his arms wide. "That will always welcome you with open arms, Deming. This is your home now."
Deming's heart swelled with a bittersweet mix of happiness and sorrow, a profound sense of culmination. It might have taken him thirteen agonizing years, a lifetime of pain and searching, but he was finally here, truly home. He returned Guozhao Zhiqiang's smile, then ran into his waiting embrace, wrapping his arms tightly around Guozhao Zhiqiang's waist, burying his face against his chest. "I'm finally here, Zhiqiang," he whispered, the words a profound culmination of a long, arduous journey, a dream realized.
Guozhao Zhiqiang kissed Deming's head, his voice filled with an overwhelming tenderness, a silent promise. "Welcome home, my love," he said, sealing the moment, making it real.
Just as the two were lost in their embrace, savoring the quiet beauty of Cloud City shrouded in mist, a serene moment of peace, Tian Xiang's urgent voice cut through the serene morning, shattering their tranquility. Guozhao Zhiqiang and Deming stepped out of the bedroom, watching Tian Xiang run frantically towards their house, his face contorted with alarm.
"Senior Brother!" Tian Xiang shouted, his voice strained with alarm, panting heavily. "There's a big problem! A huge problem!"
"What's the matter, Tian Xiang?" Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, his expression instantly serious, his body tensing.
Tian Xiang explained, panting, his words tumbling out in a rush, "Yi Guozhi and Hu Jianguo claim they know who Gen is! The two Sectors are now besieging the medicine shop! They're demanding we hand over Gen, or they'll attack anyone who tries to protect him! They're threatening violence!"
On the bustling street below, a volatile crowd had gathered, their faces etched with a mix of fear and curiosity as they stared at the confrontation unfolding outside the medicine shop.
Yi Guozhi's voice boomed, cutting through the murmurs, filled with a cruel authority. "The Fire Demon is inside this medicine shop! Listen, Fire Demon! If you don't come out, I will burn this shop to the ground! I will turn it to ashes! On the count of three, if you don't emerge, I will go in and drag you out myself! You have been warned!"
"Yi Guozhi, how dare you?!" Yu Lei roared, stepping forward, his face contorted in fury. "You are in Cloud City! Do think you are above the law!"
"If he surrenders to us, we will not touch anyone else," Yi Guozhi declared, unwavering, his gaze cold. "This is about the demon, not the innocent."
"Brother Yi, you are in Cloud City, remember?" Fu Pengfei interjected, reminding him of the rules, the jurisdiction. "You cannot act with such impunity here!"
"This has nothing to do with Lotus Sector, Brother Fu," Sein Yi stated coldly, his eyes narrowed, dismissing Fu Pengfei's authority. "This is a matter of justice for our disciples."
"Two!" Yi Guozhi bellowed, turning to Yu He, his voice rising in intensity. "Ah He, be prepared! We move on three!"
Yu He and Sein Yi both nodded grimly at Yi Guozhi, their hands on their weapons, ready to strike.
At that moment, the medicine shop door opened slowly, and Gen and Wan, their faces pale but resolute, stepped out.
"Don't touch my boss's medicine shop," Gen said, his voice calm, resigned, accepting his fate. "I'll go with you. I will face your wrath." He turned to Wan, a sorrowful expression on his face, his eyes filled with regret. "I killed their disciples; it's only natural for them to seek revenge. I regret not listening to you, my love. You must protect Zemin and our boss from now on. They are your priority."
"Gen, wait for Senior Brother!" Tam Kun shouted, his hand instinctively reaching out, wanting to stop him.
Gen smiled sadly at the hunters, a profound gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you all, but this is between me and their two sectors. My fight." He began to walk slowly towards the gathered crowd, ready to face his fate, his limp more pronounced.
"Gen, you haven't fully recovered yet!" Yang Bao cried out, his voice filled with concern, rushing forward. "If you use force, I'm afraid you will lose your ability to walk on your legs permanently! You'll be crippled again!"
Gen offered Yang Bao a grateful smile, a profound appreciation for his kindness. "Doctor Yang, thank you for everything you have done for me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness. But I must do this."
"Why does it take Yongrui so long to find the Third Master?" Tam Liang grumbled, his frustration evident, knowing time was running out.
Fu Yongrui was indeed running through the streets like a madman, shouting at people to clear his path, his heart pounding with desperate urgency. He raced towards Fang Yaoting and Lee Dachin's home at his fastest possible speed, desperately trying to get people to move, to clear the way. Ahead, he saw six figures blocking his way, moving slowly, deliberately. He was running too fast; he knew he wouldn't be able to stop in time unless they moved.
"Get out of the way!" Fu Yongrui roared, but it was too late. He braced himself for impact, a collision inevitable.
He collided with a homeless man, taller than the others, who stood unmoving, a seemingly impervious wall. The impact was shattering; it sent him flying thirty feet away, crashing into a street booth and demolishing all the merchant's wares on the table, a cascade of broken pottery and scattered goods. He coughed, slowly pushing himself up, disoriented, his body aching. He couldn't believe he'd been thrown so far. From the immense force, the homeless man had to be gravely injured, perhaps even a vegetative person on the ground, or worse. But when he steadied himself, shaking his head against the dizziness, he saw the six people still standing, the homeless man completely unscathed, not even a hair out of place. He was the only one injured. How is this possible? he thought in stunned disbelief, his mind reeling.
He walked slowly towards the six figures, his body aching, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe. There was an old man with distinguished white hair, impeccably dressed, radiating an aura of power. The homeless man was indeed taller than the other five, his presence commanding. A shorter, handsome man was plainly dressed, a quiet strength about him. And then there were two incredibly beautiful ladies, with striking green eyes and sensuous red lips, their beauty almost ethereal.
Fu Yongrui winced, pushing back the pain in his shoulder. "Sorry, I'm in a hurry," he mumbled, his voice hoarse.
The homeless man merely smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes, a hint of amusement. "Kids nowadays have no respect for their seniors, do they?" He casually wiped a speck of dirt off his black shirt, then his gaze lingered on the woman standing between the two men, openly flirting with his eyes, a brazen charm.
The shorter man, observing Fu Yongrui's distress, asked, his voice calm, "Young man, why are you in such a hurry? What troubles you?"
"I'm going to find Master Fang," Fu Yongrui explained quickly, his voice urgent. "There's trouble at the medicine shop!"
"They're not home," the shorter man stated, a hint of ancient wisdom in his eyes. "They're at the festival."
The taller lady flashed a sexy smile, her voice sultry, a playful glint in her green eyes. "We were just there, dear." She looked at Fu Yongrui, a smug, appraising look in her eyes. "Wow, you're so handsome. Do you have a girlfriend? Or a boyfriend?" She exchanged a mischievous, sexy smile with the other lady, a shared amusement.
The homeless man put his hand on his hip, feigning exasperation, a theatrical sigh. "Sisters, you two just can't control yourselves around handsome men, can you? Always flirting."
"When I hit you, were you injured?" Fu Yongrui asked the homeless man, still utterly bewildered by the lack of impact, the impossible strength.
"Nah..." the homeless man replied dismissively, waving a hand. "Barely felt it."
A desperate idea sparked in Fu Yongrui's mind. If Master Fang wasn't home, perhaps this incredibly powerful homeless man could help! If his spiritual power was this strong, he could defend against the Hu and Yi Sectors until Guozhao Zhiqiang arrived. Without hesitation, he seized the tall man's hand, his grip firm. "Senior, help! Please! There's a group of thugs who want to hurt my brothers! They're attacking Gen at the medicine shop!"
As Fu Yongrui dragged the homeless man away from the other five, the man turned back and shouted, a booming voice, "Hey! Are you just going to stand there and watch, bastard?! Aren't you coming to help?!"
The shorter man shook his head, a frown creasing his brow. "Ridiculous," he muttered. The shorter man, the elder man, and the three women then turned and walked calmly towards the medicine shop, their steps unhurried, an air of quiet power surrounding them.
Outside the medicine shop, the Hu and Yi disciples swarmed Gen, launching a concerted, brutal attack. Yang Bao watched, his heart sinking, as Gen desperately tried not to use his injured leg, hobbling and favoring it as he defended himself, his movements slow and pained.
Yang Bao's frown deepened, his face etched with worry. "If this goes on," he muttered, "Gen will lose the ability to walk on his legs permanently. He'll be crippled for life."
Yu Lei's fists clenched, his jaw tight, his eyes blazing with fury. "I can't take it anymore! This is unfair!"
"Ah Lei, calm down!" Lee Nianzu urged, pulling him back, his voice firm. "Tian Xiang and Senior Brother will be here in a while! We just need to hold on!"
Leader Yi's voice cut through the clamor, filled with a cruel, triumphant glee. "The six sectors should join forces to kill this monster! He deserves no mercy!"
"We take our turn and fight fairly, Leader Yi," Leader Huang retorted, his voice firm, a man of honor. "He has not done anything to our sector, and we don't gang up on one person. A man should fight like a man, with honor!"
"I agree with Leader Huang's opinion," Leader Fu chimed in, his voice grave. "This is not how we conduct ourselves."
Leader Wong scowled, his face a mask of frustration and anger. "You two sectors always treat us as bad people! Always judging us!" He raised his right hand, motioning for his disciples to join the fray, adding to the overwhelming numbers against Gen, turning the fight into a brutal, unfair slaughter.
Seeing more disciples from various sectors join the brutal, unfair fight against Gen, Yu Lei's anger exploded. "Bastards!" he spat, then launched himself into the air, flying directly into the melee to defend Gen, a blur of righteous fury. The Tam brothers and the Zheng brothers, their loyalty unwavering, immediately followed, joining the desperate battle, their shouts of defiance ringing out.
Fifty well-trained hunters now surrounded Yu Lei, the Tam brothers, the Zheng brothers, and Gen, a formidable and terrifying circle, their weapons drawn, their faces grim.
"I'll give you a chance to get out of that circle unscathed!" Leader Yi bellowed, his voice filled with cruel confidence, his eyes gleaming. "Once I count to three, if you decide to stay, don't blame us for your death. Three!"
Yu Lei spat on the ground, defiance blazing in his eyes, his chin jutted out. "I'd rather fight side by side with Gen and die gloriously than abandon him!"
Gen, profoundly moved by Yu Lei's fierce loyalty, his heart aching, called out, "Young hunters, you don't have to do this! This is my fight!"
"Two!" Leader Yi roared, his face contorted in a sneer, his hand raised.
"I will not stand and watch these unreasonable people hurt you, Gen!" Tam Liang declared, his stance resolute, his voice firm.
"I know what it's like to be looked down upon, to be treated as an outcast," Zheng Yaozu added, his voice firm, "and I can't turn a blind eye to injustice!"
"We can only hold on until Senior Brother comes!" Zheng Tingfeng shouted, knowing their odds were slim, but hope still burned.
Leader Yi's face contorted into a mad grin; his eyes gleamed with bloodlust. "Three!" he panted, then screamed, "Attack them! Kill them all!"
Leader Fu stepped forward, his voice grave, a final warning. "Do you know what will happen if a Guozhao hunter is injured, Leader Yi? The consequences will be severe."
"He has given them a chance!" Leader Wong scoffed, dismissing the warning. "He follows the rules! They chose their fate!"
Leader Yi's cruel smile widened, his eyes fixed on the trapped hunters. "They chose to stay and perish with the Fire Demon. Their blood is on their own hands!"
The fifty hunters, swords raised, eyes cold with intent, surged forward, rushing towards the five defiant hunters and the isolated Fire Demon, a wave of deadly force.