My Arch-Nemesis Cried and Begged Me Not to Die 40

Chapter 40: You’d better make the most of it now.

Yan Jingyu returned to the Suixing Hall, walking at a leisurely pace. He saw at a glance the spiritual light lingering around Liao Chen.

He’s still cultivating at this realm. He’ll cultivate himself to death.

Yan Jingyu pouted, but did not disturb him. He lightly got onto the bed, raised his hand to look at the jade ring on his index finger, and with a slight flip of his palm, a Heavenly Soul containing endless thunder light appeared in his palm.

…Liao Chen had not taken away the things on his body.

It was really not in his character. Yan Jingyu had originally thought that everything on his body would be looted by him after he died…

He thought for a moment, took out a pearl that flowed with moonlight from the jade ring, and slowly sent it out of the bed curtains.

He had no divine sense and could not see the movements outside. Relying only on his intuition, he slowly approached Liao Chen, until the other spoke: “Too far.”

Yan Jingyu had no choice but to poke his head out of the bed curtains. The pearl had indeed almost flown to the lotus pond. He pulled the pearl back, stopped it in front of Liao Chen, and said, “It’s settled. This is your reward.”

Liao Chen accepted it without any courtesy. His gaze fell on the Heavenly Soul in his hand. Yan Jingyu immediately hid it with his sleeve. “It was you who saved me. Wait until I’m dead before you take it.”

“…” Liao Chen said, “I’ll add a restriction for you, lest you be discovered when you run around. Wealth brings trouble.”

Yan Jingyu shook his index finger. “Doesn’t this have a restriction?”

“It does. Adding another one will add another layer of insurance.” Liao Chen didn’t say any more and directly placed a restriction on the ring. His gaze once again passed through his spiritual platform and looked into his soul-lamp.

In the wick of the lamp, two seal script marks were layered. One of them, because it was struck very deep, was faint and indistinct.

“Thank you.” Yan Jingyu said, “You’re really nice.”

He was just about to shrink back when he heard Liao Chen say again, “Want to cry?”

“…?” Yan Jingyu poked his head out again. “What?”

“You’re not going to hug the Heavenly Soul and cry in your quilt, are you?” Liao Chen said, “Thinking of your father’s face and smile, or thinking of the days when your mother sat at the head of the bed and told you bedtime stories? Thinking that now no one treats you as a treasure and pampers you, are you going to cry?”

“…” Yan Jingyu’s eyes almost popped out. “Did Chi Yuan ever think of calling you Liao Chouzui (Liao Stinky Mouth)?”

Liao Chen curled his lips. “Did I guess right?”

“Seriously.” Yan Jingyu said, “Since the name Liao Qimei was given to you by Chi Yuan, why do you still use it?”

Liao Chen’s breathing deepened slightly. “Do you think your name is very nice?”

“I’m not the same as you. My name was personally given to me by the Grand Ancestor of Hutian, a Golden Immortal who descended to the mortal world! My admiration for him is endless. Do you also admire Chi Yuan very much?”

“Hmph.” For some reason, Liao Chen’s eyes were full of ridicule. Yan Jingyu looked at his mouth and found that he couldn’t hear anything again. Liao Chen said halfway, as if he had also realized something, and waved his hand to fan him back into the bed curtains. “If you want to cry, then cry.”

Of course, Yan Jingyu couldn’t cry.

He hugged the Heavenly Soul and puffed out his cheeks. “It’s not like you often think of your mother, so you think everyone else is thinking of their father!”

Liao Chen did not answer him again.

Yan Jingyu was angry for a while, then soon fell asleep, pillowing his head on the Heavenly Soul. When he woke up, he stared at the empty jade bed for a long time before he belatedly realized that Liao Chen was actually not there.

Doesn’t he usually grow on the jade bed?

He’s actually not cultivating today?

On the other side, Liao Chen was looking at the prescription in his hand with an expressionless face in the Lingxi Hall. The old immortal physician stroked his beard and said with a straight face, “This is the Extreme Cold Ice Heart Lotus, which grows under the ten-thousand-zhang profound ice in the extreme north. The profound ice contains ancient cold power, and there are also a large number of ice-element demonic beasts guarding it. The internal space of the ice cave is intricate. A slight carelessness will lead to a dead end, and one will be trapped inside forever.”

“Can this really save him?”

“We can only try.” The immortal physicians racked their brains. “There is an ice crystal in the heart of this lotus flower that beats like a heart. Taking its ice crystal may be able to re-condense his lamp wick. But this kind of divine object is extremely difficult to obtain. No one has ever seen its true appearance. We can only speculate that it has this effect based on what is said in the medical books.”

Liao Chen nodded. “What about this one?”

“Hmm, the Chaos Purple Flame Fruit, which grows in the spatial cracks of the chaotic netherworld, which is where Jiuyi Mountain sank back then. But the chaotic netherworld space is extremely large, and there are also many cracks. It’s not clear which crack the Purple Flame Fruit grows in. It’s surrounded by chaotic qi. In this kind of place, a slight carelessness is a nine-deaths-and-one-life situation…”

They chattered on about the harsh environment in which these spiritual medicines grew. Liao Chen listened patiently. “And its effect?”

“The Purple Flame Fruit, when refined with the Nine-Leaf Exquisite Ginseng below it, can replace blessings as fuel for reigniting the soul-fire. But the effect is not as good as blessings. It may be able to extend his life for a few more years, or even just a few months.” These people said, “The Nine-Leaf Exquisite Ginseng is not that easy to obtain either. It is in the core area of an ancient ruin. If you want to go in, you may inadvertently get involved in the afterimages of the war of the gods back then. At best, you will be seriously injured and on the brink of death. At worst… your soul will be scattered.”

In order to prevent Liao Chen from fleeing at the last minute after arriving at the place and coming back to kill everyone, they unanimously decided to say the ugly words first. Anyway, it has come to this. We have told you the effect and the difficulty. If you still want to go, and things don’t work out, it’s not our fault…

“What about the rest of these?” Liao Chen spoke again. The crowd looked over and said, “They are all auxiliary medicinal materials that can allow the Immortal Lord to maintain his five senses before his soul-fire is extinguished. If the Demon Lord thinks it’s necessary, then you can take them all.”

Liao Chen did not say any more and walked straight out.

On the other side, Yan Jingyu finished his breakfast at the table. As he slowly walked out the door, he heard Liao Chen’s voice: “I’m going out for a while. You stay at home and be good. Take the blood beast with you when you go out.”

Yan Jingyu said subconsciously, “Where are you going?!”

Liao Chen did not respond. Yan Jingyu couldn’t help but run out. “Where are you going?!”

It was quiet on the other side for a while before he said, “To find medicine.”

“What medicine?”

Yan Jingyu had confirmed the direction and ran all the way to the Lingxi Hall. Liao Chen stood at the door of the hall, gazing at his running figure in his divine sense, his voice calm. “Medicine that can save you.”

Before Yan Jingyu could turn from the corner of the back wall of the hall, he had already burned through space and disappeared without a trace.

Yan Jingyu ran all the way to the place where he had disappeared, his hands on his hips, panting, but only saw the afterimage of the burned-through space slowly recovering. He stood in front of the empty hall door, and after a long while, he looked up at the nameplate of the Lingxi Hall, and walked up the heavy steps. Before he could step on the steps, he was blocked by an invisible barrier.

He patted it. Yu Qiuye’s figure walked out from inside, his expression curious. “Immortal Lord, what is it?”

“What medicine did Liao Chen go to find?”

Yan Jingyu could be considered well-read and knowledgeable. He thought it over and over in his mind, but couldn’t think of any medicine that could solve his current predicament. Although Liao Chen had said not to meddle in his business, he was still a little worried.

He always felt that the way these people got along with Liao Chen was exceptionally strange. He didn’t know if they would use some sinister tricks against him… Although he believed that Liao Chen couldn’t possibly risk his life for him…

Anyway, I just want to know!

“This matter is between the Demon Lord and the various immortal physicians. Immortal Lord, please don’t ask.”

“Yu Qiuye, are you looking to die?” Yan Jingyu casually summoned the blood beast. Thinking of the matter of the beast essence fragrance in Jiuyi Mountain, he was filled with anger. “Do you believe I’ll rush in and tear you apart first?!”

“Immortal Lord, why are you so angry?” Yu Qiuye said, puzzled. “Could it be that you’re worried that the Demon Lord will risk his life to find medicine for you?”

“I… of course I’m worried that he’ll exploit others!”

“Oh.” Yu Qiuye nodded. “But the Demon Lord also said that if he let you in, you would definitely collude with those immortal physicians. Maybe by the time he comes back, all the people in this hall will have run away, so he absolutely cannot let you come into contact with them.”

“…” Yan Jingyu was annoyed. “Alright, but he’s gone now, and this Demon Palace is so boring. Yu Qiuye, shall we go to your courtyard for a drink?”

Yu Qiuye was wary. “You want to drink with me again?”

He hadn’t forgotten that the other had suddenly said something while they were drinking that day. Later, this fiend had gone to complain to the little boy Liao, and the other had almost killed him directly.

Yan Jingyu nodded. “I didn’t go to your place to drink that day because of Ruan Qixi. Besides, now that everything is settled, I have no grudge against you. What’s wrong with having a drink? Could it be… that you have something to hide from Liao Qi Mei?”

“Nonsense!” Yu Qiuye said quickly, “I said long ago that my loyalty to Liao Qi… to the Demon Lord Liao is beyond question! Don’t you dare blow pillow wind on me!”

Pillow wind… Yan Jingyu’s eyelid twitched. He secretly made another note against him in his heart, but said with a smile, “I know. You didn’t say that because that matter had nothing to do with Liao Chen to begin with. He can actually understand it. After all, I have a grudge against him.”

Yu Qiuye stroked his chin. “If I drink with you, what’s in it for me?”

“The benefits… you can secretly draw me. I won’t tell Liao Chen.”

Yu Qiuye brought his forehead close to the barrier and observed his expression with half-closed eyes. Yan Jingyu’s smile was exceptionally harmless. Yu Qiuye thought for a while. “Then when he destroys my paintings, will you help me?”

“I said I wouldn’t tell him, so he won’t know.” Yan Jingyu said, “Isn’t your greatest dream to imitate Nüwa? Now you don’t have to study the shadow-recording pearl anymore. I’ll just sit there. Isn’t that clearer than a shadow-recording pearl?”

Yu Qiuye rubbed his hands, still a little hesitant. “Why are you suddenly so kind?”

“…” Yan Jingyu rolled his eyes. “Come or not.”

He led the blood beast away. The next second, Yu Qiuye had already quickly caught up, chuckling. “Don’t go. Actually, I think you’re not the same as before. After a hundred years, hmm… you have more charm. How about this, later, you go to my place and take off your clothes. I’ll make a rubbing of you from head to toe. You don’t have to watch me paint, for fear that you’ll—ah, ah, ah…”

Yan Jingyu suddenly grabbed his ear, his expression ferocious. “Take off your clothes, Yu Qiuye! Last time in Jiuyi Mountain, did you let Liao Chen take off my clothes, hmm?!”

Yu Qiuye finally realized his true motive and immediately shook his head, wanting to run. The blood beast suddenly opened its mouth and bit his waist. Yu Qiuye was held horizontally in its mouth like a chopstick, struggling to push its teeth. “Yan Jingyu, I knew you were up to no good!!”

Yan Jingyu slapped him on the head. “Speak!!”

“It’s just taking off your clothes!” Yu Qiuye struggled and said loudly, “You’re a big man. Why are you afraid of the Demon Lord taking off your clothes?! With your relationship, could he still lose control over you? Yan Jingyu, are you too confident in yourself!!!”

There was a moment of silence in the air. Yu Qiuye finished scolding and belatedly realized something.

He thought about Liao Chen’s strange behavior recently, then looked at Yan Jingyu’s fluctuating face, and suddenly opened his mouth. This time, before he could make a sound, Yan Jingyu directly slapped him and shut his mouth.

When Yan Jingyu left with the blood beast, Yu Qiuye sat on the ground, covering his face, and moved his face…

The truth was right in front of him.

He touched the other half of his face that had been slapped by Liao Chen, utterly certain.

Even hitting someone has to be so symmetrical. What else could it be?!

In the following time, Yan Jingyu began to drink a large amount of herbal medicine and eat a large amount of pills. Although he knew some pharmacology, he was not a professional in the path of medicine after all. He couldn’t tell what the effects of many of the pills sent to him were. But the immortal physicians told him to eat them, three meals a day. In addition, even his diet was changed. What purple ginseng and lotus root soup, jade dew and peach crisp, chicken stewed with spiritual mushrooms…

After half a month, Yan Jingyu had really changed a lot.

His hair became shiny and smooth, and the continuously growing silver strands also turned black. According to Yan Jingyu’s own thoughts, he should be losing his five senses by now, but to his surprise, he still looked no different from a normal person.

When Liao Chen came back, Yan Jingyu was squatting on the ground, teaching the blood beast to walk. He was trying to train its front limbs, to make it start to use its strength, and at the same time, he had also given it a name.

“Xiao Guai, that’s right, that’s right. Just like that. Use some strength. Aiya, don’t be discouraged. Believe me, you can do it! Two more steps. That’s right, that’s right, stand up. You’re so amazing, Xiao Guai…”

Liao Chen handed the herbs to the Lingxi Pavilion and suddenly paused.

A tender voice came from the academy: “Recently, the demon-run is teaching baby Xiao Guai to walk, so that the Demon Lord won’t see a disabled baby when he comes back.”

“The demon-run is such a good mother.”

In the depths of the Demonic Domain, the various clans were also muttering: “Have you heard? Yan Jingyu slept with our Demon Lord!”

“Really?”

“Of course it’s true. Yan Jingyu said it himself! You know the blood beast, right? Such a ferocious evil spirit, yet it only listens to the two of them. If you say there’s nothing going on between them, do you believe it?”

“I told you! How can arch-nemesis be like this! To be so considerate of him, is that a real arch-nemesis?! Which arch-nemesis would run around looking for medicine when the other is about to die?”

“Shh, don’t spread this around. Just talk about it in private. If Yan Jingyu’s reputation is ruined, Liao Qi Mei will definitely tear us apart.”

“But don’t you think… since Yan Jingyu said it himself, it must not be believable?”

Mo Ting and Li Xiao were also muttering: “What’s the situation? Where did Yu Qiuye get this news? It’s too explosive.”

Li Xiao said, “But don’t you think that if things are really like this, then everything the Demon Lord has done for him can be explained?”

…

Liao Chen sent the Ice Heart Lotus and other things he had taken to the Lingxi Hall and transmitted his voice: “Prepare to repair his soul-lamp as soon as possible.”

Then, he turned and came to Yan Jingyu’s side, looking at his dark and shiny long hair, which fell smoothly over his shoulders. The hair was so smooth that it even cascaded and fell with his every move, without any trace of stickiness.

Liao Chen’s eyes softened slightly. He said coldly, “What did you say to Yu Qiuye?”

Yan Jingyu was startled and turned his face to look at him, caught off guard. He then stood up abruptly, his eyes and the corners of his mouth curving up. “Liao Chen, you’re back.”

Liao Chen put his hands behind his back slightly. “It seems that this Lord’s efforts during this time have not been in vain. This face of yours… have you gotten fat?”

“…” Yan Jingyu gave him a white eye. “Did you arrange for them to prepare all the food I eat?”

“I was the one who arranged your food in the first place.” Liao Chen raised an eyebrow. “Those old things said there was no hope. Isn’t this quite good?”

He once again probed Yan Jingyu’s soul-lamp. Even though the flame there was still not clear, he didn’t care at all. As his eyes shifted, they were full of confidence in the jinx in front of him. “I knew it. You, Yan Jingyu, are not so easy to die.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Yan Jingyu pointed to the blood beast on the ground. “I gave it a name, Xiao Guai. Does it sound good?”

The blood beast lifted its face, its crocodile-like eyes shimmering.

Liao Chen nodded. “Is it the ‘guai’ from ‘choubaguai’ (ugly freak)?”

“…” The blood beast lowered its head. Yan Jingyu said quickly, “What nonsense are you talking about! It’s the ‘guai’ from ‘tiansheng guaili’ (born with monstrous strength)!”

He went over and coaxed the other for a long time, but the blood beast only shrank more and more. Yan Jingyu had no choice but to put it in his ring. When he walked back into the hall, he bumped into Liao Chen with a huff. As he brushed past him, Liao Chen took the opportunity to dodge to the side, his expression still calm. But Yan Jingyu suddenly stopped his steps.

He turned his face to look at Liao Chen. The latter said faintly, “What?”

“…” Yan Jingyu stepped forward. Liao Chen took a slight step back, his brow furrowed. “What are you doing?”

Yan Jingyu reached out his hand. Liao Chen dodged again. Not until the other grabbed his arm and pinched it hard did Liao Chen look at him, his face not even changing.

“Remove the illusion.”

Liao Chen calmly withdrew his arm. “What illusion…”

“You’re injured.” Yan Jingyu said, “What medicine did you go to find?”

“Naturally, it’s medicine to repair the soul-lamp.”

“What medicine can repair the soul-lamp?”

Liao Chen looked at his soft, bright face. If he had no confidence before he set out, but now, after seeing Yan Jingyu, he already knew that his persistence was right. “The Extreme Cold Ice Heart Lotus can restore your lamp wick to its original state.”

Yan Jingyu’s brow twitched. “And?”

Liao Chen turned away indifferently. As he walked slowly, he said leisurely, “The Chaos Purple Flame Fruit, and also, the Nine-Leaf Exquisite Ginseng. When these two are refined, they can be used as fuel for reigniting the soul-lamp.”

Are you crazy—

Yan Jingyu forcefully swallowed these words.

Not to mention the Extreme Cold Ice Heart Lotus, Liao Chen had the Nanming Li Fire in his body, which was enough to counter the power of cold ice. But the places where the Purple Flame Fruit and the Exquisite Ginseng grew were extremely dangerous. A slight carelessness would lead to getting lost in the chaotic netherworld, and the Exquisite Ginseng was even more dangerous.

Even if he was already a Demon God, he could still have his soul scattered in the afterimages of the war of the gods.

Yan Jingyu grabbed his wrist. Liao Chen frowned. Yan Jingyu glanced at him again. That glance made him strangely quiet. Yan Jingyu grabbed him and went straight back to the Suixing Hall, pressing him down on the jade bed. “Stop pretending.”

“Was it the power of chaos that injured you, or the afterimages of the battlefield?” Yan Jingyu said, “Was it the Nether Desolate Beast, or an ancient divine artifact?”

Liao Chen sat cross-legged on the jade bed, his expression indifferent. Before he could speak, Yan Jingyu suddenly slapped him on the head.

He glared at him fiercely. Yan Jingyu spoke again, his voice extremely cold. “I said, stop pretending.”

Liao Chen averted his gaze, his fingers clenching. After a long while, he slowly removed the illusion.

His long, high-tied hair fell down, messy on his shoulders. His clean face became dirty, and one after another, wounds appeared on his fair face. The left side of his forehead was corroded by the power of chaos, and at this moment, it was slowly oozing gray, mist-like burn marks.

The clothes on his chest were torn by some sharp claws, and there were also burn marks from divine power on his chest and abdomen. The wound on his waist was especially gruesome. He had clearly treated it hastily, but how could ordinary spiritual medicine possibly heal the wounds brought from that kind of place?

The wound on his waist was about half a foot deep. At this moment, a piece of flesh was stuck together, wrinkled, making half of his waist sink in a completely irregular curve, as if a piece of flesh had been forcefully torn off.

From stern and beautiful to covered in wounds, it was just a few moments.

He was clearly not used to being stared at like this. His gaze was always on the side, and he said coldly, “It’s just a small injury. Not fatal.”

Yan Jingyu did not speak, but directly dived into the Qiankun Pouch and quickly took out a few spiritual herbs and spiritual pills. He crushed them into juice with a pestle and mortar, and then added the spiritual pills. He was silent, but Liao Chen gradually became a little uncomfortable. “Yan Jingyu, are you going to cry from being moved?”

Yan Jingyu didn’t say anything. He came over and held the crushed medicine in his hand. “The corrosion of the Nether Desolate Beast and the power of chaos can be treated with light-attribute herbs, such as Spirit-Cleansing Grass and Gentle-Wind Spirit Leaf, plus some Soul-Reviving Pills, which can speed up the healing process.”

“The wounds left from a place like an ancient divine ruin can be treated with Taigu Star Grass, Hongmeng Creation Pills… My mother’s Hongmeng Art can also clear away the burning sensation left by these two. I’ve always said I would write it down for you, but I forgot.”

He gently covered the wound on the other’s abdomen with the hand holding the herb juice. Liao Chen frowned slightly and looked at his gentle eyebrows and eyes. “There’s no hurry to teach me.”

“You should also learn the Flowing Clouds and Flying Catkins. The third stage also has a healing effect.” Yan Jingyu’s tone was very light. He used his spiritual energy to help the wound absorb the medicine bit by bit. “You should also refine the Past Mirror and the Myriad Phenomena Pearl you got from the Zuoqiu family. The reason the Myriad Phenomena Pearl has almost retained its original shape should be because their ability is not enough. But you have the Nanming Li Fire. It shouldn’t be difficult to refine it.”

“In the future, when you go out again, you can use the Heavenly Mandate Eyes to see the weaknesses of those things first… I don’t know if you will have any side effects from using the Heavenly Mandate Eyes, but even if it’s just foreseeing three moments, it can still turn the tide for you and prevent you from losing your life.”

“As for my father’s Heavenly Soul…”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing.” Yan Jingyu lowered his head. Because he was applying medicine for him, his head was almost pressed against his chest. “I’m just telling you some survival methods, as a thank you for avenging me and also helping me find medicine.”

“If you want to repay me, you should quickly pick up the Du Fang Sword and continue to try to draw in spiritual energy.”

“…Yes, yes, yes.” Yan Jingyu was annoyed. “I will. When my soul-lamp is repaired, I will continue to draw in spiritual energy. Is that okay?”

Liao Chen’s lips curved. “When we fight again, you won’t be reluctant to kill me because of these things, will you?”

“Do you want me to kill you that much?”

Liao Chen was clearly much more optimistic because of his radiant appearance. He said lazily, “Even if you let me, I won’t let…”

His voice came to an abrupt halt, because Yan Jingyu had deliberately pressed on the wound. Their four eyes met. His face was pale from the pain, but he didn’t even hiss. Instead, he curled his lips and, as if with a fierce determination, forcefully pressed Yan Jingyu’s head.

He gritted his teeth. “You’d better make the most of it now.”