Chapter 14: The Flower Demon Part 2

“Come up,” the woman’s voice said. “Let me see you.”

Xiang Xian didn’t move, his brow furrowed in doubt. The little demons wisely retreated, and the flower demon finally revealed her human form before a throne borne by vines. She unfurled an embroidered robe of vivid red, clustered with flowers in utmost splendor, her face ethereal like a celestial fairy.

The only difference: her eyes faintly shrouded in black qi.

“What’s your name? What’s your origin?” Xiang Xian showed no fear. Xiao Kun hadn’t arrived yet, but subduing this flower demon alone wouldn’t be hard. Still, after a moment’s thought, he decided to wait for the others.

The flower demon’s beauty was breathtaking—even Xiang Xian felt a stir.

“They call me ‘Lady Hua Rui,'” she answered gently. “And you?”

Xiang Xian studied her face without replying. Lady Hua Rui just smiled. “You’re special.”

“Why?” Xiang Xian raised a brow.

“Among all these men, you’re the only one unafraid of me,” Lady Hua Rui said softly. “They all arrive terrified, souls fleeing their bodies. Come, let me see you, my heart’s treasure.”

Xiang Xian didn’t approach, instead scanning the surroundings, wondering where the other captives were.

Lady Hua Rui waited patiently, then drew closer. Xiang Xian saw her lower body connected to the flower bud by vines, like a stamen.

She approached Xiang Xian. “I can fulfill any wish of yours. What are you waiting for?”

Xiang Xian stood still, eyeing Lady Hua Rui playfully. He smiled. “Any wish at all?”

Lady Hua Rui whispered, “Yes, anything. Just let me know if it’s you. It’s been a hundred and fifty years. Every full moon and new moon since we parted, I’ve placed a stone on the Mani Heaps, waiting for our reunion.”

Xiang Xian’s mind raced, but before he could think, Lady Hua Rui extended her pale hands, placing them gently on his chest. Vines extended to the ground, lowering her slightly so she looked up at him humbly.

As her hands touched his armor, whoosh—all his clothing vanished instantly.

“Hey!” Xiang Xian had been calm until then. Now his belongings scattered on the ground, startling him. “Don’t strip me the moment you get close!”

Lady Hua Rui exuded an intense fragrance and laughed. “Come! My lord, this is fate.”

She spun abruptly, entwining Xiang Xian. His left hand gathered strength as he thought, Xiao Kun! Are you coming or not?!

Xiao Kun finally roused Chaosheng and reached the platform along the mountain path. He beheld an utterly bizarre sight!

Chaosheng woke instantly.

Mani Heaps dotted the cliff platform. At the center, the beech tree’s giant flower bud bloomed into a throne. A flower demon clad in imperial splendor cradled a naked Xiang Xian in her lap.

Xiang Xian’s legs dangled as Lady Hua Rui held him, nearly kissing him. The naked male form contrasted sharply with her crimson embroidered robe.

Xiao Kun’s throat bobbed involuntarily.

“If you don’t come soon, this flower demon will eat me,” Xiang Xian said. He’d been holding his breath until now.

Chaosheng: “Oh my god—!”

Xiang Xian: “Didn’t we bathe together yesterday?! You’ve seen it before! Help!”

Xiao Kun snapped to, drew his Tang Dao, pointed at Lady Hua Rui, and barked, “Monster! Release… release him!”

Lady Hua Rui showed no fear. Realizing the situation, she smiled at Xiang Xian in her arms. “Your companions? I’ll deal with them first, then we can continue.”

With that, black fire erupted from her eyes. She pointed casually, and vines bound Xiang Xian tightly, pinning him to the cliff wall. Xiao Kun blocked Chaosheng and shouted, “Aren’t you going to act?!”

“My clothes are gone,” Xiang Xian said. “How am I supposed to fight?”

Xiang Xian lounged indifferently, clearly glad to slack off now that he was caught. He watched idly as Xiao Kun clashed with Lady Hua Rui. She unleashed a burst of pollen; Xiao Kun instantly felt dizzy.

Chaosheng seized the chance, rushing to Xiang Xian to tug at the binding vines. Xiang Xian dangled from the cliff and looked down. “No need to pry. I’m naked! Fighting bare under the sun would be indecent.”

“Chaosheng!” Xiao Kun shouted. “Stay back!”

Xiao Kun guarded against omnipresent vines while minding the scampering Chaosheng. Pollen blotted the sky; even speaking inhaled it, causing dizziness, flushed neck.

“Don’t breathe,” Xiang Xian told Chaosheng. “Leave it to Xiao Kun!”

Xiao Kun: “…”

Xiao Kun’s heart raced. The little demons feared Lady Hua Rui’s power and stayed hidden. Amid the thick pollen fog, she began chanting an eerie song, like moans, flushing faces red.

Xiao Kun whipped up a gale to dispel the pollen. But her song stopped, and the pollen exploded outward like a sandstorm, engulfing him.

A blue gleam pierced the pollen storm.

“Exorcist?” Lady Hua Rui finally sensed Xiao Kun’s cultivation base far surpassed those mountain-foot Taoists. A blue saber qi arced like a crescent moon. Xiao Kun slashed downward; she conjured a spiritual power shield. They collided with a boom, saber qi spreading, severing Xiang Xian’s vines and shattering surrounding Mani Heaps.

Demonic qi billowed from the Mani Heaps. Xiang Xian’s scattered Waist Badge Bell rang wildly. He knew he had to act. He rolled aside and shouted, “Xiao Kun!”

Xiao Kun wanted only to sneeze. He habitually deep-breathed before striking, inhaling massive pollen, his pale skin flushing unnaturally red.

“Give me something to wear!”

“Nothing!” Xiao Kun barked.

Black qi swirled; pollen abruptly receded. But Demonic Qi from destroyed Mani Heaps surged toward central Lady Hua Rui. Still naked, Xiang Xian grabbed the Demon-Suppressing Banner Shan Yu Hong had given him and wrapped it around his waist.

“Burn that tree!” Xiao Kun commanded.

Xiao Kun and Xiang Xian split up. With Lady Hua Rui’s furious roar, she lunged like a serpent’s head via her vines.

“Exorcist—” Lady Hua Rui shrieked. “Return my husband—”