Fifteen

Zhao Ling stared at the woman below him, as he waited for her response to what he had said. He could not believe that he had said such a thing but he pitied the woman after seeing how much of an unmanly person her husband was. His pity for her made him want to help her in any way possible because he needed her with a clear head when she began to help him find Zhao Feng's descendants.

He could still feel her excitement for him which had bothered him because he never thought anyone would find him attractive as he was dead and nothing but a ghost— one that she could touch and feel.

"Can you do that?" She asked, her voice low and curious.

Zhao Ling smirked. "I can if you want. All you need to do is approve and I will make sure to keep you satisfied anytime you want."

Although he wanted to help her, he was still certain that he had no attachment to the woman or any type of interest in any romantic or physical activities. The only thing he cared for was shedding the blood of those he came back for.

"No."

"Hm?" He was confused by her reply.

"Get off," she said and tried to push him away.

Zhao Ling watched her weak attempt until she dropped her hands and passed out. He sighed and willed his form to disappear and appear on the window frame in a sitting position with his hand resting on his propped knee. He stared at the woman for a while before looking out the window. He took in the lit courtyard, admiring how serene the environment looked with small trees casting a dark shade on the smooth ground.

The more he looked around, a heavy feeling filled the atmosphere. The feeling held a sense of darkness as it became heavier by the second. He shut his eyes and focused on the energy of the room. In his mind's eyes, the whole room was full of dark smoke and the only bright form was Li Yuxi laying on the bed. He craned his head and furrowed his eyebrows when a tug was felt from the window. He snapped his head toward the window and under one of the trees stood a red smokey figure. He opened his eyes and stared at the same tree but saw nothing.

"A demon," he said and got away from the window.

Zhao Ling closed his eyes and pressed his palms together for two seconds before lacing his last three fingers together, leaving on his index fingers and thumbs. He inhaled slowly and snapped his eyes open, a strong wave of anger and determination flowing through him.

"Cursed protection," he said in a deep voice and a powerful blast expanded around him, reaching the ends of the house, which formed a dome. A second after, red glowing gargoyles began to fly within the dome, screeching in the air.

Zhao Ling dropped his hands and smirked when the presence was no longer felt. He turned around to check on Li Yuxi and found her still fast asleep.

"The things you make me do." He kissed the top of his teeth. "I waste my energy on you when you haven't even done anything to help me."

The only response he got from the woman was a grunt as she rolled on her side.

‡‡‡

Zhao Ling stopped mediating the moment Li Yuxi was done and ready to leave for work. He opened his eyes and followed her out of the room while keeping his eyes out for her husband. Once they got downstairs, he saw the man at the entrance of the house, searching through his bag. He noticed that Li Yuxi paused upon sighting him. The man also went still for a second before turning around. A look of disgust masked his face as he stared at Li Yuxi, which humored Zhao Ling who stood behind her.

"The queen has awoken," he said and made his way toward her, making the woman take a step back.

Zhao Ling placed his hand on her shoulder and exchanged a glance with her after appearing for her to see.

"What? Are you scared? Where did your raised shoulders go?" He asked in fury. "You thought I would forget what you did? No, my dear wife. I will make sure you pay for what you did last night. Watch your back, sweetie, because I will do everything possible to teach you a lesson."

Zhao Ling clenched his free hand at the threat. His fingers tingled to use his powers on him, to murder him on the spot but the last thing he wanted to do was traumatize Li Yuxi. He was bloodthirsty and wanted to test his ability to shed blood before meeting those who brought him into this generation. He would make an example out of the man before him.

"I'm sorr—"

Zhao Ling forced her mouth shut, stopping her from apologizing. He smirked when she side-eyed him. Not on his watch would he let her succumb to the man.

"Watch your back, Li Yuxi," he said and left the house.

Zhao Ling dropped his hand from her shoulder and forcibly turned the woman to face him. He grabbed her arm and pulled her closer.

"Listen to me very carefully, mortal. The next time I find out you want to open that little mouth of yours to apologize to such a person, I will punish you. Do you understand?" Zhao Ling threatened and watched her eyes widen.

"Hmm… ngh…hmm." She struggled to speak through his spell on her speech.

With a blink of his eyes, he released her mouth and she exhaled.

"It's not as easy as you think, you stupid ghost," she retorted. "What you did last night will have its repercussions. You do not know Lee Qiang. That man is dangerous and can potentially harm me."

Zhao Ling wanted to feel attacked about how she doubted his promises to her. The man, Lee Qiang, in his book was no match to him. Li Yuxi was the only one holding him back from putting an end to him as he served as a major distraction in his plan for revenge.

"Go to work. I will make sure that sorry excuse of a man dies if he tries something."

Before she could respond, Zhao Ling willed his form to vanish and appear in a public garden he had heard the mortals refer to as a park. He sat on the ground close to the fountain in the middle of the park and laced his hands before resting them on his thigh.

He took in a deep breath and exhaled through his mouth before closing his eyes. He put his attention on a glowing plant he could feel in the center of his form in his mind's eye. A minute after, the plant started to glow brighter before it died down, making him open his eyes and grit his teeth.

"For hundreds of years, I still can't fully cultivate the flower. If I cannot do it on time, how can the faces of Zhao Feng's descendants be revealed to me?" He spoke to himself in an angry tone. "And that nameless girl refused to tell me what to do."

"Because it isn't time yet."

Zhao Ling glared at the girl sitting on the brim of the fountain. She waved at him and got off the fountain then sat in front of him.

"Just how many mysteries exist?" He asked. "Last time you came to me. You stopped me from killing that girl all because you are protecting her? Tell me why you are protecting her. Because at this point, she is useless to me. She refuses to even tell me to my face that she is ready to find Zhao Feng's descendants. All she does is keep me cooped up in her home where her abusive husband lives."

The nameless girl only smiled and it infuriated Zhao Ling.

"Zhao Ling, this is just the beginning of your journey. You do not expect to find all the answers that you seek in just a few mortal days."

"Are you forgetting that mortals have a time limit to live? I do not want my enemies to die by natural causes before I meet them. Show me who they are and stop all these games." Zhao Ling demanded in a stiff tone.

The girl rolled her eyes and rose to her feet. She dusted the imaginary specks of dust off her clothes and stared down at Zhao Ling.

"I came here to deliver a message to you. There was a mistake made on the day the mortal found the vase," she said and Zhao Ling leaned toward her in interest.

"What do you mean?"

She sighed. "Zhao Ling… During my meditation, it was revealed to me that she isn't the one who was supposed to bring you back. The one who is supposed to set you free has not been born."