The Poison

Ying Yue was disoriented since the time she saved the prince. She even forgot about her wounds when they were falling down the cliff. The intense need to protect was all she felt while they were free falling, and nothing else seemed to register in her brain.

Using her spiritual essence, she cushioned their landing but since she forgot the arrow was still in her shoulder, the impact embedded it deeper, passing through her front. Lucky enough, the prince's head was on her chest so he escaped the protruding arrow by a hair's length.

Hissing because of the pain, Ying Yue snapped the ends of the arrow to avoid further accidents. She knew she had to treat herself but to her, the priority shifted over to the unconscious prince in her arms.

Dragging the prince to a little space in the side of the rocky cliff, she cleaned and treated all the prince's wounds, exercising all the restraints she had for thousands of years. This blood is truly delectable that she cannot help but be lightheaded. Her eyes long turned golden with thirst.

When the prince woke up that night during his fever, she lost control of herself and spoke things that she hid beneath those protective shells she had. Yes, if fate wouldn't allow her to stay with him, she will watch over this person until she left this world.

Staring at the sleeping prince, a memory flashed briefly in her mind. It was something about what her father had said.

'In the forest, Ying Yue was being carried by her father as they make their way to their hut. Ying Mo Chuo was in a hurry, his wife would chew his skin and bones if they were late for supper.

"Xiao Yue, Father will have to run hold tight!" The vampire Ying Mo Chuo used his fastest speed to get home, praying to all the gods along the way.

"Is father afraid of mother?" The little Ying Yue was giddy, this father of hers was like a scaredy-cat.

"Yes, I am" He admitted proudly. Once they reached the hut and confirming that he was safe, he put Ying Yue down to the chair in their little garden. "Xiao Yue, one day, when you find a person that you are willing to throw your life for, or a prey that you can never let go of, that person would be someone the world had pre-ordained for you."

"Good you both are back, food is almost ready, Ah'Mo you go and help Xiao Yue wash up." A gentle voice sounded from the hut.

Smiling warmly Ying Mo Chuo agreed then continued to properly do as ordered. Once settled on the chair once more he continued saying, "Since we were born from the darkness, solitude and coldness were things that prevailed. But you should know, those things aren't bad at all. Once you found that person, you would realize that all the emotions you could have had, were all reserved for that someone all along."

His voice carried certainty as well as patience, letting Ying Yue look forward to that encounter. If her fated person would be like her father, wouldn't it be perfect? '

As the memory ended, Ying Yue fell down panting. She felt the coldness and endless pain. Like thousand of ants was gnawing on her bones. The pain was unbearable.

Looking at the sleeping prince, she bit her lips hard to avoid making a sound. The last thing she wanted to do was to wake the other person up. Crawling to the outer side of the space from the precipice, she felt a gentle nudge from her side.

The tiger that transformed to its original size was whimpering sounds of worries while Bao'er hovered above her checking her body's status.

"Yueyue, how could you let yourself be hurt to this extent?" Bao'er felt like its world crumbled when it saw the bloody Ying Yue, even worse she was poisoned with something that this world doesn't have an antidote for.

"I'm fine Bao'er." She spat through gritted teeth. The pain was killing her but she need not worry these two more than she already has.

"Fine? Is that what you call fine? Although I staunched the bleeding what do we do with that disgusting poison? Yueyue that poison cannot be treated!" Bao'er was frustrated at this point. How can she just throw her life away like that? Granting that she will still survive even when the body died in this world, wouldn't she suffer unspeakable torments while she lived here?

"Quick! Let's exit this world. You don't need to suffer here. Let's find other worlds to harvest good karma instead!"

"No!" Ying Yue cried as she got agitated, she vomited a mouthful of blood. "Bao'er I want to stay here a bit more. Call it selfishness or foolishness, I want to stay here a bit more."

"But Yueyue--"

Ying Yue cut the blob off. "I know, I'm sorry if you would have to bear with me in the future, but Bao'er, accompany this foolish mistress of yours a bit more. We may not be able to treat it but we can still stop it from spreading until we find a way to completely cure it."

"But Yueyue, while you live inside that body you will suffer." Bao'er was still not convinced.

"I know, but Bao'er there is a person here that I wish to cherish and protect. This little bit of suffering is nothing if I could see him safely achieve everything with my own eyes."

It was the first time that Bao'er saw its mistress being resolute in doing something that would potentially endanger herself without second thoughts. It also wanted its mistress to be happy despite everything so it had no choice but to compromise.

"Alright Yueyue, Bao'er will accompany you to the end."

"Thank you Bao'er" Shifting her gaze to the worried tiger, "You too Shasha. I need to ask both of your help. Shasha please find me the black lotus herb and some of its seeds. It could suppress the poison for a month, Bao'er help me stabilize my body until Shasha came back."

After giving out orders, she could no longer bear it as she curled up, trembling all over, her teeth chattering as she bore with the pain and the cold.

Bao'er and Shasha did as she ordered and they were able to stabilize her condition at the break of dawn. Ying Yue slumped on the ground from all the fatigue and weakness.

After a while, she asked Bao'er to boost her strength for a bit so she could check on the prince. After giving him medicine and cleaning his wounds, she went back outside to rest.

Once she woke up, she saw Shasha dragging a huge leaf with fruits inside, after ordering it to give a portion to the prince, she also ate a little before going back to a deep slumber.

"Yue-- Yueyue!"

A sound of Bao'er's voice woke her up. As she was able to sleep, some strength came back to her and she can now sit up without help.

"What is it Bao'er?"

"People are coming this way, they look like the subordinates of the prince."

"Okay, can you help me go to him before we leave Bao'er?" She wanted to see his face and make sure he was okay before leaving.

"Alright."

Bao'er boosted her strength once more. She walked inside the little cave then crouched down touching the prince's face.

"I will be watching over you and help you achieve all that you want so rest easy and get well. I will always be watching you from afar." With that vow, she sealed it with a kiss.

The prince's lips, despite the dryness, was soft and warm. It felt like the warmth converted to electricity that freely traveled towards her heart.

With that, she left the cave and asked Bao'er to conceal them from a place a little further from there. As she watches the prince being carried off by his subordinates, she finally asked Bao'er and Shasha to head back towards the estate.