Page 70 of Immortal

Captain Rao’s gaze slid from Zhangwei to me, narrowed with suspicion. My insides clenched—but then he turned away reluctantly, the monsters gliding away from my home as silently as they had entered.

25

The cold was startling after the warmth of the bond with Zhangwei. As I swayed, Chengyin slid an arm across my shoulders, steadying me.

“Are you hurt?” he asked.

I shook my head. Yet part of me would never recover from the brutality of tonight, the young soldier’s death.

“We must go. The Wuxin will return in greater force.” Zhangwei’s tone was curt as he looked at Chengyin and me.

Chengyin angled himself to shield me from Zhangwei’s sight. “Do you want to go with him?” he whispered.

“No, but—”

Before I finished, Chengyin straightened. “The Lady of Tianxia needs to remain here until the physicians assure us of her health. Her well-being is of the utmost importance.”

Zhangwei’s eyes narrowed. “Yet you allowed her to fight at the front?”

“Chengyin knows that I can take care of myself,” I retorted.

“Oh, I know you can.” Zhangwei’s gaze flicked toward the cut on his arm, the one I’d inflicted.

Remorse flashed—morphing into a grimace at the sight of Minister Dao and Minister Guo striding toward me, eager to stake their presence now the danger had passed. Somehow, they’d found the time to dress in their official robes of state. Other courtiers and ministers followed them, including Aunt Shou, though she remained at the sidelines, unlike those who were pushing their way through the soldiers.

I turned from them deliberately, facing Captain Li and the soldiers. They had fought valiantly, risking their lives. More than anyone, they deserved an explanation.

“You must have many questions,” I said to them.

Captain Li clasped her hands and bowed. “Your Ladyship, Honored Immortal, if those creatures were the Wuxin, how did they escape? We’d believed them locked away.”

Whispers coursed through the crowd, quietening when Zhangwei raised his hand. “They are sealed in the Netherworld with our queen’s most powerful enchantment. We will examine the gateway to learn more, to stop the Wuxin from entering again.”

“Will Queen Caihong send reinforcements?” Captain Li asked.

I glanced at Zhangwei, unwilling to hide the situation—it would be more dangerous to rely on aid that never came. As he nodded, I cleared my throat. “The skies are sealed; no one can cross them. Until this is resolved, we can’t get word to the immortals, nor can they descend here.”

Gasps broke out, louder this time. Minister Guo stepped forward, bristling as though someone was to blame. “How could this happen? The immortals have abandoned us—” His voice trailed off abruptly as Zhangwei straightened to his full height.

“You have not been abandoned. Queen Caihong would send aid at once if she knew,” Zhangwei said sternly.

Minister Guo bowed swiftly, mumbling an apology as he slunk back into the crowd.

“No one is to blame,” I said slowly, trying to sound calm when inside, I was as frightened as all of them. “However, we cannot expect the immortals’ help for now. We must protect ourselves should these enemies return.”

“Why did they come?” Captain Li asked.

“I don’t know.” I couldn’t mention my suspicion about the Divine Pearl Lotus; too many were present for secrecy.

“The Wuxin have always coveted the Mortal Realm,” Zhangwei said, “It is the greatest source of their strength, where they feed best.”

“What do they feed on?” Minister Hu asked, raising his voice from behind.

“Misery.”

Silence fell, woven with dread.

“A poor diet,” Chengyin said weakly.