Wen Xiao had given Bai Jiu a few drops of her blood so he could test whatever he was preparing, along with Ying Lei, who enthusiastically helped him with everything he needed, from bringing him bowls, herbs, spoons, a mortar, and so on. They were so focused on their work that they didn't notice Pei Si Jing and her brother had come to join her after exchanging blows during their nighttime training. Not finding her with her father, they had headed to the archives and were now sitting next to her, with Pei Si Jing holding her hand in her lap.
"It's going to work. I have a good feeling about it." Pei Si Jing whispered to Wen Xiao, who nodded, happy to have her nearby in case the medicine failed despite Bai Jiu's hard efforts.
"Where are Xiao Zhuo and Xiao Zhou?" Wen Xiao asked, and Pei Si Jing shrugged.
"Don't worry, I'll get them for you." Pei Si Heng offered as he turned to leave the archives and head towards Zhuo Yi Chen's private chambers. He knew of the two demons recent 'union', which was why no one wanted to go near his room, just in case they were in the process of indulging in their mutual passion and spiritual bond. However, since an antidote could be created to save a valuable member of their team, it was a good reason to risk disturbing their... rest.
However, inside Zhuo Yi Chen's private room, there was nothing that could be considered hot or revealing in the rainy night as Yi Chen was in deep meditation, cultivating his energy while sitting on a cushion outside his room and Zhu Yan watched him tenderly as he drank from his peach tea, the new addition his beloved brewed just for him before he start meditating.
As Yi Chen cultivated, Zhu Yan could feel his energy being transferred to his core, the little baby dragon coiling around it getting stronger, mending it just little faster than before. Of course, he should be cultivating too, but Yi Chen had told him that since he was going to be in deep meditation, he needed to be on standby, in case something happened and one of them was needed. Also, he was worried that Yi Chen would overdo it and then no one would be there to help him back from his meditation, so he relaxed and admire his beauty as his body slightly glowed with the energy of two powers.
It was a good thing that his dragon was getting better at cultivation, but Yi Chen's power was growing too fast, which worried him, because he was starting to cultivate a kind of power that was new to him. Zhu Yan knew Bing Yi's energy like the back of his hand, because it was the energy that flowed through Yi Chen's veins, but Ying Long's power was a mystery, it was like the cosmos, a mixture of stars, moons, suns, planets and the essence of life, the power to create, protect and purify and Yi Chen was drifting into that ocean while handing a part of it to him, to anchor him. To heal him.
At times like this, how could he not fall in love with him again, when he went so far to make him whole again? To protect and save the people close to him and those he had never met. Yi Chen knew a great battle was coming and was preparing for it, and Zhu Yan only wished he could be of better help than just stealing his energy.
At that thought, the little baby dragon in his core fumed a little angry, as if rejecting the idea of stealing from Yi Chen, for the transferred energy was a gift, a proof of a true love that knows no bonds. Zhu Yan smiled and touched his heart, closing his eyes, feeling Yi Chen's energy filling his drained core. It was an invigorating feeling that went beyond cultivating one core, because Yi Chen was cultivating two at once, and his body was feeling the change he was making in it. His malicious energy, for example, was more contained and, to be honest, gave the feeling that it was trying to escape Yi Chen's intrusion.
Then, something outside their room caught Zhu Yuan's attention, and he went to open the door before Pei Si Heng could get close enough to knock. Seeing the great demon outside the room was a relief to Si Heng, as it would at least save him some embarrassment if they really were... dual cultivating or something among that line.
"What's wrong, Pei Si Heng? Did something happen to Wen Xiao?" Zhu Yan asked, and Si Heng shook his head to reassure the great demon, that his visit wasn't to deliver bad news.
"She's fine and will recover soon if things go according to plan. Bai Jiu, think there's a way to detoxify her poison, and he's preparing a strange antidote to test it on her blood. I came to find you two to let you know, as the others are already there." He told him, and Zhu Yan stared at the closed door for a moment, as if focused on something, before walking away and signaling Pei Si Heng to follow him.
"Aren't you going to tell Zhuo Yi Chen? He wanted to save her more than anyone." Si Heng asked, a little at a loss, not understanding why the great demon had left his his beloved dragon behind. After all, they were consummated mates now and it was just unexpected that they could part ways so soon.
"Xiao Zhuo is cultivating and in a such a deep state, I can't interrupt him suddenly. He needs to harness the energy he had gather before coming out of his meditation." Zhu Yan explained.
"How long will that take? I know very little about cultivation, as I was born a human too."
"For a natural demon it could last for centuries, but since is Yi Chen, it will be a few hours or a few days, it depends, but since we were on standby, I'm guessing he'll be done by late tonight or in the morning. I'll know when he's conscious, and if there's an emergency, I can use my soul bond to tug at him a little, to let him know we need him, and bring him back."
"That soul thing sounds impressive..."
"It is... let's hurry." Zhu Yan quickened his pace, and they soon entered the archives. There, he saw Wen Xiao, who smiled at him, but frowned when she didn't see Xiao Zhuo with him.
"He's in deep cultivation for now, but I'm sure we can take care of everything, and if we still need him. I'll call him back." Zhu Yan explained even though she didn't ask him anything.
"That's good, come sit with us." Wen Xiao patted a cushion to her left and he sat there, noticing that everyone in the room was staring at him, including Ying Lei and Bai Jiu, who stopped their frantic work to gaze at him with a strange look.
"What?" Zhu Yan asked, and Wen Xiao smiled mischievously at him.
"You're kind of glowing." She said.
"Dual cultivation?" Pei Si Heng asked as he disguised it with a cough and Ying Lei covered Bai Jiu's ears while Pei Si Jing hid a smile with her hand.
"In a way, it's dual cultivation, but not the dirty one everyone is thinking. You see, Yi Chen is cultivating two cores at once and transferring some of his energy to me, hence that glow that mesmerizes you all. He's mending my core right now." Wen Xiao's eyes widened in surprise.
"How is it that he can cultivate two cores at the same time? Isn't that very difficult, almost impossible?" Bai Jui asked, distracted for a moment.
"Normally, yes, but we have a soul bond, and he has complete grasp on my core, which is part of his claim, so he can transfer his energy to me as if my core were his own."
"He is so amazing, my Xiao Zhuo Ge... Now that he's a demon, he is much, much more awesome." Bai Jiu said with a dreamy expression on his young face.
"But isn't such a transfer dangerous even with a soul bond? I mean, cultivating two cores requires an enormous amount of energy that he simply can't muster on his own without suffering a backlash." Ying Lei said worriedly.
"It's dangerous... very dangerous, but he is too stubborn to do anything other than the impossible made possible, because he can also use two powers at once. To be honest, I have to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't overdo it."
"Don't overdo it? He's already doing it big time." Ying Lei pointed out the fact, which, of course, was absolutely right.
"Then you should go back..." Wen Xiao suggested, afraid that something bad might happen while he was alone.
"No, we're connected, and I'll know instantly if anything goes wrong or gets out of hand. I believe he had the guidance of Bing Yi and Ying Long to help him with this new kind of literally dual cultivation. I can sense a trace of their spirits with him, so don't worry for now. This is important too, and he want me here. He was willing to absorb your poison, Wen Xiao, so you know how much he cares for you." Zhu Yan said and tears threatened to fall from her eyes, but she held them back and simply squeezed the great demon's hand.
"I know... and I am very grateful for it, with you too. You are both equally special foolish demons." She joked and Zhu Yan chuckle.
"Glad you approve. Now, tell about this strange antidote Pei Si Heng told me about."Bai Jiu explained the concept of his Divine Wood Clan bloodline inheritance that can revive and revitalize, therefore, it is able to neutralize both poison and disease, as if he could absorb the vitality of anything draining it dry, he could also return it, thus preventing people from getting sick again for a short period of time as his divine blood was not fully awakened, but enough to prevent the spread of disease.
"But if your blood can heal, why were you dying from this same poison while Li Lun controlled you?" Pei Si Jing asked.
"Well, I'm not sure of why it didn't work at that time..." He said, a little embarrassed.
"It was Li Lun's core. He forcibly took control of his body and used his core to make it possible, nullifying Bai Jiu's innate ability to revive, as his body was in conflict with itself. Li Lun tainted it and corrupted his blood with a demonic energy that shouldn't be there. I don't think Li Lun was as compatible with Bai Jiu's body as he claimed, otherwise he might have used it to destroy this world, like Bai Yan fear it may happen if Li Lun fully merged with him." Zhu Yan explained.
"So, will it work now? I mean, Li Lun is gone, but perhaps the disaster he caused is still present?" Pei Si Heng asked.
"It will work, I'm sure of it. Li Lun is gone for good because I did that.. which is what gave me this idea in the first place." He pointed to the bamboo scroll that had grown small branches and leaves in one corner.
"I see... then your divine power is back. Try it in Wen Xiao's blood and see what happens." Zhu Yan suggested, and Bai Jiu nodded. He had already prepared a serum and extracted some of her blood earlier. So all that remained was to test it and see if it really worked or if something was still missing.
Bai Jiu swallowed hard as he took the bottle of the antidote serum, where he had mixed the herbs that would neutralize the toxicity of the herb used in Wen Zongyu's poison and his own blood to counteract the demon blood. With trembling hands, he opened the bottle and a single drop fall into the bowl where he had taken Wen Xiao's blood, holding his breath, anticipating what would happen.
At first, nothing seemed to happen, and Bai Jiu's heart sank at his failure. But when he thought that all his efforts had been in vain and that he had wasted Wen Xiao's blood in her weakened state as well as his own, then something happened. Everyone stared at the bowl of blood and serum and the reaction that was taking place inside it. Black smoke emanated from the small amount of blood, which had turned a darker red due to the poison, and dissipated into golden dust, like when demons die and the blood glows golden for a second, returning to its bright, healthy red.
"Did it work?" Ying Lei asked in amazement, and Zhu Yan smiled.
"Yes, and I think just one drop is enough to neutralize the poison. Well done, Bai Jiu! You did very well." Zhu Yan praised the young doctor, who, surprised, opened his mouth in shock, and Ying Lei gently closed it, placing a finger on his chin with a sigh.
"I helped too, you know?" Ying Lei pouted, and Bai Jiu snapped out of his sudden trance and patted him on the shoulder.
"You did, thank you. We worked well together." Bai Ju said, and Ying Lei's face lit up with uncontainable happiness. Then, the little mountain god hugged him tightly, lifting him off the ground and spun him around, while Bai Jiu happily begged for mercy while giggling.
After the excitement calmed down a bit, Wen Xiao drank just a little sip from the vial, and the same thing happened to her after a few seconds of waiting. The demonic energy was expelled from her body and the poison neutralized, leaving a golden glow on her skin for a moment, before it returned to normal.
Wen Xiao hugged Pei Si Jing with total happiness and, ignoring the stares of those present, kissed her with abandon, as she had long wanted to do. Pei Si Jing, for her part, didn't hold back either and gave in, forgetting everything else except her and the rich feeling of blissfulness.
"Let's give them some privacy... they have earn it." Zhu Yan whispered as he turned around to leave the archive and return to his beautiful lover, still cultivating for both their sake and when he was done, he would show him how grateful he was and make sure to put up a barrier around their room, soundproof and all. He smirked to himself, just with the thought of what was yet to come.
AN: Sorry not THAT kind of dual cultivation in this chapter. LOL. Sorry if the cure may seen quite simple to be believable, but then again, this is only fanfiction, for fun. Thanks for reading and until next time, take care.