Accompanying the Phoenix Chapter 41 part2

The Demon emperor sat silently as in front of him Qing Yan and Chi Rong's the two generals that went to the Human realm to chase after Shen Li silhouettes appeared before him. They knelt with their heads to the floor.

The Demon emperor spoke. "Just now the Azure Sky king mentioned Fusheng's matter. Why was I not informed of this?"

Qing Yan and Chi Rong glanced at each other.

"Your Majesty, begging your forgiveness, this matter was not reported by anyone."

"Catching this immortal and hiding it from the outside world will not be an easy feat." His slender fingers tapped the table. "I want the two of you to investigate this matter personally."

A firm, cold light shone in his eyes. "When you catch him, don't bother bringing him back. Just execute him on the spot. Be sure to maintain secrecy. Understood?"

This shocked both men. Chi Rong raised his head. "But what about the heavens...?"

"I will find a justification for it." The Demon emperor waved his hand. "Dismissed."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Both replied and promptly disappeared.

The Demon emperor leaned back in his chair after they left. His eyes behind the mask were grim and cold.

Shen Li bumped into a few generals on her way out of the palace. They were heading in while she was heading out. Xing Zhi excused himself while she chatted with them.

Shen Li asked how the situation at the Burial Ruins were doing.

"The air is cleaner than at the capital so these rascals," he said referring to the young recruits, "really look forward to patrolling there.

Hearing this made Shen Li happy. It also reminded her of a certain somebody, so she asked, "Where is General Mo Fang?"

The last time she saw him, he had kicked Fu Rongjun. As a result, the Demon emperor had had to punish him for it. She hadn't seen him at all since she returned so she wondered if the punishment had been particularly harsh. She was worried.

At her question, the generals looked at each other and laughed. "We don't know what they talk about, but the goddess summons him to the garden every day."

Shen Li's face blanked out at that. The goddess called for Mo Fang? She bade the men goodbye and reversed course, heading for the garden instead of home. The goddess seeking out Mo Fang couldn't be a good thing.

"I admire General's heroic spirit. I heard my younger brother has been quite an inconvenience to you recently."

Shen Li hadn't entered the garden proper when she heard the goddess's voice through the thicket of bushes.

~"I will bear the burden of this crime with you," continued the goddess. ，

Following two steps behind her was Mo Fang. "Goddess is too polite." He cupped his fists in a salute. "There is no need for goddess to do so. I will be grateful if Goddess can persuade Fu Rongjun to return to heaven as soon as possible.

You Lan stopped to turn and glance back at Mo Fang. "Of course. My younger brother is normally attracted to the opposite gender, however occasionally he will pursue men as well. However there is no fire unless there is smoke. I hope General will remember to behave with decorum and not permit my brother to..."

"I applaud Goddess. Your younger brother is a lecher and like a mosquito that bites and nips at people. When he sees someone he likes, he nips at them relentlessly. There's no escape," said Shen Li as she stepped forward.

Mo Fang's eyes lit up when he saw Shen Li. He was about to salute but Shen Li pulled him behind her. She sneered at the goddess.

"Goddess came to persuade the wrong person. If you want to persuade anyone, it should be your brother."

The goddess glanced at Shen Li. ~"Azure Sky King has a way with words. But regarding this matter, there would be no fire without smoke…"

"I have seen Fu Rongjun become excited all on his own without anyone's help, creating his own smoke and fire." Text omitted

To Mo Fang Shen Li said, "Go on, don't let that mosquito bite you later on."

"Stop!" Youlan was aghast at Shen Li's attitude. Agitated she said, "Is this what Demon realm hospitality amounts to?"

"This is my hospitality: respectable people, treat respectfully, cute people, treat lovingly, hateful people, why would I want them to stay? Goddess shouldn't make presumptuous requests. I have a bad temper." Shen Li didn't bother to look at the goddess. She just grabbed Mo Fang's arm and dragged him with her as she did an about face and made to leave the garden.

"You!" She was the Heavenly emperor's granddaughter. No one treated her this way. On impulse, Youlan grabbed Shen Li's sleeve. "Who said you could walk away!?"

Shen Li turned to look at her. "Let go."

Now Youlan really was angry. "No! Not letting go!"

Shen Li narrowed her eyes and smiled. "Fine then." She twisted the delicate hand holding onto her sleeve with just enough force to hurt but not injure.

"Let go! Let go of me you!" screamed out an aggrieved Youlan. She felt angry and wronged, but then remembering the rumors about the Azure Sky king, she immediately paled and wondered if her hand was going to break. Her eyes filled with tears as she realized how barbaric the Demon realm was. "Let go of me right now! It hurts!"

Mo Fang thought the situation was inappropriate. "Your Highness, stop twisting…"

Shen Li looked at the unexpectedly tearstained goddess. The image reminded her when her own people had been bullied. Rou-ya, her maidservant at home, crying because Fu Rongjun bullied her. As she thought about letting the goddess go, a slight ache radiated from the back of her hand and she immediately released her grip.

A cool breeze blew by and Youlan took three steps back. Xing Zhi, clad in white, inspected Youlan's hand. His brow wrinkled in disapproval. He turned to Shen Li but saw she was holding onto Mo Fang's wrist. His brows stayed knitted. "How can you use your martial arts to take advantage of someone like that?"

Shen Li stared at Youlan for a moment.

The goddess gripped Xing Zhi's robe with one hand as she hid behind him with her tearstained face. She really was the picture of a damsel in distress.

Shen Li: Oh… the hero saves the beauty, how nice. Only why was she shoved into the bad guy role?

Chapter end