"I have no intention of running," Hong'er said stubbornly, moving to Jia's side.
Just then, Shen Lu appeared in front of Hong'er and Jia. Their gazes met, and Shen Lu recognized her immediately. "It's you."
Conversely, Hong'er did not recognize Shen Lu. "You are..." she leaned in to sniff the aura around Shen Lu, realizing... not immortal, not human... "You're a monster," she blurted out, taking a step back, positioning herself behind Jia. xxs1
Jia glanced back at Hong'er, who was thoroughly frightened by the dark clouds overhead and Shen Lu, then lowered his gaze with a smile before looking up at Shen Lu, who had stopped in front of them. "How is Mu Xiaosheng?" He habitually called Mu Anxiao by that name when Hong'er was present, so she wouldn't overthink it.
"I don't know, but don't worry," Shen Lu said, glancing at Hong'er's face. He continued, "She'll be fine."
"That's good. It's strange," Jia said, looking in the direction Mu Anxiao had left not long ago. "If she's fine, why hasn't she come back yet?" He placed a hand on his hip and stared at Shen Lu's face again.
Shen Lu looked down at Jia's puzzled expression and smiled. "She went to the General's Mansion."
"The General..." Jia trailed off, then remembered the dark clouds and immediately tensed. "Look at the sky." He pointed upwards.
"I know, the monsters are here," Shen Lu replied calmly.
"So calm," Jia remarked casually about Shen Lu's demeanor.
Shen Lu sighed. "Not calm. What else can be done? I came to find you specifically to tell you to stay put."
"Don't you need my help?" Jia wanted to 'go into battle.'
Shen Lu looked at Jia's eagerness to assist, then at Hong'er hiding behind Jia, her face etched with fear. He said, "Those monsters are killing each other. They are abominable. If you go, she..." he pointed at Hong'er, "...will truly be gone forever. Then, what merit will you gain?" He understood Jia's heart.
"Even now, you're still thinking of me. Truly..."
"You're using me for merit? That's too much!" Hong'er, understanding Shen Lu's words, became indignant.
Jia's mouth twitched. He helplessly swallowed his 'praise' for Shen Lu and turned to look at Hong'er. Before he could speak, Shen Lu interjected, "I'll give you two choices on his behalf."
Hong'er shifted her gaze to Shen Lu's face. "You are not immortal, not human, not a monster. You... what exactly are you?" She had become fearful of Shen Lu.
Jia knew Shen Lu had a way of scaring Hong'er, so the moment Shen Lu spoke, he ceded all authority to him and fell silent.
"Does my identity matter so much to you?"
"Yes, very..."
"If that's the case, is my identity more important than your life?" Shen Lu asked softly.
As the saying goes, a person's emotions are like the weather. After lightning, thunder, and fierce storms, the sky will surely clear. But once shrouded in gloom, one never knows when it will brighten. Currently, in Hong'er's eyes, Shen Lu was like a gloomy sky, unfathomable.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked cautiously.
"What do you mean by suddenly asking that?" Shen Lu retorted, wondering what she was getting at.
Hong'er herself was confused by her own question. Looking at Shen Lu, she pondered for a moment and said, "Of course, my life is more important than your identity. But right now... I just feel you are all going too far."
"How is it too far? You are a sinful demon, after all." Shen Lu spoke entirely on Jia's behalf. "If you feel wronged, then leave."
"That's what you said," Hong'er replied, unwilling to be a 'tool' for Jia's merit. "Release me." She looked down at Jia.
Jia didn't understand Shen Lu's intentions, so as Hong'er looked at him, he tilted his head to look at Shen Lu, who seemed to be enjoying the drama. Just as he was about to question him, Shen Lu spoke first, "Jia, release her. Let her fend for herself."
"This..." Jia hesitated.
Shen Lu continued, "I've already told her about the monsters' habits, but she won't listen. So, release her. As the saying goes, a forced melon is not sweet. If you take back a monster who is unwilling to cooperate and feels you are going too far, you will only end up frustrated. It's better to let her suffer the consequences herself."
"Are those monsters truly brutal?" Jia asked, pretending to understand Shen Lu's words.
Shen Lu nodded.
"In that case," Jia said, taking a deep breath, and looking at Hong'er again, "I'll release you." With that, he stepped forward to untie the silver ropes.
At the same time, Hong'er, having understood Shen Lu's words, said, "Wait." She hurried.
Jia paused upon hearing this.
Then, Hong'er looked at Shen Lu, her voice trembling. "Once he releases me, those monsters will find me and tear me apart, won't they?" She imagined her own terrible fate.
Shen Lu nodded. "Yes."
Hong'er's expression froze. "Scattered to the winds?"
"Yes."
"And you'll feel pain unlike anything before. They'll scrape your flesh off piece by piece, pull your hair out strand by strand or in clumps, making you wish you were dead. The lucky ones... might leave behind some bones. The unfortunate ones..." Jia enjoyed Shen Lu's way of scaring Hong'er, so he joined in. "...might not even leave bones. Not only that, they won't even spare your soul. Imagine, your soul being slowly corroded by their stomach acid, eventually turning into feces, or... demonic energy."
Hong'er's face turned green.
Shen Lu chuckled secretly, then immediately became serious again. "Yes, this is the fate that awaits you after you escape."
"And you?" Hong'er couldn't help but trust Jia now.
Jia smiled. "With me, you won't feel anything. If you're obedient, you'll be dealt with lightly."
"The process of having your life extinguished... it doesn't hurt?" Hong'er asked.
"It doesn't hurt at all. You won't feel a thing," Jia said with conviction.
Shen Lu added, "If it weren't for the fact that you know Mu Xiao, we wouldn't have shown you any leniency."
"It's Mu Xiao's credit." Hong'er understood Shen Lu's meaning.
Shen Lu nodded.
Hong'er's eyes darkened. "In that case, I truly was wrong."
"Indeed, the consequence of killing an immortal is being thrown into the deep mountains and forests to be... snapped up by monsters," Shen Lu continued to scare Hong'er.
After hearing Shen Lu finish, Hong'er tightened the silver rope with her other hand. "I'll be good." She swallowed hard.
"That's right," Shen Lu said with a smile, looking at Jia. "Stay here and don't move. I'm leaving." He cast one last glance at Hong'er, then turned and flew away.
After Shen Lu had completely departed, Hong'er quietly said, "Ah, I think it would be safer if we hid under the eaves."