The humanity of a devil.
Wu Long stood up, his mind still excited, and yet calm. His body felt weak, and so he could only stumble forth, disregarding other things, while his strength was above average, this forest served no weakling either.
His strength had increased, but his body had yet to acclimate these gains. His Dao heart was trembling, and began to show signs of shattering.
The Heavens last attack, served to warm Wu Long, but it also addressed the power he held over the Heavens.
His Plundering Heaven Mantra, was far above what he initially expected, and although this realization bore with it an unfortunate situation, he would readily agree to another, well at least not at this very moment.
He was confident, but not foolish.
His journey forward was difficult, as the large roots forced him to exert his body, and with that came a splitting pain in his head. His muscles were fine, but the sheer feeling of excess stimuli pained his worn and torn brain.
Sweat rolled across his head, and as such he tore off his robe.
He cursed in his mind, "What the hell! How long was I in that state?! Where the hell is the carriage."
He continued, for a few dozen minutes, and turning upon the hour, he found the group. He couldn't afford any suspicious looks, and put on a new robe. His hand rolling to collect a mirror, and then bitterly acknowledging his plan would work without any accessories.
He stumbled forward, and chided jokingly, "Brothers, how cruel, to leave me and go on."
Feng Wei, the guard that had gone on the long tirade while drunk, quickly noticed Wu Long, and said, "Bro Wu? What happened to you, where did you go?"
He couldn't understand how Wu Long had gotten lost.
Wu Long snorted and said, "Ah, how nice. You must have some convenient memory problems! Just like when we went to drink last time, you conveniently forgot you owed me 20 taels of silver! You fellows nicely left me when I collapsed, ah I feel tears coming."
He began to act exaggeratedly, and his pale face, and bluish lips, only served to draw more and more pity.
Feng Wei said, "Bro Wu, come on that's not true. I swear on my mother that none of us saw you collapse, otherwise we would have helped you!"
Wu Long's lips twitched, 'This fellow still is trying to escape paying me back... I really can't.'
Wu Long put on an angry face, and walked past, not giving another glance at Feng Wei.
"Let me just go and tell Feng Jiaying what happened! I'm sure she address my grievances!"
Feng Wei sighed watching Wu Long, he plucked out a small glass bottle and said, "Ai, Bro, your truly the big boss. You can easily control me with the ease of a few fingers."
Naturally a nice set of butter coated his words, nicely smoothing everything.
Wu Long smiled, and took the glass bottle.
He opened the cap, and smelt the thick medicinal aroma. He smirked and said, "Bro Wei, your joking! How can I be the big boss, when you're too handsome."
They patiently exchanged banter, and Wu Long soon moved forward, and knocked on Feng Jiaying's door.
He entered soon after, crashing on his side.
Feng Jiaying eyed him curiously.
Wu Long explained, "I feel sick, that's why I'm so tired. No need to think too much."
He ate the medical pills, and then fell asleep.
After ten hours Wu Long slowly awoke, his head still aching, but luckily nothing too unbearable.
He sat up, and gazed out the window. They had passed the forest, and currently only a few wisps of light gathered around, as the moonlight fell, the slight tremble of the carriage and the nearly mute cacophony of the wild, it all seemed far too surreal.
Wu Long gathered himself, and gazed up, and to his surprise, stars littered the night sky. He had never seen so many constellation's dance, and so many stars breathe. The wind licked the flames that hung on the carriage, spilling forth tongues of orange flames, and the orange flowers of light only colored the world in more beauty.
Wu Long felt his heart beat, and the chill on his cheeks. His eyes felt the colorful world, and he was lost in it's countless spectacles.
In front of him Feng Jiaying, looked at his dazed face, and similarly looked out.
Her eyes softened, her red pupils dancing from sight to sight. The dazzling moon, and the clouds it slept on, the flowers that littered the nearby hill that sheets of moonlight fell on, and on the dancing of nearby animals as the sped from one place to another.
A smile crept onto her face, and as a realization filled her, it became even brighter. A slight tremble mocked any attempt to hide her feelings, and the thin warm tears that fell from her eyes paid no heed at all.
Wu Long looked at her, and bathed in the glow of silver and orange, the beauty in red, who's entire body spoke perfection, while it seemed the tears bespoke of her mortality. She at that moment was not the perfect being, but she was the most beautiful one. The tears spoke of her beating heart, and made one realize the nature of this gorgeous woman never existed on paper or fantasy, it made one realize that she had a life.
Wu Long felt compelled, and spoke, "May I approach you."
He neared her, sitting just to her side.
His hand slowly lifting, and picking her tears away.
Her red eyes scrambling from side to side, jerking in fright and terror.
No sign of the cold and arrogant woman, that could temper a thousand arrows, or command the great world to kneel existed, but instead the breath of a person. The weakness, the fear, the very danger of a touch to her. It all seemed to broker pain and confusion.
His eyes detailed her, and he could see the relief of escape.
He looked at her, and then laid his hand on her cheek.
He then retreated back.
He said, "You should sleep."
She nodded slowly, as her bearing approached her.
They both closed their eyes, but one pair appeared again.
...
The first peaks of morning arrived, and Feng Jiaying awoke.
Her mind was at first calm, but then unsettled as she remembered yesterday night.
She looked around the carriage to find it empty, and with a puzzled, and also unsettled heart she opened the door.
Looking around, she called a guard.
"Where is Wu Long."
The guard hesitated for a moment before explaining, "Mistress, actually yesterday night Bro Wu said he had something else to do, and left. We tried to stop him, but he wouldn't allow any to change his mind. Should we go and fetch him?"
Feng Jiaying looked conflicted for a moment, before shaking her head and retreating into the carriage.
...
Wu Long was flying on lighting, his head shook as sighs continuously escaped his lips.
He felt himself cringe, and falter, but the deed was done. The cursed love rune had been removed, and he had left. He couldn't understand himself, but he continued on.
While he felt conflicted facing Feng Jiaying, he continued on his original path. He was flying at a quick pace toward Baiwei city. He closed his eyes as he inspected the innumerable plottings he needed to fulfill in the city, including robbing Ye Zheng of a couple opportunities and of his romances.
This time he wouldn't allow any seed of compassion to forgo his plans.