Seeing Guo Baiyu suddenly fall from Ruilin's back, Ping'an yelled worriedly, "Baiyu!" Her magical sword and shield dissipated. She and Yuping ran towards Guo Baiyu, her swords following them like loyal companions. Zhao Renshu dismounted and ran to Guo Baiyu.
"Saviors," Ruilin murmured, turning back towards them.
Ping'an helped Guo Baiyu sit down. Zhao Renshu walked behind Guo Baiyu; he saw four arrowheads and two full arrows protruding from Guo Baiyu's back.
"Wait... I will pull it out," Zhao Renshu said, reaching forward.
"If you pull it out, I will bleed out," Guo Baiyu managed to gasp, his voice strained.
"Siyuan, clean it up," Shammek commanded, his gaze briefly falling on the frightened Yuping standing next to his mother. "Call the healer."
A young and beautiful black female Centaur with long, silky black hair and striking red eyes approached them. She knelt on the ground and immediately began to examine Guo Baiyu's back. Her voice was calm and steady. "These two medicines will help. One is a painkiller, and the other is to stop the bleeding. Once we return to the valley, I will pull those arrows out." She then walked to Yuping and sprinkled some white powder on his feet.
Four Centaur soldiers brought over a large wooden carriage for the injured. The lovers, the mother Centaur, and her son climbed into the carriage. Once they settled into the carriage, the young prince, exhausted, quickly fell asleep.
Zhao Renshu, ever curious, asked, "Why is she the only one with red eyes?"
Queen Ruilin explained, "She is special. Healers are rare among us. They possess the unique ability to heal. For every ten thousand born, there is only one healer. They are born pure and are meant to die pure. Should they lose their purity, their healing power will vanish, and their life will be shortened."
"How short do you mean?" Zhao Renshu pressed.
"Our normal lifespan is five hundred years. A healer who loses her purity can only live for ten years," Queen Ruilin replied, her voice solemn.
Zhao Renshu looked between Queen Ruilin and Guo Baiyu. "I'm still confused," he admitted.
Guo Baiyu clarified, "She is a virgin and is meant to die a virgin. If she loses her virginity, she will die within ten years."
"That's not special. That's a curse," Zhao Renshu frowned, shaking his head.
"You could say that," Queen Ruilin conceded, looking at Ping'an. "The most precious among us are often born with a curse. Just like our guardian, Syaoran."
The lovers recognized the name Syaoran.
Guo Baiyu, pretending ignorance, asked, "This Syaoran, he's of your kin?"
"According to our history," Queen Ruilin began, her voice soft, "Syaoran was created by Nüwa. Nüwa created Syaoran with the flesh and blood of Jiutian Xuannü. Syaoran is the guardian of the northern fortress. Syaoran's job is to protect the northern fortress with us. One will never understand the loneliness he felt as the only immortal man living among Centaur kind. Jiutian Xuannü prohibited Syaoran from interacting with his kind because she was worried that he would ignore his duties as guardian. Five hundred years ago, he fell in love, but he never neglected his duties. An immortal god, he must love all things and sacrifices himself for the greater good; Jiutian Xuannü punished him because of his greed." She paused, a shadow passing over her face. "Since then, every year, the gap in the northern fortress has been getting bigger and bigger, and more creatures have escaped through the Demon Gate. We fear that one day the northern fortress will collapse, and then demonic creatures and evil spirits will be freely released into our world. From then until now, we have been closely monitoring the northern fortress."
"Do you hate him?" Ping'an hesitated, asking.
"We don't hate him. We praise him for his courage to stand firm for his beliefs," Queen Ruilin shook her head, smiling softly. "Jiutian Xuannü visited ten years ago. She said that one day, Syaoran would return unexpectedly."
"So, this Syaoran, is he really powerful?" Zhao Renshu asked.
"The elders say he was," Queen Ruilin replied. "I haven't seen him, so I don't know. If he comes back, it means we will be safe." She sighed. "Our kin are the last defense between the demonic creatures and humanity."
"What if he doesn't want to come back?" Ping'an asked, looking at her lovers. "What if he finds happiness and chooses not to return? Will your kin still praise him?"
"No matter what his decision is, he taught us that we should stand for what we believe is right," Queen Ruilin said, reaching out and holding Ping'an's right hand. She smiled. "She doesn't have to return, but if she visits, she will always be welcome with open arms."
Yuping woke up, confused. "Um...Mother. You say 'him' and then you say 'her.' Are you okay?"
Queen Ruilin kissed her young son's forehead. "Yes, dear."
The army stopped in front of a vast lake, cradled by towering mountains and cascading waterfalls. The largest waterfall thundered directly before them, its transparent blue waters blending seamlessly with the white rocks below.
King Shammek stood before the lake and opened his right palm. A clear blue orb appeared on his palm, glowing softly. The orb floated into the lake, and the water immediately parted, forming an unobstructed path. Two immense water walls, about fifty feet high, rose on either side, and even the great waterfall separated. King Shammek watched as his soldiers crossed the lake.
The lovers were stunned by what they had just witnessed.
"I can't believe it," Zhao Renshu exclaimed, jumping out of the carriage excitedly. He reached out to touch the shimmering water wall, his hand passing through nothing but water.
"Until ordered to do so, the water wall will not collapse," Queen Ruilin explained.
"This is a very good defensive strategy," Guo Baiyu noted, still leaning on Ping'an's right shoulder. "You even have an outpost by the lake."
"This is for our protection," Queen Ruilin replied.
"It's a pity, Baiyu, you didn't get to touch the water wall," Zhao Renshu said, jumping back onto the carriage.
"I'm sure it's like dipping your hands in water," Guo Baiyu murmured, shaking his head.
"What?" Zhao Renshu asked.
"You are in your late twenties, and you still act like a seven-year-old child," Guo Baiyu chided softly. "You need to learn how to control your emotions."
"Keeping emotions inside will only eat me alive. It's not like you just met me," Zhao Renshu scoffed.
"Excitement is okay. It is dangerous when you are angry," Guo Baiyu cautioned.
"Then don't make me angry," Zhao Renshu scoffed.
Once the army had crossed the lake, King Shammek stretched out his hand, and the light blue orb emerged from the water, floating back into his palm. The immense water walls collapsed, and the lake returned to its normal state.
Once they passed the waterfall, they met an older female Centaur and a young female Centaur, the one they had helped to release two days ago.
The older female Centaur walked up to the carriage and introduced herself. "I am Aishu," she said, her gaze fixed on Ping'an.
"It's nice to meet you," Ping'an replied.
"Welcome home," Aishu said.
Aishu then kissed Queen Ruilin on her forehead. "Thank you very much," she murmured.
As the carriage pulled away, Aishu did not follow them.
"Who is that?" Guo Baiyu asked.
"That is Aishu. She is a fortune teller," Queen Ruilin explained. "She is the reason why I almost died when I ventured out."
"We never asked you. Why were you taking such a risk venturing out?" Guo Baiyu asked.
"To bring back Syaoran," Queen Ruilin replied.
"How do you know that Syaoran will appear?" Zhao Renshu questioned.
"Aishu predicted that Syaoran would come, so everyone was looking for him, even myself. But I didn't expect that we would be discovered by the Wastelander bandits," Queen Ruilin explained, then smiled. "Welcome to Immortal Valley."
Immortal Valley, despite its name, was far from conventionally beautiful. The palace itself was as vast as a small town, its front gate as enormous as Waterfall City's main entrance. Thousands of houses were built along the road and seemed to merge into the mountain itself. Downhill from the main area was the soldier's training field. Apple trees were everywhere. When King Shammek passed by, the Centaurs lowered their heads in reverence.
"If all leaders were like King Shammek, the world would be at peace," Guo Baiyu mused.
"That is a hopeless wish," Zhao Renshu retorted.
"Mayor Lim is also good," Guo Baiyu continued.
"He's so-so. If he didn't force others to marry his daughter, I would praise him more," Zhao Renshu scoffed.
"He didn't force it, he offered," Ping'an corrected.
"The proposal was rejected. How long will you bring these things up?" Guo Baiyu sighed. "I don't remember mentioning Qingge's story."
"Do you dare?" Zhao Renshu challenged, pushing an arrowhead onto Guo Baiyu's back a little deeper. Guo Baiyu let out a soft grunt of pain.
"Renshu!" Ping'an exclaimed.
"He started it," Zhao Renshu protested, feigning innocence. He smiled. "You're a strong big man, and that won't hurt much," he teased Guo Baiyu.
"Wait until it's your turn," Guo Baiyu warned.
"I am a very skilled hunter. I will never get hurt," Zhao Renshu blustered, a faint blush on his cheeks.
"We are here," Queen Ruilin announced, turning to the lovers.
The palace itself was as vast as a small town, its front gate as enormous as Waterfall City's main entrance.
"Bring our guests to the guest hall," King Shammek commanded. He looked at the healer. "Please take care of his wound." The healer nodded.
The Queen and her son got off the carriage.
"I'll see you later," Yuping chirped.
The lovers smiled at him.
The carriage stopped in front of the guest hall. One of the soldiers helped the lovers get out of the carriage. The soldier then carefully picked up Guo Baiyu, carried him into the guest room, and placed him on the bed. Then the soldier walked out.
Guo Baiyu slowly pushed himself up and sat on a nearby chair. The Healer walked in, accompanied by a brown Centaur maid. Guo Baiyu removed his robe, and the Healer took out a pair of scissors.
"This is going to hurt," the Healer warned.
Ping'an held onto Guo Baiyu's hands, while Zhao Renshu stood protectively behind her. The Healer pulled out the first arrowhead, and Guo Baiyu almost cried out, his body tensing from the sharp pain.
"Please keep still," the Healer requested.
"How can he keep still? He's in pain!" Zhao Renshu protested. "Give him some painkillers!"
"It's too late now," the Healer replied.
Ping'an took Guo Baiyu's arms and wrapped them tightly around her waist. She lifted his head and kissed his lips, her tongue exploring his mouth, intertwining with his own.
Guo Baiyu felt no pain, only the profound sensation of her kiss. When the Healer pulled out the last arrowhead, Guo Baiyu fainted, his hands still wrapped securely around Ping'an's waist. Ping'an gently leaned Guo Baiyu's head onto her chest, cradling him.
"That's better than painkillers," Zhao Renshu smirked.
Zhao Renshu's words made the lovely tan Centaur maid blush deeply.