Chapter Ninety-Six: Rather Die Than Stay Here

"Steal my disciple?" Young Master Meng cried out, as though Purple Lotus's words had truly frightened him. He sprang up in a flurry, a trace of urgency showing on his face as he explained, "How would this little immortal dare compete with Immortal Lord Purple Lotus for a disciple? I only said that because your disciple is simply too adorable, and I wanted to keep him on the mountain for a few days to keep this little immortal company. If Immortal Lord Purple Lotus is unwilling, how would I dare force him to stay here?"

"Keep him company, my ass."

A man may be killed, but not humiliated. I really could not hold back and cursed too. This Young Master Meng was outrageously sinister. Right now I was badly injured and lying on the bed, unable to move. How could I possibly keep him company? The only reason he said that was to keep me here, then use every possible means to torment me.

Purple Lotus's expression darkened, and he cast a displeased glance at me, frightening me so badly that I shrank back, nearly tumbling off the bed. The more I reacted like that, the more delighted Young Master Meng seemed. He wore the foolish look of someone who had profited from another's misfortune yet still pretended to be proper, laughing with obvious relish.

Laugh all you want. I hope you laugh until you knock your front teeth out.

The moment I finished cursing inwardly, Young Master Meng suddenly leaned his head toward me again. Startled, I jerked back and clutched my chest.

"Huh? Little Fish, you're cursing me."

He was smiling, but there was nothing benign in it. His gaze was fixed tightly on me, as if he had clearly heard every word I had just thought to myself.

"Curse your own damned self. Who's as brainless as you?"

I shouted at him furiously and tried to shove him away, but the instant I lifted my arm, a searing pain twisted through my chest again, so sharp it nearly suffocated me.

"Oh dear, how careless of me. This immortal was only joking. Why should the little one get so angry? If you strain yourself and hurt your own body, Immortal Lord Purple Lotus will be heartbroken!"

He blinked his peach blossom eyes, then turned an innocent face toward Purple Lotus as he finished speaking.

Purple Lotus. Would he be heartbroken for me? I had never dared to entertain such a hope, not even in my dreams. I remembered it clearly: when those four bamboo spirits were about to pierce my body with their long silks, Purple Lotus was already standing upon his auspicious cloud. He was an immortal. If he had even once thought of coming to save me, how could I have been hurt?

Perhaps, perhaps all of this was simply his test of me. I comforted myself with that thought.

"It is getting late. This lord and his disciple should not trouble you any further."

Purple Lotus stepped forward, pushed Young Master Meng aside with one hand, wrapped the other around my back and waist, and lifted me from the bed.

Young Master Meng still seemed unwilling to give up. Seeing Purple Lotus carry me off, he hurriedly seized the sleeve of his robe and said, "It has been more than three thousand years since we last met. Does Immortal Lord Purple Lotus not intend to stay the night at this little immortal's residence and share a few old memories with me?"

"Hm." Purple Lotus nodded.

Young Master Meng's face immediately filled with regret, and he rushed forward to block our way.

"Does Senior Immortal Meng have something else to say?" Purple Lotus half-lowered his eyelids, sounding a little impatient now.

"Heh heh heh..." Young Master Meng laughed, but his eyes were full of mischief as they lingered on me. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and said, "Immortal Lord Purple Lotus's disciple has been attacked by demons and even had several ribs broken. I think these next two days would be best spent without moving his body, lest the injury worsen. That would not be good."

At that, Purple Lotus nodded, turned back, set me onto the bed again, and then walked off to the side.

No way. Was he really going to leave me with this peach-blossom pervert? A wave of terror surged through me as I watched Young Master Meng's smirking, lecherous face, and my whole body began to shiver.

"All right."

After making another circuit, Purple Lotus returned to the bedside, lifted me from the bed once more, and before I knew it, a white porcelain jade bottle had appeared in his hand.

"What is this, Immortal Lord Purple Lotus?"

Young Master Meng, who had been all smiles just moments before, had his grin freeze the instant he saw the white porcelain jade bottle in Purple Lotus's hand, as though he no longer knew what to do.

"Taking the medicine back to the mountain."

Purple Lotus said faintly, bypassed Young Master Meng, and headed outside.