Chapter 26: Blood of the Phoenix Maiden

Seeing that Mo Liuli remained silent and did not reach for any food, the young master finally set down his chopsticks and said, "I... my name is Rao. I am the protector of Wucheng. Miss Mo can also call me Rao-Rao."

Rao circled around Mo Liuli, treating Xiao Junwang, who stood by the table, as if he were air.

Xiao Junwang was not offended. He simply stood with his arms crossed, looking indifferent, as if the matter had nothing to do with him. He wanted to see what this man, as seductive as any woman, intended to do with Mo Liuli.

"Rao?" Mo Liuli glanced at him skeptically. Looking at his flamboyant attire, the distinctly feminine fragrance he wore, and his naturally delicate features, she found herself doubting his gender upon hearing the name.

His voice was a soft, syrupy tenor, yet everything about him felt womanly. Of course, setting aside his small Adam’s apple and flat chest, his appearance and clothing made him look like an androgynous woman. Even his name was so feminine—"Rao-Rao"...

Mo Liuli rubbed her arms, a shiver running down her spine.

"Miss Rao, there is no need to be shy. If you are hungry, please eat to your heart’s content. Xiao has already settled the bill for these dishes. We have matters to attend to, so we cannot keep you company any longer!"

"Let’s go, Xiao!"

Mo Liuli addressed Rao as "Miss," and after speaking, she pulled Xiao Junwang away.

Rao, who had been in high spirits, was struck dumb by the "Miss" title. His mouth twitched uncontrollably. He glared sullenly at their joined hands, and just as he was about to speak up to stop them, Feng Xiyan stepped out.

Feng Xiyan’s small figure appeared quite abrupt as she stood there. Her lackeys, who had been afraid to approach, seized the moment and rushed to her side.

"Audacious! How dare you slander the Young Master! See how I deal with you!" The leader, a tall man, relied on his stature and reached out to grab Mo Liuli.

Xiao Junwang’s eyes darkened. With a flick of his finger, he unleashed a surge of energy that sent the tall man flying toward the stairwell. They were seated in a private booth on the second floor of Yipin Tower. The man, caught off guard by the inexplicable force, tumbled down the stairs, his body thumping against the steps all the way down.

Rao was also stunned. Seeing someone try to touch Mo Liuli, he had been anxious to intervene, but a sudden ripple of power had sent the fool flying.

Feng Xiyan kept her gaze fixed on Mo Liuli. "I will help you remove the parasite; come with me!"

As soon as Feng Xiyan spoke, everyone present was shocked, especially Rao, who leaped from his chair and circled Mo Liuli, looking her up and down.

"A parasite? How could she be infected with a parasite?" he murmured in concern, then turned to Feng Xiyan. "Hey, brat, are you mistaken? How could she be infected?"

Before Rao could finish, he was flicked away by a burst of energy, landing several paces from Mo Liuli.

Xiao Junwang remained silent, pulling Mo Liuli away. He felt uneasy about Feng Xiyan’s strange behavior, so he decisively swatted the fly that was Rao away and left with Mo Liuli.

To this day, Mo Liuli still did not know about the wanted posters and portraits. Before he could find a solution, he did not want her to know.

What Feng Xiyan did not expect was that Xiao Junwang was completely different from the man who had previously begged her for medical help.

"Hey! Brat, explain yourself! How could my woman be infected with a parasite?"

Seeing the two disappear, Rao rushed forward, pinching Feng Xiyan’s cheeks and demanding answers.

"Xiao?"

Once they left Yipin Tower, Mo Liuli felt countless gazes following her on the street, making her extremely uncomfortable. She blushed and tugged at Xiao Junwang’s sleeve, feeling uneasy.

Xiao Junwang noticed the stares as well; clearly, these were the consequences of the portraits. He stopped, swept Mo Liuli up into his arms, and vanished quickly into the Lotus Alley.

The news of Mo Liuli’s appearance in Wucheng would soon reach Huanlan. He had to take her away as soon as possible.

As her pregnancy progressed, Mo Liuli’s perceptions became keener. She felt Xiao Junwang’s unusual behavior clearly, but she did not ask, quietly cooperating with all his arrangements.

"Stay in the inn and be good; do not go out! I will be back soon."

After settling Mo Liuli in the inn, Xiao Junwang gave her these instructions. Before leaving Wucheng, he had to find Feng Xiyan and get to the bottom of this.

Mo Liuli obediently agreed and lay down to sleep early, all to avoid worrying Xiao Junwang.

Under the dim light, a shadow in a cloak emerged. It stopped before Mo Liuli’s door and, seeing the shimmering barrier, a bloodthirsty smile curled its lips. It pulled a red box from its robes and pushed it toward the barrier.

Mo Liuli slept soundly in the room, unaware that a strange light had ignited at her bedside. The light enveloped her body, lifting her into the air and moving her toward the door.

When Xiao Junwang finally found Feng Xiyan, she was being harried by Master Rao. The two were brawling like children, tugging at clothes, faces, and hair. Rao, in particular, had his outer robe half-pulled off by Feng Xiyan.

Xiao Junwang watched from afar, unable to find an opening. He never imagined Master Rao could be such an eccentric character. He had intended to ask for the parasite removal method, but seeing their relentless bickering, he hesitated.

"Feng Xiyan, come here. I have something to ask you."

After watching for a long time, neither had grown tired of fighting, but Xiao Junwang was. Thinking of their departure from Wucheng, he finally spoke up to interrupt them.

The two, who had been squabbling like children, froze at the sudden sound. Feng Xiyan’s face flushed a deep red; she shoved Rao away, smoothed her hair and clothes, and ran toward Xiao Junwang.

When Rao saw it was Xiao Junwang, his face fell. He also began to straighten his clothes unhurriedly, pricking up his ears to eavesdrop.

He still remembered the bizarre power displayed at Yipin Tower that afternoon. It felt like a force that moved without wind—not magic, nor the strength of a warrior.

Feng Xiyan stood before Xiao Junwang, her face still flushed, trying to maintain a stern expression as she looked at him inquiringly.

"The method to remove the parasite. Teach me how to remove the Mizhu from her body!"

Taken aback by Xiao Junwang’s unexpected request, Feng Xiyan choked and looked at him as if he were a monster. "Does the blood flowing in your veins belong to a Phoenix Maiden of pure Yin?"

"To completely remove the parasite from her, the first prerequisite is the blood of a pure Yin Phoenix Maiden! In this world, a true Phoenix Maiden is essentially..."

Feng Xiyan looked at the stunned Xiao Junwang, her bright eyes flickering with calculation.

To remove the parasite from Mo Liuli, she had to do it herself, because only she possessed that blood. The blood had to be fresh; otherwise, it would fail to draw out the parasite and would instead be consumed by it, causing a backlash.