They finally reached the spring. The air smelled faintly of wet earth and moss as the last threads of sunlight slipped behind the mountains. Shadows stretched long over the rocky path, and the first stars blinked faintly overhead.
They didn't waste time. Shen Zhenyu led them straight to a hidden entrance he found the last time they came, tucked behind a wall of vines and conveniently not requiring them to free dive like before. That alone was worth celebrating.
At the edge of the spring, Song Meiyu knelt down and pulled out the pouch containing the Crimson Bloodroot.
"This is it," she declared. "Let's see if it works."
She carefully dipped one Crimson Bloodroot into the glowing spring. Everyone leaned in.
The spring shimmered.
They stared harder.
The Crimson Bloodroot floated lazily on the surface, spinning a little. Still shimmering. Still floating.
Nothing else happened.
"…So," Song Meiyu said after a long pause, "it doesn't work?"
A long silence followed.
Linyue let out a soft sigh. Shen Zhenyu just crossed his arms.
Song Meiyu frowned at the Crimson Bloodroot. "I dipped it politely. Should I try yelling at it?"
He Yuying raised a brow. "Yes. Shout at the cursed plant. That'll help."
Linyue didn't say a word. She just stared at the spring, her face calm and unreadable. Then she reached out and snatched the pouch straight out of Song Meiyu's hands.
"Huh?" Song Meiyu blinked. "Sister Linyue?"
Linyue didn't respond. She tugged open the pouch, and before anyone could stop her, she dumped the entire contents straight into the glowing water. Every last bit of Crimson Bloodroot flew through the air and splashed into the glowing blue water. Within seconds, the surface of the spring was completely covered in floating red plants. The spring water looked like blood now.
Song Meiyu gasped. "Sister Linyue! That's all of it!"
He Yuying nodded. "Huh. Bold strategy. I like it."
Suddenly, red mist slowly began to rise from the spring, curling like steam. The plants floating on the surface began to shift before their eyes. The once sickly red leaves turned a vivid green. The ominous crimson flowers softened into pale blue blossoms, their glow gentle and steady. The tangled red roots brightened to a warm golden hue. And the spring itself cleared again. The unnatural blood-red tinge faded completely, leaving the water sparkling again in its original crystal blue.
Song Meiyu gasped. "It… it really works?! So the answer was violence all along?! No gentle dipping? No spiritual chants? Just dump it all in like you're cooking stew for fifty starving bandits?!"
He Yuying was still staring at the spring, his mouth hanging open. He hadn't blinked in thirty seconds.
Shen Zhenyu, of course, didn't flinch. He calmly nodded. "So it really works."
Linyue didn't even look impressed. She turned toward them. "Alright. Let's take it and go back."
And just like that, their no-nonsense group proved once again that grace was optional, but violence was mandatory.
Song Meiyu nearly tripped over herself rushing forward. She scooped up the transformed plants with both hands, her eyes sparkling. Then she gasped again, because apparently gasping was her new favorite hobby. "It deserves a new name! No more Crimson Bloodroot. Too scary! Too dramatic! Maybe something like… Blue Heartroot! Look at the flower! It's blue now! So elegant! So fresh!"
Linyue, now holding a dripping bundle of the glowing plants, said, "We still have to test if it can cure the disease."
He Yuying finally blinked. Then he yawned. "Right. Just give it to that Demon King. Job done. Let's all go back."
Shen Zhenyu gave a small nod.
After scooping up the last of the reborn plants, they set off for the palace at full speed. The horses, already tired from their earlier sprint, made a variety of offended noises. Shen Zhenyu gave his steed a few awkward pats. "Sorry," he said seriously. The horse snorted like it didn't accept the apology.
The roads were still eerily quiet. No sign of people. No merchants. Not even an overly dramatic bird. The disease wasn't cured yet, and it seemed the silence had decided to stick around for ambiance.
When they arrived at the palace gates, the sky had fully darkened. Lanterns glowed softly along the stone paths, casting warm golden light that almost made the place look welcoming. As they dismounted and walked toward Shu Mingye's study, Song Meiyu immediately shoved Linyue in front.
"You're the one with the cure. You go see the Demon King," Song Meiyu said brightly, patting Linyue's shoulder. "Sister Linyue, you can do this. I believe in you." She even winked for extra encouragement.
He Yuying nodded and gestured grandly. "Ladies first. I'll supervise… from a very safe distance."
Shen Zhenyu, at least, tried to sound serious. He folded his arms, gaze steady on her. "If he gives you trouble, call me with your spirit jade. I'll come immediately."
And then, like the loyal comrades they were, they very kindly abandoned her.
Linyue stood alone in front of the large wooden door to Shu Mingye's study. Behind it waited one king, one possibly very awkward conversation, and one extremely important plant.
She took a slow breath, lifted her hand, and knocked.
Inside, Shu Mingye's head tilted at the sound. It was too late for casual visits. His first thought was the palace physician. Maybe they were bringing news that the cure worked. Maybe this nightmare was finally over.
"Come in," he called, already bracing for either hope or disappointment.
The door opened. It was not the physician. It was the exact person he had been waiting for. Before he could stop himself, a smile tugged at his lips. Soft, warm, and ridiculous. He quickly crushed it and replaced it with his best kingly scowl. He had to remember the proper sequence: Yell first. Smile later. She had snuck out. Without a word. What if something had happened? What if—
Linyue stepped in like nothing was wrong. Her footsteps were light, her expression calm, and her smile—her small, dimpled smile—hit him like a punch to the chest. He forgot what he wanted to say. All the carefully rehearsed lines about "irresponsibility" and "reckless behavior" flew out the window the moment her dimples appeared.
She didn't seem to notice his inner chaos. She walked straight up to his desk and set a small pouch down in front of him.
"You should ask the palace physician to test it," she said, tone completely casual. "Maybe it can cure the disease."
Shu Mingye stared at her. She had vanished for days. He had nearly sent half the palace out looking for her. And now she just strolled in, handed him what could be the cure, and acted like she had gone out for afternoon tea.
"Where did you get it?" His voice came out lower than he intended. It wasn't panic. Not at all. Okay, maybe a little.
"It's a long story," Linyue said with a shrug. "The cure comes first."
Of course it did. Always calm. Always logical. Meanwhile, he had been two seconds away from setting fire to the nearest chair out of pure stress.
His eyes drifted down to her robes. The edges were torn, singed, and stained with soot. The sight made his jaw tighten. "Were you hurt?"
Linyue followed his gaze, blinking as if noticing the damage for the first time. "Oh. Just a little fire here and there. I'm fine."
"Fine," he repeated, his voice flat.
"Yes," she said, nodding as if that settled everything.
He pressed a hand over his face and inhaled deeply, briefly considering how much jail time he'd get for locking her in the palace forever. But then he remembered this was his palace. Who was going to throw him in jail? Himself?
He sighed sharply, snatched the pouch from the desk, and stood up with so much force his chair nearly tipped over. Then, he grabbed her hand and marched toward the door.
Linyue blinked. "Where are we going?"
No answer.
She tried again. "Are you planning to yell now or…"
Still nothing. Just the sound of his boots thudding against the floor and his grip tightening. Before she could ask a third time, he yanked the door to his chamber open and pulled her inside.
Linyue's eyes flicked around the familiar room. She tilted her head. "This… isn't the physician's room."
Shu Mingye ignored her and led her straight to the bed, setting her down on the edge. "Wait here," he said, voice sharp.