He thought it wouldn't be too late to talk about it once he recovered.
"Will he let you leave?" she asked.
Fu Mingxu frowned and then relaxed, his eyelashes fluttering slightly: "I think the city lord will."
After spending so much time together, if he believed in some kind of predestined person, he would have restricted his freedom long ago.
He still wanted to believe in his dragon-like character.
Seeing that he had made up his mind, Shen Ange didn't say anything more. Everyone has their own choices. She herself hadn't become strong enough, and although she was his friend, she couldn't interfere with his decision.
Besides, although Han Tao was strong, she still felt that Fu Mingxu's partner should be a handsome and elegant person, as extraordinary as he himself, or a person with a gentle personality and a beautiful face.
Whether male or female, those descriptions are far removed from what Han Tao is like.
Thinking about it this way, there really isn't anything to be conflicted about.
Shen Ange quickly felt relieved. After thanking him for the Yangpo Pill, she prepared many fresh spiritual plants for him and then discussed with him with great interest where to go first after leaving Yunhan City.
Even though Fu Mingxu had left earlier, he patiently listened to many opinions. Unlike the last time, which was rushed, this time he could prepare properly.
After the chat ended, Shen Ange rested her chin on her hands and watched him leave. Only after she saw the man in the green robe disappear around the corner did she let out a heavy sigh.
She always felt that Fu Mingxu's plans wouldn't go so smoothly; things would be difficult.
Fu Mingxu was unaware of his friend's worries. He returned to the City Lord's Mansion without incident, encountering no conflicts along the way. When he returned to the folded space, Han Tao had already gone into seclusion to refine the Yang Soul Pill.
Time passed slowly, and nothing changed in the folded space. During this time, Fu Mingxu did not go out, nor did he refine pills or make medicine. Instead, he cleaned the alchemy furnace, returned the remaining spiritual plants to the storeroom, handed over the excess alchemical fire to Han Zhengzhi, and finally put his clothes into his storage bag.
Finally, he closed the door, his gaze lingering on the small patch of newly planted spiritual plants, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes.
Fu Mingxu thought that perhaps it was because he felt much more free and comfortable during his time at the City Lord's Mansion than before that he felt a little reluctant to leave.
All good things must come to an end, and he still has much to do.
He stood by the lake and reached out to pluck willow branches to play with. His impending departure was lessened by the swaying willow branches.
The warm sunlight poured down, and the light fell softly on his face, giving him a halo of light.
After standing there for an unknown amount of time, Fu Mingxu turned around thoughtfully and saw Han Tao walking towards him with a hint of urgency in his steps.
Seeing that his aura was even stronger than before, Fu Mingxu guessed that the Yangpo Pill was working.
He breathed a sigh of relief, but the joy in his heart was not as intense as he had imagined.
"You're all better." He tilted his head slightly to look at Han Tao, his whole body bathed in the warm sunlight.
A gentle breeze caresses the willows, ripples lightly on the water, the warm sun shines just right, and the person in my heart stands there; with a glance and a smile, the world loses its color.
With countless beautiful views, I can finally walk towards him openly and honestly.
"Hmm." Han Tao stood at the closest distance he could accept, his voice as deep and resonant as ice and stone. "The pills you refined are very good."
Fu Mingxu squinted his eyes with pleasure: "Of course."
This heartfelt joy made Han Tao feel even better. He paused for a moment, then carefully chose his words: "You..."
“You don’t need to thank me.” Fu Mingxu suddenly interrupted him, “The City Lord’s Mansion has protected me for so long, and you have given me the corresponding reward.”
During these seven days, Han Zhengzhi also brought news that Dao Heng, the True Person of Tianxuan Sect, had taken Fu Shanqing and Fu Haoren of the Fu family back to the sect, and Shen Ange's engagement with Fu Haoren was naturally dissolved.
In Yunhan City, there was nothing he cared about anymore.
Moreover, Han Tao has already fully recovered.
Even before he spoke, Han Tao felt a sense of foreboding, as if what he was about to say was something he didn't want to hear at all.
"Now that the city lord is well, my task is complete."
As for the broken blood-stained flower-shaped candle in the bedroom, it has no effect on him now.
Han Tao's heart skipped a beat, and he was instantly enveloped by an endless chill.
He lowered his head and heard Fu Mingxu say, word by word, "Thank you for your care and concern, City Lord. I will be leaving today."
"The journey ahead is long and arduous; I hope the city lord will take good care of himself."
After speaking in one breath, Fu Mingxu felt a sense of relief, as if everything had finally settled down.
Han Tao's gaze remained fixed on him for so long that his calves started to ache before he finally spoke in a deep voice: "Are you leaving?"
An endless storm brewed in his golden eyes. He struggled to suppress the indescribable agitation within him, took a step forward, looked at him intently, and repeated, "Are you leaving?"
The tall figure exuded a strong sense of aggression. Fu Mingxu keenly sensed his emotions, feeling both confused and uneasy.
"The city lord wouldn't believe in any kind of destined person, would he?" he suddenly asked, his slightly clenched fists betraying his nervousness.
If Han Tao truly believed in the priest, would he have been able to escape?
Fu Mingxu felt a surge of tension at the thought, and even though he was smiling, a hint of wariness still crept into his eyes.
Han Tao was frozen by these few traces of defensiveness. He suddenly laughed and, without Fu Mingxu's knowledge, took out a piece of paper and handed it to him, saying, "This is also payment."
The two were close together, and Fu Mingxu immediately recognized the recipe for the Qing Shen Dan (Clear Mind Pill). He was slightly tempted, but still refused.
Han Tao pursed his thin lips. He hadn't expected that the other party wouldn't even want a single pill formula.
He calmly withdrew his gaze, turned his back, and said, "If that's the case, then you may leave if you wish."
Fu Mingxu was overwhelmed with mixed emotions and didn't know whether he should be happy or sad.
"Take care." He didn't want to dwell on it anymore and walked towards the exit of the folded space.
Han Tao waited until he left the folded space, but he never looked back.
Fu Mingxu successfully left the city lord's mansion and then the city. He headed east as planned, and after finally calming down and walking three miles, he suddenly heard someone calling him.
"Master Fu!"
It was Han Zhengzhi's voice.
He instinctively turned around and saw Han Zhengzhi running towards him, his face full of anxiety, panting as he said, "The city lord is in trouble!"
Fu Mingxu was stunned. Something was wrong. Han Tao was perfectly fine before he left.
Seeing him standing there speechless, Han Zhengzhi was extremely anxious.
"Lord of the City...Lord of the City...he seems to have fallen into demonic possession!"
Chapter 23
"Entering...entering demonic possession?"
Fu Mingxu suspected he was hallucinating; his eyes widened slightly, becoming unusually vivid.
He was completely terrified.
Han Zhengzhi, thinking he didn't believe him, was extremely anxious: "It's true! I'm not lying to you! The city lord... the city lord he..."
Seeing his incoherent manner, Fu Mingxu felt that he was not lying.
Could it be that I misjudged the situation? Was Han Tao's descent into demonic possession not due to severe injuries and the destruction of his cultivation, but rather a pursuit of greater power?
Or perhaps, after he cured him, the other party was still dissatisfied with his current power and chose to become a demon again?
However, he did not notice anything unusual about Han Tao before he left.
Fu Mingxu's mind was like a tangled ball of yarn, his thoughts all jumbled together, completely without any clue.
Seeing that he remained silent, Han Zhengzhi was getting anxious: "Master Fu, can you go and take a look? If the city lord has completely fallen into demonic possession, the consequences will be unimaginable."
These words reminded Fu Mingxu, instantly snapping him out of his confusion and bewilderment.
Yes, regardless of why Han Tao has fallen into demonic possession, he needs to go and stop him.
He hadn't forgotten the scene of the sky collapsing and the earth splitting before his rebirth. Immortal Lord Siyang almost sacrificed himself to give him a chance to be reborn so that he could stop Hantao from falling into demonic ways.
Even though he had some selfish motives, deep down he still hoped that Han Tao would not fall into demonic ways.
“Let’s go back to the city lord’s mansion.” Fu Mingxu immediately calmed down and said to him, “Let’s go.”
Inspired by his composure, Han Zhengzhi nodded: "Alright, but the city lord is not in the city lord's mansion right now."
"Where is he?" Ruo Yuanshan's broad eyebrows furrowed slightly, shrouded in a layer of mist. "No matter where he is, take me there."
Fu Mingxu glanced one last time in the direction of due east, knowing that this journey might not be able to resume for who knows how long.
"In the forbidden area behind the City Lord's Mansion," Han Zhengzhi said.
Yunhan City is divided by the main street. The area east of the main street is the direction out of the city and is also the location of all shops and families.
The area west of the main street is where the City Lord's Mansion is located, as well as the forbidden area in the back mountains where the Dragon Clan lives.
"Lead the way." After a moment's thought, Fu Mingxu realized that Han Tao's situation was probably more serious than he had imagined.
Fortunately, there was no need to enter the city again to reach the forbidden area in the back mountain, so Han Zhengzhi led him along a shorter route.
The two walked quickly. Han Zhengzhi led the way while explaining to him, "The ancestral land of the dragon race can only be reached by flying over the Void Sea. When our first leader, Ao Qin, brought us to Yunhan City, he set up a teleportation array leading to the Void Sea in the back mountain. Also, in order to provide a place for the dragon race to cultivate, he and the priest at the time jointly opened up an alternate dimension."
He glanced at Fu Mingxu and said nervously, "After the city lord discovered that he had signs of demonic possession, he entered the alternate dimension of the forbidden area in the back mountain, because only there, no matter what happens, the outside world will not notice."
What he didn't say was that if the city lord had truly fallen into demonic possession, he would probably close the alternate dimension himself, preventing him from leaving.
Fu Mingxu paused, his eyelashes lowered, and he suddenly asked, "Would it be of any use to come to me?"
"I can't beat your city lord. If he falls into demonic possession, I have no way to purify the demonic energy."
Upon hearing this, Han Zhengzhi also stopped and looked at him seriously, saying, "Master Fu, perhaps you don't believe what I'm saying, and there's no time to explain further now."
"But I am certain that if the city lord truly falls into demonic possession, only you in this world can stop him."
His gaze was so certain, as if he were saying that this was the only cure.
Fu Mingxu's heart trembled slightly, his mind filled with countless thoughts. His lips moved slightly, but in the end, all he could say was, "Lead the way."
"Okay." Han Zhengzhi was truly relieved, but thinking about the city lord's situation, his heart tightened and he felt anxious.
About fifteen minutes later, the two finally arrived at the back of the mountain.
The mountains and forests are dense, with towering trees growing wildly, their lush canopies blocking out the sun.
Standing at the foot of the mountain, Fu Mingxu could see that the trees were piled up so high that they filled most of his view, leaving no gaps.
“It’s an illusion,” Han Zhengzhi said to him. He quickly formed a hand seal, and a faint golden light flashed. The towering trees were gone, replaced by an endless sea.