"I'll take leave too," Sean Shaw said.
They're going to check on someone who's sick—why are you tagging along?
I'm going with Adrian.
What's your excuse? Just tell us already!
Sean ignored him.
His Majesty the Celestial Emperor chuckled: "...Ha! All this for just one afternoon—you really have to chase after her? If she moves back home, are you planning to move into Peach Blossom Haven with her?"
Sean pretended not to hear, his face expressionless.
......
Sure enough, Darren Xuan's mother's illness flared up again—fine scales appeared on her face.
Lucy Luan checked her over, then frowned and asked Darren's mother, "Has Your Ladyship come into contact with any spirit beasts carrying scale-poison recently?"
His mother shook her head. "No, I've been at Returning Rainbow Mountain all this time and haven't left. I haven't fought anyone either."
"Divine Lady, what's wrong with my mother?" Darren Xuan asked.
Lucy said, "She's been poisoned again. It's not a relapse."
"A new poison?" Darren's expression changed. "Mother, has anyone visited recently?"
She frowned. "No one's come by lately. It's just... your main mother sent people with gifts. Ever since you visited the Xuanchen Clan, she's been sending things more often."
Darren's face darkened. "How vile!"
"Don't jump to conclusions without proof," his mother, ever the peacemaker, said, then changed the subject and thanked Lucy. "Divine Lady, thank you for your help again."
"It's nothing!" Lucy said. "I'll go prepare another dose for you, but you two should really investigate where the scale-poison came from."
Mother and son both nodded.
Lucy gave Darren's mother another dose of medicine. Most of the scales on her face fell off, and within a few days, they should all be gone.
Then the two of them headed back together.
But just as they left Returning Rainbow Mountain, they ran into two men in midair.
One wore red, the other a yellow Divine Robe—they both looked rather distinguished.
They called out from afar: "Darren!"
Darren frowned and flew over to greet them. "Greetings, brothers! What brings you to Returning Rainbow Mountain?"
"Just passing by," the two men replied, their eyes lingering on Lucy. "Who is this Lady?"
"Just a friend," Darren said, not revealing Lucy's identity. "Brothers, I need to hurry back to Divine Generals’ Camp, so I'll take my leave!"
"What's the rush?" The man in red grabbed him, grinning roguishly. "You're about to marry the princess, and yet you bring such a beautiful Lady home? If you don't explain yourself, you're not leaving!"
"Brothers, please don't misunderstand. I invited her to help treat my mother," Darren explained.
"Treat her? Is she from the Spirit Alliance?" The man in yellow gave Lucy a wicked look.
Lucy nodded slightly. "Yes, I'm with the Spirit Alliance."
"May I ask the Lady's name? Next time, I'd like you to treat me too—would that be possible?"
Darren stepped in front of Lucy. "Brothers, I really need to get going, so I'll leave now!"
"Huh? Why are you in such a hurry? Afraid we'll eat her or something?" The man in red still wouldn't let go.
"No, it's not—"
"But honestly, we do want to eat her!" The man in red interrupted, eyeing Lucy up and down as if to pierce her Divine Robe. "She's really something! Even better than those flower fairies from Hundred Blossoms Paradise!"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Darren's face darkened. "She's my comrade at Divine Generals’ Camp. Divine Lady Lucy is far too noble for you to gossip about!"