Di Jun's Reprimand

Chapter 35: Di Jun's Rebuke

Taiyi woke up to a sharp pain.

It wasn't localized to any particular spot; his entire body, inside and out, ached. The pain made his eyelids feel heavy as lead, and it took several tries before he could force them open just a crack.

The view before him was dim, with only a few faint rays of light filtering down from the rock crevices above. He could vaguely make out that he was still lying in a narrow rock crevice. The stone beneath him was cold and sticky with blood, the metallic scent drilling into his nostrils. His right side felt numb, and his left arm was too heavy to lift. Only the faint rise and fall of his chest proved he was still breathing.

I have to move.

I can't just lie here and wait to die. Those three Great Witches might still be searching nearby. Even if they don't find me, in this desolate wilderness, the smell of blood will eventually attract other creatures.

He gritted his teeth and used his slightly more mobile left hand to push himself out of the crevice, inch by inch. Every movement felt like sandpaper grinding against his bones, causing stars to flash before his eyes from the pain. His mouth was full of blood, the sweet, metallic taste making him want to vomit.

He scraped himself along, inch by inch, until he reached the mouth of the crevice. Outside, it was completely dark. The moonlight was faint, casting a pale white glow on the desolate rocks.

He leaned against the rock wall, panting for a long time until he gathered enough strength to reach into his tattered clothes and pull out an item—a cracked, crimson-gold jade token, about half the size of his palm. This was a communication artifact for the Sun Palace, imbued with a trace of the True Sun Fire's Origin. If he crushed it, Di Jun could sense his general location.

It was meant to be a last resort, and now it had come to that.

Taiyi stared at the jade token for a few seconds, then gently applied pressure with his fingers.

"Crack."

A soft sound, and the jade token shattered into several pieces. An extremely faint, yet incredibly pure and hot, crimson-gold aura drifted out, circled his palm, and then transformed into an almost imperceptible streak of light that shot into the sky, disappearing into the night.

After completing this action, he seemed to have exhausted his last ounce of strength. His head lolled to the side, and he fainted again.

When he woke up again, the first sensation was warmth.

A familiar stream of heat, carrying the unique warmth of the Sun Star, slowly seeped into his body from his back. It gently but firmly soothed his damaged meridians, dispelling the bone-chilling cold and malevolent energy.

Taiyi struggled to open his eyes.

The first thing he saw was the domed ceiling embroidered with a Golden Crow patrolling the heavens. Familiar patterns, familiar colors—the Sun Palace, his own chambers.

He was lying on the warming jade bed, crafted from fragments of the Sun Star's core, covered by a light, soft cloud-silk quilt. The light in the hall was soft, and the air was filled with a faint scent of Fusang wood, and… a suppressed rage, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

He painstakingly turned his eyeballs and looked towards the bedside.

Di Jun was sitting there, dressed in a bright yellow casual robe, without his crown. His long hair was simply tied back. He sat with his back perfectly straight, hands resting on his knees, knuckles white from clenching them. His face, usually dignified and calm, was expressionless at the moment, except for his eyes—those golden eyes, originating from the same source as Taiyi's, but appearing deeper and more majestic—staring intently at him. Complex emotions churned in the depths of his gaze: shock, lingering fear, anxiety, and an almost uncontrollable, blazing rage.

Neither brother spoke first.

The chamber was terrifyingly silent, save for the faint crackling of incense burning in the ten-thousand-year warming jade censer in the corner.

Taiyi's throat moved, wanting to speak, but he coughed instead. The cough pulled at his wounds, causing him to grimace in pain and break out in a cold sweat.

Di Jun's hands on his knees clenched violently, veins bulging on the back of his hands. But he still didn't move or speak, just stared fixedly at Taiyi, as if confirming whether this battered, near-death figure was truly his once spirited and untamed younger brother.

After a long bout of coughing, Taiyi finally managed to calm down, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. He tugged at the corner of his lips, attempting a smile that said "I'm fine," but the result was more like a grimace than a smile.

"Big Brother..." His voice was hoarse, like a broken bellows, "I... I'm back."

"You still know how to come back?!" Di Jun's voice suddenly rose, like thunder that had been suppressed for too long suddenly exploding! He "whooshed" to his feet, his tall figure casting an imposing shadow in the hall. "Look at yourself! What happened to you?! Huh?!"

He strode to the bedside, his finger almost poking Taiyi's nose, his voice trembling with agitation and anger. "Covered in wounds! Meridians damaged! Origin shaken! Your aura is so chaotic and mixed, like a... like what?! Do you have any idea, when that jade token of yours shattered, I..." He stopped, his chest heaving, the rest of his words seemingly stuck in his throat, leaving only rapid breaths.

Taiyi watched him quietly, neither dodging nor retorting. He could clearly see a fleeting, almost overflowing look of panic and fear in Di Jun's eyes. It wasn't an act; he was genuinely scared. Scared that he might die.

"The Pangu Hall incident, was that you?" Di Jun took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging emotions, his voice returning to a cold hardness, but the tremor was undeniable. "That bell chime that echoed throughout the Great Wilderness, was that you?! Do you know the current situation outside?! The Witch Race is looking for you like mad! Di Jiang even secretly sent word to several Demon Sages, issuing threats... Do you know what a huge mess you've stirred up?!"

He grew more agitated as he spoke, pacing back and forth by the bed, his bright yellow sleeves stirring up gusts of hot air. "You disappeared without a word! The people I sent to find you couldn't even find a trace! Bai Ze divined for three days and three nights, the hexagrams were obscure and unclear, only saying 'danger within change, life and death on a single thread'! I... I thought you really..."

He stopped again, turned sharply to face Taiyi, his voice lowering but carrying a heavier weight. "Where did you go? These injuries, and this... chaotic aura on you, what exactly happened?"

It was an interrogation, a reprimand, but more than anything, it was an overwhelming concern and an urgent desire to know the truth.

Taiyi closed his eyes and took a few breaths. His mind raced.

I can't tell the whole truth. The System, the Heaven-Opening Axe Imprint, the things I signed in for, not a single word can be revealed. But I can't lie completely either. Di Jun isn't an idiot, let alone that shrewd old guy Bai Ze. I need a story that's half true and half false, logically sound, and emotionally convincing.

When he opened his eyes again, the defiance and sharpness in his gaze had softened considerably, replaced by a deep weariness, and a trace of... imperceptible regret and resolve.

"Yes, Pangu Hall... I went there." His voice was low, his admission straightforward. "The inscription, I carved it too."

Di Jun's breath hitched. Although he had suspected it, hearing it confirmed firsthand was still a shock. He opened his mouth, wanting to curse, but seeing Taiyi's pale face, he forced himself to hold back, only managing to squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth: "Why?"

"To scout." Taiyi met his gaze and said slowly, "Big Brother, the conflict between the Witches and Demons is unavoidable. Pangu Hall is the sacred land of the Witch Race, the core of their spiritual belief. I wanted to know what was there, how it was defended, if there was... an opportunity."

"Nonsense!" Di Jun roared. "That's the Witch Race's stronghold! Guarded by the Twelve Ancestral Witches! You went to scout? You went to your death!"

"I didn't die." Taiyi tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Not only did I not die, but I also learned something. Deep within Pangu Hall, there is indeed residual essence from Pangu's heart, its pressure is terrifying, but... it's not impenetrable. At least, I went in, and I came out."

Di Jun's eyes narrowed. "You saw it?"

"I caught a glimpse from afar." Taiyi shook his head. "I didn't dare stay long. I left a 'mark' and quickly slipped away. Then... I was pursued by that madwoman Xuan Ming for over a thousand miles, all the way into the depths of the earth veins."

"Xuan Ming?!" Di Jun's expression turned even uglier. "You escaped from her?"

"By luck." Taiyi coughed a couple of times. "I was injured and hid in a place with dense earth vein malevolent energy. She couldn't find me for a while. Later... I went to the Sea of Blood."

"The Sea of Blood? Old Ancestor Styx's place?" Di Jun frowned deeply. "What did you go there for?"

"To test." Taiyi's gaze was calm. "That old monster Styx has always hidden in the Sea of Blood, forming his own power, and his attitude towards the Witch-Demon conflict is ambiguous. I wanted to see what his intentions were, if there was a possibility of... winning him over or using him."

"Are you insane?!" Di Jun was truly shocked and angered, "Who is Styx? He's an old devil who's lived since the creation of the world! His mind is treacherous, and his methods are ruthless! You went to test him? Aren't you afraid he'll swallow you whole, leaving not even a bone behind?!"

"That's why I'm injured," Taiyi's tone carried a perfectly measured self-deprecation and helplessness. "Styx is indeed difficult to deal with. He saw through my weaknesses, probed me with his words, even tried to ally with me during the Calamity, and even... inquired about the whereabouts of the Primordial Violet Qi."

"Primordial Violet Qi?!" Di Jun's pupils constricted, "He's indeed after it too!"

"I didn't agree or refuse, I just said I needed to consider it," Taiyi continued. "I stayed there for a few days, using the environment of his Sea of Blood to barely stabilize my injuries a little. But I knew I couldn't stay long, and Styx didn't have good intentions. So, I found an opportunity and left."

"And then?" Di Jun pressed, "These new injuries, and the ambush on your way back..."

"Not long after I exited the teleportation array, on a dry riverbed, I was ambushed by three Great Witches," Taiyi's eyes turned cold. "Their coordination was seamless, and their attacks were ruthless. It was clear they were prepared, waiting specifically for me."

"Three Great Witches? Waiting specifically for you?" Di Jun's face turned as dark as water. "How did they know you would appear there?"

"That's something I can't figure out either," Taiyi slowly shook his head, meeting Di Jun's gaze. "My departure from the Sea of Blood was a sudden decision. The route was chosen randomly. Unless... someone leaked my whereabouts in advance."

The air in the sleeping chambers instantly became stagnant and cold because of those words.

Di Jun stared intently at Taiyi, "Who do you suspect? Styx?"

"I don't know," Taiyi averted his gaze, looking at the Golden Crow depiction on the ceiling. His voice carried a deep weariness and a barely perceptible confusion. "Perhaps it's Styx. Perhaps... the Witch Race has some tracking secret methods we don't know about. Perhaps, I was just unlucky."

He didn't commit to anything. He couldn't directly accuse Styx, as that would seem too eager and might arouse even deeper suspicion from Di Jun. This kind of ambiguous doubt, coupled with reasonable speculation, was more convincing.

Di Jun fell silent. He sat down by the bed again, his fingers tapping unconsciously on his knees, his brows furrowed into a deep frown. Clearly, Taiyi's words and his injuries were confirming some ominous possibility.

Just then, light footsteps could be heard from outside the sleeping chambers, followed by Bai Ze's gentle and clear voice: "Your Majesty, your subject Bai Ze requests an audience."

"Enter," Di Jun said in a deep voice.

The chamber door slid open silently, and Bai Ze walked in. He was still the same refined and elegant demeanor, holding a jade tablet, his expression calm, though a hint of travel dust and solemnity lingered between his brows. He first bowed to Di Jun, then looked at Taiyi on the bed. His gaze lingered for a moment on the shocking wounds and the mixed aura surrounding Taiyi, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

"Eastern Emperor Your Majesty," Bai Ze's voice carried a perfectly measured concern, "Are your injuries stable?"

"I won't die," Taiyi said indifferently. "Thank you for your concern, Mister Bai Ze."

Bai Ze nodded slightly, then turned to Di Jun, taking out a jade slip from his sleeve. "Your Majesty, the matter you ordered me to investigate, as well as the Witch Race's movements these past few days, have been compiled."

Di Jun took the jade slip and scanned it with his divine sense. His expression grew even more grim. He handed the jade slip to Taiyi, "You take a look too."

Taiyi took it and sank his divine sense into it. The information in the jade slip was varied but clearly organized:

First, the Witch Race's movements. After the attack on Pangu Hall, the Witch Race was indeed furious internally, but they maintained strict news blockade externally. However, the movements of Witch Race tribes in various regions had become noticeably more frequent, especially the reinforcement of troops near Buzhou Mountain and several important resource points. Di Jiang seemed to have issued strict orders, but the specific content was unknown.

Second, regarding the Sea of Blood. Old Ancestor Styx had indeed been keeping a low profile recently, and the external passages of the Sea of Blood seemed to have tightened somewhat. Bai Ze learned through some covert channels that just a few days ago, there was a brief abnormal energy fluctuation in the Sea of Blood, faintly pointing towards the outer areas of Buzhou Mountain. The timing... was quite close to when Taiyi was ambushed.

Finally, about the three Great Witches who ambushed him. Based on the extremely faint positional information transmitted by Taiyi when he crushed the jade token, combined with Bai Ze's knowledge of the distribution of powerful figures in various Witch Race tribes, he deduced that the three individuals likely came from three different medium-sized tribes, all closely related to Di Jiang. Their simultaneous appearance in that desolate area was by no means accidental.

At the end of the jade slip was Bai Ze's analysis conclusion. His wording was cautious, but the meaning was clear: the possibility of Eastern Emperor Your Majesty's whereabouts being leaked was extremely high. The source of the leak pointed to either the Sea of Blood or special tracking methods within the Witch Race. Both were possible, but the former's suspicion... was slightly higher.

Taiyi put down the jade slip and looked at Bai Ze. This old fox was indeed meticulous. Some of this information might have been genuinely investigated, while some... was likely his "reasonable" deductions and additions based on Taiyi's earlier words. The purpose, naturally, was to make his claims more credible and to remind Di Jun of the potential threat.

"Mister Bai Ze has worked hard," Taiyi said slowly. "It seems that although this trip of mine was a near-death experience, it wasn't entirely without gain. At least... it has exposed a few hidden demons and ghosts."

Di Jun's expression remained grim, but the anger in his eyes was replaced by deep contemplation. He looked at Taiyi, then at Bai Ze, and after a long while, let out a long sigh.

"Rest well and recover from your injuries," he said to Taiyi, his voice returning to its usual steadiness, but with an undeniable sternness. "Without my permission, you are not to step out of the Sun Palace! I will handle matters outside."

He then looked at Bai Ze, "Strengthen the defenses around the Sun Star, especially the monitoring of the Sea of Blood direction. Also, continue to pay attention to the Witch Race's movements, particularly Di Jiang and those Ancestral Witches."

"Your subject obeys," Bai Ze bowed in response.

Di Jun gave Taiyi one last look. In his eyes were blame, lingering fear, concern, and the complex responsibility of a brother and a Demon Emperor. He didn't say anything more and turned, striding out of the sleeping chambers.

Bai Ze also took his leave, casting another meaningful glance at Taiyi before departing.

In the sleeping chambers, Taiyi was once again alone.

He lay on the warming jade bed, feeling the continuous, gentle warmth flowing from beneath, nourishing his damaged body. The chamber quieted down, with only his own breathing audible, and the subtle movements of the forces within his body slowly adjusting and settling under the soothing warmth.

The fatigue and pain on his face gradually faded. Those golden eyes became deep and calm once more, like a still ancient well.

"Testing Styx... this excuse should be sufficient," he murmured to himself, his voice so low only he could hear.

Well-intentioned lies, sometimes, could protect people better than the truth, and also... achieve objectives more effectively.

He closed his eyes, focusing on guiding the heat flow from the Sun Star's core to repair his battered body.

The road ahead was long, his injuries needed healing, and the play... had to continue.