Chapter 369: Dividing the Spoils
The battleground was a mess.
Li Luo sat under one of the trees that had not been leveled. Lu Qing’er was bent over him, tenderly helping him bandage the wound on his palm. Although Li Luo had healing abilities, the wound was so deep that he would probably take a few days to recover.
Qin Zhulu was slumped over like a ragdoll nearby, too tired to move an inch. He had been ridden hard as well, caked in thick patches of dried blood from when he had tanked Lin Suo’s attacks. He had paid a heavy price too.
At the moment, there were more wounds than unblemished skin for Qin Zhulu.
It was said that the best defense was a good offense. Indeed, Qin Zhulu’s constant aggression had kept Lin Suo too busy to attack Li Luo. Of course, the Blacklight Panoply had augmented his defenses and closed the gap between a Third Pattern and a Third Changing.
Beaten up and bedraggled, now he had to watch the guy and girl beside him.
He was not envious. Rather, he felt emotionally uncomfortable, like a third wheel.
Wrestling with both physical and emotional discomfort, he scooched over and lowered his upper body down with a groan, lying flat down and staring up into the sky. There was nothing he could do about the others, but perhaps he could find some rest.
The great battle had completely worn them out. Although they had had the numbers advantage, it was not enough to overcome the disparity in strength. All three were doing their best to recover.
Close to twenty minutes later, Li Luo creaked to his feet and walked over to Qin Zhulu, clapping him on the shoulder.
Qin Zhulu snorted and rolled his eyes. “You’re dry yourself, man. How are you going to heal me?”
“You did the most.” Li Luo grinned. “I’ll find a drop or two. Brace yourself!” Li Luo squeezed out some healing power. Qin Zhulu winced in relief, the healing power easing him up like a shot of oil into rusty joints. He grunted and his breathing grew lighter. The pleasant feeling lasted a full ten seconds before vanishing.
“That’s it?” Qin Zhulu demanded.
“I told you it was only a few drops,” Li Luo responded.
Rising to his feet heavily, he plodded towards Lin Suo, who was still pinned to the rock. Qin Zhulu swore and followed, scrambling to his feet while using his spear as a crutch.
Li Luo looked down at Lin Suo. There was a huge hole in the latter’s shirt, and his chest had caved in slightly, broken ribs paving the way down to a yawning hole through which his organs could be seen pulsating gently.
Lin Suo’s breathing was ragged. He was on the verge of death.
But thanks to the Golden Dragon Secret Key, he was still holding on to one last breath.
Light-headed and disoriented from his state, he looked up at Li Luo with eyes unfocused but filled with a deep resentment.
He was boiling with anger, because the tables had been turned on him.
A honest-to-goodness Third Changing like him, beaten by a Third Pattern!
Li Luo ignored the poison in the wounded youth’s gaze, giving him a hearty smack on the shoulder. “Brother Lin, since we came together, we should go back together. That’s all neat and tidy, wouldn’t you say? I’ll treat you to a meal when we get back, if there’s a chance.” Qin Zhulu stared at him. Li Luo was a dark-humored bastard. When they went back, Yu Hongxi would probably flay him to within an inch of his death. Have a meal together? The only chance would be through a straw.
He made a mental note that Li Luo was the kind of person who would kill you cheerfully, then hum a ditty while he dug you a grave.
“Eurrgh!”
Lin Suo’s reaction was an aggravated mouthful of blood before he fainted.
“That’s all you got?” Li Luo demanded of the unconscious youth. He was only sending this guy back to the Xia Kingdom. Kids these days were too soft.
Li Luo reached out to grab Lin Suo’s pocket sphere.
Rummaging through it, he quickly found the black gourd that held half of Lu Qing’er’s Golden Dragon Qi.
“Qing’er, catch,” he said, casually tossing it over.
She reached out to catch it with both hands. The moment it landed on her cupped palms, a golden mist rose from it, which Lu Qing’er breathed back into her body.
The transition lasted for a dozen breaths of time before all was quiet again.
The black gourd lay inert in her hands.
“I feel the same…” she said with uncertainty.
“Well, the Golden Dragon Qi’s a strange thing.” Li Luo shrugged cheerfully. “Puny Resonant Masters like us wouldn’t know what it’s about.”
Lu Qing’er nodded.
Li Luo upended the pocket sphere and pulled out the Octagold Shield next. There was a nice, clean hole in it, and its energy levels were badly dimmed. It had somehow been broken by the attack.
Still, upper white-eyes were upper white-eyes. If he dropped a little gold for the repairs, it would make a great defensive tool.
He paused thoughtfully before handing it over to Qin Zhulu. “It’s yours.”
All three of them had helped to make the win come through. Li Luo had no intention of taking all the spoils for himself. Lu Qing’er had her Golden Dragon Qi back, and that was not divisible. But their meat shield had worked hard, and he deserved his rewards.
Qin Zhulu took one look at the Octagold Shield, then shook his head. “You did the most. Keep the shield. Besides, you might need a defensive treasured artifact more than I do. I already have the Blacklight Panoply.”
Li Luo shook his head. “I want the pocket sphere though.” He intended to give it to Jiang Qing’e when he got back, which was why he had given up the shield.
“Take them both. Give me a million skygold in return,” Qin Zhulu said unconcernedly.
“Little Lu, you treat me so well,” Li Luo said with puppy eyes. “I actually have a few drops of healing energy in reserve, do you want me to give them to you?”
“Nah, stay away from me.” Qin Zhulu scowled at him, then turned and stalked away.
Li Luo grinned. He knew that this was Qin Zhulu being nice, but he wasn’t going to stand on ceremony. The Octagold Shield was indeed going to be helpful for him. As for the pocket sphere, the price was probably slightly over a million skygold, so Qin Zhulu was asking for a reasonable price.
Li Luo tucked the pocket sphere away, satisfied. “Well, you should go get the most important thing now,” he reminded Lu Qing’er, gesturing at the peak of the mountain, where a golden light shone. Within, a golden writ floated.
The Golden Dragon Mountain writ.
Lu Qing’er turned to look at it reverently. She walked right through the light unhindered and took the golden writ.
A life-like golden dragon was inscribed across it. Its scales gleamed and caught the light from different angles, giving the impression that the dragon was moving. Faint dragon roars could even be heard from the precious writ.
Lu Qing’er examined it with a mixture of curiosity and delight. Although she had not come expressly to get the writ, it was definitely what her mother wished for. Surely Yu Hongxi would see Li Luo in a different light now that they had come out with a good result, right?
A little bit of pride sprouted in her chest as she imagined her mother’s surprise at the outcome.
“I bet you feel embarrassed for underestimating Li Luo now!”