Yu Di took out a bottle of life rejuvenation elixir. He downed it in one gulp. He closed his eyes and focused on his lungs. Fluid began filling them up. Blood probably.

  The internals were the most important. He felt them all shutting down. He used his Qi to smooth things back to where they should be. Why didn’t he listen to his sifu back when he was teaching healing techniques?

  Yu Di spat blood onto the ground.

  He could regret the past later. He had to focus on preserving the Qi within his body. That was the only thing keeping him alive.

  After an hour, Yu Di was finally stable. The list of organs that needed repair was the punctured lung, the bruised kidneys, an assortment of jumbled organs from the fall, and at least one broken and several fractured ribs. All he did was make sure they didn’t kill him right away.

  He needed to focus all his Qi and will to preventing them from shutting down further. It was like holding a house together with a hug.

  Yu Di opened his eyes.

  Vimala stood alert a short distance away, staring at him with those wide green eyes. Was that concern on her face?

  “Are you alright?” Vimala asked.

  “I’ve been better,” Yu Di said. His voice came out raspy. “Can you get me some water?”

  Vimala looked around before she ripped off a piece of her sleeve. She drenched it into the water by the waterfall and came back. She passed the dripping mess to Yu Di.

  Yu Di sucked on the rag, tasting the sweet, cool taste of the waterfall along with the saltiness of Vimala. He was so thirsty he didn’t even care that he could have produced a cup from his storage ring to capture the water better.

  When he was done, he gave the rag back to Vimala. She took it without hesitation before walking away with it. She drenched the rag and came back. This time, she wiped Yu Di’s face with it.

  “You look terrible,” Vimala said. “Paler than you normally are.”

  “I think I’ll survive for a little longer, but I definitely need a doctor.” Yu Di picked up his jade tablet.

  Current Power: Realm 1, Stage 3, Level 1 (Core Formation)

  Remaining Lifespan: 23 days.

  Current Status: Cursed (14.2% lifted), Fever from infection

  Overall Power: Fourth Realm, End Stage, Peak level (Demigod)

  Twenty three days before he would die. Knowing that he’s got an infection, he would probably lose consciousness and die a very painful death a few days before then. How did mortals live knowing that this kind of fate waited for them?

  Yu Di focused his Qi and pulled out two cups and three plain buns. His breathing became ragged. That short diversion of his Qi almost became life threatening. He couldn’t do that again until he stabilized his body.

  “Here, take these buns,” Yu Di said. “I can’t pull anything else out from my storage ring for a while.”

  Vimala looked cautiously at the food. Even after saving her life, she still didn’t trust him.

  Yu Di licked his lips and took a bite from it. It took a lot of effort to chew it before he swallowed. He offered it to Vimala.

  “If I wanted to kill you, I would have let you be captured.”

  Vimala took the bun and she nibbled it at the edge, causing white crumbs to hit the ground.

  “It wasn’t that I didn’t trust you. I… I feel ashamed that you would still treat me so well after trying to get you killed. I don’t think I would have been as forgiving, even as the Goddess of Miryana.”

  Yu Di scooted back until he leaned against the wall. He chuckled.

  “I don’t know what to tell you. I am not the same thieving, conniving bastard I was over twenty years ago.”

  “You’re telling me that you wouldn’t take the secret of the Goddess if I offered it to you right now?” Vimala asked.

  Yu Di laughed, but that turned into a chortle. He had to breathe really slowly until he got it back under control.

  “I would take it in a heartbeat. I said I wasn’t the same, but I’m not an idiot. If I had that power, I could heal myself instantly. I wouldn’t have to suffer a mortal’s death like this.”

  Vimala frowned.

  “Well, I don’t have the secret with me. So you’re stuck being a mortal.”

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  “If it’s any consolation, I would have used the power to save your city,” Yu Di said. “I can tell that in another few months, the siege is only to get worse for your people. Without an outside force, you will all devolve into a feral city that will eat itself. I’ve seen it happen before.”

  “I have faith in my people.” Vimala took out her star-shaped medallion. She held it against her chest and muttered a prayer. It glowed a bright white.

  Who does the Goddess of Miryana pray to? That was something that confused Yu Di. Then again, knowing that the Goddess of Miryana was only a simple woman like Vimala gave him comfort. Her kindness and naivety was probably the only thing that didn’t strike him dead during their fight. She had home advantage in this city and that technique she used earlier could have brought him to his knees.

  Yu Di shook his head. There was no point in thinking about that now.

  “Vimala, is there a way to get back to Ying Fusu’s caravanserais from here?”

  “Yes, but it’s a long walk,” Vimala said. “I’m not sure if you can make the trek. We have to walk out of these tunnels into the desert and then back through the city gates.”

  “Wait, these tunnels go out into the desert? Why don’t we get out that way? The barrier put up by Shah al-Rahman can’t encompass everything. That would require the power of a Demigod at least.”

  Vimala looked away, rubber her arm.

  “You’ve tried it once before, haven’t you?” Yu Di asked.

  Vimala nodded.

  “How do they have such power and yet struggle to take over this city?” Yu Di sat up, wincing from the pain from his chest. “If I came here with my Demigod powers, I would have taken this city in a second. Even my limited senses can tell that there are no one above the second realm in this city.”

  Yu Di studied Vimala’s face.

  “You’re hiding something, aren’t you?”

  “Fine. It’s not much of a secret now. But the Goddess power bestowed upon the city is protecting it even now. Unless the Goddess of Miryana allows foreigners in, no one can come in.”

  “But what about all those traders? All those merchants that came in every day after your lost your powers. There’s no way you could…”

  It finally hit Yu Di. When Vimala was talking about the Goddess of Miryana, she wasn’t talking about herself. She was talking about the actual Goddess of Miryana. Vimala was at most the avatar.

  In that moment of clarity, he felt as if an otherworldly power was looking down at him from above. Yu Di had never found any evidence of actual Gods in any of the texts he’s read. It was one of the reasons that drove him to achieve a cultivation higher than a Demigod. There had to be something higher.

  To truly become an Immortal.

  Yu Di shook his head. The better explanation would be that the original Goddess of Miryana set up some automatic systems that did this or another underground, shadow group was performing these functions. If Yu Di had a few thousand years, he could set up something as elaborate, if not more effective.

  “This secret doesn’t help us much now,” Yu Di said. “You’re telling me that I still have to drag myself out through these tunnels and into the scorching desert only to make it back to the gates where they won’t let us in because of a siege?”

  “Yes, but I know of a secret way to get back into the city,” Vimala said.

  “At least there’s some good news.” Yu Di coughed.

  Vimala handed him a cup of fresh water.

  “The problem though is I’m going to need at least a few days of rest to move. Are you sure it’s safe down here? Reis or the high priests men won’t find us down here? Do you think we should move now?”

  Vimala hesitated.

  Yu Di shook his head.

  “This is why we’re in this mess. You have always been so uncertain of everything. You keep listening to the teachings of the Goddess of Miryana and not yourself. Can’t you see how much danger we are in? Those secrets you’re holding are keeping you from living a fulfilling life.”

  “You don’t have the right to say anything,” Vimala said. “You are the one that did this to my city. If you never came here twenty years ago, we would be fine. Hell, if you didn’t show up today I would have had a peaceful life.”

  “Until they broke through those gates or your people ate each other.”

  “And whose fault is that?” Vimala shouted.

  Yu Di wanted to say “yours,” but knew that would spell certain doom for him. He needed her to take care of him for the next few days if they were to survive. So he decided to attack the problem from a different direction.

  “I get it. We both did something foolish over twenty years ago.” Yu Di paused as two scary green eyes glared at him. “Fine, I did something foolish. But that’s not me anymore. It’s been over twenty years since then. We’re different people now. I have a daughter that I would give anything to see again before I die and I’m sure your experiences have given you a better perspective in life.”

  Vimala bit her lip and nodded.

  “So can we put aside our differences at least for the duration of my stay in this city so that we can help each other?” Yu Di asked.

  “How do I know that you’re not here to take the secret again?” Vimala asked.

  “Look at me. I’m a wreck. I have lived a hard twenty years since the curse. Even if I wanted to seek the secret, I no longer have the ability to. When I said the only thing I want is to see my daughter, I meant it. I don’t have long to live and I would do anything for her.”

  Yu Di felt his eyes water. He wasn’t sure why as he didn’t have enough in his body to keep him alive. Such a waste.

  “If it makes you feel any better, I can tell you that the technique you used with your medallion didn’t work on me,” Yu Di said. “I know what it’s supposed to do, and nothing. If you can’t trust me, then you can at least trust your Goddess.”

  Vimala waved her medallion over Yu Di.

  Its bright, white glow blinded him for a moment. It was brighter than the lantern he lent her. When she took it away, the glow faded.

  “You’re not lying,” Vimala said.

  This time it was Yu Di’s turn to nod. The pain radiating from his chest felt like burning or stabbing or… It made it hard to breathe. These injuries were officially the worst ones he’d ever had since he started cultivating. This was why he chose to lie, cheat and steal than confront anyone for his cultivation.

  His mistake was underestimating the naive girl who as the Goddess of Miryana twenty years ago. He wasn’t going to underestimate her now.

  “I’ll tell you what. Give me your hand.” Yu Di reached out with his.

  Vimala placed hers into his.

  “I promise you,” Yu Di said, “until I get out of this city, I will cause you, the city, or its people no harm, unless they attack me first. I swear upon my Qi.”

  A black Qi aura engulfed Yu Di for a moment before fading out like a snuffed candle. This was one of only two times he ever swore on his own Qi. Breaking this oath would destroy his cultivation and instantly send him to see King Yama.

  “A clean slate?” Vimala asked.

  “Yes, clean slate,” Yu Di said.

  Vimala thought for only a second this time before nodding.

  “There’s a small cavern further down that would provide better cover. We should head there.”

  “I hate to ask, but can you help carry me?” Yu Di asked. “My legs have stopped working and I fear if I lose concentration for even a second, my organs will stop working.”

  Vimala snorted.

  “A big man needing a woman to carry. Fine.” Vimala reached down and lifted Yu Di with little to no effort.

  For the first time in a long time, Yu Di felt safe. This must be what Yu Lin felt when he carried her. He was going to give her the biggest kisses and hugs the moment he went back.