Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 190: "What happened to your lips." (hehehe)

Suddenly, everything went still. The dust that had been unsettled hung in the air, the droplets of blood from the trio’s wounds hovered in place, and the soft hum of Jolie’s magic was suspended in silence. They watched in awe as time seemed to stop.

Fearing that a single breath would awaken the sleeping dragon they froze in place and Yunning whispered, "Nobody move," while nursing a gash on her arm from when she had been too slow to dodge a spike that had shot out from the wall.

Jolie scoffed as she jumped off a piece of cracked tiles onto a much steady ground. She was visibly exhausted having almost carried this entire team more than once. When she tried to find Qie Xieling the stupid palace brought her back to the throne room to fight to the death. Taking this chance to get away she didn’t listen to Yunning at all.

"You!" yelled Yunning her voice shaking the piece of glass from the broken chandelier which came crashing down. Lucky for her she wasn’t within distance otherwise her body would have been pierced by the large shards of glass.

"Why did it all stop?" asked Boran.

He was a burly warrior with a heart as strong as his greataxe but even he wore a grim expression. He had nearly been crushed by another falling chandelier.

Each one of them bore the marks of their battle against the palace’s defences. Torn clothing, sweat-dampened brows, and the slight tremble of adrenaline still coursing through their veins.

The once immaculate throne room was now, a grand chamber of cracked tiles, shattered windows, and broken furniture. The remnants of their chaotic journey through the palace could be seen in the splintered wood and shards of glass.

The once ornate vase, which held a bouquet of wilted water lilies, was now a smattering of porcelain fragments on the marble floor.

While a heated argument was about to happen between Jolie and Yunning, something impossible happened. The shards of the shattered windows lifted, piecing themselves back together with eerie, unnatural precision. The splintered pieces of furniture followed suit, reconstructing themselves in a mesmerizing dance of reverse destruction.

The cracks in the tiles filled in, returning to their pristine condition. Even the chandelier, which had almost been Boran’s demise, reformed. The pieces of glass and metal rose to the ceiling as they returned to their places.

The three of them watched, their breaths held in disbelief, as the room returned to its original splendour as if they had never been there. Boran let out a gasp, breaking the silence that had fallen over them. "What... What sorcery is this?"

Jolie’s seemed unbothered. She casually pointed at King Luo walking into the throne room. Walking next to him was Qie Xieling holding a bracelet he found god knows where.

"It’s an illusion. A very powerful and realistic one," he answered while taking the bracelet out of Qie Xieling’s hand and putting it on his (Qie Xielinh’s) wrist.

Boran grunted in exhaustion, his eyes scanning the room warily. "It’s clear we underestimated this mission. If this place is that guarded then what about the thing we are looking for... What are we looking for again?"

"Follow me and you should proceed with caution," said King Luo and Yunning who had been silent this entire time saw a conspicuous red mark on his neck. It was partially hidden underneath the choker around his neck so she noticed it easily.

King Luo didn’t say a word. How was he supposed to say that he was bitten by a cute hamster? He was trying to spare her feelings but Yunning wouldn’t let it go.

"You got hurt. Here, I have just the perfect healing elixir," she said but King Luo brushed her off.

"It’s fine. It’s nothing," he said as he distanced himself from her.

Jolie narrowed her eyes seeming suspicious. She scrutinised Qie Xieling’s lips, hair and slightly dishevelled clothes. She was like a mother who knew exactly how their preschooler left for school. The day the kid had could be determined by the current mess they were in. If the kid played in mud she would know, if they got into a fight she would definitely know.

Qie Xieling was no preschooler but Jolie knew that he had stumbled upon a big bad wolf and almost got eaten.

"You didn’t... you are so thirsty mm mmm," she said only for her mouth to get covered by Qie Xieling.

"Hahaha... she is just tired, right Jolie?" he said and Jolie nodded her head before Qie Xieling let her go. With a look like that seemed to be saying ’I know what you did’, Jolie smiled slyly.

"What happened to your lips? They look busted," asked Boran and Jolie crossed her arms on her chest while saying,

"Yes tell us. What happened to your lips Eling."

Qie Xieling, "..."

"Stop wasting time and let’s go. Eling, come here," said King Luo and Qie Xieling obediently ran over. Yunning glared at the pair walking side by side in front and couldn’t help but sneer. She sincerely believed that in the end, homewreckers will eventually die.

The five of them steeled themselves, preparing for whatever other surprises the palace could hold. The king’s illusion had served its purpose. It had left them with a stern warning, reminding them of their vulnerability.

In the deepest depths of the castle, pairs of red eyes slowly appeared in the darkness followed by loud screechs like that of the undead arising from their slumber. It seemed the second phase of the attack had just begun and they weren’t prepared for it. King Luo probably sensed it but he was too busy watching the person walking beside him. Qie Xieling was consciously or unconsciously brushing the back of his hand with his their shoulders almost touching.

King Luo fought off the urge to hold Qie Xieling’s hand. If he did so then everyone would know something was going on between them. Afraid that Qie Xieling would be misunderstood by others he retreated his hand but his fingers were suddenly hooked and the person pulled him closer.

When he glanced at Qie Xieling his heart was in a chaotic mess. It seemed he didn’t want to be a hidden secret but to come out publicly. Unfortunately, King Luo was being too hopeful because Qie Xieling was holding his hand in fear. That will ’o’ wisp was back again and looked like it had brought with it company.