Chapter 438: I Have 1 Bold Idea
"Ah!"
The person cried out in pain and fell to the ground.
Startled, Qiao Xixi quickly dropped the beast hide in her hands and ran out.
"Father, what’s wrong?"
"Someone was trying to break in..."
Qiao Yi’s words trailed off as the person before him left him stunned.
Qiao Xixi, also getting a clear look at the newcomer, froze in place.
"Let go of me!"
Taking advantage of Qiao Yi’s stunned silence, the man pushed his hand away and stood up. He shot Qiao Yi an annoyed glare, a hint of grievance coloring his features.
That expression, those movements... where was even a trace of the Yun Ji she knew?
His white feathered robe was covered in dirt, his long hair was disheveled and fell messily over his shoulders, and even his cold, holy face was grimy.
Qiao Xixi blinked hard, trying to make sure she wasn’t mistaken—that this person merely looked like Yun Ji.
But Qiao Yi’s voice quickly disproved her theory. "Holy Priest?"
Hearing this, Yun Ji glanced back at Qiao Yi. He was clearly afraid, but not wanting to show weakness, he puffed out his chest.
"My name is Yun Ji. Who are you?"
Qiao Xixi: "..."
Qiao Yi: "..."
Qiao Xixi walked over to Qiao Yi, tugged his sleeve, and whispered, "Father, is he..." She pointed to her own head. "Is something wrong up here?"
She was certain the person before her was Yun Ji, but his appearance and demeanor were completely different!
This Yun Ji had completely lost his former inviolable, noble air. Instead, he seemed like a simple, innocent boy.
The only explanation Qiao Xixi could think of was that after losing his beast soul, his mind had been affected.
Qiao Yi was also shocked. He had never encountered anything like this before.
"It’s very likely. Stay here and don’t wander off. I’ll go get Sunxuan."
Qiao Xixi nodded.
After Qiao Yi left, Qiao Xixi clearly sensed Yun Ji let out a breath of relief.
Qiao Xixi looked up at him.
Their eyes met. It was slightly awkward.
She was used to the old Yun Ji. This one felt like a stranger.
"Do you... know me?"
"You’re Shuishui."
Qiao Xixi: ???
Before Qiao Xixi could react, he took her hand and started pulling her into the room.
Qiao Xixi was completely stunned.
"Shuishui, I’m hungry."
Gazing into his light-colored eyes, which were so clean and bright they seemed to reflect light, Qiao Xixi numbly nodded. "Sit down. I’ll get you something."
"Shuishui, you’re so nice."
Qiao Xixi suddenly met his smiling face and was even more bewildered. She had never seen Yun Ji smile like this before. His smile was like a Tianshan snow lotus in full bloom—holy, flawless, pure, and bright.
When she brought the food, Yun Ji seemed genuinely famished. He ate quickly, but his table manners were still exceptionally refined, just like before.
"Why do you call me Shuishui?"
Yun Ji paused, looking at her in confusion. "But you are Shuishui. I used to go to the spring to play with you all the time. You’ve forgotten."
As his words fell, fragmented memories flashed through Qiao Xixi’s mind.
A younger, boyish Yun Ji, also dressed in a feathered robe, was crouching by the Spring of Life, his hand dabbling in the water. Back then, he seemed to have a lively streak.
"Shuishui, come out quickly! Look what fun thing I brought for you."
Qiao Xixi looked up, and that tender, young face gradually overlapped with the Yun Ji before her.
"Shuishui."
’That’s right. When I was the eye of the Spring of Life, Yun Ji was always there, guarding me.’
"Do you want some too?"
Qiao Xixi snapped back to reality and shook her head at the piece of meat offered to her lips. "I’ve already eaten. You have it."
Yun Ji smiled and stuffed the meat directly into her mouth, then laughed happily.
"It’s yummy."
Qiao Xixi wanted to spit it out, but seeing the smile in Yun Ji’s eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
’Sprite, get out here and explain. What’s going on?’
"Host, the Holy Priest’s beast soul was extracted, causing mental impairment. I can’t cure this. Only by returning his beast soul to his body can he return to normal."
Qiao Xixi frowned, feeling a pang of sorrow as she looked at Yun Ji like this.
Just a moment ago, she had told Qiao Yi she wanted to take a walk in the palace, but she had actually been planning to find Yun Ji.
She still had so many things to ask him, but now he had woken up like this.
Qiao Yi returned with Sunxuan.
The moment Yun Ji saw the two of them, he shot to his feet, instinctively wanting to hide. But then he saw Qiao Xixi standing nearby, and after a moment’s hesitation, he pulled her behind him.
"Don’t be afraid, Shuishui. I’ll protect you."
Standing behind Yun Ji, Qiao Xixi shook her head at her father.
Qiao Yi frowned and looked at Sunxuan, who was also dumbfounded by Yun Ji’s state.
"Holy Priest, do you recognize me?"
Yun Ji looked at Sunxuan and shook his head. "Who are you? Also, I’m not the Holy Priest. The Holy Priest is my father."
Qiao Yi whispered to Sunxuan, "There might be something wrong with him. You should take him back to see a witch doctor quickly."
Yun Ji overheard. He tightened his grip on Qiao Xixi’s hand, his face full of resistance. "You want to take me away so you can bully Shuishui! I’ll never let you succeed!"
The atmosphere grew tense.
Qiao Xixi thought for a moment and said, "Yun Ji, this is my father, and this is your beast guard. They won’t hurt you."
"Father? Shuishui, how can you have a father?"
Er...
"If it comes to it, let the Holy Priest stay here for now," Sunxuan suddenly said.
Qiao Xixi glanced at Sunxuan. His expression was as indifferent as ever, but she knew that Sunxiao didn’t want to see him. If Yun Ji stayed, Sunxuan would definitely stay too.
"I saw an empty palace next door. We can have Yun Ji stay there." That way, he would be nearby, and she wouldn’t have to worry about Sunxiao being unwilling to share a roof with Sunxuan.
Sunxuan agreed it was a good idea. He asked Qiao Xixi to help coax Yun Ji over to the neighboring palace while he went to explain the situation to the Beast King.
Qiao Xixi agreed and, through a mix of coaxing and white lies, led Yun Ji to the palace next door.
The beast soldiers in Beast King City would never dare harbor any ill intentions toward Yun Ji. The moment he arrived next door, everything he could possibly need was moved in for him. Even the cobwebs on the door were swept completely clean.
Just as things were being put in order, Sunxuan arrived with Han Lie.
Han Lie was also very surprised when he saw Yun Ji. He had assumed Yun Ji would become very weak, but looking at him now, he wasn’t weak—he just seemed a bit slow-witted.
"There’s nothing physically wrong with the Holy Priest. For now, just let him stay here."
Han Lie left after saying this. Now that Yun Ji was like this, the position of Holy Priest would have to be filled by someone else.
Qiao Xixi and Qiao Yi sat in their chairs while Yun Ji, looking at Qiao Xixi, took her hand and squeezed her fingers one by one, seeming fascinated by them.
"Shuishui, you have a human form now, too. That’s wonderful."
Qiao Xixi and Qiao Yi stared at each other. What on earth was going on?
Qiao Yi glanced at Yun Ji. "Xixi, I have a bold idea."