Chapter 43: Mutual help

Besides the Evil Qi, a hazy, desolate-looking gray Qi also clung to his body.

"Evil Qi, Death Qi, no wonder he's so badly injured..." Shen Shuibi's expression turned from displeased to quite grave.

The old horse finally made it over.

However, before he could even stop, his legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, letting out a weak whinny.

Shen Shuibi immediately jumped from Li Qi's neck and quickly walked to the old horse, stroking his mane and neck.

Fortunately, her body was inherently spotless; even though the old horse was dirty, covered in grime and congealed blood, she didn't get any of it on herself.

Gravel and dust naturally slid off her, leaving her unsoiled, as if she had a hydrophobic layer; nothing could cling to her clothes or skin, not even adherent mud or blood clots slid off her.

Walking in the rain wouldn't get her wet, and walking in a mud pit wouldn't dirty her; all impurities couldn't come near her.

Even more miraculously, after she stroked him, the old horse's mane, which had been severely matted—Li Qi thought it should all be cut off—miraculously combed itself out naturally.

It seemed that Shen Shuibi, as Empress Luofu's maid, must not have been a simple existence before her cultivation was crippled; she must have been a great master, right?

Perhaps a high-ranking expert of the fifth or sixth grade?

Looking at it this way, her ability to quickly become close to him and not show any discrimination truly showed her gentle nature.

Li Qi thought to himself.

Although she really was a bit foolish, he wondered if she had damaged her brain when she crippled her cultivation.

"Li Qi, go get the luggage; I'll check his injuries first," Shen Shuibi said to Li Qi.

Then, she lowered her head and began to clean the dirt from the old horse's body.

She didn't even need water; where her hand passed, the dirt naturally fell off onto the ground.

Seemingly feeling that this wasn't good, she patted the horse and whispered something to him.

The old horse whinnied, barely supporting himself, and struggled to get up.

After getting up, the old horse first walked to Li Qi's side and let out a neigh, seemingly greeting him.

Li Qi heard the other party's weak whinny and shook his head: "There's a small river in the mountain stream below; you two should go wash there. You can also wash off the blood and clean the wounds. I'll get the luggage; there's medicine inside."

The old horse let out a neigh; Li Qi didn't know why, but he could feel that it was a sound of gratitude, even though he didn't understand it.

"No need to thank me; mutual help, mutual help," Li Qi waved his hand, then turned and set off.

He went back to get the luggage.

By the time he rushed back, the soup was half-cold, and the rice cakes inside were soaked beyond recognition.

Well, never mind.

He added some brown coarse salt, and slurped down his lunch, half-eating and half-drinking.

During this time, in the wilderness, no one passed by, and the hidden luggage was still there.

Carrying his luggage, he returned again.

This time, he didn't use Great Forest Wood Qi; he only had three wisps left, so he had to conserve it.

Without the help of Great Forest Wood Qi, his return speed was much slower.

It took a full four quarters of an hour, or half an hour, before he finally rushed back.

Traveling with a backpack was exhausting; he gasped for breath, wiped the sweat from his head, and looked down from the cliff.

Down by the small river, Shen Shuibi had almost finished cleaning the old horse.

The old horse looked much better; the dirt on his body was completely cleaned off, and his wounds were rinsed with clear water, sweeping away his previous disheveled state. Although still weak, the impression he gave changed from an old, defeated prisoner to a frail, majestic elder.

He was truly majestic; although this horse looked very thin and his muscles had atrophied quite a bit, his bones were broad, and when he stood up, he was still over eight feet tall, which is over two meters, much taller than Li Qi.

His mane, though streaked with gray, was exceptionally dashing, flowing gracefully as he moved.

His large eyes were bright and piercing, sparkling with wisdom and humanity, even giving the feeling that he could speak.

Looking at this old Dragon Steed, Li Qi had to admit.

He was so handsome.

More handsome than himself.

Li Qi suddenly found a horse more handsome than himself and felt a bit indignant, but he immediately cast these emotions aside.

Why argue with a horse!

"Li Qi! You're back? I've almost finished cleaning the wounds; I'm just waiting for you to bring back the medicine!"

"And, I've also talked to him; we'll help him recover from his injuries, and he'll carry us on our journey!" Shen Shuibi happily rushed to Li Qi, smiling, and said, "This is great! The journey that would have taken a year and a half will now probably only take half a month!"

"Good news, good news," Li Qi also smiled.

Even in his current state, this old horse could probably still travel eight hundred li a day. As long as he was well cared for, they could travel less in the first few days and focus on his recovery. Once his injuries healed, they wouldn't have to trek so far on their own.

"Old Horse, I'll call you that from now on since I don't know your name. Come over here; I'll apply the medicine! We've agreed, so don't run off after you get the medicine!" Li Qi took out the trauma medicine from his backpack and called out to the old horse.

The horse seemed to truly understand human speech. He walked over, snorted at Li Qi, then obediently turned his body, presenting his wounds to Li Qi.

"He's saying thank you to you," Shen Shuibi said.

"No need to thank me," Li Qi replied casually, then began to apply medicine to the horse.

However, this old horse seemed very affectionate towards Li Qi, occasionally turning his head to rub against him.

Li Qi felt a chill down his spine because it was a male horse.

Damn it, horses are so rough.

Scary.

But the old horse still didn't stop; instead, he occasionally let out a whinny, as if speaking.

Li Qi didn't understand.

But Shen Shuibi could.

"He's saying he wants you to lend him a wisp of Azure Dragon Divine Qi," Shen Shuibi translated for Li Qi at this moment.

"A wisp of Azure Dragon Divine Qi? So he really came for this?" Li Qi scratched his head.

Shen Shuibi had told him before that this horse had voluntarily come over for this very reason.

The horse rubbed Li Qi with his nose, whinnying in his ear.

Li Qi felt a shiver of disgust and took a step back.

"He said, 'mutual help.' You saved his life, and he will repay you," Shen Shuibi continued to translate.

"Repay me? Besides carrying me for a ride, how else can he repay me?" Li Qi said.

However, he still waved his hand: "Forget it, it's also to help us get on our way faster. As for repayment, just be fast when you're running."

Anyway, as long as it was spring, a wisp of Azure Dragon Divine Qi could be obtained daily. Not using it when it was needed was no different from not having it at all.