74 Aftermath

During entire time Long Yu's teammates were suffering from intense case of fear, as they watch many people coming too close to their hiding place they were afraid that they would be found out. They knew they should trust Long Yu's work but still at their current condition they were no match, they had many wounded members like Long Yu, Ayesha and Han who were worst of them all, the fight with the assailants even if they had won had caused a significant drop in strength and they know they will not survive another such fight let alone protect the heavily injured.

Ayesha had regained her consciousness after her teammates managed to treat her using one of the 'Anti-Poison', pills created by Long Yu but she was too weak, she almost lost her left hand and on top of that she suffered from blood loss.

Han on the other hand had his right eye complete destroyed as such because of his sudden blindness he was having trouble due to shift in depth perception.

Although all of the members were injured and poisoned but Long Yu's 'Anti-Poison' pills saved them, but Long Yu himself was severely injured, his face was swollen with black and blue bruises, his right leg was broken as the team had used a splint on it for the time being, his left Palm was bandaged it was barely hanging by the skin when they found him not to mention the damages he received o his spine and ribs, currently not only he was unconscious he was suffering from high fever, his teammates took turns to nurse him back to health, but his condition was fluctuating too much to the point that sometimes he looked to be on death's door.

Finally on the evening of Third day Long Yu's situation stabilized and as his fever went down he returned to the land of consciousness, "Water", a raspy voice groaned out of Long Yu's mouth.

Tina quickly picked up a water canteen as she gently poured water in Long Yu's mouth, while helping him to drink it slowly, after a few minutes he finally opened his eyes and saw that he was laying on Ryofu's lap, he gave a kind smile to Ryofu who returned it back to Long Yu, "Welcome Back".

He raised his head as he saw some of his teammates crying tears of joy, he send a small smile towards them "Long Yu we thought you died", came a small crying sound from Jessie, it touched his heart to see his teammates so concerned about him, then he frowned seeing the state of his teammates.

He spoke out in concern, "What happened to you all and Han what happened to your right eye?"

Bashista: "Well we got injured during our fight, as far Han he lost his right eye, but enough about us how are you feeling kid you were on the verge of death.", although he had a calm voice but his face had a look of concern.

Long Yu just gave a nervous laugh while he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly before wincing at the pain. "Sister Ryofu would please kindly give me my backpack.", who just nodded at long Yu while Jack retrieved it for him.

"Thank You", Long Yu uttered before he opened his bag and rummaged with his one good hand as he found a couple of pills which he popped in his mouth, unknown to him his secret bodyguards have already fed him some pills which were programmed by the use of array to ensure slow release but upon consuming the pills carried by Long Yu his wounds healed up within a few hours while they discussed the next course of action.

Long Yu: "So we are to sit wait, I do not like it but this is the best choice as I also do not want to try my luck again if possible.", he shivered inwardly with the near brush with death.

Helen: "Long Yu what did you do to cause the huge explosion and what kind of creature does live in the herbarium?", a question which everyone wanted to ask him.

Long Yu glanced towards the now destroyed herbarium before inwardly shivering in fright as he answered, "Ido not know may be the fall of the tower caused some strange array to backfire which caused the explosion, as I had hightailed after the tower fell so I cannot answer you and as for the creature it was a 'árbol que chupa sangre' not only that it was many realms above me, I was lucky to escape from it unharmed.", some of the people had looks of horror etched on their faces upon hearing such a hellish creatures name and agreed with Long Yu that he was extremely lucky to escape from its clutches.

Tina: "I never thought in my worst nightmare you were facing such a nightmarish creature, i myself do not know what I could have done if I faced one alone by myself."

Long Yu puffed up his chest as he boasted, "So what if I was afraid, I would have never given it the satisfaction of killing it, I was planning on using a 'Taboo Skill', to permanently curve on its body what it means to try and harm me."

Ruth shouted out his face had a horrified look, "You What!!!, were you out of your mind, a Taboo Skill, do you even know what kind of back lash you would suffer because of it.", he was angry no scratch that he was utterly furious at Long Yu and specially the person who thought it was wise to hand him such a horrifying skill.

Long Yu while winced seemed like his tongue had loosened a bit too much for his liking under the effect of all the medicines and the high fever he had to endure.

Kyouki could not help but ask out, "What is a 'Taboo Skill' and is it extremely dangerous?"

It was Veronica who answered to her while glaring at Long Yu with intense anger making him wince once again, " A Taboo Skill is often described as a 'One time Trump card', as the user who uses it dies with no exception, hell death is the least of worries sometimes even their soul is destroyed."

At that those who did not know was horrified at that prospect.

Ryofu hugged Long Yu hard as she spoke out in scolding tone, "How could you Long Yu use such a dastardly skill and did you even knew of it consequences"

Long Yu sighed, "It was my only choice I was too injured and I did not want to become fertilizer to such a plant, as such I choose death on my terms not some plants, and to be frank if the tower would have been a few minutes let I would have been dead already as I had almost activated the skill, and I guess that what had caused the fever in me and as for the consequences my body and soul would have turned to ash."

Ayesha looked horrified at hearing that, "Who taught you such a skill?"

Long Yu contemplated a little bit before he answered, "Well one day I was bored and being curious I was searching through my master's library hoping to find something to appease my boredom, until I came across an old parchment on my master's desk and I being tad bit curious might have taken a peek inside it."

Tina shook her head in exasperation as she blurted out, "Unbelievable and even knowing all the danger you still tried to use it, really you are unbelievable, and you know we will report it to your grandmother."

Hearing this Long Yu paled, the so called grandmother may not do anything to him but his teachers will surely hear about him he was doomed, as he suddenly gained a lifeless look in his face as tears started to fall from his eyes imagining the torture he would have to endure, yup he was doomed, 'Good Bye Cruel World', he thought inwardly with grimace he could easily see his funeral procession.

Everyone sweat dropped at his antics as a thought ran through their mind, 'He needs some serious help'

Before anyone could speak Ryofu presented a query in front of other, "Well can anyone explain to me what is this 'árbol que chupa sangre', which everyone who knows seemed to be afraid of."

Meanwhile back in Ayindril,

Xiao Xiao bowed deeply towards Celestia as she apologized, "I am extremely sorry, I should have educated Ryuu better to never take something that does not belong to him."

Celestia quickly caught her as she stopped Xiao Xiao from bowing, "No harm done sister you do not have to bow, Ryuu despite his achievements is still very much a child, and children are curious as such you do not have to worry I will personally rectify his mistake so please ease your mind."

Meanwhile his eldest two out of the trio of sisters as well as Maheswara felt pity at Ryuu, the scolding given by Celestia are legendary as they leave people traumatized they just hoped the youngest member of their family can pull through it.