Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 136: Petals of Violet Chrysanthemum — VII

"This is insanity." Li Xinyuan groaned. Taken by frustration, he all but banged his head on the work table he was provided. "We have already conducted nearly twenty HLA-Typing tests on Young Miss Cheon’s immediate family. Still zero match, how is this even logical?!"

Was the world’s consciousness so bent on taking this child’s life? Against his better judgement, Li Xinyuan couldn’t stop himself from feeling resentful of this entire situation.

Just for the sake of restoring balance, a child needn’t die. Why was this situation so, so fucked up?

Once again, he banged his head on the tabletop and heaved a great sigh. His hands balled on his lap, knuckles white with the strength of his grip.

Tragic as it may be, even Cheon WuHui’s marrow did not match with Cheon Yerin. As chagrined as Li Xinyuan was, such cases were not uncommon. It wasn’t necessary for immediate relatives to have matching bone marrow.

With Cheon Yerin’s mother in mind, Li Xinyuan had made sure to test several of her cousins and the maternal family members.

All the results, however, came back as negative. Which also meant the points he had spent on buying the kits had gone down the drain.

Li Xinyuan groaned again, exhaustion had seeped into his own marrows. He had conducted a large number of tests. And in all of this, the only saving grace was that HLA-Typing kits were surprisingly inexpensive in the system store.

Even if they weren’t, it was not so much as a matter of spending points as it was Cheon Yerin’s waning health.

The Heavenly Demon had made certain of holding up his part of the deal, it was only Li Xinyuan who had yet to find a marrow donor.

And he didn’t want to give up on a child as young as her. She deserved to live, to see the world.

Her blood may be of the JiangHu-Murim’s common enemy, she may be—perhaps—the heir to all of the demonic teachings. But in the end, she was just that—a child.

And every child had the right to live.

Li Xinyuan’s tense shoulders slumped, defeat amok in his veins as he drummed his fingers on the table in frustration.

He did not possess nearly enough points to run a test in the whole Heavenly Demon Cult. Nor did Cheon Yerin have so much time left.

In the last few days, Li Xinyuan had managed to devise a new course of temporary treatment for the child through Hu Lijing’s skills paired with Bai Huiqi’s powers.

Hu Lijing’s divine flames capable of reducing dragons to cinders was employed to burn away the infected cancer cells little by little. And Bai Huiqi’s powers were used to stabilize and freeze the spreading cancer.

But there was only so much the two of them could do with a condition as deteriorated as hers.

Li Xinyuan grunted, unwilling he was to admit defeat. Screw the world’s consciousness, he was going to fight.

For Cheon Yerin, and for himself. Apprehensive though, Li Xinyuan was certain that branches of rumours of him aiding the Heavenly Demon Cult had already spread far and wide.

Now, not only was Cheon WuHui JiangHu-Murim’s common enemy, but even the surgeon himself must be under great scrutiny. Under such conditions, he could only fight for survival by siding with those he was already close to.

The Heavenly Demon.

Now, now... Whose marrow would match with Cheon Yerin’s?

Deep in thought, inadvertently, the surgeon’s gaze drifted to Hu Lijing and Bai Huiqi. The two spirit were engaged in quiet discussion on—what he presumed to be regarding—the latter’s control on his strength.

Wait. It was a fleeting, sudden thought. But before he could stop, it became gargantuan, the possibility was worth exploring.

Slowly, Li Xinyuan straightened his spine, with light at the end of tunnel in sight, he willed vigour in himself. "Hu Lijing, Bai Huiqi," he cleared his throat, voice clear with his address of the two.

Instantly, both of their attention turned to him. More in comfort with him, Hu Lijing raised an eyebrow in askance while Bai Huiqi’s face painted itself with cautioned curiosity.

"What is it, Xinyuan?"

"I could not help but wonder, consider," slowly, carefully, the surgeon began. He willed nerves out of his voice. "You two are fox spirits, yes?"

"Well, indeed so." Hu Lijing leaned forward, he wondered where Li Xinyuan was heading with this. "Why do you ask?"

"You can transform." Blunt yet vague, Li Xinyuan spoke his mind. "Is the transformation often complete, or is it flawed in nature."

"Complete."

"Hm."

"You’re unsettling," Unceremoniously, Hu Lijing declared, leaning back on his seat. "Why do you ask?"

"I couldn’t help but wonder." Li Xinyuan started, his tone low. "We are doing what we can. Yet the most crucial step falls through. I cannot find a donor. So, I wonder—" candidly, the surgeon canted his head to the side "—can either of you transform your inside of the body such that your marrow matches Young Miss Cheon’s?"

At those words, the room fell silent with tension. It was new. An uncertain path even. Risks were high, but so were the positive results.

Were they willing to take the leap?

Li Xinyuan stared at the two foxes, fingers laced together, elbows on the table and mouth hidden behind his fingers.

The silence prevailed strongly.

He intended to follow through, but were either of them willing to do the same for the child?

"..."

"..."

"Neither of you?" Though disappointed, Li Xinyuan had expected as much. Neither of them were beholden to help a child they had known for what, a few days at best?

Hu Lijing sighed, the concealed disappointment in Li Xinyuan’s voice pierced bone deep. "It is not so much as unwillingness—" he glanced to his side, taking in Bai Huiqi’s expressions. "—as it is a matter of feasibility."

Somewhat ticked, Li Xinyuan’s jaws clenched. "What is something so unfeasible for even the mighty ninetails?"

"... I will overlook this remark." With a roll of his eyes, Hu Lijing continued. "I understand your urgency. But allow me to explain, will you?"

"Explain then."

Hu Lijing scoffed at the tone. "Discourteous. Anyway, I shall explain. I cannot do this, even if I’m capable of it because of one crucial factor." Slowly, he leaned forward, elbows supported by his spread legs. "Cheon Yerin has practiced Demonic cultivation prior. Her body is unfit for receiving anything of mine, no matter what form."

That piqued the four-tailed fox’s curiosity. "And why is that?" Hesitant, he dared ask.

Casually, Hu Lijing regarded him with a fleeting glance. "First and foremost, I dislike children." He turned to face Li Xinyuan’s hardened gaze head-on. "You are aware. I did not spare my own child, how can I go so far as to help another’s?"

"For a sense of duty. Of atonement." Li Xinyuan countered evenly, though inexplicablely angered. "To let go of your burdens. Do not make me unfavorable of you."

"My apologies." Hu Lijing dipped his head. His shoulders were tense. Evidently, he himself did not like the words that left his lips. "I have misspoken."

Li Xinyuan nodded tersely. "I’m glad. You may continue."

"Second reason," Hu Lijing raised two fingers. "My inherent nature is divine. Regardless of my actions, my soul nor my body abandons my nature. I fear should anything of mine enter the body of that tender child, my flames will ravage her within indiscriminately."

The other two people in the room froze.