In the cool cavern, the woman pressed the longsword against the young man’s throat, creating a bizarre and perilous scene. The icy sensation on his throat made Xiao Yan’s skin prickle with goosebumps. Slowly raising his hand, he chuckled bitterly, as if to clarify, “I didn’t do that to you.”
Hearing this, a blush appeared on Yun Zhi’s icy, beautiful face. She thought furiously, *Indeed, you didn’t do that, but what you did is not much different.*
Her beautiful eyes flashed, yet the longsword in her hand did not waver. Her gaze shifted, and she suddenly noticed a red handprint on Xiao Yan’s face, clearly the result of the loud slap from within the cave.
Staring at the somewhat comical handprint, Yun Zhi’s cold gaze softened slightly. After a long while, she let out a despondent sigh, weakly retracting the sword, and walked into the depths of the cave. As she passed by Xiao Yan, she said indifferently, “Let’s pretend today never happened. It wouldn’t be good for you if word got out.”
Standing in place, Xiao Yan watched the graceful and alluring silhouette of Yun Zhi. He closed his eyes and exhaled, a bitter, helpless smile tugging at his lips. Indeed, such matters were best forgotten. Compared to her, he was like a frog in a well. Though he had been fortunate enough to savor her fragrance when the swan fell, once the swan recovered, the vast sky would be her true home, while the frog could only stay in the well, gazing upward.
A Battle Emperor was a formidable chasm. Perhaps Xiao Yan might have a chance to cross it one day, but not now. Moreover, this proud, noble woman would never believe that a mere Dou Zhe, even one with great potential, could reach her level.
“A dream leaves no trace…” He shook his head and slowly entered the cave. Looking at Yun Zhi, whose cold cheeks remained focused on dissolving the seal, he shrugged and sat down beside her, closing his eyes to cultivate his Dou Qi.
The cave fell into a silent, awkward atmosphere. It seemed impossible for the two to return to their previous amiable relationship after the events of the day.
The silence persisted until noon. Xiao Yan took the opportunity to go out and catch some fish. Absently turning them over the fire, he suddenly looked up, meeting her lively, beautiful eyes.
Their gazes locked briefly before they both pretended nothing had happened, diverting their attention elsewhere.
Turning the fish again, Xiao Yan picked one and offered it to Yun Zhi.
“You eat it. I’m not hungry,” she said, lowering her eyelids. But as soon as she spoke, her stomach gave a little twinge. Stubbornly, she closed her eyes, ignoring the protests of her belly.
“Don’t worry. I’ve already thrown away that bottle,” Xiao Yan said with a forced smile, telling a very dry joke as he saw her refusing to take the fish.
Opening her eyes, Yun Zhi pursed her small mouth and looked up, seeing the smiling youth standing by the fire. A softness flickered in her eyes. There was no denying that Xiao Yan’s youthful, handsome face made him seem harmless.
Staring at the grilled fish, Yun Zhi realized that the whole incident was because of her attempt to cook the fish. The boy before her had merely suffered an undeserved misfortune. Yet, any man would jump at the chance to experience such a misfortune…
Sighing softly, Yun Zhi finally reached out and took the grilled fish. As she opened her mouth to bite into it, Xiao Yan suddenly spoke, “It’s still quite hot. Be careful.”
Yun Zhi paused, then gave him a look and said, “Do you think a Battle Emperor would care about a little heat?”
Xiao Yan laughed awkwardly and started eating his own fish, devouring it ravenously.
Taking small, delicate bites, Yun Zhi felt a bit more relaxed due to Xiao Yan’s absurd concern. Swallowing her food, she said quietly, “Tomorrow, I should be able to break the seal.”
Xiao Yan stopped chewing abruptly, swallowing quickly, and sighed. For some reason, he felt that once Yun Zhi regained her Battle Emperor status, the fragile connection between them would shatter. She would remain a lofty Battle Emperor, while he would still be struggling to become a Dou Shi. Their paths might never cross again.
Thinking this, Xiao Yan found the grilled fish less appetizing. He finished it in a few quick bites, muttering, “Is that so? Congratulations, then.”
“Once I regain my strength, I’ll go after the Purple-Winged Sky Lion again,” Yun Zhi continued, seemingly oblivious to his emotions.
“I’d rather you stayed sealed,” Xiao Yan muttered, still eating his fish.
Yun Zhi’s eyebrows shot up, and she threw the grilled fish at Xiao Yan, scolding, “Jinx! What are you saying?”
Catching the fish, Xiao Yan smiled, seeing the tiny teeth marks. He held it like a treasure and started to chew slowly.
Seeing Xiao Yan gnaw on the fish she had bitten, a faint blush rose on Yun Zhi’s face. “Eat it, choke yourself!”
Having polished off the fish, Xiao Yan belched and asked, “Even though it’s probably pointless, do you need any help?”
Yun Zhi pondered for a moment and nodded. Gazing at Xiao Yan’s surprised expression, she said, “Purple Spirit Crystal is usually kept in the Purple-Winged Sky Lion’s lair. Last time, I planned to sneak in, but it caught me. Tomorrow, once I recover, I’ll distract the lion. You… I need you to enter the lair and find the crystal for me.”
“Helping you isn’t a problem, but I’m just a Dou Zhe. It’s embarrassing, but in this part of the Magic Beast Mountains, any rank-three beast could easily kill me.”
Yun Zhi said, “Don’t worry. Once I break the seal, I’ll use a secret technique to temporarily enhance your strength. With that, you should be able to enter the lair. Few beasts dare to enter the Purple-Winged Sky Lion’s den.”
Xiao Yan nodded.
“Keep this crystal. It will heat up when you get close to the Purple Spirit Crystal. Follow the heat,” Yun Zhi explained, handing him a small, rhombus-shaped crystal from her green storage ring.
Xiao Yan hung the crystal around his neck and smiled, “I’ll do my best.”
Yun Zhi nodded. With that said, the two fell silent again.
“Rest. I need to meditate,” Xiao Yan said, breaking the silence. He smiled and sat cross-legged on a nearby stone platform, closing his eyes to enter a state of cultivation.
Sitting on the stone bed, Yun Zhi stared at the boy’s fair face for a long time, then sighed, lying down. She murmured, “Sleep. Forget everything tomorrow.”
As the cave fell silent, Xiao Yan, who had been meditating, opened his eyes. He turned to see Yun Zhi, like a sleeping beauty, on the stone bed. He approached and gently covered her with a black robe, then, bearing the heavy, dark ruler, he left the cave. Nighttime was the peak of magical beast activity, so he needed to remain vigilant.
As Xiao Yan turned to leave, Yun Zhi, pretending to sleep, opened her eyes, watching the back of the strange, black ruler fade into the darkness. She touched the black robe, her serene heart stirred by unexplained ripples.
Inside the cave, a soft sigh faded into the air.
When the warm morning light woke Xiao Yan, he opened his eyes, still half-asleep. Turning his head, he saw Yun Zhi sitting cross-legged on the stone bed, her peculiar longsword laid across her thighs. Today, she wore a pristine white dress, her previously casual phoenix hair accessory now gathered, radiating a subtle nobility. Her lovely face was calm and elegant, with no sign of the fragility from days past.
Noticing Xiao Yan’s awakening, Yun Zhi opened her eyes, her gaze falling on him. “Awake?”
It was her familiar clear voice, but this time, it carried a chill, like a stranger’s greeting.
Scanning her, Xiao Yan sighed. “The seal… is broken?”
She nodded, and with a slight movement, appeared right in front of Xiao Yan. Her beautiful eyes fixed on his face, she said, “Let’s go. I’ll temporarily boost your strength.”
With that, she turned and led the way out of the cave, her steps elegant and captivating.
Watching her leave, Xiao Yan said, “I prefer the Yun Zhi from a few days ago… I don’t like the current you much.”
At the cave’s entrance, her beautiful back stiffened momentarily, pausing before stepping out again.
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