Chapter 134: Cohabitation in the Cave

Crouching on a small peak, Xiao Yan’s gaze swept across the surroundings. Due to the presence of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, the magical beasts within the Magic Beast Mountains had become noticeably more agitated. However, the medicinal powder arranged by the Pharmacist Elder was quite effective. Although there were occasionally some magical beasts nearby, they would quickly leave after smelling the pungent odor. Therefore, in the past two days, Xiao Yan and his companion had not been discovered.

“Hey, having that woman around is always a hassle. Do you plan to keep it this way?” The Pharmacist Elder floated out from the ring, smiling.

“Hehe, she’s a Battle Emperor expert. If I can get her to owe me a favor, it’s a long-term investment. A little risk is nothing,” Xiao Yan fanned away a willow branch hanging from a tree with his hand, grinning.

“I think it would be best if you took advantage of her while she’s weak. That way, you’d have a Battle Emperor expert as your personal bodyguard, and you could walk around the Jia Ma Empire with ease.” The Pharmacist Elder said mischievously.

Xiao Yan rolled his eyes and muttered, “I’d like to, but if I did, she’d kill me first once she recovers.”

“Alright, reconnaissance is done, let’s go back.” Glancing around at the quiet surroundings again, Xiao Yan waved his hand, not wanting to argue about this extremely boring topic with the Pharmacist Elder. He leaped out from behind the pile of stones and agilely jumped down the small peak.

Putting the Pharmacist Elder back into the ring, Xiao Yan jogged along and returned to the cool cave a few minutes later.

Entering the cave, he saw the mysterious woman, who had originally been lying on the stone bed, now sitting idly on the stone slab, resting her cheek on her palm. Seeing Xiao Yan return, she smiled slightly and said, “You’re back.”

Nodding with a smile, Xiao Yan approached with the Heavy Xuan Ruler on his back. He took out a few plump fish he had caught under the waterfall from the Nalan Ring, sat down, and started a fire. He asked casually, “Are you feeling better?”

The mysterious woman stood up, bringing a faint fragrance with her. She came to Xiao Yan’s side and sighed softly, “The external injuries are no big deal, but the seal on my body will take at least a few days to remove.”

“Stay here for a while. They shouldn’t be able to find us.” Skewering the fish and placing them on the fire, Xiao Yan turned his head and looked at the mysterious woman beside him. Her simple dress was torn, so she was now wearing Xiao Yan’s black robe. The black that usually looked heavy on others added a touch of mystery to her shapely figure. As she moved, a fair and slender calf peeked out, making her very alluring.

Sitting down gracefully, the mysterious woman watched Xiao Yan sprinkling various spices on the fish, and smiled, “You’re quite bold. With just a Dou Zhe’s strength, you dare to venture into the inner part of the Magic Beast Mountains.”

“Can’t help it, I was chased in here.” Xiao Yan smiled and asked, “By the way, what’s your name?”

“Yunzhi,” the mysterious woman’s eyes flashed slightly, and she smiled.

“Yaoyan,” Xiao Yan poured out some carefully mixed spices from the jade bottle and said casually.

Yunzhi? He had never heard of a Battle Emperor expert in the Jia Ma Empire with that name. It seemed she was also hiding her true identity.

The woman calling herself Yunzhi did not question the truth of Xiao Yan’s words. Although her strength was sealed, a mere Dou Zhe like him was clearly not a significant threat to her.

Their brief conversation slowly came to an end. With no more topics to discuss, the two fell into silence. It was only when Xiao Yan handed the grilled fish to Lan Zhi that she nodded gently at him.

Tearing off a small piece of fish, Lan Zhi’s red lips moved delicately, her graceful eating posture making Xiao Yan, who was eating hastily, feel a bit inferior.

“Are you an Alchemist?” Glancing at the small jade bottles beside Xiao Yan, Lan Zhi’s voice held a hint of surprise.

“Eh, more like a Medic…” Swallowing the food in his mouth, Xiao Yan concealed the fact that he was an Alchemist. He didn’t think it was wise to reveal his identity.

“Oh.” Lan Zhi nodded slightly, and the surprise in her clear eyes gradually faded. An Alchemist and a Medic, though both called “shi,” their statuses were vastly different.

“I have a friend who is an Alchemist. After I finish my business here in the Jia Ma Empire, if you wish, I can introduce you to him,” Lan Zhi said, smiling, as she wiped her slightly greasy red lips.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan was stunned and then shook his head in the face of her surprised gaze, “Thank you, but I think I’ll pass. I already have a teacher.”

Hearing Xiao Yan refuse her kindness, a flash of surprise crossed Lan Zhi’s pretty face. How could her introduction be refused? This was the first time in years. At that moment, Lan Zhi almost impulsively wanted to ask, “Do you know who I’m going to introduce you to?” But the impulse passed quickly. With her composure and status, she naturally wouldn’t ask such a question. She simply nodded slowly with a hint of ambiguity.

“After you recover, do you still plan to look for the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King?” Tearing off the last piece of fish, Xiao Yan asked with a mouthful.

“Yes, I need to obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal,” Lan Zhi sighed and said.

Xiao Yan shook his head. Having witnessed her battle with the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, he clearly thought Lan Zhi’s chances were slim.

“My strength is not far from its, but I didn’t expect it to master sealing techniques. Last time, I was caught off guard, but next time, my Wind Extreme, Meteors, might not lose to it.” Looking at Xiao Yan’s expression, Yunzhi’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her tone hinted at reluctance.

“That move is indeed powerful.” Xiao Yan did not doubt the power of the deep light that cut off half of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King’s toughest horn. But if it really clashed with the Purple Crystal Seal, Xiao Yan wasn’t sure who would come out on top.

Finishing the grilled fish, Xiao Yan stood up, stretched, bid farewell to Lan Zhi, and then sat cross-legged on the stone platform. He formed the cultivation seals with his hands and closed his eyes.

Watching Xiao Yan begin to cultivate, Lan Zhi also stood up and washed her greasy hands. She then came to Xiao Yan, examining him closely. After a moment, her brows furrowed, and she said softly, “Why the lowest level Yellow Rank technique? His teacher seems a bit stingy. Doesn’t he know what a good technique means to a beginner?”

Shaking her head and sighing, Lan Zhi immediately branded the unseen Pharmacist Elder as a corrupt teacher harming his student.

“When everything is over, I should help him. Such a promising talent shouldn’t be wasted.” Shaking her head, Lan Zhi also sat down and closed her eyes, slowly dissolving the Purple Crystal Seal within her body.

During the days Lan Zhi was breaking the seal, Xiao Yan’s attentive care gradually brought the two closer. Perhaps because of the seal, the air of nobility that usually accompanied Lan Zhi’s speech gradually faded, which made Xiao Yan feel more comfortable. He disliked that kind of thing the most.

They lived in the cave in peace for two days, but on the third day, a sudden wolf howl broke the tranquility.

Just finishing lunch in the cave, Xiao Yan’s face changed when he heard the wolf howl outside. He quickly stood up and exchanged a worried glance with Lan Zhi.

“How were we discovered?” Xiao Yan paced back and forth. He was sprinkled with scent-concealing powder every day, and the magical beasts shouldn’t have been able to track him here.

His brows tightly furrowed, Xiao Yan suddenly noticed the apologetic look on Lan Zhi’s face. Pausing, he felt a pang in his heart and said with a bitter smile, “Don’t tell me you went out today?”

Looking at Xiao Yan’s expression, a flush of apology spread across Lan Zhi’s pretty face. Twisting uncomfortably, she said in a low voice, “Sorry, I… I went out to take a bath today.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yan was speechless. Sighing, he tightened the Heavy Xuan Ruler on his back and gritted his teeth, “Stay here and don’t move. I’ll go and lead the beast away.”

“You… your strength… I should go,” Lan Zhi said, her guilt increasing as she saw Xiao Yan about to leave. She quickly stood up.

“Stay here and don’t move!” Stopping abruptly, Xiao Yan turned around and sternly shouted, “If you go out, you’ll attract more beasts!”

Startled by Xiao Yan’s sudden harsh words, Lan Zhi stared at him blankly, her mind struggling to process. This… this young man dared to shout at her like this?

“Don’t take another step out of the cave, or we’ll both die here!” At this point, Xiao Yan didn’t care that the woman behind him was a Battle Emperor. After saying this sternly, he quickly ran out of the cave.

Standing still, watching the young man’s figure disappear at the cave entrance, Lan Zhi’s hands waved wildly in front of her, unsure of the appropriate expression. After a while, she finally stamped her foot, pouting, “So young, yet so mean. I was going to help you, but if you insist, go ahead.”

But even as she said this, Lan Zhi took a few steps forward. Gazing at the bright cave entrance and remembering Xiao Yan’s warning, she had to stop, a hint of worry in her brow.

Shortly after Xiao Yan left, Lan Zhi heard the wolf howls grow louder. After a while, the howls gradually faded, but the young man had not returned.

After waiting for a while, Yunzhi couldn’t bear it any longer. Biting her silver teeth, she gripped her hand, and a strange long sword sprang out. She said coldly, “Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, you bastard. If anything happens to Yaoyan, I’ll overturn this entire mountain range!”

As she prepared to rush out, a figure suddenly stumbled into the cave.

“Yaoyan? Are you alright?” Seeing the figure, Yunzhi’s face lit up, and she hurriedly ran over to ask.

“Big Sister, please don’t go out. Another beast, and I’m done for,” Xiao Yan said, smiling bitterly as he was covered in blood. His vision darkened, and he collapsed.

As he fell, Xiao Yan dimly sensed that he seemed to fall into a soft, warm, fragrant embrace…