146: Chapter 146 Wen Yulan's Random Thoughts

This young man had saved her, preserved her innocence, and given her a sense of peace she had never experienced before.

Wen Yulan did not know if this counted as liking him, but she knew she did not want to part with him just like that.

Ye Yun looked at her, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded, saying indifferently,

"Alright. But if we encounter danger, you must listen to me and leave first."

A look of surprise and joy instantly bloomed on Wen Yulan's face, and she nodded repeatedly.

"Okay! I will listen to you!"

Ye Yun stood up, walked to the cave entrance, glanced at the pitch-black night outside, turned around, and said to Wen Yulan,

"It is still early. Rest a while longer. We will set off when it is light."

Wen Yulan nodded obediently, wrapped herself in the outer robe, and leaned back against the cave wall, but she did not close her eyes immediately.

She watched Ye Yun walk back into the cave, sit down cross-legged not far from her, close his eyes, and begin to Cultivate.

His breathing gradually became long and steady, and Mystic Power slowly circulated around his body.

A faint golden halo shimmered in the darkness.

It set off his handsome face, making it appear as perfect as a sculpture.

Wen Yulan watched him, and a surge of complex emotions welled up in her heart.

There was shyness, a heartbeat of excitement, and a trace of indescribable joy.

She lowered her head and pulled the large black outer robe tighter around herself.

She buried her face in the collar and took a deep breath.

The robe retained his scent—faint, crisp, and carrying a hint of a man's unique warmth, which made her feel inexplicably at peace.

Wen Yulan's cheeks flushed red again, and her heart beat a little faster, yet she could not bear to let go.

[He is called Ye Yun... Ye Yun of the Luoxue Sect, who took my first time...]

Wen Yulan silently repeated this name in her heart, over and over again, as if trying to carve it into her soul.

Outside the cave, the night was deep, with the occasional sound of insects chirping, while inside, it was quiet and warm.

She leaned against the cave wall, her eyelids growing heavier and her consciousness blurring, yet she still could not bear to close her eyes.

Her gaze was hazy as she looked at the figure sitting cross-legged not far away.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting a layer of soft, silvery light upon him.

He sat with his eyes closed, his expression calm, like a boulder in the mountains—unmoved by the wind and rain.

Wen Yulan watched him, a faint smile unconsciously tugging at the corners of her mouth, and finally, unable to resist the drowsiness, she slowly closed her eyes.

With the scent of Ye Yun's robe lingering at the tip of her nose, she felt incredibly at peace.

That night, she slept exceptionally soundly.

...

The next day.

Morning light pierced through the vines at the cave entrance, spreading a layer of warm, golden light spots on the ground.

Birdsong drifted in from afar, crisp and melodious, dispelling the silence of the night.

Wen Yulan's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

What met her eyes was the mottled rock wall, and the tip of her nose was filled with the faint scent of vegetation, along with a lingering trace of a man's scent.

She subconsciously turned her head and saw Ye Yun sitting cross-legged not far away.

He maintained the same posture as last night, eyes lightly closed, breathing long and steady.

His Mystic Power circulated slowly, shimmering with a faint golden halo in the morning light.

His handsome face was bathed in a layer of soft light; his sword-like brows slanted towards his temples, and his nose bridge was high and straight.

His thin lips were slightly pursed, and he was as quiet as a painting.

Wen Yulan stared at him blankly, a surge of complex emotions welling up in her heart.

She no longer remembered when she had fallen asleep.

She only remembered that in her hazy state, she had leaned against him, smelling the scent on his robe, and felt incredibly at peace.

[He Cultivated all night?]

Wen Yulan looked at Ye Yun's focused expression, and a sudden sense of being moved welled up in her heart.

It was no wonder he had such cultivation at such a young age.

While others were playing around, he was Cultivating.

While others were resting, he was still Cultivating.

This diligence and self-discipline far exceeded that of ordinary people.

She had seen those so-called Geniuses of the Qingfeng Sword Sect who prided themselves on their talent, spending their days drinking and making merry, wasting their practice.

Yet this young man before her, despite having strength far surpassing his peers, was still working so hard.

[With such a Heart-Nature, his future achievements will surely be limitless.]

Wen Yulan stared at his profile for a long time, her heart beating faster for no reason, and her cheeks quietly flushed with a rosy hue.

She quickly looked away, lowered her head, and unconsciously twisted the cuffs of her sleeves, not daring to look again.

Just then, Ye Yun's breathing changed slightly.

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze landing on her, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Awake?"

Wen Yulan stiffened, her cheeks instantly flushing red, even the tips of her ears turning pink.

She nodded quickly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's: "Mm... just woke up."

Ye Yun stood up and stretched his limbs, his bones emitting a crisp sound.

He walked to the cave entrance, pushed aside the vines to glance at the sky outside, and turned around to say,

"It is dawn; it is time to go. How are you feeling? Can you walk?"

Wen Yulan stood up in a hurry, but because she got up too quickly, her legs went weak, and she stumbled.

She steadied herself against the cave wall, her cheeks turning even redder, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at him, saying softly,

"I can walk. My injuries have healed quite a bit, but I am still a bit weak; I can probably only exert five or six percent of my strength."

Ye Yun nodded without saying much.

He knew that this was the aftereffect of the Soft Charm Powder; although the medicinal power had been neutralized, the body's depletion still needed time to recover.

He took a healing Medicinal Pill from his Storage Pouch and handed it to her.

"Take this; it will help you recover faster."

Wen Yulan took the Medicinal Pill, her fingertips brushing his palm; it felt as if she had been scalded, and she quickly pulled her hand back.

She popped the Medicinal Pill into her mouth, lowered her head, and did not dare to look at him.

Ye Yun glanced at her, said nothing, and turned to walk out of the cave.

...

The morning breeze swept through the forest, bringing with it the scent of grass and trees.

Ye Yun walked in front, and Wen Yulan followed half a step behind him.

The two walked one after another, heading deeper into the mountain range.

Wen Yulan was wearing Ye Yun's large black outer robe, which was far too big for her.

It hung loosely on her, with the sleeves extending past her hands and the hem dragging on the ground.

She had to keep lifting the hem to avoid tripping.

That appearance, while disheveled, also carried a touch of naivety.

Wen Yulan secretly glanced at Ye Yun, who was walking in front.

His gait was steady, his eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings, his aura restrained yet exuding a sense of reliability that put people at ease.

[He is clearly several years younger than me, yet so reliable...]

Her cheeks flushed red again, and she quickly lowered her head, not daring to look anymore.

As the two ventured deeper, they encountered more and more Yao Beasts.

At first, they were only some Rank 2 Yao Beasts, like Azure-Patterned Leopards or Iron-Toothed Wolves.

Sensing their aura, they would avoid them from afar, not daring to approach.

But the further they went, the higher the Rank of the Yao Beasts, and the bolder they became.

A Rank 3 Early Stage Scarlet Flame Tiger sprang out from the bushes, opened its bloody maw, and lunged fiercely at the two.

Wen Yulan's expression changed, and she subconsciously reached for her sword.