152: Chapter 152 Killing the Azure Bear

The Iron-backed Azure Bear's scarlet eyes stared intently at Ye Yun, its gaze filled with madness and killing intent.

It let out a roar and its massive body suddenly charged forward at a startling speed.

Its twin paws were like two small mountains, carrying world-destroying power as they slammed down fiercely!

Ye Yun didn't take the hit head-on; his figure retreated rapidly as he held the burning snow sword across his front, the sword light flickering.

He warded off the Iron-backed Azure Bear's storm-like assault.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Every collision stirred up an earth-shattering roar.

Countless cracks were shaken into the ground, rubble splashed, and waves of air surged.

Ye Yun was forced back step by step, the web of his thumb going numb as a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

Wen Yulan watched this scene, her heart leaping into her throat.

She wanted to rush up to help, but her legs were so weak she couldn't move them at all.

She could only bite her lip hard, her eyes reddening and her voice trembling:

"Ye Yun, be careful..."

The Iron-backed Azure Bear caught a flaw in Ye Yun's defense, and its massive bear paw slammed hard against his chest!

"Bang!"

Ye Yun let out a muffled groan and was sent flying, crashing heavily against the rock wall and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

He slid to the ground and knelt on one knee, the burning snow sword thrust into the earth to support his body.

The robes on his chest had been torn open by the bear's paw, revealing the blue and purple bruises beneath.

With a trace of blood hanging from the corner of his mouth, it looked exceptionally piercing against his pale face.

When Wen Yulan rushed to his side, her whole body was shaking.

She knelt down, her hands trembling as she held his shoulders, trying to help him up.

But her hands were too weak to exert any force, so she could only half-kneel and half-lean against his side.

"Ye Yun... Ye Yun, how are you?"

Her voice carried a sob, her eyes were red, and tears welled up in them, yet she desperately held them back.

She was very close to him, close enough to see the fine dust on his eyelashes and smell the faint scent of blood on him.

And also that clear, cold aura that made her feel strangely at ease.

Her hand rested on his shoulder, the palm feeling the rough texture of his clothing.

And the warmth coming from the firm muscles beneath the fabric.

Ye Yun took a breath and turned his head to look at her.

Her face was very close to him, close enough to see the fine beads of sweat on the tip of her nose.

He could see her eyelashes trembling slightly due to nervousness.

Wen Yulan's lips were tightly pursed, her face pale, and her eyes filled with worry and panic, like a startled fawn.

"I'm fine."

He twitched the corner of his mouth, wanting to give her a reassuring smile.

But as soon as he moved, a sharp pain shot from the wound on his chest, making him unable to resist sucking in a breath of cold air.

"Don't move! Don't talk!"

Wen Yulan grew anxious, her hands supporting his shoulders as she tried to keep him in place.

But her strength was too little to hold him down; instead, because she used too much force,

she lunged forward, her body pressing tightly against his arm.

Ye Yun's body stiffened slightly.

He could clearly feel something warm and soft pressing against his arm.

It was as soft as fine silk, yet possessed a startling elasticity.

That sensation transmitted through the thin fabric made his scalp tingle and his heart rate suddenly quicken.

Wen Yulan also froze.

She realized what she was pressing against, and her cheeks instantly turned bright red.

The blush spread from her cheeks all the way to her ears and neck, and even her bare shoulders were tinged with pink.

She wanted to pull back, but her body wouldn't obey; her limbs were weak, and she couldn't muster any strength.

"I, I didn't..."

She stammered, trying to explain, but her voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible, and even she didn't know what she was saying.

At this moment, Wen Yulan kept her head down, not daring to look at Ye Yun, her fingers tightly clutching the fabric on his shoulder until her knuckles turned white.

She could feel his body temperature and the slight tremor in his arm as his chest rose and fell.

She could feel his breath brushing against the top of her head, warm and scorching.

Ye Yun lowered his eyelids, looking at the bowed head in his arms.

Her hair was somewhat disheveled, with a few stray strands sticking to her flushed cheeks.

Her eyelashes trembled gently, like the fluttering wings of a butterfly.

Her breathing was rapid and erratic, her chest rising and falling heavily with each breath.

That soft mass also gently pressed against his arm along with her movements.

He subconsciously swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing once, his heart beating so fast it almost jumped out of his chest.

Ye Yun wanted to look away, but his gaze wouldn't obey and remained fixed on her, unable to move.

"[She is so soft...]"

As soon as this thought surfaced, he quickly suppressed it, took a deep breath, and forced himself to stay calm.

"I'm fine."

He spoke, his voice a bit raspier than before, carrying a hint of heavily suppressed restraint.

"Let go first."

Only then did Wen Yulan react, hurriedly letting go.

She shrank back, her head lowered, hands twisting the hem of her clothes, her face as red as a cooked shrimp.

She bit her lip, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

A subtle and ambiguous atmosphere filled the air between them; neither of them spoke.

Just then—

A fierce Sword Qi struck from the direction of the valley entrance, so fast it was impossible to catch with the naked eye!

Ye Yun's pupils constricted, his body's instinctive reaction faster than his brain.

He suddenly reached out, grabbing Wen Yulan by the waist and pulling her into his protective embrace.

At the same time, his right hand unsheathed the burning snow sword, holding it across his front to block that Sword Qi!

"Clang!"

Sparks flew everywhere as the Sword Qi collided with the sword blade, exploding into a ball of dazzling light.

The massive impact caused the web of Ye Yun's thumb to split, blood dripping down the hilt.

He let out a muffled groan and retreated several steps.

A surge of sharp pain hit his chest, a sweet taste filled his throat, and he spat out another mouthful of blood.

Wen Yulan was held tightly in his arms, her face buried in his chest.

She could clearly feel the vibrations from his body and the warmth of the blood splashing onto the back of her hand as he spat it out.

Her heart sank suddenly, her hands tightly clutching the fabric at his waist, her voice trembling:

"Ye Yun!"

Ye Yun didn't answer; he just stared intently at the valley entrance, shielding Wen Yulan behind him.

A gray figure stepped slowly out of the dust, standing with hands behind his back, his face cold and hard, his gaze sharp as an eagle's.

He looked at Ye Yun, a cold smile curling on his lips, his voice deep and raspy:

"Kid, it really wasn't easy finding you."

Ye Yun's pupils narrowed slightly, a flash of coldness in his eyes.

He pushed Wen Yulan back a bit and lowered his voice:

"Get back, hide behind the rock."

Wen Yulan bit her lip, wanting to say something.

But meeting his steady eyes, the words at the tip of her tongue were swallowed back down.

She nodded and stumbled back behind a nearby rock, gripping her sword hilt tightly, yet her gaze never left him.

Ye Yun turned around to face the gray figure.

He slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and held the burning snow sword across his front.

The dust gradually dissipated, and the gray figure stood with hands behind his back, like an unsheathed sharp sword.

He radiated a heart-palpitating pressure.

The middle-aged man looked at Ye Yun, his gaze sweeping over the blood on his chest and the scars at the corner of his mouth, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.