155: Chapter 155 There's Only One Way!

At the same time, the middle-aged man's black longsword pierced through Ye Yun's shoulder.

It emerged from his back, pinning him to the ground.

Both men fell into a pool of blood simultaneously.

Ye Yun lay on the rubble, gasping for breath as blood gushed from the wound on his shoulder.

It stained the ground beneath him red.

He looked up at the sky, a weak smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

The middle-aged man lay beside him, his eyes wide open, refusing to find peace even in death.

Wen Yulan finally ran to Ye Yun's side.

She fell to her knees with a thud, her hands trembling as she tried to help him up, yet she didn't know where to start.

His body was covered in injuries; his back was charred black, his shoulder was skewered by the longsword, and blood was still pouring out.

He looked as if he had crawled out of Hell itself.

"Ye Yun, Ye Yun, wake up..."

She cried out, her voice filled with fear and helplessness.

"Don't die, don't leave me."

Ye Yun's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes.

Looking at her tear-stained face, a weak smile pulled at his lips.

"What are you crying for? I'm not dead yet..."

Wen Yulan bit her lip, her tears flowing even more fiercely.

She reached out and gently wiped the blood from his face.

As her fingertips touched his cold skin, her heart felt as if it were being violently wrenched.

"You do this every time, you always end up like this..."

She choked up, her voice intermittent.

"Do you have any idea how worried I am? Do you know..."

Ye Yun looked at her and didn't speak, just smiling quietly.

As Wen Yulan wept, she suddenly leaned down and buried her face in his uninjured shoulder.

Her hands tightly gripped his tattered lapels, her whole body trembling.

"Don't die, I'm begging you... don't die."

Looking at Wen Yulan sobbing and shaking on his shoulder, Ye Yun felt stuck between laughter and tears.

He wanted to raise his hand to pat her head.

But as soon as he lifted his arm, it aggravated the wound, making him gasp in pain.

His throat felt sweet, and he spat out another mouthful of blood.

"Cough—"

Wen Yulan jerked her head up and saw the blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth.

Her face turned pale instantly, and she hurriedly tried to wipe the blood from his lips.

"Ye Yun! How are you? Stop talking, I'll take you to see a doctor!"

Ye Yun shook his head, his voice so weak it was almost inaudible.

"Don't worry, I'm not dead yet."

Wen Yulan looked at his pale face and his blood-soaked form; biting her lip, her tears fell again.

She knew he was trying to sound lighthearted, but his injuries were too severe.

His back was charred, his shoulder was pierced through, and the bleeding showed no signs of stopping.

If this continued, he really would die.

"How can I save you? Tell me, how can I save you!"

Wen Yulan's voice carried a sob, her eyes full of pleading.

Ye Yun looked at her, silent for a moment, before a weak smile appeared on his face.

"Right now, the only way is... to perform Dual Cultivation with me."

After saying that, his eyes closed, and he completely lost consciousness.

Wen Yulan's entire body froze.

She knelt beside him, her hands still supporting his shoulders, her mind a complete blank.

Dual Cultivation?

He said... Dual Cultivation?

Her cheeks instantly flushed bright red, the blush spreading from her face to her ears and neck.

Even her exposed shoulders were tinted pink.

She bit her lip, her heart beating so fast it almost leapt out of her chest, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around his lapel.

[What... what kind of nonsense is he talking. He's injured like this and yet...]

But as her gaze fell on his pale face and the wound on his shoulder that was still seeping blood, her heart sank again.

He was too heavily injured; he really would die.

She didn't know if he was joking, but she didn't dare to gamble.

What if... what if this was truly the only way?

Wen Yulan bit her lip, tears swirling in her eyes as a battle raged in her mind.

On one side was a woman's reserve and shyness, and on the other was his life.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath; when she opened them again, there was a hint of determination in her gaze.

She bent down, carefully helping Ye Yun up from the ground and letting him lean into her embrace.

His body was heavy and covered in blood; holding him felt like holding the entire world.

Wen Yulan gritted her teeth, picked him up in a bridal carry, and staggered to her feet.

She glanced down at him; his eyes were closed, his face was pale, and his brow was slightly furrowed, yet he was still handsome.

She withdrew her gaze and carried him, step by step, toward the exit of the valley.

...

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn later.

Wen Yulan stopped in front of a hidden crevice in the rocks.

The crevice was obscured by dense vines.

Inside was a naturally formed cave; it wasn't large, but it was dry and tidy.

The ground was covered with a thick layer of dry grass, and there were a few flat bluestones in the corner.

Clearly, there were signs that wild beasts had once nested here, but it had been abandoned for a long time.

She carried Ye Yun inside and gently placed him on the dry grass.

The light from the cave entrance filtered through the gaps in the vines, casting mottled shadows on the ground.

Wen Yulan knelt beside him, looking down at him.

His breathing was very faint, and the rise and fall of his chest was almost imperceptible.

The wound on his shoulder was still seeping blood, and the charred area on his back had split into several cracks, a shocking sight to behold.

Her fingers reached for his face with a tremble, gently brushing over his furrowed brow and his pale cheeks.

[He saved my life. If not for him, I would have died in the mouths of those Yao Beasts long ago.]

[If not for him, I would have been defiled by Han Ming. For my sake, he has been injured and risked his life time and again. Now, it's my turn.]

Wen Yulan bit her lip, her eyes rimmed with red, but she didn't cry again.

She took a deep breath and slowly stood up.

Her fingers reached for the sash at her waist, trembling.

With a gentle tug.

Her outer robe slipped down, revealing the snowy white skin beneath.

The morning light filtered through the gaps in the vines, coating her in a soft halo.

She kept her head down, not daring to look at him, as her fingers continued to untie the ribbons of her undergarments.

The fabric slipped away, revealing delicate collarbones, rounded shoulders, and full curves.

Her skin was as white as jade, glowing with a soft luster in the dim cave.

She bent down, kneeling beside him, and reached out to untie his robes.

His robes were already tattered beyond repair, stained with blood and dirt.

She carefully pulled away the shredded fabric.

Revealing his solid chest and his body covered in scars.

When her fingers touched his slightly cool skin, it was as if she had been burned; she flinched back, but then gritted her teeth and continued.

Finally, the two faced each other in total honesty.

Wen Yulan knelt beside him, her whole body flushed pink, her head lowered, not daring to look at him.

Her heart was beating so fast it felt like it would explode, and her breathing became rapid and erratic.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly leaned down.

Her burning lips lightly pressed against his.

Soft and slightly cool.

Wen Yulan kissed him clumsily, not knowing what to do, only instinctively pressing against his lips and gently nuzzling them.