155: persuade

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Yumei curled up in Situ Jun's arms, her hair scattered across his chest, her face still flushed like fine rouge.

She poked his chin and chided him with the laziness of someone who had just caught her breath:

"Are you satisfied now? If this delays your business, I won't care."

Situ Jun tightened his arms, pulling her closer, and rested his chin on her head with a chuckle, his voice filled with a satisfied sigh:

"With you here, nothing is considered a delay."

Sunlight filtered through the carriage curtain, casting warm spots of light on their intertwined hands. The lingering intimacy in the carriage gradually settled into a quiet and stable warmth.

The passion in the carriage gradually subsided.

Jiang Yumei curled in his arms for a long time before struggling to get up and tidy her clothes. Her hair was messy and stuck to her sweaty forehead, and her already beautiful face was now dyed with an intoxicating crimson, adding a touch of decadence.

Her fingertips lightly traced Situ Jun's chest, her voice still carrying a trace of laziness:

"You heartless man, you should remember to visit me at the Hundred Herbs Hall often now, shouldn't you?"

Situ Jun lowered his head and pressed a light kiss on her hair, his fingertips brushing her slightly flushed cheek:

"When I return from East Lin City, I will definitely visit you often."

He paused, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes:

"Besides picking up Xuan'er, I also want to make some arrangements in East Lin City. This is to prevent any future changes and ensure I can protect you all. So, I will send you back to the Northern Border shortly. Don't be willful anymore."

Jiang Yumei pouted and hooked her arms around his neck:

"Can I not go back? Although the Hundred Herbs Hall is good, it's not half as stable as being by your side. Besides..."

Her eyes sparkled with a bit of cunning:

"Without my company on this journey, wouldn't it be boring?"

Situ Jun laughed and pinched her cheek, feeling the delicate elasticity under his fingertips:

"With your weak body, it's better for you to stay in Northern Border City to put my mind at ease."

Though he said this, a trace of warmth rose in his heart.

He flicked his finger, and a crystalline jade bottle landed in Jiang Yumei's palm:

"Inside are body tempering pills for the Foundation Establishment Stage. Take one every day to solidify your Foundation first."

Jiang Yumei took the jade bottle, her fingertips touching the cool surface. When she looked up, her eyes were full of soft light.

She knew Situ Jun truly cared about her and her safety. She sighed in her heart and stopped insisting on going to East Lin City.

She gave Situ Jun a reproachful look and then immediately broke into a radiant smile.

She reached out to untie her hair ribbon again, and her pitch-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, making her already beautiful face look even more charming:

"Then... do you want to rest a bit longer?"

Situ Jun raised an eyebrow, seeing the desire in her eyes, and pulled her back into his arms with a low laugh.

The rosy light from the gap in the carriage curtain dyed their intertwined figures with a warm golden edge. The sea of flowers outside continued to sway in the wind, as if singing softly for this rare moment of tenderness.

The light and shadow within the Formation gradually softened as the sun shifted, and the activity in the carriage had long since subsided.

About another hour passed.

Jiang Yumei was curled up in Situ Jun's arms, her hair scattered across his chest, her face still flushed, her breathing light and steady like a breeze in the forest.

Situ Jun's fingertips traced her smooth back as his gaze fell on the swaying sea of flowers outside the carriage window.

The recent tenderness had eased his tense nerves, but the thoughts of the interests and conflicts between the Dynasty and the Sects kept revolving in his mind; he still hadn't found a good way to avoid them completely.

Jiang Yumei struggled to get up and tidy her clothes, her collar slightly loose, revealing a small patch of delicate skin:

"You bad man! Get up and send me back to Northern Border City. I'm not going with you anymore, hmph!"

Situ Jun smiled slightly and kissed her forehead with pity before removing the Formation.

The Cloud-Treading Colts had long since woken up and were leisurely grazing on the grass by their feet. Seeing the two come out, they snorted and flicked their tails.

Not long after, Situ Jun pulled the reins to change direction and headed toward the direction where Bai Yu was waiting.

Back at the main road.

Jiang Yumei's cheeks were slightly red, and she didn't dare to look at Bai Yu, who was standing nearby. She just lowered her head and walked to her snow-white colt, her ear tips still flushed.

Seeing this, Situ Jun said to Bai Yu:

"Wait for me for a moment. I'll take Yumei back to the city."

Bai Yu took the carriage reins and nodded, his expression as usual.

Situ Jun flipped onto the snow-white colt and then reached out to pull Jiang Yumei in front of him, letting her sit in his arms, his arms firmly circling her waist.

"Sit tight."

He whispered, his breath brushing her ear. He lightly squeezed the horse's belly with his legs, and the snow-white colt trotted toward the Northern Border City gates.

The evening breeze blew, carrying the scent of flowers and grass. Jiang Yumei leaned against Situ Jun's chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, feeling completely at peace.

She suddenly remembered something and pulled a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve, handing it to him:

"This is the 'spirit-concentrating pill' I recently refined. If you encounter a fight, it might help you steady your mind."

Situ Jun took the porcelain bottle; it felt warm in his hand. He opened it and took a sniff, the crisp aroma of the Medicinal Pill instantly refreshing his spirit.

"It seems I won't have to worry about my Medicinal Pills in the future."

He joked with a smile, pinching her waist.

Jiang Yumei glared at him but couldn't help laughing, the charm in her eyes deepening:

"Then you must visit me at the Hundred Herbs Hall often, or else... or else I'll give all the Medicinal Pills to others."

"That won't do."

Situ Jun tightened his arms, holding her even closer, his voice carrying an unquestionable sense of possessiveness:

"My lady, naturally, can only refine pills for me."

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over them, stretching their shadows long. Accompanied by the crisp sound of horse hooves, they slowly headed toward the Northern Border City gates, their figures lengthening in the twilight, merging into a warm silhouette.