Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Warm sunlight streamed through the cracks in the window, scattering across the floor.

Her long eyelashes fluttered, and Lu Yuanyin furrowed her brow. She hugged the fragrant blanket, rolling over once, then lingered for a moment before slowly sitting up. Her soft, dark hair cascaded down her back in waves.

The daylight was already bright.

Lu Yuanyin stared blankly at the exquisite bed curtains in front of her. After a long moment, she realized she was no longer in that suffocating little courtyard. There was no Lu Sisi here, no Immortal Lord Changye, and none of the stifling members of the Lu family.

Lu Yuanyin pushed open the window and looked out at the bustling street across the way. Vendors were enthusiastically hawking their wares. Leaning on the windowsill, she gazed down at the lively lane and couldn't help feeling a pang of emotion—it had been so long since she had seen such a vibrant scene.

After spending so much time in the Chongyao Sect and on the Thought-Expiation Cliff, she had almost forgotten what the mortal world's bustle was like.

Lu Yuanyin slowly gathered her clothes, when she heard Qing Nong's loud call from outside, "Miss Lu, can I come in?"

She opened the door to find Qing Nong rushing into the room carrying several plates, loaded down with bags of all sizes. He greeted her warmly, "Come, try these—they say it's best to eat them while they're hot!"

Lu Yuanyin glanced at the table, seeing that it was filled with famous snacks from the vicinity of the Chongyao Sect. She had no idea how long he had waited in line to buy so much.

Her eyes crinkled in a faint smile. "Thank you. I'm sorry to trouble you—having to run so far and buy all this early in the morning."

Her gaze swept past Qing Nong and landed on the empty room across the way. Huo Wuyan was no longer inside. She asked softly, "Where's Huo Wuyan? I haven't seen him all day."

Qing Nong scratched his head. He took off the bags and arranged them on the shelf by the wall. At her question, he replied casually, "No idea."

Huo Wuyan was always unpredictable in his comings and goings, appearing and disappearing without warning. It was common for him to vanish for years or even decades. If it hadn't been for Lu Yuanyin's matter, he probably wouldn't have shown up even ten years from now.

Lu Yuanyin ate the spirit beast wontons in her bowl, lost in thought.

Qing Nong lazily leaned by the window, looking out at the lively street. Suddenly, a sly smile tugged at his lips. He said mysteriously to Lu Yuanyin, "Want to go out for a stroll? It's really bustling outside lately."

Lu Yuanyin was surprised. Looking at the crowded masses outside, she felt a flicker of temptation. But thinking about those who were probably searching for her like mad, she shook her head. "Forget it. What if I run into those people?"

She would have liked to go out and clear her mind, but they were still in the territory of the Chongyao Sect. Immortal Lord Changye, the sect, and the Lu family were likely searching frantically for her. If she went out now and bumped into them, she'd be in big trouble.

Just thinking about those people made her kidneys ache.

Qing Nong raised an eyebrow, unconcerned. "What's there to fear? With Huo Wuyan backing you up, you could stand right in front of them, and they wouldn't dare touch a hair on your head. You can't stay cooped up forever just because of those brats."

Lu Yuanyin was silent for a moment. It was true that those people wouldn't dare provoke Huo Wuyan, but the thing is, Huo Wuyan didn't like her, so he wouldn't really back her up...

Seeing her still hesitating, Qing Nong rubbed his chin. "You're still young. You can't stay locked in your room all day—it'll drive you crazy. Come on, let me take you out! I'll handle everything that happens today!"

Lu Yuanyin quickly tucked her storage pouch into her sleeve and set a meeting place with a cultivator who had ordered spiritual pills from her earlier. "Then I'll deliver those pills to them at the same time."

"Deal!"

Lu Yuanyin picked up the longsword from the shelf and followed Qing Nong out of the inn. The outside was even more bustling than she had imagined. Several red-crowned spirit horses, their hooves ablaze, pulled scented carriages swiftly through the alleys. A beautiful maidservant danced gracefully on a high platform, while dazzling spiritual energy exploded in the sky. The entire city was alive with celebration, yet just one street over, the inn's side remained tranquil.

Lu Yuanyin took a deep breath, and her mood lifted slightly. She followed Qing Nong into the noisy crowd, surrounded by the enthusiastic calls of vendors.

When they reached the agreed meeting spot, several young and beautiful female cultivators were sitting leisurely under a giant tree, holding cups of cold tea. Their eyes roamed over the passing crowd, casually appraising the male cultivators.

Qing Nong tactfully pointed to a stall nearby and said quietly, "I'll wait for you over there."

Lu Yuanyin agreed. She paused for a moment to look at the female cultivators. She noticed a small, delicate embroidered acacia flower on the hem of each of their skirts. Those women seemed somewhat familiar.

Lu Yuanyin walked over to them and glanced at her jade token. "Excuse me, did you order the spiritual pills?"

The female cultivators quickly responded, "Yes, that's me. I ordered ten bottles of Foundation Establishment Pills."

The next moment, as they took in Lu Yuanyin's appearance, their gazes froze, and a hint of amazement flashed in their eyes.

They couldn't help sneaking glances at her again and again.

As Lu Yuanyin retrieved the pills, one of the female cultivators with a round face suddenly asked softly, "If I'm not mistaken, you're also a disciple of the Chongyao Sect, right?"

"I heard that a senior from the Dragon Clan showed up around here recently. Is that true? I've never seen a dragon in my life. Is he really as powerful as the legends say?"

Lu Yuanyin paused at the question, a flicker of caution in her eyes.

She glanced at the round-faced female cultivator, who seemed merely curious and harbored no ill intent. After a moment of silence, she replied with a smile, "It's true. That senior from the Dragon Clan is indeed very powerful."

The round-faced girl's eyes lit up, and she pressed on, "Is he handsome? I heard that spirit beasts look especially beautiful after transformation! I once saw a white fish turn human—the face, the waist, the abs—whoa, it was incredible! Our eyes were glued to him! If I weren't a match for him, I'd want to tie him up and take him home!"

Thinking of Huo Wuyan's face and long legs, Lu Yuanyin hesitated before nodding.

His features were deep, his contours sharp, with a hint of exotic mystery and noble reserve. His appearance certainly matched her aesthetic.

It was just a pity that Huo Wuyan was far too dangerous—touch him and you might lose your life...

Lu Yuanyin handed them the spiritual pills and started to walk back into the crowd. Before leaving, she heard their deliberately lowered, excited chatter behind her.

Her gaze swept past the group. One female cultivator was cupping her face, her expression full of envy. "I'm sure that male cultivator we saw near Chongyao Mountain was that dragon. He looked very capable. That sister is truly fortunate. If I could find a dragon clan hottie as my cultivation partner, that would be amazing..."

"Get over yourself!" the girl beside her tapped her head and mercilessly shot her down. "Dragons are inherently lecherous. Those dragon clan members are all promiscuous—they've slept with more women than you've eaten salt. Fun for a fling, but they're not good partners!"

"Fine..."

Lu Yuanyin: "..."

Qing Nong, who had overheard this by chance: "..."

Seeing the complicated look on Lu Yuanyin's face, he felt an urge to defend Huo Wuyan. He wanted to say that Huo Wuyan wasn't like those old dragons; he wasn't licentious—he was a ten-thousand-year-old virgin dragon, very chaste and self-disciplined... But no matter how he thought about it, those words felt strangely inappropriate to say out loud.

He had a gut feeling that if he actually said that, Huo Wuyan would ruthlessly strangle him without mercy.

Qing Nong let out a dry laugh, finally only managing to say awkwardly, "Haha, girls these days sure like to joke..."

Lu Yuanyin silently averted her gaze, very wisely choosing not to respond.

The two kept a tacit silence.

As they slowly disappeared into the sea of people, a slender figure silently emerged from the dim alley. His thin lips were tightly pressed, his eyes fixed on the direction Lu Yuanyin had gone. His dark pupils were like an ancient well deep in the forest—cold and gloomy.

A male cultivator in red robes leaned lazily against the wall, tilting his head. He looked at the coldness in Chang Ye's eyes, tapped his forehead with his fingertip, and couldn't help but sneer. "You know she didn't do it. Because of a few words from Lu Sisi, you locked her up and even wanted to dig out her spiritual root. I really don't get you. What's so special about that Lu Sisi that you and that Black Flood Dragon would go that far for her?"

"Now that she's gone with someone else, do you regret it?"

Chang Ye withdrew his gaze slightly, but his voice turned cold. "That dragon is no worthy partner." He looked down at the longsword in his hand, his expression inscrutable.

Lu Yuanyin loved to laugh and have fun, was free and easy. She valued friendship and was an excellent person. But the dragon clan were inherently debauched and shameless—they treated emotions as toys. That dragon was not worthy of Lu Yuanyin.

He knew that Lu Yuanyin might now blame him and hate him, but he couldn't let her be deceived and blinded by that dragon.

The red-robed male cultivator raised an eyebrow, looking at Chang Ye's icy expression. He said in a strange tone, "If that dragon isn't a worthy partner, then are you? Why do you care so much? I never knew you had so much free time."

Chang Ye's expression suddenly changed. He sharply looked at the red-robed male cultivator, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes like a frozen pool. He gripped the long sword in his hand tightly, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, and his knuckles turning faintly white. The sword at his waist also gave off a low, constant hum.

His voice was cold as ice. "This isn't your place to speak. You'd better shut your mouth."

The red-robed male cultivator sneered. Looking at his own face, a hint of gloom in his gaze. He said in a low voice, "You'd better know what you can and can't touch."

His expression cooled as he tugged at the jade pendant on his waist. "Don't do things you'll regret."

By the time Lu Yuanyin finished distributing the spiritual pills nearby, it was already noon.

Lu Yuanyin and Qing Nong bought some food and hurried back to the inn. She slightly raised her head, her gaze lingering on Huo Wuyan's room for a moment, and saw him standing by the bed, casually tossing a jade bead onto the shelf.

Lu Yuanyin quickened her pace upon seeing this, but when she reached Huo Wuyan's window, she found the room empty—he was no longer there.

Qing Nong leaned in to peek at the room. "Gone again? Let's wait a bit longer."

Lu Yuanyin sighed softly. Clutching her storage bag, she pushed open the door and continued firing up the furnace for pill refinement. She waited for a long time, but until she went to sleep, she never saw Huo Wuyan.

The room next door was pitch black, the door tightly shut, without a sound.

Huo Wuyan did not return all night.

The next day.

Just as dawn was breaking, Lu Yuanyin abruptly woke from her dream. She stared blankly at the exquisite bed curtains, the light bed canopy gently swaying in the spring breeze. After a long while, she wearily rubbed her forehead.

She had dreamt of Huo Wuyan again.

Cultivators rarely dream, and every dream they have carries extraordinary significance. Thus, every dream filled her with particular dread.

Thinking of those suffocating scenes in the dream, Lu Yuanyin felt her cheeks burning, her mind in a tangle. She silently hugged the soft bedding, letting out a silent scream.

Lu Yuanyin bit the tip of her finger, then quickly got up to pour herself a cup of cold tea. She froze as the bronze mirror beside her reflected her cheeks, red as if they were about to drip blood.

The images from the dream seemed to grow clearer. Lu Yuanyin threw herself onto the bed, rolling around in a mess, silently wrapping herself into a cocoon. Her eyes flickered incessantly, and she was as red as a tomato.

In the dream, they were back in that familiar cave again, with dim light and the drip of water.

In the dim daylight, Huo Wuyan was lying on the stone bed with his wrists chained, his expression cold. His pure white hair and black robe were scattered messily across the bed. His scarlet eyes bored into her, and a small red demonic mark under his eye gleamed eerily.

His face remained cold, but deep in his eyes was a familiar, startling intensity of desire.

She looked at his tense muscles and his rising desire, her face twisted with undisguised malice, but she deliberately pinched his firm pectorals. "A guy with chest that big—what else are they for but women to touch?!"

Seeing Huo Wuyan's expression grow even colder, her tone became more malicious. She stepped on his most vulnerable part, her expression mocking. "Appearing proper on the surface, but privately you're a real piece of work..."

"What are you looking at?!"

Just as she became more triumphant, a crisp sound came from beside her. Under her horrified gaze, the dark-iron chain shattered with a sharp crack.

A tall figure, like a beast waiting to strike, suddenly pressed her down onto the stone bed. Her thin clothes tore with a rip.

Everything in the dream grew more chaotic. He gripped her slender waist tightly, and his hot sweat dripped onto her pale, thin back. She only remembered that each deep thrust came with his hoarse demand: "Still want to test me?"

This dream was half real and half false, so clear she could almost see the faint red-gold demon marks on his abs as they tensed.

Buried under the covers, Lu Yuanyin nearly combusted on the spot. It was all those girls' fault yesterday, going on about weird stuff, making her have those bizarre dreams too...

Because of this shameful dream, Lu Yuanyin lost all desire to sleep. She got dressed and simply fired up the furnace to refine pills again.

Voices gradually drifted in from outside the door.

Lu Yuanyin pushed open the window and saw Huo Wuyan still in his room—he hadn't left. He stood expressionless by the window, looking coldly at the coming and going crowd outside.

The light golden sunlight fell among his white hair, making him look like a god.

Lu Yuanyin looked at the cold-faced Huo Wuyan, feeling a twinge of unease. She hesitated, but then saw him turn to leave.

Lu Yuanyin quickly opened her door and hurried toward Huo Wuyan, seeing his lowered lashes and cool stare.

Her red lips moved, but the words on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. After a moment of silence, she spoke in a soft voice, "Huo Wuyan..."

Huo Wuyan paused in his steps, seeing the hand resting in her sleeve tighten slightly. Seeing Lu Yuanyin's shy, awkward look, he instinctively averted his gaze, his breath caught.

Both had something on their minds, and for a moment, their expressions were both a little awkward.

There was a moment of deathly silence, leaving only their faint breathing, accompanied by sporadic cicada chirps.

Huo Wuyan, unusually, hesitated. He slightly averted his gaze, and after a long while, finally said coldly, "If you have something to say, say it."

His voice was slightly hoarse.

Lu Yuanyin tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "I want to attend the Four Directions Alchemy Assembly..."

Huo Wuyan looked at her upon hearing this and said in a deep voice, "If you want to go, then go."

After speaking, Huo Wuyan's fingers paused. Looking at Lu Yuanyin's black hair, he suddenly thought, Could it be that Lu Yuanyin wants him to accompany her?

Huo Wuyan frowned slightly. He wanted to warn Lu Yuanyin that he wouldn't like her, there was no need for her to waste time on him, and he didn't have time to play those boring games with her.

However, his gaze fell downward, looking at her flushed cheeks and fluttering eyelashes. His Adam's apple bobbed, but in the end, he didn't say anything.

He was silent for a moment, then finally only asked coldly, "When."

Lu Yuanyin didn't expect him to agree so readily. Her eyes lit up.

Before he finished speaking, he saw Lu Yuanyin raise her head, her eyes sparkling. Her brows curved in a smile, and she said considerately, "I definitely won't trouble you then. Can Qing Nong come with me?"

Huo Wuyan, "?"

Author's note:

The dragon: ? Here it is!