Chapter 43: Assassination Attempt Again

Chapter 43: Another Assassination Attempt

But to his surprise, Yan Huaixuan remained as indifferent as ever, showing no sign of urgency.

When Yan Huaixuan finally stopped dragging his feet, Shen Lian assumed he would summon his flying sword.

Yan Huaixuan: "The sky is now full of demon patrols hunting for the two of us. Go ahead and fly if you've got a death wish."

Shen Lian was speechless.

It suddenly occurred to him. "When you said eight days, did you mean by flying sword or on foot?"

Yan Huaixuan's answer dashed Shen Lian's hopes. "Flying sword."

So walking would take even longer?

Shen Lian had no choice but to turn around and stomp off in frustration.

After walking about four or five meters, he noticed Yan Huaixuan wasn't following. He couldn't help but turn around.

Yan Huaixuan stood in place.

Shen Lian taunted, "What, not feeling like being a gentleman now? Not gonna walk me back?"

Yan Huaixuan: "No, you're going the wrong way. It's in that direction."

Yan Huaixuan pointed to the opposite side of Shen Lian.

Shen Lian's fists clenched, but he was so mad, and yet he couldn't beat Yan Huaixuan.

Seeing Shen Lian trying hard to stay calm but grinding his teeth as he came back, a faint smile flickered in Yan Huaixuan's eyes, quickly hidden.

Shen Lian had accepted his fate of traveling on foot, but Yan Huaixuan brought out a demonic beast.

The beast was like a mortal horse, except it was fiery red all over and not as good-looking as a horse. It had a saddle, so you could tell at a glance it was a mount.

Seeing Shen Lian's confusion, Yan Huaixuan explained, "Demons have mounts too. I traded for it."

Shen Lian was about to smile, but then he frowned. "Hold on, just one?"

Yan Huaixuan: "I didn't have enough money."

Shen Lian: "..."

But that meant he'd have to share a mount with Yan Huaixuan.

Yan Huaixuan had already mounted the beast. "This Wind-Riding Beast can cover eight hundred li a day. If you don't want to ride, you can just walk next to me."

Shen Lian gritted his teeth. A smart man knows when to bend. He got on the mount too, but sat as far from Yan Huaixuan as possible—so far back he was almost on the beast's tail.

Yan Huaixuan didn't say anything, just spurred the Wind-Riding Beast into a gallop.

Shen Lian hadn't expected that this thing, which looked as clumsy as an ox, would live up to its name and fly like the wind once it ran.

The scenery rushed past. Sitting at the very back, Shen Lian was almost thrown off with each jolt.

Helpless, he scooted forward a bit, but the Wind-Riding Beast just got faster.

Without realizing it, Shen Lian had inched forward again.

Until his nose suddenly smacked into a hard back.

Shen Lian snapped out of it. He could only squeeze his eyes shut and grab the saddle under him.

Just when he was finally getting used to it, the Wind-Riding Beast stopped dead.

Shen Lian couldn't stop himself and pitched forward from the momentum.

And wouldn't you know it, Yan Huaixuan turned around at that exact moment, as if about to say something—only to suddenly have a person in his arms.

Yan Huaixuan lowered his gaze.

Shen Lian stiffened too. Wasn't this basically throwing himself into Yan Huaixuan's arms?

Shen Lian immediately pulled back. "I didn't do it on purpose."

But then the Wind-Riding Beast suddenly swished its tail, and Shen Lian slipped again, flopping right back into Yan Huaixuan's arms.

Shen Lian: "..."

He suddenly didn't dare look up, just clinging to whatever he was holding to keep his balance.

After a long pause, Yan Huaixuan was the one to speak. "How much longer are you going to keep grabbing me?"

Shen Lian looked down. One hand was pressed against Yan Huaixuan's chest. When he realized what he was grabbing, he yanked his hand back and put distance between them.

"Why'd you stop all of a sudden?"

Shen Lian went on the attack first, like the guilty party, frowning at Yan Huaixuan. "Do you even know how to drive?"

Yan Huaixuan shot him a glance. "What is 'driving'?"

"Also, there are demon patrols up ahead," Yan Huaixuan said, looking ahead. Another city had appeared, with even more demon soldiers, and they seemed to be searching for them.

"So how do we get past?" Shen Lian took the opportunity to change the subject.

Yan Huaixuan glanced at Shen Lian. "We'll go around, but we have to wait until nightfall."

"Why?"

Yan Huaixuan: "Because I need to cultivate."

Shen Lian: "? Can't you put it off for a day?"

Yan Huaixuan: "No."

Shen Lian took a deep breath and could only watch Yan Huaixuan find a spot to start cultivating. The Disguise Pill he'd given him wore off, and Yan Huaixuan's silver hair showed again.

Shen Lian sat off to the side. He didn't meditate, just narrowed his eyes and stared at Yan Huaixuan.

This Yan Huaixuan—why did he keep stopping to cultivate over and over? And when he'd first arrived in the demon realm with Yan Huaixuan,

Yan Huaixuan had sat in meditation for seven days straight.

What else could that mean?

It meant Yan Huaixuan was hurt—badly hurt.

But didn't the original story say Yan Huaixuan had risen through the cultivation world almost without a hitch, rarely ever getting hurt?

Whether it was true or not, a few more probes would tell him.

Shen Lian picked up Chen Xue without a change in expression and walked toward Yan Huaixuan.

"Husband?"

Yan Huaixuan closed his eyes, unmoved.

Shen Lian poked at him; there was no thin membrane—meaning no barrier.

A flicker passed through Shen Lian's eyes, and he suddenly said, "Husband, there's a flying saucer on your shoulder."

As he spoke, Shen Lian raised his sword and slashed at Yan Huaixuan's shoulder—still nothing blocked it.

When his sword came within a hair's breadth of Yan Huaixuan's head, a flicker of excitement passed through Shen Lian's eyes.

He'd guessed right: Yan Huaixuan was badly injured.

The next moment, Shen Lian realized the Yan Huaixuan in front of him had turned into a piece of wood, and his sword was stuck in it, unable to be pulled out for the time being.

"What are you doing?"

Shen Lian turned his head and found Yan Huaixuan watching him calmly.

Shen Lian immediately broke into a smile, used Chen Xue to cut through the wood, and said gently, "I was afraid you'd be cold, husband, so I cut some firewood to warm you up."

His eyes curved like crescents, and his tone was full of concern for Yan Huaixuan, just like back in the mortal realm.

But his eyes could no longer deceive—deep within them, there was nothing but hatred.

So much hatred that he couldn't even stand staying in the demon realm.

Yan Huaixuan's hand curled slightly beneath his sleeve.

Yet his expression remained indifferent: "Then go ahead and start the fire."

Shen Lian blinked. "?"

He laughed. "Fine, I'll make it."

Shen Lian placed the firewood on the ground, only to realize he didn't know the fire spell.

Yan Huaixuan sat down on the ground and watched him. "Aren't you going to start the fire?"

Shen Lian looked at the pile of wood, took a deep breath, then smiled and decided to make fire by friction.

He finally managed to spark a flame, but when he turned around, Yan Huaixuan snapped his fingers, and a burst of fire appeared before him.

Shen Lian was left speechless.

He stared at Yan Huaixuan. "You could make fire—why didn't you say so earlier?"

Yan Huaixuan lifted his eyes. "You never asked."

Shen Lian closed his eyes briefly. Right, he wasn't new to this person's spitefulness.

He looked like a Heavenly Immortal on the outside, but inside, he was darker than anyone else.

Shen Lian smiled wryly. "Then the Immortal Lord should keep himself warm."

But unexpectedly, the next moment, Yan Huaixuan took out a small demonic beast, skewered it on a branch, and set it over the fire.

Shen Lian frowned—wasn't Yan Huaixuan past the need for food?

Once the meat was roasted, Yan Huaixuan waved his hand, and the golden, sizzling meat released a tempting aroma as it flew over to Shen Lian.

Shen Lian didn't move.

Yan Huaixuan lowered his eyes. "Aren't you hungry?"

Hungry? Of course he was. His fasting pills were all used up, and he'd been starving for a long time.

But—Shen Lian turned away, leaned directly against the demonic beast, rested his head on its fluffy body, and closed his eyes to rest.

Yan Huaixuan looked at his unreserved back, stunned for a moment.