Chapter 176: Are You So Deeply in Love With Me You Can’t Help Yourself?

Chapter 176: Are You So Deeply in Love with Me That You Can't Help Yourself?

Li Xuan also looked at the senior brother—after all, these three had saved him earlier, and he'd feel uneasy if he didn't find a way to repay them.

Caught under Li Xuan's gaze, Mo Xingyuan had no choice but to agree.

The original party of four had now grown to seven.

Shen Lian mentioned to Mo Xingyuan that he wanted to rest for a bit.

He found a place to sit, but silently sent a mental message to Yan Huaixuan, "Something's off about those three."

Just as Shen Lian finished speaking, he saw Ye Junhe lift his gaze and glance over, meeting Shen Lian's eyes.

Ye Junhe gave a faint smile.

He had one of those gentle, handsome faces, and when he smiled, it felt like a warm spring breeze.

It was almost impossible not to want to get closer to someone like him.

More importantly...

Shen Lian couldn't shake the feeling that Ye Junhe was somehow strangely attractive.

The next second, he felt a pinch on his waist.

Shen Lian let out a hiss, lowering his head to see the little paper figure in his pocket looking up at him.

Shen Lian muttered, "Small in stature, big in temper."

"Fine, I won't look anymore."

Only then did the little paper figure lift its chin, "Those three are definitely no wandering cultivators, and they're not siblings either."

"It's more like they deliberately sought us out."

Shen Lian said, "Let's set that aside for now."

What he was more interested in now was a treasure Fei Yun used to have.

The Myriad Flower Divine Lotus Platform.

According to legend, the Myriad Flower Divine Lotus Platform was a relic left behind by an ancient god.

A long time ago, the Great Wilderness Spirit Realm still had true gods—not the current realm titles like God Emperor or God King.

But actual, true gods.

With a single thought, they could command heaven; with another, earth—wielding mastery over all things and the workings of the laws.

At that time, humans couldn't cultivate yet; they were mere mortals under the gods' rule.

But later, the gods fell one by one, and no one knew why.

After the last god fell, the entire Great Wilderness Spirit Realm became filled with spiritual energy.

Mortals, too, gained the ability to cultivate.

It was said that the Myriad Flower Divine Lotus Platform was the divine artifact of one of those gods.

If one sat on it to cultivate, they could achieve twice the results with half the effort, progressing at lightning speed.

And it was thanks to this that Fei Yun had risen to fame.

Shen Lian didn't plan to use the Myriad Flower Divine Lotus Platform for cultivation—he wanted it to help Yan Huaixuan forge a physical body.

Within the divine lotus was a lotus seed that could take any form.

Shen Lian wasn't sure if it was the best option, but he absolutely had to get his hands on it.

But he wasn't the only one who knew about it; others were after it too.

Who wouldn't want a divine artifact left by an ancient god?

While lost in thought, Shen Lian didn't realize his gaze had drifted toward Ye Junhe.

Yan Huaixuan noticed, and his heart dropped.

He had never seen Shen Lian look at anyone with such focus and interest before.

His eyes landed on Ye Junhe.

This man's looks were definitely top-tier in the cultivation world, and his aura was ethereal and elusive.

A shadow passed over Yan Huaixuan's eyes.

Just as he was thinking that, Ye Junhe walked over.

"Hello, Lian Song."

Shen Lian withdrew his gaze and gave a slight nod, "Can I help you?"

Ye Junhe's eyes swept over Shen Lian's face, "No, I just think you look a little familiar."

Yan Huaixuan's eyes instantly flickered with displeasure.

Shen Lian held him back, but inwardly, he found it a little amusing.

After all, he was currently using a disguised face—how could this Ye Junhe find him familiar?

He'd already been wary of Ye Junhe, and now he was certain the guy had ulterior motives.

Shen Lian said flatly, "I've never met you, sir. You must have the wrong person."

At that, Ye Junhe smiled.

"I'm not sure how to explain this, but I really mean no harm. Maybe you've got the wrong idea?"

Hearing this, Shen Lian looked at Ye Junhe.

Meeting his gaze, Ye Junhe didn't know why, but his heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

Though his features weren't especially striking, it was impossible to look away.

Shen Lian smiled at Ye Junhe, "I don't know how to explain it to you either. This is just how I am; I don't hold misunderstandings against anyone."

Ye Junhe looked away, then met Shen Lian's eyes again, and after a moment, gave a wry smile, "It seems I've made a bad impression on you. I'll leave you be, then."

Shen Lian lowered his eyes, as if he hadn't heard a word.

Once Ye Junhe was gone,

Shen Lian mulled it over.

This Ye Junhe was definitely no mere wandering cultivator.

In fact, Ye Junhe was the type to hide his cultivation level.

With that in mind, he poked Yan Huaixuan. "What do you think..."

But Yan Huaixuan didn't answer.

Shen Lian froze. "Yan Huaixuan?"

He thought the little paper figure had vanished, but when his clothes shifted, there he was, sitting right in his lap.

And in a cross-legged meditation pose, no less.

Shen Lian saw it and couldn't help but snort with laughter.

A nose that tiny, and he's sitting there cultivating.

At the sound of his laughter, Shen Lian felt the little paper figure's aura suddenly go cold.

Shen Lian stopped laughing and looked at him. "What's wrong?"

Yan Huaixuan said flatly, "Nothing."

"Then why aren't you talking to me?" Shen Lian asked, puzzled. "Don't lie to me."

At that, Yan Huaixuan looked up and met Shen Lian's worried gaze. Only then did he nod slightly. "That guy's up to no good. Don't get tangled up with him for long. Find a way to warn the other three and try to keep your distance from them."

Shen Lian stared at Yan Huaixuan, blinking. Then he blurted out, "You're not jealous, are you?"

Yan Huaixuan froze.

"Just because I knew he was shady, still talked to him, and even smiled at him? Yan Huaixuan, why are you so quick to get jealous?"

Yan Huaixuan choked again, caught by Shen Lian's teasing look.

He said automatically, "No. I'm just worried about you and your fellow disciples."

"Really just worried about my fellow disciples?" Shen Lian said slyly. "I didn't notice before, but Ye Junhe's actually pretty handsome."

The second he said that, he felt himself yanked into another place.

Shen Lian found Mo Xingyuan and the others gone, and Yan Huaixuan standing tall and graceful before him. The air around him felt like the Mirror Demon's illusion realm.

He was stunned for a moment, then looked at Yan Huaixuan.

"You did this?"

Yan Huaixuan nodded. "I did."

He walked toward Shen Lian.

Shen Lian was still shocked. "Don't tell me you absorbed the Mirror Demon."

"Just a bit of its power," Yan Huaixuan said, suddenly gripping Shen Lian's waist, his tone dangerous. "What was that you just said?"

"You said you were interested in Ye Junhe?"

At that, Shen Lian looked away from his surroundings, blinked, and looked up at Yan Huaixuan.

"Yep."

Yan Huaixuan pressed his thin lips together tightly.

He didn't say a word, just stared at Shen Lian with that cold, clear gaze.

He looked so wronged.

Like a big puppy.

Shen Lian found it hilarious, then reached up and scratched Yan Huaixuan's chin.

Yan Huaixuan was startled at first, his frost-colored eyes going wide, then he huffed, "Shen Lian!"

"I'm not joking."

"Well, you didn't admit it either," Shen Lian said. "You never said you were jealous."

His eyes and brows were full of gleeful mischief, dead set on cracking Yan Huaixuan's icy composure.

Even though Yan Huaixuan had him in his grip, he easily got the upper hand.

Shen Lian said, "Say it now. Are you jealous? Are you so crazy about me you want to lock me up, hide me from everyone, and keep me from talking to anyone else—"

Shen Lian got more and more outrageous. For some reason, he really loved teasing Yan Huaixuan now.

As he finished, he deliberately leaned in closer to Yan Huaixuan.

"And then fuck me stupid?"