Chapter 85: Yuan Xiao!
"Yuan Xiao! What happened to the beast blood on my body?! You'd better give me a reasonable explanation!"
At dusk, Xiao Yuan was cultivating the Wind Scroll Technique when Yun Yun's flustered and angry voice suddenly rang out.
He opened his eyes and stood up. As soon as he turned around, the cold glint of a sword was pointed directly at his throat.
Yun Yun's face was flushed, her pearly teeth biting her lip. She looked like a humiliated heroine seeking justice after being taken advantage of while injured—furious and ashamed.
Lying in bed earlier, bored, she had started mentally reviewing her battle with the Amethyst Winged Lion King. When she recalled using beast blood to conceal her scent, it suddenly dawned on her—there wasn't that much blood on her anymore.
Her clothes had dried.
A terrifying possibility flashed through her mind:
Had that boy... washed her?
If so, didn't that mean her entire body had been seen—touched—by him?
Just the thought made her tremble. She rushed out with sword in hand.
Xiao Yuan blinked, his eyes briefly sweeping over Yun Yun's voluptuous figure.
"You're still looking! And I even trusted you so much!"
Yun Yun trembled, her voice on the verge of tears.
"Come on, Sister Yun, isn't your reaction a bit late? That was yesterday."
Xiao Yuan spread his hands helplessly.
"So it's true, you really…"
Tears welled up in Yun Yun's eyes, and the handsome boy in front of her suddenly felt detestable.
"What did I do?"
Xiao Yuan rolled his eyes and grabbed the sword's tip, letting the blade cut into his palm.
"What are you doing?!"
Yun Yun was startled, thinking he meant to disarm her, but when he simply let the sword cut him, her expression softened with concern.
Xiao Yuan calmly turned the dripping blood into ice crystals and scattered them onto the ground.
"Now do you understand?"
He held out his now clean palm, exasperated.
"Wait… your ice-type Dou Qi can be used like that?"
Yun Yun blinked in confusion.
"What else? You think I'd go as far as stripping you down, wiping the blood off your body, and then redressing you in your filthy clothes? Do I look like that much of an idiot?"
Xiao Yuan asked coldly.
"Uh… but aren't you cultivating wind-type Dou Qi? Why…"
Realizing she had totally misunderstood, Yun Yun's voice grew timid.
"Because I'm a genius!"
Xiao Yuan extended both hands—black ice swirled in one, a green wind spiral danced in the other.
Seeing this, Yun Yun's beautiful eyes widened, her lips parted in astonishment.
Dual-element affinity?!
"Good heavens!"
Yun Yun raised her hand to cover her mouth in shock, and her sword clattered to the ground.
"Are you satisfied now? Go back and rest. Once you're healed, just leave."
Xiao Yuan waved her off coldly.
He pulled out clotting powder and sprinkled it on his hand.
The wound quickly scabbed.
"…I'm sorry. I misunderstood."
Yun Yun's voice was full of remorse.
"No big deal. My only regret is not actually stripping you down and washing you clean—then you'd have a real reason to stab me. Not that a Dou Huang needs a reason to kill a Dou Shi."
Xiao Yuan's voice was ice cold.
Yun Yun blushed at the first half of the sentence, but the bitterness in the second half made her panic. She hurried over, her eyes full of guilt, and said softly:
"Don't be mad. It was my fault."
"I wouldn't dare. You're a noble Dou Huang. Eating my food, using my best medicine, wearing my clothes—and you still wanted to kill me. Guess that's how Dou Huangs operate. It's my fault for being weak to beauty, going through all that effort just to bring you back."
Xiao Yuan sneered.
Yun Yun grabbed his hand, saw the scabbed wound, and thought of how her own injuries had healed even better than before. Her eyes turned red.
"Then use it. Just consider it sold. Once I recover and can open my ring, I'll pay you."
"Not selling. This scratch doesn't deserve such waste. I overreacted. It's fair you had suspicions. I should've explained sooner."
Xiao Yuan pulled his hand away and sat off to the side.
Tears welled up in Yun Yun's eyes. She couldn't hold them back. A teardrop slid down her cheek.
Hearing her sobbing, Xiao Yuan started to panic a little. But her earlier action—pointing a sword at his throat—had truly offended him. It reminded him of Nalan Yanran, who had humiliated him in front of his clan under the name of the Misty Cloud Sect.
So his words had come out a bit harsh.
Honestly, he had developed quite a favorable impression of Yun Yun over the past few days.
But being threatened like that—he really hated it.
Yet now, hearing her cry in grievance, made his heart soften again.
"…Sigh, stop crying. It really wasn't your fault. I remembered something unpleasant and took it out on you. I'm sorry."
He couldn't help it—he walked over, took out a white handkerchief, and gently wiped her tears.
"But I must say—I hate being threatened. Especially by someone I like. You can tease me, but I won't accept you thinking I'd actually do something so base.
Even if you're a Dou Huang, a top-tier powerhouse in the Jia Ma Empire, I believe I'll catch up soon. Unless you kill me, I'll grow strong enough to retaliate one day. Fortunately, you're too pretty—I can't bring myself to kill you.
But I swear, I'll make you bear seven or eight of my children. Haha."
Just as Yun Yun started to feel comforted, Xiao Yuan turned around and "threatened" her.
Especially that last line—it was clearly teasing.
"You're awfully bold for your age."
She blushed and muttered.
"You're the one who told me to call you 'sister'—you closed the distance. With a woman like you, what man wouldn't be tempted? I'm weak now, so all I can do is flirt a little and make you smile.
But wait a few more years. When I'm stronger than you, you'll know just how bold I can be."
Xiao Yuan put away the handkerchief and smiled faintly.
"Pfft—fine! I'll wait! If you don't beat me, you have to promise me one thing."
Yun Yun couldn't help laughing.
"Hmph, deal!"
Xiao Yuan agreed immediately.
"Does it still hurt?"
She grabbed his hand gently and asked.
"Want me to try it on you? Then you'll know if it hurts."
Xiao Yuan said seriously.
"You dare!"
Yun Yun glared, feigning anger.
"Hehe."
Xiao Yuan chuckled, then simply sat beside her.
"You said earlier you were upset because of a memory… What was it?"
Yun Yun asked curiously.
"Let me tell you a story. It's called 'Never Look Down on a Poor Youth.'
Once, there was a young genius…"
"…Huh? That girl was awful! Didn't that disgrace the boy's whole family?"
Yun Yun frowned as she listened.
"Yeah. But the boy later cleared his name and rose to the top of the continent, letting go of his past.
As for me, I also went through a broken engagement. It didn't turn ugly, but the feeling of being threatened from above—it's awful. When you pointed that sword at me, accusing me of being a despicable opportunist… it really hurt.
Especially since I had such a good impression of you. It was like being betrayed by someone close."
Xiao Yuan nodded seriously, meeting her eyes.
"So that's why you went into the Magical Beast Range alone? To strengthen yourself faster?"
Yun Yun asked, full of concern.
"Yeah."
He nodded.
"That must've been hard."
Yun Yun sighed.
"Heh. I've got the best talent in my clan. Naturally, I should shoulder what others can't."
Xiao Yuan smiled like it was only right.
"Alright, enough of that. It's late. You should rest, Sister. Sleep is important for recovery too."
Xiao Yuan stood up with a concerned expression.
"You're going to keep cultivating?"
Yun Yun nodded and asked.
"Yeah. I'll be leaving soon. Probably heading to the Tagor Desert. My two older brothers started a mercenary group there. I want to visit."
Xiao Yuan replied with a smile.
"Alright. I'll go back to my room."
Yun Yun nodded, turned, and walked back into the hut.
Xiao Yuan squinted his eyes, then sat cross-legged to resume cultivation.
The energy in this valley was dense—it was a rare treasure for training.
Inside the hut, Yun Yun quietly pushed open a window, peeking at Xiao Yuan through the gap. Her eyes shimmered with an unusual light.
Coincidentally… she too would be heading to the Tagor Desert in a few days.
Looks like—this wouldn't be their final meeting.
As that thought crossed her mind, the corners of her lips curled into a crescent smile.
Five days later.
Within the valley, Yun Yun stepped out of her room, sword in hand, dressed in a light cyan robe. Her long hair was now tied into a noble phoenix bun once again, exuding quiet elegance. Her beautiful face was calm and graceful.
Seeing Xiao Yuan's gaze turn toward her, Yun Yun hesitated for a moment before revealing a gentle smile.
"It seems Sister has broken the seal? Ready to act?"
Xiao Yuan raised an eyebrow and asked.
"Mm. Wear this crystal on you. As soon as you get close to the Amethyst Spirit Crystal, it will start to heat up. You just need to sense the temperature, and you'll be able to find it."
Yun Yun took a small, diamond-shaped crystal from her storage ring and handed it to Xiao Yuan with a smile.
Hearing this, Xiao Yuan tucked the crystal into the inner pocket of his robe and nodded. "Don't worry, even if there's more than one Amethyst Spirit Crystal, if I get the chance, I'll take them all."
"Heh, I wouldn't even be able to use that many. If you really took them all, the lion king would probably go crazy."
Yun Yun chuckled.
Then she shifted the topic. "I'll use a secret technique to temporarily boost your strength to near Da Dou Shi level. Since I'm also wind attribute, your speed will increase significantly. If you encounter magical beasts on the way, try to avoid fighting. The battle fluctuations might attract more of them. That would be a real problem."
"I understand. The goal is to retrieve the Amethyst Spirit Crystal—not pick fights."
Xiao Yuan nodded.
"Alright, I'm starting now."
"Okay."
Seeing him nod, Yun Yun walked over, extended her slender hand, and gently pressed it against Xiao Yuan's back. With a thought, a powerful surge of Dou Qi flowed into his body.
This invading energy didn't go wild inside the unfamiliar body. Under Yun Yun's control, it flowed smoothly and obediently through Xiao Yuan's meridians.
After carefully sensing it, Xiao Yuan realized this torrent of Dou Qi was equivalent to the total Dou Qi stored in all five of his Qi Palaces.
"Amazing technique!"
He clenched his fists excitedly, awe in his voice.
At this moment, he had full confidence to take on a third-rank magical beast!
"This amount of Dou Qi will last you one hour. Within that time, you must retrieve the Amethyst Spirit Crystal from the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave." Yun Yun reminded him softly, "I'll do my best to hold him off, but you need to be fast. That beast's intelligence is no less than a human's. If he senses anything, there won't be another chance."
"Alright. Shall we go?"
Xiao Yuan nodded and smiled at the stunning beauty beside him.
"Mm." Yun Yun nodded lightly. A tremble ran through her body as a pair of cyan energy wings spread from her back. But when she looked up and saw Xiao Yuan's posture, she froze. A blush surfaced on her delicate face as she said, annoyed, "What are you trying to do?"
Xiao Yuan, mid-hug, blinked and replied righteously, "You're not expecting me to run all the way there, are you? What if I bump into a fourth or fifth-rank magical beast? I'd die halfway."
Yun Yun's long lashes fluttered rapidly. After a moment, she sighed and nodded helplessly.
Seeing her nod, Xiao Yuan's lips curled into a grin as he slowly walked forward and—just like how Little Doctor Fairy used to hang onto him—latched onto Yun Yun.
Being hugged so tightly under such a justified excuse, even someone as powerful as Yun Yun found her breath quickening. The flush on her face deepened.
"Sister, ready?"
Xiao Yuan intentionally breathed beside her ear as he whispered.
"You little brat! Keep messing around and I'll toss you off mid-air!"
Yun Yun flushed with embarrassment and twisted the soft flesh at his waist.
"Hiss!"
Xiao Yuan winced in pain and instinctively hugged her tighter.
Her generous chest was now pressed flat between them, making her feel even more uncomfortable.
Gritting her teeth, Yun Yun flapped her wings and soared into the sky.
"Don't hold on so tight!"
Moments later, Yun Yun grumbled, her cheeks still red.
"If I don't, what if you drop me?"
Xiao Yuan replied without guilt.
"Can't you at least control your body?!"
Yun Yun's face grew even redder, her eyes filled with flustered irritation.
Her abdomen was being... pressed against in an uncomfortable way.
"Sister, this is what we call a gentleman's concealed weapon."
Xiao Yuan remained completely serious.
"Yuan Xiao! I swear I'll throw you down!"
Yun Yun snapped, her face stern and furious.
"Alright, alright, I'll talk to him. I'll tell him to calm down."
Seeing her truly upset, Xiao Yuan gave in and began circulating his Profound Ice Art.
Soon, the heat in his body was subdued.
Feeling the discomfort fade, Yun Yun finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"You little rascal, and you still claim to be decent?"
Yun Yun muttered, unable to suppress her frustration.
"I am. This just shows I respect Sister Yun. You're beautiful and charming. If I didn't react after hugging you so tightly, wouldn't that be disrespectful?"
Xiao Yuan replied with a straight face.
Yun Yun was momentarily speechless. It sounded like nonsense—but kind of made sense?
"No way! Don't try to twist it. You could've controlled yourself—you did that on purpose to tease me!"
But she quickly recovered and pinched his waist again.
"Hiss… bullying a Dou Shi with Dou Huang strength, huh?"
Xiao Yuan grimaced in pain again.
"Hmph. If you misbehave again, I'll use you as a projectile!"
Yun Yun huffed with mock arrogance.
"Hehe, I won't move again."
Xiao Yuan chuckled, and obediently tightened his embrace, enjoying the ride with his soft, fragrant beauty in his arms. The breeze was nice—this was pretty cozy.
"Sister Yun, what star level Dou Huang are you now?"
After a moment of silence, Xiao Yuan asked.
Feeling the heat of his breath at her ear, Yun Yun had almost grown used to it. "Three-star."
"And the Amethyst Winged Lion King?"
"Also about three-star, but his close combat ability rivals a four or five-star Dou Huang."
"Then be careful out there. I'll find that crystal as fast as I can."
Xiao Yuan nodded seriously.
"Mm."
Yun Yun nodded softly, the corner of her lips lifting in a subtle smile.
As a wind-type Dou Huang, Yun Yun was incredibly fast. Before long, they had arrived near the lion king's lair.
With a flash of cyan light, the two landed silently on a pile of disordered stones.
As soon as they landed, Xiao Yuan let go of Yun Yun and scanned the nearby mountain. At the top, a massive cave was faintly visible through the branches.
"That's the lair?"
Hiding behind a boulder, Xiao Yuan asked quietly.
"Mm." Yun Yun nodded slightly and swept her gaze over the surroundings, frowning. "The defenses have tightened. Looks like the beast is more alert."
Turning to Xiao Yuan, she reminded, "I'll try to kill or injure the high-rank magical beasts at the entrance. The rest… is up to you."
"Don't worry, I've got it."
Xiao Yuan smiled confidently and nodded.
Seeing his confident smile, Yun Yun felt a strange sense of ease. She gave a gentle smile and whispered, "Be careful… don't get hurt."
Xiao Yuan nodded, winked, and grinned. "Sister should be careful too. Otherwise, I'll end up taking advantage of you again."
Rolling her eyes, Yun Yun flapped her wings and soared into the sky. In a flash, her graceful figure dashed toward the massive cave entrance.
As she neared the cave within a hundred meters, roars erupted from the mountain.
Yun Yun gripped her sword, a strange cyan glow emanating from the blade. Her figure turned into a streak of cyan light, diving into the forest surrounding the cave.
Moments later, shrill roars rang out as magical beasts fled in panic. Under the sword of a Dou Huang, they were helpless.
"Human woman! You dare show yourself again?! Today I'll take your life to avenge my broken horn!"
Inside the massive cave, the furious roar of the Amethyst Winged Lion King exploded.
A flash of purple light surged from the cave, crashing into the forest. A wave of purple energy burst forth, obliterating the surrounding trees.
Then, blue and purple lights streaked across the sky, locking into an intense aerial battle above the clouds.
Xiao Yuan squinted, his wind-attribute Dou Qi flaring. With Dragonstep underfoot, he turned into a streak of green and slipped into the forest, heading straight for the cave.
The path was unimpeded. Yun Yun had clearly gone all out—beast corpses were scattered in pieces.
Xiao Yuan ignored them, soul perception spread to ensure safety. He rushed toward the mountaintop, and soon, the massive cave entrance appeared before him.
But a problem remained—two third-rank magical beasts still stood near the entrance. Trembling under the overwhelming auras above, they hadn't fled.
Normally, Xiao Yuan would've charged in without hesitation.
But now, he had a mission.
After a brief pause, an idea formed in his mind.
(END CHAPTER)
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