"What I do is none of your business," Nan Gong Huan said, tilting her chin up slightly. She pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her hands and patted her skirt, not even sparing Wei Yu Gong a glance.
Little Nine, having just been born and exhausted from the earlier chase, had retreated into the spirit beast space to sleep.
The fight with the instructor had also drained the already scarce spiritual energy in Nan Gong Huan’s body. This was not a safe place to linger.
"You!" Wei Yu Gong frowned. It had been three years since he last saw her, and this waste seemed to have completely changed her timid personality, as if she had become a different person.
But the black blemish on her face looked even larger now, making her even uglier. A flicker of disgust crossed Wei Yu Gong’s eyes.
"Brother Yu Gong," Nan Gong Qian’er sobbed, tears streaming down her face. "Sister Huan killed the instructor to contract the divine beast and even tried to kill me. But I’ve never done anything to wrong her."
Wei Yu Gong finally noticed the instructor’s body, pierced through by tree roots, and a trace of shock flashed in his eyes. Had Nan Gong Huan started cultivating?
"You even killed the instructor?" Wei Yu Gong scolded. What kind of ungrateful behavior was this?
"What, do you want to judge me with your self-righteousness?" Nan Gong Huan sneered, turning her back as she walked away. "Hah, you really think you’re a good person, don’t you?"
Wei Yu Gong narrowed his eyes, watching her retreating figure. "Nan Gong Huan, you’ll pay for the foolish things you’ve done sooner or later!"
Nan Gong Huan paused, glancing over her shoulder with a light smile. "Is that so? I’ll be waiting."
With that, she strode away, her long hair fluttering in the wind, leaving behind an elegant silhouette.
"Brother Yu Gong, Sister Huan’s personality has changed so suddenly. Could she have been possessed by something unclean?" Nan Gong Qian’er asked fearfully, snuggling closer into Wei Yu Gong’s arms.
"Don’t worry, I’m here. Come, I’ll carry you back," Wei Yu Gong said gently, lifting Nan Gong Qian’er into his arms and walking away.
......
The wind swayed the branches, pulling the leaves down in a rustling cascade.
Nan Gong Huan continued to walk leisurely through the forest, calm and composed. Her eyes flicked toward a shadow in the distance, and she stopped.
"Stop hiding. Come out."
She turned slightly, watching as the grass rustled before suddenly falling silent.
After waiting for a while with no movement, Nan Gong Huan frowned and cautiously stepped forward, intending to part the grass. But before she could, a stunningly beautiful young man in white robes lunged out from the bushes!
His movements were swift and precise. Before Nan Gong Huan could react, he grabbed her wrists, pinning her to the ground with his knees on either side of her waist.
His silver hair, tinged with icy hues, cascaded down as he looked down at her with a serious expression.
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Dong Yan Cuo’s face was solemn, as if he had something important to say.
It was the boy from the ice cave!
Nan Gong Huan’s expression hardened. Her hands were pinned, and she tried to ignore the awkward position. She attempted to kick him off, but he seemed to anticipate her move, pressing his leg down to stop her.
The two were now locked in a strange position, with Nan Gong Huan struggling but unable to break free.
"What are you doing? Get off!" Nan Gong Huan shouted, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
She had sensed someone lurking in the shadows since she dealt with Nan Gong Qian’er, but she hadn’t expected it to be a rogue!
"You... have food," Dong Yan Cuo said, glancing at the empty skewer of candied hawthorn in his hand. He swallowed hard, his eyes sparkling.
"..." Nan Gong Huan fell silent for a moment, her gaze landing on the skewer.
"Get up first, and I’ll give you food," Nan Gong Huan said, her eyes softening as if coaxing a child.
But Dong Yan Cuo wasn’t convinced. "You give me food, then I’ll get up."
At that moment, Elder Ling’s voice echoed in her mind. "This boy has lost one of his souls and likely most of his memories. But I sense an ancient and powerful aura from him. Perhaps you can make him useful."
Lost a soul? Nan Gong Huan looked into his eyes, which were pure and innocent, like a blank canvas.
Nan Gong Huan softened her voice. "I can’t move right now. I need to get up to give you food."
"You’ll run away," Dong Yan Cuo said, still refusing to let go.
"I won’t run. I promise. I’ll even take you to eat more delicious things," Nan Gong Huan said with a bright smile.
Dong Yan Cuo finally released her but didn’t get up. Instead, he knelt over her, ready to pin her down again if she tried to escape.
"Here, roasted chicken for you," Nan Gong Huan said, lying on the ground as she handed him a greasy paper-wrapped chicken. She couldn’t help but swallow her own saliva. This was supposed to be her celebratory meal for advancing...
Dong Yan Cuo’s eyes lit up, and he grabbed the chicken, devouring it in a few bites, his lips glistening with grease.
"My name is Nan Gong Huan. What’s yours?" Nan Gong Huan got up, brushing the dirt off her clothes while observing him. He seemed more like a child in his behavior.
Dong Yan Cuo paused, as if thinking. He stared at the sky for a long time before taking Nan Gong Huan’s hand and carefully writing three characters on her palm: Dong Yan Cuo.
The tickling sensation on her palm made Nan Gong Huan smile as she recognized the characters. Dong Yan Cuo then closed her fingers into a fist, as if sealing the name in her grasp.
His hand, cold but firm, wrapped around hers, sending a strange warmth through her heart.
"Cuo Cuo, are you still hungry? I’ll take you to the west side of the city for a feast," Nan Gong Huan said with a smile, trying to pull her hand away, but Dong Yan Cuo held on tightly, as if reluctant to let go.
He nodded vigorously, his eyes darting to their intertwined hands, gripping even tighter.
Helpless, Nan Gong Huan could only lead him away, heading to the west side of the city for food.
It was nighttime.
Nan Gong Huan picked out a handsome shadow guard outfit for Dong Yan Cuo, complete with a hood to hide his striking silver hair.
Yes, this foodie would now be her personal bodyguard. Though his combat abilities were unknown, his potential was promising!
"From now on, if someone asks who you are, what will you say?" Nan Gong Huan asked, her eyes sparkling. This amnesiac foodie was a bit naive, making him the perfect target for some gentle manipulation.
"I’m Huan Huan’s little follower. Whoever bullies Huan Huan, I’ll beat them up!" Dong Yan Cuo said with determination, looking straight into Nan Gong Huan’s eyes.
His serious expression was oddly charming... Nan Gong Huan’s cheeks flushed, and she coughed lightly, nodding in satisfaction. She handed him a candied hawthorn, which he immediately began munching on with shining eyes.
"Child, tomorrow is your birthday," Elder Ling said from within the Di Ming Ring, his voice calm yet observant.
"Birthdays don’t mean much to me anymore," Nan Gong Huan replied, still adjusting Dong Yan Cuo’s clothes.
He ate with a natural innocence, and Nan Gong Huan suddenly realized that this guy was actually quite adorable.
"Haha," Elder Ling laughed heartily. "Now that you’ve built your spiritual platform, remember this: on your birthday, the Earth Spirit Star’s tidal storm will surge for you!"
"What!" Nan Gong Huan looked up at the sky, noticing a certain star beginning to blur.
She had learned the art of stargazing from Elder Ling, though even after three years, she had only scratched the surface of its mysteries.
Elder Ling had once said that the Earth Spirit Star was the most unique star, and when its tidal storm surged, those with spiritual platforms would experience an exponential increase in their cultivation speed.
"The four great families jointly guard a Spirit Condensation Pavilion, which houses several spiritual veins. I’ll head there first thing tomorrow," Nan Gong Huan declared, determined not to miss this golden opportunity for cultivation!
