Under Shen Yanchu’s repeated persuasion, Ji Yanche finally agreed to leave and let him rest alone. Shen Yanchu breathed a sigh of relief internally, though he knew that despite his seemingly serious exterior, his injuries were actually little more than superficial flesh wounds. What surprised him even more was that he now felt his body was exceptionally robust, with a powerful surge of energy flowing through his heart.
“No wonder Xie Huaizhou is always obsessed with cultivation. This feeling of being filled with strength is truly hard to resist,” Shen Yanchu muttered to himself in admiration.
Just as he was immersed in this newfound strength, the door was pushed open with a creak, and Xie Huaizhou’s figure appeared in the doorway. Shen Yanchu could not help groaning in his heart. No sooner had he sent away one daunting deity than another arrived. He genuinely wished he could have a private space entirely to himself.
Xie Huaizhou sat down on the edge of Shen Yanchu’s bed, lowering his head with slightly red-rimmed eyes, looking precisely like a puppy that had done something wrong. Noticing his unusual appearance, Shen Yanchu asked curiously, “Did you cry?”
Xie Huaizhou turned his face away and replied with a muffled tone, “No.”
Refusing to let it go, Shen Yanchu leaned right up close to Xie Huaizhou, observed him carefully, and concluded, “You definitely cried.”
Unlike the gentle demeanor he maintained in front of Ji Yanche, Shen Yanchu acted completely fearless at the moment. He teased, “Xie Huaizhou, has anyone ever told you that you look exceptionally like a little puppy right now?”
“Shen Yanchu, do not think that just because you are injured, I would not dare to strike back!” Xie Huaizhou said indignantly.
“Oh my, I am so scared!” Shen Yanchu exaggeratedly pulled the blanket up until only a pair of mischievous eyes peeked out, pretending to be terrified. “I am in the Nascent Soul stage now. A Golden Core cultivator fighting a Nascent Soul one across realms, just how many chances of winning do you think you have?”
Unwilling to argue with Shen Yanchu, Xie Huaizhou pulled a jade pendant out of his storage pouch and tossed it into Shen Yanchu’s lap. “This jade pendant can both generate warmth and transmit voice. When you encounter danger in the future, use it, and I will be able to hear you even from a thousand miles away.” Looking like an upset child who refused to look at Shen Yanchu, he added, “This matter was my fault, so consider this jade pendant my apology.”
Shen Yanchu caught the pendant, a flash of delight crossing his eyes. He did not care about all those details; receiving a good item meant accepting it. Smiling from ear to ear, he tucked the pendant away into his robes, and the last shred of dissatisfaction he held toward Xie Huaizhou vanished completely into thin air.
“Xie Huaizhou?” Shen Yanchu lightly patted Xie Huaizhou’s shoulder, a hint of coquettish playfulness tinging his voice.
“What is it?” Xie Huaizhou turned his head back, trying his best to keep his voice steady, though the flush at the tips of his ears betrayed his inner turbulence.
“I am hungry. Can you take me to an inn for some good food?” Expectation sparkled in Shen Yanchu’s eyes.
“No, you are still recovering from your injuries and should not be going out.” Although Xie Huaizhou’s tone was firm, a trace of hesitation flickered in his gaze.
“Xie Huaizhou,” Shen Yanchu said softly, drawing out his words in a sweet, lingering tone. Tugging at Xie Huaizhou’s sleeve, he shook it gently. “You are the best. Besides, with you here, I am not afraid of anything.”
The tips of Xie Huaizhou’s ears turned even redder. He tried hard to suppress the fluttering in his chest, yet he found himself entirely unable to refuse Shen Yanchu’s gaze full of trust.
Seeing this, Shen Yanchu moved even closer to Xie Huaizhou, close enough that he could almost feel the other’s breath. His voice dropped to a low, alluring murmur, “Please.”
In the end, Xie Huaizhou failed to resist Shen Yanchu’s soft offensive. With a light sigh, he carefully scooped up Shen Yanchu and stepped onto his flying sword.
Shen Yanchu nestled in Xie Huaizhou’s embrace, feeling that unique warmth and sense of security. He closed his eyes, enjoying the breakneck speed of sword flight, and secretly compared the two: compared to that ice-cold Ji Yanche, he much preferred this straightforward and simple Xie Huaizhou.
Xie Huaizhou’s embrace felt like a safe harbor, granting Shen Yanchu unmatched peace of mind.
He rested his head against Xie Huaizhou’s chest, listening to the steady heartbeat as if tuning into the other’s inner thoughts.
As a top-tier swordsman, Xie Huaizhou kept his sword flight as steady as a monolith even while holding someone, and his blistering speed made one’s heart race.
The distance between them was so close that a subtle, imperceptible emotion seemed to circulate through the air.
Shen Yanchu quietly opened one eye to gaze at Xie Huaizhou’s focused profile, a nameless emotion stirring deep within his heart.
Meanwhile, although Xie Huaizhou tried his utmost to maintain a calm exterior, his slightly trembling arms silently revealed his internal fluctuation and joy.
Sensing Shen Yanchu’s closeness, Xie Huaizhou’s heartbeat accelerated involuntarily. He spoke softly, “Shen Yanchu, do not lean in so close.”
Shen Yanchu froze slightly, then flashed a teasing smile and intentionally leaned even closer, his voice carrying a hint of mockery, “What, Xie Huaizhou, are you scared?”
Xie Huaizhou’s ear tips grew even redder. Giving a light cough to mask his awkwardness, his tone remained firm. “No, it is just that you are injured and should rest properly instead of moving around.”
Not letting up, Shen Yanchu pressed even closer with a mischievous curl of his lips. “I was injured because of you. Shouldn’t you take good care of me now?”
Flustered by Shen Yanchu’s words, Xie Huaizhou wanted to push him away, but his hands stopped mid-air and ultimately never came down. With his gaze shifting about, not daring to meet Shen Yanchu’s provocative eyes, his voice turned somewhat stammering. “I of course will take care of you, but you do not have to be like this.”
Noticing Xie Huaizhou’s awkward state, Shen Yanchu laughed inwardly. Deciding not to tease him any further, he pulled back slightly while maintaining a close posture. “Alright, I will not tease you anymore. I just feel that having you by my side brings me true peace of mind.”