Chapter 142: Do It Yourself
In the distant horizon, the sky was bathed in hues of cyan and crimson, with even the white clouds tinged by the clashing energies.
Xiao Yan approached silently, his presence entirely undetectable to the two Dou Emperors locked in battle. Neither of them had the strength to sense him, much less resist if he decided to intervene. With his current power, even a Dou Ancestor below the four star level would struggle to escape unscathed from his full onslaught.
Ahead, the clash between the cyan and crimson energies originated from two sources: a human woman and a massive magical beast.
The beast was colossal, spanning seven to eight meters in length, its entire body covered in a crystalline purple armor. Under the sunlight, the purple crystals refracted dazzling rays of light, creating a blindingly brilliant display.
"As expected, that woman is after the Amethyst Winged Lion King," Xiao Yan murmured to himself, glancing at the towering beast before shifting his gaze to the woman fighting it.
She was clad in a simple dress that wrapped around her graceful figure. In her hand was an unusual, cyan glowing longsword. Her lush, black hair was styled into an elegant phoenix bun, and her beautiful features were serene yet striking. Despite her usual dignified demeanor, her face now carried a subtle trace of weariness.
Who else could it be but Yun Yun?
It was evident that a disagreement had broken out between the two. After a brief exchange, negotiations failed, and they were back to trading blows likely due to the coveted Amethyst Spirit Crystal that the lion king possessed.
"Amethyst Spirit Crystal… I'm far beyond needing something so minor," Xiao Yan thought disdainfully. His gaze lingered on Yun Yun's elegant figure, and a mischievous idea sparked in his mind.
"This might be the last chance I give her. Let's see if she seizes it."
Yun Yun and the Amethyst Winged Lion King were once again locked in an intense battle.
"Almost my turn," Xiao Yan muttered, moving closer to their fight.
As their clash grew more ferocious, the surrounding magical beasts trembled in fear, cowering in hiding.
Moments later, the Amethyst Winged Lion King opened its massive maw and unleashed a devastating purple beam of light.
"Amethyst Seal!"
The purple beam smashed through dozens of wind shields Yun Yun had hastily erected. The beam then struck her, its sealing energy taking root within her body.
The instant the beam landed, the lion king followed up with a ferocious swipe of its massive paw, aiming directly at Yun Yun.
"Wind's Edge: Annihilation Slash!" Yun Yun's blade flashed, slicing off the horn atop the lion's head. However, she was unable to evade the incoming paw, which barreled toward her with earth shattering force.
If that attack landed, even with her defensive inner armor, she would suffer grave injuries perhaps even death.
At that critical moment, a pale, slender hand appeared out of nowhere, intercepting the lion's massive paw.
"Boom!" A thunderous impact echoed as the lion king was sent tumbling backward, rolling nearly a hundred meters before coming to a halt. Its eyes filled with terror as it stared at the black robed youth who now stood calmly before it.
"Thank you for your assistance, kind sir!" Yun Yun turned to express her gratitude, but the sight of the young man's face rendered her speechless.
"X Xiao Yan?" Yun Yun's body stiffened as a tear slipped from her eye without warning.
"It's been a while," the youth said, a familiar roguish smirk playing on his lips.
"Is it really… you?" Yun Yun reached out hesitantly, as if trying to confirm that the face before her wasn't an illusion. But before she could touch him, her sealed Dou Qi began to recede rapidly.
The Dou Qi wings on her back vanished in an instant, and her body plummeted toward the ground.
Yet her eyes remained fixed on Xiao Yan, unyielding and fearless, as if nothing else in the world mattered.
A strong arm wrapped around her slender waist, catching her mid fall.
"Xiao Yan…" Yun Yun murmured faintly, before succumbing to the exhaustion brought on by the seal and passing out in his arms.
"Foolish woman," Xiao Yan muttered under his breath, his tone half scolding. He shot a glance at the tense, trembling Amethyst Winged Lion King. Spreading his Dou Qi wings, he soared away with Yun Yun in tow, vanishing without a trace.
The lion king remained frozen in place, only daring to breathe a sigh of relief after Xiao Yan had been gone for nearly a quarter of an hour.
Rubbing its now bald head where its horn had once been, the mighty beast let out a long, pitiful exhale.
"This human is terrifying. Let's hope he doesn't come back to kill me," the Amethyst Winged Lion King muttered as it gingerly rubbed its bald head, a lingering fear in its eyes.
When Yun Yun reopened her eyes, she found herself lying in a mountain cave. Two glowing crystal lamps made from magical beast cores illuminated the space, keeping the cave from feeling too dark or dreary.
"You're awake."
She turned her head toward the voice and froze. That familiar face it was Xiao Yan.
"Xiao Yan!" Her voice quivered with a mix of surprise and excitement as she tried to sit up, but her body was unresponsive. She was too weak to move.
Xiao Yan's expression was unreadable as he walked over to her, his eyes calm and detached. Without saying a word, he began untying her clothes.
"You " Yun Yun's face turned bright red. But then, as if understanding something, a peculiar look of resignation crossed her face.
Closing her eyes, she stopped resisting, her body relaxing as she silently awaited his next move.
"...?" Xiao Yan paused mid motion, a flicker of confusion flashing across his face.
"Why isn't she fighting back?" he thought, perplexed. After a moment of realization, his expression hardened again, and he resumed his actions.
Soon, Yun Yun felt a warm sensation brush against her skin, gradually spreading as it moved. Her body tensed slightly, her face growing even redder, but she kept her eyes closed, remaining still.
"I'm… sorry," she murmured, her trembling voice echoing faintly in the cave.
There was no response.
Moments later, she felt a strange pattern being traced on her skin before the sensation abruptly ceased. Her clothes were carefully adjusted back into place, leaving her thoroughly confused.
Opening her eyes cautiously, she saw Xiao Yan's stoic face as he finished fixing her attire. Without a word, he stood and turned to leave.
"Xiao Yan!" she called out, struggling to sit up. To her surprise, the sealed Dou Qi in her body had started to flow again, gradually unfreezing. Strength began to return to her limbs.
Xiao Yan paused mid step but only turned his head slightly, revealing the sharp contours of his face.
"The seal is broken. In half an hour, your Dou Qi will fully recover." His voice was cold, indifferent. "I did this for the sake of Nalan Yanran. Don't expect such mercy next time. Take care, Sect Master Yun."
With that, he resumed walking, his back firm and unyielding.
Yun Yun felt a pang in her chest, a sharp ache as if something deep within her had shattered.
Once, this young man had been warm and gentle toward her, but now, he treated her with a distant coldness. His actions were merely a favor for his disciple's sake, nothing more.
A wave of grief and regret surged through her. Ignoring her lingering weakness, she forced herself to stand and stagger after him, her voice trembling.
"Don't go!"
Summoning all her remaining strength, she threw herself forward, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
Xiao Yan smirked faintly, the corners of his lips curling into a subtle, roguish grin that Yun Yun couldn't see. "Ah, dealing with a woman like her… sometimes, playing hard to get is the way to go."
With his expression composed once again, Xiao Yan turned to face her. His fingers lifted Yun Yun's delicate chin, tilting her face upward.
"Sect Master Yun," he said mockingly, "what do you take me for? Someone you can summon whenever you please and then discard just as easily?"
His lips twisted into a cold sneer. "Do you think a woman like you deserves a man like me? I, Xiao Yan, could have any woman I want."
He made as if to leave again.
"It's not like that!" Yun Yun cried, her grip on him tightening. "I just… I didn't want to be treated as a mere bargaining chip. But after that night… I realized I can't forget you."
Her voice faltered, but she pushed through. "I… I…"
"You what?" Xiao Yan's tone was sharp, almost cruel.
She bit her lip, her cheeks flushed as she stammered out the words. "I've fallen for you."
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. "A lot of women love me, Yun Yun. What makes you special?"
Before he could finish his dismissive remark, her lips pressed against his.
His body stiffened for a moment, but then his hands moved to her waist as he deepened the kiss.
When they finally pulled apart, Xiao Yan's gaze was intense. "What do you take me for? Do you think I'm that easy?"
Yet even as he spoke, he began undoing his own robes.
Blushing deeply, Yun Yun gently pushed him onto the ground. "No matter what happens after this, let this be my way of making it up to you."
Xiao Yan's indifferent expression softened slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "If it's compensation you're offering, Sect Master Yun, then I hope you're ready to show me some real sincerity."
Her face burned crimson, but her determination didn't waver. "What kind of sincerity do you want?"
His smirk widened. "Heh. Sit down. Do it yourself."
"You "
The sun hadn't yet set, and spring had already passed. But within the dim confines of the cave, a different kind of warmth blossomed, one that filled the air with the scent of passion and newfound emotions.
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