Like you like me
The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly across the ravaged forest clearing. After a fierce battle, none of the four people and the cat were in good condition.
Despite his injuries, Bai Chuan took out various porcelain bottles and jade jars from his Qiankun bag and distributed the pills that nourished his meridians and replenished his spiritual energy to the injured Yun Qian and Lin Huaiyu. He also carefully fed them to Qin Wu, who was still unconscious.
Zhihua transformed back into its kitten form, lying listlessly on the carriage shaft with its ears drooping and its tail barely moving. Clearly, its transformation into a giant beast to guard the carriage had consumed a great deal of its energy.
Qin Wu was properly settled in the carriage. Although he had not yet woken up, his breathing had become more stable. Bai Chuan confirmed that he had only suffered from excessive consumption of spiritual energy and some superficial injuries, but that his condition had not been fundamentally damaged. He would recover after some rest.
Lin Huaiyu and Yun Qian sat side by side on a large rock not far from the carriage. Both were pale and weak, looking sickly in the moonlight…
Yun Qian silently finished the bitter medicine Bai Chuan handed her, put away the empty bowl, turned around, and looked calmly at Lin Huaiyu: "You know who it is, right?"
To have the opportunity to plant such a vicious and complex spirit-sealing talisman on Lin Huaiyu during his weakest period after experiencing the Heavenly Tribulation, there is no one else in this world who, apart from someone who has had the same experience and knows the intricacies of it, could do so.
Throughout the long history of the Nine-Tailed God Clan, only two people have survived and successfully inherited the power of the gods: Lin Huaiyu and... Yue Sheng.
"You are someone who, like you, inherited the power of the gods, right?" Although Yun Qian was asking a question, her tone was already certain.
Everyone believes that inheriting divine power will grant one absolute dominance over the world, but no one knows how unbearable the decade-long period of weakness following the heavenly tribulation truly is. Only those who have also struggled to survive that destructive sea of lightning know best when the best time to strike is.
Therefore, the person behind it all can be almost certainly identified.
A faint, yet coldly sarcastic smile appeared on Lin Huaiyu's pale face: "I always thought that Yuesheng's announcement of seclusion was because he genuinely wanted to focus on cultivation and pursue that elusive path to ascension... I never imagined that he was doing these underhanded things behind the scenes."
"He's gone mad in his pursuit of ascension." Lin Huaiyu's voice carried a hint of weariness and disappointment that was barely perceptible.
Yun Qian reached out and gently patted his shoulder. "In this world, he's not the only one who's gone mad for the sake of ascension."
The reason why Cangmin Mountain was besieged in the original book was precisely because these people believed that there was a secret method for ascension within Cangmin Mountain.
She changed the subject, her expression becoming serious: "The most important thing right now is to carefully check your body to see if any other random spells have been planted on you." As she spoke, she raised her hand to form a hand seal and circulate her spiritual energy.
However, just as a glimmer of light appeared on her fingertips, Lin Huaiyu grabbed her wrist.
This time, Lin Huaiyu held on tightly, not allowing her to break free easily.
“That’s all.” Lin Huaiyu’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, her tone carrying an undeniable insistence. “Don’t use your spiritual power anymore, Yun Qian. If your inner energy is completely depleted, you really will die.”
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Yun Qian looked at him calmly. Perhaps it was the spiritual energy left in the mask by her master Bai Yan that had taken effect, nourishing her meridians. At this moment, she felt that although the spiritual energy in her inner palace was not abundant, it was enough to support this kind of investigation.
Lin Huaiyu didn't let go of her hand; instead, he gripped it even tighter. He lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes casting a faint shadow on his pale cheeks, and said in a low voice, "I'm following you to protect you."
"It's not so that... you would risk your life to save me time and time again." At the end of his words, a trace of self-loathing, which he tried hard to suppress but still couldn't completely hide, was revealed.
Yun Qian keenly noticed his fleeting emotion. Ever since waking up, she had sensed that Lin Huaiyu was not in a good state, not just physically weak, but also mentally depressed. Only now did she finally understand the root of his emotions.
She quietly gazed at Lin Huaiyu's profile, which was so close to hers.
The moonlight outlined his delicate and smooth jawline, and even with his pale face, his breathtaking beauty was undeniable.
Yun Qian loves all beautiful things. From the first moment she saw Lin Huaiyu, she thought he was handsome. The inexplicable goodwill and trust she felt stemmed not only from the familiarity he brought because of his resemblance to Bai Yan, but also perhaps more from this pure instinct to appreciate and be close to beautiful things.
With a slight thought, almost subconsciously, Yun Qian tilted her head slightly and gently pressed her soft lips to Lin Huaiyu's cool cheek.
The sudden, warm kiss made Lin Huaiyu freeze. He turned his head in a daze, meeting Yun Qian's eyes, which held a faint smile.
Before he could react, Yun Qian leaned closer again, this time targeting his lips, which were slightly pale from blood loss.
A gentle, fleeting kiss.
Like a butterfly skimming across the water, leaving only a faint trace of Yun Qian's warmth and scent lingering on his lips.
Yun Qian gave Lin Huaiyu no time to react or ask questions, and stood up nimbly. She turned and walked towards the carriage, her steps slow but with a light and firm air. The night wind blew the stray hairs on her forehead, and her voice came clearly on the wind, reaching Lin Huaiyu's ears: "I am willing to protect you, and I am willing to save you, just as you are willing to do the same for me."
Her words were subtle and unspoken. But the unspoken meaning, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, rippled across Lin Huaiyu's heart.
What she really wanted to say was: I like you, just as you like me.
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