Deep in the back mountains of the Luoxian Sect stood a secluded cave.
A flash of green light flickered, and Yun Sheng’s figure appeared inside the cave.
This was a cave he had specifically chosen for devouring the Tree King’s heart. Towering mountains surrounded it on all sides, ensuring that no one would disturb him.
The only unfortunate thing was that when the wood-element spirit seed had brought him into that alternate dimension, it had left behind only a teleportation passage large enough for one person. Yuan Shu had left the alternate dimension through another route.
But it didn’t matter. Now that they had become the closest of cultivation partners, nothing could stand between them anymore!
The delicate fragrance of pear blossoms unique to Yuan Shu still seemed to linger beneath his nose—fresh, soothing, and alluring.
As though he had thought of something, Yun Sheng carefully took a neatly folded stack of silk handkerchiefs from inside his robes.
Certain memories surfaced in his mind. The tips of his ears grew slightly warm as he held the handkerchiefs in both hands and cautiously took a sniff.
Then he pressed them to his chest and hugged them tightly.
Only after a long while did he finally let go. He took a finely crafted crystal box from his qiankun pouch and opened it.
Inside was already an entire stack of identical silk handkerchiefs, all carefully folded. Every one of them had been collected by him over time.
And now, there was another stack.
They were all filled with Yuan Shu’s scent!
…
At the same time, in an underground cave.
Yuan Shu stared at the pitch-black cavern before her, her expression somewhat grim.
In her sea of consciousness, the Hehuan Divine Tree coughed awkwardly. “Ahem, Shushu… If I said it wasn’t on purpose, would you believe me?”
Just moments ago, when she had left the wood-element alternate dimension and stepped into the teleportation passage, the Hehuan Divine Tree had suddenly sensed a spiritual energy fluctuation that was highly alluring to trees.
The divine tree had then stirred violently within Yuan Shu’s sea of consciousness, causing Yuan Shu—who was controlling the teleportation—to lose focus for a moment. By the time she realized what had happened, the teleportation had already gone awry.
Instead of being sent to the cave containing the underground spiritual vein, she had appeared in this unfamiliar cavern.
The surroundings were pitch-black. Even she had trouble making out which direction to take.
Just then, a sword gleaming with cold light flashed from its sheath. Before Yuan Shu could react after teleporting in, the blade was suddenly pressed against her neck.
“Who are you? Why are you sneaking around behind me?”
The voice from the darkness carried a hint of anger, but it also sounded somewhat childish.
Yuan Shu knelt on one knee and slowly raised her head. In the darkness, she saw a shadow that was not particularly tall looking down at her condescendingly.
The light was too dim to make out his features, but his eyes, shining brightly in the darkness, were impossible to ignore.
“And who are you? What are you doing sneaking around in here?”
Yuan Shu sensed no killing intent from him, and the tension in her heart eased slightly. She coolly threw the question back at him.
“I—I’m the one asking the questions! Who I am is none of your business!” The other party sounded annoyed, and his voice rose a little.
“Heh. Before asking someone else’s name, shouldn’t you give your own first? That’s basic courtesy.” Yuan Shu let out two cold laughs. “Don’t tell me you don’t even have basic manners?”
“You’re the one with no manners! My father says I’m the most polite person there is!” the other party retorted angrily, glaring at her.
“Then what’s your name?” Yuan Shu continued pressing him.
The shadow fell silent for a moment and tilted his head, as though he were thinking. Yuan Shu could feel his gaze studying her.
After a moment, he apparently decided that a delicate-looking girl like Yuan Shu posed no threat and finally spoke.
“My name is Helan Zhao. I’m… I’m a man you can never have! I came here to… to find someone!”
He gave a cold snort before continuing, “Now it’s your turn. What’s your name, and why are you following me?”
Yuan Shu looked up in surprise and examined the boy in front of her from head to toe. The corner of her mouth twitched.
He didn’t look very old—just a child about her height—and yet he was calling himself a man?
Still, the surname Helan was unfamiliar to Yuan Shu. She had never heard it used in this area, and there didn’t seem to be anyone in the Luoxian Sect with that surname either.
“My name is Yuan Shu. I’m… a woman you can never have!”
Yuan Shu mimicked his manner of speaking, immediately drawing an angry glare from him.
“You’re copying me?”
“Hmm? Is there some rule saying that phrase belongs exclusively to you and no one else is allowed to say it?” Yuan Shu raised a brow and shot back.
“You—you—you!” Helan Zhao was furious. In all his life, it was the first time anyone had dared speak to him like that. He waved the sword in his hand, seeming to want to strike Yuan Shu.
But after brandishing it for a while, he had no idea where he should actually swing. In the end, he could only glare at her furiously.
“You’re not allowed to say it!”
Yuan Shu raised her eyes with a faint, mocking smile and fearlessly challenged him. “And if I do, can you kill me? Go on. Strike here.”
She lifted her neck and pointed at it with one hand.
Under the dim light, the woman’s raised neck was smooth and fair, seemingly drawing in the last traces of light within the cavern.
Helan Zhao happened to glance down and saw the deep cleavage revealed by the neckline of her garment.
Having always been innocent, he had never encountered such a sight before. His face instantly flushed red.
Yuan Shu watched him retreat two steps and gave a soft laugh. She had already realized that this child was all bluster—he only knew how to intimidate people and didn’t actually dare to attack.
Still, she had no intention of bullying a child and simply explained, “The teleportation went wrong, and I accidentally ended up here. Don’t flatter yourself. I wasn’t following you.”
“By the way, do you know how to get out?”
Yuan Shu rose from the ground, her figure straightening to its full height.
A short distance away, a glowing stone hung from the cavern wall. Its light fell across her face, dispelling the darkness and making Helan Zhao stare in a daze.
She was beautiful!
Her fair, delicate skin framed an exquisite face.
Her eyes were clear and luminous, her nose elegant and straight, and her lips small and delicately shaped. Her brows and eyes carried an innate confidence and pride.
She merely looked at him coldly, yet she possessed an indescribable charm that made it impossible to look away.
For a brief moment, Helan Zhao heard his own heartbeat, completely beyond his control.
Thump. Thump.
“Hey, I asked if you know how to get out.” While Helan Zhao was looking at Yuan Shu, Yuan Shu was also examining the boy in front of her from head to toe.
He was about as young as she had expected, with a touch of childish baby fat still clinging to his cheeks.
He was rather good-looking, with thick brows, large eyes, and a pair of black, grape-like eyes that were almost unnaturally bright.
He wore a pale green robe of what appeared to be expensive flowing-cloud brocade. A jade pendant hung at his waist, complemented by the golden crown atop his head.
Yuan Shu arched a brow. This child was quite something!
He did look a little foolish, though. He had been staring at her the entire time without saying a word.
“I—I know.” Helan Zhao came back to himself and awkwardly turned his head away, though the tips of his ears had turned completely red in the darkness.
This woman was so beautiful. She was even more beautiful than all those noble young ladies his mother had carefully selected for him!
He had never seen a girl this beautiful before!
Helan Zhao couldn’t help glancing at Yuan Shu again, his gaze settling on her slightly furrowed brows without blinking.
