Page 248

Sorry again for the delays, all the delayed chapters will be published today.

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Yuyan fell silent at the question.

After a brief blush, she noticed the genuine expression in Yino’s eyes. Her internal restlessness gradually settled as she took this soul-searching question seriously.

"If there are true feelings, it will happen naturally," she said softly, gazing into Yino’s eyes.

Compared to their conversation on Ranmo Peak months ago, Yuyan’s criteria for a partner had completely transformed. Initially, she wouldn’t even consider Yino as a potential match due to his low cultivation level.

But now, Yuyan no longer mentioned cultivation, instead discussing matters of the heart with Yino.

Since feelings couldn’t be quantified, it ultimately came down to Yuyan’s true feelings deep inside.

"Is that so? Then it seems I still have a chance."

Now that Yuyan’s standards had lowered, Yino no longer felt the need for politeness like before and spoke his mind directly.

Yuyan couldn’t find words to respond, only staring at Yino’s face, feeling the atmosphere had grown rather strange.

Losing one’s cultivation was normally a life-shattering event. Many cultivators would fall to their knees weeping upon hearing such news, some even taking their own lives, unable to accept reality...

Yet looking at Yino, Yuyan couldn’t detect any trace of sadness. If anything, he seemed more confident after losing his powers.

Before... Yino would never have confessed to Yuyan so directly.

Yuyan wondered if perhaps Yino had indeed been devastated at first, but after her comfort saw hope again. And with his cultivation gone along with his future prospects, he had nothing left to lose - like a broken pot thrown to shatter completely. He might as well lay his feelings bare to Yuyan, not caring if she rejected him anymore.

If so, that would fit Yino’s personality perfectly.

"Yino, you don’t need to be so self-destructive..."

"Maybe after returning to rest at Ranmo Peak for a while, these Demon Abyss burn marks will fade. Then your body can recover..."

Yuyan sighed, seeing it was getting late, and began urging Yino to head home.

Yino didn’t throw a tantrum. When Yuyan took his hand, he obediently followed along.

As for Yunjin and Jinyue, since they knew Yino hadn’t actually lost his cultivation, they had nothing to worry about and accompanied Yino and Yuyan back toward Wuji Sect.

On the journey, Yunjin had her crane carry Jinyue while Yino returned the Frost Chant sword to Yuyan, who used it to fly carrying Yino.

However, compared to their previous sword-riding position, Yino now expertly stood behind Yuyan.

His arms wrapped tightly around her waist, and she no longer seemed to resist, quietly standing in front controlling the sword’s flight.

Midway through, air currents caused the Frost Chant sword to shudder several times, giving Yino an excuse to hold his senior sister even closer.

In truth, everyone knew sword flight didn’t require such precautions.

With Yuyan’s Nascent Soul cultivation breaking the wind in front, even a mortal like Yino who had lost all cultivation could maintain his balance while holding onto her. Earlier when Yuyan had Yino stand in front, it was simply because she didn’t want him holding her waist given their relationship.

"Yino."

At some point, Yuyan spoke softly again.

Yino didn’t look up, still resting against his senior sister’s back, simply humming in acknowledgment.

"You performed excellently in the Azure Forest this time."

"Mm..."

Yino merely hummed again at his senior sister’s sudden praise.

Yuyan fell silent for a moment before parting her lips again:

"According to our earlier agreement, when we return to Ranmo Peak, your Senior Sister can grant you one wish."

"Sorry... I’m too tired today, let’s discuss it when we get back..."

Instead of responding immediately, Yino just held her closer, resting his face against her back in physical and mental exhaustion.

Yuyan felt the youth’s weak dependence and couldn’t help glancing down at his hands around her waist.

In this moment, Yuyan seemed less concerned about Yino touching her body. Instead, she deliberately made the sword flight gentler to take care of the heavily injured Yino.

She worried flying too fast would give Yino a cold, or disturb his rest...

"Do you want to sleep?"

Yuyan asked softly.

But three seconds later, the boy resting on her back spoke again tiredly: "I was planning to sleep for a bit..."

"But Senior Sister smells so nice, holding you makes my heart race. Even though my body is exhausted, my mind is strangely excited, I can’t sleep at all..."

Yino spoke seriously, but to Yuyan’s ears, these words from him sounded flirtatious, making her heart race and cheeks flush with embarrassment.

Yuyan had no experience flirting with men. Each time Yino expressed his feelings so directly, she didn’t know how to respond.

She felt somewhat taken advantage of...

But strangely, she wasn’t angry at all. Instead, she found herself getting excited by Yino’s sweet yet awkward way of speaking.

In the long night wind, they fell silent again.

Basking in this quiet world of just the two of them, Yuyan felt Yino’s breathing behind her and couldn’t help speaking:

"Yino, there are some things I want to be honest with you about."

"Mm..."

Yino’s cheeks flushed slightly, intoxicated by her sweet fragrance until his mind grew hazy like he’d had too much wine.

"Regardless of what others say, you’ve truly become exceptional. Among all the disciples I’ve taught over the years, you’re the most admirable - the only one who has touched my heart and earned recognition through pure effort..."

"However, Yino, you’re at that youthful age where thoughts can be too idealistic."

"If you’re only drawn to my body out of desire, you shouldn’t invest too much emotion in pursuing me."

"Physical desire is natural for everyone, especially for a young man your age full of vitality... I understand your thoughts and desires, but Yino, what you haven’t considered is that not everything can be measured by simple physical attraction, including your feelings and wishes for me."

Yuyan’s tone suddenly grew serious as she carefully explained these feelings to Yino.

Yino listened quietly without interrupting, waiting for her to finish.

"Though it started with physical attraction, after coming to Ranmo Peak I found Senior Sister is also really kind - teaching me cultivation, protecting me in the sect, even giving me a pendant for protection when traveling..."

Yino said softly.

But the woman before him shook her head helplessly:

"No, the realistic factors I speak of aren’t just these."

"Then it’s because I’m worthless and reaching too high..."

"No, this isn’t your problem - it’s me..." Stay connected through Lokepub

"Senior Sister’s?"

"Yino, you were born in the Grand Tutor’s Mansion with noble status, a perfect family background, and clan elders who are all immortal ministers and masters of the Great Dragon Dynasty... But you’ve never considered whether my situation matches your social standing."

"Senior Sister is so amazing, my great-grandfathers would definitely like you..."

"No, reality isn’t as simple as you think."

"Why not?"

"Ten years ago, that heavenly fire burned all of my clan members, leaving only me alone, along with Father’s broken chess manual and pieces from before his death..."

Yuyan lifted her gaze slightly toward the starry sky, loneliness and sorrow reflecting in her features.

As soon as she spoke, Yino immediately felt the crushing weight of clan extinction. Yuyan’s silhouette in his arms reminded him of that silver-haired, blood-stained beauty consumed by heart demons from later in the game.

"Yino, even if you’re this devoted, your family’s elders would never accept a woman who inevitably brings disaster."

"So..."

"If you’re truly just attracted to my body, I don’t mind - it’s a normal physical desire when living under the same roof."

"But if you seriously want to marry me, you should give up such childish thoughts early. I am doing this for your own good. You’ll understand one day that it’s not about you reaching too high - rather, with my background, marrying into the Grand Tutor’s Mansion would only be an endless burden for you."

After Yuyan’s confession, they fell into silence during their sword flight.

Holding the original storyline’s script from his past life, Yino naturally understood the meaning behind Yuyan’s words. Rather than living peacefully, she still dwelled on her father’s final chess manual and the truth behind the Ink Mansion’s downfall.

However, compared to before, Yino now had new insights into Yuyan’s background.

Because of Yuebai’s revelation about destiny’s truth, looking back at the ga,e, Yino felt the heavenly fire in Yuyan’s memories was almost certainly connected to the mysterious Celestial Master organization.

Later, Yino also asked Yuebai about it.

Apparently this organization was called the Heaven-Defying Pavilion, with complex internal factions. As for more specific inside information, Yuebai as a low-level operative didn’t know.

"Yino, rest for tonight. Tomorrow Master will bring the sect’s physicians to examine you again."

Landing on Ranmo Peak, Yuyan put away the Frost Chant sword and spoke softly.

After opening up to Yino, Yuyan’s emotions became complicated during their journey. Though they hadn’t argued, she felt a sense of loss, as if their relationship had grown somewhat distant.

Yuyan watched the boy head to the back courtyard to bathe, ending up sitting alone in the yard staring absently at the chessboard.

Thinking carefully, she really was a proud yet troublesome woman...

Usually maintaining a cold, aloof attitude toward others, but when Yuyan finally looked favorably upon a man, she turned to self-doubt, feeling someone as terrible as her who only brought disaster shouldn’t burden others.

Perhaps this was the essence of why Yuyan always kept others at a respectful distance.

Before she looked down on those men, but now having someone she admired, though the words reached her lips, Yuyan didn’t dare take even the first step.

"This is for Yino’s own good. He’s lost his cultivation now - if he gets dragged into my vengeance in the future, with his mortal body he’d definitely be burdened by me..."

She sat at the chess table, holding a piece but having no heart to play, only repeatedly murmuring in her mind to dispel these uneasy thoughts.

But just as Yuyan’s thoughts grew chaotic, the boy who had finished bathing and changed into sleepwear emerged from his room holding a pillow-

"Senior Sister, I think I have insomnia. Whenever I close my eyes I see visions of approaching the Demon Abyss in the secret realm, then I wake up startled in my dreams, breaking into a cold sweat."

"Senior, I don’t feel secure sleeping alone..."

"Tonight could you sleep with me as the reward you promised earlier?"

"Don’t worry, I won’t touch you. I just feel unsafe when I close my eyes with nothing behind me..."