Since the helper's efforts were valuable, Ye Luan found it difficult to refuse and nodded.
"Mmm, when can we leave then?"
Xiao Chizhan replied, "When your body has recovered."
"My wound is no longer an issue. Can we depart tomorrow?"
Was she that eager?
A shadow of gloom fell upon Xiao Chizhan's heart. The hand stroking her cheek paused. "Luan Luan, but my shoulder still hurts."
Upon hearing this, Ye Luan paused slightly.
Why did she feel as though Xiao Chizhan was constantly comparing himself to Lu Feibai?
"Your Highness, then you should stay here and recover. I will go deliver the medicine, and you can find me when you are well."
In the end, she felt that Lu Feibai was more important than him, always thinking of Lu Feibai first.
The chill in Xiao Chizhan's heart continued to spread uncontrollably.
He brushed a stray strand of hair from her ear, his voice calm. "I will accompany you tomorrow."
Ye Luan sensed his unusual demeanor but didn't know how to respond. She could only whisper, "Thank you, Your Highness."
With Tantai Ye handling matters in Beidi, Xiao Chizhan had no worries. If it weren't for Ye Luan, he would have already left for Yuehan Pass, especially since the battles between Beiqi and Daliang were also raging intensely.
The next day, as they prepared to depart, Ye Luan glanced at the wound on Xiao Chizhan's shoulder, paused, and then said, "Let's change your dressing first, then we can go."
It would be inconvenient to change the dressing while traveling.
"Alright."
Xiao Chizhan sat on a stool, his eyes intently watching the young woman changing his dressing, an almost pathological adoration in his gaze.
When Ye Luan looked up, sensing something amiss, she saw him lowering his eyes gently. The red mole beneath his lower lash was incredibly alluring.
She frowned slightly, feeling puzzled, and couldn't help but twist her neck. For some reason lately, she felt perpetually sleepy and very tired.
Her body felt extremely weary.
"Luan Luan, does your neck hurt?"
Suddenly, he stood up with a jolt, nearly causing Ye Luan to fall backward.
Ye Luan instinctively reached out to grab him, but her left foot tripped over the round stool. Xiao Chizhan, for reasons unknown, didn't catch her but instead fell backward with her.
With a thud, they both landed on the ground.
She was sprawled onto his bare chest without any grace, her red lips pressed tightly against his Adam's apple.
She could clearly hear him let out a husky, seductive sound.
Ye Luan's face flushed, and she quickly tried to stand up, but her waist was held firmly in his embrace, tightly clasped.
"Get up, let go of me."
"It hurts, I hit my wound."
Xiao Chizhan spoke in a low, hoarse voice, yet his hands weren't still, rubbing and caressing her waist.
Ye Luan looked up and saw that the wound, which had just been bandaged, was bleeding again.
She quickly turned her head, intending to speak to him.
But as she turned, she happened to kiss his mouth.
The moment their lips met, the man beneath her seemed to lose control. He firmly held her head, pried open her lips, and delved into hers.
The kiss was fierce, as if he intended to devour her.
Ye Luan wasn't foolish; she could see clearly that this scoundrel was absolutely doing this on purpose.
His calloused hands unfastened her sash and reached inside.
In her anger, she tried to push up with her knee, but he agilely clamped her legs and even rubbed against them a few times.
Ye Luan was both annoyed and ashamed. Sensing his arousal, she dared not move further and could only submit.
Xiao Chizhan felt a thrill coursing through his body. Past, wild scenes erupted in his mind, and he even wanted to proceed then and there.
But still fearing her anger, he suppressed his arousal and kissed her intensely.
"Mmm, Xiao--Chizhan--"
Ye Luan tried to push him away, but his skin was scorching hot. The moment she touched him, he held her even more fiercely and ruthlessly, kissing her. In her frustration, her hand uncontrollably swung towards his face.
Even in his daze, Xiao Chizhan sensed it but did not catch her hand, allowing the slap to land.
Being slapped by his woman was nothing.
As soon as he released her, Ye Luan immediately stood up and fastened her clothes.
"Xiao Chizhan, do you just ignore everything I say? Am I just talking to a wall all day?"
Her alluring red lips were made even more vibrant and seductive by his kiss, and her eyes shimmered with moisture. Even as she scolded him, her face held little menace.
She was too alluring.
Xiao Chizhan feigned pain, cradling his wound as he stood, and explained in a low voice, "Luan Luan, you leaned in yourself. I thought you wanted to kiss me, so I couldn't hold back."
Ye Luan: "---"
She said coldly, "With your skills, you wouldn't have fallen to the ground from me bumping into you. You did this on purpose."
Hearing her accusation, Xiao Chizhan furrowed his brows.
He had wanted to keep up the act, but he truly couldn't resist.
At night, while she allowed his kisses and caresses, he preferred when she was awake, when everything was vibrant.
"Luan Luan, I really didn't do it on purpose. I just couldn't hold back for a moment."
Ye Luan knew in her heart what had happened, but she couldn't bring herself to fully confront him, especially since she had, in fact, leaned into him.
She let out a sigh and looked at the Hamudan bead in her bundle, pursing her lips.
Never mind.
She picked up her bundle and started to walk out, but he pulled her hand from behind.
"Are you angry with me?"
Ye Luan took a deep breath, turned around, and said earnestly, "Your Highness, if you truly love someone, it's not about forcefully keeping them by your side and possessing them. It's about respecting and cherishing them. Only when two people truly love each other can they walk together."
"What's the use of just possessing someone? If you want to truly win someone over, you must capture their heart."
Upon hearing this, a flicker of distraction crossed Xiao Chizhan's eyes.
The person was his, so naturally, her heart would be his too!
He wanted everything about her!
At this moment, a "bang bang bang" knocking sound echoed from outside, followed by Li Qiongyu's shouts.
"Are we going or not? What's taking so long?"
Ye Luan didn't want to argue with him. She pulled her hand away, grabbed her bundle, and walked out.
Xiao Chizhan watched her retreating back, his red pupils narrowing slightly. His fingertip lightly touched his lips, and a mischievous smile flashed in his eyes.
So sweet.
"Xiao Chizhan, what are you spacing out about? Let's go!"
The Wu Hui Sect was located just outside Saibei Pass, not far from the desert. After several days of riding, they arrived.
Xiao Chizhan and Li Qiongyu seemed very familiar with the Wu Hui Sect, and they led her directly there without her needing to ask.
The grand sect resembled a vast celestial palace. Above the nine levels of heavenly stairs, clouds swirled, making it seem like an immortal sect standing amidst mountains and seas.
As they stepped onto the heavenly stairs, they saw over a dozen young disciples sweeping the grounds.
"Who are you looking for?" a young boy in a gray robe stopped them.
Just as Ye Luan was about to present the jade bead, Xiao Chizhan took out a token. The boy looked at it and respectfully said, "Please follow me."
Once inside, the boy led them around the main hall and directly to the back courtyard.
Along the way, the mountain was covered in spiritual herbs and sacred trees, with many immortal herbs and plants cultivated.
In the open space of the front hall, numerous disciples were practicing swordplay and martial arts, exuding an air of refined cultivation.