Lan Yan felt a coolness, and her body immediately felt less uncomfortable. She moved closer to the only source of warmth beside her and fell into a peaceful sleep.
Jun Yelan watched the person burrowing into his embrace, his body stiffening. He dared not move, his hands resting gently on Lan Yan's waist, afraid of disturbing her.
He lowered his head, gazing at the sleeping figure, and murmured, "You are truly so different, I don't know what to do. Anyone else would be desperate to get away from me. Yet you can sleep in my arms."
Lan Yan mumbled drowsily.
Jun Yelan didn't hear clearly. He lowered his head, moving closer to Lan Yan's lips. At this moment, Lan Yan stirred slightly, her lips brushing lightly against his earlobe, causing his ears to blush.
Realizing Lan Yan was speaking in her sleep, he straightened up, turning his head slightly aside, trying to suppress the tremor in his heart.
The only sounds around were the chirping of insects and birdsong, and the steady breathing of the two of them.
After a long while, Lan Yan opened her eyes and found herself in Jun Yelan's arms. Had she done something again! She raised her head and saw Jun Yelan holding her, and they were in a hot spring pool.
She shifted to the side, moving her body. She felt much better than before. It was likely that her body was too weak, and after a fight and a bath, she had caught a chill.
It was good that she had taken a soak in the hot spring; she felt completely refreshed now.
She couldn't help but look at Jun Yelan. He must have brought her here, as this was Jun Yelan's territory. It was her first time being so close to Jun Yelan, and she couldn't resist wanting to move a little closer, her gaze fixed on him.
Sensing a strong gaze upon him, Jun Yelan's eyes snapped open. It was his instinct, a fear of assassination. He looked at Lan Yan and saw her smile, knowing she was alright.
"If you feel unwell in the future, you can come here. This place is suitable for recovery."
Lan Yan leaned forward and smiled, "Then this is the City Lord's exclusive reward for me?"
Too close, Jun Yelan felt unaccustomed and wanted to retreat but managed to hold back. He nodded, "You can think of it that way, after all, you helped this City Lord this time."
Lan Yan's smile widened, "Thank you, City Lord." She looked around. A bright moon hung high in the branches. "The moon is so round. Tomorrow is the fifteenth, and it will become a big disc."
Hearing this, Jun Yelan's expression changed. He clenched his fist, got out of the hot spring, and looked at Lan Yan below, his voice tinged with more urgency than usual, "You rest today. You don't need to appear before this City Lord."
This was the first time he had forgotten the day of the full moon!
Lan Yan was somewhat bewildered, but Jun Yelan, dragging his wet clothes, had already left. She also went up, returned to her room, and changed her clothes, finding that the maids in the room were gone.
She walked out. The sky had completely brightened, but the corridor was deserted.
"Strange, where has everyone gone?"
She walked towards the room where tea was brewed and finally saw Lv Qi, but Lv Qi's brows were furrowed.
Lv Qi also saw Lan Yan, pulled her inside, and whispered, "Today is a forbidden day in the city. Everyone must stay in their rooms. You absolutely cannot go out today."
Lan Yan became even more confused, "What has happened in this city? Why is there such a day?"
Lv Qi hesitated. Recalling the scene from last night, she finally said, "You have seen the City Lord fall ill, but it was not during his most severe episode. Tonight is the death tribulation he endures every month."
She only knew this much.
At this moment, Lan Yan finally understood that Jun Yelan had to endure this in secret. She looked at Lv Qi's worried expression, nodded, but felt a sense of unease in her heart.
Lv Qi then went to prepare the medicine.
Lan Yan sat alone by the door, looking at the empty corridor and courtyard.
Gradually, the sky darkened, and everyone retreated to their rooms. The entire City Lord's mansion was silent, not even a candlelight flickered.
Lv Qi prepared to go to bed, looked at Lan Yan, and asked, "Aren't you going?"
"I can't sleep. I'll stay here for a while." Lan Yan shook her head and watched Lv Qi leave. Suddenly, she heard a roar, filled with pain and unwillingness.
Drawn by the sound, she moved in its direction and arrived at the rock garden. Last time she was here, behind the rockery was a secret chamber, where Jun Yelan used to train.
She took a deep breath, pushed aside the rockery, and walked inside. Then, she witnessed a scene she would never forget in her life.
Jun Yelan's hair had all turned silver. It was unclear if his red robes were their original color or stained with blood. His hands were bound by long chains, and hoarse cries emanated from his throat.
"Jun, Ye, Lan." Lan Yan, shocked by what she saw, slowly called out Jun Yelan's name. She wanted to comfort the person before her, to make Jun Yelan regain his senses.
She approached step by step, reaching out her hand as usual, to touch Jun Yelan's head.
This time, Jun Yelan dodged, knocking Lan Yan to the ground and lunging at her neck to bite.
Lan Yan felt pain, her small face contorting. She struggled to reach out, touching Jun Yelan's head again, and cried, "Jun Yelan, it's alright now."
Hearing this, Jun Yelan stopped, his pupils regaining focus. He looked at the person beneath him, paused for a moment, and quickly moved away. He clutched his chest and shouted, as if using all his strength, "Go."
Seeing Lan Yan not leaving, he took out a medicine bottle from his embrace and poured it into his palm. However, it was empty. "Damn Holy Maiden, she's withheld my medicine again." He could only pretend to be fierce and roared at Lan Yan.
This time, he saw the tears flowing from the corner of Lan Yan's eyes, his heart tightened, and he turned away, unable to look.
Lan Yan also saw the medicine bottle. It seemed Jun Yelan relied on medicine to get through this day normally. But why hadn't the Holy Maiden given him the medicine this time? There must be a reason. She got up, deciding to go to the Holy Maiden's Palace to find the medicine.
She would not let Jun Yelan suffer.
Hearing the sound of retreating footsteps, Jun Yelan turned to look at the closed door, closed his eyes. "She won't come again, nor will she stay by my side." He gave a self-mocking laugh, enduring the increasing pain in his chest.
Meanwhile, Lan Yan had arrived at the Holy Maiden's Palace and was stopped by a maid. "Move aside." She pushed the maid away and rushed in, seeing a beautiful woman.
"Holy Maiden, I've come for the City Lord's belongings."
The Holy Maiden looked at the petite woman before her, but her gaze was firm enough. She didn't know that such a person had appeared by Jun Yelan's side! She dismissed the maids and sneered, "You are the first outsider to come to me."
Lan Yan had no time to delay and called out again, "Holy Maiden, I've come to get the City Lord's medicine."
The Holy Maiden's eyes turned cold. This girl was truly ungrateful, and she was someone who belonged to Jun Yelan, whom she detested!