"There is indeed a problem!" Lan Yan touched the wall of the study, searching for a mechanism, but the wall was bare.
Her gaze fell upon a nearby pillar. She walked over and pushed it forcefully, revealing a crack in the wall.
A smile touched her lips. "Little trick." She then swaggered in. Inside was a secret passage. She lit a fire starter to illuminate the path ahead.
She walked for an unknown time until she saw a prison cell. The person imprisoned inside was Jun Yelan. "Jun Yelan!"
Jun Yelan was chained to the wall, covered in blood, his head hanging low. Hearing the familiar voice, he thought it was his imagination. He tightened his grip on the necklace in his palm.
It must be that he missed Lan Yan too much, leading to auditory hallucinations. He gave a self-deprecating laugh.
"Jun Yelan!" The voice called out again. His pupils widened in surprise. He looked in the direction of the sound and suddenly saw Lan Yan.
Tears instantly welled up in his eyes, his lips trembling as he uttered, "Is this really not my hallucination!"
Lan Yan rushed in. Seeing Jun Yelan covered in wounds, she dared not use too much force, embracing him gently. "Jun Yelan, it's me, I've come for you."
Jun Yelan started, then his lips curved upward. It was truly Lan Yan, not his imagination. "Yan'er, I missed you so much."
During these days, he had been confined here in darkness, holding onto memories of Lan Yan to endure each day.
"Me too," Lan Yan choked back her tears, not wanting Jun Yelan to worry further.
She looked up and caressed Jun Yelan's gaunt face, her voice filled with concern, "Jun Yelan, does it hurt?"
How had Jun Yelan endured such severe injuries alone!
Jun Yelan was in pain all over his body, but as long as he saw Lan Yan, all his pain became insignificant. His heart felt sweet. "Yan'er, don't come closer, I'm very dirty right now."
He hadn't taken care of himself for a long time and didn't want Lan Yan to see him in this state.
His Lan Yan was so good; she deserved only the best.
"I won't. I just want to hold you," Lan Yan tightened her arms around him, carefully avoiding his wounds. "Jun Yelan, you're not dirty at all, you're the cleanest."
Her Yelan was always thinking of others.
Jun Yelan's pupils trembled slightly. Unable to refuse Lan Yan, he said, "Yan'er, move back a bit first."
Lan Yan was immediately filled with confusion. She moved back a little. Seeing Jun Yelan exert force with his arms, he broke free from the chains.
She saw that both of Jun Yelan's arms were free and immediately threw herself back into his embrace.
This time, Jun Yelan smiled, raised his arms, and embraced Lan Yan back, holding her in his arms.
He caressed Lan Yan's back, greedily drawing warmth from her body. His own cold body began to warm up.
"Yan'er, how have you been these days? Were you injured?"
Lan Yan suddenly remembered that she owed Jun Yelan an explanation. Looking into his eyes, he didn't seem angry with her. "Jun Yelan, aren't you going to ask me? I disappeared so suddenly."
"This is the best proof," Jun Yelan opened his palm, revealing the necklace within. "Seeing this, I knew you didn't disappear deliberately."
He knew the necklace was Lan Yan's gift to him, asking him to keep it safe, and it represented Lan Yan's eventual return.
Lan Yan's tears flowed uncontrollably. She buried her face in Jun Yelan's chest, trying not to cry. "Jun Yelan, I've been hiding something from you. I'm actually from the Flower Pavilion."
"I know everything," Jun Yelan caressed Lan Yan's hair, a smile on his lips.
Lan Yan was startled. She looked at Jun Yelan, blinking her eyes in confusion. She had been thinking about how to explain to Jun Yelan, and it turned out Jun Yelan knew everything!
Jun Yelan looked at Lan Yan, a hint of indulgence in his eyes. He chuckled, "The Pavilion Master told me about you long ago to torture me. But I trust my own feelings more."
He had always had nothing. Lan Yan approaching him gained nothing, so Lan Yan must genuinely care for him.
"Jun Yelan, you're deliberately making me cry! I finally managed to hold back." Hearing this, Lan Yan could no longer restrain herself and burst into tears in Jun Yelan's arms.
"I've tried many methods these days, but I couldn't get out of the Flower Pavilion, nor could I see you. I even dreamed of you, severely injured and suffering greatly. I couldn't even comfort you."
Jun Yelan's heart trembled. He held Lan Yan tightly, wishing he could meld her into his very bones. "Yan'er, it's alright now. I'm back by your side."
"I've endured these punishments since childhood, I'm used to them, they don't hurt anymore. The most painful thing was your disappearance. Now that you're here, everything is alright."
Jun Yelan, who was suffering, was still comforting her. Lan Yan cried even harder.
However, her tears came and went quickly. She said, "Right, we should leave quickly now. We can talk about this later."
She had been led astray by Jun Yelan and forgotten the main task.
"Yan'er, I can't leave. I'm injured right now. It's you who should leave here quickly; it's very dangerous here." Jun Yelan was reluctant to part with Lan Yan but didn't want her to be in danger.
Lan Yan grabbed Jun Yelan's arms and shook her head. "I won't leave you here alone."
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the secret passage, growing closer.
Jun Yelan knew it was Pavilion Master Bai, coming to interrogate him again. He let go of Lan Yan and urged anxiously, "Hurry and go."
Lan Yan had no choice but to leave first; otherwise, they would both die here. She tiptoed, kissed Jun Yelan's forehead lightly, and said, "Jun Yelan, you must stay alive."
She turned and left, her eyes still red.
Jun Yelan watched Lan Yan's retreating figure and smiled. Lan Yan was still so lovely, stepping into his heart step by step.
He suddenly felt that the days ahead would no longer be arduous, nor would he fear Pavilion Master Bai's arrival.
Pavilion Master Bai appeared as usual, holding a whip. Looking at Jun Yelan's appearance, he felt something was different from yesterday. Yesterday, Jun Yelan was listless; today, he seemed to possess a certain radiance.
Jun Yelan had already put away his smile and looked at Pavilion Master Bai with disdain. Now that he knew Lan Yan was safe, he had no reservations and needed to find a way to escape.
"Pavilion Master, I can give you the list, but you have to come with me to retrieve it yourself."
Pavilion Master Bai frowned. Jun Yelan had been so quiet before; why was he proactively talking to him now? "Where is the list?" He had searched Jun Yelan before but could never find the list.
"I've placed it in a secure location that only I know," Jun Yelan said coldly.
Pavilion Master Bai stared at Jun Yelan hesitantly. Should he trust him? "Alright, but pray that nothing happens tomorrow, or your list won't be able to save two people."
"What do you mean?" Jun Yelan's eyes darkened. This Pavilion Master Bai must have a conspiracy. He thought of Lan Yan's sudden appearance. Could Pavilion Master Bai be targeting Lan Yan!
His heart clenched. Lan Yan must not be harmed!