Due to time constraints, Lan Yan and Jun Yelan had to depart immediately, so they entrusted Momo to the wolf demon. "Little wolf, take Momo back and be sure to protect her."
She handed the spinning top artifact to Momo, patted Momo's head, and instructed, "If anything happens, activate this formation. Take good care of yourself there; I will definitely come back for you."
Momo nodded, doing her best to hold back her tears, but she couldn't help but rush into Lan Yan's arms. "Mother, Father, you both must come back. Momo will always wait for you."
She had finally found parents who doted on her, and she didn't want to lose them easily.
Lan Yan nodded, and after comforting Momo, she and Jun Yelan set off.
The two held hands and flew toward the abyss.
The abyss was located at the boundary between two realms, filled with darkness, and nothing grew where they stepped. Moreover, it was composed of rocks, and from the crevices, black viscous magma that was also toxic was seeping out.
Even the slightest touch would corrode the body.
Lan Yan walked carefully on the rocks, avoiding the viscous magma, and looked at the endless expanse of rocks. "Where is the entrance here?" she had only read about it in books and knew nothing else.
"Follow me." Jun Yelan held Lan Yan's hand and led her to the right, where there was a gap emitting black fumes.
Lan Yan was startled, feeling that Jun Yelan seemed too familiar with this place, as if he had been here many times before. She thought of the occasional deepness that flickered in Jun Yelan's eyes, wondering if it was related to this place.
She had no time to think further and was led into the gap by Jun Yelan, where it was even darker.
Jun Yelan's palm tightened, and he said softly, "Don't be afraid, follow me." He knew Lan Yan was afraid of the dark and quickened his pace. The passage was too narrow for him to spread his wings to illuminate the way.
"I'm fine." Although Lan Yan's breathing was a bit rapid, she felt much better feeling the warmth from Jun Yelan's palm. She took a deep breath, focused her attention, and slowly saw a light appear ahead.
They had arrived in a new place.
Jun Yelan looked at Lan Yan's complexion, and seeing that her complexion was as usual, he was slightly relieved. He then looked at the glowing rocks around them and said cautiously, "Be careful, here, the more beautiful something is, the more dangerous it is."
"Okay." Lan Yan was almost pressed against Jun Yelan, not daring to move away. She saw vibrant mushrooms in the places they passed, being eaten by small insects on the ground, but soon those insects stopped moving.
She shivered and focused on looking ahead, moving even closer to Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan's lips curved slightly, and he suddenly felt that coming here was quite good. He led Lan Yan through the mushroom patch and then further inside, arriving in a room with mirrors on all four sides.
"Lan Yan, close your eyes. Illusions will appear here."
Lan Yan immediately closed her eyes and walked forward, led by Jun Yelan. Suddenly, the warmth from her hand disappeared, and she could no longer hear any sounds. Remembering Jun Yelan's words, she didn't open her eyes.
Gradually, she felt herself standing still, with no sound around her. She couldn't help but call out, "Jun Yelan." However, there was no response. She slightly opened her eyelids and saw scenes appearing before her.
She stood in front of countless mirrors and saw an infant fall into the darkness where they had just walked. The infant was crying. Then she saw a group of strangely shaped demonic beasts approach the infant, extending their claws to grab it, but they were repelled by the infant.
From then on, no one dared to approach the infant. The infant ate what dripped from the rocks and gradually grew up. After growing up, it turned into a cute little bun and began to pull at nearby mushrooms, stuffing them into its mouth.
The little bun clutched its stomach and rolled on the ground, then calmed down, its eyes turning red as it looked at the demonic beasts not far away.
Later, the little bun grew up into a young boy. He listened to the demonic beasts around him talk about this world. Afterwards, the young boy left this place, spread his wings, and flew away.
And those wings were very familiar to Lan Yan; they were Jun Yelan's. Everything made sense now. Why Jun Yelan was familiar with this place, why he told her ancient stories—it was because Jun Yelan was abandoned here and grew up here!
She touched her cheek and realized she was already in tears.
In an instant, the images vanished, and the mirrors around her disappeared. She found herself standing in an ordinary rock cave.
Jun Yelan's voice came from beside her, "Lan Yan, what's wrong?" He had brought Lan Yan out and saw her crying so sadly, which made his heart ache.
Lan Yan looked at the current Jun Yelan, still feeling a bit dazed. She suddenly threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. "Jun Yelan, I know everything now. From now on, I will be good to you and take care of you."
Jun Yelan was taken aback. Thinking of the illusions in the mirrors, he asked, "Did you see?" It was his first time coming before the mirror wall, and he had also seen his past, how he was rejected by the Six Realms and abandoned by everyone.
"Yes." Lan Yan nodded, tiptoed, and looked into Jun Yelan's eyes, placing her hands on his cheeks. "Jun Yelan, none of this is your fault. You are already amazing. From now on, by my side will be your stable place."
The thought of those scenes just now made her unable to stop crying. Why did Jun Yelan have to bear all the burdens? It was clearly his parents' irresponsibility, and it was those people who coveted his treasures!
Seeing Lan Yan crying like a pear blossom in the rain, Jun Yelan leaned down, brought his face close to hers, and planted a fleeting kiss on her cheek.
He kissed away each tear on Lan Yan's face.
Lan Yan was surprised. It wasn't until Jun Yelan cupped her chin that she came to her senses, her cheeks flushing. She nervously grabbed Jun Yelan's sleeve, her clear eyes shimmering, even her eyelashes trembling.
Jun Yelan saw this, his Adam's apple bobbed. Then he pinched Lan Yan's cheek and smiled lightly, "Yan'er, I remember every word you say to me."
He would no longer dwell on the past, only on the present and the future.
Lan Yan thought Jun Yelan would do something more, but he only pinched her cheek. A hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes, followed by a smile. "Jun Yelan, then you must remember well. Let's go."
This time, it was her turn to hold Jun Yelan's hand, covering the back of his hand. From now on, it would be her turn to protect Jun Yelan and take care of him.
Jun Yelan smiled and then moved his palm, once again enclosing Lan Yan's small hand. His heart was warmed by Lan Yan, and because of her, he could let go of the past. It was also because of her that he wanted to live well.
He looked ahead with cold eyes, determined to find the ancient artifact here.
Passing through the rock layers, they arrived in an empty room where a saber-like artifact was placed.
Next to the artifact was a line of text: "He who uses this artifact must first abandon what he loves most."