Chapter 41: The Only Home
The morning after a sudden rain.
Every morning in the Tian Tu mountain range is shrouded in mist. The thick fog seems to linger year-round, and a few steps forward might blur your vision entirely.
At the foot of Wan Yun Mountain, near the edge of the Tian Tu mountain range, several groups of cultivators were conducting a thorough search. Their clothing and adornments varied—some wore the robes of Misty Spirit Sect, others the garb of Tianluo Sect, and still others represented Wan Xiang Pavilion.
Amidst the dense fog, so many cultivators combed the vast forest at a slow and steady pace.
"Hey, brother, your Tianluo Sect is here to search too?"
"Of course! Our senior sister gave strict orders—who dares disobey? You don't understand; when our senior sister gets serious, even the sect master and his wife can't stop her."
"Sigh, at least your senior sister lost her lover. We've lost our senior sister herself. I just don't get it—what's so special about that guy to make both sects' senior sisters act so desperate?"
"I heard the guy is quite handsome. Could he be the prize they're fighting over?"
"Now that you mention it... no wonder the two fairy-like sisters go head-to-head whenever they meet."
"But even so, do you know what this place is? The Tian Tu mountain range is so dangerous that even the strongest in the Great Purity realm would struggle to get through. Do you really think they could survive falling in here?"
"Whether they survive or not, we still have to endure this dangerous search..."
As the disciples gossiped quietly, a shadowy black figure flitted silently through the forest, listening to their conversation without a sound.
Once the searching disciples moved on, the shadow darted deeper into the heart of the Tian Tu mountain range.
Behind her veil, Yu Xiang's weary and worried face was revealed.
—Senior Brother.
Please, please don't let anything happen to you.
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It was the fifth day since they had fallen off the cliff.
By now, Chen Yin had adapted to a primitive, almost caveman-like existence and had even started to relax.
Thanks to his nightly, tireless efforts, the chaotic spiritual energy running rampant through Shen Shuanglian's meridians had been gradually absorbed and repurposed as nourishment to heal her meridians.
Shen Shuanglian's complexion grew better with each passing day. Compared to her cold and frosty demeanor before the fall, she now had a healthier, radiant glow.
Chen Yin's daily routine consisted of cheerfully gathering food. Anything edible—be it meat, vegetables, or herbs—was captured and brought back to help Shen Shuanglian recover.
As for the pair of Violet-Mane Thunder Tigers they'd encountered earlier, they seemed far less hostile since Chen Yin returned from that mysterious barrier. Each time they crossed paths, Chen Yin would even greet them with a cheerful smile.
Spirit Beasts' intelligence is tied to their cultivation. For beings like the Thunder Tigers, their wisdom was already considerable. With time, Chen Yin came to understand more about the Tian Tu mountain range.
Firstly, it seemed the Tian Tu mountain range was even larger than he had imagined.
The main pavilion of Wan Xiang Pavilion, after all, was built atop the mountain, right on the edge of the Tian Tu mountain range. Thus, the place where Shen Shuanglian and he had fallen wasn't anywhere near the central area of the Tian Tu mountain range.
Even the Thunder Tigers had never ventured into the true center of the Tian Tu mountain range. Each time they mentioned it, they would growl lowly, as if describing something terrifying.
Normally, Chen Yin might have been intrigued by the center. But with Shen Shuanglian, his little "tagalong," injured and by his side, he had no intention of taking unnecessary risks.
For now, he was content with hunting chickens, fishing, and even playing with the fur of the Thunder Tiger cubs. Life wasn't too bad.
By mid-morning, Chen Yin had returned to the cave with a few freshly caught mountain chickens, humming a tune.
"Shuangshuang~ We've got chicken soup on the menu again today~"
But the cave was silent.
Chen Yin's eyes narrowed slightly as he set down the chickens and inspected the cave carefully.
—No signs of a struggle. Senior Sister should be safe.
But why had she wandered off alone with her injuries?
Chen Yin began searching the area around the cave. After combing through much of the ravine, he finally heard faint sounds coming from the pool beneath a waterfall.
Pushing aside the foliage, he peered into the clear waters below.
—Sure enough.
In the crystal-clear pool, Shen Shuanglian's smooth, flawless back glistened with droplets of water, resembling a piece of exquisite jade. Her slender fingers gathered her hair into a bun as she gently scooped water and poured it over her head.
As the water cascaded over her ethereal, otherworldly features, her dewy red lips exuded a delicate allure. Even her eyelashes glistened with tiny droplets, making her appear as if she had merged with the tranquil pool—a radiant and serene vision.
"How is it she still smells so lovely after all these days?"
Chen Yin lazily bit down on a blade of grass and decided not to leave. Instead, he shamelessly leaned against a tree, savoring the captivating sight of this enchanting beauty bathing.
Shen Shuanglian paused her graceful movements for a moment, then softly spoke:
"Is it pleasing to the eye?"
"Absolutely," Chen Yin replied, giving her a thumbs-up.
"...You're not supposed to feel proud about that."
With a soft sigh, Shen Shuanglian waved her hand. The water enveloped her like a silken curtain as her clothes floated over from the shore. In a single graceful turn, she was fully dressed, leaving Chen Yin with nothing more to see as she stood by the water's edge.
Her beautiful eyes were as clear as if they had just been washed, staring intently at Chen Yin.
Chen Yin scratched his nose awkwardly and said, "Uh... hey, it's no big deal. I mean, I just accidentally caught a glimpse of you bathing."
"I mean, it's not like we haven't already seen everything about each other. What's there to—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Shen Shuanglian lifted a foot and kicked him straight into the pool.
Chen Yin flailed awkwardly in the water for a moment before surfacing with a disgruntled expression. "Hey! Don't you think that's a bit too harsh?"
"Serves you right." Shen Shuanglian's tone remained calm, but there was a faint trace of amusement in her eyes.
"We were married, even if only briefly. Doesn't that count for anything? This is practically murder!" Chen Yin protested.
"If you could drown in this shallow pool, you might as well stay there," she replied flatly.
"Wow, you're really confident. What if I didn't know how to swim?"
"I wasn't asking you to swim," she said with a hint of disdain, frowning slightly. "Hurry up and wash. Otherwise, you'll stink."
"..."
Chen Yin looked dejectedly at himself, sniffing cautiously. Could he really smell that bad?
But at least wait until I take my clothes off before shoving me in!
He cleared his throat and adopted a serious tone. "Since I'm already here, I couldn't help but notice that Senior Sister seemed to get out of the water in quite a rush earlier. Surely you didn't finish your bath properly."
"How about this time, we take it slow and enjoy a proper bath together? I could even help scrub your back—"
Splash! Water from the pool suddenly exploded in front of him, drenching Chen Yin from head to toe.
Shen Shuanglian skillfully hid the blush on her cheeks and said softly, "Just wash properly. If you stink tonight, you're not allowed on the bed."
Without another word, Chen Yin dove straight into the pool.
Shen Shuanglian sat on a stone by the shore, her gaze wistful as she stared at the rippling water, lost in thought.
After a while, Chen Yin climbed out of the pool, drying himself off with a casual wave of his hand. Noticing her dazed expression, he asked, "What are you thinking about? So engrossed?"
"...Nothing."
Shen Shuanglian quickly concealed the sadness in her eyes, standing up and saying softly, "Let's head back."
"After today, we should start thinking about how to leave."
Chen Yin's expression immediately fell.
"Sigh. Happiness is always so short-lived."
Shen Shuanglian didn't respond, biting her lip lightly.
Back in the cave, Chen Yin cooked a chicken he had caught and made a delicious soup, enjoying a large bowl with great satisfaction. Shen Shuanglian, however, seemed preoccupied, absentmindedly sipping her soup.
Wiping his mouth, Chen Yin turned to her and asked, "What's wrong?"
"...I was just thinking about how to explain your situation to the elders of the sect when we return."
Chen Yin fell silent for a moment before casually waving it off. "Ah, what's there to explain?"
"Just tell them I was desperate to impress a beautiful girl and couldn't stand seeing someone bully her, so I saved that so-called 'demonic cultivator.'"
"What could they do to me? Beat me up? Worst case, I'll just hide behind my Master. Let's see who dares to touch me then."
Shen Shuanglian hesitated, then asked tentatively, "Your... little junior sister..."
"Hmm? What about her?"
"..."
Shen Shuanglian opened her mouth as if to speak but changed her mind, instead asking, "What kind of person is she?"
Chen Yin tilted his head in thought before replying earnestly, "She's like a child who never grows up—more worrisome than you."
Shen Shuanglian pouted unhappily. "How am I worrisome?"
"When your parents passed away, didn't you constantly have thoughts of ending it all?"
Under Chen Yin's calm gaze, Shen Shuanglian slowly lowered her head, shrinking into herself without a word.
"I got updates about you from the neighbors. Though we hadn't seen each other in years, with your temper as a kid, I figured you might do something impulsive in the heat of the moment."
Chen Yin tilted his head back, speaking slowly. "I don't know if the money I sent you was any help, but that was all my writing income for several months at the time."
"I could only ask the neighbors to look out for you, this foolish girl."
Shen Shuanglian pursed her lips, stealing glances at Chen Yin's profile. In a small voice, she muttered, "I... I'm not that fragile."
"Good."
Chen Yin said no more, lying down flat on the ground.
After some hesitation, Shen Shuanglian finally asked softly, "But you told me to be strong. Why did you choose to end it all yourself?"
After a long silence, Chen Yin couldn't help but laugh bitterly. "Because you were still a kid. But I was already an adult."
"In the adult world, sometimes everything collapses in an instant, and there's nothing you can do."
Shen Shuanglian straightened her back slightly, puffing out her chest as if to protest. "In this life, we're the same age."
"There's no difference anymore."
Chen Yin chuckled lightly, his gaze soft as he looked at the ceiling.
A small hand tentatively reached out to hold his. Shen Shuanglian murmured, "When you first arrived in this world, you must've been very unhappy, right?"
"Unhappy doesn't even begin to cover it."
Chen Yin didn't elaborate, brushing it off casually. "But thankfully, I met my Master and my junior sister Xiang'er."
"I finally had something that could be called a home."
In both his past and present lives combined...
...the only home he ever had.
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