Chapter 45: Slow Down a Little
As the first light of dawn broke, Yu Xiang opened her eyes.
The faint coolness of dew lingered in the air. Chen Yin rested his head against hers, and the two leaning together exuded a rare warmth.
Yu Xiang recalled their days on Yushan Mountain. Back then, they would often find a tree, lean against it, and fall asleep together.
If not for the veil covering her face, Yu Xiang might have believed she was still on Yushan Mountain, living that carefree life.
The morning glow slowly spread across the sky. As Yu Xiang sat up, Chen Yin's gentle voice sounded beside her:
"Good morning, Miss Yin. Did you sleep well last night?"
Yu Xiang snorted deliberately. "At least you kept your word. You didn't touch me or lift my veil."
"Oh? From the way Miss Yin says it, could it be you actually want me to lift the veil and admire your true beauty?" Chen Yin asked, half-smiling.
Yu Xiang didn't respond, merely turning her head slightly.
"I'm leaving."
"What are your plans after this, Miss Yin?"
"It's better for you not to know." Yu Xiang shot him a sideways glance.
Chen Yin shrugged.
"Then I won't pry. I wish you safe travels."
"…Don't worry about me."
Yu Xiang lowered her gaze briefly and said softly, "You should worry more about yourself."
"Don't forget, you're now branded as someone who harbored a demonic witch."
Chen Yin maintained his casual smile.
Yu Xiang frowned slightly, dissatisfied with his carefree demeanor. "Aren't you worried at all? Rumors are flying everywhere, and righteous cultivators searching for us will find this place soon."
"Unlike Shen Shuanglian, if they catch you, you won't have a chance to clear your name."
Chen Yin waved dismissively. "What's there to be afraid of?"
"My master is the Immortal Yu Ling. Even if they had ten lives, they wouldn't dare do anything to me."
—Unless these old geezers don't mind my master causing trouble at their doorsteps every day.
"Hmph. Suit yourself."
Yu Xiang turned briskly, her hair fluttering in the wind. Before leaving, she paused, her beautiful eyes glancing back.
"One last thing," she said lightly.
"Don't get too close to Shen Shuanglian."
Chen Yin chuckled. "Miss Yin, are you jealous?"
"Don't flatter yourself. Why would I be jealous of you?"
"Then why do you care about my relationship with Senior Sister?"
"Because…" Yu Xiang hesitated for a moment before leaving a faint remark: "She's ultimately the first disciple of Misty Spirit Sect."
"And Misty Spirit Sect… none of them are good people."
Chen Yin blinked.
With that, Yu Xiang didn't linger any longer. With a few light steps, her figure vanished into the distance.
Chen Yin watched her retreating figure, pondering the meaning of her last words.
—Clearly, from what happened five years later when Xiang'er destroyed the Misty Spirit Sect, combined with Elder Mo Jie's attitude, the Misty Spirit Sect was the next key point he needed to investigate.
But did Xiang'er mean she even suspected Senior Sister?
After a moment of thought, he dismissed the idea.
If it truly had anything to do with the massacre of Changli Palace, Senior Sister would have been just as young as him back then, unlikely to know much.
Still, if the day ever came when he had to oppose Misty Spirit Sect for Xiang'er's sake...
How would he face Senior Sister?
Chen Yin sighed and muttered, "This is way too complicated." Then, he slowly turned to leave.
Not long after Chen Yin left, Yu Xiang's figure gradually reappeared.
She gazed at his departing back, her eyes filled with longing.
"Senior Brother, do you know?" she murmured to herself.
"Last night, for just a moment, I had a fleeting hope."
—Hope that you'd lift my veil despite yourself.
Hope that you'd sense my strangeness.
Hope that you'd hold my hand and help me personally exact revenge on all my enemies.
"System, am I… being too selfish?"
I shouldn't drag Senior Brother into my revenge. I shouldn't pull him into this web of entanglement.
[Selfish! You're incredibly selfish!]
The system's voice rang out, filled with exasperation. [I don't know about your senior brother, but I'm the one suffering because of you!]
[Do you have any idea how much trouble your impulsive actions caused? The discrepancies between reality and the recorded plot—do you know the cost I paid to fix that mess?]
[Let me warn you: if you keep going against the system and acting on your own, and everyone ends up dead, don't blame me for not reminding you!]
Yu Xiang lowered her gaze, remaining silent for a long time before her red lips softly uttered:
"...I understand."
"Rest assured. Once this matter is resolved, I won't let senior brother get involved any further."
—Yu Xiang, how foolish you are.
You clearly made up your mind from the very beginning to walk this thorny path of vengeance alone.
Even if it meant never seeing senior brother again for the rest of your life, you were determined to preserve the peace of this mortal world for him—to let him live in a safe and happy place.
But you're so weak. No matter how resolute you were, the moment you saw him, it all crumbled. Your heart couldn't help but start hoping again.
Hoping he would smile, ruffle your hair like always, and shield you from everything.
—But you can't allow it.
Yu Xiang lightly patted her cheeks, her gaze growing firmer.
This is something only I can do. No one else can help me.
Not master. Not senior brother.
Even if it means falling into the deepest depths of hell and being cursed for eternity...
—it's a price worth paying.
<+>
When she returned to the cave, the sky was finally starting to brighten.
Chen Yin walked into the cave carrying two fat fish, only to see Shen Shuanglian wrapped in a coat, sitting quietly with her knees hugged to her chest, leaning against the cave wall.
"Huh? How come you're up so early today?"
"...I went to bed early yesterday. Naturally, I woke up early too." Shen Shuanglian's voice sounded weak, tinged with melancholy and wistfulness.
Chen Yin neatly set the fish aside, preparing to gut them. "This will be our last meal here. Once we're done eating, it's about time we leave this place."
"For our farewell meal, let me show you my specialty. My grilled fish is famous on Yushan Mountain."
As the campfire blazed, Chen Yin skillfully skewered the fish and began roasting them over the fire.
Watching the sparks pop and crackle in the flames, Shen Shuanglian turned her clear gaze sideways, silently observing Chen Yin's profile.
"What is it? Is there something on my face?"
"No... I just wanted to look at you a little longer."
Chen Yin chuckled as he roasted the fish. "It's not like we won't see each other again. Why act like this is some tragic farewell?"
"Don't worry. It won't be long before I come find you."
Shen Shuanglian hugged her knees, resting her chin on her arms as her gaze flickered.
"Really?"
"Of course."
"But I don't trust you anymore. You've broken too many promises."
Chen Yin sighed helplessly. "Fine, then set a punishment. If I break my promise again, I'll accept it. How about that?"
Shen Shuanglian thought for a moment, then softly said, "I want you to marry me."
Chen Yin's hand paused mid-grill. He turned his head, slightly surprised.
"Are you serious? Have you thought this through?"
Shen Shuanglian nodded seriously.
"You're the top disciple of Misty Spirit Sect, the most dazzling talent of your generation in the cultivation world. And I'm just an obscure small cultivator from Cloud Realm."
"It doesn't matter."
Shen Shuanglian shook her head. "I don't care."
Chen Yin silently continued grilling the fish, lost in thought.
For a while, the air grew quiet. Only the occasional crackle of the fire broke the silence.
Shen Shuanglian slowly lowered her gaze, staring at her toes with a touch of dejection. "You... don't want to, do you?"
"Of course I do."
Chen Yin stared out of the cave entrance, seemingly dazed, and murmured, "I'm just afraid my current matters won't be resolved so quickly."
"And I don't want to keep you waiting for too long."
"It's fine."
Shen Shuanglian fixed her gaze on his eyes. "I'm willing to wait."
Chen Yin fell silent. "...It might take a long time."
"Do you know how long I've already waited for you?"
She spoke earnestly. "From my last life to this one, I've waited over twenty years."
"But last time, all I got in the end was a sudden disappearance and a cold gravestone."
Chen Yin lowered his head, his voice soft. "...I'm sorry."
"I'm not afraid of waiting."
She seemed to feel cold, hugging her knees tighter and murmuring softly, "I'm afraid of waiting for a ship at the airport instead."
Her voice was delicate and timid, like a child with no money staring longingly at a toy they couldn't afford.
Chen Yin remained silent for a long time before turning to gently wrap his arms around her neck, pressing a light kiss to her forehead.
"…Don't worry."
"This time, even if you really are waiting for a ship at the airport—"
"I'll sail that ship right to you."
"I promise." His eyes were bright, gazing tenderly into hers.
Shen Shuanglian slowly lowered her head, softly murmuring an acknowledgment.
"The fish is almost done. Let's eat."
"Mm..."
"What's wrong? Not eating?"
"It's hot. Can we let it sit a bit longer?" Shen Shuanglian looked at him timidly.
Chen Yin understood. She wanted to eat slowly, to make the time they spent together last longer.
So, he didn't point it out, simply nodding lightly.
"Alright. If you really don't want to leave, we could even stay one more day—"
"No." Shen Shuanglian shook her head resolutely.
"If we stay any longer... I'm afraid I won't be able to leave at all."
Chen Yin said nothing, quietly accompanying her as they ate the grilled fish.
Compared to the ones he'd grilled on Yushan Mountain, this fish lacked many seasonings and wasn't as flavorful.
Yet Shen Shuanglian ate with great care, her red lips chewing gently, as if she wanted to savor every bite.
As if by eating slowly enough, dawn wouldn't come so quickly.
And the moment of parting would be delayed just a little longer.
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