Restraint and Desire

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Chapter 101: Restraint and Desire

Xiao Yan carried Yun Zhi back to the cave where he resided and gently placed her on a large rock covered with a cushion of grass.

"Sister Yun Zhi, rest here for a while. I'll go get some water and food for you."

"Mm."

Lying on the grass mat, Yun Zhi lightly nodded. With that, Xiao Yan turned and left the cave.

As she watched his departing figure, a flicker of light shone in Yun Zhi's beautiful eyes, filled with an indescribable emotion.

They had only been apart for two months, yet Xiao Yan's strength had surged from a three-star Dou Practitioner to an eight-star Dou Practitioner. He had even acquired a flying Dou Technique from who knows where.

Perhaps due to his training in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, the youthful innocence on Xiao Yan's face had quietly faded. Now, every movement he made exuded maturity.

This boy was growing too fast, in every aspect.

Yun Zhi's gaze swept across the cave, and when she caught sight of an medicinal cauldron placed in the corner, a trace of surprise flickered in her eyes.

Does he also know alchemy?

In that instant, Yun Zhi suddenly recalled the healing pill Xiao Yan had just fed her. She realized that the pill's effects were astonishingly potent—far superior to any common product one could casually buy on the market.

Could it be that he refined that pill himself?

A growing sense of amazement welled up within Yun Zhi. In just two months, Xiao Yan had achieved such significant growth.

And that was only the progress she could see.

Thinking about how Xiao Yan had already possessed combat strength surpassing his peers before, Yun Zhi couldn't help but wonder—

How much more had he grown in ways she couldn't see?

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Outside the cave, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged by a small river. In front of him, a pot of water was boiling, while the roasting rack beside him sizzled with fragrant grilled meat. Holding a small bottle filled with a purple liquid, he stared at it intently.

Accompanying purple crystal Source.

This was something extracted from the body of the young Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. Such a small amount—barely enough to fill even half the bottle—had almost cost the young beast its life.

According to Yao Chen, the Accompanying Purple Crystal Source was extremely rare. It was a pure energy essence born alongside the Amethyst Winged Lion cub. If the cub consumed it upon reaching the fourth rank, it would instantly advance to a fifth-rank Magical Beast!

"Something this rare... I'm amazed that you even know about it, Senior Yao," Xiao Yan remarked in awe before his expression turned helpless. "Speaking of which, you seem to know all sorts of things, but how is it that you don't know how to break the Purple Crystal Seal?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Yao Chen raised an eyebrow, a hint of irritation flashing across her face.

Brat! Isn't this all for your sake?

She had finally reunited Xiao Yan with his Dou Huang-level wife, only for her to be conveniently sealed by the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. This was a golden opportunity! If she let her slip away again, who knew when they would cross paths next?

No matter what, this time, she was going to make sure Xiao Yan and Yun Zhi took things to the next level!

Of course, she wasn't about to share her thoughts with Xiao Yan. Instead, she responded with a casual tone,

"I've simply seen a lot in my lifetime, but that doesn't mean I'm omniscient. There are always things I haven't encountered. Is that really so surprising?"

"I suppose not," Xiao Yan shrugged. Then, he slightly lifted the bottle of Accompanying Amethyst Source and asked, "So, Senior Yao, how exactly do I use this?"

"Well, I've heard that the Purple Crystal Winged Lion's purple flame can be obtained through the Accompanying Purple Crystal Source, but I don't know the exact method," Yao Chen replied with a nonchalant shrug. Then, with a teasing smirk, she added, "Why don't you just drink it and see? Maybe you'll really obtain the Purple Flame. If that happens, your Flame Mantra might finally evolve for the first time."

"Huh? But isn't the Purple Flame considered a Beast Flame? Can it really be used to upgrade the Flame Mantra?"

Xiao Yan looked surprised, while Yao Chen waved her hand dismissively.

"Beast Flames are, in a sense, also a type of Heavenly Flame—just weaker. Upgrading the Flame Mantra by one or two levels shouldn't be an issue."

"Mm..."

Xiao Yan stared intently at the small bottle of Accompanying Purple Crystal Source. Then, glancing at the cave where Yun Zhi was resting, he finally put the bottle away.

"I'll wait a little longer. Right now, Sister Yun Zhi's strength is sealed. If anything happens to me, she'll be in danger."

"Oh-ho~ Xiao Yan, you sure care about that girl, huh~?" Yao Chen stroked her chin, grinning mischievously. "So, you really do want to marry her, don't you~?"

Xiao Yan had previously admitted—among all the women he had met, Yun Zhi was the only one who had ever made him feel the desire to marry. The only one.

But, as he had always said—

"Unrealistic thoughts will only bring unnecessary trouble to the heart," Xiao Yan stated calmly as he watched the roasting meat before him. "I'm merely a small Dou Practitioner, while sister Yun Zhi is a high-and-mighty Dou Huang. Not to mention, there's likely a huge gap in our social status. No matter how similar our worldviews may be, we could never truly be together."

Xiao Yan was an idealist. Otherwise, he wouldn't have pursued and upheld the path of righteousness—a path as difficult as plucking stars from the sky. Without unwavering ideals, he would never have chosen this road.

But idealism didn't mean he was blind to reality.

Though he pursued righteousness, he was fully aware of the challenges in implementing it. That was why he had chosen to venture out and hone himself—to find and mend the flaws in his beliefs.

In other words, when it came to his ideals, Xiao Yan always sought to achieve them while taking reality into account.

But his feelings for Yun Zhi were different.

Even if they shared a similar worldview, the gap in their strength and status would inevitably lead to countless differences in perspective. Xiao Yan was not someone who would change himself for another person, and Yun Zhi likely wouldn't either.

A love with no future was nothing more than a fleeting dream.

He couldn't allow himself to sink into it and lose sight of his own path.

Things were fine just as they were now.

Hearing Xiao Yan's response, Yao Chen fell silent for a long time before finally sighing in resignation.

Xiao Yan's greatest strength was his keen self-awareness. He had a clear understanding of his own capabilities, goals, limitations, and position in the world.

Yao Chen was certain—there was likely no one else in the world who understood themselves as well as Xiao Yan did.

But at the same time, this was also Xiao Yan's greatest flaw.

Perhaps because of his dedication to righteousness, Xiao Yan had developed an extreme level of self-restraint. Even if he harbored desires in his heart, he would always reflect and restrain himself, suppressing any yearning he deemed improper.

Such self-control was truly rare.

But, Xiao Yan... You need to understand one thing.

Yao Chen gazed at Xiao Yan, her crimson eyes carrying a rare hint of seriousness.

At certain moments in life, a person must be honest with themselves and fulfill their desires.

Otherwise, they will regret it for the rest of their life.

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(End of this chapter)

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