Chapter 115: Escape and Farewell

After a sharp scream, Luo Caiyi stood there, flustered and at a loss. Though the light from the night pearl wasn't overwhelming, the proximity meant she was definitely seen by the monk. 

She often let her mind wander, but it was all just idle thoughts. She had never truly entertained any intentions toward this monk. Moreover, deep down, she had never really abandoned the thought of leaving. 

A pure and virtuous girl, how could she let someone see her like this!

In this moment, a long-buried murderous intent surged in Luo Caiyi's heart.

Damn monk!

But just as quickly, something strange happened.

The figure in front of her flickered, and the monk suddenly vanished, appearing ten feet away!

The murderous intent was instantly overshadowed by shock. Luo Caiyi's heart was filled with bewilderment.

Huo Yuanzhen sensed the woman's anger and quickly used a great teleportation technique to move ten feet away. But he didn't expect that Luo Caiyi would just stand there, staring at him, completely still.

"Amitabha, poor monk did not intend to... I'll move!"

Huo Yuanzhen threw his robe toward Luo Caiyi and, using multiple teleportation techniques, quickly fled far away.

Then, using his top-tier lightness skill, he swiftly ran back to the hut.

"That was a mistake. I originally planned to give her a surprise, but instead, it turned into a scene of a beauty bathing."

Huo Yuanzhen was somewhat disappointed. Luo Caiyi was indeed beautiful, but alas, no matter how beautiful, she was not meant to be his. He couldn't help but feel a bit disheartened.

Half an hour later, Luo Caiyi returned, wearing her torn colorful clothes and draped in Huo Yuanzhen's robe. She walked into the room.

Upon seeing him, her delicate face flushed. She didn't speak to him, just went straight to bed.

The next morning, when she woke up, Luo Caiyi had returned to her usual self.

She was, after all, a martial artist and a hero in the world. Her actions were far from childish, and since the monk had seen her, there was no use in feeling shame or anger. She decided to let it go and not think about it.

Huo Yuanzhen didn't bring it up either. Instead, he said, "Benefactor, last night I had an epiphany and have grasped a supreme lightness skill. I want to try and see if I can leave this mountain."

Luo Caiyi's eyes lit up when she heard this and hurriedly said, "Then go ahead and try."

They went outside and found a relatively easier cliff to climb.

Standing below the cliff, Huo Yuanzhen prepared to use his lightness skill to ascend.

Suddenly, Luo Caiyi called out to him. He turned to look at her inquiringly, and she took off his robe.

Her colorful clothes were torn, exposing some of her waist and abdomen, but Luo Caiyi didn't seem embarrassed at all. She handed the robe to Huo Yuanzhen.

Huo Yuanzhen looked at her, confused. "Benefactor, why this?"

Luo Caiyi's eyes were slightly wet. "Aren't you planning to leave? Even if your lightness skill is good, you can't take me with you out of this mountain valley. There's no rope long enough for that. Take your robe back. I wouldn't want you to return to the temple and find you have no use for it."

Huo Yuanzhen couldn't help but smile, realizing that Luo Caiyi thought he was about to leave, but she was still stuck here.

But her actions made sense. He indeed couldn't take her with him.

Taking a step forward, Huo Yuanzhen stood before her, personally draping the robe around her. "This robe is a treasure of my temple. I can't return without it. Since it's in your hands now, I will make sure to rescue you."

His large hand gently wrapped around her as he put the robe on her, and in that moment, Luo Caiyi felt a warmth in her heart.

The monk was truly a person with feelings. His claim of rescuing her for the sake of the robe was just a way of comforting her.

She wiped her eyes, nodded, and said, "Go ahead."

Huo Yuanzhen didn't say anything further and turned to face the cliff, leaping into the air.

He shot up five feet, feeling that he had reached his limit for the time being with his current lightness skill.

Spotting a small rock protruding to the left, Huo Yuanzhen used his internal energy to shift horizontally five feet, landing on the ledge.

Using his toes to push off, he soared higher!

Below, Luo Caiyi looked up, silently praying for his success.

Time passed, and Huo Yuanzhen gradually neared the top of the mountain.

As his internal energy nearly depleted, Huo Yuanzhen finally grasped the very top of the cliff.

With a single arm, he used all his strength to pull himself up.

Finally, he had escaped the suffocating mountain valley!

But he didn't rest. Instead, he waved at Luo Caiyi, now a small dot below, and used his lion's roar to shout, "Caiyi! I'll be back soon!"

This was the first time Huo Yuanzhen had called her by name. Luo Caiyi, standing below, waved vigorously, tears rolling down her face.

Huo Yuanzhen took a step back and silently called out to his golden-eyed eagle.

Soon, he felt a connection with the eagle.

In the outside world, even if they were hundreds of miles apart, Huo Yuanzhen could communicate with the eagle. However, in the underground valley, it was impossible to make contact.

When he had fallen from the cliff before, the eagle had followed him, and he was able to communicate just after falling.

Now, the golden-eyed eagle was circling fifty miles away in the east, searching for him.

Though the eagle could see far, it wouldn't be able to spot him while he was still in the valley unless it flew directly over the top.

Huo Yuanzhen called out, and soon the golden-eyed eagle, like a swift arrow, shot toward him.

In just a few minutes, the eagle had arrived above his head, diving down.

Huo Yuanzhen gave instructions in his mind for the eagle to go down into the valley to rescue Luo Caiyi.

The golden-eyed eagle descended, and Huo Yuanzhen leaned over the cliff and called out, "Caiyi. Get on the eagle's back. It'll take you out!"

Luo Caiyi, having seen the eagle before, nodded eagerly below.

Her body was light, and the golden-eyed eagle swooped down, lifting her effortlessly.

It carried her up the mountain until she finally landed safely at the top.

Once on solid ground, the two stood facing each other in silence, smiles forming on both of their faces, an undeniable joy radiating from within.

Huo Yuanzhen said, "Benefactor, you can stay here for now. I'll go to the nearest town and get you some clothes."

Hearing Huo Yuanzhen's words, Luo Caiyi's face darkened slightly, a faint sense of loss filling her heart. She replied, "No need. I have my own ways."

"Then I'll be returning to the mountain."

Luo Caiyi nodded, handing the robe back to Huo Yuanzhen.

"Monk," she said.

Huo Yuanzhen chuckled, knowing that his "monk thief" title was hard to shake.

Luo Caiyi paused for a moment and then said, "Because of you, I've left the battlefield. Hua Wuji has already cultivated the Ice Truth Sutra, and with the Zhou Qin King, it'll be difficult to defeat him now. Our Holy Sect's mission has failed."

Saying this, Luo Caiyi showed a hint of regret and continued, "But I'm sure of Tiger King's power. Though we'll likely hurt the Heavenly Dao Alliance, we won't destroy them. As a result, Hua Wuji will resent us, and the other factions within the Heavenly Dao Alliance won't accept it. Our sect in Henan will likely be in danger."

Huo Yuanzhen nodded, agreeing with Luo Caiyi's assessment.

"I'll stay in Henan for a while to make sure our branch there is safe."

After saying this, Huo Yuanzhen seemed unfazed. Luo Caiyi, noticing this, looked at him with a strange expression and said, "Monk, you owe me twice."

This time, Huo Yuanzhen was completely confused. "What do you mean I owe you twice?"

Seeing the confusion on his face, Luo Caiyi bit her lip and said, "You ran into me once and saw me once. Though I'm a woman of the world, it's still my first time being seen by someone. So you owe me twice. One day, you'll have to repay me."

"Amitabha!"

Huo Yuanzhen chanted a Buddha's name. "Neither of these things were intentional, and to be honest, I have poor eyesight. I didn't see anything clearly at the waterhole last night."

Luo Caiyi's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly asked, "You really didn't see anything?"

"That's right. The sky was dark, there was no moon or stars, and only the few night pearls on the robe were glowing. We weren't that close, so I could only make out your silhouette."

Hearing Huo Yuanzhen's explanation, Luo Caiyi sighed in relief. It was a bit of a relief to know that the monk hadn't seen her completely.

"Then you owe me only once. After all, you still bumped into me, and it still hurts."

Huo Yuanzhen apologized once again, "That was purely by accident. I owe you an apology. But when I glanced at you last night, I noticed that you were flawless, perfectly round and smooth, without any bruises or swelling. How could you still be in pain?"

"How could it not hurt? It really hurts!" Luo Caiyi began to speak, but then her face turned ashen. "Perfectly flawless? Round and smooth? Monk, you saw that clearly, yet you still lie to me saying you didn't see anything!"

"Ah! This..." Huo Yuanzhen was at a loss for words, mentally cursing himself. How had he gotten himself into this mess? He had tried to clear himself of suspicion, only to dig himself into a deeper hole. 

Luo Caiyi's face was livid, her expression full of rage. "Monk, you've seen everything, and now you've brought me pain. Just remember, this isn't over. When my personal affairs are done, I'll come to your mountain gate to settle the score!"

Looking at Luo Caiyi's angry back as she walked away, Huo Yuanzhen inwardly cursed himself. He had really made a mistake this time. He had left a potential trouble behind.