“What's it to you what I’m doing?” Nangong Huan raised her chin slightly, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe her hands and patting down her skirt, not even sparing Wei Yu Gong a glance.
Little Nine, having just been born, was exhausted from the earlier chase and had retreated into the spirit beast space to sleep.
The battle with the mentor had drained the already scarce spiritual energy within Nangong Huan, and it was not wise to linger here.
“You!” Wei Yu Gong frowned, seemingly taken aback. It had been three years since they last met, and this waste had changed completely, shedding her previous timid demeanor as if she were a different person.
However, the black spots on her face had only grown larger and more unsightly, and a flicker of disdain crossed Wei Yu Gong's eyes.
“Brother Yu Gong,” Nangong Qian'er cried out, her eyes brimming with tears. “Sister Huan killed the mentor to contract the spirit beast and even tried to kill me! I’ve never done anything to wrong her!”
Only then did Wei Yu Gong notice the mentor, pierced by roots, lying cold and lifeless nearby. Shock flickered in his eyes. Nangong Huan had cultivated?
“You actually killed the mentor?” Wei Yu Gong scolded, incredulous. This was nothing short of ingratitude!
“Oh, are you going to judge me with your so-called righteousness?” Nangong Huan sneered, turning her back and walking away. “Ha, do you really think you’re a good person?”
Wei Yu Gong narrowed his eyes, watching her retreating figure. “Nangong Huan, you will pay for the foolish things you’ve done!”
Nangong Huan paused for a moment, turning her head slightly with a mocking smile. “Oh? I’ll be waiting.”
With that, she strode away, her long hair flowing behind her, leaving only a graceful silhouette.
“Brother Yu Gong, Sister Huan has suddenly changed so much. Could it be that she’s possessed by something unclean?” Nangong Qian'er fearfully burrowed into Wei Yu Gong’s embrace.
“Don’t worry, I’m here. Come, I’ll carry you back,” Wei Yu Gong comforted softly, lifting Nangong Qian'er into his arms as they departed.
---
The wind rustled the branches, pulling leaves down in a gentle cascade.
Nangong Huan strolled leisurely through the forest, calm and composed. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a shadow lurking in the darkness, and she halted.
“Stop hiding, come out.”
Nangong Huan stood to the side, observing as the bushes rustled before suddenly falling silent.
After waiting for a while without any movement, she frowned and cautiously approached the bushes, intending to part the leaves for a better look. Suddenly, a stunning young man in white robes sprang out!
His movements were swift. In the blink of an eye, he seized her wrist and pinned her to the ground, kneeling on either side of her waist.
His icy silver hair hung down, and he looked down at her with a serious expression, as if he had something very important to discuss.
It was the ice man from the cave!
Nangong Huan’s expression hardened. With her hands pinned down, she couldn't move. She tried to ignore the embarrassing position she was in and attempted to kick him away, but he anticipated her move, pressing down harder!
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Thus, they found themselves in a peculiar stance, with Nangong Huan wanting to struggle but unable to exert any force.
“What are you doing? Get off me!” Nangong Huan scolded, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Ever since she had punished Nangong Qian'er, she had sensed this person lurking in the shadows, only to discover he was a rogue!
“Do you... have food?” The young man, Dong Yan Cuo, glanced at the stick of a finished candied hawthorn in his hand and swallowed hard, his eyes sparkling.
“...” Nangong Huan fell silent for a moment, then looked up to see the candied hawthorn stick.
“Get up first, and I’ll give you something to eat,” Nangong Huan said, her eyes shimmering as if coaxing a child.
But Dong Yan Cuo didn’t seem convinced. “If you give me food, I’ll get up.”
The spirit elder's voice echoed in her mind: “This boy has lost a soul and likely most of his memories. However, I sense a powerful ancient force within him. Perhaps you can take him under your wing.”
Lost a soul? Nangong Huan gazed into his eyes, which were pure and innocent, like a blank sheet of paper untouched by the world.
She softened her tone. “I can’t move right now, so I can’t get any food. If you get up, I’ll be able to move.”
“You’ll run away.” Dong Yan Cuo stared at her, still unwilling to let go.
“I won’t run away, I promise. I can take you to eat lots of delicious food,” Nangong Huan smiled brightly.
Dong Yan Cuo finally released her, but he didn’t stand up. Instead, he remained on his knees, pressing down on her, ready to pin her again if she tried to escape.
“... Roasted chicken, I’ll give you some.” Nangong Huan lay on the ground, holding out an oil-paper-wrapped roasted chicken. She swallowed her own saliva; this was meant for her celebration after advancing...
Dong Yan Cuo’s eyes lit up as he snatched the roasted chicken and quickly devoured it, grease glistening on his face.
“I’m Nangong Huan. What’s your name?” As she got up and brushed off the dirt, she observed him closely, realizing he behaved more like a child.
Dong Yan Cuo paused, seemingly pondering. He stared at the sky for a long time, then earnestly turned back to Nangong Huan and carefully wrote three characters in her palm: Dong Yan Cuo.
A tingling sensation spread through her palm as she recognized the name. She saw Dong Yan Cuo close his fingers around her hand, as if he were clinging tightly to this name.
His hand wrapped around hers, sending a slight chill through her. His touch wasn’t warm, but it made Nangong Huan’s heart flutter.
“Cuo Cuo, are you still hungry? I’ll take you to the west side of the city for a feast,” Nangong Huan smiled brightly, attempting to pull her hand away. But Dong Yan Cuo held on tightly, perhaps reluctant to lose her warmth.
He nodded vigorously, his eyes sparkling as he focused on their entwined hands, gripping even tighter.
Reluctantly, Nangong Huan led him away, taking a stroll through the west side of the city to buy food.
The night had fallen.
Nangong Huan deliberately picked out a stylish shadow guard outfit for Dong Yan Cuo, complete with a hood to conceal his striking silver hair.
Yes, this little glutton would henceforth be her companion and bodyguard. Although his combat ability was unclear, the future looked promising!
“If anyone asks who you are, how should you respond?” Nangong Huan's eyes sparkled. This amnesiac glutton seemed somewhat clueless, making it the perfect opportunity for her to guide him!
“I’m Huan Huan’s little follower. Whoever bullies Huan Huan, I’ll beat them up!” Dong Yan Cuo declared with determination, looking earnestly at Nangong Huan.
His serious demeanor was unexpectedly charming... Nangong Huan’s cheeks flushed slightly. She cleared her throat, nodding in satisfaction as she pulled out a candied hawthorn and handed it to him, causing his eyes to light up as he began to munch on it.
“Girl, tomorrow is your birthday,” the spirit elder remarked from within the ring, able to observe the night sky.
“Birthdays don’t matter much to me anymore,” Nangong Huan replied, still studying Dong Yan Cuo, adjusting his clothing.
He had an adorably naive way of eating, and Nangong Huan suddenly realized he was quite cute.
“Haha,” the spirit elder laughed heartily. “Now that you’ve built your spirit platform, remember that every birthday, the star tide storm of the Earth Spirit Star will surge for you!”
“!” Nangong Huan suddenly looked up, scanning the sky, and noticed a particular star beginning to shimmer.
The ability to observe the stars was something she had learned from the spirit elder. The intricacies of star techniques were vast, and in three years, she had only scratched the surface.
The spirit elder had once said the Earth Spirit Star was unique, and when it stirred up a star tide storm, those with a spirit platform would experience exponential growth in their cultivation speed.
“The four great families jointly guard a Spirit Gathering Treasure Pavilion, which contains several spirit veins. I’ll visit this pavilion first thing tomorrow,” Nangong Huan declared resolutely. She could not let this golden opportunity for cultivation slip away!