Master of Heaven and Earth - -

In the pure white space, Shui Yunyao’s words echoed continuously. At this moment, Leng Yan desperately wanted to open his eyes and hold on to Shui Yunyao. However, it felt like he was locked away, trapped in a state where he had only consciousness but couldn’t control his body.

The effects of the spirit nourishing elixir were healing Leng Yan’s soul, while he yearned to chase after Shui Yunyao. Day one, day two, day three-gradually, his restless heart began to calm down.

Even if he woke up, could he truly retrieve Shui Yunyao from the hands of the entire Lansi tribe? The answer was no. Just as Shui Yunyao had said, her actions were not only her mission but also a way to protect herself.

If he acted impulsively and went to the Lansi tribe, it wouldn’t just be him who would die; it would also endanger Shui Yunyao!

As long as he was alive, there was hope. Leng Yan slowly began to understand that only strength mattered! With strength, he wouldn’t have to fear the Lansi tribe, and only then could he protect Shui Yunyao.

Ten days passed, and under the nourishment of the spirit nourishing elixir, Leng Yan’s soul gradually began to recover, and he was able to control his body.

On this day, Xuelan sat by Leng Yan’s bed, applying ointment to the remaining scars on his body.

Suddenly, Leng Yan’s fingers began to twitch slightly. Xuelan was startled by his movement and, upon seeing him slowly open his eyes, exclaimed joyfully, “You’re awake! That’s wonderful!”

When Leng Yan opened his eyes, the first person he saw was Xuelan. His last glimmer of hope shattered. Until the final moment, he had hoped he was just hearing things. Now, it was Xuelan who was by his side, not Shui Yunyao. It was clear now-Shui Yunyao had truly left.

“Thank you for your help!” Although Leng Yan had regained his awareness, he still felt weak and couldn’t get up.

“It’s alright. Just rest a bit longer. You still have a few scars left. I’ll finish applying the ointment, and in a few days, they’ll heal!” Xuelan was overjoyed to see Leng Yan awake, and his words of gratitude filled her with warmth. The exhaustion of the past few days melted away at that moment.

“Rest a bit longer? At this rate, you’ll leave too!” Leng Yan unintentionally let out this self-deprecating remark, filled with guilt.

“You… you know?” Xuelan asked softly, taken aback.

“Is she… gone?” Leng Yan strained to lift his right hand, noticing a blue hair strand on his fingers as he quietly asked.

“Yes, but she…” Xuelan quickly attempted to explain. However, Leng Yan waved his hand and said, “No need to say anything. I understand! Don’t worry, I won’t act impulsively!”

“Really?” Xuelan didn’t expect this response from him, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Did she… leave anything for me?” Leng Yan struggled to sit up. Seeing this, Xuelan hurriedly supported him, helping him lean against the wall. She placed a pillow behind his back before taking out the jade slip left by Shui Yunyao. “This is what she left behind!”

“Thank you!” Leng Yan grasped the jade slip tightly, using his spiritual awareness to delve into its contents. Shui Yunyao’s appearance, her voice, and her sorrowful and helpless expression flooded his mind.

With his eyes closed, two hot tears streamed down the corners of Leng Yan’s eyes.

“Yunyao, wait for me! I will definitely come to bring you back!” Leng Yan whispered to himself, vowing in his heart.

After a long time, Leng Yan opened his eyes and looked at Xuelan, saying, “This is your slave seal. As long as you drop your blood on it, you will be free.”

A black rune floated up from between Leng Yan’s eyebrows. Xuelan gazed at him in disbelief, unable to comprehend that he was allowing her to break free from the slave seal.

Staring at the slave seal for a while, Xuelan suddenly crushed it in her hand. Leng Yan was astonished, asking, “You?”

“I, Xuelan, am not just all talk. It’s not like you can take me or let me go as you please. Now, I’m sticking with you!” Xuelan pouted, looking as if to say, “What can you do about it?”

“I’ve given you the opportunity! You’re the one who doesn’t want it,” Leng Yan sighed in resignation.

“What, are you regretting it now? Let me tell you, getting rid of me won’t be that easy!” Xuelan said defiantly.

“Regret? Why would I regret? Having a beautiful woman like you as a servant is a good thing! Who knows, maybe one day if I’m hit with a ‘Hehuansan,’ you’ll be there to help me antidote,” Leng Yan replied with a forced, mischievous smile.

“You… you perv!” Xuelan’s face flushed, and she playfully scolded.

“Alright, you’ve been tired for so long. Find a place to rest! I can take care of my body on my own now!” Leng Yan said with a smile, adopting a serious tone.

“Okay, just call out if you need anything. I’ll be right next door!” Xuelan felt a warm surge of comfort from Leng Yan’s concern as she responded.

Leng Yan smiled and nodded, watching as Xuelan left the room. But once she was gone, the smile on his face instantly froze, and a sense of sorrow radiated from him. His earlier carefree demeanor was just a facade to prevent Xuelan from worrying about him.

The matter of Shui Yunyao felt like a knife stabbing into his heart, bringing pain and suffering that resonated within him.

They say a man rarely sheds tears, but Leng Yan would argue that it’s simply because he hasn’t yet reached the point of heartbreak…

A man who truly loves has surely cried; a man with genuine feelings has undoubtedly been hurt. Sadness and melancholy shape a man’s life experiences.

At that moment, Leng Yan’s silence carried an air of profound weariness, drawing others in unwittingly by his demeanor.

After a long time, Leng Yan sighed, raising his head as he pushed down his longing for Shui Yunyao. With closed eyes, he began to channel his essence power, methodically healing his injuries one by one.

Outside the Ziyang Palace, Dongfang Caiyun stood with a look of deep concern on her face. She lingered at the entrance, eager to know how Leng Yan was doing. Yet as an assassin, she felt no courage to approach.

Facing Leng Yan, she found herself at a loss, her feelings hidden deep within her heart, and she wrestled daily with whether to speak them out loud. Especially now, Shui Yunyao’s departure had opened a glimmer of hope for her, though she also understood that it wouldn’t be right to seize the love that belonged to Shui Yunyao.

But love, by nature, is selfish; there is no right or wrong!

Just as Dongfang Caiyun pondered, the doors of the Ziyang Palace suddenly swung open. Xuelan stepped out and offered a slight smile to Dongfang Caiyun as she walked over.

“You’re here,” Xuelan said as she neared Dongfang Caiyun with a friendly smile.

“How…how is he?” Dongfang Caiyun asked softly.

“He’s awake but still very weak! Do you want to go in and see him?” Despite having never met before, the two chatted as if they were long-time acquaintances.

Xuelan knew that Dongfang Caiyun lingered outside the palace every day. Being clever and intuitive, she quickly figured out what was going on.

“That’s not necessary. I’ll be leaving now!” Knowing that Leng Yan was awake relieved some of Dongfang Caiyun’s worries, but she still wasn’t sure how to face him. With that, she turned to leave.

“Wait!” Xuelan suddenly called out to Dongfang Caiyun, saying, “Aren’t you going to tell him how you feel?”

Dongfang Caiyun halted in her tracks, her expression dimming as she quietly replied, “What about you? Have you told him?”

Caught off guard by the question, Xuelan stammered, “I… I’m not like you. I’m just curious about him!”

“Curious?” Dongfang Caiyun chuckled bitterly. “I started out feeling curious too, but look at me now. I’ve fallen deeper and deeper-he’s all I can think about. You should figure this out for yourself!” With those words, she slowly walked out of Xuelan’s sight.

As Xuelan watched Dongfang Caiyun’s figure disappear, she questioned herself repeatedly: Was her feeling for Leng Yan really just “curiosity”?

All along, Xuelan had built a conviction in her heart, constantly telling herself that her feelings for Leng Yan were merely “curiosity.”

But could curiosity truly lead her to feel heartbroken when he was injured? Would curiosity cause her to feel gloomy over his unhappiness? Would curiosity make her think of him in every situation?

The answer was a resounding no! All of her answers surged forth at that moment, shattering the “curiosity” belief she had painstakingly constructed.

A voice echoed in her mind, refusing to fade away.

“You’ve fallen in love with Leng Yan. Stop lying to yourself; you’re in love with him!”

“Have I really fallen for him?” Xuelan muttered, gazing down as if questioning her own heart!

After a long moment, she suddenly raised her head and laughed, saying, “If it’s love, then so be it! I, Xuelan, am not someone whose reputation is just a façade! I dare to love and hate; that’s who I am!”

With those words, it was as if she had come to terms with her feelings. She turned around and stepped into the Ziyang Palace.

Two stunning women, both enamored with Leng Yan-one was outwardly strong yet inwardly gentle, while the other was bold and fearless in love. The stark contrast in their personalities would lead to vastly different outcomes for both of them.