Li Qiongyu deliberately provoked him, "Oh my, we just hit it off. Does the dignified King of Dingbei feel uncomfortable? Or perhaps jealous---"
Before she could finish, a dagger flew towards her forehead. She quickly dodged it, wanting to retort a few more words, but was forcefully pulled away by Tantai Ye.
Ye Luan knew that Xiao Chizhan was covered in hidden weapons and blades, capable of taking a life at any moment.
Xiao Chizhan withdrew his gaze and coldly glanced at Lan Murou, "Go down."
Lan Murou was somewhat afraid; the terrifying coldness radiating from Xiao Chizhan filled her with dread.
However, she glanced at Ye Luan, who could barely stand, and said resolutely, "Your Highness, Aluan cannot walk. Allow me to help her."
"Are Tantai Ye's women also going against this King?"
Although he was smiling, the terror surrounding him made Lan Murou instinctively take a step back.
At this moment, Tantai Ye's voice also came from above, "Arrou, don't meddle. Let's go."
Ye Luan knew Xiao Chizhan was looking for trouble with her, so she said, "Murou, you go first."
The waterfall cascaded like flying pearls and scattered stones. Below the green mountain, a distant view showed thunderous currents entering the river and sea, with steep cliffs.
She ignored him, holding onto the mountain wall on her left, and slowly descended.
Xiao Chizhan watched her movements, anger brewing, and his words immediately changed tone.
"What skillful tactics. You've only met him a few times, and you've already managed to make him argue with this King over you."
"If Your Highness insists on judging a noble person with a petty mind, then I am helpless."
This idiot was definitely angry because Li Qiongyu helped her.
Ye Luan saw it at a glance.
She felt an immense satisfaction in her heart, finally venting the anger she had been holding.
Seeing him frustrated made her happy.
"Who allowed you to call me that?"
He grabbed her hand and pulled her back, the pain in her ankle instantly making her face pale.
"Didn't I tell you how to address me?"
Ye Luan was determined to defy him now.
She chuckled lightly, "Your Highness is like a furious lion now, lacking all decorum, unruly and unsightly."
"You dare to insult this King?"
Xiao Chizhan's brow twitched, and his hand involuntarily tightened around her neck, his face filled with sinister rage.
Ye Luan's neck hurt, and her foot also ached. In that moment, her stubbornness flared, refusing to show weakness. She glared at him fiercely, coldly.
Seeing her appearance, Xiao Chizhan smiled, just like the first time they met, his smile hiding bloodlust and ferocity, laced with perverse desire.
"You are truly captivating like this."
She had forgotten.
Forgotten the perversion hidden deep in this man's bones.
The more she defied him, the more excited he became.
Perhaps she should disgust him instead.
"Darling, beg me, and I'll carry you down."
Ye Luan sneered, "How should I beg? By kneeling and kowtowing?"
He lazily withdrew his hand, looking at her faltering body, and pulled her into his arms. He gripped her chin and said coldly, "You know what to do."
Crazy!
Ye Luan had no desire to engage with him any further. She directly pushed him away and continued to descend along the mountain wall.
From behind, his languid voice echoed.
"It will take us two hours to get down from here. You walk so slowly, and you're injured. Won't it cripple you to walk down?"
"Hmm, this King thinks it would be quite good if your foot were crippled. We could chop it off and make it into ice, a specimen. Wouldn't that be delightful?"
Ye Luan froze.
Looking at the cliff that seemed to have no bottom, and the winding narrow path, she stopped.
Yes.
Why should she punish herself?
Let him carry her, crush him.
With that thought, Ye Luan turned back, "Your Highness's taste is truly as unique as ever."
To chop off a foot and make ice, only a madman could think of such a perverse form of torture.
Her gaze remained as dismissive as ever.
Xiao Chizhan watched, wanting to crush that arrogance, to break her bones for him.
"Keep looking at this King like that, and I'll really dig out your eyes and extract your bones."
His voice was terrifyingly cold, and he exuded an aura of death.
Ye Luan, however, was not afraid at all. She curled her lips into a smile, "Then dig them out."
He approached step by step, his aura enveloping her completely.
It pressed down on her, making it difficult to breathe.
Ye Luan suddenly realized that he seemed to be serious.
Damn it.
He always used her life to make her yield.
Ye Luan cursed inwardly a few times, but outwardly, she smiled tenderly.
She pressed her hands against his chest, softened her body, and leaned against him. Her boneless jade arms wrapped around his neck, her breath like orchids.
"Chizhan Gege, my foot hurts so much."
Xiao Chizhan looked down at her, his crimson eyes deep, "Now you know to be afraid?"
"A wise person knows when to submit."
"Heh, when did this King ever know you were so honest?"
Ye Luan remained silent, then raised her head and kissed him.
This action clearly pleased Xiao Chizhan. The cold, terrifying aura he exuded gradually dissipated. He swept her up into his arms and started walking down the mountain.
My goodness.
This was a downhill path. Could he see the way while carrying her like this?
What if he accidentally tripped and threw her off?
She would be reduced to dust at the bottom of the precipice.
Ye Luan immediately said, "Your Highness--"
Before she could finish, a cold, sharp remark from him made Ye Luan change her words.
"Chizhan Gege, please carry me on your back."
"No."
Xiao Chizhan refused cleanly.
Ye Luan vaguely guessed that he might find it embarrassing.
He had just righteously refused to carry her, and now he was carrying her down. He would surely be mocked by the gossipy Li Qiongyu.
Ye Luan's heart felt even more amused.
She deliberately held her forehead, feigning discomfort, "I feel so dizzy being held by you like this, I feel like throwing up--"
Thinking of the time she had been thrown up on, Xiao Chizhan said irritably, "Why are you so troublesome?"
'Chizhan Gege, I really want to throw up--'
To disgust him.
Xiao Chizhan suppressed the urge to hit her and put her down, squatting in front of her.
"Get on."
Ye Luan lay on his back and breathed a sigh of relief.
"If you dare to throw up on this King's back, I will seal your mouth with needles."
Tch.
Ye Luan ignored him, the pain in her ankle returning.
She lazily lay on his back, wanting to sleep.
He walked steadily, his back straight, appearing as detached and cool as an orchid. The coldness emanating from him made Ye Luan shiver.
His shoulder blades were hard, digging into her softness and causing pain.
Suddenly, she remembered that night, under the bright moon, the room bathed in cool light. She had touched the Qiongqi tattoo on his back, cold to the bone.
She couldn't help but want to pierce through his robes, to stare a hole through them, and see exactly what the fierce beast Qiongqi looked like.
"Wang--Chizhan Gege, why do you have Qiongqi on your back?"
Legend had it that Qiongqi was one of the Four Fiends, a man-eater, ferocious and terrifying. How could a normal person have such a tattoo?
As soon as she spoke, she clearly felt Xiao Chizhan's body stiffen.
Ye Luan regretted her abruptness. She was too nosy. How could she ask him such personal matters? It was practically courting death.