The two arrived at the next town before dark. Unlike the prosperity of the imperial city, this place was relatively less crowded, yet had everything one could need.
In front of a flatbread stall, Jun Yelan bought a steaming hot pancake and handed it to Lan Yan. “What else do you want to eat?”
Lan Yan took a bite of the pancake and thought seriously. “I want to eat meat buns too.” She had been too preoccupied with her thoughts earlier, barely touching the roasted rabbit. Now, the thought made her feel quite wronged.
Jun Yelan immediately went to the adjacent stall and joined the queue for buns.
Lan Yan stayed put, happily eating the pancake in her hand. Treated so kindly by Jun Yelan, she found herself reluctant to leave his side. No, she didn’t need to leave anyway.
“Young lady, your lover treats you so well,” the old woman at the flatbread stall smiled. “This old woman has seen countless people in her life and never been wrong. Your lover is a thoughtful one. Don’t miss out, girl.”
Lan Yan couldn’t help but smile. “I won’t.” She knew Jun Yelan better than anyone; beneath his cold exterior lay an incredibly passionate heart.
Jun Yelan walked over with the buns. Seeing Lan Yan chatting with the old woman, he approached slowly and said, “Lan Yan, buns.”
“Mhm, Jun Yelan, let’s go look ahead,” Lan Yan pulled on Jun Yelan’s sleeve and walked forward, the pancake still wobbling slightly in her hand.
Jun Yelan smiled helplessly, took the pancake from her hand, and said, “You can wander freely now.”
Lan Yan’s smile bloomed. She nodded and went to browse a few shops with Jun Yelan, though she didn’t buy much. With no fixed abode, carrying too many things on the road would be too cumbersome.
Jun Yelan noticed Lan Yan lingering over certain items, but not buying them, and quietly made a mental note. After she finished browsing, he said, “We still need to buy horses. You wait here for me.”
He left Lan Yan at the stable, a safe place.
Lan Yan stayed alone, slowly eating the remaining flatbread and buns, waiting for Jun Yelan. Then she saw Jun Yelan return, leading a horse laden with quite a few things.
“What is all this?”
Jun Yelan replied, “You left in a hurry and likely didn’t prepare anything. These are some clothes and jewelry, as well as some daily necessities.”
He hadn’t brought Lan Yan to his side to suffer hardship; naturally, he wanted to give her the best of everything.
Looking at the items, Lan Yan’s nose felt a little sore, and her eyes welled up. She couldn’t help but step forward, hug Jun Yelan, and say with a smile, “Jun Yelan, thank you for preparing these for me.”
“Mhm.” A slight arc formed at the corner of Jun Yelan’s lips. He actually had selfish intentions, greedily wishing for Lan Yan to stay with him forever. He gently stroked Lan Yan’s back and said, “Let’s go.”
With that, he swept Lan Yan up into his arms and placed her on the horse.
Before Lan Yan could react, Jun Yelan was behind her. She curved her lips and leaned against Jun Yelan’s chest with a sense of ease, no longer worried about where Jun Yelan was taking her.
Jun Yelan tugged at the reins and led Lan Yan away from there.
An hour later, they arrived at a secluded village.
Lan Yan looked around curiously as Jun Yelan helped her down. She asked, “Jun Yelan, what is this place?”
“I’ll show you,” Jun Yelan said, leading the horse and walking beside Lan Yan.
As they walked forward, rows of houses appeared. Lan Yan grew more perplexed, wondering who lived here, when a group of children suddenly emerged.
The children looked at them with joy and shouted, “Brother Jun!”
Lan Yan started, turning to look at Jun Yelan, realizing they were calling out to the person beside her. Then she saw the children rush towards Jun Yelan, surrounding him.
Jun Yelan’s usual cold expression softened considerably. He said, “I brought you some food.” He took out the snacks he had bought earlier and distributed them to the children.
The children’s faces were filled with smiles as they ate.
Lan Yan watched them, noticing that all the children were disabled in some way; some had only one eye, others only one arm or leg. Yet, the common thread was the satisfied smiles in their eyes.
She couldn’t help but look at Jun Yelan, seeing him gaze at these children. Were these all children Jun Yelan had adopted?
Some children also noticed her and curiously asked, “What a beautiful sister, are you Brother Jun’s wife?”
Lan Yan squatted down, looking at the innocent children before her, and smiled. “Not yet, but I hope to be in the future.” She ruffled their heads and sent them off to play.
Then she stood up, meeting Jun Yelan’s gaze. Thinking about her answer just now, her face flushed.
Jun Yelan said, “They are all homeless children. I saw them when I was on a mission and brought them back. They are simple; all they need is food.”
He had killed too many people in his life, and perhaps doing these things wouldn’t atone for his sins. He looked at Lan Yan, thinking that keeping someone as wonderful as her by his side would surely send him to an even deeper hell after death.
Seeing Jun Yelan lost in thought, Lan Yan waved a hand in front of his eyes. When he came to, she said, “Jun Yelan, you saved these children, and they will live well.”
“Also, you and they are actually quite similar; you are both simple people. I’ve only saved your life once, but you have saved me countless times.” Her face lit up with a smile, her eyes sparkling.
Jun Yelan’s pupils trembled, and he moved his lips.
He was not like these children; his heart was filled with darkness. He didn't know where he was born, only that he was trained to grow up in the Assassin’s Pavilion.
There, survival was the iron rule! He couldn’t remember how many people he had killed, how much blood he had stepped over to survive until now. His hands were already very dirty.
At that moment, a child ran over and tugged Lan Yan’s hand. “Sister, play with us!”
“Okay.” Lan Yan smiled at Jun Yelan and went to play with the children. “Let’s play ‘Eagles Catching Chickens’! ” She covered her eyes and said with a laugh, “Where are you? I’m coming to catch you!”
The children surrounded her, clapping their hands and saying, “Sister, we are here.”
Lan Yan reached out towards the sound, and the laughter of the children filled the air.
Jun Yelan remained alone, watching Lan Yan play happily. He murmured, “Lan Yan, you have saved my entire life.”
He had been heartless and emotionless before, only knowing how to kill. But Lan Yan appeared by his side, reminding him to eat and sleep, going out with him, and now following him away.
He was actually very afraid that Lan Yan would eventually leave. Would he be able to return to his former self then? He thought it was impossible. One never truly cherishes what they haven’t obtained, but now he harbored a desire.
He wanted Lan Yan to stay by his side for longer, even if it was just one more day than now.