Jun Yelan shook his head, indicating he was fine, and asked, "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, much better," Lan Yan nodded, looking at Jun Yelan with concern.
She tiptoed and smoothed the worry lines on Jun Yelan's forehead, saying gently, "Jun Yelan, don't just care about me, care about yourself too."
Jun Yelan gently held Lan Yan's wrist, a wry smile curling his lips. "Don't worry. I'll be very busy from now on, needing to participate in the sect's training. I wanted to take advantage of today's free time to ask if there's anything you'd like to do?"
Lan Yan saw Jun Yelan speaking in an orderly fashion, but for some reason, she could always sense a sadness about him.
She thought about how to help Jun Yelan relax, nodded, and smiled, "Let's go to the mountains to pick fruit. We can make pies, jams, and fruit wine."
Jun Yelan looked at her radiant appearance, her eyes seeming to speak volumes, and his smile widened. "Okay, let's go to the mountains."
He slung the basket over his shoulder, waiting for Lan Yan.
Lan Yan walked to Jun Yelan's side and smiled, "Let's go."
Jun Yelan smiled, and the two of them walked towards the mountain.
Lan Yan looked at the branches laden with fruit, incredibly excited. She picked the largest tree and said, "Jun Yelan, let's pick from this one."
As she spoke, she tried to hug the trunk to shake it, but it didn't budge. Her small face immediately scrunched up.
Jun Yelan's eyes held a doting expression as he walked over helplessly and said, "I'll do it." He flew onto the trunk, looked at the nearby branches, and asked, "Do you want this one?"
"The bigger one next to it," Lan Yan tilted her head, pointing at the pears on the branch.
Jun Yelan picked it and accurately tossed it into the basket in front of Lan Yan. Then he picked a few more large ones and looked at Lan Yan, "What about these?"
Lan Yan smiled, "I want them all." She picked up the basket, caught the pears, her face beaming. With so many pears, she could make rock sugar stewed pears.
Jun Yelan, thinking Lan Yan might want other fruits, went to other trees and picked apples and oranges. After finishing, he jumped down and, seeing Lan Yan struggling to lift the basket, took it with a smile.
"Let's go."
Lan Yan couldn't help but smile, rubbing her wrist. It was fortunate Jun Yelan was by her side.
After returning, she shared the fruit with the children and stewed some pears for dessert. "You kids go play first, come back later for the pears."
The children scrambled away. Little Hua and Little Yue even approached Jun Yelan and whispered, "Brother Jun, Sister Lan is really amazing, she can do everything. You must cherish her."
Jun Yelan nodded, watching Lan Yan busy at work. Lan Yan was beautiful, could play the flute, cook, and take care of people. He, on the other hand, could do nothing. Thinking this, he felt he wasn't worthy of Lan Yan.
Lan Yan turned around and saw Jun Yelan looking dejected. What was wrong? "Jun Yelan, I promised to teach you how to cook. Let me teach you how to make stewed pears first."
"First, prepare the pears, then add the sugar."
Jun Yelan followed Lan Yan's instructions step by step.
"See, this is it. Jun Yelan, you're truly intelligent, you learn everything as soon as you're taught," Lan Yan smiled. "Actually, many times, we don't have the opportunity to learn, which doesn't mean we are not capable."
She simply wanted to encourage Jun Yelan.
As Jun Yelan listened to her words, the troubles that had been surrounding him instantly disappeared. He stared at Lan Yan's profile and said, "You teach very well."
"Hehe, we're both good," Lan Yan took out some more pastries and said, "These are the pies I just made. You'll be training soon, so have some if you get hungry."
Jun Yelan held the pastry in his hand, his heart warming, and his resolve strengthened. He reached out and grasped Lan Yan's shoulder, saying with determination, "I will use them well."
"Mm." Lan Yan's lips curved upwards. Seeing Jun Yelan return to his usual demeanor, she also became cheerful.
The next morning, Jun Yelan returned to the sect for training, while Lan Yan stayed to look after the children.
The Assassin Sect was a powerful organization with rigorous training. Every assassin grew up there, undergoing ten years of training. Only after passing through layers of elimination could they accept missions and go out.
If a mission was successful, the assassin's rank would increase. If the mission failed, even if they survived, they had to return and undergo training again. Only those who passed the training were given a second chance.
Jun Yelan arrived at the training ground, put down his weapon, and moved to the center of the platform.
Other assassins were already there, all attacking Jun Yelan with their weapons.
Jun Yelan dodged them one by one, but with so many opponents, it was difficult not to get hurt. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes cold, and continued to fight.
He felt the warmth of the pastries in his embrace and knew he absolutely could not fall here!
Those assassins were also among the best in the sect, usually inferior to Jun Yelan. However, with several of them and their weapons, they were becoming impatient seeing Jun Yelan still standing.
Jun Yelan seized the opportunity, snatched a weapon from one of them, and knocked away the weapons of the others. He stood in the center, weapon in hand, like a death god returning from hell, making others hesitate to approach.
The assassins gulped, feeling fear. They exchanged glances, thinking perhaps they should go easy on him.
Jun Yelan trained for a full day before he could return. He walked back to the village, clutching his right arm, exhausted, but saw a red lantern illuminating his path.
He paused, looking up along the light of the lantern, and saw Lan Yan's face. At that moment, he felt his entire world brighten.
Lan Yan walked over with the lantern, saying nothing, and helped Jun Yelan forward. She knew the training must have been difficult, and all she could do was make Jun Yelan feel a little better.
Jun Yelan dared not lean his full weight on Lan Yan's shoulder, supporting himself as he walked forward. Seeing that Lan Yan remained silent, he spoke first, "Don't worry, it's just a minor injury. They wouldn't dare kill me."
During the first round of training, he had been the strongest, enough to intimidate those people.
Lan Yan's eyes reddened slightly. "Jun Yelan, you don't need to comfort me, I understand. If you want to cry, cry. If you feel upset, feel upset. I'm here."
Jun Yelan was stunned. He always seemed to forget that he was a person with flesh and blood, and that completing missions was enough. After meeting Lan Yan, wanting to repay her kindness, he wanted to protect her.
Because of Lan Yan, he realized that he could smile, feel sad, and be afraid. It was a strange feeling, as if his long-dormant heart had come back to life.
He couldn't help but his eyes moisten, and his voice deepened, "Okay, I won't pretend in front of you."
"Then let's make a promise." Lan Yan linked her fingers with Jun Yelan's. She had come for Jun Yelan, wanting him to be himself.
She murmured in her heart, "Jun Yelan, I will do my best."
Jun Yelan looked at their joined fingers, a smile tugging at his lips.