Jun Yelan held Lan Yan tightly in his embrace, his hands trembling. He hadn't been afraid when his magic was forcibly suppressed, but seeing Lan Yan pick up the dagger had terrified him.
He feared Lan Yan dying before him, leaving him powerless.
"Yan'er, promise me, don't do anything foolish again. As long as I have a breath left, they cannot harm me."
Tears welled up in Lan Yan's eyes. She gently patted Jun Yelan's back and murmured, "And what about you? I can't bear to see you like this. Even for my sake, you shouldn't hurt yourself."
She looked up, cupping Jun Yelan's face, and said solemnly, "Yelan, I hope you learn to love yourself. You must know how important you are to me."
Due to Jun Yelan's upbringing, no one had taught him how to love or be loved.
Jun Yelan nodded, but in his heart, Lan Yan was already the most important. He embraced Lan Yan even tighter, his tears falling, dripping onto her shoulders.
How fortunate he was to have met Lan Yan. It was Lan Yan who had taught him so much, including how to love himself and others.
Lan Yan stayed by Jun Yelan's side, her lips finally curving into a faint smile.
However, outside the cage, the Spirit Mountain Sect Master was almost beside himself with rage. His eyes were bloodshot as he roared at them, "Jun Yelan, since you've fled into this cage, then die with her!"
He had initially expected Jun Yelan to sever his own meridians, but he hadn't anticipated Lan Yan's involvement ruining everything. Lan Yan could no longer be spared. Since these two were so inseparable, he would send them both to the afterlife.
Remembering he still had important matters to attend to, Jun Yelan reluctantly released Lan Yan. Simultaneously, a ball of fire erupted in his hand, gripping the cage's bars.
Flames immediately engulfed the cage, preventing anyone from approaching.
The Spirit Mountain Sect Master grew even more furious but remained helpless. This flame was unique to Jun Yelan and impossible to counter. He glanced at his disciples behind him and shouted, "Ignore the fire! We'll attack from the outside and set up a formation!"
"Yes, Sect Master." The disciples spread out around the cage, aiming their palm-bound magic at Jun Yelan.
Lan Yan nervously tugged at Jun Yelan's sleeve and said, "This cage is difficult to break from the inside. We can't just wait to die." It was because of her that Jun Yelan had entered, and she wouldn't let them perish together.
Jun Yelan nodded, holding Lan Yan's hand, and smiled faintly, "Yan'er, it's alright. This fire can hold them off for a while. We can continue to find a solution."
"Okay." Lan Yan felt somewhat reassured. She and Jun Yelan channeled their palms, searching for any weak points in the cage.
Seeing this, the Spirit Mountain Sect Master exerted his full magic, but the cage remained unmoved. He then absorbed the magic from the disciples behind him, gathering it into himself. As the flames on the cage gradually diminished, he smirked triumphantly.
"Jun Yelan, you're nothing more than this."
However, a disciple reported, "Sect Master, bad news! The demonic beasts are about to break through the defense line."
The large numbers of demonic beasts had been relentlessly attacking the cultivators. Seeing Jun Yelan captured, they charged towards them with even greater ferocity. They had already breached the defenses and were now surging towards the inner areas.
The Spirit Mountain Sect Master roared, "Damn it!" Reluctantly, he withdrew his palm, allowing the two to live a little longer. With a wave of his sleeve, filled with deep resentment, he left to confront the demonic beasts.
The disciples whose magic had been absorbed followed, but they appeared significantly weakened.
Seeing the unwelcome figures depart, Lan Yan smiled and said, "Yelan, we have a chance now!" She approached the cage and, with the help of Jun Yelan's flames, began to melt the bars.
Jun Yelan also assisted from the side, releasing even more potent flames.
Just as they were about to succeed, an uninvited guest arrived. Lan Yan immediately retracted her actions, lest they be discovered. However, upon seeing that it was True Master Feng Qing, her expression flickered with distress.
She truly didn't know what to say to her former master.
True Master Feng Qing's eyes now had focus. Recalling how his senior brother had controlled him, he was filled with disappointment. He had always respected the Spirit Mountain Sect Master, but his senior brother had become utterly deranged.
"Lan Yan, your imprisonment was not my wish."
Lan Yan remained silent. Regardless, she and Jun Yelan were already here.
"I once lost a junior brother, which led me to hate demonic beasts. When I began my cultivation in the mortal world, I also held biases against demonic beasts and personally killed those I had developed feelings for."
True Master Feng Qing's eyes held a sorrowful memory. "I thought the demonic beasts were the problem, but it was actually the human heart. My senior brother has initiated a war between the two realms, harming countless people from both sides. We cannot continue making the same mistakes."
Lan Yan felt that True Master Feng Qing was finally acting normally. Seeing his distressed expression, she said, "True Master Feng Qing, from the beginning, I never felt we were nobler than demonic beasts. We are the same as them."
"Sometimes, demonic beasts are purer and simpler than us." She spoke her mind and turned to Jun Yelan, receiving a smile from him.
True Master Feng Qing sighed deeply, realizing his errors now and wishing to make amends. "Lan Yan, I will let you both go. I hope you can end this war."
As he said this, he gave Jun Yelan a profound glance.
Jun Yelan turned to look at Lan Yan, completely uninterested in the person before them.
Lan Yan did not agree either; she preferred to get out first.
Thus, True Master Feng Qing channeled his power, destroying the cage. In doing so, he himself would suffer a backlash. These were the consequences of his own misdeeds, and he would bear them alone.
Lan Yan stepped out of the cage and saw True Master Feng Qing's pale face. Finally, she asked, "Are you alright?"
"Go," True Master Feng Qing said with a faint smile. Seeing Lan Yan and Jun Yelan heading towards the battlefield, he finally felt at ease. "Lan Yan, you truly are my most proud disciple."
As he spoke, his appearance began to age, transforming into that of a man in his forties.
At the battlefield, Lan Yan looked at the chaotic scene before her, feeling helpless. "Yelan, if the cultivation world doesn't stop, it's useless for us to make the demonic realm halt. Perhaps we should capture the Spirit Mountain Sect Master?"
She eyed the foremost person among the cultivators, biting her lip. All of this was caused by the Spirit Mountain Sect Master.
Jun Yelan said, "It's difficult. He's surrounded by cultivators." With his current magic, there was only one way left to stop this war.
He looked at Lan Yan, reached out to embrace her, his heart filled with profound reluctance.
"Yelan." Lan Yan was startled. Why did Jun Yelan seem strange after coming out, as if since True Master Feng Qing had spoken those words?
Jun Yelan held Lan Yan, tears in his eyes but a faint smile on his lips. "Yan'er, the two realms are already like this. It's not something we can easily end. But don't worry, I have a way to ensure you can live the life you desire again."
He knew Lan Yan cherished peace and simplicity, and he wanted to provide all of that for her.
Lan Yan froze, uneasily calling out, "Yelan, what are you planning to do?"
"It's nothing." Jun Yelan lowered his head, gently placed a kiss on Lan Yan's forehead, then spread his wings and pushed her away.
From beginning to end, he did all of this with a smile.
Lan Yan's heart skipped a beat. What was Jun Yelan about to do?