The next day, Lan Yan woke up to Mòmo rushing into her arms with a cry. "Mòmo, what's wrong?" she asked, seeing how heartbroken Mòmo was, and fearing something terrible had happened.
Mòmo hugged Lan Yan tightly and sobbed, "Mother, I thought you wouldn't wake up. Mòmo was so scared."
"It's alright, I'm fine. I just slept for a day," Lan Yan soothed.
Mòmo looked up, incredulous. "Mother, do you know the witch doctor said you were going to die? It was only after Prince Jun personally took his horn that you were saved."
"What!" Lan Yan was shocked. She truly had no idea. She recalled Jun Yelan's expression – he was smiling, but there was sadness in his eyes. It was because of this.
Jun Yelan hadn't told her, and was silently bearing all of this himself! She clutched her chest, where a dull ache was now present. Turning to Mòmo, she said, "Mòmo, tell me everything that's happened these past few days."
"Okay," Mòmo replied, sitting beside Lan Yan and slowly recounting the events. "Mother, you're human, and when you sustained such severe injuries, your life was in danger. At that time, you showed no signs of waking up, yet Prince Jun stayed by your side."
"He never left your side, and he was always talking to you. It moved all of us. Afterward, he broke his own horn and gave it to the witch doctor, but he still didn't leave. Mother, what's wrong?"
Tears streamed down Lan Yan's cheeks. She touched her face, her hand becoming wet. Staring at the moisture on her hand, she thought of Jun Yelan's blood. She could no longer sit still. Getting up, she said, "Mòmo, I'm going to find him. I'll be back soon."
With that, she ran out of the room, searching for that familiar figure within the wolf tribe.
The wolf tribe was built along the mountain, with many wooden houses nestled on the mountainside. A small path in front of these houses wound its way through the entire settlement.
Lan Yan didn't know where Jun Yelan was, so she could only follow this path, moving from top to bottom. She encountered a wolf tribesperson and asked, "Have you seen an outsider man, very handsome, tall and cold?"
The wolf tribesperson remembered Jun Yelan and pointed towards the woods on the right. "I think I saw him over there."
"Thank you." Lan Yan ran towards the right. The dense forest ahead completely blocked her view, so she called out, "Jun Yelan!"
The next moment, Jun Yelan appeared before her, looking puzzled. "Yan'er, how can you..." But before he could finish, he was enveloped in a tight embrace.
Lan Yan buried her head in Jun Yelan's chest, letting her tears soak his clothes. With a choked voice, she asked, "You fool, you did so much for me, why didn't you tell me?"
If not for Mòmo, she might never have known.
Jun Yelan was slightly taken aback. He gently stroked Lan Yan's back and smiled with relief. "You didn't tell me either, did you? In the abyss, you clearly overexerted yourself, why didn't you tell me?"
He lowered his head and rested it on Lan Yan's shoulder. "Do you know how scared I was at that time? I was afraid you would never wake up, never smile at me again, never speak to me again."
"Back then, when I heard that beast destroyed everything for a fairy, I thought he was a fool. But now I suddenly understand. It's because someone is too important, the person in my arms is too important, that you can abandon everything."
"Yan'er, I was not accepted by the Six Realms. It was you who told me that there was a place in this world that belonged to me. It was also you who told me that I was important. Yan'er, a beast's heart is hard to move, but once it is moved, it cannot be taken back."
Jun Yelan placed Lan Yan's hand on his chest, right over his heart. It beat rhythmically, all for the person before him!
Lan Yan felt the heartbeat under her hand and looked up into Jun Yelan's eyes. Suddenly, she smiled. "I won't give you the chance to take your heart back."
She realized she must love Jun Yelan very much, perhaps for a long time.
"Yan'er," Jun Yelan's lips curved upwards uncontrollably. He reached out and pulled Lan Yan into his embrace. A tear fell from the corner of his eye – this was the second time he had cried, tears of joy.
Perhaps beasts could cry after all, but only when the time was right.
Lan Yan softly responded, holding Jun Yelan's waist tighter.
Then, hand in hand, they walked back. They walked slowly, smiles gracing their faces.
The wolf tribespeople, seeing them like this, understood. A couple passing by them smiled and said, "You two are so loving. Are you married?"
Lan Yan's cheeks flushed as she replied, "Not yet."
"Here in our wolf tribe, we have a sacred tree that witnesses every newly married couple. I think you two should go there, and the sacred tree will bless you."
"Thank you." Lan Yan watched the couple leave, finding the wolf people so warm and friendly.
"Shall we go?" Jun Yelan raised the hand holding hers, his eyes filled with anticipation. He wanted to do more beautiful things with Lan Yan.
Seeing this, Lan Yan nodded, and then saw Jun Yelan's smiling lips. This man clearly wanted to go, yet he was asking her opinion, always putting her first.
A sweet warmth spread through her heart. She held Jun Yelan's hand even tighter, and together they walked towards the sacred tree.
Upon reaching the sacred tree, they unexpectedly encountered the wolf demon.
"Miss Lan, Prince Jun, why have you come here?"
Before Lan Yan could speak, Jun Yelan said, "I've come to marry Yan'er."
His directness made Lan Yan's cheeks burn. She wanted to cover her face, but her hand was held by Jun Yelan. So, she boldly admitted, "Yes, Yan'er and I are here to get married!"
The wolf demon: "Actually, I already knew. There was no need to hear it twice." "This is wonderful news! Wait here, I'll go inform the tribe so we can all celebrate with you."
"There's no need..." Lan Yan hadn't finished speaking when the wolf demon was already gone. She looked at Jun Yelan helplessly and said, "Let's wait then."
Jun Yelan readily agreed, his gaze fixed on the sacred tree before them, his eyes filled with a silent prayer. He hoped the sacred tree was real, that it could truly bless his Yan'er.
If he was destined to be erased, he only wished for his Yan'er to be safe and happy, to live with joy.
Lan Yan saw Jun Yelan gazing at the sacred tree with a solemn expression. Curious, she asked, "Yelan, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm just worried I might not do well later, so I'm telling the sacred tree in advance," Jun Yelan chuckled.
Lan Yan smiled and nodded, raising her hand to pinch Jun Yelan's cheek. She suddenly found her Yelan so adorable. She took Jun Yelan's hand and walked together to the sacred tree, saying, "I'll practice with you."
She looked at Jun Yelan and said with utter sincerity, "I, Lan Yan, am willing to marry Jun Yelan, wishing only to never be separated for all eternity." She couldn't accompany Jun Yelan forever, but she hoped to meet him in every lifetime.
Jun Yelan's gaze fell upon Lan Yan's eyes as he replied, "I, Jun Yelan, am willing to marry Lan Yan, never forsaking her for all eternity."
As they spoke, they looked at each other with smiles, and it seemed the stars themselves were revolving in their eyes.