Lan Yan blinked, her eyes full of confusion as Jun Ye Lan continued to stare at her.
Often, Jun Ye Lan wouldn't say much, and she had to discern his thoughts from his actions. But now, looking into his eyes, she felt an overwhelming sense of being cherished.
She wasn't sure if this feeling was accurate.
Jun Ye Lan took her hand again and walked forward. "Since we're here, I'll take you somewhere." He remembered a tall building nearby, a place where one could feel close to the moon.
He felt that Lan Yan was suited for such beautiful things.
Lan Yan let Jun Ye Lan lead her as they flew to the top of a tall building. Standing there, she looked at the exceptionally large moon before her, feeling as if she could reach out and touch it.
Curiously, she stretched out her hand. She didn't touch the moon, but the soft moonlight fell upon her palm, filling her with wonder. She couldn't help but smile, "Jun Ye Lan, so there are places like this in the Demon Realm. It's so beautiful here."
Jun Ye Lan watched Lan Yan's smiling face, his lips curving upward in response. "When the Demon King's palace was built, this tall building was erected beside it. At that time, it was the best place to admire the moon."
He used to spend a lot of time here. Later, when too many people came, he moved away.
Lan Yan thought about Jun Ye Lan being an ancient beast, having lived for who knows how long and experienced much of the Demon Realm's history. "You're practically a founding elder of the Demon Realm. The current Demon King is just a junior in front of you."
Jun Ye Lan smiled, "Indeed, as you say." He then pondered a question, fixing his gaze on Lan Yan's eyes, and asked, "The Demon King was so aggressive just now. Weren't you scared?"
"I wasn't scared at all, because you were protecting me," Lan Yan leaned on the railing, turning to smile at Jun Ye Lan.
That smile made Jun Ye Lan's heart tremble. He had never owned anything, nor had he ever protected anyone. Yet, Lan Yan asked him to protect her.
He nodded, "Okay."
Lan Yan was taken aback. What did Jun Ye Lan mean by "okay"? She smiled, "Jun Ye Lan, are you saying you'll protect me from now on?"
Jun Ye Lan met Lan Yan's mischievous gaze, and this time, he couldn't help but agree. "Across the Six Realms and beyond, as long as you stay by my side, I will."
He felt himself becoming greedy.
"Okay," Lan Yan replied with a smile, tilting her head slightly and leaning on Jun Ye Lan's shoulder. She liked this feeling, having someone to rely on in this foreign world.
Jun Ye Lan reached out and put his arm around Lan Yan's shoulder. His heart pounded faster than usual, wishing time could just freeze at this moment.
Unbeknownst to them, behind them, a subordinate of the Demon King was watching and shot an arrow towards Jun Ye Lan. This arrow, transformed from a demon beast, was difficult to evade. After firing, he quickly fled.
Lan Yan, who had been leaning on Jun Ye Lan, suddenly heard a piercing sound by her ear. She turned her head to see the arrow and was momentarily stunned. Then, she pushed Jun Ye Lan away from her.
The arrow went straight into her chest, but Jun Ye Lan caught the shaft.
Jun Ye Lan's eyes darkened, and he exclaimed, "This is a demon beast; it will corrode your body!" The hand holding the arrow had already begun to wrinkle, revealing bone beneath, and with reddened eyes, he pulled the arrow out.
He then stomped on the arrow, and a scream erupted from beneath his foot. He supported Lan Yan, who was clutching her chest.
"Endure it!" He ripped open her clothes, looked at the corroding skin, and with icy eyes, channeled his power.
Lan Yan, who hadn't thought much of it when she saw the arrow, now felt the real pain of being pierced in the chest. She gripped Jun Ye Lan's sleeve tightly, watching him channel his power. The pain in her chest gradually subsided.
The skin slowly returned to normal.
Jun Ye Lan retracted his hand and placed it behind him, his palm trembling slightly. He glanced towards the Demon King's palace not far away, his eyes flashing with anger, and clenched the railing before him with his other hand.
"Jun Ye Lan, your hand!" Lan Yan then noticed how severely Jun Ye Lan's hand had been corroded. She took out spiritual herbs from her bag and applied them to his hand, then wrapped it with a handkerchief.
Anxiously and worriedly, she asked, "Can't you heal yourself?"
Jun Ye Lan shook his head. In truth, all his spiritual power had been used on Lan Yan, and he was now completely drained. He tried to pull his hand away, but felt a slight dampness on his hand. It was Lan Yan's tears.
Lan Yan looked distressed and said, "It's okay, I have medicine. I'll heal you. Does it hurt a lot?" She had only suffered a slight corrosion, and he had his entire hand affected.
"No," Jun Ye Lan looked at Lan Yan's red-rimmed eyes, raised his hand, and gently wiped away her tears. When he saw Lan Yan taking the arrow for him, he had instinctively rushed to save her, not wanting her to suffer even the slightest injury.
He clenched his fist and said, "Let's go back." It wasn't safe here.
"Mm." Lan Yan lowered Jun Ye Lan's hand and was about to move forward when she felt a cool breeze on her chest. She looked down and realized her clothes were torn. She quickly covered herself with her arm, her cheeks flushing slightly.
She had been interacting with Jun Ye Lan like this all along, and it was too embarrassing.
Jun Ye Lan, who hadn't noticed in his haste, now realized and his ear tips turned red. He took off his outer robe and draped it over Lan Yan, the large garment completely engulfing the petite Lan Yan.
He suppressed a surge of desire in his eyes and said, "Let's go."
"Okay." Lan Yan took Jun Ye Lan's uninjured hand, smiled at him, and walked downstairs.
Jun Ye Lan felt the warmth in his palm, and his scarred hand no longer hurt. He quickened his pace, leading Lan Yan away. As for the Demon King, he would never let this person off in the future.
His eyes turned red for a fleeting moment.
Upon returning to the cave, Mo Mo looked at them and asked worriedly, "Big Sister, Big Brother, what's wrong?" Why did they look so unwell and tired when they returned?
Lan Yan shook her head, "Mo Mo, we're just tired. Go rest." She patted Mo Mo's head, sending him to sleep, then crouched down to meticulously search her bag for any other useful spiritual herbs.
However, her spiritual herbs were almost all used up, and she couldn't return to the cultivation world now. Her eyes drooped.
Seeing this, Jun Ye Lan said, "I'll be fine after a few days of rest. Besides, you're injured too. Don't overexert yourself." He reached out to pull Lan Yan, who was squatting on the ground.
Lan Yan tripped over the stone bed and stumbled into Jun Ye Lan's arms. Both of them froze.
Jun Ye Lan looked into Lan Yan's innocent eyes, and the thoughts he had suppressed earlier resurfaced. He quickly helped Lan Yan to the side. He covered Lan Yan with a blanket, his breathing slightly erratic, "You're injured too. Rest well these few days."
After saying that, he went outside the cave, his mind in a mess.
Lan Yan lay on the stone bed, still wondering why Jun Ye Lan had left in such a hurry!