Jun Yelan was startled, his eyes dimming slightly. He didn't turn back. He was afraid, afraid he wasn't what Lan Yan imagined, afraid of the look on Lan Yan's face.
Lan Yan then took the initiative to walk in front of Jun Yelan, hugging his waist to prevent him from dodging. She looked up at the scales on Jun Yelan's face and the pair of broken horns on his head.
From his neck down, his skin was gray, rough beast hide, and a pair of wings were folded on his back.
She tiptoed, barely able to meet Jun Yelan's gaze as he lowered his head. She raised her arm and measured, sighing, "Jun Yelan, you're so tall and big now, I'm just a little shrimp."
The scaled tips of Jun Yelan's ears turned red, and his eyes could not leave Lan Yan. He had expected to see and hear fear from Lan Yan, but Lan Yan kept smiling, her eyes sparkling.
Seeing that Jun Yelan still didn't speak, Lan Yan called out, "Jun Yelan, pick me up."
Although Jun Yelan didn't understand, he still picked Lan Yan up with one arm, letting her sit on his arm.
"Wow." Lan Yan felt even smaller compared to Jun Yelan now. She sat steadily and reached out to touch Jun Yelan's face. Jun Yelan still wanted to avoid it, but she tickled his armpit, successfully cupping his face.
She blinked. While Jun Yelan was stunned, she tugged his face and laughed, "Jun Yelan, I'm like this, do you still think I'm scared?"
Jun Yelan's eyes trembled. No one had ever treated him like this before. His heart was torn. On one hand, he wished Lan Yan would be afraid and leave him. On the other hand, he greedily wanted to keep Lan Yan.
Even if he was so unsightly, he still wanted Lan Yan to stay by his side.
Lan Yan leaned forward and hugged Jun Yelan's neck, her soft cheek pressed against his. A smile bloomed on her lips. "Jun Yelan, you think too much. I haven't said anything or done anything yet."
"The moment you brought me out of the darkness, your true form filled me with a sense of security. People are not afraid of that which gives them security."
Her gentle words brushed past Jun Yelan's ears, warming his icy heart and making it beat faster again. He raised his other hand and placed it on Lan Yan's back, quietly accompanying her.
Lan Yan did the same. After a long while, tired, she lay on Jun Yelan's chest, closed her eyes warmly.
Jun Yelan lay on the stone beneath him, his arms tightly holding the person in his embrace, his gaze filled with tenderness. He couldn't help but stroke Lan Yan's hair, looking at her smooth forehead, and gently kissed it with his lips.
Seeing that Lan Yan didn't wake up, he breathed a sigh of relief, the blush on his ear tips reappearing.
In his heart, Lan Yan was very important, more important than anything in the world. He was born unwelcome by anyone. He survived in the abyss, gaining an ugly skin and venomous bones.
He used to put himself to sleep, not allowing himself to think about these things, doing nothing, until he was calculated and captured. Later, he met Lan Yan. Lan Yan inexplicably appeared in his life, bringing him the only warmth in his life.
He didn't want to know what the future held; he only wished to protect Lan Yan at this moment. "Lan Yan, you are afraid of the dark; from now on, I will shine for you."
Lan Yan mumbled in her sleep, having a good dream.
The next morning, the sunlight in the mountains covered the entire rock and the two people on it.
Lan Yan rubbed her eyes and opened them. Seeing Jun Yelan still in his true form, she realized and asked, "Jun Yelan, I need to go down the mountain to make some food. Do you want to go?"
Jun Yelan shook his head. He didn't want anyone to see him in this state.
"Alright, I'll be back up later." Lan Yan prepared to get down from Jun Yelan's embrace but was suddenly picked up by him.
Jun Yelan spread his wings and instantly sent Lan Yan to the foot of the mountain, then left, his eyes still showing a hint of reluctance.
Lan Yan looked at the cave in front of her and sighed again, "As expected of Jun Yelan." She saw Momo walking out and smiled, "Momo, I found Jun Yelan. He's cultivating on the mountain. I'll bring him food later."
"That's great, big sister." Momo smiled and took Lan Yan's hand. "I hope big sister can always be happy, and I also know that only when big brother is safe will big sister be like this."
Lan Yan nodded, couldn't help but pat Momo's head, a smile on her lips. She recalled last night's events and asked, "Momo, do you beasts have a connection with each other? You said he was in great pain last night."
Momo shook her head. "Generally not, but rare species do. This is also my first time encountering what happened last night."
Lan Yan was a little puzzled. Momo was a mixed-blood, so that meant Jun Yelan was too! She remembered the story Jun Yelan told her about the ancient great war, and felt it was increasingly possible.
She looked at Momo and said, "It's okay, let's go cook." She would ask Jun Yelan again when she had the chance.
Momo was naturally happy and helped Lan Yan. She was an orphan, and it was truly wonderful to be by big sister's side. She even wished for big sister to be her mother.
After Lan Yan and Momo finished eating, they went up the mountain with the food box to find Jun Yelan. Looking at the large Jun Yelan, she wondered if she had brought too little.
Jun Yelan saw Lan Yan staring at the food box and guessed her thoughts. He said, "My appetite hasn't changed." In fact, he didn't need to eat, but he never wanted to refuse Lan Yan, and it became a habit later.
"Then eat quickly, I made roast chicken today." Lan Yan opened the food box with a smile, took out a whole roast chicken, and handed it to Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan took it with a smile and slowly began to eat.
Lan Yan propped her cheek with one hand, quietly watching Jun Yelan. "Jun Yelan, why did you suddenly become like this? Will it always be like this?" If Jun Yelan remained like this forever, she would have to find a way to move her home to the mountain.
Mentioning this, Jun Yelan's eyes darkened. "It was done deliberately by someone."
"What?" Lan Yan recalled recent events. "It must be the Demon King. He failed to injure you with an arrow before, and now he's resorting to such tactics. He's just jealous of you, inferior to you."
The more she thought about it, the more indignant she became, wishing she could go and beat up the Demon King.
Jun Yelan, however, was amused, feeling his anger dissipate. "Don't worry, I won't let him off easily." The Demon King only did one thing right: he made Jun Yelan realize his feelings through this incident.
He had developed different feelings for Lan Yan.
Lan Yan nodded, believing Jun Yelan. Seeing the food box was empty, she smiled and said, "Jun Yelan, I'll leave now and come back tonight."
The corners of Jun Yelan's lips curved upwards. After Lan Yan left, the smile vanished from his face. He cast a formation on Lan Yan, then got up, spread his wings, and flew towards the Demon King's palace below the mountain.