The happiest moment of his existence in this world was probably right now.
Xue Chenjing spread his arms, wanting to catch his sunset glow.
As the red-crowned crane hovered above the rocky island, it suddenly spread its broad wings in the fierce sea wind. Yu Yi jumped down from Senior Crane's back, her skirts floating in the air, her figure as light as a falling flower bud. He had once wanted to crush it, but now he only wanted to catch it.
Yu Yi landed beside the person lying on the ground with outstretched arms and gave him a strange look. "What are you doing lying here?"
Moreover, he was crying so miserably that she recognized who he was at first glance. Why was he crying every time they met? Was he really a jellyfish spirit with too much water in his body that needed regular drainage?
This time, she definitely wouldn't foolishly wipe his tears again.
Xue Chenjing dejectedly lowered his hands, his lips drooping with a hint of grievance. "Yi'er, you should have jumped into my arms."
Yu Yi stood several steps away from him, not approaching, only turning her eyes to look him up and down, finally fixing her gaze on his pale face, saying amusedly: "Are you sure? Looking at how you're barely breathing, won't I crush you to death if I jump into your arms? Don't tell me you're trying to scam me?"
Xue Chenjing's mental image of sunset glow and flower buds was mercilessly scattered by her words. He tried to prop himself up to sit, attempting to prove he wasn't as weak as she described.
Senior Crane suddenly walked away from the other side, and the previously blocked sea wind swept back towards him. Xue Chenjing's body swayed in the fierce wind, his eyes widening in alarm.
Seeing this, Yu Yi immediately stepped forward and crouched down to support him.
However, as soon as she touched Xue Chenjing and entered his reach, he grabbed her wrist and forcefully pulled her into his embrace.
Xue Chenjing laughed triumphantly, holding her as he fell back to the ground.
Though his body had little strength left, even with such little strength, he would use every means to hold onto her. He used what remaining energy he had in his arms, saying happily: "See? I can catch you."
Yu Yi was pulled down onto him, with his arms around her waist as tight as iron clamps, making it impossible for her to break free.
It seemed that Xue Chenjing's injuries weren't as severe as they appeared.
Yu Yi, already helpless against his grip and unable to break free, stopped struggling and relaxed against him, her fingertips unconsciously pressing against the firm muscle contours beneath her palm.
In the realm of human bonds, she had been forced to press against this spot for half a night, unconsciously developing an honest conditioned reflex.
Yu Yi didn't realize there was anything inappropriate about her actions and was still trying to reason with Xue Chenjing: "Can you stop pouncing and hugging me every time we meet?"
Xue Chenjing felt a tingling in his chest, as if her lightning energy had once again coursed through his body from her fingertips.
He suppressed a groan, his tone as excited as his heartbeat, and asked without thinking, "Then would you prefer to pounce and hug me instead?"
Yu Yi: "???" What kind of dog-like social interaction was this? Couldn't they meet like normal people?
"Let me go. I can tell you just arrived, so I won't leave."
Instead of making him release her, these words made his arms tighten even more around her waist. Yu Yi was forced to press closely against him, listening to his suddenly quickened breathing and his whimpers of joy, when she unexpectedly felt something.
Yu Yi raised her eyes in confusion, belatedly realizing what was pressing against her. Her cheeks instantly turned red, and she exclaimed angrily: "Xue Chenjing, let me go!"
Hearing genuine anger in her voice, Xue Chenjing's arms loosened, reluctantly allowing her to break free from his embrace.
The way Yu Yi hastily retreated pierced his heart, shattering the little joy he had just felt. He desperately grabbed the edge of her dress, holding it tightly, saying: "You just said you could tell I had just arrived, so you wouldn't leave."
"I didn't say I was leaving." Yu Yi grabbed her dress to prevent him from pulling it down, glanced at him once, then quickly averted her gaze, saying irritably, "But can't you have some decency and control yourself a bit?"
Xue Chenjing innocently followed her previous gaze, saying: "My spiritual fire has returned, isn't this normal? Senior Crane also performs mating dances for his sword spirit, and you don't despise him for that."
By the edge of the rocky island, the red-crowned crane, who was playing with the waves, heard its name and turned its head, calling out twice.
Its mating dance was so beautiful, why would anyone despise it? Moreover, it was dancing for the sword spirit, not for Yu Yi, so her contempt was irrelevant – the crane couldn't care less.
Yu Yi held her forehead, "How can you compare those?"
Xue Chenjing sat cross-legged with a face full of grievance, pondering for a long while before resolutely saying: "If you don't like it, I can cut it off."
Both the system and Yu Yi gasped in shock.
System: "Master, are you crazy? What nonsense are you talking about?!"
But Yu Yi realized Xue Chenjing was serious. His dark eyes were fixed on her, ignoring the system's screams in his head, without any hint of joking, as if he would immediately take action if she nodded.
Yu Yi could only helplessly reply: "No, there's no need to go that far."
Xue Chenjing immediately seized the opportunity, shamelessly saying: "You don't despise Senior Crane, so you can't despise me for this either."
As soon as he finished speaking, Senior Crane flew over and viciously pecked at his head, squawking loudly. How dare you compare yourself to me, who is tall, beautiful, and has exquisite dance moves? Don't drag me down with you!
Xue Chenjing clutched his head in pain, dodging but not daring to fight back, immediately losing all previous reactions.
The wind and waves by the sea grew stronger, with crane calls and wave sounds creating a passionate symphony.
Yu Yi quickly stopped Senior Crane, worried it might peck through Xue Chenjing's head. He indeed looked very weak, his face as pale as a ghost. When Senior Crane pecked him, his skin didn't even turn red, as if there was no blood left beneath it.
After being intimidated by Senior Crane, Xue Chenjing finally calmed down, only looking at the crane's master with resentment and accusation, appearing utterly pitiful.
Yu Yi hesitated for a moment before finally asking: "Where did Xue Mingyuan take you? How did you end up injured like this again?"
Xue Chenjing's eyes lit up with joy – this was the first time she had actively inquired about his injuries and what he had been through. He wanted to pour out every detail of his suffering, not missing a single moment.
The seaside wasn't suitable for a long conversation. Yu Yi helped him onto Senior Crane's back, initially planning to have Senior Crane return to the guest house outside Liang Province for the night. However, she heard him mention that the Supreme Elder of the Carefree Sect was their sister from their previous life, but that sister only recognized Xue Mingyuan as family and was determined to kill him as a demon.
Xue Chenjing had been imprisoned under the Demon Suppressing Bell, losing half his blood before managing to escape.
Yu Yi frowned and stroked the crane's long neck. "Senior Crane, we won't return to the inn. I'm sorry to trouble you, but we need to leave Liang Province tonight."
Hearing her words, the system finally breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, its female protagonist was still clear-headed and knew not to linger in dangerous places.
Xue Chenjing leaned against her shoulder from behind and softly asked: "Yi'er, you believe what I said? You just believe me like that?"
Yu Yi turned her head slightly, looking back with her peripheral vision, and asked in return: "Are you lying to me?"
"No." Xue Chenjing immediately shook his head, paused for a moment, then said with a smile, "Because no one in this world would believe the words of a demon. When I speak as myself, most people won't believe me."
Only by hiding his true self behind various identities could he gain others' trust. He knew well that this trust wasn't meant for him – when people discovered his true identity, those who had once trusted him would draw their swords without hesitation and break ties with him.
He was born a demon, so he was born to be distrusted.
"I was wrong before. I shouldn't have deceived you or altered your perception," Xue Chenjing gently nuzzled her ear, speaking as if making a vow. "Now I am sincere with you, my words to you are sincere, and they will always be sincere in the future."
Yu Yi's ear tickled from his nuzzling. She reached up to tug at his earlobe, signaling him to stay still. "Alright, I believe you."
"Mmm, Yu Yi." Xue Chenjing hugged her tightly.
Yu Yi pinched his cheek, already anticipating his reaction. "No crying."
Xue Chenjing choked back a sob, taking a deep breath and forcing back the tears welling in his eyes. The system chimed in his head, presumably announcing the closure of some temporary task, but he couldn't hear it clearly. His eyelids grew heavy as he mumbled, "Yu Yi, I'm getting sleepy."
"Okay, go to sleep." Yu Yi lowered her hand to grip his wrist that was wrapped around her waist, preventing him from falling off the crane's back while sleeping.
The weight on her shoulder grew heavier as Xue Chenjing finally closed his eyes peacefully.
As the crane flew beyond the borders of Liang Province, the weather gradually cleared. The dark clouds dispersed, revealing a brilliant river of stars in the night sky, with a waning crescent moon hanging in the celestial curtain, surrounded by a misty halo.
The crane master called out joyfully at the starry sky, clearly enjoying the beautiful scene before them.
Yu Yi gently brushed aside the loose strands of hair on her forehead and gazed ahead, wondering where they could go after leaving Liang Province. The twelve major immortal sects covered all lands under heaven. The Lishan Sword Sect and Zhaohua Palace were hunting for Xue Chenjing, and these two major sects belonged to powerful family factions, sharing close ties with other family-controlled sects.
The Carefree Sect, Unfettered Tower, Flame Splendor Sect, and Jade Pendant School held different stances from the family factions, but unfortunately, the Carefree Sect had an elder sister who was determined to kill him.
Looking at the stars and moon hanging high ahead, despite the vast expanse of heaven and earth, they couldn't find a single place to go.
Yu Yi had always hoped to avoid getting tangled in such trouble, but in the end, she still got involved. In a moment of softness, she had picked up this troublemaker, and now they couldn't even find a place to stay.
She rubbed her temples and thought wearily, would it be too late to push him off the crane master's back now?
