But even though Ye Lanshan now disliked Ye Yutian, she wouldn't truly abandon him. After all, they were in the same boat now—to obtain the phoenix's blood, she'd likely need his help, so it was best not to let things get too tense. Besides, even if he was a womanizer, what did it have to do with her? He hadn't done anything to harm her.
"What are you standing there for? Let's go." Just as Ye Yutian was feeling troubled, Ye Lanshan turned back.
A glimmer of light flashed in Ye Yutian's dim eyes, but it vanished in an instant, replaced by a calm, icy expression.
"Ye Lanshan, what were you two doing just now?" On the road, Yun Di tugged at Ye Lanshan's clothes and whispered, "Did you find out what Chu Tiankuo is up to? Or uncover some other secret?"
Ye Lanshan leaned close to Yun Di's ear and whispered back, "Chu Tiankuo is going to lead us to the phoenix's sleeping grounds. So no matter what their real goal is, we need to follow him without raising suspicion. But be careful—try not to eat or drink anything they offer. I'm worried they might poison it."
Though she was talking about serious matters, Ye Lanshan didn't realize how intimate this posture was.
Ye Yutian's eyes locked onto Yun Di, his gaze as if he wanted to kill him.
Yun Di shuddered but didn't back down. As expected, rivals in love understood each other best—Yun Di could tell at a glance that Ye Yutian also liked Ye Lanshan. Though his own strength wasn't great, how could he yield in front of the one he loved?
Ye Lanshan, unaware of the silent struggle between the two men, pulled out a pile of apples from her space and shared them with Chu Tiankuo and the others. In no time, she had blended in with them, whether genuinely or just pretending, she had integrated into the group.
"Sister Luo, is your brother really that impressive?" Chu Tiankuo looked at Yun Di in surprise after hearing Ye Lanshan's description, unable to believe that the most ordinary-looking person among them was so extraordinary.
"Of course! Let me tell you, thirteen people once ganged up on my brother, and he took them all out in one move." Ye Lanshan's eyes held a hint of admiration for Yun Di, well-hidden but still caught by Chu Tiankuo.
Seeing that carefully concealed admiration, Chu Tiankuo immediately believed her words. If this Yun Di was really that strong, it seemed he'd have no choice but to use the Weak Soul Pill.
The scorching sun originally beat down on the mountain range, but the dense trees cast dappled shadows, which also kept the surrounding air from getting too hot.
Chu Tiankuo held a Weak Soul Pill in his hand, a flicker of guilt and sympathy crossing his face as he looked at Ye Lanshan and the others. But he gritted his teeth, crushed the pill, evenly sprinkled it over the roasted meat, and divided it into three portions to give to them.
Ye Lanshan and Ye Yutian naturally noticed Chu Tiankuo's actions, but they didn't stop him from accepting the meat. Ye Lanshan even smiled and thanked him, saying that once they got out, she'd treat Chu Tiankuo's team to a big feast.
Yun Di, however, was wary and refused to take the meat. In the end, Ye Lanshan accepted it on his behalf.
After watching the three of them finish the roasted meat, Chu Tiankuo forced a faint smile and told them to rest well, as they might need to travel through the Misty Forest overnight.
Once Chu Tiankuo had left, Yun Di couldn't hold back anymore. He went up to Ye Lanshan and asked in confusion, "Didn't you say not to accept their food and drink? Why did you take it today?"
"If I hadn't taken it today, he would have suspected us. It's better to accept it now and avoid future suspicion and testing." Ye Lanshan stood straight, the dappled sunlight falling on her, making her seem ethereal and unreal, as if she might vanish at any moment.
Ye Yutian, as if possessed, walked over and, ignoring whether she'd be upset, tightly grabbed her clothes and stood shoulder to shoulder with her, as if only this could ensure she wouldn't disappear.
Hearing her answer, Yun Di found it reasonable. He glanced at them and felt an irritating sense of how well Ye Yutian and Ye Lanshan matched—one with a fierce, terrifying aura like the king of hell, the other with a detached, drifting presence like a celestial being descending from the heavens. They seemed incompatible, yet bound by an inescapable connection.
Could someone like me really win against such a perfect pair? Yun Di's heart filled with self-doubt.
"Let go." Ye Lanshan's tone was light but carried firmness and warning.
Ye Yutian had no choice but to release his grip on her clothes.
So what if they match? As long as Ye Lanshan doesn't like him, I still have a chance. Even if my strength isn't as strong as the Dark Lord's, so what? The one closest gets the prize first. Once we get the phoenix's blood, the Dark Lord won't have any chance to be with her, and I'll have plenty of opportunities. With that thought, Yun Di's self-doubt vanished, replaced by a blind confidence.
"This forest truly lives up to its name." Ye Lanshan stepped into the woods, looking at the impenetrable fog, her expression still calm.
"The most dangerous thing in this forest isn't the fog, but the spirit beasts hiding within. They're very small, but each one carries poison. Because of these beasts, it's hard for people to notice them, and with the thick fog, it's nearly impossible to guard against." Even though Chu Tiankuo and his team often entered this forest, their faces were grim as they stepped in again.
Just then, a cool, large hand firmly grasped hers. Ye Lanshan's heart jolted, and she was about to fight back when she heard the Dark Lord's low voice: "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Ye Lanshan was momentarily stunned. No one had ever said that to her before—she had always faced danger alone.
"Everyone, hold hands so we don't get separated." While she was lost in thought, Chu Tiankuo expertly directed everyone to link up.
"Ah! A snake—a sixth-tier Crimson Serpent! What do we do?" They had barely taken a few steps when a woman screamed in panic, clearly terrified.
"We're doomed. A sixth-tier Crimson Serpent is hard enough to deal with outside the Misty Forest, let alone inside it." Several people turned pale, their legs trembling slightly.
Hearing this, Ye Lanshan remained perfectly calm. Ye Yutian, of course, didn't even consider a sixth-tier spirit beast a threat, and Yun Di, relying on the two of them, wasn't worried about the serpent harming him.
"Hiss, hiss." The sound of dozens of snakes flicking their tongues came from all directions, making it clear this wasn't just one Crimson Serpent.
Chu Tiankuo's face went white. Though they had entered the Misty Forest many times, they had never faced so many spirit beasts at once. Still, the Weak Soul Pill was a slow-acting poison that wouldn't take effect for two days, so they couldn't detect it yet.