"So, what exactly is the help you need from me?"
In the flickering firelight, even Liu Jing didn't know why she had let her guard down around this unfamiliar man. Perhaps it was because his demeanor reminded her too much of a friend of hers. When he first made his move, she almost mistook him for that friend. It was only when he turned around that she realized he was a man.
"You'll find out when the time comes. For now, you should stick with us. It's better to have more people together, looking out for one another. Otherwise, if you're being hunted, I won't be able to help you." Ye Lanshan gave her a meaningful smile.
"This..."
Liu Jing hesitated, wanting to say something but ultimately holding back.
"I knew you wouldn't trust me. Come on, take a look at who I am?"
Under Liu Jing's astonished gaze, Ye Lanshan slowly transformed back into her original appearance, only to shift back again in an instant.
"You're—"
"Shh, you know. Don't say it out loud."
As Liu Jing gasped in shock, Ye Lanshan covered her mouth.
Liu Jing's eyes brimmed with tears as she choked out, "Earlier, I heard that both the Moon Kingdom and the Holy Land were searching for you. I thought you'd already been captured."
"Don't worry, I'm tough. I won't be caught that easily." Ye Lanshan wiped away Liu Jing's tears.
Liu Jing felt like someone was watching her. Turning around, she caught Ye Yutian's murderous glare and shuddered in fear.
Yue Shu noticed that the atmosphere had turned strange ever since the two of them had left and returned to the temple one after the other. Not knowing what had happened, he quietly asked Mu Xinlian.
But Mu Xinlian just shook her head, saying that this was a matter between the two of them, something only they could resolve, and no outsider could interfere.
No outsider could interfere? Yue Shu coughed a few times, a hint of blood staining his hand. He hid his hand in his sleeve and smiled helplessly, thinking: Maybe it really is beyond interference.
Yet how could such a small move escape Ye Lanshan's eyes? She swiftly pulled his hidden hand out. The blood in his palm was somewhat dark, unlike ordinary blood.
Mu Xinlian was shocked and looked pleadingly at Ye Lanshan. "You must heal him, or I'll never have peace of mind."
Ye Lanshan carefully took his pulse, her expression grave, making even Yue Shu think he was beyond saving.
"Don't worry, it's nothing serious. Just a bit of a chill. The dark color of the blood is only because he's been carrying potent poison and yin energy in his body for a long time. It's not a big deal."
Though Ye Lanshan said there was nothing major wrong with Yue Shu's body, her face remained tense.
She mused, "Yue Shu, maybe you should go back. Following me around like this is still too dangerous. You only need to give me some of your blood, and I can refine a pill to cure your poison."
"I'd rather stay with you—it's safer. Besides, even though I'm not in great shape, I'm still a ninth-rank Xuan God General. At the very least, I can protect you a bit if danger arises."
Yue Shu's gaze was resolute; he was determined to go with Ye Lanshan.
"Are you implying I can't protect her?" Ye Yutian's face darkened, and the temple's atmosphere plummeted to freezing point, as if the slightest movement would trigger a storm.
"I wasn't planning on taking you along." Ye Lanshan met Ye Yutian's eyes.
"You'd better not get spoiled and push your luck." Ye Yutian's eyes blazed with fire, veins bulging on his neck.
"I mean your reputation is too big. Bringing you along would actually make things inconvenient." Ye Lanshan felt it was best not to let things get too tense, as it wouldn't benefit her.
"What exactly are you planning to do?" Ye Yutian suppressed his anger, his voice still gruff but no longer as fierce as before.
"Just have some fun with the Holy Land. If you're with me, others would be scared off before I even start. How am I supposed to play?" Ye Lanshan fanned herself like a strategist.
"The Holy Land? Ye Lanshan, the Holy Land's strength is unfathomable. It's better not to provoke them. Just lie low for a while, and once things calm down, it'll blow over. If you go head-to-head with them, it'll be like throwing an egg at a rock—you won't end well." Liu Jing's face changed at the mention of the Holy Land. She grabbed Ye Lanshan's arm, trying to persuade her.
"This isn't something you can just hide from. Those who harm my loved ones and hurt me—no matter how far, they must die. The Holy Land and I are destined for a fight to the death."
"If that's the case, rest assured, I'll definitely help you." Liu Jing struggled for a long time but ultimately chose to stand by Ye Lanshan.
"Cough, don't worry. The Yue family and the Holy Land are at odds. I'll help you destroy the Holy Land." At that moment, Yue Shu seemed to have made a decision.
"So you're finally getting involved? If you're joining in, shouldn't you give me the key to Cloud Island?" Ye Yutian's voice was calm, as if his earlier rage had never happened.
"I won't give it to you now." Yue Shu met his gaze, still refusing to hand over the Iron Glass.
"You'd better not try to anger me, or you know what the consequences will be." Ye Yutian's face darkened again.
"I don't want to get involved in your grudges, nor do I care. But I warn you—don't mess up my plans, or I'll make you regret being born." Ye Lanshan frowned, finally unable to suppress the sinister energy within her.
This sinister energy had actually seeped into her when she was expelling the yin energy from Yue Shu, and at that time, she was locked in a heated battle with the Yue family, unfortunately triggering a heart demon.
And that heart demon was Yu Ying. That's why Ye Lanshan wanted to force Ye Yutian to give up—because she knew that as long as the heart demon remained, she could never love anyone else.
Moreover, once the heart demon emerged, she could no longer control the murderous intent within her, only wanting to slaughter everything in sight.
It was then that Ye Yutian noticed something was wrong with Ye Lanshan.
"Ye Lanshan, calm your mind and focus." Yue Shu produced a jade flute, and his soothing voice rang out, gradually quelling the sinister energy in Ye Lanshan's heart.
"A demon has entered your body. What happened?"
"I'm fine. Even if something were wrong, it's none of your business."
Ye Lanshan gave him a cold look, stood up, and walked outside.
"Yu Ying, what am I supposed to do with you?" Ye Lanshan leaned against a tree, gazing at the moon in the sky, but her heart was filled with confusion.
"Who is Yu Ying? Is he the one you hold in your heart but who has disappeared?" Ye Yutian stood behind her, quietly watching her.
"You're overstepping your bounds. Who he is has nothing to do with you." Ye Lanshan's voice was flat, as if the last shred of warmth between them had been worn away.
"In the capital, we fought side by side, and now you want to cast me aside like a stranger? Besides, you once said you'd give me a chance." Ye Yutian hugged her possessively.
She didn't struggle, but the coldness in her eyes never faded.