Translator: CinderTL
Song Wen's figure moved like lightning, darting through the miasma that filled the sky.
He had barely flown a few thousand miles when a figure suddenly shot out from the mountains below.
Song Wen's heart jolted, and he immediately tensed, his guard rising.
But the next moment, his expression softened.
The newcomer was Ye Bing.
"Gou Jun, I've finally found you! I was worried you wouldn't be able to shake off Jiang Lanruo and the others, and would end up in danger," Ye Bing said, her voice trembling with emotion.
Song Wen's eyes twitched slightly, a strange guilt creeping into his heart.
He had originally planned to abandon Ye Bing and head to the Qicang Domain alone. Yet, before he could get far, he had run right into her.
Forcing a strained smile, he said, "Ye Bing, it's wonderful to see you. This place isn't safe. Shouldn't we leave quickly?"
Ye Bing stopped two feet in front of Song Wen and asked, "What's wrong? Are Jiang Lanruo and that Divine Blood Gate member still chasing you?"
Song Wen shook his head. "No, they're dead."
"Dead?" Ye Bing's face registered shock. "You killed them both?"
"It's true, I killed them. But it was only because the 'shadow void' in Jiang Yushan's Sea of Consciousness suddenly went berserk, unleashing a divine sense attack that severely wounded both of them. That's how I managed to strike the final blow. Moreover, Jiang Yushan and the 'shadow void' are both dead now. The Divine Blood Gate will undoubtedly seek revenge, making the entire Qianchang Wilderness unsafe. I was worried you might return here unaware of the danger, so I've been searching for you everywhere." Song Wen spun a web of lies.
His story was riddled with inconsistencies.
For instance, if Jiang Lanruo and the other woman were critically injured by the 'shadow void,' why was he unaffected? And how did the 'shadow void' itself perish?
Yet Ye Bing showed no suspicion whatsoever. Instead, she gazed at Song Wen with tender affection, her beautiful eyes sparkling like stars, utterly captivating.
"No one has ever cared so deeply for my safety before," she murmured.
With those words, she suddenly pressed close, her crimson lips sealing against Song Wen's.
"Mmm..."
After struggling to push her away, Song Wen finally managed to speak.
"We should leave this place immediately."
Ye Bing's cheeks flushed crimson as she nodded shyly.
The pair soared into the sky, heading deeper into the Rotting Miasma Ridge.
"Oh, right," Song Wen said as he flew through the air, pulling out a Corpse Coffin. "Immortal Maiden, this should meet your expectations."
Ye Bing's expression turned suspicious. She flicked a finger, sending a strand of spiritual power to draw the Corpse Coffin closer.
She lifted the coffin lid and saw Jiang Yushan's corpse lying inside.
Ye Bing's face instantly froze over, her eyes radiating icy fury.
She stared intently at the corpse, her gaze as sharp as a knife.
"Jiang Yushan..." she hissed through clenched teeth, her voice low and filled with hatred. "You're finally... dead."
She raised her right hand and slammed it down.
With a thunderous boom, the Corpse Coffin and Jiang Yushan's corpse exploded into dust, scattering into the air.
"Immortal Maiden, the past is gone. You needn't dwell on it. Now that Jiang Yushan is dead, let the past fade away like the wind."
Song Wen sighed. "Ah, I had hoped to bring him to you alive. But alas, the shadow void shattered his soul. I could only retrieve his corpse."
"This is enough," Ye Bing said, a hint of relief flickering in her eyes. "As you said, the past is gone. Now, I should focus on the future."
As she spoke, she turned to look at Song Wen, her gaze gentle and full of expectation.
Not long ago, the pair had traversed the Rotting Miasma Ridge. Their second crossing proved remarkably smooth.
In just over a month, they reached the edge of the region on the other side.
The two hovered above a wide river, the miasma completely absent from the sky and land ahead.
"Immortal Maiden, I wish to find a secluded place for a period of secluded cultivation. What do you think?" Song Wen asked.
Ye Bing's delicate face flushed crimson, a hint of bashfulness flickering in her eyes, as if a secret thought had crossed her mind.
"I was thinking the same thing," she replied softly.
Unaware of Ye Bing's peculiar reaction, Song Wen released his divine sense, scanning the surrounding terrain for a suitable location for his secluded cultivation.
Suddenly, Ye Bing pointed to the river below.
"Why search far and wide? I think the riverbed would be perfect."
Song Wen was surprised. While the Spiritual Qi in the river was decent, this area was still on the edge of the Rotting Miasma Ridge, frequently traversed by cultivators. It hardly qualified as a secluded spot.
"Stop dawdling!" Ye Bing grabbed Song Wen's forearm and yanked him into the river.
The pair plunged into the water, descending over ten li before reaching the riverbed.
Ye Bing had clearly found a suitable secluded cultivation spot, pulling Song Wen into an underwater cave.
The cave was roughly a hundred zhang wide, filled with river water and silt.
Ye Bing cast a spell, clearing away all the water and silt before setting up a concealment formation.
With a wave of her hand, a stone bed materialized on the ground.
Turning around, Ye Bing lightly untied her silk robes, letting them flutter to the ground until she stood completely naked.
With a fluid motion, she nestled into Song Wen's arms.
The flower bloomed in full splendor, and Song Wen naturally didn't refuse.
Lascivious sounds echoed through the cave.
Ten days later.
Song Wen lay on the stone bed, a hint of fatigue lingering between his brows.
Ye Bing rested her head on his arm, her face flushed and her delicate body pressed tightly against his, clinging to him like a small bird.
After lying still for a long while, Song Wen noticed Ye Bing showed no sign of getting up. He withdrew his arm, tensed his abdominal muscles, and tried to sit up.
But Ye Bing raised her smooth arm and pressed him back down, then flipped over to straddle his waist.
Seeing the seductive glint in her eyes, Song Wen's lips twitched slightly.
"Immortal Maiden... I need to begin my secluded cultivation. I sustained some internal injuries during my battle with Jiang Lanruo."
"Absolutely not!" Ye Bing refused firmly.
She flipped her hand, producing a jade bottle. She poured out a medicinal pill, pinched it between two jade-white fingers, and slipped it into Song Wen's mouth.
Next, she raised her right hand, and a ball of clear water slowly coalesced in her palm.
"Let me help you heal."
Ye Bing's eyes narrowed into silken slits as she opened her mouth and took the water into her mouth. Then, she leaned down and gently transferred the water into Song Wen's mouth.
Tasting the sweet, clear water, Song Wen abandoned his resistance and allowed her to tend to him.
One month later.
Song Wen, looking gaunt and weary, stepped down from the stone bed, his gait unsteady and his legs trembling.
Ye Bing, who was brewing Spirit Tea at a stone table several meters away, noticed his condition and rushed over, her face lighting up with joy.
She held a steaming teapot in one hand and presented two medicinal pills in the other.
"Gou Jun, come, take these two pills."
Song Wen glanced at the pills in her palm and shook his head repeatedly.
He was all too familiar with these pills; he had consumed no fewer than ten of them in the past month alone.
Ye Bing rolled her beautiful eyes, giving him a dramatic glare.
"Don't worry, I have no ulterior motives. I simply want to help you recover your vitality quickly."
"No need. I can recover slowly through quiet rest."
(End of the Chapter)