Chapter 8: Fever

Chapter 8: Fever

He seemed to be angry.

Yan Huaixuan didn't know why, but a flicker of something strange passed through his heart—though it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Still, his original intent was for Shen Lian to stop bothering him, so this was all for the better. And tonight, the moonlight was at its fullest, which was a huge help for his breakthrough. As for that faint trace of oddness, Yan Huaixuan didn't give it another thought.

Shen Lian waited a while, but heard no explanation—only the sound of Yan Huaixuan's retreating footsteps.

A few more shadow guards came to remove the screen and clean up the floor. Aside from the faint smell of blood lingering in the air, it was as if nothing had ever happened here.

The system looked at Shen Lian. "Weren't things going fine just now? Yan Huaixuan was even protecting you. Why did you suddenly fixate on the shadow guard thing?"

Shen Lian smiled. "Just wait and see."

The system said flatly, "As long as you're sure of yourself."

Shen Lian hummed in agreement, but his mind flashed back to Yan Huaixuan draping his outer robe over him.

Shen Lian's thoughts also drifted to the men from his own world.

Those men had all looked at him with lecherous, lingering stares, as if they wanted to rip him apart and devour him. If they had seen him act like that, they would've definitely called him shameless and cheap.

But Yan Huaixuan... Shen Lian clutched the outer robe tighter, which still carried a faint trace of Yan Huaixuan's scent—pleasant and reassuring.

Shen Lian couldn't help but remember the warmth of Yan Huaixuan's chest.

Actually, the moment Ye Zhang had attacked him, he had indeed felt some fear deep down. After all, Ye Zhang was a guard; Shen Lian might not have been able to get away.

But when he saw Yan Huaixuan arrive, that tall, cool, otherworldly figure instantly put his heart at ease.

And that line...

"You don't need to explain. You are This Prince's wife; This Prince will naturally protect you."

Shen Lian suddenly felt his heart race, but he forcefully pushed it down. He told himself:

It was all just an act. Yan Huaixuan had said it for another reason too.

After all, Yan Huaixuan was of royal blood. Even if he'd been stripped of his title, he was still tied to the royal family. If a royal's wife were messed with by a guard, it would only bring shame to the royal family.

So even if it were true, Yan Huaixuan wouldn't trust Ye Zhang.

With that explanation in mind, Shen Lian's gaze dropped.

For some reason, a faint unease settled in his chest.

The system keenly sensed something was off. "What's wrong with you?"

Shen Lian immediately snapped back to normal. "Nothing."

He suddenly stood up and walked over to the well.

The system was confused, but Shen Lian just smiled and said nothing.

Meanwhile, Yan Huaixuan went back to meditate but couldn't seem to reach a deep meditative state for a long time.

The moment he closed his eyes, a flash of that snow-white slender waist appeared before him. No mole, but two small, round dimples at the lower back.

Ling Yun noticed Yan Huaixuan still hadn't entered a meditative state. "What's wrong, Master?"

"Nothing."

Yan Huaixuan raised a finger to his forehead, about to pull out that memory, but then remembered he wasn't the Supreme of the Emotionless Dao and couldn't use that spell yet.

Yan Huaixuan frowned slightly and closed his eyes again.

But he was born with the Heartless Dao constitution—cold and emotionless—so he suppressed it in no time.

Then Ling Yun suddenly asked curiously, "Master, so does he have a mole on his body or not?"

The moment Ling Yun spoke, the image Yan Huaixuan had just pushed away flashed before his eyes again.

Yan Huaixuan: "..."

Ling Yun only heard a "no" before he realized he'd been blocked.

Ling Yun was completely confused.

The next day at dawn, Yan Huaixuan opened his eyes, a frosty glint flashing in them.

Ling Yun sensed the aura around him. "Congratulations, Master. You've broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

It was even faster than in his past life—back then it had taken three months, but now only three days.

Yan Huaixuan nodded with a hum, used the Purification Art to wash the filth off his body, and paused as he stood up, suddenly thinking of something.

He paused briefly and looked at the table.

There, it was clean and empty—nothing at all.

But in the past, after he finished meditating, there was always a cup of warm tea waiting on the table.

Ling Yun followed his gaze. "Master, what are you looking at?"

"Nothing," Yan Huaixuan said, gathering his sleeves as he spoke flatly. "Did Shen Lian not come while I was meditating?"

Ling Yun hummed in affirmation.

Not only had he not come in the morning—all day until nightfall—

Shen Lian hadn't shown up at all.

Ling Yun sneered. "Strange. It's not like he's never been brushed off before, but he'd always come back within half an hour, all smiles and carrying pastries. How come an entire day has passed and he still hasn't shown up? Is he really angry?"

Yan Huaixuan said, "It's none of my business. If he doesn't come, I get some peace and quiet."

Ling Yun nodded. "True."

Another day passed. It was already late at night, and there was still no sign of him. The already empty hall, now without its chattering voice, felt even more desolate.

For some reason, Ling Yun also felt like something was off.

But it quickly brushed the thought aside.

It must be because Shen Lian hadn't come, so it had nothing to watch—that was why it felt bored.

Ling Yun flew a circle outside and returned: "Shen Lian should have truly given up. That way, Master can cultivate as soon as possible and sever the Fate Red Thread."

Although Master said Shen Lian, after his rebirth, wanted to win Master's favor to ascend, so Master would just go along with the act.

But Ling Yun felt it wasn't worth it. Someone as fickle as Shen Lian wasn't even worthy of speaking to Master.

But Ling Yun received no reply after speaking. He looked at Yan Huaixuan and found that Yan Huaixuan had already ended his meditation, a slight furrow in his brow.

But it was fleeting, so quick that Ling Yun almost thought he'd imagined it.

Yan Huaixuan rose abruptly.

"Master, where are you going?"

Just as Yan Huaixuan was about to speak, he heard footsteps outside.

Ling Yun said with a smirk, "Oh, I told you he couldn't hold out. He's here after all."

Yan Huaixuan's gaze fell on the door, a flicker of emotion he didn't recognize in his eyes.

Yan Huaixuan lay back on the bed, closed his eyes halfway, and was about to lie down fully clothed.

But then he heard the footsteps pause for a moment, then turn and leave.

"This..."

Ling Yun's eyes widened.

A barely perceptible chill crept into Yan Huaixuan's expression.

He said coolly, "Don't pay attention to him from now on."

Ling Yun nodded, letting out an "oh."

But then a thud sounded from outside, as if something had hit the ground.

Just as Ling Yun was about to ask what was going on, the door opened, and Yan Huaixuan had already stepped out.

Ling Yun: "?"

As soon as Yan Huaixuan stepped out, he saw the young man huddled on the ground, clutching his clothes tightly, a cascade of black hair hanging down, shielding his trembling body.

The exposed half of his face was flushed an unnatural red, and the hair on either side of his face was plastered wetly to his skin.

Ling Yun rushed out after him, "Hiss, this person's temperature is so high, he's practically a furnace."

What's more, he was rambling incoherently.

Seeing Yan Huaixuan come out, Shen Lian pushed himself up from the ground and struggled to get up, "Your Highness, did I disturb you? I didn't mean to bother you."

He looked pitiful, not even daring to use the old "husband" address, only managing a weak "Your Highness."

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. I just missed you so much. I know you don't like me. I just wanted to catch a glimpse of you. Don't be angry. I'll leave now." Shen Lian pouted, tried to hold back, but in the end couldn't, and tears fell with a patter.

Just as Shen Lian got up, his body swayed weakly again, about to collapse. But the next moment, he landed in an embrace that carried the cool, crisp scent of cedar and snow.

Shen Lian's lips curled slightly as he secretly lifted his lashes. He'd taken the bait.

He kept up the act of being weak and pitiful, even deliberately pushing at Yan Huaixuan, "You don't need to hold me. I can walk on my own."

Yan Huaixuan furrowed his brow and directly scooped him up horizontally, "Stop showing off."

He carried Shen Lian back to the bedroom and paused just as he was about to set him down on the bed.

But Shen Lian let out another whimper at that moment, "My head hurts so much."

Yan Huaixuan laid him on the bed and placed his fingers on Shen Lian's wrist, "Why has your cold gotten worse? Didn't you see a doctor?"

Ling Yun saw Yan Huaixuan's actions and widened his eyes.