Chapter 81: What Are You Pretending For?

Chapter 81: What Are You Playing At

Yan Huaixuan stared straight at Shen Lian and repeated himself, "I want you to continue loving me."

What he really wanted to say was: give me another chance, please.

Hearing this, Shen Lian's face was expressionless. "Fine."

Yan Huaixuan froze, staring at Shen Lian.

But Shen Lian looped his arms around Yan Huaixuan's neck and leaned in to kiss his lips.

It was the most intimate, loving gesture, yet Shen Lian's eyes were completely empty.

Yan Huaixuan knew—this man no longer held any love for him, not even hatred.

Shen Lian looked at him like he was nothing more than a worthless object.

Some things could never be taken back.

Just as Shen Lian was about to press his lips against Yan Huaixuan's thin, cold lips, Yan Huaixuan tilted his head slightly.

Shen Lian was startled.

Yan Huaixuan held his waist firmly. "I told you, I won't force you anymore."

With that, he didn't undo Shen Lian's restraints, but instead cast a barrier, shutting out the endless frost and snow.

Shen Lian stood inside the barrier, desperately trying to break out, but it sealed him in completely.

"He Ci!"

He watched Yan Huaixuan rush forward and grab He Ci just as he was about to be ripped apart.

He Ci spat out a mouthful of blood, certain he was done for. He heard Shen Lian's voice and instinctively turned toward him.

But what came at him instead was a figure of frost and snow.

The man had cold, elegant brows, long silver hair, and eyes that held an endless chill.

With a raise of his hand, a plain wooden sword—nothing more—hacked off half the Bone Dragon's head, the very creature He Ci had fought with everything he had and couldn't even scratch.

He Ci froze. Then the man grabbed his shoulder and tossed him back.

He Ci was tossed into the protective barrier, and Shen Lian caught him immediately. "He Ci."

He Ci looked up at Shen Lian. "I never thought I'd see you again."

He grabbed Shen Lian's hand, looked up at him, his bright eyes shimmering with hope. "Can I ask what your real name is?"

Shen Lian's fingers trembled. He managed a faint smile and said softly, "Shen Lian. I'm called Shen Lian."

He Ci's face lit up with a radiant smile.

"Good. Then I can die without regrets."

Hearing this, Shen Lian paused mid-search through his storage space. He took a deep breath and let out a wry laugh. "I've been digging for a pill this whole time, and you thought you were a goner?"

He Ci blinked, staring at his mangled body. "I can still survive this?"

Shen Lian nodded slightly. "Of course."

A dazzling, radiant pill appeared in his hand. As it appeared, the sky itself was streaked with rainbow-colored light.

This was the phenomenon that only occurred when a supreme-grade pill manifested!

He Ci's breath hitched. "This... isn't it too much of a waste to use on me?"

Shen Lian simply fed the pill into his mouth.

He Ci tried to refuse, but was forced to swallow it anyway.

In that instant, he felt his severed limbs slowly begin to regenerate, the warmth that had drained away slowly returning, and his withered, shattered Spiritual Sea beginning to rebuild.

He Ci murmured, "A supreme-grade pill, huh..."

Shen Lian looked at his dazed face. "He Ci."

This time, he didn't use his disguised face, but his real one. Since he'd already told He Ci his real name, there was no point in hiding his face anymore.

Hearing his name, He Ci looked up. When he saw his face, he froze completely. "So this is what you really look like?"

Shen Lian nodded.

He Ci's smile grew even brighter. "Very beautiful."

But then, as if remembering something, he quickly added, "You were beautiful before too. You look good no matter what."

Shen Lian couldn't help the slight curve of his lips. "Idiot."

Yan Huaixuan, in the middle of battle, turned back and saw Shen Lian holding He Ci, a gentle smile at the corners of his eyes and brows.

Yan Huaixuan's sword hand froze mid-air.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Shen Lian smile like that.

After ascending, Shen Lian had only ever shown him disgust or coldness.

So Shen Lian could still smile.

It was just that the smile was meant for someone else.

In Yan Huaixuan's hollow chest, a ripping pain surged up once more.

Just as his focus wavered, the Bone Dragon he'd cornered seized the moment. A twisted glint flashed in its eyes, and with its last bit of strength, it sank its jaws into Yan Huaixuan's shoulder.

The Bone Dragon, hell-bent on dying, viciously tore a massive chunk of flesh from Yan Huaixuan's back. His entire back was a bloody mess, with his internal organs even exposed.

But Yan Huaixuan's expression didn't change. He drove the wooden sword straight into the Bone Dragon's skull.

He Ci's leg grew back within moments, but the damage to his Spiritual Sea was severe, and demonic creatures still lurked nearby.

Shen Lian frowned and immediately helped He Ci to his feet. "Let's get out of here first."

He Ci nodded.

Yan Huaixuan chopped off the Bone Dragon's head. When he turned back, all he saw was Shen Lian supporting He Ci, walking away without looking back.

He froze on the spot, standing there like a statue.

Snow fell thick and fast, soon burying him entirely.

Yan Huaixuan knew this was the time to circulate his spiritual energy to heal his body, but the moment he moved, a crimson sigil flared across his brow, and in an instant, all his spiritual power began to unravel, surging out of control within him.

Yan Huaixuan let out a muffled groan, a surge of blood rising in his throat, but he choked it back down.

Shen Lian supported He Ci as they walked a few steps, then something occurred to him. He furrowed his brow and turned back to see Yan Huaixuan still rooted to the spot.

He Ci noticed it too. "Is he Shen Nian?"

Shen Lian's voice was icy. "No, he's Yan Huaixuan."

"Yan Huaixuan? Isn't he the top prodigy of the Tianheng Sect?" He Ci's eyes widened. "Why isn't he catching up?"

Shen Lian scoffed inwardly. Why isn't he catching up? Obviously, he wants me to go back and beg him.

He said in a low voice, "Wait here for me."

He Ci nodded.

Just as the frost was about to crust over Yan Huaixuan's eyelashes, a pair of boots suddenly came into view.

He paused abruptly, his gaze traveling up from the boots to Shen Lian's face.

Suddenly, Yan Huaixuan's heart started pounding hard.

Shen Lian... had he really come back just for him?

But Shen Lian's voice dripped with impatience.

"What, you want me to beg you?"

His tone was frigid. "I gave you my word, so I'll follow through. You saved him, and I'll go back with you, but my condition is that we leave the snowfield first."

Yan Huaixuan felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over his heart.

His voice was hoarse. "I didn't ask you to beg."

Shen Lian curled his lips. "If not begging, then what? Are you going to tell me you can't walk?"

"Aren't you the top prodigy of the Tianheng Sect?"

He had personally witnessed Yan Huaixuan catching the Heavenly Thunder with his bare hands.

Yan Huaixuan's eyes shifted, looking at him, as if wanting to say something, but after a long pause, he closed his mouth again. "Then believe whatever you want."