Chapter 84: The Only Possibility...
"Really? Senior Sister, are you telling the truth?" Xia Yuanba, whose heart had been filled with anxiety, brightened up instantly upon hearing Lan Xueruo's words, shouting with immense excitement. It was as if he had suddenly grabbed a lifeline amidst absolute despair.
"When has Senior Sister ever lied to you?" Lan Xueruo said with a gentle smile. "Luckily, Headmaster Qin didn't hand you over immediately and instead fought for ten days' time for you. Otherwise, even if I had a way, it would have been completely impossible to make it in time."
"That's great!" Xia Yuanba's face flushed red. In his excitement, he aggravated his internal injuries, causing him to wince in pain.
Yun Che looked at Lan Xueruo with a face full of surprise for a long moment, then smirked ambiguously. "Senior Sister Xueruo, you're being so kind to me... Could it be that you've taken a liking to me? Although I know my appearance is considered perfect among men, and I really do like Senior Sister Xueruo, I am after all a married man. Senior Sister Xueruo, are you really not concerned about that at all?"
"Concerned about your head!" Lan Xueruo pouted, half amused and half exasperated. "I, Lan Xueruo, would never be interested in a little brother who's younger than me and already married! I'm helping you only because I'm your senior sister, and it happens to be convenient for me."
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm!" Xia Yuanba nodded vigorously and said earnestly, "Senior Sister Xueruo has always been like this. She's especially gentle and caring to everyone. When I first arrived at New Moon Mystic Palace, I didn't know a single person. On top of that, my profound strength was low and I was placed in the first class, which led to a lot of criticism and ridicule. It was Senior Sister Xueruo who gave me a lot of care. Senior Sister Xueruo is the gentlest and kindest person I've ever met."
Every time Xia Yuanba mentioned Lan Xueruo, his eyes would sparkle, and his face would be filled with fondness and admiration. He almost regarded her as a perfect goddess. And indeed, Lan Xueruo possessed that kind of gentle, soft temperament, disposition, and charm.
"Of course." Yun Che nodded in agreement. "Senior Sister Xueruo is so beautiful. She must have been born from an angel from the heavens, that's why she's so gentle and kind... But Senior Sister, are you really not considering someone younger and already married? Actually, young married men have many advantages that bachelors never have. For example..."
"Within ten days, do you want to return to the Cangfeng Imperial City with me or not?" Lan Xueruo couldn't bear to listen any longer and put on a stern face.
"Yes, yes, yes, yes! Of course!" Before Yun Che could answer, Xia Yuanba was already nodding frantically, afraid that Lan Xueruo might change her mind. Originally, Xia Yuanba was deeply worried that Yun Che had no way to escape this great calamity. Lan Xueruo's proposal was like an unexpected blessing, and he would cling to it no matter what.
Yun Che, however, thought for a moment and said somewhat cautiously, "Senior Sister, I am very grateful for your kindness. But this matter... the people I've offended might be from the main sect of the Xiao Sect. If Senior Sister takes me away and they insist on pursuing it... I don't want to implicate Senior Sister and your family."
Lan Xueruo smiled faintly and said, "At least you have a conscience, knowing to think about your senior sister. But since I dare to help you escape New Moon City, I naturally have enough confidence not to bring trouble upon myself. You can rest assured on that point. I wouldn't be foolish enough to gamble with my own life and the lives of my family."
"Even though the Xiao Sect people have left, there must still be some watching outside the door. If you go out now, you might fall into their hands immediately. So for these few days, just stay put in the Mystic Palace and don't go anywhere. After my family arrives, I will immediately take you away. Once we're in the Cangfeng Imperial City, you should be completely safe."
Lan Xueruo spoke with certainty and ease, clearly trying her best to put Yun Che at ease. Yun Che no longer hesitated and said gratefully, "Then... Senior Sister, I'll be relying on you for now. After I escape this calamity, I will definitely repay Senior Sister's life-saving kindness."
Lan Xueruo's lips curved slightly, and her brows arched into two delicate crescent moons. "If you want to repay your senior sister, then stay safe here and protect your own life. Only with your life can you have the day of repayment, right?"
"Mm! I'll listen to Senior Sister." Yun Che nodded vigorously, then changed the subject abruptly and asked, "Senior Sister, by the way... do you have any profound beast profound pills on you? Low-grade ones would be fine. If not, where in the palace can I find them?"
"Profound pills? What do you need profound pills for?" Lan Xueruo asked suspiciously.
"Secret for now. Could it be that Senior Sister actually has some?" Seeing Lan Xueruo's expression, Yun Che's eyes lit up.
Lan Xueruo felt around in the space ring on her slender finger for a while and took out a dull-colored round bead. "I only have one lowest-grade sub-profound pill on me, obtained from a red-scaled lizard some time ago. But Headmaster Qin should have a few true-profound beast profound pills. If you need them, I can go..."
"A sub-profound pill is enough." Yun Che reached out and took the sub-profound pill from Lan Xueruo's hand, his heart settling a bit.
Mortal beasts don't have profound pills. Starting from sub-profound beasts, adult profound beasts all have profound pills inside their bodies, much like the profound vein core inside a human body. Among profound pills, sub-profound pills are the easiest to obtain, and their prices are correspondingly the lowest, generally ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred yellow profound coins. But for each grade increase, the price multiplies geometrically. In the Cang Feng Empire, even a single earth profound pill would sell for an astronomical price, and a heaven profound pill would be priceless. As for king profound pills, they were basically things of legend.
On the way to New Moon City, Yun Che had harvested a few of the lowest-grade sub-profound pills, but he had used them all to refine more efficient recovery profound pills. Since he had been carrying raw iron on his back the entire way, he had basically been eating recovery profound pills as if they were food.
"Junior Brother Yun, you've had a long day. Get some rest early. Don't think too much about other things. With Headmaster Qin here, the Xiao Sect won't act recklessly for these ten days. As long as we get through these ten days, I have absolute confidence in keeping you safe."
"I understand, Senior Sister... You should rest early too."
Lan Xueruo walked away slowly, leaving a faint orchid fragrance in the air, while Yun Che sat there lost in thought.
"That's great, Brother-in-law! Since Senior Sister said it so confidently, she'll definitely be able to save you." Xia Yuanba said excitedly. "Uh... Brother-in-law? Why don't you look very happy? Don't you trust Senior Sister Xueruo?"
"Yuanba, are you and Senior Sister Xueruo related?" Yun Che asked abruptly.
"No. Why do you ask, Brother-in-law?" Xia Yuanba scratched his head.
"Then, have you or your family ever saved Senior Sister Xueruo or her family or something?"
"No, not that either! I've never even met her family. Besides, my profound strength is so low, there's no way I could have saved Senior Sister Xueruo. Let alone my family."
"That's strange." Yun Che tapped his chin with his right hand, looking thoughtful. "We're not relatives or friends, and we have no connection at all. We've only exchanged a few words. Why would she want to help me?"
"Oh! You're talking about that. Brother-in-law, you're really overthinking it. I already told you, Senior Sister Xueruo is just that kind-hearted. When I first arrived at New Moon Mystic Palace, I had no connection with her either, yet she gave me a lot of help and care. Many senior brothers and sisters in the palace really like her."
"No, this is different." Yun Che shook his head, his expression serious. "Her help to you could stem from her nature, and I wouldn't find that strange. But her decision to take me away from New Moon City is completely different! She knows very well that the trouble I've caused this time involves the main sect of the Xiao Sect... Although I'm not fond of the Xiao Sect people, I have to admit that the main sect of the Xiao Sect has overwhelming power in the Cang Feng Empire, covering the sky with one hand. How many people in the entire empire don't tremble at the mention of the Xiao Sect? How many people dare to provoke the Xiao Sect? How many people would risk being implicated to help someone who has offended the Xiao Sect escape their sanctions?"
Xia Yuanba opened his mouth but couldn't find words.
"If it were a life-and-death bond, doing this would be understandable. But I've only known her for a day. We've just exchanged a few words, with no favors or grudges between us. Yet she's willing to take such a big risk to take me away from New Moon City. It's way too strange."
"Also... Yuanba, you're in the same class. In the past few days, have you heard her mention anything about returning to Cangfeng Imperial City soon, or any signs of that?" Yun Che asked.
Xia Yuanba was stunned, then thought seriously and shook his head. "It seems... not. But if she's going home, there's no reason for her to tell us in advance."
"She never mentioned returning to the imperial city before, and now suddenly she says she wants to go back, in ten days. And the time Headmaster Qin fought for us is also exactly ten days... That's a bit too coincidental." Yun Che mused.
After hearing Yun Che's reasoning, Xia Yuanba also began to feel that something was off. He certainly knew the reputation of the Xiao Sect. Risking the enormous danger of offending the Xiao Sect to save someone she had only known for a day, someone who was essentially unrelated to her—thinking about it, it was indeed too abnormal. Because even the slightest misstep could bring complete annihilation upon her and her family.
Just as Xia Yuanba was feeling bewildered, Yun Che suddenly widened his eyes, and a flash of brilliance passed through them.
"The only possibility... The only possibility is..."
"What possibility?" Xia Yuanba hurriedly asked.
Taking a deep breath, Yun Che said slowly and gravely: "The only possibility is... She has taken a liking to me and wants me."
"...~！#￥%..." Xia Yuanba was dumbfounded. "Brother-in-law, are you... sure?"
"Absolutely certain!" Yun Che nodded without any hesitation. "There is no other possibility! She said she doesn't like younger men, which means she actually likes younger guys. She said she doesn't like married men, which means..." Even Yun Che himself felt this explanation was a bit far-fetched, but he had to grit his teeth and continue: "...Although this preference is a bit peculiar, maybe she really does have a thing for married men."
"~！#￥%..." Xia Yuanba was exasperated. "That can't be it! Brother-in-law, why didn't you just ask her directly when Senior Sister Xueruo was here?"
"I can't ask." Yun Che wagged his finger in front of Xia Yuanba and said seriously, "Men don't like women who are too smart, and women also don't like men who are too smart. If I asked, it would spoil the mood." At this point, Yun Che's gaze became unusually deep. "My guess just now is the only possibility I can think of. I don't know if it's right or wrong. But what I can be sure of is that she wants to capture me and make me her 'prey' somehow... And I..." Yun Che curled his lips. "I'm the same! Now we'll see who makes the first move! If she wins, I'll go along with her wishes. If she loses, hehehehe..."
Xia Yuanba: "..."