Palace Lord Xue's voice was low and thoughtful, his gaze lingering on the distant horizon.
"If that's the case, then I have no objections," he said slowly, every word weighted with concern. "My only condition is that the young lady remains safe. I'm entrusting her to you—her well-being is now in your hands."
Long Jianyu nodded, a hint of relief and respect flickering in his eyes.
"Good, then. I'll make sure she's protected."
A note of worry crept into Palace Lord Xue's voice as he asked, "But, Lord Long, how am I to explain to the Duan twins that you're keeping their master away from them?"
Long Jianyu's brows knit in confusion.
"Master?" he echoed, unsure what Palace Lord Xue meant.
Palace Lord Xue hesitated, then conceded with a rueful smile.
"You're right."
Long Jianyu fell silent, his expression unreadable as he considered the implications.
Breaking the silence, Palace Lord Xue spoke in a hushed tone, "Did you know? Her aura carries traces of the southern domain—there's something about her essence that links her to that distant land."
Once more, Long Jianyu said nothing, but his eyes flickered with the weight of unspoken questions.
"She appears to be a mere mortal, yet I find myself unable to explain her presence. At times, I wonder if she's mortal or something more. Her very identity is an enigma—one that could entice anyone, mortal or immortal alike."
"Hmph..." A wry smile tugged at the corner of Long Jianyu's lips as he broke his silence.
"Human, immortal, or god—it doesn't matter to me. Whoever she is, I have no qualms. But Lord Xue, are you truly willing to entrust her to me?"
He turned to face Palace Lord Xue fully, his eyes steady and resolute.
"You should trust me, just as you always have. But remember, the Northern Domain isn't safe anymore. It won't be for long. Zhou Xuanyuan's sect is poised to breach your barrier. We cannot say exactly when it will happen, but it's inevitable."
A shadow crossed Long Jianyu's expression as his voice grew grave.
"Both sides are locked in a bitter feud, and did you forget? They're relentless in their search for the perpetrator of the massacre. The day may come when chaos descends, and if it does—would you have the courage to protect the young woman then?"
Palace Lord Xue fell silent, his eyes clouded with thoughts he dared not voice.
Long Jianyu broke the silence, his tone strangely steady.
"Look at me," he said. "On the surface, I appear perfectly healthy—no sign of illness in my body. But that's far from the reality you imagine."
Palace Lord Xue's brows drew together, concern flickering across his face.
"What do you mean by that?"
A faint, weary smile crossed Long Jianyu's lips.
"I mean, if chaos truly descends upon your domain, I may not be able to help. That's why I hope you'll grant my request. You've already said you agreed, but I have to ask—are you truly resolute in your decision?"
"Yes."
Long Jianyu's lips curved slightly as he nodded, noting the immediate and unwavering confidence in Palace Lord Xue's response.
"How I wish you don't break your word," Long Jianyu murmured, a bittersweet note in his voice.
Palace Lord Xue gave a soft, almost rueful laugh.
"Lord Long, you mustn't try to frighten me with your predictions. As the ruler of this domain, tell me—what do you know about their plans? The border is protected by a powerful barrier. How could they possibly break through?"
"You're so confident—so trusting in your refuges," Long Jianyu said, a trace of irony in his tone. "Rumors won't simply fade away, Lord Xue. Your barrier is indeed quite potent; the yang barrier can't be breached by those with ulterior motives. If anyone tries to force their way through, there are only two outcomes: they endure, or they perish. No one is exempt."
His gaze sharpened, voice dropping lower.
"But do you have any idea why Zhou Xuanyuan is urging his warriors to gather a hundred pure women?"
Palace Lord Xue's eyes widened in realization.
"It's for yin energy."
"Exactly." Long Jianyu's expression grew grim. "Once they succeed in gathering a hundred pure women, the blood sacrifice will begin. All the effort and sacrifice poured into creating the barrier over the past three hundred years—gone in an instant, wasted."
"This can't be," Palace Lord Xue whispered, disbelief and dread mingling in his voice.
Long Jianyu's gaze was unwavering.
"Phenomena like this are unpredictable. When it arrives, it will follow its own course. But since you've agreed to leave Yu Xiao in my care, perhaps—when that day comes—I'll be able to help."
As he spoke, Long Jianyu took a few deliberate steps closer, his voice lowering to ensure the conversation remained between them.
"Lord Xue, I trust that no one else will ever know about this meeting. What we discuss here is for us alone."
Palace Lord Xue's eyes were earnest.
"All I hope is that you'll help us escape these looming troubles."
Long Jianyu's smirk returned, a spark of determination in his eyes.
"I told you—leave Yu Xiao to me, and I'll find a way through."
"That makes sense," Palace Lord Xue replied, his tension easing just a little.
Long Jianyu's lips curled into a teasing smile.
"I'm truly grateful you came alone, without any of your female elites. Otherwise, I doubt I'd have the courage to face you today."
Palace Lord Xue fell silent, his expression unreadable as he regarded Long Jianyu.
Long Jianyu let out a light chuckle.
"Oh, I nearly forgot—only the young lady is allowed to get close to me. Thank you for considering that, Lord Xue."
Palace Lord Xue offered a gentle nod, a hint of warmth in his eyes.
"It's nothing. In truth, I'm just as grateful to see you again after all this time."
"I'll take you back to the cave," Long Jianyu offered.
With that, the two figures quietly departed, their forms dissolving into the shadows as they left the place behind.
When they arrived at the cave, Long Jianyu instructed Yun Qingjue to lead the others back to the sect, ensuring their safe journey home.
Once the group had departed, Long Jianyu was left alone.
He turned and made his way to his private underground sanctuary.
Upon entering the secluded space, he wandered through its winding corridors, searching for Yu Xiao.
Eventually, he found her outside, sitting quietly atop a large stone, her gaze fixed on the breathtaking vista of towering mountains stretching into the distance.
Long Jianyu's shadow stretched across the ground, falling softly at Yu Xiao's side.
Noticing the shift in light, Yu Xiao turned, slowly lifting her face to meet the gaze of the man standing beside her.
"You came back," she said quietly.
"I came back," Long Jianyu replied, his tone gentle. "You're alone here."
Yu Xiao smiled faintly.
"I just wanted to enjoy the scenery. It's so peaceful."
Long Jianyu gazed at her in silence, his eyes reflecting a mix of thoughts he didn't voice.
"Come, sit beside me," Yu Xiao said, gently patting the empty space on the stone next to her.
Long Jianyu hesitated for a brief moment, then moved to sit beside her, the quiet understanding between them filling the space as they both gazed out at the serene mountain landscape.
He smirked, then clearing his throat.
Yu Xiao glanced at him, her lips curling in a playful smile.
"Stone-Honey, what do you usually do when you're all by yourself?"
"You're asking me?" Long Jianyu arched an eyebrow in playful disbelief.
"Yes, yes," Yu Xiao replied with a mischievous grin.
He gave her a mock-serious look.
"Why are you doing this? Aren't you afraid I might scold you?"
Yu Xiao clicked her tongue, then bumped her shoulder gently against his arm.
"You wouldn't dare," she whispered, her tone teasing.
"What if I wanted to kill you?" Long Jianyu asked, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"I don't believe you," Yu Xiao replied, meeting his gaze without a hint of fear.
He leaned in slightly.
"Really?"
She shook her head, her voice firm but light.
"You shouldn't say such things! Stop being so harsh with me. If you truly wanted to kill me, you wouldn't have kept me here. You would have done it the very first time you found me."
Long Jianyu fell silent, his expression unreadable as he considered her words.
"Just talk to me," Yu Xiao teased, nudging him with a playful smile. "How can such a handsome man suddenly turn mute when he's with a beauty? Hey, are you shy?"
Long Jianyu sputtered, caught off guard.
"Wh—what do you mean, shy? How bold can you be?"
"In your eyes, I might seem bold, but maybe being bold isn't such a bad thing," Yu Xiao replied with a sly smile.
Long Jianyu looked away for a moment, his expression growing thoughtful.
"It just feels strange—that's all. It's been a long time since I last really interacted with anyone."
Yu Xiao tilted her head, curiosity glinting in her eyes.
"So, before you came here, you used to socialize with people?"
He gave a small nod.
"That was before."
"Then what's so different now?" Yu Xiao asked softly. "With me here, you can interact with me too. What do you think?"
Long Jianyu regarded her with a rare sincerity, his gaze unwavering.
"Why is it that you're so perceptive? How can you see through me so easily?"
Yu Xiao's expression softened, a gentle understanding in her eyes.
"I understand you because, in many ways, we're alike. Before I came here, I was the same as you—distant, a little cold. But the truth is, I always cared deeply for the people who cared about me."
"Cared deeply for the people who cared about you?" Long Jianyu echoed, a skeptical look flickering across his face.
"That doesn't sound absolute."
Yu Xiao rolled her eyes, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
"Silly! Don't be like that."
He arched an eyebrow, feigning indifference.
"Then, what do you want me to do?"
"Let's be friends," she said, her voice light but sincere.
Long Jianyu snorted softly, half-amused, half-disbelieving.
"Friends? Hmph!"
"If you don't want me as your friend, then let's just say we could be companions here," Yu Xiao suggested, her tone teasing.
Long Jianyu shook his head stubbornly.
"No, I won't."
Yu Xiao huffed, crossing her arms with mock annoyance.
"Stop being so hard to get! You're terrible at pretending."
Long Jianyu looked at her in silence, his eyes softening as he watched her.
Yu Xiao, pouting in mock frustration, turned away and steadied herself, letting her gaze drift back to the breathtaking scenery that stretched out before them.
"Are you… mad at me?" Long Jianyu asked hesitantly, leaning in to catch a glimpse of her face.
Yu Xiao let out a soft sigh, still gazing at the mountains.
"What's the point of being mad?"
He gave a small, hopeful smile.
"Don't be mad at me, alright?"
Yu Xiao didn't reply, but she glanced at him for just a moment before looking away again.
With a gentle sigh, Long Jianyu materialized a small pouch of dried apricots in his hand.
He held it out to her, his voice quiet and tentative.
"I want to… give this to you."