Facing Cao Longyan's question, Meng Hongchen took a deep breath, though the blush on her cheeks had yet to fade.
"Um... hello, my name is Meng Hongchen. I'm from the Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Engineer Academy, and I came with my team to the Extreme North to obtain my fifth Soul Ring."
She paused, then added,
"There are several Soul Douluo guarding our team. We thought this trip would go smoothly, but something unexpected happened on our way back..."
Meng Hongchen... No wonder. He'd been wondering why she seemed familiar. She was Xiao Hongchen's younger sister, Meng Hongchen.
Cao Longyan furrowed his brow slightly, the corners of his mouth lifting a little.
Noticing Cao Longyan's expression shift, Meng Hongchen continued, slowly explaining how she had ended up in such dire straits. Her voice carried a hint of grievance and lingering fear.
"When we were in the central area of the Extreme North, we'd finished helping everyone in our team who needed a Soul Ring obtain one, and were getting ready to leave when we unexpectedly ran into a Titled Douluo. But for some reason, a Titan Snow Demon King that was over two hundred thousand years old was hot on his heels."
"That Titled Douluo was no match for it. As soon as he saw us, he used us as bait and took the chance to shake the Titan Snow Demon King."
"We were forced to hold off the Titan Snow Demon King, with no chance to chase after that Titled Douluo. Its attacks were so violent that the shockwaves triggered a massive avalanche. Everything descended into chaos, and our team was scattered in an instant. I got separated from everyone else, too."
As she spoke, Meng Hongchen unconsciously touched her injured right leg, a trace of fear flickering in her eyes.
"While I was searching for my companions, I ran into three ten-thousand-year Ice Plains Tigers. I had to use almost all the Soul Tools I was carrying to escape, and I completely ran out of Soul Power and stamina. My right leg was cut by an ice shard they launched in their final desperate attack. I'd barely finished off those Soul Beasts and caught my breath when that pack of wolves from earlier spotted me and surrounded me... It's a good thing I ran into you."
When she finished, Meng Hongchen couldn't help glancing at Cao Longyan. He still had blue hair and blue eyes, his ice-blue gaze clear and resolute. A faint mist of frost swirled around him, lending him a cool yet gentle air. Her heart raced again, and her cheeks instantly flushed even redder. She hurriedly lowered her head and pulled her gaze away from him.
But Cao Longyan hadn't noticed Meng Hongchen's reaction. His thoughts had already been drawn in by "Titan Snow Demon King" and "Titled Douluo," and he began discussing it with Ice Empress and Sky Dream Ice Silkworm in his Spiritual Sea of Consciousness.
"Ice Empress, Tian Meng, you should know the Titan Snow Demon King well. Why would it be chasing that Titled Douluo so relentlessly?"
Ice Empress furrowed her brow, her voice full of confusion.
"The Titan Snow Demon King isn't even as hot-tempered as I am. This doesn't make sense. For it to chase a Titled Douluo like that, the Titled Douluo must have done something outrageous."
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm leaned in, too.
"Could that Titled Douluo have offended Xiao Bai? Maybe he recklessly hunted members of its clan?"
Listening to them, Cao Longyan suddenly came up with a bold idea.
Going by the timeline and plot of Peerless Tang Sect that he knew, could it be that the Titled Douluo had stolen the Snow Empress Embryo and the Titan Snow Demon King had caught him in the act?
A sharp pang from the wound in Meng Hongchen's right leg made her let out a soft gasp, instantly pulling Cao Longyan's thoughts back from his Spiritual Sea of Consciousness.
Embarrassed by the sound she'd made, Meng Hongchen flushed scarlet, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to hide in. She bit her lip and spoke softly, breaking the awkward silence.
"Um... I still don't know your name."
Cao Longyan came back to himself and looked at her bashful expression. He answered calmly,
"My name is Cao Longyan."
He said nothing more.
Meng Hongchen silently committed the name "Cao Longyan" to memory, repeating it to herself several times. Her smile grew a little brighter.
She didn't ask Cao Longyan for any other information. He had hidden his presence near the edge of the central area of the Extreme North, and he was powerful and exceptionally talented, yet alone. The odds were that he didn't belong to any faction. Someone like him would be a tremendous asset to the Sun Moon Empire and Mingde Hall if they could recruit him.
Besides, her grandfather and brother would surely be delighted.
Having made up her mind, Meng Hongchen lifted her head. Her cheeks were still flushed as she pointed to her injured right leg, her voice tinged with shyness and pleading.
"Cao Longyan, I can't walk with my leg like this. Could you... could you please carry me?"
Seeing the plea in her eyes, Cao Longyan nodded without hesitation.
"Sure."
Then he took a bottle of pale green ointment from his backpack and unscrewed the cap. A cool, medicinal fragrance instantly spread through the air.
This was the healing ointment Zhang Lexuan had prepared for him earlier. It worked exceptionally well, quickly healing external wounds without leaving scars.
Before Meng Hongchen could react, Cao Longyan crouched down, dipped a little ointment onto his fingertip, and carefully spread it over the exposed, bloodied wound.
"Ah—"
Meng Hongchen stiffened all over. The unexpected touch startled her. A girl's calf was sensitive to begin with, and the sting of the wound made her cry out softly. Her cheeks turned so red they seemed ready to drip blood, even the tips of her ears flushing crimson.
She reflexively tried to pull her leg back, but Cao Longyan gently held it in place.
Cao Longyan wasn't distracted by her reaction. His expression remained focused as he applied the ointment with gentle movements, trying to ease her pain as much as possible.
When his fingertips brushed her delicate skin, he unconsciously slowed down. Zhang Lexuan's image came to mind.
When she'd applied medicine to him, she'd been just as gentle and thorough, reminding him to take care of his wound. He wondered if Sister Lexuan was doing well now...
A moment later, Cao Longyan finished applying the ointment, put the bottle away, and looked up at Meng Hongchen, who was still blushing. His voice was calm, but it warmed her heart.
"This ointment works very well. Keep applying it for three days, and the wound will heal. Don't worry, it won't leave a scar."
Then he crouched down again, turning his back to Meng Hongchen. He glanced over his shoulder and continued,
"Climb on. You can't walk in your condition, so I'll carry you out."
Looking at Cao Longyan's broad, straight back, with his blue hair falling over his shoulders, Meng Hongchen felt a warm current rise in her heart. The blush on her cheeks deepened, and her heartbeat pounded so loudly she could hear it.
She bit her lip and hesitated for a moment before carefully reaching out and climbing onto Cao Longyan's back. She gently wrapped her arms around his neck, rested her cheek against his back, and whispered in his ear,
"Th-thank you... Cao Longyan..."
After she finished speaking, she secretly kept a thought to herself.
He's so kind...
Cao Longyan felt the softness and warmth against his back. His body stiffened slightly, then relaxed. He gently lifted Meng Hongchen's legs and spoke softly.
"Meng Hongchen, hold on tight."
"Mm."
Then he stood up steadily with Meng Hongchen on his back and set off toward the outskirts of the Extreme North. He walked carefully, avoiding the ice shards and snowdrifts along the way so he wouldn't jostle her and reopen her wound.
In the Spiritual Sea of Consciousness, Ice Empress watched the scene, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks.
"I never thought our lord would be such a flirt..."
Beside her, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm watched Cao Longyan and Meng Hongchen and grinned foolishly, his eyes full of envy and eagerness.
"Wow, our lord is amazing! I want to learn from him—to be gentle and powerful, and radiate charm every moment. Maybe Bingbing will see me differently!"
As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Ice Empress, a hopeful smile spreading across his face.
But all he got in return was Ice Empress's icy glare, followed by another vicious tail slap that sent him flying.
Cao Longyan carried Meng Hongchen step by step toward the outskirts of the Extreme North. In his ears was her soft breathing; against his back was her warmth. In his Spiritual Sea of Consciousness, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm complained miserably while Ice Empress grumbled helplessly.
It had been so long since things had felt this peaceful and warm...
But this was only the first step...
As Meng Hongchen rode on Cao Longyan's back and looked at his profile beneath his blue hair, the corners of her mouth lifted despite herself.
His back was so warm, so reassuring...
He was so handsome...
Before you continue