Ten days later, at night in the Evil Demon Forest, the glow of a campfire at the entrance to a secluded cave outlined two indistinct figures lying a short distance apart.
Dai Youheng and Nana rested on separate makeshift beds, with about a meter between them. Ling Ya sat meditating at the cave entrance, like the most faithful stone statue, guarding this fleeting peace while also shutting out the faintly delicate atmosphere within.
Nana lay on her side. In the almost complete darkness, her Self Light fell unobstructed upon Dai Youheng's profile beside her.
The extraordinary perception granted by her ghost soul core allowed her to see the contours of his face clearly, tranquil and inscrutable. An almost imperceptible warmth crept onto her wheat-colored cheeks, and her heartbeat inexplicably quickened. This was the first time she had lain so close to a man who was not family.
The last time had been when she was little, with her father and mother.
Yet she felt little embarrassment or resistance. Instead, far more complicated, surging emotions stirred within her. The man before her was doing everything he could to help her reach the Titled Douluo realm. Afterward, he would venture into the dragon's pool and tiger's den that was the Holy Spirit Cult, all to rescue her parents from their sea of suffering.
This debt of gratitude weighed as heavily as a mountain. She had even thought that, if he needed it, she would agree without hesitation to give herself to him.
Yet she suppressed that thought almost as soon as it appeared. She knew she was not worthy of him.
Though he appeared to be merely a Soul King, his true combat strength was enough to tower above the vast majority of Soul Masters below the Soul Saint rank. He even