The wind sighed through the woods, and the pines stirred like waves-
Qiao Rui walked slowly along the woodland path with her head bowed, as though inching forward.
Her heart was tangled with indecision, and a trace of melancholy showed on her face.
Several times, she raised her head toward that tall, slender figure ahead. Her lips moved as though she wanted to say something, but in the end she pressed them into a straight line and fell silent again.
Just as she trudged along dejectedly, the footsteps ahead suddenly stopped, and then a voice sounded.
"..."
Qiao Rui froze, lifted her downcast eyes, and struggled for a long while before slowly shaking her head and saying softly:
"Senior Brother, I don't want to stay at Crane-Cry Mountain. If possible, I want to go into the grotto-heaven with you."
After she finished, however, no answer came.
Qiao Rui grew flustered. Her face warmed, and her ears flushed faintly as she hurried to explain:
"Senior Brother, it's not that I don't trust Master Shen. It's just because of Qiao Wendun. He..."
After explaining everything about Qiao Wendun in full.
Qiao Rui fell silent for a moment, clenched her fingers, and suddenly said:
"Qiao Wendun will definitely come. If I stay here, even with Master Shen's protection, I'm afraid I'll still struggle to escape disaster. Rather than that, I might as well enter the grotto-heaven and try my luck."
The mountain mist was damp and cold, the bamboo rustling as though a downpour were about to lash their faces. Heaven and earth lay shrouded in haze, unsettling the heart.
Chen Heng lowered his eyes to her, watching her fingers turn stark white from clenching, like some small beast driven to desperation.
He slowly shook his head, paused, and then said calmly:
"Since