Turning over a new leaf and starting afresh (revised)

Gu Yi did not want to bother with Lin Yuan. He wanted to find Xie Wenyun and Jiang Lingzhou as quickly as possible.

But the farther they went, the thicker the mist at the bottom of the cliff became. It drifted like gauze, obscuring the path ahead. Gu Yi moved forward cautiously, grumbling inwardly, The visibility here is way too low!

Suddenly, a rustling came from beneath their feet, the unexpected disturbance breaking the surrounding silence.

Gu Yi stopped. "Did you hear something?"

"Yes." Lin Yuan had barely spoken when countless vines, like demons awakening from hell, shot out of the darkness without warning, carrying an eerie chill.

Gu Yi's eyes widened instantly, terror flooding his heart. "Holy shit, what the fuck are these things?!"

He hurriedly summoned his sword and swung it to defend himself. The blade flashed coldly in his hand, tracing sharp arcs through the air.

Yet the vines seemed alive, nimbly dodging the blade as though mocking Gu Yi's helplessness.

As he fought, Gu Yi cursed inwardly, Fuck, fuck, fuck! Get the hell away from me!

But the vines twisted like snakes, swiftly coiling around Gu Yi's body.

Fuck, I'm done for! Gu Yi cursed inwardly. He struggled, but felt as though he had fallen into a nightmare he could not escape.

The vines wound tighter and tighter, binding his limbs until breathing grew difficult and his face turned as pale as paper.

"Watch out!" While Gu Yi was being entangled, Lin Yuan was also under attack from the vines.

He swung his sword. A dazzling light flashed, instantly severing several vines.

Yet there were simply too many vines, and their attacks grew increasingly fierce.

Like a surging tide, they attacked Lin Yuan and Gu Yi in wave after wave.

Lin Yuan swung again, his sword sweeping like a raging storm as he cut down every vine that approached.

But the vines seemed enraged. They grew even more frenzied, some thrusting at Lin Yuan like spears while others coiled toward him from every direction.

Lin Yuan moved nimbly, constantly dodging their attacks while searching for an opportunity to rescue Gu Yi.

"Lin Yuan! Watch out!" Gu Yi watched a sharp vine stab toward Lin Yuan like lightning.

Unable to dodge in time, Lin Yuan took the vine straight through his chest.

Blood immediately gushed out like a spring, staining his robes red.

Lin Yuan gave a muffled groan and swayed slightly, propping himself up with his sword.

Seeing this, the other vines seized the chance to attack. Several more slashed Lin Yuan's arms and shoulders, leaving wounds deep enough to expose bone.

Lin Yuan's face instantly turned deathly pale, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. Gritting his teeth against the excruciating pain, he swung his sword again, severing the vines near Gu Yi.

The vines wound ever tighter around Gu Yi, their thorns piercing his skin and drawing trickles of blood. His gaze gradually grew unfocused. His breathing grew weaker and weaker.

"Little... immortal lord..."

Injured, Lin Yuan's movements were also growing sluggish. Hearing Gu Yi's call, he found strength from somewhere and unleashed his strongest sword technique. Sword shadows wove together, cutting down the surrounding vines one by one.

His once-clear eyes seemed veiled in a red haze. He approached Gu Yi step by step. "Gu Yi..."

At last, every vine binding Gu Yi was severed.

The instant the vines shattered, Gu Yi's legs gave way, and he nearly dropped to his knees.

Lin Yuan caught Gu Yi and pulled him up. Their eyes met, and at that moment, time itself seemed to stop.

Lin Yuan looked at Gu Yi. At some point, the woman before him had turned into someone he had imagined countless times, someone he yearned for day and night.

A mask covered his face, and he wore a fox-fur coat. His thin lips parted slightly. "Little immortal lord... I've missed you so much..."

The vines' thorns had torn Gu Yi's clothes, exposing his fair chest and rounded shoulders.

"Gu Yi..." Lin Yuan pulled Gu Yi into his arms and held him tightly. Gu Yi's eyes were hazy, somewhat bewildered.

It seemed I came here to do something, but I forgot...

What was it again?

Wave after wave of scorching heat scattered his thoughts.

"Little... little immortal lord?" He wrapped his arms around Lin Yuan's waist and tilted his face up to look at the man before him.

His own face was reflected in Lin Yuan's eyes, which brimmed with deep affection.

These were the eyes he had wanted to see, tender as water and blazing as fire.

"Gu Yi... Gu Yi..."

Lin Yuan cupped his face and kissed him hard on the lips.

Gu Yi's mind went blank. It seemed only Lin Yuan could relieve his unbearable heat.

He knew there was probably something wrong with the vines. Perhaps there was something wrong with the mist, or perhaps both.

Whatever the problem was, that was the only thing on Gu Yi's mind at that moment.

His eyes, hot as fire, held only the man before him-the man he loved...

Lin Yuan murmured his name beside his ear, seemingly pleading. "Gu Yi... don't leave again, all right...?"

Hearing that "Gu Yi," Gu Yi suddenly regained clarity for an instant. His half-lidded, vacant eyes flew wide open.

What did he call me?

What just happened?

We were caught by the vines, and then we...

Gu Yi pushed Lin Yuan off him with difficulty, picked up a piece of the chopped-up vines beside him, and held it to his nose. Then he slammed his hand against the ground. "Fuck, these are Love Vines!!!"

Love Vines looked no different from ordinary demonic vines, but anyone pierced by their vines would be poisoned.

The poison was not fatal, but it caused hallucinations, making people see the person they loved, and could only be relieved through sex!

Then what had gradually drained their spiritual power earlier was Love Vine pollen spread through the mist. Their spiritual power would gradually recover with cultivation.

So I fell for it just now...

And Lin Yuan hadn't recognized me. He was hallucinating.

Which meant that if you gave him a dog right now, he could still...

At that thought, Gu Yi raised his leg and kicked the unconscious "little motor" in the ass. "You bastard! How are your kidneys not worn out?!"

He rested for a while before turning Lin Yuan over. Only then did Gu Yi remember that Lin Yuan had been pierced by a Love Vine while saving him earlier. He also had several other wounds.

He himself had already lost control after the Love Vine's thorns had merely pierced a little of his skin and flesh.

Let alone Lin Yuan, who had such a huge hole stabbed through him.

Looking at Lin Yuan's pale face, Gu Yi sighed. "Since you saved me just now, I won't blame you this time..."

(I've learned my lesson, please let me off.)