Jiang Lingzhou, let go of me

Gu Yi sat on a rock opposite Xie Wenyun. For some reason, he felt a little awkward.

To ease the awkwardness, he reached toward the unconscious Jiang Lingzhou beside him, wanting to check his injuries.

He had only just reached out when Xie Wenyun interrupted him. "Junior sister! Don't touch him!"

Xie Wenyun's voice was so loud that Gu Yi jumped. Even Lin Yuan, who was watching coldly from the side, could not help frowning.

It was the first time Gu Yi had heard Xie Wenyun speak to him so loudly, and he was momentarily dumbfounded.

"Senior Brother Xie, I just wanted to check Junior Brother Jiang's injuries. I really wasn't going to do anything..."

Hearing what Xie Wenyun just said, anyone who didn't know better would think I was about to molest him...

Xie Wenyun had startled himself, too. He stood up and tugged hard at the cloak covering Jiang Lingzhou. His tone softened, and his expression was somewhat unnatural.

"Junior sister... men... men and women shouldn't touch. You're a young lady. How could you touch Jiang... junior brother? I've already checked his injuries. They aren't serious."

"All right, then." Gu Yi thought Xie Wenyun had a point.

Just then, Lin Yuan, who had been standing silently to the side with his arms folded, suddenly spoke. "How was he injured? Was it also because of the vines beneath this cliff?"

Gu Yi: ...

You just had to bring that up, damn it. Gu Yi had made up the story about the vines to fool Lin Yuan in the first place. He looked nervously at Xie Wenyun, terrified he would say the wrong thing.

Xie Wenyun's expression stiffened. He coughed lightly, then said quietly, "The vines beneath this cliff are poisonous, and they attack people on their own. Fortunately, the poison isn't fatal. It only causes hallucinations. Junior Brother Jiang was poisoned and then struck by falling rocks from the cliff, which is why he's remained unconscious."

Gu Yi immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Senior Brother Xie really was understanding.

Even without being with him, he could cover for his lies perfectly.

Lin Yuan nodded slightly and said nothing more.

The commotion when Gu Yi advanced to Golden Core had been enormous. The tribulation lightning had lit up the entire bottom of the cliff.

Naturally, Xie Wenyun had seen it, too.

After he and Jiang Lingzhou fell, they had been hiding in a fairly secluded cave near a water source.

Only when he saw the enormous lightning tribulation outside did he realize someone had arrived.

Although he did not know who else was down there, Xie Wenyun still decided to go out and take a look.

By the time he arrived, Gu Yi had already finished his tribulation and was supporting Lin Yuan, whose injuries had flared up again.

After the three met up and briefly recounted what had happened to each side, Xie Wenyun brought the two of them back to the cave where Jiang Lingzhou was hiding.

Xie Wenyun covered Jiang Lingzhou with some clothing and sat down beside him, looking as though he would let no one approach. Gu Yi did not think much of it, though. "Senior Brother Xie, has your spiritual energy recovered?"

Xie Wenyun said, "...It has..."

"I don't think Junior Brother Jiang will wake up anytime soon. Why don't we carry him back first and let Miss Yezi take a look at him?" Gu Yi had truly had enough of staying in this place.

He had no idea how things were going with Mu Yang, either. They had agreed to meet at the cliff's edge, yet through a twist of circumstances, he had run into Lin Yuan instead.

Xie Wenyun hesitantly glanced at Jiang Lingzhou, who lay unconscious on the ground.

"The day to leave the Secret Realm is almost here," Lin Yuan said coldly. "If we stay trapped here, we'll be left behind, won't we?"

Xie Wenyun nodded. "Young Master Lin is right. It's already late today, and junior sister has only just advanced to Golden Core. How about we rest here tonight and head back tomorrow morning?"

Gu Yi stretched. He really was exhausted. Besides, Lin Yuan was injured, too. Of the four of them, only he and Xie Wenyun were in one piece.

Jiang Lingzhou was unconscious, and Lin Yuan was injured. They really did need to rest and regain their energy before they could return.

And so the three of them happily settled on that.

Lin Yuan still sat at the cave entrance, unwilling to come inside. Gu Yi could not be bothered with him, either. He could sit wherever he liked. Gu Yi was exhausted to death and had no leisure to concern himself with anyone else.

Xie Wenyun stayed by Jiang Lingzhou's side the whole time. Gu Yi thought it must be so he could care for him more easily. According to Xie Wenyun, Jiang Lingzhou had even developed a fever when they first fell, his whole body burning hot. He had only improved somewhat over the past two days.

It had certainly been hard on this "pampered" little tyrant, who had even taken the initiative to save someone.

The cave was cold and damp, so a fire had been lit in front of Gu Yi. Since the firelight hurt his eyes, he wrapped the silk Jiang Lingzhou had given him around them and rested with some clothing as his pillow.

Soon, the sound of steady breathing filled the cave.

They were all too tired. Both Lin Yuan and Gu Yi had fallen asleep.

Xie Wenyun was the only one still awake in the cave. He gazed at the stone wall, as though he had returned to when he and Jiang Lingzhou were the only two in the cave, staring blankly at Jiang Lingzhou's unconscious profile.

Some things, once done, could never be forgotten.

Once he wakes up, I won't be able to face him, either...

Just as Xie Wenyun was lost in thought, Jiang Lingzhou suddenly rolled over, bringing his face closer to rest on his thigh and wrapping his arms around his waist.

Xie Wenyun stiffened. He quickly glanced at the still-sleeping Gu Yi and Lin Yuan, then tugged at Jiang Lingzhou's hands and scolded him in a whisper, "Let go! Jiang Lingzhou."

"Senior Sister Ye... I like you..."

Not only did Jiang Lingzhou refuse to let go, but he held him tighter and tighter.

Xie Wenyun's face alternated between red and white as he forcibly suppressed the urge to kill him with a palm strike.

He took a deep breath, telling himself not to act rashly or wake Junior Sister Ye and Lin Yuan. Then he coaxed softly in Jiang Lingzhou's ear, "Junior Brother Jiang, let go of me first. This is uncomfortable."

Only after hearing that did Jiang Lingzhou loosen his arms slightly, still mumbling, "Senior Sister Ye..."

Xie Wenyun hurriedly pushed him away. When he looked up again, he met Gu Yi's scrutinizing eyes.

In fact, Gu Yi had woken up the first time Jiang Lingzhou called out "Senior Sister Ye."

Hearing someone call him while he was half asleep, he had thought he was imagining it.

But when he opened his eyes, he saw Xie Wenyun and Jiang Lingzhou "hugging each other"...

Jiang Lingzhou was still mumbling, "Senior Sister Ye."

Seeing Xie Wenyun looking at him awkwardly, Gu Yi froze for two seconds before bursting into laughter. "Has Junior Brother Jiang been mistaking you for me these past few days and clinging to you?"

A flicker of panic crossed Xie Wenyun's eyes. "Yes."

Gu Yi rarely saw such an expression on Xie Wenyun's face. Ever since Gu Yi joined the Tianmu Sect, Xie Wenyun had always been composed. Seeing him so flustered today had truly opened Gu Yi's eyes.

He covered his mouth and chuckled quietly. "You've really had it rough, senior brother. Haha."

Seeing Gu Yi's smile, Xie Wenyun momentarily forgot his own embarrassment and laughed along, though his voice held a faint bitterness. "I've made a fool of myself in front of you, junior sister..."