"B... big cousin?"
Yang Zhen's face and voice were full of feeling, his misery at being "forgotten" by his younger cousin so vividly portrayed that even the woman in white hesitated, murmuring to herself in confusion.
"You remember?" A flicker of delight crossed Yang Zhen's face. He hurried forward and seized the woman in white's hand, his excitement mingled with tenderness:
"You finally remember. You said that once you succeeded in your cultivation, you'd return to Iron Ridge and marry me. I've waited ten long years for you! All this time, the happy days we spent together have never left my mind. Cousins by day, and at night... no, I mean, I'll never let you leave me again. From today on, I'll stay by your side."
Holding the woman in white's hand, smooth as jade and soft as cream, Yang Zhen continued as though pouring out his heart: "Didn't you want to cultivate? I'll accompany you, help you slay every evil scoundrel in the world and sweep away all the Gods and Devils under the heavens. If anyone tries to hurt you, even if I suffer eternal damnation, I won't let the enemy harm a single hair on your head!"
Everyone else stared, dumbfounded. The women in the group in particular gazed at Yang Zhen, utterly moved, before turning envious eyes on the woman in white.
The Heavenly Dao was merciless. On the path of cultivation, paved with blood and bleached bones, who wouldn't want someone to stay by their side, protecting them so faithfully through the long years?
Even the woman in white's senior brother, though a puzzled look appeared on his face, looked at Yang Zhen sincerely. He nodded, patted Yang Zhen on the shoulder, and said, "Brother, don't get worked up. On the path of cultivation, one must keep the mind free of distractions. It's not impossible for her to have temporarily forgotten her family in the mortal world. Let junior sister think it over. She'll remember."
"Thank you, big bro." Yang Zhen looked at the senior brother with gratitude written all over his face.
Big bro?
Hearing the peculiar form of address, everyone looked at Yang Zhen strangely.
The woman in white came to her senses and hurriedly pulled her hands free. "I'm Lu Xueqing, a disciple of the Heavenly Martial Sect," she said coldly. "I'm not your younger cousin."
"Junior sister, you..." The senior brother stared at Lu Xueqing in astonishment, somewhat confused. He seemed to think she was still unwilling to acknowledge Yang Zhen as her cousin.
Yang Zhen sighed, looking utterly dejected, and forced a smile. "Right, you're not my cousin. I mistook you for someone else. Sorry, everyone, for taking up your time. Where are you going? Can I come with you? Don't worry, I'll leave once we're out of the Volcanic Forest. I just want to... spend a little more time with her."
The group looked at Yang Zhen with pity. The poor fellow's younger cousin wouldn't acknowledge him, wouldn't even admit she knew him.
The senior brother laughed and patted Yang Zhen on the shoulder. "Brother, I'm Wu Guang, a disciple of the Heavenly Martial Sect. I've been ordered to investigate what strange change has occurred in the Volcanic Forest. There's no harm in your coming along, but you must be extra careful. Stay behind us and don't act rashly."
"Senior brother, you..." A flicker of anxiety crossed Lu Xueqing's face as she looked at Wu Guang in confusion.
Wu Guang looked at Lu Xueqing and said, "Junior sister, strange things keep happening in the Volcanic Forest, and quite a few people have already died inside. Something must have happened. We were ordered to investigate, and one more person gives us one more chance."
Lu Xueqing was about to say something more, but glared furiously at Yang Zhen instead. Clearly, she had long since seen that Yang Zhen hadn't given up and was merely using this trick to get close to her. But... this man was far too shameless. Even her senior brother and the others had believed him without question.
"A strange change?" Yang Zhen was taken aback. He thumped his chest and said, "What strange change? I'm very capable. I can protect you when the time comes. You can stay behind me, and I'll see what kind of strange change dares to be so rampant. Is it fiercer than the black bears back in Iron Ridge?"
Pfft!
Lu Xueqing couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing. The entire mountain forest suddenly seemed much cooler.
Seeing everyone's stunned gazes, Lu Xueqing's lovely face flushed faintly, and she glared at Yang Zhen. "Country bumpkin!"
Yang Zhen chuckled foolishly and scratched the back of his head. Even he felt that he was turning into a drama queen.
Seeing this, everyone's expressions softened as they looked somewhat enviously at the two cousins, Lu Xueqing and Yang Zhen.
"N... no, it's not what you think!"
Lu Xueqing stamped her foot anxiously. Seeing everyone's misunderstanding grow worse, she kicked Yang Zhen helplessly. "Hurry up and explain!"
Yang Zhen hurriedly said, "Well, Senior Brother Wu, my cousin is shy. No, that's not right. My cousin isn't actually my cousin."
His explanation made it even harder for everyone to hold back, and they burst out laughing. Furious, Lu Xueqing kicked Yang Zhen again and strode ahead in a huff.
"Cous... careful!"
"Don't follow me!"
Another round of laughter came from behind them.
There really is something strange here!
Having successfully blended into the group, Yang Zhen remained on guard. The terrifying fluctuations of Fire Essence spread over a wide area; their source should still be some distance away.
After confirming from Wu Guang and the others that a strange change had occurred here, he also learned that quite a few people had died here.
"Big bro, what exactly happened here?" Yang Zhen asked Wu Guang curiously.
Wu Guang glanced at Lu Xueqing, who was walking ahead in a huff without speaking, and said gravely, "Three days ago, waves of fierce beasts' howls and roars suddenly came from deep within the Volcanic Forest. They grew more terrifying at night, so some people couldn't resist coming to investigate. Who would have thought that, over these three days, not a single person who entered the Volcanic Forest would return? Some say a great demon has appeared in there. Others say dark Qi is billowing through the place, as though something evil has come into the world."
When Yang Zhen heard this, he gave Wu Guang an appropriately shocked look and edged over to Lu Xueqing's side.
"What are you doing?" Lu Xueqing glared at Yang Zhen.
Yang Zhen's face was resolute. "I'm going to protect you."
"Who... who needs you to protect me?" Lu Xueqing turned her head away.
The farther in they went, the more strongly they could feel the waves of Fire Essence washing over them. What made Yang Zhen frown was that those fluctuations also contained a strand of Yin Qi, chilling to the bone and making people uncomfortable.
Wu Guang, Lu Xueqing, and the others didn't seem to have noticed. Lu Xueqing in particular had a rosy flush on her face, and fine beads of sweat had appeared on her forehead.
"Cousin, are you too hot? Want me to fan you?"
"Shut up!" Lu Xueqing's lovely face turned bright red, and she moved a little farther away from Yang Zhen.
The others all smiled to themselves. Where had this lout come from?
But Lu Xueqing only moved a short distance away from Yang Zhen. Before long, she gradually drew close to him again, as though she only felt more comfortable at his side.
Yang Zhen noticed this and instinctively moved away from Lu Xueqing. Before long, however, she came close again.
As soon as she came near, the expression on Lu Xueqing's face relaxed. Yet it was as though she herself hadn't noticed, and had approached Yang Zhen purely by instinct.
Only when the other women also began to look strange and gradually moved closer to Yang Zhen, just as Lu Xueqing had, did everyone sense that something was wrong. Their expressions grew grave.
"There's something strange about these fluctuations of Fire Essence!" Wu Guang suddenly said in a low voice.
Everyone's hearts jolted, and they hurriedly held their breath and focused.
"Look! What's that?" A female disciple of the Heavenly Martial Sect cried out, pointing into the depths of the mountain forest.
Yang Zhen looked where everyone else was looking and was immediately startled.
Deep in the mountain forest stood a strange-looking altar, shrouded in swirling clouds of dark red mist.