Chapter 88: Happiness?

Update Time: July 12, 2013

Deep within the woods, Lian Yue listlessly swung the branch in her hand. After days of practice, the bark of the branch had been worn smooth, yet Yu Wen Lingxi continued to teach her only the most basic moves, endlessly repeating each action thousands of times. It was unbearably tedious, and had she not initially boasted about her resolve, she would have thrown the branch away long ago.

The only comfort she found was in their meals—each one different, each one filling her with happiness and satisfaction.

By her count, they had now been in the forest for four days, and it seemed as though there was no end in sight.

“Ming brother, how much longer do we have to walk?” Lian Yue had just finished a sword move and looked at the figure ahead, asking her question. It was the fifth time today she had asked, and Yu Wen Lingxi could only give vague answers, for he himself did not know how far they were from the forest’s edge. Secretly, he wished the woods truly had no end—that would be best.

He turned to Lian Yue and asked, “It should be soon. Shall we rest for a while?”

Lian Yue nodded and sat straight down without checking beneath her. Just four days in the wild had already changed her much.

After a short rest, Lian Yue felt an itch along her calves. Glancing at Yu Wen Lingxi, whose gaze was elsewhere, she lifted her skirt’s hem and saw a black line slowly moving across her inner trousers. Looking closer, she realized it was a parade of small ants.

She hurried to her feet, brushing the ants from her clothing. When she looked up, she met Yu Wen Lingxi’s inquisitive gaze and quickly dropped her skirt, pointing to the ground. “So many ants.”

Yu Wen Lingxi finally shifted his gaze to the earth, noticing a long black line crawling across the ground. He frowned beneath his mask, glanced at the sky, and said, “We can’t rest here. We need to find shelter from the rain.”

Lian Yue mimicked him, looking up at the sky. It was still blue and clear, with only the sun slipping westward—it was afternoon, after all. Aside from the muggy air, she saw no difference from days before.

She withdrew her gaze and asked, puzzled, “The sky is so clear. Why would it rain?”

Yu Wen Lingxi pointed to the black line at her feet. “Ants only move homes before it rains.”

Lian Yue had never heard such a thing, but she chose to trust him. “Then let’s go.”

As if on cue, half an hour later, Yu Wen Lingxi’s words proved true. The forest was swept by fierce winds, sending branches trembling. Lian Yue was nearly blinded several times by flying sand and grit, and finally took refuge behind Yu Wen Lingxi, clinging to his clothes for comfort.

Suddenly, the sky darkened. When Lian Yue looked up, the once cloudless sky was engulfed by fierce, sprawling clouds gathering from every direction. The thick masses rolled and tumbled as if ready to press down.

Then, flashes of lightning flickered through the clouds, followed by deafening thunder. Startled, Lian Yue shut her eyes tight, releasing Yu Wen Lingxi’s hands to cover her ears.

Yu Wen Lingxi felt her hands slip away. Turning, he saw Lian Yue’s face pale as snow, her teeth biting her lip, eyes squeezed shut, brows furrowed—she was the very image of a frightened girl, terrified by thunder and rain.

He hadn’t known Lian Yue was so afraid of storms, just as he had been as a child, always seeking refuge in a warm embrace. Now, he wished to hold her, but it remained only a wish.

As if the heavens heard his thoughts, more thunder and lightning crashed down, louder and brighter.

Instinctively, the already frightened Lian Yue buried her head into an embrace, trembling all over.

Yu Wen Lingxi, caught off guard, stared at the figure in his arms, hands frozen in midair, unsure whether to hold or release.

He looked up as rain began to pour from the sky like countless threads. Yu Wen Lingxi brought his hands together above Lian Yue’s head, leaning forward to shield her from the wind and rain as best he could.

Raindrops gathered in his ink-black hair, trickled down his bronze mask, and dripped into Lian Yue’s hair.

Gradually, the thunder faded. Lian Yue came back to herself, the sounds around her returning, and she realized what had happened. Her pale face flushed red, and she shyly withdrew from the warm embrace. When she looked up, she fell into a pair of eyes as deep as the sea, sinking bit by bit.

Yu Wen Lingxi hurried to withdraw the expression he hadn’t managed to conceal, reverting to his usual indifferent gaze, though his hands still followed Lian Yue’s movements.

Lian Yue glanced at Ming, puzzled, suspecting she might have imagined the whole thing.

Then a cold raindrop fell onto her flushed cheek. Only then did she notice the “umbrella” above her head, and a warm current flowed through her heart. Looking at Ming’s drenched black hair, she glanced around and quickly ran to the nearby woods.

Yu Wen Lingxi, lost in thought, was unable to stop her and could only follow. He saw Lian Yue, on tiptoe, reaching for leaves. Stepping forward, he pulled down a branch, letting Lian Yue pluck several large leaves. She kept two for herself, handing the rest to Ming.

Through the curtain of rain, Yu Wen Lingxi looked at the woman before him, drenched and disheveled, yet smiling radiantly. A sense of unprecedented fulfillment filled his heart.

He reached for the leaves, holding one above his head as Lian Yue had done, while his other hand remained between them, half-concealed. “The ground is slippery. It’s safer if we hold hands.”

Lian Yue hesitated, weighing her options for some time before finally placing her hand into his—so large and reassuring.

Yu Wen Lingxi felt the warmth in his palm, wrapping her small hand tightly. The forest fell silent, as if the wind, rain, and rustling leaves all knew to quiet themselves. Only the sound of two pounding hearts remained.

Lian Yue’s face grew ever more flushed, her heart filled with confusion and wonder. Was this what her mother called being moved?

Far across the forest, unexpectedly, someone sensed a faint trace of Lian Yue’s confusion and happiness from deep within. Dream Chu Chen, walking through the rain, paused in his tracks.

The one nearest him, Yue Lingjun, immediately noticed his strangeness, suppressing his anxiety and looking hopefully at Dream Chu Chen.

Dream Chu Chen pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the rising tide of happiness, a charming smile curving his lips as he nodded to Yue Lingjun.

Qiao Zhi, unaware of the special connection between Lian Yue and Dream Chu Chen, was utterly baffled.

“Let’s find shelter nearby and rest,” Yue Lingjun ordered eagerly.

Once they found a tree suitable for shelter, Yue Lingjun pulled Dream Chu Chen to another tree in the rain and asked impatiently, “Did you sense it?”

Dream Chu Chen nodded confidently. “Yes, I felt it.”

Yue Lingjun squeezed Dream Chu Chen’s hand tighter, nerves taut. “How is Yue’er now? Is she in any danger?”

Dream Chu Chen carefully savored the feeling in his heart. “This time the sensation is strange.”

“What’s strange? Hurry and tell me!” Yue Lingjun was almost jumping in anxiety.

“Don’t worry, elder brother. Yue’er is definitely safe right now. And…” Dream Chu Chen hesitated, then decided to speak, “…she’s very happy.”

Instantly, Yue Lingjun became like a child given candy, releasing Dream Chu Chen’s hand and venting his joy on the nearby tree, repeating in his mind, Yue’er is well, Yue’er is happy, Yue’er is well, Yue’er is happy.

Wait! Happy? Had he heard correctly?

Yu Wen Lingxi, forgetting to withdraw his fist, turned to Dream Chu Chen, who was rubbing his wrist. “Did you just say happy?”

“Yes! Happy! I find it strange as well.” But the feeling in his heart was unmistakable.