This kiss.
It was so lingering.
Zhao Shuning raised her hands.
Yan Ruyu wrapped his arms around her.
Then Zhao Shuning felt herself spin in the air, but their lips remained locked.
Zhao Shuning was pressed against the wall.
Yan Ruyu gently set her down.
With his hands now free, Yan Ruyu placed them on Zhao Shuning's waist.
Zhao Shuning felt a secret thrill.
Had she successfully seduced him this time?
Suddenly, Yan Ruyu exerted force. Zhao Shuning winced in pain and tried to dodge backward, but with the city wall behind her, there was nowhere to hide.
At this moment, Yan Ruyu's body pressed closer.
His imposing figure blocked in front of Zhao Shuning.
Zhao Shuning blushed.
She didn't want to run away. But it was the first time, and she didn't know what to do.
Before, she had only tried to seduce her master. How could she have expected that her master would be so proactive this time.
"Ning'er—"
Yan Ruyu leaned close to Zhao Shuning's ear and whispered her name.
Zhao Shuning felt that her master was far better at arousing emotions than she was. With just those two simple words, she felt as if the bones in her body were melting.
"Master—"
Zhao Shuning's voice was soft and husky.
There was even a hint of infatuation in it.
Oh my god, was that her voice?
She felt so ashamed that she immediately buried her head in Yan Ruyu's chest.
Yan Ruyu gently nibbled on Zhao Shuning's earlobe, and she couldn't help but let out a soft cry.
Just then.
Suddenly, a flustered voice rang in Zhao Shuning's ear.
She shook her head.
Trying to drive the voice away.
But when she looked up again.
Her master was already dozens of meters away from her. She wanted to run to him, but her body seemed to be out of her control and she suddenly stepped backward.
Then, Zhao Shuning felt a rush of heat in her body.
Her eyes suddenly opened, and she sat up abruptly in bed.
"Master!"
"Yan'er, you're awake—"
Zhao Shuning looked towards the bedside. There was no sign of her master. She still hadn't managed to go back. Sitting in front of her was Ye Qingluan.
She wished she could hurry up and finish all the things she needed to do. Maybe then she could go back earlier.
How was her master?
"Yan'er, how are you feeling?"
"Mother, I'm fine."
Zhao Shuning threw off the covers and got out of bed. But when she stood up, her vision went dark, so she sat back down.
Ye Qingluan quickly handed Zhao Shuning some warm clothes.
Zhao Shuning took the clothes, pulled the curtain, and started to get dressed inside.
Ye Qingluan walked to the window.
The heavy snow had finally stopped.
After five days of snowfall, it stopped the moment Zhao Shuning woke up.
"The young lady is awake."
Outside the main pavilion, Luo Hao, who had been waiting for a long time, finally let out a sigh of relief. Xia Qingyan also relaxed his grip on his folding fan.
Many small tribes of Ruoqiang were overjoyed when they heard the news.
Lin Qingzhi went to see Zhao Shuning again after she woke up.
After making sure she was okay, she returned to the Lin family.
Once Zhao Shuning recovered enough to get out of bed and walk, she often strolled around the yard.
Half a month passed quickly.
In another half - month, they would have to return to the Changkong Academy.
It was also on this day that Ye Qingluan found her again.
After asking her some questions and Zhao Shuning answering them truthfully, Ye Qingluan was silent for a long time. Then she hugged Zhao Shuning tightly.
She didn't let go for a long time.
"You've had a hard time all these years."
"It wasn't hard."
"You've become so tough because you didn't have your mother's love since childhood. Don't worry, from now on, mother will never leave you again."
"Mother, you're the heroic woman of Ruoqiang. Such sentimentality is not like you."
Ye Qingluan burst out laughing through her tears.
"Yan'er, I want to take you back."
"Back where?"
"The Thousand Machines Assassination."
"The Thousand Machines Assassination? Is it the mysterious organization led by grandfather?"
"Yes. I haven't seen your grandfather for a long time. Maybe he won't even recognize me if I go back now. But I still want to go back and see him."
Over the years of her marriage to Luo Hao, Ye Qingluan had gone back many times.
But every time, the gates of the Thousand Machines Assassination were always tightly closed to her.
After she went there too many times, Ye Feng simply moved the organization to a new location. Ye Qingluan didn't know exactly where it was.
She wanted to take Zhao Shuning out to look for it.
"Have you talked it over with father?"
Ye Qingluan shook her head.
"Your father doesn't agree."
"What do you think?"
"I've always had a grudge against him in my heart. I know he loves me, but I just can't convince myself to forget what happened that day."
"Okay."
Ye Qingluan looked at Zhao Shuning.
"Aren't you going to persuade me not to argue with your father?"
"Ah?" Zhao Shuning exclaimed in surprise.
Then she asked with a puzzled look on her face, "Should I persuade you?"
Ye Qingluan smiled and stroked Zhao Shuning's hair.
"Forget it. You've never been one to follow the norm. Your current temperament suits me just fine."
This was the daughter she Ye Qingluan should have.
"Mother?"
"Yes?"
"I heard Xia Qingyan tell me a few days ago that there seem to have been a lot of things happening in the Nether Valley. I want to go and take a look."
"Sure, I'll go with you."
Zhao Shuning quickly shook her head.
"No, I'll go by myself."
No one knew where Xia Qingyan got his information from. He said that the reason the Changkong Academy had given the freshmen a one - month vacation this time was that the elders of the academy had gone to the Nether Valley according to the order of the sect master.
As for what they were going there for?
They didn't know.
But Zhao Shuning thought that there must be something good there.
She had read in a storybook.
Luo Qiu had tamed the ancient divine beast Hundun there.
Once she tamed Hundun and then gave it to the real Luo Qiu, allowing Luo Qiu to follow her own path.
Maybe she could go back?
The white - haired old man had said that as long as everything that was supposed to happen happened, then all things would return to their original tracks.
According to the time, by now, the elders and seniors from the Changkong Academy should have familiarized themselves with the terrain of the Nether Valley.
If she went there now, she could save a lot of effort.
"Mother, I have something important to do in the Nether Valley. After I finish my business there, if I still have time, I'll go with you to find grandfather's Thousand Machines Assassination, okay?"
Ye Qingluan reached out and gently tapped Zhao Shuning's nose.
She said, "You've already made up your mind. Why are you still asking me? Even if I don't agree, with your current temper, you'll probably go anyway."
Zhao Shuning coquettishly hugged Ye Qingluan's arm.
"Thank you, mother. You're the best."
"Alright, alright. I'm not used to you acting like this."
The cheerful laughter of the two women drifted from the center of the yard.
On the pavilion, Xia Qingyan stood beside Luo Hao.
"This time, you have to seize the opportunity well. Don't let Miss Luo's feelings go to waste."
Luo Hao nodded.
"Thank you, Young Prince."
"The one you should thank is your daughter."