After arriving at the Green Willow Residence, Liu Lan didn't say a single word. She brought Long Chen to her residence.
"Chen, what does she want?" Lingxi asked in a depressed tone.
"I don't know, but it's nothing."
Long Chen guaranteed. If this was back in Baiyang Village, he would definitely be smitten by a woman like Liu Lan. But now, things had changed.
Long Chen remembered that the last time he came here, he had seen Liu Lan bathing. That shining white body of hers was indeed extremely hot. And now, Liu Lan was walking in front of him. Her voluptuous body, exquisite figure, swaying back and forth, as long as it was a man's heart would be stirred.
The two of them sat down in the courtyard. At this moment, night had already fallen. Under the dim light, Liu Lan's skin glowed with a sparkling and translucent light. She was tender and delicious, causing one to be unable to resist taking a bite. A faint fragrance wafted through the air, tugging at one's heartstrings.
"Long Chen, I still don't know. What's going on with that peerless beauty who's always by your side? Sometimes she appears, sometimes she doesn't …" Liu Lan stared at the stars in the sky as she asked.
Lingxi's matters were no longer a secret. At the very least, back in the Nine Devil Mountain, Liu Lan had already seen Lingxi. Hence, Long Chen told her everything he knew about Lingxi. At this moment, there were many things he wanted to say, but he couldn't find anyone to pour them out to. Now that he had opened up a chatterbox, he basically told Liu Lan everything.
After Liu Lan heard everything, she lowered her head and said, "Thank you for treating me as a friend and telling me so much. Look, it's already late."
Long Chen nodded and said, "That's why I have to leave this place now. I also don't know when it will be. Sometimes, fate really plays tricks on people …"
Liu Lan nodded and raised her head. Her charming face was just inches away from Long Chen. Her eyes were filled with charm as she looked at Long Chen and said, "I really envy that girl, to have a man like you who is willing to work so hard for her. She can hear what I'm saying now, right? You two must cherish this conversation. It's not easy to have such feelings. I've been searching for such feelings my entire life, but maybe I'm too ugly, I don't have the fortune …"
These sour words caused Long Chen to feel extremely awkward.
Long Chen actually understood Liu Lan's intentions. However, to Long Chen, Lingxi was a woman that he had to spend ten thousand times to pursue and protect. Just one of her required him to give up so much, he couldn't afford to add another Liu Lan to his list. Not only Liu Lan, but even Heavenly Devil Palace's Murong Yu, Long Chen could only apologize. He understood that Murong Yu still had some feelings for him, but he could only apologize.
"Don't worry, you're actually a good person. You'll definitely find happiness in the future." Long Chen smiled awkwardly.
"In your dreams. Originally, there were many men chasing after me, I still had a chance. But after what you did today, no man would dare to approach me in the future. No matter what you say, you have to compensate me." Liu Lan's eyes had a teasing look in them as she brazenly sized up Long Chen.
"How are you going to compensate me?" Long Chen asked in a daze.
Liu Lan suddenly looked at him shyly and said boldly, "Look, I'm already destined that no man will want me. After a few more decades, I'll grow old and lose my charm as a woman. Look at me, I'm not ugly, right? Such a beauty is wasted. Don't you feel that it's a pity? Hence, before you leave, I've decided to give myself to you. Don't worry, you don't have to take responsibility. I just want to be a real woman. I just want to say … Long Chen, after seeing you, I feel that all the other men in the world are tasteless."
Liu Lan's brazen words, the teasing look in her eyes, the snow-white skin on her chest and the deep ravine under the moonlight, each and every one of her actions was filled with a shocking allure. Long Chen was completely stunned. He believed that with Liu Lan's capital, if she was willing to give herself to him, he wouldn't have to take responsibility for her.
However, he couldn't.
Long Chen was momentarily stunned.
"Hehe, look at how scared you are. I was just joking with you. I was afraid that the young lady would suddenly run out and tear me to pieces."
Liu Lan suddenly covered her mouth and laughed so hard that her body shook. Her breasts bounced up and down, drawing beautiful curves in the air.
Long Chen heaved a sigh of relief.
"Alright, I've already said what I wanted to say. If I continue to say more, I won't be able to bear to part with you. Long Chen, you can leave now. Goodbye, oh no, I should say … farewell forever."
Liu Lan stood up and smiled faintly. Looking at the determination in her eyes, it was clear that she really wanted to ask Long Chen to leave.
Long Chen could only stand up as well. He pondered for a moment and felt that what she said was right. The relationship between the two of them was already very complicated. If he said more, it would only make things worse. Hence, he nodded his head and said, "Don't worry, if fate wills it, we'll definitely meet again."
After saying that, Liu Lan didn't reply. She only smiled faintly at him.
Only now did Long Chen confirm that Liu Lan was purely joking. He also felt that he didn't have the charm to make this woman send herself to him like a moth flying into a flame. Hence, he nodded his head and said goodbye once more before disappearing into the night.
Decisive and direct.
Liu Lan finally knelt down on the ground and started sobbing. Very quickly, her tears had already soaked her clothes.
Then, she fell asleep in the courtyard.
… …
When he returned to the Silver Clan's territory, Xiao Lang was already waiting for him. Looking at Xiao Lang's dazed expression, Long Chen knew that he was feeling very bad.
"Let's go."
Xiao Lang wanted to see Yin Mengyao. They had spent a lot of time together, so it was enough. Long Chen brought Xiao Lang with him to Baiyang Town. With Xiao Lang's speed, they arrived at Baiyang Town in the blink of an eye. Long Chen didn't want to disturb the Yang Clan. He snuck into the Yang Clan and looked at them from afar. The ancestor of the Yang Clan, Yang Xueqing, Yang Yuntian, and Yang Qingxuan were all fine. That was enough.
"Fortunately, the royal family won't be despicable enough to deal with these weak people. Otherwise, I will regret it for the rest of my life. When I return to the Imperial City, I will ask my teacher to take them away. That way, I won't have to worry about them," Long Chen thought.
At this moment, Yang Xueqing had already fallen asleep. Long Chen took a few more glances at her from the window. His eyes were a little teary as he helplessly sighed, "Although our relationship hasn't been good, she's still my mother. She gave birth to me and raised me. I don't know if I'll ever see her again in this lifetime."
"Chen, why don't you wake her up?" Lingxi asked.
"Forget it. It will only make me sad."
Long Chen smiled and said, "Let's go. We'll see my father one more time and then we'll start refining the Nine Heavens Celestial Fruit. Victory or defeat will depend on this."
Lingxi bit her lips and nodded.
Two people and one wolf headed towards the forest outside of Aspen Town. Long Chen recalled the time when he drove the carriage to deliver Long Qinglan's corpse here. Soon, they arrived at the forest. Long Chen followed the location according to his memory and arrived at Long Qinglan's grave.
"Father, I've already stepped on the path of the strong. I will pursue the secret of the jade dragon and your future identity. Little Xi, come out."
Lingxi hurried out after Long Chen finished speaking.
"Father, look carefully. This is your wife, Lingxi. Right now, she's not mine yet. However, one day, I'll definitely take her down in front of everyone." Long Chen said with a resolute voice.
Ling Xi bit her lip as her face filled with emotion. She stared at Long Qinglan's gravestone and said firmly, "I'll call you father too. I also swear that I'll be by Big Brother Chen's side forever."
"It's done. Little Xi, my father will hear your words. Let's go …"
After he finished speaking, Long Chen didn't hesitate at all. He knew that the moment would eventually come. Now that he had said all that he needed to say and seen all that he needed to see, he didn't have any regrets. He just needed to wait for the moment the results were revealed. Then, he would know exactly which path he wanted to take.
Following Long Chen, Lingxi and Xiao Lang returned to Aspen Town. Long Chen had his own house outside of the Yang Residence. It had been more than a year since he'd last been here, so it was full of dust. However, with the help of Long Chen's true energy, all the dust was blown away. It was barely livable.
Standing in the courtyard, Long Chen looked up at the sky. Dark clouds covered the sky, lightning flashed, thunder rumbled, and the wind howled. It looked like a heavy downpour was about to begin.
"Little Xi, get ready."
Back in the room, Long Chen said lightly, but from his eyes, one could see the nervousness in them.
In the room, only he and Lingxi were left. Xiao Lang was currently guarding outside the courtyard. He didn't want to disturb Long Chen and the others, but he was also very anxious and paced back and forth.
It was time to refine the Nine Heavens Immortal Fruit. If they didn't do it now, it would lose its effect in five days.
No matter what the result was, they had to face it.
At this time, thunder rumbled, and lightning flashed across the sky from time to time, illuminating Long Chen's face and making it pale.
Lingxi floated in front of Long Chen. At this moment, she was enveloped in a snow-white mist. As the mist danced in the air, it occasionally revealed her peerless beauty. Although it was only her soul, her sparkling and translucent jade-like skin, as well as her bright and clear black eyes. Everything seemed so real.
In front of Long Chen, Lingxi's body gradually expanded until it was almost the same as a real person. This fairy-like appearance was the same as when Long Chen first saw Lingxi. At that time, Long Chen could only see her back, but now, Lingxi's soul-stirring appearance was right in front of Long Chen's eyes. They were only about 20 centimeters apart.
That familiar aura rushed towards Long Chen.
"Chen, can I beg you one last time? Little Xi really doesn't care. I'm willing to stay like this and accompany you for the rest of my life. I have no regrets …" Lingxi sobbed.