Chapter 32

Outside the dream.

Jiang Li sighed softly and gently pried open Ye Qingruo’s hand, rescuing that strand of her hair.

She glanced at the sky outside. Midnight had already passed, and the night was deep and quiet.

Looking at the person who had fallen into a deep sleep, Jiang Li rose and folded the blanket in half, covering Ye Qingruo with it.

Seeing that the sound of the wind was growing stronger, as if wind and rain were about to arrive, she took a Recovery Pill from her storage pouch.

“We should go back.”

Unaware of anything, Ye Qingruo opened her mouth. The sixth-grade pill melted as soon as it entered her mouth, sweeping away all the exhaustion from her body.

“Jiang Li.”

The instant Ye Qingruo opened her eyes, she unconsciously called out softly.

“Be good, I’m here. Uh… I mean, we should go back soon. Otherwise, they’ll start worrying.” Jiang Li responded instinctively, then stiffly changed her wording.

Ye Qingruo also realized what had just happened between them. Her expression turned somewhat unnatural as she lifted the blanket and got up to dress.

Looking at Jiang Li, who had consciously turned her back, she pressed her lips together and lowered her eyes. “Thank you.”

Jiang Li hurriedly shook her head. “No need to thank me. It’s what I should do. How do you feel now? Is anything uncomfortable?”

The string of concern made the atmosphere inexplicably awkward.

Ye Qingruo turned around. When she walked out of the cave entrance, her steps paused slightly. “I am still well.”

Her tone was calm, her expression indifferent.

Jiang Li raised her brows and looked up at the sky. In the blink of an eye, the white moonlight had returned to her cool and distant appearance, completely different from the emotional person she had been earlier.

The change was so fast that Jiang Li did not know how to react.

Ye Qingruo seemed to remember every detail of when the love gu had flared. She took the initiative to ride the sword and brought Jiang Li back with her.

The person behind her wrapped her arms around Ye Qingruo’s waist when the long sword rose, then withdrew them very quickly.

Ye Qingruo gently closed her eyes, making herself calm down and not think about the scenes that had suddenly surged into her mind.

When they returned to the previous cave, the inside was filled with a strong smell of wine, along with bursts of laughter and cheer.

Jiang Li looked at the scene before her, both eyes going blank.

On the ground lay Elder Wu, unconscious with his head bleeding, as well as the black-robed man, who had already stopped breathing. Xiao Hu and Xia Zhidi, meanwhile, were linking arms and laughing as they spun in circles.

Seeing them return, Xiao Hu stopped.

Her tongue was thick as she said, “Jiang Li, you finished dual cultivating? Come drink.”

With one sentence, Xia Zhidi froze in place. These two had gone off to dual cultivate? In the Savage [Read on BaiLianTales]Forest, at a time like this?

This time, his heart turned completely cold.

A row of black lines appeared on Jiang Li’s forehead. She glanced awkwardly at Ye Qingruo and quickly changed the subject. “How did this foreign cultivator die?”

Xiao Hu, that loose-tongued fox. Did she know how embarrassed Jiang Li was right now? Save her.

Xiao Hu hiccupped. “Him? No idea what madness came over him. The moment he opened his eyes, he pounced at me. I didn’t control my strength well. One kick later, he ended up like this.”

The corner of Jiang Li’s mouth twitched. No idea what madness came over him? He had probably woken up and immediately suffered a love gu flare, only to run into a ferocious fox.

“Then what happened to Elder Wu?”

“The bad old man blamed me for kicking this man to death, saying something about not having interrogated him for information about the foreign cultivators yet. I didn’t like the look of him, so I gave him another kick.”

Jiang Li was speechless for a moment, then laughed dryly. “Haha. You really are capable. Well done.”

What kind of teammates were these? Was there not a single normal one?

The slightly more normal Ye Qingruo waved her hand and flung the black-robed man to the back of the cave, then fed Elder Wu a pill.

Elder Wu woke up. Seeing that they had returned, he immediately burst into tears. “Fellow Daoist Ye, Young Daoist Jiang Li, you must uphold justice for this old man! This fox demon has no respect for the elderly or care for the young! I only said a couple of words, and she kicked me right in the chest!”

It was far too humiliating. He had lost all face. He had lived to this age, a dignified descendant of the Wu clan, yet he had been kicked unconscious just like that.

Hearing this, Xia Zhidi came back to himself and helped explain for Xiao Hu. “Fellow Daoist Xiao Hu did not mean it. She only drank too much.”

Xiao Hu, who had drunk too much, was shaking Jiang Li’s arm with a face that begged for praise. “Aren’t I capable? Did you use the thing I prepared for you? I made it from Auntie White Fox’s fur. The hide is also top-quality tiger hide. Wasn’t it very comfortable? Let me tell you, after that hide was sewn, no one had ever used it before. I originally planned to give it to my future Dao companion as a betrothal gift…”

Jiang Li pressed her temples, picked up her sword, and interrupted Xiao Hu in time. “Yes, you’re really capable. Hurry back into the sword and sober up.”

The red-clothed girl looked adorably drunk and obediently answered, “Okay.”

Ye Qingruo could not help glancing at them, then quickly looked away.

Seeing that the culprit had hidden inside the sword, Elder Wu could only groan a few times and say ​bailiantales.com​magnanimously, “Forget it. This old man will not argue with her. I’ll just treat it as being kicked by a donkey.”

Xiao Hu, who had only just returned to the sword, immediately transformed again and cursed angrily, “Bad old man, who are you calling a donkey? If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll kick your head apart.”

With wine rushing to his head, Elder Wu tugged his beard and shouted, “You think this old man is afraid of you? Earlier, I was only caught off guard and let you find an opening. Believe it or not, this old man will set up a demon-subduing formation right now and capture you, fox spirit.”

Xiao Hu stamped her foot. “Who are you calling a fox spirit?”

“If you’re not a fox spirit, what are you?”

“I’m a fox demon. Fox demon, understand?”

“Enough. This place is not suitable to remain in. We’ll change locations to rest.” Ye Qingruo coldly stopped the absurd quarrel and turned to walk outside.

The black-robed man had died here, and the Jiaoyue Sect people also knew they were here. It would be better to change locations.

Seeing Ye Qingruo’s cold expression, Elder Wu resentfully fell silent and followed her. “Fellow Daoist Ye, wait for this old man. This old man will divine for you and see where there are opportunities.”

Xiao Hu spat before finally returning to the sword, still unwilling to stop.

Xia Zhidi silently walked to Jiang Li’s side and said in a complicated tone, “Jiang Li, you and Ye Qingruo… after leaving the Savage Forest, will you become Dao companions?”

Jiang Li glanced at him. “Thank you for your concern, but that is our business.”

Did the male lead have too much free time? Girls’ matters—do not pry.

A bitter smile appeared at the corner of Xia Zhidi’s mouth. “Ye Qingruo is very good. I wish you both happiness.”

There were some things he no longer needed to think about, and should not wish for.

Jiang Li rubbed the space between her brows. Thinking of the scene of Xia Zhidi linking arms and spinning with Xiao Hu, she sighed. “I wish you both happiness too.”

Forget it. What should come would come.

If the male lead dared to be like the original text described, incurring romantic debts everywhere, she would deal with him privately for Xiao Hu.

As for the fact that she and Xia Zhidi were both at Foundation Establishment and stolen content she might not be able to beat him, didn’t they still have Ye Qingruo, this late Golden Core cultivator?

Jiang Li automatically counted Ye Qingruo as part of her own camp, forgetting that she had Heavenly Thunder Talismans. She did not need Ye Qingruo to act in order to defeat Xia Zhidi.

When they arrived outside the cave, Ye Qingruo and Elder Wu had already decided where to go. They would continue due east, toward the depths of the Savage Forest, which was also closer to the position of the foreign cultivators’ Yuanhai Continent.

Ye Qingruo walked at the very front, with Elder Wu following closely behind. Jiang Li and Xia Zhidi instead fell to the back.

Seeing this, Xiao Hu could not help gossiping. “Jiang Li, how many times did you dual cultivate? Hurry and tell me, was the battle intense? Why aren’t you walking together with Ye Qingruo? Hurry and go hold her hand. Young Dao companions should be all lovey-dovey and inseparable. That’s what makes it exciting…”

It was such a pity that she had not seen that kind of scene.

Jiang Li rolled her eyes. “You should wash up and sleep.”

As she spoke, she saw Xia Zhidi take a few quick steps and walk to Ye Qingruo’s side.

As if he had made a great decision, he took out a jade talisman from his robes and handed it over. “Senior Sister Ye, my father has already found out that this jade talisman is the key left behind by a fallen Soul Transformation cultivator. His immortal residence should be somewhere in the North Sea region. I… am returning the jade talisman to its rightful owner. Consider it a congratulatory gift for you and Jiang Li.”

Ye Qingruo did not understand and stood still without moving.

Jiang Li, who abruptly thought of something, hurried forward and blocked him, afraid Ye Qingruo would accept the jade talisman.

“It was given to you, so it’s yours. Hurry and put it away.”

She had not forgotten that the reason Ye Qingruo died and her Dao vanished was because the male lead, this big mouth, leaked news of the opportunity and was overheard. So it happened at this time.

Xia Zhidi stubbornly said, “I feel unworthy of accepting it. Besides, you have already helped me reach Foundation Establishment…”

“No one will think you’re mute if you stop talking. If I tell you to put it away, then put it away. We don’t want it.” Of course Jiang Li knew that the male lead had accepted the jade talisman because he could not reach Foundation Establishment and wanted one more opportunity.

Now that Xia Zhidi had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, he kindly wanted to return it to its rightful owner.

But this kindness was too frightening. Because of his good intentions, Ye Qingruo had ultimately been ambushed by three late Golden Core cultivators and had died without even knowing who killed her.

Thinking of this, Jiang Li hurriedly looked around. She did not know whether anyone had heard or seen them.

Regardless of whether there was anyone around, the jade talisman should stay with the male lead.

The male lead was the darling of the Heavenly Dao, with heaven-defying luck. No matter what happened, he could always turn danger into safety.

Ye Qingruo was not the protagonist. She was an unlucky white moonlight who died early. She could not bear this blessing.

Xia Zhidi still wanted to insist, but Jiang Li glared at him fiercely.

Ye Qingruo looked at Jiang Li standing in front of her. As if thinking of something, the corner of her mouth curved slightly. “Jiang Li’s meaning is my meaning. Junior Brother Xia should put it away.”

Nearby, Elder Wu saw them pushing it back and forth and smiled. “What fallen Soul Transformation cultivator’s immortal residence? If you don’t want it, this old man does.”

Xia Zhidi immediately put away the jade talisman and stepped back two steps, treating the old charlatan as air.

Elder Wu: “…” Young people who did not respect the elderly or care for the young. They only knew how to make faces at him.

Only then did Jiang Li relax. She held Ye Qingruo’s hand and said, “That jade talisman is indeed a heaven-sent opportunity, but it is also a life-threatening danger. We will have other opportunities. Don’t pay attention to this matter in the future.”

Ye Qingruo pressed her lips together and answered faintly, “Mm.”

The hand being held stiffened lightly, then relaxed.

Only belatedly did Jiang Li realize what she had done in her urgency. She wanted to let go, but felt that doing so would make her seem like she was trying to cover it up. Ye Qingruo’s expression, however, showed no abnormality. Perhaps she had not noticed yet.

After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Li chose to play dumb. When Ye Qingruo realized it later, perhaps she would not be able to tell who had held whose hand first. They would just leave it like this for now.

But Ye Qingruo seemed especially slow to react. The two of them walked hand in hand for quite a while without any response from her.

As for their joined hands, no one knew who had taken the initiative, but somehow, their fingers had become interlocked.

Jiang Li froze, then tentatively withdrew her hand. The other person seemed entirely unaware and let go naturally.

Xiao Hu nearly clapped at the sight. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Young Dao companions really loved doing these little movements. Fingers brushing back and forth, clasping tight and then letting go, these little games of seeming refusal and invitation—so nice to watch.

Behind them, a black shadow watched the direction the four of them had gone and quietly left.

An immortal residence left behind by a fallen Soul Transformation cultivator. He had not expected this trip to the Savage Forest to bring such an unexpected gain. If he could get that residence key, that jade talisman, then this journey would not have been in vain.