Chapter 342: Critical Moment

The next morning.

The blizzard outside stopped.

Yuan Yao gathered the cultivation technique books, then slowly rose.

At the moment she got up, the boy leaning against the wall also opened his eyes.

"I should leave." Yuan Yao said to him.

Xie Yan let out a soft "en".

【Target: Xie Yan, Awakening Value reaches -23.】

Yuan Yao stepped out of the cave, and the cold air outside rushed at her.

She remembered the troop she had seen yesterday while controlling Yuan Batian…

Her heart stirred; she was about to head toward the treasure site when she suddenly sensed something and turned back.

Only to see the white-clad boy wearing a ghost mask float out like an immortal, his slightly curled red hair ends fluttering like flames in the wind, and his sharp, cold phoenix eyes seeming to see her through the mask.

"You…"

"I also want to go treasure hunting." Xie Yan said.

Yuan Yao frowned slightly, feeling that this guy Xie Yan was just trying to oppose her.

She let out a cold snort, then swiftly darted toward the treasure location.

In the next instant, Xie Yan followed close behind like a shadow.

The two walked side by side, like two meteors racing neck and neck.

"Don't follow me." Yuan Yao glared at him fiercely.

The boy sped up, turned his head sideways to glance back, the vivid red of his hair ends like a blazing flame almost filling her vision, he said lightly: "It's you who's following me."

Yuan Yao gritted her teeth inwardly, immediately using spiritual power to increase her speed.

Soon, she overtook him.

"Don't follow me."

Xie Yan continued the pursuit, passing by her side.

As they moved forward, neither wanted to lose to the other.

Suddenly, their shoulders collided.

Yuan Yao felt a pang of pain in her shoulder, she furrowed her brows, sucked in a breath, and stopped.

She reached out to cover her injured shoulder.

Xie Yan looked back at her, his expression shifting slightly, he quickly came to her side and asked, "Did you get hurt from the collision?"

Yuan Yao feigned pity and nodded.

Meanwhile, her other hand hidden behind her seemed to be condensing some kind of formation barrier.

She was about to take advantage of his inattention to set up a formation barrier to trap him briefly, then seize the chance to shake him off.

Xie Yan's gaze seemed to casually sweep over her small movement.

Before Yuan Yao could react, Xie Yan suddenly bent over and scooped her up in a horizontal hold.

Yuan Yao's face showed surprise; the formation barrier she had just condensed dissipated at once.

Xie Yan said seriously: "Since your shoulder is injured, you certainly can't walk. I can take over for you."

After speaking, the corner of his mouth beneath the mask unconsciously curled up.

"No need." Yuan Yao gave a dry laugh, then tried to get down from him, but he held her tightly.

Her body tensed slightly; she felt they were too close, even sensing his temperature.

Faintly, she could still hear his heartbeat.

"Yesterday you held me, today I hold you." Xie Yan gave her a sideways glance, paused, then mocked: "Yuan Yao, stop being stubborn."

Yuan Yao's face darkened: "……"

"Which way should we go?" Xie Yan asked.

Under his gaze, Yuan Yao reluctantly pointed in a direction.

Xie Yan immediately held her and moved forward.

He could smell the fragrant scent emanating from her, warm and reassuring.

"You seem to have gotten thinner."

Yuan Yao heard his voice at her ear; she slightly lifted her gaze and could see his distinct, pale white Adam's apple, and as her eyes moved up, she faintly made out his smooth jawline.

She suddenly realized that being held like this by him seemed to blur the line between male and female a little.

Her heartbeat skipped a beat.

Xie Yan seemed to notice something, lowering his eyes to look at her.

Yuan Yao immediately closed her eyes.

Xie Yan: "……"

Yuan Yao asked with her eyes closed, "Xie Yan, since we're friends, can you agree to one request of mine?"

"You say it first."

"You promise me first."

Xie Yan faintly had a bad premonition; he didn't want to make a promise, but when he lowered his head, he saw her secretly glancing at him.

Sneakily.

Xie Yan's mouth corner twitched up, "Okay."

Yuan Yao opened her eyes and said, "Xie Yan, can we pretend not to know each other in front of others? Whether it's Xie Yan… or… Xie Zixu."

Xie Yan: "Why?"

"Because I'm scared..." The master and the senior brothers and sisters would worry.

She naturally knows that Xie Yan is not an ordinary person, and Xie Yan has a double identity, making his status extremely suspicious.

If the master and others learn that she is fairly close with Xie Yan, they will certainly investigate Xie Yan's identity; then, if Xie Yan's identity is exposed, his secret cannot be hidden.

Moreover, the relationship between her and Xie Yan is still not clear to her.

She feels the relationship with Xie Yan is like a foe, like a nemesis, like a friend…

She wants to treat Xie Yan as an ordinary friend, but she can't, and he finds it even harder.

She knows that.

Xie Yan has a good impression of her.

And she…

Xie Yan continues, "Are you afraid my identity will affect you?"

Yuan Yao lowers her eyes and softly hums "mm."

"Fine." Xie Yan replies slowly, raising his eyes to look toward the boundless white space ahead.

He promises, "Our relationship is known only to the two of us."

"Xie Yan, who exactly are you?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Will you tell me?"

"I will."

"Why?"

"Because I no longer want to draw a line with you."

Yuan Yao hears this sentence and feels a few shades of heaviness in her heart.

"I am…"

Xie Yan is about to speak, but Yuan Yao reaches out and covers his mouth with a hand.

"Don't say anything yet." At this moment, Yuan Yao deeply realizes that once she knows his true identity, it means she must bear his secret.

She does not yet have that resolve.

She also doesn't want others to go all‑out because of her curiosity.

"Let me down." Yuan Yao lifts her gaze toward him.

Xie Yan presses his lips together, thinking she is about to abandon him.

Yuan Yao says, "I was just deceiving you; my shoulder is fine. Also, let's go together."

Xie Yan stops, "Together?"

"Yeah." Yuan Yao says with a smile.

Xie Yan is moved by her expression, feeling a slight heat in his chest.

Since the Liuguang Secret Realm "splintered," he has not seen her give him a genuine smile.

He puts her down.

Yuan Yao says, "Remember, in front of others you must pretend we are mortal enemies. At the crucial moment, you must also act."

The grudges she had with Xie Yan in the Wuduan Mijing are known to the third senior brother and the others.

Xie Yan raises an eyebrow, "You still want to kick me?"

"Then will you let me kick you?" Yuan Yao says tsunderely.

Xie Yan says, "Don't kick my chest, because my injuries haven't healed. You may kick my shoulder…"

He seems to recall something, gazes into her eyes, and in a cold tone says, "Don't kick my butt in public."

Yuan Yao: "…"

Xie Yan suddenly lets out a light laugh, nonchalantly saying, "When necessary, I will also do as you wish and will not hold back from you."