Sometimes, Qin Yi finds it hard to understand why he spoke so firmly to the king, saying things he would never have dared to say before. Was it truly his own feelings, or was there a sense of obligation mixed in?
Was it because he couldn't let Li Qingjun marry Mang Zhan and had to fight for this chance? Or did he really love her to this extent? He didn't know.
He even felt that if he were to marry Li Qingjun right now, he wasn't quite ready for it in his heart...
But at least he could confirm that he really liked Li Qingjun. It wasn't just her stunning beauty; he admired her bravery and her spirit. He liked her independence and strength. Even when he teased her for being a reckless girl, he quickly forgot and found it endearing.
It was strange; their personalities were completely different, almost opposites, yet these differences attracted him greatly.
He recalled something he had said to her back at Zhang's Village: "When I see injustice, I also dream of the rivers and lakes." Perhaps he saw a part of himself, a dream he once had, reflected in her.
Just as she saw her dream of seeking immortality in him.
So they were drawn to each other.
"You... why aren't you saying anything?" Li Qingjun, waiting at the door, was so flustered she was practically jumping. "Are you just saying that to deal with Mang Zhan?"
"No," Qin Yi finally spoke. "It's true."
"Ah... huh?" Li Qingjun, who had just jumped up, suddenly felt unsure of where to put her hands, feeling lost.
Qin Yi slowly walked over and stood before her. The usually strong Li Qingjun instinctively took a half-step back, stammering, "But... but I..."
"Not ready yet, right?" Qin Yi smiled. "I understand."
Li Qingjun froze for a moment, finally looking up to meet his gentle gaze.
Actually, they felt the same way...
Her heart began to calm down, and she murmured, "I... I think I like you, but... is it too fast? We've only known each other for a little over ten days... I haven't even asked how old you are..."
"Well," Qin Yi extended his hand. "Shall we take a walk?"
After hesitating for a moment, Li Qingjun slowly reached out, taking his hand.
The electric feeling from their handshake yesterday was gone, and the earlier nervousness faded, replaced by a sense of calm.
"I'm sixteen, I'll be seventeen in a couple of months," Qin Yi said slowly. That was his age in this life, known by everyone in the village. He could only answer like that. In his past life, he was in his early twenties, spending his days playing games, reading novels, and watching videos in his dorm, just a lazy fish in a sea of people.
Qin Yi thought many of the predecessors who had traveled to this world were just like him. He didn't understand why they could be decisive and completely abandon their old habits as soon as they arrived...
But that didn't matter.
What mattered was that, adding both lives together, this was also a first love.
Qin Yi felt a bit proud. While others at school were busy flaunting their love, feeding single folks dog food, his first love was a princess.
"Oh... sixteen, that's one year older than me," Li Qingjun replied, a bit confused. She didn't even know why she asked about his age. Did it really matter if he was sixteen or seventeen? Did she think he was some sort of ageless monster?
She just felt that holding hands with Qin Yi while strolling through this small garden was very comfortable. Just holding hands made her happy, and it didn't matter if they talked or not...
When did her feelings for him change from annoyance to closeness?
Was it during the journey back to the capital when he helped her several times? Or was it the enchanting moments in the cave, and the understanding they shared afterward? Li Qingjun thought about it, feeling lost. She realized she couldn't pinpoint the exact moment her attitude towards him changed.
It felt like it just happened naturally, an effortless attraction.
She finally couldn't help but ask, "Qin Yi..."
"Yes?"
"Were you really annoyed with me before?"
"Not at all," Qin Yi smiled. "From the very beginning, I thought you were pretty great."
"You thought I was great even after I barged into your yard so recklessly?"
"Because you seemed reckless but were very reasonable, and you didn't make a fuss afterward."
"Is that so..." Li Qingjun seemed a little disappointed.
Qin Yi looked at the sky, reminiscing, "I'll never forget that silver light piercing the spider demon in the storm, and that line, 'They are my people.' I think no matter how many lives I live, I won't meet another princess like you."
Li Qingjun's face broke into a smile.
"Qingjun..."
"What is it?"
"You said you didn't want to be a noble lady in the capital, trapped for life. I don’t want to live cautiously in this deceitful city either. Once this is over... well, if everything here is settled, let's seek immortality together, enjoy the rivers and lakes, and eliminate demons. What do you think?" Before he could finish, Qin Yi knocked his head in annoyance.
What was he doing? That was a flag... How could he just throw it out there?
Li Qingjun, unaware of his frustration, asked curiously, "You really want to wander the rivers and lakes? Don’t you want to hide away comfortably in the mountains instead?"
Qin Yi snapped back to reality, stopped walking, and said seriously, "If it's with you, yes."
Li Qingjun also stopped, looking up into his eyes.
Qin Yi looked down at her.
Their gazes gradually became a bit hazy.
Li Qingjun was truly beautiful, and Qin Yi had realized this countless times. At that moment, her jade-like cheeks were tinged with a blush, her lips were alluringly red, and her enchanting eyes seemed to draw him in, making it hard for him to resist getting closer.
Li Qingjun pressed one hand against his chest, feeling a bit nervous as if she wanted to push him away, but she found she had no strength to do so. She wanted to step back but felt rooted to the spot.
Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she finally closed her eyes slowly.
Just then, a dark aura shot up into the sky from the courtyard. Qin Yi turned his head sharply; it was from Ye Ling's courtyard.
"What’s happening?" Li Qingjun quickly pushed him away, looking puzzled. "Why is there such an ominous thing at my brother's house?"
The courtyard was in chaos, with footsteps everywhere. Qin Yi could even hear shouting from outside, and someone was quickly approaching.
Qin Yi asked urgently, "After the funeral, your brother didn't come back with you?"
Li Qingjun replied, "No, he took some people and mysteriously went somewhere."
"In that case..." Qin Yi took a deep breath and said solemnly, "You go to the gate. Stop anyone trying to enter. We can't let them in while your brother is away. We must wait until he returns."
Li Qingjun understood that this was not the time to investigate what was happening in her brother's house; dealing with outsiders was the priority. She was always decisive and didn't ask any more questions. She said, "Take care," and immediately turned to leave the courtyard.
Qin Yi sighed in relief. The advantage of having a strong girl like her was clear; if they were playing some drama about "You're hiding something from me" or "You don't love me," it would have been a headache. He wasted no time, turning back to grab his weapon and hurried towards Ye Ling's courtyard.
Liu Su was sighing, "What a pity, a good show wasted. I haven't seen anything like that in thousands of years..."
(End of Chapter)