Chapter 30: Returning Home
As for Yang Haoxuan, having stepped into the Martial Master realm, his body was now more controlled by his mind. He forced himself to sit in place and meditate, but things didn't go as planned. Suddenly, a fragrant scent wafted over, and when he opened his eyes, he saw Yan Ya with her clothes disheveled, her bare neck and smooth chest fully exposed to his gaze. Especially her fairy-like face, which now looked more like that of an unrestrained enchantress.
Yan Ya threw all caution to the wind and sat on Yang Haoxuan's crossed legs as he meditated, her hands wandering aimlessly across his body. The intoxicating fragrance from her body, her fiery figure, and her full, rounded hips pressing against his thighs created a sensation that was undeniably pleasurable.
At the same time, Yang Haoxuan found himself thinking hazily of Tang Sanzang being seduced by spider spirits or fox demons, and he began to admire the old monk's determination. But he wasn't the old monk, and with the drug still coursing through his system, this kind of provocation made him nearly lose his reason. After hesitating for a moment, his hands suddenly grasped Yan Ya's full breasts, kneading and caressing them.
Yan Ya finally lost herself completely, pressing her lips against Yang Haoxuan's mouth, her tongue slipping inside.
This was like breaking through the restraints of desire. Yang Haoxuan also threw all caution to the wind, intertwining his tongue with hers. He pressed her down beneath him, his right hand exploring lower. Releasing those extremely tempting beautiful legs, amid Yan Ya's confused yet frenzied movements, he vented freely, experiencing bliss like that of an immortal.
...
The next day, Yang Haoxuan slowly awakened to find his mind foggy, but the internal energy throughout his body felt much more comfortable, having established a stable foundation. This left him stunned, and then he recalled yesterday's events, wondering if that act had also helped his cultivation? Suddenly, he remembered Yan Ya.
He hurriedly looked around and found himself still lying at the cliff's edge, but Yan Ya was nowhere to be seen. Apart from a lingering lewd smell on the ground, there was nothing else.
Could it be?! Yang Haoxuan suddenly wondered if Yan Ya had left him here to die while she escaped first. With this thought, he rushed madly to the cliff's edge, relieved to find the rope still hanging below. Suddenly, there was a slight sound behind him, followed by a cold voice.
"Did you really think I would leave you here?" Yan Ya had appeared behind him at some point, holding a long sword in her hand, her face expressionless, showing no sign of joy or anger.
Yang Haoxuan didn't immediately turn around upon hearing this, thinking for a moment before preparing to explain. Suddenly, he saw a long sword pointed at him, startling him. He quickly said, "Don't be impulsive! Don't be impulsive!"
Yan Ya remained unmoved and said nothing. However, those eyes gradually changed from sharp to misty, with tears falling like raindrops.
This situation left Yang Haoxuan somewhat at a loss. Recalling yesterday's events, while they had certainly been pleasurable, he now felt nothing special about them and still had to deal with the aftermath. He also noticed that Yan Ya's white clothes were stained with water marks and the fabric was torn, suggesting she had disappeared earlier in the morning to clean up the traces on her body.
At this moment, looking at the beauty weeping like pear blossoms in the rain, Yang Haoxuan naturally wanted to comfort her. However, he didn't think he completely understood Yan Ya's personality. If she truly was as strong and proud as she appeared on the surface, then perhaps suggesting they forget everything would be something she'd gladly agree to.
But what if she wasn't like that? Then such words would be extremely hurtful. Yang Haoxuan was torn, and finally said awkwardly, "Princess! Actually, yesterday's events weren't intentional. If Your Highness has any commands, please speak freely!"
"What if I want you to die?" Yan Ya's lips turned pale, and she gritted her teeth, the long sword in her hand trembling several times. Yet she knew the gap in their strength was too great and didn't strike.
"Uh...!" Yang Haoxuan felt troubled: "I'm afraid I can't comply with that! I still have many wishes and missions to fulfill. Besides, Your Highness probably doesn't really want me dead, right?"
"Hmm?!" Yan Ya pondered for a moment upon hearing this, but suddenly became furious at the last sentence: "What are you saying! You ruined my face and took my purity! I wish I could cut you into a thousand pieces and kill you for satisfaction!"
"But you didn't do that, did you?" Yang Haoxuan shrugged and said, "You clearly woke up before me! You also know the difference in our strength, yet you didn't strike. Once I woke up, you had no chance at all!"
Clang!
With a clear sound, Yan Ya's sword fell to the ground. Unable to accept the truth, she crouched down and wept bitterly.
Only then did Yang Haoxuan realize that Yan Ya was indeed the latter type he had imagined. He picked up the sword from the ground, walked over to her side, and said, "Princess! I am truly sorry. Your purity was indeed ruined by my hand. If you truly want me dead, then take my life now!"
Hopefully all those melodramatic movies I've watched will have some effect!! Yang Haoxuan stood up, closed his eyes, and assumed a martyred pose, though his mind was calculating.
Yan Ya immediately stopped crying and looked at Yang Haoxuan with the sword in disbelief, thinking he was testing her. Then she thrust the sword toward his neck.
This time, she was truly determined to strike, believing Yang Haoxuan would surely dodge. However, he didn't. The sword pierced his throat by only a centimeter before Yan Ya pulled it back.
"Fine! I truly can't bring myself to do it! This matter ends here! You must never mention it again!" Yan Ya said, sheathing her sword.
Yang Haoxuan sighed quietly and checked his neck—just a superficial wound, nothing serious. Looking at Yan Ya walking ahead, he silently followed behind her. Indeed, he hadn't considered using this opportunity to sweet-talk her and win her over as his wife.
But doing so would severely impact his cultivation. Generally, martial artists would never marry before their cultivation reached a high level, because then they would have to worry about various worldly concerns, causing their cultivation to progress slowly. Take secluded cultivation, for instance—he couldn't possibly achieve worry-free isolation.
Some monsters on the Tianhe Continent often spent thousands or tens of thousands of years in seclusion, achieving astounding cultivation levels. They all shared one characteristic: no relatives.
Although Yang Haoxuan couldn't be so heartless, he couldn't abandon himself just when his cultivation was beginning to show results.
Therefore, every time Yang Haoxuan encountered enemies, he would plant a seed of revenge in his heart, which had a very positive effect on his cultivation.
Moreover, he didn't know much about Yan Ya. She was aloof like a fairy, mature and noble. Perhaps beneath such an exterior lay a true self, but for now, her heart remained closed.
As for Yan Ya, Yang Haoxuan's actions had finally dissipated the anger in her heart, making her realize the incident couldn't be entirely blamed on him. But she still harbored resentment toward him, though her personality prevented her from showing it. What she displayed was her calm way of handling matters.
The short distance of several dozen meters took them at least ten minutes to traverse before they reached the cliff's edge. Suddenly, Yang Haoxuan and Yan Ya looked at each other with remarkable synchronization.
Both froze, and Yang Haoxuan, who reacted first, smiled at her.
Yan Ya, however, turned away in panic, her face flushed with red.
Then Yang Haoxuan took the lead and jumped down. As before, when he fell into that cloud-like substance, it felt like sinking into mud. Then a brand new world of Tianhe appeared—a cloudless sky and fresh air. Being inside for three months felt like a lifetime.
"Halt!" Yang Haoxuan had just appeared when he found himself surrounded by a group of soldiers below, their sharp blades pointing skyward at him. They shouted and were about to attack.
"Stop! Stop!" The soldier from before rushed over and managed to make the soldiers retreat just before Yang Haoxuan landed: "He's the lord who protected the princess this time. Show respect!"
Clearly, this soldier held a higher rank.
"Yes!" These soldiers immediately responded with full vigor, then looked at Yang Haoxuan with curiosity and admiration. When the exit was opened yesterday, the appearance of just one adventurer had made them suspicious. But after hearing the royal soldier's explanation, they immediately became awed by what had happened in the Terrifying Valley.
A Five-Flower Snake King! It might be manageable to face one alone, but entering its territory meant certain death for anyone below the Martial Master level. Yet Yang Haoxuan, alone with cultivation of merely a Martial Master, had actually slain the Five-Flower Snake King. He protected the princess and single-handedly defeated five peak Martial Artist level members of the Heaven and Earth Society, earning their respect as a true expert.
"What about that rat?" Yang Haoxuan immediately asked.
"He was caught on the spot yesterday, but he knows earth-tunneling techniques and escaped during the night!" the royal soldier said somewhat embarrassedly. "But don't worry, sir. The Heaven and Earth Society is in the wrong this time—they won't cause trouble!"
At the same time, Yan Ya suddenly appeared in the sky above. Although her white robes weren't perfect, her entire form descending gracefully was still beautiful, though she would blush whenever she looked at Yang Haoxuan.
"Princess! My name is Yang Haoxuan—remember it!" Yang Haoxuan said in a low voice as she landed, then immediately flew away.
"Yang Haoxuan?!" Yan Ya murmured the name in a daze, then blushed and her heart raced. She spat softly—who wants to know your name anyway?!
The departing Yang Haoxuan didn't give the soldiers a chance to thank him, which was actually because he didn't want too much trouble. He had never met the emperor, but having watched TV, he knew all that ceremonial protocol would just give him a headache.
Quietly returning to the Yang family estate, he thought about how his cultivation had now reached the Martial Master level, and a cold smile played at the corners of his mouth.
Lying on the soft bed, Yang Haoxuan rolled around vigorously, immediately feeling comfortable all over. The three months of trials in the Terrifying Valley had been sleepless torture. After resting sufficiently, he began checking his game status, having noticed something earlier in the valley.
His current game level was 23, and after breaking through level 20, the skill points he received had actually become four. This meant he no longer needed to worry about skill points, but rather about skill level restrictions. Given this situation, Yang Haoxuan allocated all his original skills to level four, since level four was the minimum requirement for later skills.
He also learned the twentieth-level skills for warrior, mage, and healer classes respectively. The skills at this level had greater effects but also stricter level requirements—he could only add one point for now.