Blood flowed from her shoulder, half of her dress was wrinkled, and her face bore scratches left by the fierce wind, but her words came out soft and tender, like someone’s little daughter who had just woken from an afternoon nap, tilting her head up in a coquettish manner: “Since you were here, why didn’t you help?”

Li Ye supported her waist, slowly drawing her into his embrace, then sneered: “You handled it well enough—where did you need my help?”

Lifting her eyelids to glare at him, Er’er muttered: “Don’t treat me like a fool.”

Just now, she couldn’t understand how she had managed to block such a powerful attack from the dragon group. Now seeing him, she had found the cause and effect.

But she still had grievances. If he was willing to help, why not show himself directly?

Sensing her confusion, Li Ye chuckled lightly but didn’t answer, only saying lazily: “Your magic practice is not bad—truly an extraordinary talent.”

Er’er was startled, suddenly remembering her earlier feat, and couldn’t help but marvel: “That’s right!”

Had she known he was there, she certainly wouldn’t have lasted so long and wouldn’t have been able to practice the newly learned high-level fire magic. However, how could he be like this? Others in love would be tender with each other, aching at the slightest hurt, but he was fine watching her covered in blood without even raising an eyebrow.

Feeling wronged, she pushed him away and stood up straight, swaying as she returned to the square.

…

…

“Junior Sister!” A group of senior brothers and sisters crowded around her, and before she could speak, Yan Cha’s healing immortal energy enveloped her from above.

“Senior Sister.” Er’er buried herself in her embrace and nuzzled.

Yan Cha was heartbroken. Seeing her still-bleeding wounds, she quickly took out the ointment from her sleeve pouch and applied it to her, while unable to resist scolding those nearby: “All of you just standing there watching—don’t you know to prepare things?”

Several junior brothers were bewildered by the shouting: “Pre-prepare what?”

“Snacks, clean clothes, and the soup I brewed. Failing that, bring out the pain-relieving ointments you’ve been hiding—that’s better than just standing around!”

Yan Cha was truly anxious, her eyes reddening: “Go quickly!”

The brothers felt a chill down their spines and hurriedly dispersed to find things. Er’er looked up from Yan Cha’s arms and saw the Senior Brother standing stiffly nearby, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Unable to help smiling, Er’er whispered: “Senior Sister, you’ve frightened Senior Brother.”

Following her gaze, Yan Cha said: “He was frightened by your Supreme God, not by me.”

Hmm? Er’er looked at Meng Wan in confusion: “How did he frighten you?”

His gaze swept over the much thicker immortal energy on her body, and Meng Wan swallowed his words, only lowering his eyes to say: “It’s good that you’re alright.”

“You call this alright?” Yan Cha was slightly annoyed.

Meng Wan sighed and said softly: “He’s right. Occasionally, we should let her experience some trials. Always protecting her won’t work.”

Who’s protecting whom? Yan Cha frowned and wanted to say more, but Meng Wan spoke directly to Er’er: “You rest well. Leave the rest to me and the Immortal Master.”

“I only sent Long Ding away; they will return soon,” Er’er said. “I’ll just rest in the front hall.”

“No need to worry,” Meng Wan said. “By sending Long Ding away, you gave him a way to save face. He won’t return anytime soon. I will report to the Nine Heavens and investigate their crime of abandoning their posts to provoke the immortal realm.”

Anyone with some insight knew that in that battle, Long Ding couldn’t defeat Er’er. Prolonging it would only attract people from the Nine Heavens. At that point, caught red-handed, they wouldn’t even have a chance to quibble. So Er’er’s Thousand Li Talisman preserved Long Ding’s dignity.

However, this meant that Taihe Immortal Gate was now involved in the affair.

With a long sigh, Meng Wan looked toward Li Ye.

He stood not far behind Er’er, appearing quite nonchalant, but earlier, when they were close, Meng Wan had seen the strange energy bursting from Li Ye when he took action.

Neither divine nor demonic, the misty immortal energy matching his pupils was both domineering and mysterious. Once it left his body, it seemed to disappear, but it had effectively blocked that light for Er’er.

Such immortal energy was fine when used for good, but what if used for evil?

Belatedly breaking into a cold sweat, Meng Wan lowered his eyes, feeling it was time to find an opportunity to properly advise his junior sister.

Yan Cha took Er’er back to her residence to treat her wounds, chattering while cleaning the injuries: “Next time, let us know first—it’s better than you fighting alone.”

“Your senior brother was right there. If something were to happen, he should have been the one shielding you. How could you end up covered in wounds like this?”

“The dragon clan is in the wrong. The Immortal Master has already gone to the Nine Heavens. This time, they won’t be let off lightly.”

She prattled on, not like an elegant immortal woman but more like someone’s nagging wife. Er’er smiled apologetically as she listened, thinking the great master standing beside her would grow impatient. Surprisingly, he didn’t even furrow his brow, his eyes lowered as he looked at her, even showing a trace of what seemed like envy.

Slightly stunned, Er’er withdrew her bandaged hand and tilted her head to look at him.

Noticing her scrutiny, Li Ye immediately composed himself and asked coldly: “What?”

“Nothing,” Er’er said vaguely.

Yan Cha belatedly realized she might be somewhat superfluous. She stood up and smacked her forehead: “I’ll go see how the newly brewed soup is doing!”

With that, her skirt swirled, and in the blink of an eye, she disappeared beyond the door.

Er’er moved her arm, bandaged like a wooden stick, and laboriously patted the edge of her bed.

Li Ye sat down carelessly and snorted: “What do you want to say?”

“Do you envy me for having a senior sister?” Er’er asked with a smile.

His face full of impatience, Li Ye turned his head away: “I was born a Supreme God, supremely noble, with no need to take a master. No one can act wild above me. What do I have to envy?”

Her eyes curved like crescent moons as Er’er moved her fingers to hold his hand, both coaxing and flattering: “The Supreme God is formidable.”

With a sneer, Li Ye said: “No need to praise me.”

“Then are your injuries healed?” She poked his chest and asked with a smile, “Using your powers today must have consumed some immortal energy, right?”

“A small matter.”

“Let me feel.”

“???”

Seeing her hand reaching for his pulse, Li Ye was quite irritable: “I’m not a fragile little immortal like you. Your senior sister’s approach doesn’t work on me.”

Despite his words, when her hand touched him, he only struggled once before becoming still.

What a strange pulse.

Er’er’s brow furrowed more as she probed. Earlier, when leaning against him, she could sense the surging fire energy on his body, but now, touching him, he felt somewhat cold. His cultivation remained profound, but… if judging solely by his meridians, she would think he was a different person.

Withdrawing her hand, Er’er muttered: “When the soup is ready, you should drink some too. It replenishes vital energy.”

“Who wants that?” Li Ye rolled his eyes and rose with a cold sweep of his sleeve.