Lu Ming looked around, knowing that Yun Ya had no escape this time. Recalling their previous deep conversation, he didn’t waste time with sentimentality but bit his lip, bowed deeply to Yun Ya with a formal salute, said “Take care, State Preceptor,” and quickly disappeared into the forest.

Indeed, no one pursued him.

Yun Ya sheathed his sword and walked step by step toward Feng Miaojun, lowering his head to gaze at her.

For so many days, he had missed her until his heart ached. He longed for her gentle frowns and smiles, her anger and coldness, even her furious and awkward expressions.

No matter what, he had to find her and bring her back.

His clothes were already stained with blood, and his face was as pale as paper, but those peach-blossom eyes still radiated intensity. Any woman being gazed at so passionately by him would feel weak in the knees. Feng Miaojun was also stunned, but her mind was followed by a slight stinging pain.

That “other self” inside her was feeling heartache and anger.

It was becoming increasingly difficult to suppress such feelings, but she maintained her composure while reaching out to touch his chest. This intimate gesture, exclusive to lovers, had been performed countless times in the past. Yun Ya still vividly remembered that gentle touch and instinctively grabbed her delicate jade fingers as they reached toward him.

They felt soft in his grasp, yet his heart remained unmoved. These fair, tender hands were quite skilled at seizing one’s heartstrings.

Perhaps due to excessive blood loss, his hands weren’t as warm as before. Feng Miaojun allowed him to hold her hand, raising her eyebrows slightly and giving him a malicious smile: “Having second thoughts?”

He remained silent, his gaze profound, but ultimately released her hand. Their lives were linked; she wouldn’t be foolish enough to directly attack his heart.

She raised her slender wrist, embraced his neck, and caressed his face with her other hand, sighing: “This appearance is truly never tiresome to look at. In the future, I’ll make it accompany me for a long, long time, alright?”

Handsome man, beautiful woman—this scene should have been delightful, but her words made everyone present shudder with dread.

Yet Yun Ya’s face showed no expression; he even softly responded: “Alright.”

Feng Miaojun smiled, pulled him down, and slightly raised her head to kiss his lips.

His lips had no color and even carried a hint of coldness, but they were gentle and soft, as always.

A strong palpitation surged from the bottom of her heart, tearing at her chest with an aching pain.

Feng Miaojun paid no attention to it and deepened the kiss, then pushed open his teeth.

Yun Ya indeed offered no resistance but rather sucked forcefully, making it difficult even for her to breathe.

During this entanglement, a wisp of red smoke passed from her mouth to his.

The King of Yan stood nearby, his expression changing. From the bystander’s perspective, red smoke also flowed from Feng Miaojun’s seven apertures, guided as if by instruction into Yun Ya’s ears.

This enchanting scene was filled with an eerie quality that made it difficult to breathe.

The smoke was crimson gold in color. The King of Yan found it increasingly familiar—the last time he had seen it was in the virtual reality illusion.

Could that demon be so powerful even in the real world?

Yun Ya stepped back, his gaze immediately falling on the King of Yan. His expression was no longer indifferent but seemed to be in agonizing restraint.

As if with great difficulty, he squeezed out a single word through clenched teeth:

“Quickly!”

Inside Yun Ya’s sea of consciousness.

The wisp of red smoke entered the maze but, unlike Feng Miaojun’s previous entrance when she had dutifully sought the exit, it crashed straight into a wall.

With several soft “hissing” sounds, white smoke emerged from the wall, which then began to cave inward… Within moments, a hole had been corroded through.

Only then did the red smoke unhurriedly enter through the hole.

The maze was Yun Ya’s mental defense. Following the rules he had set would take an unknown amount of time to exit. The red smoke lacked patience and opted for a method that was simple, brutal, and time-efficient.

The power of the strong was meant to break through limits and rules.

After passing through the dark maze, a light appeared ahead.

Yun Ya’s consciousness sea hadn’t changed much since her last visit, except now large snowflakes were falling, and the entire world was permeated with bone-chilling cold.

It was colder than before.

The red smoke floated in midair, while the master of this consciousness sea stood on the hillside, hands behind his back, looking up at her.

Here, Yun Ya was naturally not in childlike form but simply dressed in white robes that accentuated his handsome elegance. Even the red smoke had to admit he was unfairly attractive.

Great snow drifted across mountains and valleys; he seemed to merge with the snow-covered mountains.

Originally, he was the master of this realm.

Yun Ya’s primordial spirit, like his physical self, was somewhat pale but composed: “Since you’ve arrived here, why not reveal your true form?”

For cultivators, the soul and body are inseparable. Severely wounded, his spirit was certainly exhausted and weary—a fact the red smoke couldn’t miss.

Soon, it condensed into a human figure in midair.

It was a woman, though her features were indistinct. One could only tell she had a slender figure with flowing long hair. Even her outline was unclear.

Yet the King of Yan had clearly said the demon he’d seen in his dream was a substantial, beautiful woman. Yun Ya’s furrowed brows finally relaxed, and he suddenly said: “Indeed, you’re not a demon, not even a complete soul!”

The red figure seemed to look down at him without speaking, but a voice resounded through the space: “What do you think I am?”

Her voice was pleasant yet cold, carrying a pride that looked down upon the world, but entirely different from Feng Miaojun’s.

Yun Ya smiled with faint mockery: “You’re nothing but a fragment of obsession, not even comparable to an ordinary soul!”

Without waiting for the red figure to respond, he continued: “I’ve always found it strange. Souls that cannot escape the virtual reality are all sealed and drawn back to the stone chamber by the celestial deity. Other demons cannot resist this, so why were you able to remain in the virtual realm?”

The answer was here:

She wasn’t a soul but merely a trace of soul energy mixed with the obsession left by the demon leader!

Essentially, she had no true self-will, so the laws of the virtual realm didn’t identify her as an independent soul. Thus, she could remain as an “object,” quietly waiting for her former master to return and reclaim her.

In the virtual realm, no matter how powerful, she was just an inanimate thing. Only by merging with Feng Miaojun’s soul could she materialize.

His conjecture was confirmed, and he became more certain and relieved.

An’an indeed hadn’t been brought inside but remained completely in reality.

“What difference does it make?” The red figure gave a cold laugh. “Everything of yours will soon belong to me!”

“You?” Yun Ya showed no fear. “What do you think you are? The demon leader has long disappeared. The one standing outside now is only An’an!”

“Silence!” The red figure shrieked. “Trying to buy time? How naive! Invading your consciousness sea is as easy as turning over my palm.”