Yun Ye instinctively wanted to push the person away but the body in his arms was chillingly cold. The thin, frail boy clung to him desperately with trembling hands clutching tightly at his robes. The sight made Yun Ye’s heart soften, and he found himself unable to summon the resolve to push him away.

After a moment of silence, Yun Ye lightly patted Bai Tu’s back, as if to reassure him. Then, as though steeling himself, he reached for the boy’s damp clothes.

Bai Tu flinched and shrank away, his eyes tightly shut, as if trying to avoid him.

“Don’t move.” Yun Ye placed him by the fire and held down his limbs. Standing over him, his voice carried a softness he didn’t even notice himself. “You’re soaked through. Take your clothes off.”

It was unclear if Bai Tu heard him, but soon he stopped resisting, allowing Yun Ye to remove his drenched outerwear.

Yun Ye draped the wet garments near the fire to dry before turning back to the boy lying beside it. Bai Tu’s skin was astonishingly pale. Beneath the almost translucent surface, faint blue veins were visible, making him resemble a fragile piece of warm jade—so delicate it seemed he might shatter at the slightest tou

Yun Ye shifted his gaze uncomfortably and slowly bent down. His clothing slipped to the ground, leaving only a fully grown gray wolf in the mountain cave.

The wolf was covered in sleek, silvery-gray fur that gleamed under the flickering firelight. Its robust frame, powerful limbs, and commanding presence gave it an air of majestic strength.

Padding over to the boy, the wolf extended a paw to nudge him gently, pulling the curled-up figure into its embrace. Turning its back to the cave’s entrance, the wolf shielded the boy from the biting night wind outside.

The wolf’s fur was long and sturdy, except for the softer patch around its belly and flanks. The boy, lying against the wolf’s abdomen, instinctively reached out with his hands, feeling around the warm, soft area. Suddenly, his touch landed somewhere it shouldn’t have, prompting the wolf to let out a deep, disgruntled growl, “Awoo!” With a swift swipe of its paw, it batted the boy’s hand away.

This little fool! Where does he think he’s touching?!

Fuming inwardly, Yun Ye used his wolf paws to pin down the boy’s restless limbs.

The fire crackled in the cave, casting flickering shadows of a wolf and a boy huddled together onto the stone walls.

As the warmth enveloped them, Yun Ye gradually drifted into sleep. For the first time in ages, he dreamed.

In his dream, boundless snow-covered mountains stretched endlessly beneath a glacial sky, the icy winds cutting to the bone. It was the same scene from Yun Ye’s past life, the moment he had first stepped into the Primordial Secret Realm.

Back then, he was just another newly inducted disciple of the Tianyan Sect.

At that time, Yun Ye had only recently transformed into human form. He carefully concealed his demonic energy while working with the other disciples, striving to protect himself. The first six days passed uneventfully. On the seventh day, as scheduled, the exit of the Primordial Secret Realm appeared—the nearest one located at the summit of a snowy mountain.

The disciples were required to leave the secret realm through the exit before the seventh day ended, or the trial would be deemed a failure.

However, as always, the area around the secret realm’s exit teemed with more ferocious demonic beasts than any other place.

After a grueling battle, the group finally reached the exit with less than two hours remaining before it closed. But just as they thought they were safe, an extraordinarily powerful demonic beast appeared before them.

Time was running out. If they engaged the beast, they would undoubtedly miss their chance to leave the realm.

In a moment of desperation, Yun Ye was pushed forward by his companions to face the creature. It wasn’t until he had drawn the beast’s attention that he realized his so-called allies had already abandoned him making a mad dash for the exit.

The demonic beast was terrifyingly strong. As Yun Ye struggled and was on the verge of defeat, someone suddenly appeared before him.

It was a young man, silent and unassuming during the seven days in the secret realm. Yun Ye barely had any impression of him.

Yet, this man casually picked up an abandoned iron sword from the ground. With a single strike, he severed one of the demonic beast’s arms, his dazzling sword light illuminating the entire snowy mountaintop.

The man turned to look at Yun Ye, and a clear, steady voice echoed in his mind. “Strike its heart. Now.”

Yun Ye instinctively raised his sword and drove it into the demonic beast’s heart. The beast let out a harrowing cry of agony before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

As its body fell, it transformed into a long sword. Only then did Yun Ye realize the truth: this was the guardian beast of the Primordial Secret Realm. The one who personally slew the beast would inherit the realm as its next master.

Having claimed the Primordial Realm, Yun Ye turned, intending to leave with the man who had helped him. But the man simply shook his head, pushing Yun Ye forcefully toward the exit of the secret realm.

At the same time, Yun Ye saw the ground where they had stood give way. A massive avalanche of snow surged forth, swallowing the man’s figure in an instant.

The man had saved Yun Ye’s life, yet Yun Ye didn’t even know his name.

It wasn’t until much later that Yun Ye saw Immortal Lord Zhaohua wield the exact same sword technique before him.

Techniques might bear similarities, but that unparalleled sword intent was unmistakable. The man who had saved Yun Ye in the secret realm and helped him seize the Primordial Realm was none other than Immortal Lord Zhaohua.

………

The next morning, Bai Tu opened his eyes to find the fire beside him had burned out. Sitting up, he felt warm and comfortable, not the slightest trace of chill remaining. His clothes were neatly worn, as if nothing had happened. He pulled his robe tighter, feeling unsure.

Had someone… undressed him last night?

Soft footsteps came from outside the cave. Yun Ye stepped inside. “You’re awake. Feeling better?”

Bai Tu nodded and opened his mouth, hesitating for a long moment, but ultimately didn’t voice the question: Did you undress me last night?

Yun Ye walked over and handed him a few fruits. “Eat something first. I’ve scouted the area—it’s a valley. Getting out of here will take at least half a day. Of course, I can fly out, but as for you…”

Yun Ye looked down at him, a hint of doubt in his eyes. “Have you ever learned to ride a sword?”

Bai Tu fidgeted and avoided answering, picking up a fruit and taking a bite instead.

The fruit was sweet and tangy, but as soon as Bai Tu swallowed the first bite, a wave of discomfort surged in his stomach. Startled, he pushed Yun Ye aside and ran to the bushes outside the cave, crouching down as he dry heaved.

Nothing came up.

Yun Ye stood where he was, frowning at the figure crouched near the cave entrance. “I know my foraging skills aren’t perfect, but was the fruit that bad?”

Bai Tu clutched his stomach, unable to respond.

Something was seriously wrong with his body.

Since arriving in this world, Bai Tu had never experienced any kind of illness. But recently, he’d been constantly fatigued, plagued by chills and nausea, as though he was trying to make up for a century of perfect health by falling sick all at once.

Could it be that the excessive depletion of his cultivation while helping Yun Ye dispel his inner demons had left lingering aftereffects?

Bai Tu crouched pitifully outside the cave. Before long, Yun Ye came over to him. “You’re really not feeling well?”

He squatted down and poked Bai Tu’s cheek with his finger, a teasing glint in his eyes. “You’re not faking it because you’re afraid I’ll leave you behind, are you?”

Get lost.

Bai Tu shot him a fierce glare.

“Just kidding.” Yun Ye said with a chuckle as he stood up and turned his back toward Bai Tu, bending slightly. “Get on. I’ll carry you out of the valley. If we delay any longer, it’ll be dark before we’re out.”

The forest around them was silent, save for the rustle of leaves. Bai Tu lay on Yun Ye’s back, turning his head slightly. From this angle, he had a clear view of Yun Ye’s sharp and handsome profile.

It was the first time Bai Tu had looked at him from this perspective.

Yun Ye’s features were strikingly attractive, with a hint of defiance in his brows that added to his charm. It was exactly the kind of face that young women couldn’t help but fall for. Bai Tu had heard that the female cultivators in the Tianyan Sect were divided into two factions: one secretly admired Immortal Lord Zhaohua, while the other had their eyes firmly set on Yun Ye.

With a face like that, it was indeed hard not to like him.

“I know I’m good-looking, but do you really have to stare at me like that?” Yun Ye suddenly tilted his head and glanced at Bai Tu with a sly smirk.

Bai Tu hastily averted his gaze, muttering awkwardly. “Who goes around calling themselves good-looking? Don’t you have any shame?”

“Am I not just speaking the truth?” Yun Ye raised an eyebrow, then, as if recalling something amusing, chuckled softly. “You’ve got no experience. If you’re like this just seeing me, how would you manage if you ever met my master? Could you even walk straight after that?”

Bai Tu: “…”

The remark piqued Bai Tu’s curiosity. After a moment of thought, he asked. “Why don’t you tell me about your master?”

“There’s nothing much to say.” Yun Ye replied with a shake of his head. “Immortal Lord Zhaohua’s deeds are known across the land. Don’t you already know enough?”

Bai Tu, eager to hear his disciple’s perspective, coaxed gently. “But those are just stories from others. You’re so close to him; surely you know things about him that no one else does.”

Yun Ye froze for a moment before his lips curved into a faint smile. “That’s true.”

“My master…” Yun Ye paused, his gaze drifting toward the distant forest. The memory of last night’s dream lingered in his mind, softening his expression. “He’s not as cold and unfeeling as people say. He’s a truly good person—kind, pure, and unwavering. For those he cares about, he’ll go to any lengths to protect them. Sometimes, he even puts the bigger picture above himself.”

“…he’s just a big fool like that.”

Bai Tu buried his face in Yun Ye’s back, his ears burning.

He regretted it. He didn’t want to listen anymore. Please, just stop talking.

Yun Ye seemed to notice something off. Turning his head, he frowned and asked. “I was speaking just fine—why’s your face all red?”

“I-I’m not…”

Yun Ye set Bai Tu down, turning to face him. He leaned in and studied him closely. “You’re still denying it? Even your ears are red.”

As he spoke, he reached out and lightly pinched Bai Tu’s burning ear tip.

Bai Tu jerked away instinctively, taking two steps back. Yun Ye followed, closing the distance step by step until Bai Tu was pressed against a tree. Yun Ye raised an arm, blocking Bai Tu’s escape.

Narrowing his eyes, Yun Ye said. “Don’t tell me…”

Bai Tu’s heart skipped a beat. Just as panic surged, Yun Ye continued. “…you like my master too?”

Bai Tu: “…”

“Yes, I also like Immortal Lord Zhaohua.” Bai Tu replied stiffly, bracing himself.

Yun Ye frowned, studying him for a moment before speaking in a low, firm voice: “Not allowed.”

“What?”

Yun Ye leaned in, his gaze locking onto Bai Tu’s. With an air of overbearing authority, he said coldly. “You, you little fool, are not allowed to like my master. Only I can like him.”

Bai Tu blinked, stunned for a few seconds then suddenly burst into laughter.

Yun Ye’s frown deepened. “What’s so funny?”

“I thought you were going to say something serious. Turns out you’re just jealous,” Bai Tu said, unable to suppress his grin. The more he looked at his disciple, the more adorable he seemed. “There are plenty of people in this world who admire Immortal Lord Zhaohua. If you’re going to be jealous of every single one, won’t you exhaust yourself?”

Yun Ye’s expression darkened. “That’s different.”

“Oh?” Bai Tu tilted his head, amused. “What makes it different?”

Yun Ye didn’t answer.

He lowered his gaze, studying the young man beside him. For some reason, although this youth bore no resemblance to his master, Yun Ye felt as if he could glimpse traces of his master within him.

His eyes lingered on Bai Tu’s clear, pure gaze. Unconsciously, his voice softened. “My feelings are different from theirs.”

=^_^=

Author has something to say: Our little cub is desperately trying to make his presence known~