Chapter 97: Come With Me, Yan

After they left, the invisible pressure that had weighed upon Duan Zi gradually eased. Only then did she draw a deep breath and look toward the two figures before her, one tall and one small.

She wanted to call out to the savior who had saved her life, but she did not know how to begin, nor did she dare. Anxiety stirred faintly in her heart. Still, she knew this little lifesaver must be extraordinarily formidable.

“Yan,” Ji Tianxin said, glancing at the person beside her.

Sikou Yan was already used to her recognizing him at a glance.

He had come to understand that although the little girl had a poor memory and could not remember faces, once she remembered something, she would never forget it. Even if you were reduced to ashes, she would still know you.

Sikou Yan looked at her as well. Because the difference in their heights was rather great, he simply crouched down so she could speak to him more easily, bringing himself level with her.

Even he did not know why, with this little girl, he found himself indulging her so completely.

And the more times they met, the stronger that familiar, long-lost feeling became, until he found himself wanting to draw near to her.

That desire for closeness, arising from the depths of his soul, was almost like instinct.

Could it be that he had been alone for too long, and wanted a younger sister to spoil?

Perhaps that was really all it was.

Besides, this little girl truly was so very pleasing to him.

Tianxin was still so young, so of course Sikou Yan would not think of anything else. It was only… an instinct.

Ji Tianxin’s gaze moved from high to low until at last she met his eyes directly. Her rose-pink lips parted slightly as she said, “The pastries were delicious. Thank you.”

The first half of her words curved Sikou Yan’s lips upward, but the “thank you” that followed froze the smile at the corner of his mouth.

“Why don’t you come with me?” Her soft, mellow voice was very earnest.

Sikou Yan stared for a moment, and only after quite a while did he react. Come with… her?

He could not tell whether this was merely a child’s innocent whim or some sudden passing fancy.

Yet because of that one sentence, a smile rippled in his eyes. His lips moved as though he wanted to say something, but it seemed… he did not know how to answer.

“Follow me, and you’ll have meat to eat. Whatever you want, I can give you.” As one who had once stood at the very summit of the God Realm, Ji Tianxin felt that satisfying someone’s needs should not be difficult.

Even though she had not yet returned to her former peak, she knew her own abilities clearly: she was still very strong.

Restoring herself to her previous height would only be a matter of time.

After all, she still had to go back and find out who had ambushed her.

She also wanted to know who had gathered her primordial spirit.

An eye for an eye. A kindness for a kindness.

And Yan had excellent culinary skills, a very high cultivation base, and talents so profound that even she could not see through them. If he followed her, he would surely be able to stay by her side for a very, very long time.

Longer than anyone who had ever stayed with her before.

After saying this, she simply looked at Sikou Yan and waited for his answer.

Those quiet eyes of hers were always like still water, without the slightest ripple.

But this time, they held a trace of expectation.

In that instant, Sikou Yan actually felt an impulse to agree.

Yet in the end, he merely curved the corner of his mouth and lifted a hand to gently stroke Ji Tianxin’s smooth, jet-black hair.

“Then let me follow you,” he said with a lazy smile, “and I’ll make meat for you to eat.”

There was a touch of indulgence in his pleasant voice. Though his tone was usually somewhat cool and distant, at this moment it was soft as a passing breeze—gentle, and soothing to the ear.