From "Ran Away" to an Unexpected Smile: A Sudden Change in Emotion

Page (1/3)

The wind and snow howled fiercely, the wind carrying snow and sand slapping painfully against their faces.
A group of people walked silently through the snow-covered ground.
Suddenly, Yun Zhao’s eyes lit up.
She had spotted matsutake mushrooms growing beneath a tree. Taking a few quick steps, she carefully dug them out.
These were precious treasures—both medicinal and edible. Not only could they relieve pain, aid digestion, and strengthen the body, but their taste was excellent: tender and crisp flesh with a faint pine aroma, delightfully fresh.
Having these for lunch made the meal all the more anticipated.
Yun Zhao searched nearby and gathered a few more.
Qing Xuanche turned to ask Yun Zhao what was going on, only to find that apart from the five of them, Yun Zhao was nowhere to be seen.
Xiao Yan frowned in confusion. “Why did you guys stop?”
Wen Lang knitted his brows. “That wicked she-beast is missing.”
Xiao Yan’s face darkened immediately. “I told you she wasn’t trustworthy. She must have run off.”
“Why would she run? Alone in this snowy wilderness, she’d be eaten by beasts,” Le Fei said, puzzled. “Could she have fallen into a snow hole?”
Wen Lang’s expression was grim. “If I’d known, I should have killed her from the start.” Now their fate rested in the hands of that wicked she-beast.
The fiery fox ears of Ye Chonglou twitched gently, catching sounds from the nearby woods.
“She hasn’t escaped, she’s right there.”
Le Fei flew off in the direction Ye Chonglou pointed and indeed saw her—she hadn’t run away.
Looking closely, the wicked she-beast was clutching a few mushrooms, giggling foolishly.
“So it was just for this?”
Yun Zhao, in a good mood, smiled and explained to Le Fei the benefits of matsutake mushrooms.
After a moment, she realized, “Why are you here?”
Le Fei answered honestly, “To see if you ran away.”
Yun Zhao was baffled. So it turned out they were worried she would escape.
Well, considering her notorious past, it was understandable.
Ah, trust is something that requires time.

Page (2/3)

Over the past two days with the five of them, especially their refusal to give up during the avalanche, Yun Zhao grew quite envious.
Beyond easing their hatred and making amends, she now wished to join their ranks and become one of them.
Soon, other figures appeared at the edge of the forest.
Yun Zhao waved. “You’re just in time. I found a place that’s pretty good for resting.”
She led them to a thatched hut, likely built by hunters who came up the mountain. Though small, it was well-equipped and indeed a fine place.
They all agreed to use this place to rest.
Qing Xuanche volunteered to hunt for food, Ye Chonglou and Wen Lang went to gather firewood, while Le Fei’s hands seemed fractured, and Xiao Yan was injured as well, so the two stayed to guard the hut.
As usual, Yun Zhao performed a divination on both groups and received a sign of safety, then watched as they departed.
She returned to the forest where she had found the matsutake mushrooms and unexpectedly discovered several medicinal herbs. Hoping for more luck, she continued searching.
“This is cordyceps, useful for kidney deficiency, fatigue, and immune regulation. These five hunters will benefit from it,” Yun Zhao murmured, carefully harvesting the surrounding cordyceps.
“This is Rhodiola, also called the heavenly herb or golden ginseng—an excellent remedy with many effects, also used for treating external injuries. Le Fei needs this right now.”
“This is Fritillaria, and this is…” Yun Zhao happily gathered herbs, unaware that she had wandered quite far.
Suddenly, she heard a suppressed, painful groan.
Curious, she followed the sound.
The closer she got, the more familiar the sound seemed.
“Ah—” Yun Zhao suddenly screamed in terror; she had been captured.
More precisely, something had swept her up and was darting rapidly through the woods, but the sensation was strangely familiar.
When she opened her eyes again, she stood face to face with a large azure serpent.
No wonder it felt familiar—this was Qing Xuanche. Yet he looked very different now, wild and agitated.
Yun Zhao guessed aloud, “Qing Xuanche, have you gone berserk?”
In the Fenghui Kingdom, females are revered because male beastmen sometimes go berserk, and only females can soothe them.
Therefore, although female beastmen have lower combat power, their status remains high.
Qing Xuanche ignored her.
Yun Zhao reached out to touch his serpent body, a white light gathering in her palm, flowing along his scale-covered form into his mind.

Page (3/3)

The mental world inside the mind is a beastman’s most private sanctuary. Enemies can even destroy a beastman’s mind to reduce them to a fool. Thus, beastmen rarely allow outsiders access, and when males go berserk, only their female mates can calm them.
Qing Xuanche’s mind was protected by a barrier, and Yun Zhao tried several times to breach it without success. She then tried to soothe him verbally, “Qing Xuanche, I am Yun Zhao. You’re berserk right now. I need to enter your mind to calm your madness. Trust me, I won’t harm you.”
She wasn’t sure if he would believe her; she could only try her best.
If Qing Xuanche refused her, she would have to return to the hut and get others to help him.
To her surprise, after a while, Qing Xuanche’s mind opened its gates to her.
His mind should have been bright, but years of fighting at the frontlines and frequent injuries had forced him to suppress his madness each time he advanced. Now, after overusing his powers, he could no longer control it; his mind was shrouded in darkness.
Yun Zhao urged the white light to gradually consume the shadows. Qing Xuanche seemed soothed; his wild agitation slowly subsided.
After an unknown length of time, when the last dark mist was swallowed, Yun Zhao exited his mind.
Qing Xuanche returned to his human form, his gaze fixed on Yun Zhao, who was calmly tending to his madness with her eyes closed. His icy eyes were full of complexity.
Yun Zhao opened her eyes to see his handsome face up close and blushed awkwardly.
Mainly because Qing Xuanche was too striking, and his clear, sharp aura was almost burning.
She took a few steps back and carefully examined him. “Are you alright?”
Qing Xuanche noticed her movement and frowned; did she not want him close?
After a long pause, he finally spoke, “Thank you.”
Yun Zhao waved her hand. “It’s what I should do.”
He was her beast husband; calming his madness was her duty as his female mate.
But before, chasing after Xie Diao, she had neglected them and never truly cared.
Qing Xuanche naturally remembered the past too and suddenly asked, “Have you really let it go?”
Though he didn’t specify what, Yun Zhao understood immediately. “That scoundrel male poisoned me, exiled me to the wilderness, and even tried to harm my mother, the Empress, and seize my kingdom. That hatred is irreconcilable. Of course, I won’t foolishly dwell on him anymore.”
Qing Xuanche stared at her steadily, then after a moment, muttered, “You’re not exactly smart now, either.”
Otherwise, you wouldn’t have sent Le Fei to take a knife for you. That blade was just an inch off, and you would have lost your life.
Yun Zhao: “...” That’s a harsh blow. Such ungratefulness—are you being polite?