Chapter 188: Pouncing on the Heavenly Maiden Su (Part 2)

I don't know how much time had passed, but this expanse of shimmering, colorful stone finally returned to silence.

Su Wanqing nestled quietly in Lin Fan's arms, her eyes dancing with a hint of mischief as she stared at his face and asked with a smile, "What's wrong with you? Who made you so angry?"

Lin Fan sighed and said helplessly, "It's that girl Mu Xueyan. She insisted on entering the Void Gate with me, but I can't even touch her. It's truly frustrating."

Su Wanqing gently stroked his chest, her tone laced with a bit of teasing, "And what about now? Is your heart still burning with impatience?"

Although her movements weren't exactly intimate, the soft touch and her smiling gaze still made Lin Fan's heart heat up. He couldn't help but flip her over into his arms and gently press down.

"Mmm…"

Su Wanqing slightly covered her mouth and nose, preventing herself from making a sound, but her cheeks were as flushed as if stained by the glow of the sunset, and she was suffused with shyness.

She bit her lip and endured it for a long while before whispering, "Brother Bai Fan, if you keep teasing me… I won't be able to hold back. What if I cry out and someone hears?"

Seeing her tear-filled eyes, Lin Fan immediately realized she truly couldn't take it anymore. He quickly slowed his movements and comforted her gently, "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Let's rest."

Su Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief, but the blush on her face had not yet faded. Her breathing was trembling, and she shot him a look that was half-reproach and half-longing, "You really have no sense of propriety. Aren't you afraid that our affairs will be discovered?"

Lin Fan chuckled and hugged her tighter, his palm gently stroking her back as he said in a gentle tone, "I'll be more careful next time and won't make you suffer so much."

She nodded and whispered, "That's more like it."

Then, she lifted her eyes slightly to look at Lin Fan, her gaze filled with complicated emotions, "Close your eyes."

Lin Fan was stunned for a moment, but he obediently complied.

He felt a softness on his lips, a light warmth descending—a kiss as quick as a chick pecking at rice.

Startled, he opened his eyes to see Su Wanqing blushing and turning her head away. Her earlobes were tinged with an adorable red, while her eyes still held a hint of shyness and sweetness.

"What was that…" Lin Fan's lips curled up, and he couldn't help but ask with a smile.

Su Wanqing bowed her head gently and said softly, "That was… my own feelings."

Lin Fan was taken aback for a moment, then reached out to take her hand, the warmth of their palms slowly merging.

Her fingertips trembled slightly, but she didn't pull away.

The two gazed at each other in silence for a long time before Lin Fan spoke softly, "Wanqing, let's return to the Tianji Pavilion together and change our destiny. Nothing can stop us."

Su Wanqing's delicate body trembled, but her expression suddenly dimmed, "Brother Bai Fan, if it were before, I could accompany you. But now, I have mastered Immortal Qi… I must shoulder the responsibilities of a Heavenly Maiden. You… you should forget about me."

Lin Fan's expression shifted; he could hardly believe her decision.

The main quest he accepted was to return to the Tianji Pavilion with her, yet now she wanted to abandon him?

"Wanqing, what are you saying? You know full well that I won't give up on you."

Su Wanqing bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes as she lowered her head, not daring to look at him, "What I shoulder is the protection of the Immortal Realm and the salvation of all living beings… As a Heavenly Maiden, I should not have personal feelings, nor can I have attachments."

She choked up as she spoke, every word seemingly laced with pain.

Lin Fan didn't say much more; instead, he stepped forward, gently cupped her face, and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Who says destiny cannot be changed? Since you bear the burden of the Immortal Realm, then I will bear it with you. If this heaven and earth will not allow us to be together, then I will shake the heavens and shatter destiny."

Su Wanqing's vision blurred with tears; his words struck the softest part of her heart.

She leaned into Lin Fan's arms, tears sliding down silently, yet accompanied by a peaceful sweetness.

"Brother Bai Fan…" she whispered, clinging to him with emotion, "Thank you… I truly… hope this moment can last forever."

Lin Fan held Su Wanqing tightly in his arms, a warmth he had never felt before rising in his heart.

He could clearly feel her fragility and struggle. This girl, who had once been high above the clouds, was now trembling in his arms. He was willing to be her pillar of support; even if the future was fraught with danger, he would accompany her to change this so-called "Heavenly Mandate."

"Wanqing, no matter how difficult the future may be, I will be with you."

Su Wanqing slowly lifted her head, gazing into his eyes as if trying to find a trace of resolute courage within his deep pupils. Her voice trembled like a whisper in the wind, "But… I am afraid. I am afraid that I cannot do it, afraid that I cannot shoulder those responsibilities, and even more afraid of… losing you."

Lin Fan reached out to gently lift her face, looking at her earnestly and tenderly, "Fear is normal, but we cannot fail to fight for our own happiness just because we are afraid."

His voice was low and warm, as if it could pierce through all the gloom in her heart. Su Wanqing stared at him blankly, her heart suddenly warmed. A moment later, she lowered her eyes and whispered, "Brother Bai Fan, being able to meet you, I am truly already very satisfied."

She pursed her lips and said with a hint of bitterness, "But even if I agree to you, the Tianji Pavilion will not. As I am now, I have been nailed to the position of Heavenly Maiden, becoming their future."

Upon hearing this, Lin Fan's chest felt as if it had been struck by a blunt object. He understood instantly: if they hadn't climbed that ascension ladder, if Su Wanqing hadn't mastered Immortal Qi, she would still have had room to choose. But now… everything was set in stone.

A surge of unwillingness welled up in his heart, and he cursed angrily, "To hell with the Tianji Pavilion! I'll tear it down!"

Su Wanqing was startled and quickly looked up, grabbing his arm, "Brother Bai Fan, you can't do that. The Tianji Pavilion is not just my home; it is the pillar that protects the Immortal Realm. If you really go to destroy it, countless people will suffer."

Her voice grew quieter, her eyes full of worry, "Besides, how can you alone fight against the entire Tianji Pavilion? I don't want… I don't want to see you get hurt…"

Lin Fan fell silent, the struggle within his heart surging like a tide.

He did not want to see Su Wanqing crushed by the Heavenly Mandate, and he understood her identity and responsibilities. But to make him give up—she was everything he wanted to protect; how could he let go?

He gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, "Then what do you want to do? Tell me to get lost? Tell me to forget you?"

Su Wanqing was taken aback by this sudden, blunt question. Her cheeks flushed immediately, and she lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eye.

She knew she had already fallen deep into his gentle and resolute world; there was simply no turning back from this fated, winding relationship.

"…Fine." She sighed softly, as if she had finally accepted her fate, "I can take you to the Tianji Pavilion, and I can continue to be with you, but you must promise me three things."

Lin Fan's eyes lit up, and his heart leaped with joy.

This was exactly what he had dreamed of! As long as he could go to the Tianji Pavilion with her and activate the main quest, he was willing to agree to any condition.

"Mm, go ahead, I agree to them all."

The corners of Su Wanqing's eyes curved up, smiling like a crescent moon, a hint of craftiness shining in her eyes.

"First, our relationship must be kept secret; absolutely no one else can know."

"Alright, no problem."

"Second, you must respect my duties. You are not allowed to mess around in the Tianji Pavilion, and you certainly cannot cause any destruction."

"That's fine too, I promise."

"The last one… this is the most important, you must listen clearly!"

"Go ahead, I'm all ears."

Su Wanqing fidgeted for a moment, her little face bright red, before finally whispering, "Now that you are with me, you are not allowed to think about having me give you special treatment, and you must not act recklessly."

"If one day you become a Devil Head that the Tianji Pavilion must purge… then I will stand on the side of the Tianji Pavilion and crusade against you."

Lin Fan had originally expected her to say some deeply affectionate vow, but upon hearing this, he was left speechless, caught between laughter and tears, "Hahaha, I thought you were going to say something else. So it was this?"

"This is important, okay!" Su Wanqing pinched him in anger, "Don't laugh, be serious!"

"Alright, alright, I won't laugh, I'm super serious."

She finally breathed a sigh of relief, satisfied, and felt a bit more at ease in her heart.

Just then, Su Wanqing suddenly realized that they were still extremely close and whispered a reminder, "Alright, hurry up and put your clothes on. If someone sees us… I'll just say you forced me. In any case, I have to protect my reputation first."