Bai Lingxuan lowered her gaze, her cheeks faintly flushed as she avoided Yun Xianglu's probing eyes.
She felt… guilty.
Her mind uncontrollably drifted back to that strange dream.
That unfamiliar yet gentle voice echoed in her ears, making her heart beat faster without warning.
Yun Xianglu tilted her head, studying her expression. "Are you shy?"
She smiled teasingly. "Or do you already have someone you like?"
She had said it casually, never expecting Bai Lingxuan to react this way.
Seeing the faint redness spreading across Bai Lingxuan's cheeks, Yun Xianglu's interest was immediately piqued.
"Oh?" she leaned closer. "Which young genius managed to steal your heart? Tell me—I'll help you judge."
Bai Lingxuan's heart skipped a beat. She shook her head quickly, flustered.
"Sister Yun, you're really overthinking it. There's nothing like that! I—I still have things to do. Let's talk later!"
Before Yun Xianglu could respond, Bai Lingxuan fled in a panic, retreating straight to her room.
Watching her hurried figure disappear, Yun Xianglu shook her head helplessly.
"She's still too young."
—
Back in her room, Bai Lingxuan leaned against the closed door, her breathing uneven.
A faint blush lingered on her face, even the tips of her ears tinged red.
She slowly slid down to sit on the cool floor, hugging her knees.
Her heart was racing.
So nervous.
"It was just a dream…" she muttered.
Yet the more she tried to calm herself, the clearer the memory became.
That gentle, clear, almost affectionate voice…
A trace of confusion flickered through her eyes.
Her emotions were in chaos.
Her heartbeat thundered wildly, like a startled deer trapped in her chest. A faint tingling sensation spread through her limbs, flowing deep into her bones.
She could clearly feel it—her emotions were fluctuating far more than usual.
What a strange feeling.
Bai Lingxuan pressed her lips together, anxiety and confusion intertwining in her heart.
She didn't fully understand her own thoughts.
But one thing was certain.
She didn't reject this feeling.
People's hearts were never constant. She couldn't deny the comfort that voice brought her, nor the warmth that lingered long after waking.
She liked the owner of that voice.
Even though the dream was hazy, and she couldn't see his face clearly, she felt no fear—no aversion at all.
Is this… what it feels like to be smitten?
The thought made her heart tremble.
She leaned back against the door, her eyes soft and unfocused, filled with a misty, uncertain longing.
She was confused.
Yet she found herself yearning—for that voice.
That night, Bai Lingxuan suffered from insomnia for the first time in years.
—
The next morning, when the team gathered, her complexion was noticeably pale.
Dressed in the golden robes symbolic of the Priest Temple, Bai Lingxuan boarded the carriage bound for Exorcism Pass along with the others.
The carriage was spacious, drawn by eight fine horses. The interior was simple but comfortable.
Provided free of charge by the Temple Alliance, it would be left behind at the pass before they officially entered demon-controlled territory.
Lan Tingnan glanced at Bai Lingxuan, concern flashing across her blue eyes.
"Lingxuan, you look exhausted."
She wore a deep-blue mage's robe, her fair face clearly surprised. Bai Lingxuan's condition was impossible to miss.
"Do you want me to use a calming mantra?" Lan Tingnan asked gently. "It can help remove mental fatigue."
The Cleansing Mantra was a magic spell mages used to dispel negative mental states and restore one's condition.
Bai Lingxuan shook her head softly.
"No need. I'll be fine after resting a bit."
She lowered her voice. "We're still in the carriage anyway."
Her gaze was unfocused—her thoughts clearly elsewhere.
Lan Tingnan smiled helplessly. "Alright. Try to relax."
She paused, then added lightly, "Or are you nervous about the mission? Don't worry—we're all here."
Everyone noticed Bai Lingxuan's abnormal state, but no one pressed further. They understood—everyone carried things they didn't wish to share.
Bai Lingxuan leaned back against the carriage wall and closed her eyes.
Yet the moment she did, that blurry figure surfaced again.
The feeling of wanting to see, yet being unable to—it was tormenting.
Perhaps because the carriage moved steadily, and her companions were close by, she eventually drifted into sleep.
Qu Wu quietly stood up and gently draped a thin blanket over Bai Lingxuan.
"She's exhausted," she said softly.
As an assassin, Qu Wu was exceptionally sensitive to emotional changes—an instinct sharpened through years of survival.
Yun Xianglu frowned slightly. "Could it be because her family is urging her to marry?"
She shook her head. "I tested her reaction earlier. She didn't seem troubled by it."
"She shouldn't be affected that deeply."
"There may be something else," Lan Tingnan said slowly. "Just like my younger sister—if only Yanyu had half of Lingxuan's calmness."
Mentioning Lan Yanyu made her sigh.
Lan Yanyu was only six years old, yet already mischievous enough to give the entire family headaches.
"Heh." Cong Xuan laughed heartily. "Better lively than naïve. At least she won't be easily fooled by men when she grows up."
His booming laughter instantly lightened the atmosphere.
Lan Tingnan sighed again. "Once this mission is over, I'll finally have time to spend with her."
Yu Yan's calm voice then rang out.
"After this mission, the team will be granted two months of rest."
Silence followed—then excitement erupted.
"Long live the captain!"
"I'll tell Lingxuan the good news when she wakes up!"
For demon hunters, rest was a luxury.
From the moment they joined, their lives were bound to the battlefield.
Two full months of leave was a rare and precious reward.
—
Inside the soundproof barrier, Bai Lingxuan remained unaware.
She was once again immersed in her dream.
The lingering scent of pine.
That gentle voice.
"Lingxuan… don't cry. I'm here."
The voice rang clearly in her ears, so close it felt as though the speaker stood right before her.
She saw a tall figure shrouded in black mist, her pupils shrinking in shock.
Bai Lingxuan tried desperately to see his face—but no matter how hard she looked, he remained nothing more than a silhouette wrapped in darkness.
"Who… are you?"
Her body trembled slightly as she spoke.
"I am your husband."
His voice was slow and steady, his towering figure blocking out all light.
Bai Lingxuan's mind went blank.
She stared at him in disbelief.
Her first thought was crystal clear—
What a shameless person!
—
End of Chapter 2