Sensing Bai Lingxuan's gaze, the man spoke again.
"Lingxuan… isn't our relationship already like this?"
As he stepped closer, a chill spread through Bai Lingxuan's limbs and bones. She shivered instinctively.
Cold.
Too cold.
Her brows furrowed, a trace of displeasure appearing on her face.
Only then did she finally see him clearly.
Black hair. Black eyes.
Those deep, unfathomable eyes were fixed entirely on her, filled with unmistakable tenderness and affection.
For reasons she couldn't explain, Bai Lingxuan found herself sinking into that gaze.
She was stunned.
His features were refined, his skin pale, almost delicate—yet there was nothing weak about him. Every movement carried a quiet nobility, a natural authority that spoke of an extraordinary origin.
That contradiction made it impossible to look away.
He was tall—nearly one meter ninety. His long black robe shimmered faintly with a deep purple light, adding to the sense of mystery surrounding him.
Seeing her dazed expression, his lips curved slightly, his demeanor softening.
"Lingxuan…"
He raised a hand and gently wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief.
His movements were careful—reverent—as if he were handling something fragile beyond measure.
Bai Lingxuan stared at him in disbelief.
Why… was her body so accustomed to his gentleness?
She couldn't understand it at all.
She was certain—she had no memory of this man.
Yet her body reacted honestly.
"Don't be afraid," he said softly. "I will always be by your side."
"We are husband and wife. One."
He extended his arm and pulled her into his embrace without hesitation.
The icy cold seeped into her, spreading rapidly. Bai Lingxuan's eyes instantly filled with tears.
She was completely confused.
"But… I don't even know your name!"
Her voice trembled as she looked up at him.
"Feng Ling."
He spoke calmly.
"That is my name."
"Lingxuan."
—
Two hours later, Bai Lingxuan woke up abruptly.
Her face flushed crimson as the dream replayed vividly in her mind.
"You're awake."
Qu Wu's cold voice sounded beside her.
Her dark eyes held a hint of concern. "Did you have a nightmare? You look terrible."
Bai Lingxuan's complexion was deathly pale, her entire figure appearing exhausted.
"Ah…"
She nodded faintly. "I had… a strange dream."
Strange—and unsettling.
It had come without warning, leaving her heart in turmoil.
Why had that man—Feng Ling—appeared in her dream?
It was too bizarre.
She was certain she had never met him. There was no way she could have imagined such a tall, vivid figure out of nothing.
Most importantly—
He had a name.
That thought alone made her uneasy.
Qu Wu spoke gently, lowering her voice. "Dreams are often the opposite of reality. Don't dwell on it too much."
She paused, then added, "Also, while you were asleep, the captain said we'll have two months of rest after this mission. When the time comes, relax properly. Don't lock yourself in your room all day."
In Qu Wu's eyes, Bai Lingxuan was flawless in almost every way—except that she neglected herself too easily.
She was always gentle, always caring about others, yet rarely spared a thought for her own heart.
"Mm."
Bai Lingxuan nodded. "That's good."
"So," Lan Tingnan suddenly asked, "what kind of dream was it?"
Her bright blue eyes gazed at Bai Lingxuan with gentle curiosity.
She smiled slightly. "You can tell us. We promise we won't tell your parents."
They all knew how intense the Bai family could be.
After all, they were comrades who had shared life and death.
"It's nothing," Bai Lingxuan said softly.
She hesitated, then added, "I dreamed of someone I've never met."
Silence.
Then—
"Eh?"
"What?!"
Her words hit them like a thunderbolt.
After a brief pause, Qu Wu—recovering the fastest—asked seriously, "Was the person in your dream a man or a woman?"
Bai Lingxuan was the youngest in the team.
Everyone treated her like a younger sister, doting on her without reserve.
In their eyes, she was the team's precious treasure.
Seeing their expressions, Bai Lingxuan answered quietly, "A man."
"Lingxuan, go on!"
"What does he look like?"
"Which temple's shameless bastard is he? I'll go beat him up for you!"
Qu Wu, Lan Tingnan, and Yun Xianglu spoke at once, their faces filled with indignation.
The reason was simple—
The cabbage they had carefully raised was apparently being eyed by some unknown wild boar.
Their voices rose, eyes blazing with anger.
Bai Lingxuan quickly shook her head. "I don't know him."
"I've never seen him before. He just… appeared in my dream."
"He felt very real. Like someone with flesh and blood."
"And he even had a name."
She let out everything that had been weighing on her heart.
She truly didn't understand.
Yun Xianglu widened her eyes. "This is my fault!"
"I shouldn't have teased you yesterday."
Guilt surfaced on her face.
"No," Bai Lingxuan said firmly. "This dream has been bothering me for over a week."
"It has nothing to do with you, Sister Yun."
The thought of that dream made her mood sink again.
Too real.
Too clear.
And that was what frightened her the most.
Yu Yan finally spoke.
"We should consult the Magic Temple after this mission."
He said calmly, "Cases like this aren't unheard of. The Magic Temple has records involving dreams of strangers."
"Once we return, we'll go to the main hall."
As the team leader, his words naturally represented everyone's decision.
"I'll handle it," Lan Tingnan said immediately. "I'll speak to my father."
Her father—Lan Mingcheng—was the current Master of the Magic Temple.
The Lan family held immense influence there. Over the past thousand years, they had produced multiple hall masters and deputy hall masters.
"Thank you, Sister Lan," Bai Lingxuan said sincerely.
She had always regarded them as older brothers and sisters.
And she was deeply grateful.
"There's no need to thank me," Lan Tingnan replied with a gentle smile. "I treat you like my own little sister."
She glanced out the carriage window.
"In half an hour, we'll reach Exorcism Pass."
"It's time to prepare for battle."
—
End of Chapter 3