"Ah? There's only one room left?"
Upon hearing the innkeeper's apologetic reply, Tang Ya shot up from her chair, her face full of anxiety.
She remembered clearly—Sunset Town was small, and this was the only decent inn around.
If there was only one room left… didn't that mean… she would have to share it with Liu Yuan tonight?
At the thought, a wave of heat rushed from her neck to her cheeks. Her face instantly grew burning hot, a visible blush spreading across her skin.
Although she was usually carefree and bold, she was still an unmarried girl at heart.
Sharing a room with Liu Yuan… just the two of them… this… this was too much!
Seeing her reaction, Liu Yuan rubbed his brow helplessly.
He turned to the innkeeper and said, "Alright, then give the room to her."
"Then what about you?" Tang Ya quickly asked.
"Me?" Liu Yuan shrugged casually. "When traveling, sleeping outdoors is nothing unusual. I can just find an eave or a tree branch for the night. I can't let you, a girl, have nowhere to stay."
He said it lightly, but it made Tang Ya feel somewhat embarrassed. She immediately retorted:
"No way! If you give me the room and go sleep outside, wouldn't that make me seem completely unreasonable?"
Seeing the stubborn look on her face—the kind that clearly said 'If you leave, I'll be mad'—Liu Yuan sighed.
"As a man, I won't suffer any loss," he said, "but if we stay in the same room, it might not be good for your reputation if word gets out."
"Oh, stop hesitating!"
Tang Ya steeled herself, lifting her chin defiantly to hide her inner embarrassment.
"I'm not afraid, so what are you afraid of? Don't tell me you actually have improper thoughts about me?"
Liu Yuan was instantly speechless.
The corner of his mouth twitched. "What nonsense are you thinking about all day? Stop talking."
In the end, after some back-and-forth, the two accepted the same key and walked upstairs together under the innkeeper's knowing smile.
---
The room wasn't large, but it was clean.
One bed. One table. One chair.
That was all.
The atmosphere instantly became a little awkward.
"I… I'll go bathe first."
Tang Ya grabbed her belongings and quickly slipped into the bathroom.
Bang!
The door shut behind her.
Leaning against it, she felt her heart pounding wildly.
Hot water poured over her body, but her thoughts only grew more chaotic.
She trusted Liu Yuan completely—he wasn't that kind of person.
But…
A man and a woman alone in one room…
What if… the mood changed…
What if he suddenly—
"Ah! Tang Ya, what are you thinking?!"
She shook her head violently, trying to dispel the thoughts, but her face was already red enough to burn.
---
When she finally came out, she looked like a freshly steamed shrimp—her face flushed all the way to her ears.
Liu Yuan, who had been sitting cross-legged on the floor, opened his eyes and glanced at her.
"Is the water that hot?" he muttered. "Your face is completely red."
He clearly had no idea what she had been thinking.
"Rest early," he said calmly. "I'll wash up."
With that, he entered the bathroom.
---
When Liu Yuan came out, Tang Ya was already lying on the bed, wrapped tightly in the blanket, leaving only her bright eyes visible as she stared at him.
Liu Yuan found it slightly amusing but said nothing.
He picked up the spare blanket, lay down in the corner farthest from the bed, and closed his eyes.
The night passed peacefully.
---
The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room.
Liu Yuan woke up refreshed.
Tang Ya had also slept well—her worries from the previous night had been completely unnecessary.
Liu Yuan had behaved like a block of wood.
---
After breakfast downstairs, it was time to part ways.
Their destinations were different.
Tang Ya would return to the ruins of the Tang Sect.
Liu Yuan would head deep into the Star Dou Great Forest.
At the fork in the road, they stopped.
"Liu Yuan, thank you—for last night, and for your advice."
Tang Ya's expression was unusually serious.
"If I decide to go to the Sun Moon Royal Academy… I'll come find you."
"You're always welcome," Liu Yuan replied with a smile. "Take care."
"Got it, you're so naggy!"
---
They parted ways.
Liu Yuan didn't look back, striding straight toward the forest.
But after a few steps, Tang Ya stopped and turned around.
She watched his departing figure, her eyes filled with complicated emotions.
"Sun Moon Royal Academy…" she murmured.
"Maybe… I really should think about it."
---
On the other side, Liu Yuan entered the Star Dou Great Forest without hesitation.
The dense life aura of the forest surged toward him, refreshing his senses.
He immediately released his mental power and began searching.
The target:
The Wind Hunting Demon Ape.
A rare Spirit Beast, adept at speed and wind manipulation. Solitary, territorial, and extremely difficult to track.
---
Days passed.
No results.
Liu Yuan sat on a thick tree branch, frowning.
"Fifty-thousand-year Spirit Beasts are everywhere… so why is this one so hard to find?"
Just as he was considering changing locations—
His eyes suddenly sharpened.
His mental detection caught something.
"It's here!"
---
Crack!
Branches snapped.
A massive shadow burst out from the canopy and slammed onto the ground.
A giant ape stood before him—
Dark green fur.
Blood-red eyes.
A violent, terrifying aura.
The Wind Hunting Demon Ape.