Chapter 73 - Girls in a Matriarchal World Are Just Too Scary

The myriad sensations were indescribable. Without experiencing them, one couldn't fully understand, and under the adept skills of the women from the Hehuan Sect, even he found himself at a loss as to what his heart truly felt. "Let's go." The young man spoke while dressing. Su Yan had an odd expression. Was he seeing things? Did he just see an unsatisfied look flash across the young man's face? Though it was fleeting, Su Yan was certain he hadn't imagined it. Ling Ling said, "This isn't a place for talking. We should leave here quickly." Su Yan nodded and instinctively glanced at the woman lying on the ground, her clothes partially undone. Ling Ling noticed and felt a twinge of annoyance, stepping closer to gently block his view. "Junior Brother, why are you still dawdling? Let's go together." "Oh." Su Yan turned to leave but paused when his gaze fell upon the lower half of the woman's body. Don't misunderstand, he wasn't tempted by her allure. Rather, it was— "Huh, what's this?" Su Yan pushed Ling Ling aside and discovered a folded letter hidden beneath the woman's partly disheveled clothes. "To keep something like this at a time like this, could it be something valuable?" Opening the paper, he found what appeared to be a map, depicting large treasure chest symbols on isolated mountain peaks. "This looks like a treasure map." Ling Ling glanced over at the map in surprise. "A treasure map?" Su Yan looked at the woman lying on the ground, peering into the sudden appearance of the Hehuan Sect in the small town, gradually piecing the truth together. No wonder the Hehuan Sect disciples abruptly came to this small town; they were here to seek treasure. "This is quite an unexpected surprise, but now isn't the time to study the map. We shouldn't stay here long; we need to leave quickly." Ling Ling stowed the map away. Su Yan understood the importance of prompt action and left the place with Ling Ling. They came as two, but returned as three, with the young man having been exerting himself over the past few days, his body weakened and sore. This significantly heightened the risk of exposure. Fortunately, they traveled without incident, and the three managed to escape from the Hehuan Sect's territory, reaching a safe place. "Phew, now that we're here, we're safe." Su Yan exhaled a sigh of relief. Logically, they should now bring the young man to Tang Wan'er to reassure her, but with a shared understanding from a glance, they both nodded. "Please wait here for a moment." Ling Ling, her expression unchanged, declared her intention to take a bath. "Bathing at a time like this?" The young man was baffled. Having barely been rescued, shouldn't the priority be to meet his junior sister? Why choose such a moment to bathe? Su Yan had no answer, feeling a bit embarrassed to explain. Ultimately, the young man stood half an hour in the cold air, and when the two returned, his fair face was reddened by the chill. "You're finally back. Achoo, achoo!" The young man barely managed to utter a word before sneezing twice in succession. Seeing his miserable state, Su Yan felt a pang of guilt and hurriedly led him toward Tang Wan'er's room. "Senior Brother!" As soon as they met, Tang Wan'er's eyes lit up, and she flew toward him, wrapping him in a tight embrace. "Sob, sob, I thought I'd never see you again. Senior Brother, I'm so sorry, it's my fault you suffered!" Tang Wan'er, overwhelmed by guilt and relief at her senior brother's return, cried and laughed simultaneously—a comical sight. "There, there, don't cry. I'm fine now, aren't I?" The young man gently stroked Tang Wan'er's head, speaking with warmth. Witnessing this, Su Yan nodded internally. Tang Wan'er described her senior brother as gentle and kind, and it truly seemed so. Even after experiencing such turmoil, he comforted his junior sister—a rare quality indeed. Tang Wan'er clung tightly to her senior brother, trying to feel his presence, to assure herself he was really back—this was no dream! "What's that smell on you? It's strange." Tang Wan'er sniffed, noticing an unfamiliar scent, and also— "You're freezing, Senior Brother. You're shivering from the cold. Those terrible women from the Hehuan Sect must have tormented you. Did they lock you in a water cell? How terrible!" Tang Wan'er clenched her fists in anger. Su Yan and Ling Ling exchanged a glance, both feeling a bit awkward. They had left the young man outside while they washed up. In hindsight, it seemed a bit excessive, though as for the smell... 'Should we tell her?' 'Or maybe leave it be.' 'I'll follow your lead.' The two communicated silently, choosing mutual silence. If they revealed the harsh reality, Tang Wan'er would feel worse. It was better to let her discover it herself eventually. Thus, the young man and Tang Wan'er exchanged their recent experiences. Tang Wan'er shared her story, and the young man briefly recounted his, skirting the unpleasant details. However, perceptive as she was, Tang Wan'er caught the crucial points effortlessly. "You really were..." Halfway through, Tang Wan'er couldn't continue. Overcome by sorrow, despite being mentally prepared, the reality still felt like a staggering blow, filling her heart with despair. "I'm so sorry. If not for me, you wouldn't have gone through all this." "It's okay. I don't blame you." The young man spoke gently, his face free of any resentment. Yet, his kindness only deepened Tang Wan'er's guilt, and she couldn't stop crying. "Thank you for saving my senior brother." After their heart-to-heart, Tang Wan'er turned to Su Yan with gratitude. "I owe you more than words can express for saving us. Why not join me at the Yushu Sect? I have some savings—all my spirit stones are yours." Spirit stones, though precious, paled in comparison to life itself. She could always earn more. "No need. I have commitments that prevent me from going, but I appreciate the offer. As for the senior sister's..." Su Yan looked at Ling Ling, who shook her head, "No need. I helped because of Junior Brother." Just a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, no matter how many years of wealth accumulated, what would it amount to? The real treasure was understanding Su Yan's nature rather than material gain. Could the young junior brother truly be as bad as her memories? Clearly, not so. "Disinterested in wealth, refusing gratitude, our junior brother is indeed kind-hearted and genuine." However... Recalling Su Yan's wandering eyes during the rescue, Ling Ling added in her thoughts. "He's just a bit curious about such matters—it's natural for him to be curious now that he's older. Nothing wrong with that." Compared to Su Yan's unclear gazes, the memories themselves were what truly mattered.