Chapter 2671: Chapter 2671
The young woman had failed to persuade Ye Liuyun, but in the end, she was utterly conquered by his barbecue skills.
Ye Liuyun moved through the wilderness with her, capturing feral beast with effortless ease. He didn’t bother with drawn-out battles—instead, he subdued them instantly with his formidable soul power, branding them with slave seals in the blink of an eye. Even the strongest beast king in the region, a Dominator-level creature, fell swiftly under his control. Progress was smooth, almost leisurely.
As they traveled, they chatted, stopping whenever they felt tired to roast meat. At first, the maidservant had been reserved, but after tasting Ye Liuyun’s barbecue just once, she was hooked. From then on, she reminded him daily when it was time to rest—or more accurately, time to grill.
She didn’t even protest much when he roasted her Golden Eagle. Though she grumbled about his ruthlessness while eating, she didn’t hold back, devouring just as much as he did.
Ye Liuyun, ever the opportunist, sold her various seasonings, boasting about their medicinal properties, rarity, and miraculous effects—earning himself a tidy sum of divine crystals in return.
The maidservant even picked up some of his grilling techniques, learning how to control the heat and prepare different types of beast meat. After two days of practice, her skills improved significantly—though she still couldn’t match Ye Liuyun’s mastery.
Not one to let her freeload, he charged her restaurant prices for every meal. But she didn’t mind, indulging heartily each day.
On the eve of the competition’s end, she asked Ye Liuyun to prepare one last barbecue for her. He agreed without hesitation.
As the meat sizzled over the fire, she turned to him and said, “After spending so much time with you, I’ve come to think you’re really not so bad. You’ve never once looked down on me for being a maidservant.”
Truth be told, these days with Ye Liuyun had been the happiest and most carefree of her life. Between his company and his cooking, she had almost forgotten her duties entirely.
Ye Liuyun chuckled. “What’s wrong with being a maidservant? In my eyes, you’re far better than that princess of yours. In the world of martial cultivation, judging someone by status or strength alone is a fool’s game.”
She nodded in agreement, then asked, “But if that’s the case, why have you never asked for my name all this time? Are you still holding a grudge because I never thanked you for saving my life?”
Ye Liuyun shrugged. “We’re just passing travelers—who knows if we’ll ever meet again? What’s the point in exchanging names?” He paused, then added with a grin, “As for the thanks... honestly, I didn’t save you for gratitude. It just stung a little at the time, being misunderstood. But that’s all in the past now—I’ve long since let it go.”
"How do you know we won’t meet again?" the maidservant pressed Ye Liuyun once more.
Ye Liuyun shrugged casually. "I never planned to stay here long anyway. Don’t you think roaming freely, hunting beasts, is far better than being stuck in one place taming animals for others?" He stretched his arms lazily. "All that scheming and power-grabbing in official circles? Not my thing. This carefree life suits me just fine."
"Oh..." Her voice trailed off, tinged with melancholy. "Then we really might never cross paths again. I envy your freedom."
"Everyone walks their own path," Ye Liuyun replied simply, offering no empty comfort.
Truth be told, they barely knew each other. Rambling advice or forcing his views on her would only lead her astray. Sometimes, understanding was enough.
"Got any wine?" she suddenly asked, perking up. "Since we’re parting soon, shouldn’t we toast to the memories?"
"Absolutely!" Ye Liuyun produced a flask with a grin, and they shared it under the dimming stars.
They talked endlessly—about distant lands, wild adventures, and everything in between—until laughter filled the night. Dawn approached when she finally took her last bite of roasted meat.
"I’m stuffed to bursting!" She patted her rounded belly with a self-deprecating chuckle.
"You really went all out tonight," Ye Liuyun remarked, raising an eyebrow. "No need to gorge yourself like that."
Her expression turned earnest. "I wanted to savor every bite, to remember this taste. Who knows if I’ll ever have it again?"
Ye Liuyun shook his head with a wry smile. "All good feasts must come to an end."
After a thoughtful pause, she met his eyes, sincerity shining through. "Thank you—for protecting me, for keeping me company these days. You showed me a life I’d never known. I’m truly grateful."
Ye Liuyun scratched his head, feigning discomfort. "Whoa, that got serious fast! Don’t tell me you’re trying to skip out on paying your bodyguard fees now!"
"Pfft!"
The maidservant couldn’t help but laugh at Ye Liuyun’s antics.
"You money-grubber! All you ever think about is coin! You’ve fleeced me plenty these past few days, haven’t you? Come on, it’s almost dawn. Get me back safely, and I promise you won’t miss a single crystal!"
"You got it! For those crystals, let’s move out!"
Ye Liuyun inwardly sighed in relief—he was finally nearing the end of this month-long ordeal.
Though these last few days with the maidservant had been pleasant, he still felt this kind of leisurely life didn’t suit him. A brief taste was fine, but staying in such comfort for too long would dull a man’s fighting spirit.
With that, he summoned his falcon and took off with the maidservant in tow.
"In such a hurry to send me back?" she teased, half-joking.
"Not at all! I just don’t want anything happening to you on the way!" Ye Liuyun defended.
The maidservant fell silent, quietly settling behind him. As she watched his back, memories of their time together flickered through her mind, a faint smile lingering on her lips.
The falcon was swift, carrying them safely back to camp without incident.
Before dismounting, the maidservant sent him a voice transmission: "Mr. Ye, remember my name—Liu Yunyao. I hope we’ll meet again someday!"
Ye Liuyun nodded but didn’t respond. Truthfully, he doubted their paths would cross again.
"Liu Yunyao? That name sounds familiar... Isn’t that the princess’s name?" It wasn’t until the maidservant had boarded the princess’s warship that the realization struck him.
"Was that a coincidence, or did she give me a fake name on purpose?" Ye Liuyun frowned, utterly perplexed.
Logically speaking, after getting along so harmoniously all these days, the maidservant shouldn’t have any reason to trick him over such a matter.
"Just be more careful next time. But no matter what, you must never call me by that name in front of others!" Ye Liuyun reminded himself sternly.
At that moment, Lin Fengzhi received reports from his subordinates and came out to greet Ye Liuyun. Accompanying him was Lin Xiaoxiao.
"So, little girl, how was the hunting haul this time?" Ye Liuyun teased, turning to Lin Xiaoxiao.
Her cheeks flushed pink as she retorted indignantly, "Who are you calling ’little girl’? I’m a grown woman now!"
"Hahaha!" Lin Fengzhi burst into laughter at the sight.
