Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Letting Go
In the dimly lit Holy Temple, a black shadow swiftly flew by.
Wen Shu circumvented the front hall, finally seeing the flickering golden glow within the innermost chamber.
She approached quickly, not finding Mious’s figure, and in the expansive temple, there was only a high platform encased with an iron cage half-human high.
The cage bottom was tightly locked with iron locks, appearing very sturdy, while the Divine Tree Leaf lay silently within.
She extended her claw blade, attempting to pry open the iron lock, but its structure was extraordinarily unique, not only could it not be pried open, but it couldn’t even be cut apart!
"No wonder there’s no one guarding..."
Wen Shu picked up the palm-sized lock cylinder, trying to find a way to open it when suddenly, a cold wind arose behind her, accompanied by a sharp, cutting sound!
Swiftly raising her claw to block, the collision of claw blades produced a piercing, sharp sound. She furrowed her brow upon recognizing the familiar brows and eyes of her attacker.
It was Prince Youna.
His cold gray eyes revealed a hint of surprise upon meeting hers, hurriedly withdrawing his attack, "How could it be you?"
The Empire’s royal family reads the prophecy book left by Priest Yisha upon reaching adulthood.
Since childhood, he knew that on the eve of a snowbound city, someone would come to seize the Divine Tree Leaves.
He had made many preparations for this day, but he never imagined it would be her.
At this time, wasn’t she supposed to be in the garden?
Youna glanced down, sweeping over Wen Shu’s loose-fitting guard uniform that almost dragged on the ground, "Where is your dress..."
Halfway through his words, his cheeks flushed slightly red. His mother intended tonight to introduce the female to the Beastmen of the Royal City for engagement.
It was somewhat abrupt, and he didn’t agree. But his mother was too eager; after all, it was his first time feeling affection for a female after reaching adulthood.
Noticing his strange gaze, Wen Shu had no intention of probing further, nor wasting time, bluntly asking, "Prince Youna, do you have the key?"
Youna was lost in thought, subconsciously nodded, and before he could speak, a slender white hand grabbed his collar and pulled him down.
He was forced to lower his head, met with eyes radiating light, the expressionless female asking, her lips like flower petals, "Give me the key."
They weren’t too close, yet Youna merely stared at her face, as if smelling her fragrance, causing his palms to sweat nervously.
"I..."
His Adam’s apple rolled slightly, awkwardly turning his face aside, his ear lobes burning a bright red.
Wen Shu hesitated for a second; he had no magnetic chain on his neck, nor magnet in the fingers between his wrists, why didn’t the Soul Capturing Technique work?
She tightened her grip on Youna’s collar, intending to directly snatch it, but before she could act, warmth encircled her wrist.
Youna turned back, red-faced and flushed, his gray eyes reflecting her snow-white face, "Female Wen Shu, you cannot take the Divine Tree Leaves..."
He explained the reasons and consequences.
Wen Shu pursed her lips, thinking this was nonsense, "Pollution won’t disappear on its own."
"The Beast God is asleep, the Divine Tree has withered, these are facts. Compared to vague prophecies, we have practical solutions, these are more convincing, aren’t they?"
Her gaze moved quietly, inspecting all of Youna’s ornaments, stopping at the iron hairpin with a Phoenix pattern.
"Moreover, it’s up to people to act, even if there is danger, can’t it be resolved?"
She spoke word by word, her long black eyelashes quivering with her clear voice, fluttering like elegant butterfly wings.
Youna gazed into her earnest eyes, feeling swayed, his fingertips brushing the key hidden in his sleeve, "You have a point, but..."
He glanced at the iron cage, hesitating somewhat, and after a moment of resolve, his eyes flashed decisively, "I can give it to you, but there is one condition."
Wen Shu tightened her arms, stiffening at her side, "What?"
The spacious temple fell quiet for a moment, as Mious, who had just finished searching the other side of the Holy Temple, turned here and heard Youna’s request.
"I want to go with you. After everything is over, you must immediately be my mate."
The black snake froze, hearing no immediate rejection from Wen Shu, eagerly lifting its body.
"If mother finds out you stole the Divine Tree Leaves, she definitely won’t let you go. Only then can I protect you."
High-sounding!
Mious’s ghostly green eyes swept over Youna’s blushing face, then looked at Wen Shu’s upright back.
She seemed deep in thought, not immediately rejecting.
Just when Mious was puzzled, Wen Shu moved.
She leaned closer to Youna, blocking the male’s red-tinted face, which from his angle seemed like an intimate kiss!
Mious’s pupils contracted, fixating on them, his tail impatiently slapping the ground, making "patter-patter" sounds.
Facing this scene, his first reaction was to rush forward to stop them, but what right did he have now?
The rigid snake tail briefly stiffened, swaying before falling, Mious despondently lowered his eyes, his dark body seemed shrouded in clouds, and even his slide slowed.
"Bang—"
Suddenly, the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground came from the front.
Mious’s eyes brightened momentarily, looking toward where Wen Shu stood, she had quickly opened the iron lock, holding the Divine Tree Leaves, and was walking toward the exit.
Passing the corridor’s corner, she cast her eyes down at him, "Mious, what’s wrong?"
Her long hair slipped past her face, blocking the light, only a few dim strands of light sprinkled on her gentle eye corner.
Mious’s black-bean-sized snake eyes halted, his pupils slowly dilating, feeling waves of heat in their sockets.
Was she concerned for him?
She still concerned for him...
The black snake nestled in the corner of the wall, like trying to warm itself, curled tightly into a coil, looking pitiable.
Wen Shu thought he was injured, bending to activate her superpower, her fingertips barely touching the cold snake scales when the little snake suddenly elongated and expanded, instantaneously transforming back into a tall human form.
Seizing her wrist, pulling her into his embrace.
Mious breathed heavily, worried about crushing her, only dared to keep his arms slightly extended.
But such an embrace made him feel uneasy, sensing that the person in his arms might vanish like a gust of wind at any moment.
"Ashu..."
His palm pressed tightly against Wen Shu’s back, slowly touching the bones wrapped in skin, yet still feeling it wasn’t enough.
Finally, when his gaze landed in the dim corners, capturing her moist lips, an indescribable pain in his heart found an outlet.
Realizing his intent, Wen Shu furrowed her brow but before she could break free, a large hand covered her head, bringing her to the male’s lips.
Cold softness collided with lips, Mious seemed fearful of something, urgently seeking a response, yet in pain, becoming aware, timidly entangling with her, unwilling to retreat a single step.
A brief kiss seemed to transfer his emotions through intertwined breaths into Wen Shu’s lips and teeth.
Tears glimmering in close green eyes, she tightly clenched her hand, the leaf poking painfully against her palm.
Until a salty moisture spread at her lips.
Wen Shu pushed away from the chest, glancing at Mious’s bright red nose tip, breathing stalled for a few seconds, "Mious..."
Her throat choked, gripping the robe beneath her hand, unable to endure his gaze, burying her face deeply into his chest, recalling previous distressing emotions, angrily biting at his chest.
The sharp pain arrived, Mious furrowed his brow slightly, gazing at Wen Shu’s fluffy hair top, as his eyes glimmered momentarily, lips pursing into a ripple-like line.
