Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 624 I am a Rabbit-Eared Clan 42

More than half a month has passed since the shocking events of the Frost Moon Festival.

Black Tail was completely eradicated, and most of his slave forces, through the tacit approval of the tribal elders and the iron-fisted consolidation of Silver Flame, now belong to the Xuanjia Guard.

The stench of blood in Ice Crystal Plaza was swept away by the biting wind and snow, and the undercurrents brought about by the power shift temporarily subsided beneath the surface.

As for Yun Chu, due to her outstanding performance at the Frost Moon Festival and the fact that she saved many lives at crucial moments, the name "Yun Chu the Physician" spread among slaves and even some lower-ranking warriors in a small circle.

She found a more stable corner in Jianyan's medical hut, where she continued to busy herself with caring for the wounded and studying the profound medical techniques in ancient scrolls.

More than a year passed in this way. During this year, Yun Chu helped Yin Yan and gained the support of many slaves.

Half a year ago, during the battle between the Lion Clan and the Tiger Clan, Yun Chu risked her life to save the seriously injured Yin Yan and brought him safely back to the Tiger Clan, giving him the opportunity to fight back against the Lion Clan.

Two months have passed since the battle.

But Yun Chu never forgot the goal buried deep in her heart—to use the Silver Flame to complete the mission.

Today is a rare day off, and the biting cold wind seems to have subsided a bit compared to usual.

For once, Yin Yan did not go out to inspect or handle complicated matters. Instead, he stayed in the core stone chamber deep inside the stone fortress, reviewing recent supply accounts and some tribal letters that needed to be processed.

His tall figure was hidden in the large animal-hide chair, still exuding a chilling aura that made people afraid to look directly at him. Only when his fingers unconsciously caressed the newly engraved, clear and sharp rabbit ear mark on the hilt of his sword did a glimmer of light seem to flash across the icy surface of his eyes.

Yun Chu knew that this was an opportunity she had been planning for a long time.

The heavy door of the stone chamber was gently pushed open a crack, and the enticing aroma of food wafted in first, rich but not greasy, carrying a heartwarming atmosphere that instantly broke the silence inside.

Yun Chu carefully carried a large tray covered with thick animal hide to keep it warm. Her small figure almost hopped in, her long ears trembling as she tried to keep the tray balanced.

"Captain~" Her voice was deliberately soft and clear, with a slightly sweet and soft ending tone, like the first melting snow water.

She placed the tray steadily on the stone table in front of Yin Yan, her movements swift yet deliberately "clumsy," as if she were struggling to carry a heavy object.

"Phew, it's so hot!" She exaggeratedly blew on her fingertips, then raised her fair face, her round eyes blinking as she looked at Yin Yan, filled with anticipation.

"I made this especially for you today! It's your day off, so treat yourself and see if my cooking has improved!"

As she spoke, she lifted the animal skin.

The tray was arranged very elegantly: a thin, crispy, golden-yellow potato cake was stacked on one side of the wooden plate, and the surface was evenly sprinkled with crushed tibia seeds;

Beside it was a thick stone bowl filled with a milky white broth. You could see small pieces of meat stewed until tender and mixed with dark green medicinal and wild vegetable leaves. Steam rose from the bowl, emitting a strange and delicious aroma and warmth.

A few fresh, bright red berries are also scattered around the side.

The fragrance instantly filled the entire space, more intense than ever before when it was presented to his stone table.

Yun Chu's long ears tilted forward slightly, showing a focused listening posture. Her body also unconsciously moved a little closer to Yin Yan, the distance was just right, revealing her affectionate intentions without offending the vigilant Yin Yan.

She gently touched the edge of the potato pancake with her finger: "I tried a new way to bake this, it's especially crispy! And this soup, I added some tender sprouts that just sprout from the snow, Grandpa Jianyan said it's especially good for clearing the lungs..."

Her voice was soft and bright, like a chirping bird, and she wore an unguarded, ingratiating smile. Her eyes were fixed on Yin Yan's reaction, trying to catch a hint of relaxation in his perpetually icy face.

Yin Yan lifted her gaze from the account scroll, fell on the food within reach, and then returned to her little face, which was filled with the expression of "Praise me!"

That deliberately softened tone, that close-up fragrance, those slightly swaying white ears waiting for attention... a very subtle ripple spread through the depths of his cold, golden vertical pupils, too fast to catch.

He didn't respond to her introduction immediately, but remained silent for a few seconds. The air seemed to thicken and stagnate for a moment because of her "performance".

Then, he reached out, picked up a potato pancake, and put it in his mouth.

The sound of the crispy outer layer cracking was particularly clear in the silence.

Yun Chu held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that success or failure hinged on this moment—the temptation of food was the key, but her carefully crafted "acting cute and charming" was the probing fire thrown into the deepest part of this icy barrier.

As Yin Yan's fingers lingered on the potato pancake, the crispy, caramelized aroma wafting between his teeth, the subtle shift in the depths of his golden eyes transformed from wariness into an almost imperceptible amusement.

Yun Chu's long ears trembled slightly as she held her breath in anticipation, each second feeling like eternity—this was precisely the silence he had deliberately created.

Her "clumsy" approach, her sweet tone, and her round eyes that seemed to say "Praise me!" were, in her eyes, a carefully designed test, but in his mind, a vivid and amusing scene.

A very faint smile, almost hidden beneath the resolute corners of his mouth, quietly appeared.

Yin Yan found it amusing: This little rabbit thought she was acting cleverly, but she forgot that the sincerity she showed when she tried to please others was as pure and bright as a campfire in the snow.

This "seduction" was clumsy yet endearing, stirring up a long-lost warmth in his heart once more.

"Silly rabbit." He suddenly spoke, his voice still deep, but unusually carrying a hint of teasing.

Before Yun Chu could even react to the meaning behind his light rebuke, Yin Yan had already made his move.

Without warning, his long, strong arm reached out like lightning and grabbed her slender wrist.

Yun Chu gasped in surprise as her body was gently pulled, causing her to lose her balance and stumble towards the large animal-skin chair.

The next moment, she was sitting steadily on his lap.

The thick, warm leather chair enveloped her, and Yin Yan's body heat radiated through her clothes, even hotter than the soup she had brought.

Before Yun Chu's exclamation had completely dissipated in the warm air, the world had already begun to spin.

The rough yet warm touch of the animal hide enveloped her, but even more intense was the chest pressed against her back—solid and fiery, as if possessing a tangible life force, seeping into her skin through the thin fabric, burning her heart and causing it to suddenly tighten.

This far exceeded the "seduction" effect she had envisioned with her little scheme!

She subconsciously looked up, trying to find a trace of explanation or mockery in Yin Yan's always unfathomable golden eyes.

However, the moment their eyes met, what she saw was no longer a cold scrutiny, nor a gentle amusement, but... something that made her blood freeze and her mind go blank.

It was a bright, leaping flame, carrying with it a kind of almost indulgent aggression that she had never seen in him before.

The corners of Yin Yan's lips, which had previously been almost imperceptible, now rose clearly like a crescent moon.

The smile was no longer a hidden ripple, but spread unrestrainedly across her eyes and brows, carrying a mischievous sense of knowing everything yet enjoying watching her lose her composure.

"Ugh...!" Yun Chu only managed to utter a short, panicked single sound.

Yin Yan did not hesitate at all.

He didn't verbally provoke her as usual, nor did he call her "stupid rabbit" again. He leaned down and, precisely and unequivocally, covered her lips, which were slightly parted in shock.

This was neither the fleeting, tentative advances Yun Chu had imagined, nor the seductive, intimate encounters she had practiced.

This is a declaration, a plunder with absolute control.

His kiss was hot and forceful, carrying his cool breath and the lingering aroma of burnt hash browns on her fingertips, seizing all her senses in an almost tyrannical manner.

His arms remained tightly wrapped around her waist, preventing her from having any chance to back down or escape.