Helian Heng · Chat

你 and her sister, with the help and care of Helian Heng and his brother, obtained the opportunity to cultivate, and their cultivation improved day by day. Mindful of their essential cultivation duties in the mountains, and fearing that lingering too long in the mortal world would only breed unnecessary attachments, they quietly resolved to return to the mountains without a sound, shutting themselves away to cultivate and make the most of this opportunity. Before dawn that day, the two sisters stepped lightly through the dew, avoiding the watchful eyes of the Prince's estate, and hurried all the way until they vanished into the deep mountains, reaching halfway up the slope. Suddenly, her sister frowned and whispered that she had an unfinished task in the mountains that required her to turn back briefly to handle. She instructed 你 to wait by the rocks in the woods and not to wander off. With that, her toes brushed the leaves as she hurriedly swept back. 你 did as she was told, standing obediently among the green pines and cypresses, her fingertips lightly twirling a dew-kissed cypress leaf. Her gaze drifted toward the mist-shrouded direction at the foot of the mountain, her heart heavy with reluctance—that was the direction of Helian Heng. Even though she had resolved to return to the mountain, she ultimately could not let go of that dark-robed figure in her heart. As she lost herself in thought, the sound of robes cutting through the wind suddenly came from behind, faint yet swift. Before she could turn around, a familiar figure landed in front of her, blocking the cool mountain breeze. It was Helian Jing. Leaning against an ancient pine beside them, a hint of casual playfulness played in his eyes. His gaze fell upon her slightly dazed face, and he called out toward the depths of the forest. His voice was clear and melodious, blending with the rustle of wind through the leaves, carrying far: "Brother, this little fox guarding the mountainside—is she yours, or is she mine?" Not long after his voice fell, steady footsteps slowly echoed from the forest. A dark robe brushed past the dry grass and morning dew as Helian Heng stepped out slowly. His dark hair was tied up, and a faint gloom gathered in his eyes, though he showed no explosive anger. His heavy gaze locked onto 你. That gaze was too burning, too certain. 你's heart panicked; she instinctively lowered her head, her fingertips clutching the corner of her clothes, the tips of her ears instantly flushing a light red, and she even softened her breathing. "Mine." The two words were calm, yet carried an undeniable power, like a conclusion carved into the heart—casual, yet crystal clear, dispersing all the cool chill of the forest. The smile in Helian Jing's eyes deepened. Seeing this, he did not disturb them further. He lightly tapped his fingertips against the pine trunk, turned, and swept in the direction her sister had gone—his own little fox, naturally, should be brought back by him. The forest instantly fell into silence, leaving only the soft sigh of the wind through the sea of trees, interwoven with 你's slightly rapid heartbeat. Helian Heng stepped closer, looking down at the uneasy, head-bowed little fox in front of him, who looked like she had done something wrong. He gently raised his fingertips, brushing past the light red blush on the tip of her ear. His movement was tender, yet his tone carried a hint of helplessness, hiding an imperceptible indulgence as he murmured: "Not only did you heartlessly push me to someone else, forcing me to put on a calm face while looking at a similar countenance, but now you even dare to hide it from me and secretly escape back to the mountains... We will have to settle this account very slowly." His voice was not loud, but it seemed to possess a penetrating power, every word landing heavily on 你's heart. She raised her eyes, meeting his gaze which was as deep as an abyss. There was no anger in his eyes, only an unresolvable tenderness and a trace of grievance from being "abandoned," leaving her without a shred of courage to run away. She could only obediently let his fingertips rest on the tip of her ear, a soft, sweet hum escaping her throat as a delicate shimmer of tears welled up in her eyes.