Chapter 49: Affection?

“There are many loose stones on the ground. Watch your step,” Xuan Yuanji reminded her softly.

Ji Yin opened her mouth, not knowing what to say, so she simply turned her face away in silence.

“Big Demon, what’s wrong with you? I can feel your emotions fluctuating so much right now.”

“How should I know what’s going on!”

“I’ve got it! It must be Xuan Yuanji’s soul force affecting you. The closer you are to him, the stronger your feelings become.”

Ji Yin wasn’t sure if that was truly the reason.

Xuan Yuanji looked at her small, retreating figure, a faint smile lifting the corner of his lips.

How rare, he thought, to see this little one so flustered.

He realized, too, that he felt something different for her. When he held her in his arms just now, the softness of her body lingered in his memory. In a world full of people, she was the only one he wished to hold so closely.

After walking for a while longer, Ji Yin’s misfortune was complete. She could confidently tell Xuan Yuanji—

She was lost!

“Seventh Young Master, is there something wrong?” Ji Yin gave an embarrassed smile. “The mountain path just now twisted and turned so much. If you were left here alone, do you think you could find your way back?”

Xuan Yuanji glanced back in the direction they’d come from. There had been a few forks, but how could he possibly get lost?

“What I mean is, to walk back the same way, step by step, just as we came.”

“Are you saying you can’t find the way back?” Xuan Yuanji asked quietly.

Ji Yin: …

The laughter in Xuan Yuanji’s eyes deepened. How could this little thing be so endearing?

Endearing?

He was startled to find himself using that word to describe how he felt about Ji Yin.

Endearing—it seemed just right.

“I’m just… a little uncertain, it’s not that I’m completely lost!” Ji Yin was still struggling to save face.

She certainly didn’t want to admit to something so embarrassing.

Suddenly, there was a noise in the bushes ahead, and the leaves trembled—not from the wind.

“What’s that?” Ji Yin’s curiosity was instantly piqued.

Out of nowhere, a flash of fiery red shot out from the undergrowth, leaping straight at Ji Yin!

“What in the world!” She gathered her soul force and struck at the unknown creature.

To her surprise, the blazing red ball dodged nimbly!

Once it landed, Ji Yin finally saw what it was.

It was actually rather cute, though a little fierce. Its red fur shone with a glossy sheen, fluffing up into a ball. Its ears stood alert, and its two little black eyes looked just like beans. At the moment, it was baring its teeth at her.

“What is this?” she asked.

“A Crimson Flame Marten,” Xuan Yuanji replied.

“Why is it so hostile toward me? It only came after me, not you.”

“It’s a spirit beast, still a cub. Adult Crimson Flame Martens wouldn’t appear where there are people. As for why it attacked you and not me, it’s because it’s confident it can win against you.”

“It can win against me?!” Ji Yin’s temper flared.

“Come on then! One on one!” She strode forward and pointed at the spirit beast. “A spirit beast? You’re more like a dumb beast! How dare you challenge me! Today, I’ll beat you so badly even your mother won’t recognize you!”

Perhaps it understood her words, for the Crimson Flame Marten, which had just withdrawn a bit, immediately pounced at Ji Yin again!

As it fully extended its body, it suddenly grew several times larger!