CHAPTER 898: HER PROTECTIVENESS [SHEN XIAN’S RETURN]

Qilin Yu and Jingling Xiuli finally took proper notice of Shenlian Yingyue. Her direct declaration had caught them off guard, but the sight of Peng Ruining being rendered speechless brought them a sense of unexpected satisfaction.

Her companions watched her with curious eyes, but none of them questioned her. This was the first time she had so openly admitted her dislike for someone. In the past, she had always been cautious with her words, afraid of hurting others unintentionally.

"Why don’t you like me?" Peng Ruining blurted out.

It wasn’t entirely his fault; anyone would question why someone would hate them so openly and without clear cause.

"Because you treat my loved ones like objects to trade. Who do you think you are, to use them as bargaining chips?" she said coldly, her brows furrowing. Her voice was laced with biting chill.

Peng Ruining was stunned, completely at a loss for words. And so were those around him.

"Besides, I don’t like the way you look at them, as if you’re stripping them naked with your eyes." Without waiting for any response, Shenlian Yingyue’s figure vanished.

She didn’t care about his tragic future. She didn’t care about sticking to the plot anymore. Right now, she only cared about defending her loved ones. She wouldn’t let them waste their time on someone like Peng Ruining.

She alone was more than enough to deal with him.

"Hey!!" Peng Ruining hadn’t expected her to act so decisively. Before he could even react, her fist slammed into his face, forcing him several steps backward. The blow discolored his skin, turning his once-beautiful face blue and purple. Ruined in an instant.

Shenlian Yinzhu and the others looked at her with both fondness and amusement. This was the first time their beloved woman had shown such possessiveness and protectiveness over them. Naturally, they were more pleased than anything else.

"King!!" The Storm Rocs cried out, shocked at how swiftly and easily she had moved. They rushed forward to assist him, trying to pick him up.

No matter how they personally felt about their king, they couldn’t deny his contributions. Peng Ruining had indeed made the Peng Clan stronger. They had long chosen to overlook his sleeve-breaking tendencies. In their eyes, as long as someone was powerful enough, they could do whatever they wanted in this world.

"Damn it, woman! You’re looking for death!" Peng Ruining roared in fury, flames igniting in his eyes. He refused his subordinates’ help and disappeared from sight.

Don’t be deceived by Peng Ruining’s usual playful and flamboyant demeanor; he possessed skills that had made countless enemies suffer over the years. When he became truly enraged, the consequences were terrifying.

Shenlian Yingyue stood tall and unyielding, ready for battle. Recently, she had felt increasingly protective of her loved ones. She didn’t fully understand the reason behind this change, but she accepted the feelings and opened her heart to them.

Her graceful figure stood firm amidst the storm that was about to erupt. Her expression remained calm and unreadable. Spiritual power gathered around her slender fingers, enveloping them in purple and red flames, turning the surroundings into a searing battlefield.

Both Jingling Xiuli and Qilin Yu narrowed their eyes. That intense heat and the unique dual-colored flame, it felt strangely familiar, but they couldn’t quite place it yet.

Xiao Yun’s rainbow-colored eyes shimmered as he sensed several powerful presences approaching from afar. He said nothing. Instead, he simply observed her battle with silent attentiveness.

As always, her companions stood behind her, ready to shield her from any external threat. Their eyes remained fixed on her, prepared to strike if anyone dared interfere.

Just before the battle could begin, several figures emerged.

"Ah, so this is where you’ve been hiding. I was wondering why I haven’t seen you for several days. Turns out you’ve been having fun here," came a seductive voice, followed by the calm appearance of a tall man walking with unhurried steps.

His arrival was low-key, his figure seemingly ordinary, but the presence and invisible aura he carried were impossible to ignore.

Shen Xian had arrived, followed closely by Tai Hua Lei, Di Xiuyu, Yao, and Yasha. The others who protected him from the shadows did not show themselves.

Shenlian Yingyue paused slightly. She hadn’t expected him to arrive so soon. Then, it dawned on her.

With his level of power, acquiring anything in the Ember Dune Desert, including Immortal treasures, was as simple as lifting a finger. The reason it had taken him over a week to retrieve the Golden Berries for Tai Hua Lei was likely because he wanted to spend quiet time with his beloved and allow Tai Hua Lei to experience the wonders of the Immortal Realm firsthand.

"Are you hurt, Hua Lei?" Shenlian Yingyue retracted her purple and red flames. But as soon as she asked, she realized how naive the question sounded. She quickly corrected herself. "You’re back? Did you get them?"

Tai Hua Lei’s heart warmed when the first thing she asked was about his well-being. But then his lips twitched slightly when she immediately shifted focus to the Golden Berries.

"We got them," Tai Hua Lei answered simply, his eyes scanning the crowd. He decided not to mention the name of the berries outright. Although Golden Berries were scattered throughout the Ember Dune Desert, they only grew in incredibly dangerous areas, not something anyone could collect casually.

"Idol, here, take some. I got them with my own strength. No one helped me." Tai Hua Lei quickly stuffed a storage pouch into her arms, his eyes glowing with anticipation. It was clear he was eager for her praise. Though he had changed, he was still the same boy when it came to her.

In truth, Shen Xian had offered to help, but Tai Hua Lei had firmly refused. That refusal had stung Shen Xian’s heart, but he respected his beloved’s wishes.

Now, watching the man he loved hand over those precious berries to another woman ignited a quiet flame of jealousy in Shen Xian once again.

"Did you leave some for yourself?" Shenlian Yingyue didn’t refuse the gift, but she didn’t take it immediately either. Rejecting him outright would hurt his feelings, so she softened her approach.

"I..." Tai Hua Lei avoided her gaze. He hadn’t. In his mind, he had only wanted to give her the best. Leaving some for himself hadn’t even occurred to him.

"Then I’ll only take a portion. You keep the rest," she said, unbothered. She had the best Golden Soil in her Ethereal Small World, which could drastically accelerate the growth of plants and crops. Upon inspecting the pouch, she discovered fifteen Golden Berries inside.

She took five, leaving the remaining ten for him. One of the berries she immediately planted in the Golden Soil. Another, she consumed herself. The remaining three she gave to Shenlian Yinzhu, Jun Mu Yang, and Wang Pei Zhi. She knew the others didn’t need them; each of their bodies had already adapted well to the desert environment.

The Golden Berries would ripen within just a few days. When the time came, everyone would get a chance to enjoy them.

"That’s all you’re taking? Why not take more?" Tai Hua Lei asked curiously as she handed the storage pouch back.

"That’s enough," she replied with a soft smile and shook her head.

Tai Hua Lei didn’t press further. He accepted her decision and took the pouch back. In his heart, he knew, if she accepted the berries and consumed them, that alone was enough for him.