The sunset's rays cast a warm, golden-orange hue over the majestic peaks where the Mount Hua Sect stood proudly. The air was filled with the sounds of bustling activity—disciples practicing with fervor, their swords slicing through the air, while the distant clash of steel echoed like a quiet symphony.
Yet, at the edge of a serene lake, surrounded by a sea of towering bamboo, a stillness hung heavy. The only sounds were the whisper of the wind rustling through the leaves and the soft murmur of the water lapping at the shore.
Ling Yelan stood there, her gaze lost in the smooth, glass-like surface of the lake. This was once a place she shared with Qin Chen. They had often come here together—playing, telling stories, or simply basking in the peacefulness of nature. But now, the place felt empty, like an old memory, its warmth replaced by a cold emptiness.
It had been three long days since she had last seen Qin Chen. This morning, Lin Feng had come bearing devastating news that shattered her heart: Qin Chen was dead. The bloodstained, torn clothes Lin Feng had shown her seemed like cruel proof, though her heart stubbornly refused to accept it.
"Qin Chen..." she murmured softly, her voice barely a whisper against the wind's breath, while her tears fell silently, tracing the curve of her cheek. Every inch of this place reminded her of him—the warmth, the spirit, the joy. Now, it was all fading, a ghost she could scarcely grasp.
Ling Yelan shut her eyes, trying to push the sorrow away, refusing to let it consume her. But before her thoughts could spiral further, a voice—so familiar—broke the silence.
"Yelan, I finally found you."
Her heart leaped, and she froze. 'This can't be real,' she thought, disbelief clouding her senses. 'I must be imagining things.' But the voice came again, clearer this time.
"Yelan."
Slowly, she turned. Her eyes locked onto the figure standing afar before her. Qin Chen stood there, bathed in the soft glow of the sunset, making him seem almost ethereal, as though he were nothing more than an illusion.
"Qin... Chen?" Her voice wavered, disbelieving joy flooding her chest. Her eyes widened in shock, a flood of happiness sweeping over her.
Qin Chen smiled warmly and stepped closer, his presence as comforting as it had always been. "I knew you would be here," he said, his tone familiar, the one she had longed for.
"How... how is this possible? You... Lin Feng said you were..." Her voice faltered, her body trembling ever so slightly, still caught in the fog of disbelief.
Qin Chen met her gaze with unwavering certainty. "I'm alive, Yelan. I would never leave you like that."
Ling Yelan lowered her head, suppressing the turmoil inside her. "You're foolish..." she murmured, but her voice held a warmth, the warmth that seemed to breathe life back into this place once more.
---
Beside the tranquil lake, they sat together. Qin Chen explained the events of the last three days, though he carefully avoided mentioning his reincarnation or the fact that he was no longer the same Qin Chen she once knew.
Ling Yelan listened closely, but as Qin Chen finished his story, her expression grew darker. "Even if we report this to the elders, they won't touch Lin Feng. He's the son of the governor of Luoshan City. In this sect, he's untouchable," she said, frustration lacing her words.
"I know," Qin Chen replied casually. "That's why I won't waste my time seeking justice from those who don't care. But trust me, Yelan, I'll make sure Lin Feng pays for everything he's done. I have a plan," he continued, his eyes full of conviction.
Ling Yelan studied him for a moment, then sighed softly. She had seen this confidence before, the kind that was often unfounded but somehow contagious. She smiled faintly, almost fondly.
"You're always this sure of yourself, Qin Chen. But I'm worried... someone like Lin Feng won't hesitate to try and kill you again," she said quietly, her voice heavy with concern.
Qin Chen gave her a slight smile, then turned to face her. "Are you worried about me? Yelan, if I didn't know better, I'd think you liked me."
Ling Yelan's expression immediately shifted into a frown. "Don't be ridiculous. I just don't want to see you die foolishly," she said, trying to sound stern, though there was an unmistakable softness to her tone.
Qin Chen chuckled, his voice light and teasing. "You know, Yelan, if I die, I'll still live on in your heart, right?"
Ling Yelan sighed, her patience thinning. "If you keep talking like that, I might actually kill you," she retorted, attempting to sound serious, though her voice betrayed a hint of affection.
Qin Chen laughed softly, clearly enjoying these familiar, playful moments. They were the kind of moments he had missed more than he could express.
He looked at Ling Yelan with newfound seriousness. "Yelan, I know about your engagement with Lin Feng."
Ling Yelan's face immediately hardened, her hands clenching in her lap. "I never considered him my fiancé," she said quietly but firmly, refusing to meet his gaze.
"I know," Qin Chen answered. "And I know it's not something you want. Trust me, I have a plan to annul that engagement," he said earnestly, his voice filled with sincerity.
Ling Yelan sighed deeply, her expression a mixture of frustration and weariness. "You always talk as if you can change everything, Qin Chen. But what do you truly know about all this?"
Qin Chen smiled gently, his gaze softening as he looked at her frown, which he found more endearing than ever. "Maybe I don't know everything, but I know one thing," he said lightly, leaning in just slightly. "You're not happy with this situation. And that's enough for me to act."
"You really like putting yourself in danger, don't you? Didn't you learn your lesson after almost dying because of Lin Feng?" Ling Yelan remarked, her voice tinged with concern.
Qin Chen's gaze softened, and he smiled. "If the stakes are for a girl as beautiful as you, it's worth it," he murmured.
Before Ling Yelan could respond, Qin Chen gently raised his hand and touched her warm cheek. In an instant, without giving her a chance to react, he leaned in and kissed her lips, a kiss filled with certainty and longing.
Ling Yelan was stunned, her eyes wide as her breath caught in her throat. She pushed against Qin Chen's chest, though her force was weak, her body too caught up in the surprise. "Qin Chen, what are you doing?" she stammered, her cheeks flushed, her hands instinctively covering her lips.
Qin Chen gazed at her with a soft, confident smile. "Don't you like it?" he asked calmly, as if his question were the most natural thing in the world.
Ling Yelan parted her lips to speak, but no words came. She was lost in the rush of emotions, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Before she could gather herself, Qin Chen kissed her again—deeper, more urgent, a kiss that held all the longing and heat he had kept hidden.
For a moment, Ling Yelan froze, caught in the intensity. But slowly, her body softened against him, her resistance fading as she allowed herself to be swept away by the warmth of the kiss. Time slowed, and the world around them seemed to blur, leaving only the two of them in this suspended moment.
Qin Chen wasn't content to leave it at that. With a slow, deliberate motion, he leaned into her, pressing her back gently until her body was cradled by the soft earth. His hand, which had once rested so innocently on her cheek, now moved with purpose, trailing down her shoulder and slipping lower, brushing against the side of her body.
That's when Ling Yelan snapped back to reality. The sensation overwhelmed her—too intense, too foreign. Her face flamed bright red, and panic surged within her chest. With a sharp motion, she pushed him away, quickly stepping back.
"Qin Chen!" she gasped, her voice trembling, a storm of conflicting emotions surging inside her. "You... you've gone too far!" She couldn't look at him, her face burning with both shame and something else she refused to acknowledge. Without another word, she turned and fled, her heart racing as she vanished into the distance, leaving Qin Chen by the lake.
Qin Chen sighed deeply, watching her retreating figure with a knowing smile. There was a quiet confidence in his eyes as he stood up, brushing the dust from his clothes. For someone like Ling Yelan, whose emotions were so clear yet so carefully hidden, Qin Chen knew he couldn't just wait. He had to take action.
If this had been the first Qin Chen, he would have hesitated, never daring to take such a step. And the clichéd tale of a protagonist chasing after the heroine would have stretched on far longer.
"It seems I need to be a little patient," he murmured with a smile, already planning his next move