Chapter 49: Thank you for your concern

Chu Changying sneered, her lovely face jutted upward with visible contempt. "And who says that I'm interested in following along?"

Ariunbayar was not to easily convinced; her eyes narrowing into two squinting lines. "You are that bitch that wanted my debugger in the first place."

The Virtuous Phoenix disciple rolled her eyes, uninterested in starting an argument that would only waste her energy. She had better things to do. "I'm not interested in your stupid Dawn Star. I'll just go and find a better gift for my Shidi."

Just like that, she strode forward, unconcerned as she passed by the Princess of the Steppes who was still glaring holes into her side. She ignored Zhang Wang's gaze entirely, letting him know that she hadn't fully forgiven him or his transgressions. The Immortal of a Thousand Blossoms inwardly sighed but decided it was best to wait for her emotions to simmer and quell. Their relationship had always been one with high highs and low lows.

But Chu Changying stopped when strode next to Yu Yanlin. The demon did not react to her aside from lightly tilting his head in her direction, letting the woman know he was listening to whatever it was she had to say.

She scowled when her eyes trailed down his neck, noticing a blossoming flower of purple on pale skin. "You poor thing," she said to him, her voice pitying, "soon you will learn that you are no different from all the other women that have come and gone."

"Thank you for your concern," Yu Yanlin replied coldly, "But it is unnecessary."

Zhang Wang was taken aback as well, "What are you even saying Jiejie-"

She didn't feel like talking to him though and simply turned back to the road and strode off.

"..."

"...What a bitch." Princess Ariunbayar crossed her arms, unimpressed by Zhang Wang's Shijie. He sighed deeply, wondering what was up with her, anyway? Then again a whole five months had passed since they were last together and back then…

Back then, there was a whole mess involving the two of them and one oblivious Sikong Ren. Zhang Wang wanted to spit blood just thinking about it, "Never mind her, let's just go. Jiejie just needs some space, that's all."

"I can't say that she's a particularly pleasant person," Yu Yanlin voiced his agreement with the Princess. They made their way out of the village; the sunlight still frustratingly bright for Zhang Wang's throbbing headache.

"She's really not that terrible," Zhang Wang grumbled, feeling bad that he was the only one defending her. Then again, the two of them had only known her for a few days. At her worst. They didn't know how brave she could be or how fun-loving and sly.

But when Zhang Wang thought of it, he couldn't help that she was more pleasant and cheerful years ago, before they…

Ah, before they had that thing together.

His expression soured at the memory and all the messy feelings that came along with it. He decided not to think about it and focus on ahead. They left the quaint little village, waving goodbyes with the locals before setting off down the mountain path.

Ariunbayar made their journey easier by putting her fingers in her hand and sounding out a loud whistle. Like some sort of cheap skill from a video game, three horses came to them, galloping up the slope of the mountainsides their legs flexed with muscles and their chins held up high. Ariunbayar met them excitedly, her little hands patting the sides of their bobbing necks. The horses were not simple beasts and held their heads up high as they regarded them, only slightly nervous at Yu Yanlin's presence.

"These beasts are the fastest and strongest upon the northern plains," Ariunbayar explained proudly. "They are animals raised by my very own Chonos tribe. But I will not force them to enter the canyons with us; they are in much more danger if they traversed those lands."

Zhang Wang shrugged, "That's cool with me. Just happy I don't have to traverse everything on foot."

"You could travel by flying sword if you had one," Yu Yanlin pointed out.

Ouch. He'd forgotten that. Ermei was still sitting around Yu Yanlin's waist. It was a hard blade to replace.

He sighed, thinking to the few shitty swords he still had sitting around somewhere back at in his room atop the mountain. If he just took one of them for flying around wouldn't be too bad. But there was no time to ponder his own stupidity. Zhang Wang swung atop the horse, feeling a bit weird being bareback on the beast.

Neither Yu Yanlin nor Ariunbayar seemed to have any similar troubles. The dog even inched his horse close to Zhang Wang's "If you ever wish to have it returned…"

"...No, no. Don't mind it!" Zhang Wang huffed, feeling a sting in his pride, "I'll be fine."

"Stop flirting so much. There's only so much I couldn't tolerate!" Princess Ariunbayar shouted from ahead.

Zhang Wang's voice was a bit on edge while Yu Yanlin's was smooth and calm. They both said the same thing, at the same time, "We're not flirting."

Ah! How embarrassing…

He decided to keep his mouth shut the rest of the way.

To think they'd return to the North Blue Summits so soon. Zhang Wang sighed as the expanse of mountains came closer and closer as they rode through the grasslands. Wind was upon then, and Zhang Wang tried to enjoy the small dose of freedom that he had. A strange thought found its way into his heart, making him feel that it would be much better if he had come here with only Yu Yanlin instead.

Huh.

Zhang Wang ignored it and kept his eyes forward.

The canyons that greeted them were dark and quiet, just as ominous as they had left them. But there was no rumbling in the earth. No tells of a beast that lay hidden in the ground. Zhang Wang scrunched up his nose, looking overheard to watch the eagle fly above. It had taken them hours to arrive, and now the sun was crawling downward instead of up.

"Got any big plans?" Zhang Wang nudged the girl.

Princess Ariunbayar snapped at him with a deep frown, "Of course I do! Do you take me for an idiot?"

The way she was pouting at him told Zhang Wang that she had no plan at all.

He sighed, shoulders sagging and wondered how this girl got as far as she has in this terrible and cruel world.

But then he remembered that she lived through the majority of the world with a debugger and her system working, he was no longer surprised that she was able to survive as long as she did.

And so he felt a pang of jealousy.

Shrugging it off he patted the Princess on the back. "Alright then, Princess. Let's retrace our steps and see if we can get a better look at the tunnel dug by the worm."

The Princess blinked. "O-Oh. Yes, right. That's just what I was thinking!"

"Uh-huh." He gave her a few comforting pats on the back before turning toward Yu Yanlin. The demon had a habit of turning quiet when others were around and had more biting words to say than kind ones. It was almost a little disconcerting. Zhang Wang tried to lean into the demon king, capture his attention.

He was rewarded with a small smile and a soft voice, "What is it?"

"...I was just wondering if you were okay." Zhang Wang said.

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" Yu Yanlin's smile did not falter. He even chuckled and left behind a stunned Zhang Wang to follow the Princess of the Steppes.

Was Zhang Wang wrong to worry?

But more importantly, what was with that weird flutter in his heart!?

He shook his head and ran after the two, back into the narrow depths of the North Blue Summits.