I alone am the Honoured One!

Chapter 499  Another Sect Mission [3]

It had already been a full day since Zhao Tian and Li Xueyan joined the caravan, and despite the growing tension in the air, the expected bandit attack never came. The sun hung low on the horizon now, casting a warm, golden hue over the rolling hills as dusk began to settle over the landscape.

Zhao Tian, leaning against the side of the cart, watched the sun sink behind the mountains as a soft sigh escaped his lips.

"We've been traveling all day," Li Xueyan's voice broke the silence beside him, her tone low and thoughtful.

She sat cross-legged, with a slight furrow in her brow as she stared at the road ahead. "Still no sign of the bandits."

"They've been raiding caravans for days on this route. It doesn't make sense for them to lie low now."

The two exchanged a brief glance, a silent understanding passing between them.

They both knew that waiting any longer could be a mistake.

The caravan was drawing closer to its destination, and the window for an attack was closing rapidly.

If the bandits hadn't struck by now, they likely weren't going to.

Zhao Tian straightened, pushing himself away from the cart "We should get off here," he suggested, his eyes fixed on the nearby foothills of the Ginmeng Mountains.

The rugged terrain and hidden paths would be the perfect place for bandits to hide. "If the bandits aren't coming to us, we'll go to them."

Li Xueyan nodded in agreement. "We're near the base of the Ginmeng Mountains," she said, her gaze following his. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"That's where they're rumored to be hiding."

After briefly informing the caravan master of their plans, the two disembarked, stepping off the beaten path into the wild.

The cool evening breeze ruffled their robes as they ventured into the rocky wilderness, the vast stretch of the mountains spreading out before them.

The air felt crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and earth, and as they climbed higher, the dense forest began to close in around them. The search was painstakingly slow.

Hours passed as they moved deeper into the foothills, their footsteps nearly soundless on the uneven ground.

But the mountains were vast and full of crevices and caves, too large to search in one night.

Zhao Tian eventually stopped at the top of a ridge, his eyes sweeping over the sprawling landscape below, now bathed in the soft glow of twilight.

"This is getting us nowhere," he muttered as he sat on the ridge.

Li Xueyan sat beside him as she gently placed her head on his shoulder, her gaze fixated on the enormous stretch of forest before them.

"Yeah.. even if we fly over the whole forest, it would be hard to find their hiding spot."

In this one day, they have gotten quite close to the point where these kinds of physical interactions seems normal.

A slight frown creased Zhao Tian's eyebrow as he asked "How about we set up a trap?"

Li Xueyan softly turned her head in his shoulder to look into his eyes "A trap?"

With a nod, Zhao Tian explained "We'll pose as wealthy travelers, Just like the caravans they've been targeting. Bandits are greedy... they won't be able to resist an easy mark."

"It is a very simple plan... but it might work."

Hearing this, Li Xueyan nodded her head "Yeah... it is better than searching through the whole forest."

She stretched her arms above her head and lay back on the cold stone ridge, her blue hair spilling across the rough surface like a shimmering waterfall.

Her eyes sparkled as she gazed up at the stars, their twinkling light reflected in her blue irises. "Then let's sleep here for tonight," Zhao Tian lay beside her as the cool rustle of the wind brushed past his face. "Yeah..."

He extended his arm, placing it casually behind his head, and felt Li Xueyan move closer to him.

Without hesitation, she nestled against him, resting her head on his biceps.

"It's really cold tonight… Tian," Li Xueyan whispered, her voice almost a murmur. "Oh, I have a blanket in my storage ring... we can sleep on that."

Soon, he took a blanket from his storage ring and spread it out over the even part of the stone ridge, smoothing out the fabric before motioning for her to join him.

"Better?" he asked, settling down on the blanket.

Li Xueyan, chuckling softly, followed suit, reclining beside him. "You really do have everything, don't you?" she teased, her tone light but affectionate.

"Ready for a night camp or something?"

Hearing her tease, Zhao Tian smiled dryly and gently clasped her hand pulling her closer "You told me it is cold.. right? Come closer."

Without hesitation, Li Xueyan slid closer, her body instinctively leaning into his.

 The space between them disappeared as she pressed against his side, their shared body heat now the only thing standing between them and the biting chill of the night air. A-Ah...

A soft, almost startled breath escaped her lips as his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her in even tighter.

Her heart began to race, the warmth of his touch sending a faint blush creeping across her cheeks. His fingers gently traced the fabric of her dress as he adjusted the white quilt he had taken from his storage ring, draping it over the both of them. Then, his hand, still resting on her waist, tightened slightly, pulling her even closer until her body was pressed fully against his. Li Xueyan's cheeks flushed deeper at the closeness, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she let herself sink deeper into his embrace, her head resting on his chest now. She snuggled cozily as the quilt covered them and both of them hugged each other to escape the chill of the night with their body heat.

...

The next day...

Morning came as the sun cast its golden rays over the Ginmeng mountain ranges...

Hm? Zhao Tian's eyes flickered open and he glanced down at Li Xueyan who was snuggling on his chest.

His gaze narrowed as he turned his head up looking at a bunch of people wearing black hoods approaching him.

"Oh... we got some company."

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