Let me explain, it's not what you think.

"Ziyao, this is Dali, not a place for you." Yue Qinglan said solemnly.

But Zi Yao didn't look at her; her gaze remained fixed on Lu Chen.

Then she moved.

No one saw her movements clearly; all they saw was a flash of purple light, and Lu Chen disappeared from the spot.

"Lu, Lu Lang!?"

Tantai Qingxue lunged toward the spot where Lu Chen had been standing, reaching out her hand, but only grasped at thin air.

She turned around abruptly and saw that Zi Yao had returned to the side of the Golden Mane Mountain-Splitting Lion, while Lu Chen was being lifted by her and placed on the Lion King's back.

At first, the lion king was dissatisfied, but after Ziyao slapped him twice, he became obedient.

"Let him go, and I'll give you whatever you want!" Yue Qinglan quickly said.

Her current cultivation level is only 30% of her peak level. Facing a cultivator in the Integration stage, she is not even qualified to be an opponent.

But what Ziyao kidnapped was her disciple's husband, the young man who washed her feet.

She... also washed him.

Ziyao finally glanced at her.

It was just a glance, a fleeting moment, so brief that Yue Qinglan didn't have time to glean any information from those eyes.

Then she raised her hand, pointing her fingertips at Yue Qinglan.

It's not an attack, it's a deflection.

A gentle demonic force pushed Yue Qinglan and the others aside. The force was not strong, but it was undeniable, like an adult clearing away a child blocking their way.

Then, she came to the lion's back, in front of Lu Chen.

Barefoot, the gold bells on her ankles made a soft, tinkling sound.

She raised her hand, her fingertips gently touching Lu Chen's chin.

A flicker of emotion finally appeared in those purple eyes—a light of...satisfaction.

Like a hunter finally finding his prey, or a collector acquiring a treasure.

She went around behind Lu Chen, sealed his cultivation, and reached out from behind to wrap her arms around his waist.

Her arms were soft and cool, like a snake coiling around her.

Her chin rested on his shoulder, her lips almost touching his earlobe, without uttering a single word.

Lu Chen could feel her breath; it was cool and carried a faint fragrance.

"Zi Yao! What exactly do you want? If you have a problem, come at me! Why are you grabbing a junior like us?"

Seeing her posture, Yue Qinglan was on the verge of collapse.

She never did that, so why are you doing this right off the bat? Why?!

As for Tantai Qingxue, she had long tried to win back Lu Chen, but Ziyao's wave of her hand just now made her realize the reality.

Zi Yao didn't say a word from beginning to end. The Golden Mane Mountain-Splitting Lion soared into the air, its golden figure cutting through the twilight and flying towards the horizon.

Zi Yao's purple dress fluttered in the wind, revealing a section of her fair leg at the slit in the hem, and the golden bells on her ankles made a soft tinkling sound in the wind.

The golden figure grew smaller and smaller until it finally turned into a faint golden ray on the horizon and disappeared into the twilight.

The valley remained quiet for a long time.

Tantai Qingxue stood motionless, staring at the direction where the golden light on the horizon had disappeared.

Her eyes were wide open, so wide they seemed empty, and her lips were trembling; she couldn't utter a single word.

After a very long time, she finally let out a suppressed sob.

Her legs went weak, and she knelt on the ground, her fingernails digging into the dirt, like a defeated dog.

She didn't cry out loud, but tears fell silently, one by one, onto the ground.

She remembered when Lu Chen asked her for combat techniques, she refused, saying that she could protect him.

Looking back now, I realize I was a complete joke. Lu Chen was taken away right before my eyes, and I was powerless to do anything about it.

Yue Qinglan stood at the cave entrance, watching the disappearing golden light and her disciple kneeling on the ground, weeping.

He felt immense guilt and regret for burying her.

Li Fei was also extremely remorseful, watching his brother being arrested while he could only watch helplessly!

Only Dan Chenzi's face showed no sadness, only schadenfreude.

He glanced at the group of people before suppressing his gloating and adopting a sorrowful expression as he walked towards Tantai Qingxue.

"Young Sect Master, please accept my condolences. Lu Chen is a lucky man, he will surely be alright."

"We still need to return to the sect so that the sect leader can recover quickly and take charge of the overall situation..."

……

On Lu Chen's side.

Zi Yao carried him away from the territory of Da Li and brought him to the demon realm.

The Golden Mane Mountain-Splitting Lion flew extremely fast, and Lu Chen was unable to move because Zi Yao had her arms wrapped around his waist from behind.

"Who are you? Why did you kidnap me? I don't know you!"

Ziyao didn't answer, but instead rested her head on his shoulder, her nose touching the side of his neck, and took a deep breath.

He even licked Lu Chen.

It has barbs, but it doesn't hurt at all.

Her eyes were closed, her eyelashes brushing lightly against his neck. The gesture wasn't like smelling someone's scent, but more like savoring a vintage wine, greedy, intoxicated, and unwilling to let go.

After flying for an unknown period of time, the Golden-Maned Mountain-Splitting Lion began to descend.

Lu Chen looked down and saw a purple ocean below.

It wasn't the sea, but a palace built entirely of purple crystals, with its halls and pavilions stretching endlessly, the crystals reflecting a faint glow under the moonlight.

The golden lion landed in the square in front of the palace.

Zi Yao finally released him, leaped off the lion's back, and stepped barefoot onto the amethyst ground, the golden bells making a crisp sound.

She turned around and looked up at Lu Chen, who was still sitting on the lion's back. In his purple eyes, there was only a sense of waiting that seemed inevitable.

It seems to be saying, "Come down, this is your home."

Lu Chen did not move.

Zi Yao reached out her hand and gently hooked it towards him.

Lu Chen felt his body uncontrollably float up from the lion's back, then land steadily on the ground in front of her.

She reached out and straightened his collar, which had been ruffled by the wind, like a wife tidying the clothes of her husband who was traveling far away.

Then she turned and walked toward the palace, tilting her head toward Lu Chen. Her mature and beautiful profile flickered in the amethyst light, like a silent invitation.

Lu Chen gritted his teeth and followed.

It wasn't that he wanted to go with her; he simply had no other choice.

Furthermore, such a woman never appeared in the original work; she had no purple dress, no purple eyes, no amethyst palace, and no trace of her whatsoever.

What kind of hidden instance did he enter?

Passing through one amethyst arch after another, Lu Chen was led by Zi Yao into the deepest part of the palace.

She encountered no servants or demonic beasts along the way; the entire palace was utterly silent, save for the tinkling of the golden bells on her ankles, each sound melodious and pleasant.

Zi Yao stopped in front of a huge door and gently pushed it open.

The door opened, revealing a luxurious bedroom.

Zi Yao went inside, sat down by the bed, and looked up at Lu Chen standing at the door.

She remained silent, but the meaning in her eyes was more direct than any words.

Come here and sit down.