While I was in Mondstadt, I never imagined becoming a god.

Yura withdrew her gaze, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Looking at the guy I snatched away."

This sentence carried a hint of domineering, like the sharp edge of her sword when she wielded it, and the unquestionable tone when she issued military orders.

But at this moment, there was only tenderness in those amber eyes, a tenderness that was only shown to him.

Xu Chuan looked at her, and his heart skipped a beat.

It felt as if I had been struck by something, and I couldn't suppress the pounding in my heart.

Xu Chuan couldn't resist wanting to pull her into his arms.

But he didn't. The team members in front were still looking back, their eyes fixed on them even in the wind and snow.

He simply reached out and took her hand, their fingers intertwined.

Chapter 162 A Warm Embrace

Yura's hands were cold, with distinct knuckles and a thin layer of calluses on the base of her thumb, marks left from years of wielding a sword.

But her hand was very steady, and there was not a tremor in his palm.

She didn't pull away, but lowered her head, looking at their clasped hands, and her lips curled up even higher.

The team members in front looked away, pretending they hadn't seen anything.

But their steps faltered for a moment.

Before long, the group saw Abedo, who had just come out of the cave.

He was holding a notebook in his hand, his golden hair was streaked with snow, and the hem of his robe was fluttering in the wind.

His expression remained calm, but there was a scholarly satisfaction in his eyes, clearly indicating that his research had made progress.

"Xu Chuan, so you're here."

Abedo spotted Xu Chuan standing side by side with Yura, his gaze carrying a hint of something else.

When they heard Abedo greet Xu Chuan, the guerrillas believed most of what Xu Chuan had said.

However, they still need to verify the whole story.

"Mr. Abedo, about Sleeping Dragon Valley..."

With Abedo's confirmation, the team members finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The calamity was not caused by the resurgence of a demonic dragon, but by an alchemical experiment.

Although this experiment was indeed a bit too big, Mr. Abedo himself said there was no problem, so there's basically no chance of anything going wrong.

Several team members who had previously been skeptical apologized to Xu Chuan.

"I'm really sorry for your questioning earlier." The team leader scratched his head, a hint of embarrassment on his face.

"It's alright," Xu Chuan waved his hand. "It's just a little more walking."

Yura stepped forward and began to make arrangements for the team members.

Her voice regained the captain's composure, and her speech was fast and clear.

She pointed to one of the team members, "Return to Mondstadt and report the situation in Sleeping Dragon Valley to the Knights of Favonius. Inform Master Jean that everything here is under control."

"Yes."

"I will go to various camps on Longji Snow Mountain to inform those still in the mountains and avoid causing unnecessary panic."

"The rest of you, in pairs, will patrol around Sleeping Dragon Valley. Once you confirm there are no abnormalities, you will withdraw."

The guerrilla squad members obeyed the orders and left.

Xu Chuan took Ningguang's letter from his spatial ring and handed it to the person who wanted to return to Mondstadt.

Now that he had met the person he wanted to see in the Dragonspine Mountains, he was in no hurry to go to Mondstadt.

Xu Chuan hadn't forgotten about the business of the Rebirth Hall; he planned to deal with it later.

"This is a diplomatic letter from the Liyue Seven Stars. Please pass it on to Leader Jean."

"If you receive a reply, come find me at Longji Snow Mountain."

The team member took the letter, carefully put it in his pocket, and then turned and rushed into the snowstorm.

The rest of the people split into pairs and dispersed in different directions.

Their figures were quickly swallowed up by the wind and snow, disappearing behind the white curtain.

Soon, only Xu Chuan and Youla remained at the scene.

"Phew—" Yura let out a long breath, her whole body no longer tense.

Then, she turned around and buried her face in Xu Chuan's arms.

He released the emotions he had been suppressing.

The girl's shapely body pressed against him, and because of the Eye of God, she wasn't wearing many extra layers of clothing.

Xu Chuan could feel the wonderful, delicate touch and her rapid heartbeat.

The two remained silent, conveying their longing for each other through the warmth of their bodies.

Yura, on the other hand, was exceptionally enthusiastic.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, buried her face in his chest, and gently nuzzled him, greedily inhaling his scent.

That was Xu Chuan's unique scent, one that made her feel at ease.

It was like this from the very first time we met. As long as he was by my side, the heavy burdens from the ancient family, the scrutiny and whispers from the shadows, all became less important.

"Xu Chuan, about that star-devouring piece..."

Abedo, who had originally left, suddenly returned for unknown reasons.

Then, he saw what was happening before his eyes.

Xu Chuan and Youla were embracing each other.

Aberdo stopped in his tracks.

Like a startled ostrich, Yura immediately buried her head in Xu Chuan's chest, burying it even deeper.

Her exposed earlobes were so red they looked like they were about to bleed, and the redness stretched from her earlobes all the way down her neck, as if they had been burned.

Deep down, she was screaming, "How could I have been so careless!"

She hadn't even noticed anyone coming! As the leader of the guerrilla squad, she should have been on high alert at all times.

But in Xu Chuan's arms, she forgot everything.

Aberdo remained expressionless and spoke in a very calm tone.

"You guys are busy, I have something to do."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Aberdo's movements were swift and decisive, without any unnecessary pauses.

Yura remained motionless.

She was still buried in Xu Chuan's chest, her hands gripping his clothes tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"he's gone."

Xu Chuan spoke softly, gently stroking her back with one hand, his palm pressed against her back through her clothes, and he could feel her body trembling slightly.

Yura didn't say anything.

Xu Chuan didn't urge her; he simply hugged her tighter and rested his chin on the top of her head.

Her hair was cool, with the chill of snow, but the strands were soft and clung to his skin.

After a while, Yura's body relaxed and became less tense.

Her breathing became steady, and her heartbeat slowed down, transforming her from a running rabbit into a resting bird.

“Mr. Abedo, he…”

Yura's voice was muffled, coming from his chest.

"Ah."

"What, you don't want people to know about our relationship?"

Yura gently pinched his waist, as if she were being affectionate.

That's not what she cares about, of course.

She was just a little unsure how to face the sudden sight of her and Xu Chuan being intimate.

After all, she had always had that cold and aloof demeanor, and this was tantamount to shattering that mask.

For a moment when Abedo was stunned, he really didn't expect that the Yura he remembered would have such a little girl-like demeanor.

This is completely different from the Yura Lawrence that the people of Mondstadt had in mind.

Xu Chuan smiled, his hand still on her back, without moving it away.

The wind and snow swept past the two of them, swirling at the entrance to Sleeping Dragon Valley.

In the distance, Dulin's skeleton was faintly visible in the wind and snow, like a silent giant gazing upon this land.

Yura finally raised her head.

Her face was still red, but there was no shyness or evasion in her amber eyes.

At this moment, there is only a frank and open feeling, without any concealment.

“Let’s go,” she said, her voice regaining its calmness. “Come with me.”

"Okay." Xu Chuan let go of her hand, but Youla did not. She held his hand, their fingers intertwined, palms touching.

The two turned and walked deeper into Sleeping Dragon Valley.

The wind and snow fell on their shoulders and on their clasped hands.

Chapter 163 Yura Wants...

The wind and snow on Longji Snow Mountain never stop all year round.

Xu Chuan manipulated the wind elemental force to surround himself, and the azure airflow wove a thin curtain around him, keeping the wind and snow outside three feet away.

The snow crunched under their feet as the two walked side by side on the ridge, leaving a trail of footprints of varying depths behind them.

Yura walked beside him, gently swaying the hand she held in Xu Chuan's, her movements light and lively, carrying a touch of girlish exuberance.

She smiled more often than she had in previous months.

With Xu Chuan by her side, she was indeed very happy.

“I didn’t expect this,” Yura said, looking at the snow-covered mountain peaks in the distance, her breath being blown away by the wind.

"Unexpectedly, we met again in the Dragon Ridge Snow Mountain."

But then, Yura sighed, tiny ice crystals clinging to her eyelashes.

"It's a pity I'm still on a guerrilla mission, otherwise..."

"Being with Yura makes me happy no matter what I do."

Xu Chuan squeezed her hand, "Just like now."

Yura smiled gently, her face full of happiness.

She turned her head to look at Xu Chuan, "Then I'll take you to experience life in a guerrilla squad."

Xu Chuan immediately straightened his back and gave a standard knightly salute.

"Xu Chuan, Honorary Knight of the Knights Order, is at your command."

Yura was amused by him and returned the greeting in a perfunctory manner.

"Guerrilla squad leader Yura, you are authorized to accompany us."

The two sang in harmony as they continued walking forward through the wind and snow.

Yura took Xu Chuan to visit campsites in various parts of the snow mountain.