Chapter 161: The Arrival of Alansa

The room was very dark with all the curtains tightly drawn. Ye Tian glanced at the bed; it was empty. Looking around, he finally spotted妃儿 huddled in the corner.

Walking over quietly, Ye Tian crouched down gently in front of妃儿. Looking at the iceberg enchantress who resembled a wounded little animal, Ye Tian sighed and nudged her gently.

"Scram!"妃儿 raised her head, revealing a fierce look in her eyes. Ye Tian nudged her again. "Did you not hear me telling you to get lost? I don't want to see you!"妃儿 shouted.

"Eat something so you have the strength to yell." Ye Tian pointed at the food nearby. "Scram!"妃儿 immediately stood up, raising her hand as if to cast magic. Ye Tian reached out, grabbed妃儿's arm, and gave it a strong toss. The girl flew through the air directly into Ye Tian's embrace.

"Get lost, I don't want to see you!"妃儿 struggled fiercely. "Don't you hate me?" Ye Tian asked. "I hate you!"妃儿 struggled. "I wish I could kill you!"

Ye Tian put妃儿 down, reached out, and drew a dagger from his leg. "Kill me then, if it will give you relief." With that, he pressed it into妃儿's hand. "Right here!" Ye Tian pointed at his own chest. "It'll be over in a second."

妃儿 stared at Ye Tian, the hand holding the dagger trembling uncontrollably. Finally,妃儿 dropped the dagger, covered her face, and burst into tears. Ye Tian sighed and gently hugged the pitiful girl.

"Why, why did it have to be you?"妃儿 cried in anguish. "This is probably just fate." Ye Tian sighed, gently stroking妃儿's head. "Cry, you'll feel better once it's out."

Watching妃儿 fall into a deep sleep, Ye Tian felt a dull ache in his heart. Sighing softly, he got up intending to leave, but suddenly a hand reached out from under the blanket and gripped him tightly. He smiled, and then sat back down.

"Mr. Gray." Bella appeared by Ye Tian's side before he noticed. "It's nothing, just a bit tired from lack of rest lately." Ye Tian gently stroked妃儿's face. "A brief rest and she'll be fine."

"I'll have to leave you all in your care from now on." Ye Tian gently withdrew his hand. Using bone-shrinking techniques would have made it very easy, but he simply didn't want to. Yet, since Bella had come over, he didn't want to leave any handles for gossip, so leaving was best.

"This is only right." Bella said indifferently. "I'll be going then." Ye Tian stood up to leave. "Would you mind keeping me company for a chat?" Bella suddenly asked. "Huh?" Ye Tian looked at Bella's serious expression and nodded anyway.

Bella's room was very tidy, everything in precise order, looking very much like her style. "Please." Bella gently handed a cup of black tea to Ye Tian, who picked it up and took a sip. "Aren't you afraid I'll poison it?"

"What use is being afraid?" Ye Tian smiled bitterly. "It wouldn't be strange even if you came at me with a blade right now." "You certainly take things lightly." Bella poured herself a cup as well, then sat gently opposite Ye Tian, slowly sipping her black tea.

"You don't hate me?" Ye Tian smiled wryly. "Why would I?" Bella asked. "I bullied you like that. Aren't you angry?" "Why wouldn't I be angry? Or do you think I am some kind of cheap woman?" Bella said softly.

"No, I have never thought that way. Actually, most of the time I've been regretting it, just like right now. If it's possible, I want to apologize to you." Ye Tian said awkwardly. "Although it lacks sincerity, I accept it." Bella said calmly.

"I'm sorry." Ye Tian said softly. "Actually, I've always been angry, or maybe I don't even know if it's anger. No one has ever treated me this way before, so I don't know how to handle it. I told myself I should be angry, but I just can't feel angry when I face you. Am I very cheap?" Bella lowered her head and twirled the cup in her hands.

"No, you are a very good girl. Setting everything else aside, you are beautiful, well-read, and the man who marries you would undoubtedly be the happiest person alive." Ye Tian said softly. "Is that how you see me? I'm quite surprised." Bella raised her teacup and took a sip of black tea.

"Actually, you look very nice when you smile." Ye Tian continued. "Perhaps it's been too long and you've forgotten, but you should think about the happy times in the past, and you'll find your old smile again."

"You are quite right; perhaps I have forgotten." Bella continued sipping her black tea. "If I were to marry you, would you be willing to take me?" "No." Ye Tian shook his head gently. "Why?" Bella didn't seem surprised, asking softly.

"You've all been wondering why my behavior and manners are so strange, haven't you?" Ye Tian took a sip of black tea. "If I told you I am not from this continent, would you find it strange? If I told you I am always searching for a way home, would you believe me?"

"I believe you." Bella said softly. "Remember the old master? The old man who used to chat with you in the stables every day? He said you were a man with a story, and that you were like a giant dragon whose eyes beheld only the infinite sky. No matter how vast the land, it could never hold your gaze. Thinking of it now, it really is true."

"So it's not your fault, it's mine." Ye Tian smiled bitterly. "But this isn't fair to many people." Bella chimed in. "I cannot abandon everything, but what about you?" Ye Tian smiled wryly. "Can you abandon妃儿? Can you abandon the Roxanu family?"

"No, I can't." Bella said softly. "That is why we are destined for tragedy, or rather, any girl who meets me is destined for tragedy." Ye Tian said helplessly. "That makes sense, but it's still not fair." Bella replied.

"Love has no concept of fairness, only willingness. If you are willing, everything is fair; if you are not, everything is unfair." Ye Tian sighed. "So all I can say is I'm sorry."

"Though I am resentful, what you said is right." Bella stood up gently. "Thank you for teaching me what love is." "You are wrong. Love isn't something that is taught; it is something you must taste for yourself. Much like black tea—give the exact same tea to a hundred people and you will get a hundred different answers. As for your answer, you will only know it once you truly lift the cup and taste it." With that, Ye Tian drained the remaining black tea in his cup. "Tastes wonderful."

Leaving妃儿's courtyard, Ye Tian took a turn and headed toward the stables. Leila was gently brushing old Black, and the latter had its eyes closed with an expression of pure bliss—a sight that filled Ye Tian with envy!

"Gray, you're here!" Leila smiled as she greeted Ye Tian. "Let me do it. This fellow is quite smelly; don't let it overwhelm you." Ye Tian reached out, snatched the brush from Leila's hand, and scraped vigorously a few times.

Old Black felt somewhat uncomfortable. Opening its eyes, it saw Ye Tian brushing its mane as if he were shaving a pig. Furious, it immediately opened its mouth, bit Ye Tian by the collar, and tossed him aside. Then it trotted over to nudge Leila, signaling her to continue brushing.

"Hehe!" Seeing Ye Tian crawl out of the hay, Leila couldn't help covering her mouth and laughing. "Good old Black, you've really rebelled! How dare you defy your master!" Ye Tian immediately rushed forward to grab its ears. Old Black was not to be outdone and opened its mouth to retaliate, instantly sparking a commotion between man and horse.

"Gray, Gray, stop messing around!" Leila stamped her feet in anxiety. The mane she had finally managed to brush smooth was thrown into disarray again by Ye Tian's antics, wasting half a day's hard work.

Finally, Ye Tian admitted defeat after being tossed into the feed trough once more. "Have you had enough fun?" Leila said angrily. "Half a day's work ruined! Hmph!" "Sorry, sorry!" Ye Tian quickly crawled out of the trough and scrambled over ingratiatingly. "It's all old Black's fault; blame it!"

Old Black snorted, cast a disdainful glance at Ye Tian, and turned its head away. "You ungrateful beast, daring to ignore your master! Rebellion! No forage for you today!" Ye Tian jumped up in anger.

"Alright, alright, why are you getting so worked up over a horse? Besides, old Black is yours; you'd be the one crying if it starved." Leila said. Old Black immediately stretched out its equine face and nuzzled Leila.

"Let it starve, saves me grooming it every day." Ye Tian curled his lip. "Scram, go tend to your own tasks!" Leila angrily pushed Ye Tian out of the stable. "Thanks for your hard work."

Thinking he had nothing particular to do, Ye Tian decided to visit the library. He hadn't read properly in ages and wanted to see if he could find any clues today. Just then, Akanala came running hurriedly over. Seeing Ye Tian wandering idly, she frowned. "Hey, you, come here. Someone's looking for you!"

"Someone looking for me? Who?" Ye Tian asked in surprise. "A few young girls, quite pretty. They said they were looking for Ger." Akanala said angrily. "Utterly lacking in manners, making a ruckus at the entrance and almost coming to blows with the guards."

"Girls, looking for me? Could it be Alansa and the others?" Ye Tian's face immediately lit up with joy. Right after, a sharp pain shot through his foot as Akanala stepped hard on it, twisting it slightly for good measure. "Grandma, that hurts!" Ye Tian grimaced.

"Hmph! Look how thrilled you are. What, the girl you have a crush on has arrived?" Akanala said sourly. "No, it's my companions. We agreed to travel together, but they only just arrived. They probably got lost on the way." He then asked eagerly, "Where are they? Let's hurry over."

"Look how anxious you are." Akanala said disdainfully. "They're in the reception room. I'll take you there. I just hope your companions aren't causing trouble." Emphasizing the word "companions" heavily, Ye Tian smiled. "It's fine. Although they can be a bit rash, they're very polite."

"Lovely girls, why did it take you so long to arrive? Did you get lost on the way or..." Before he even entered the room, Ye Tian's voice preceded him as he stepped inside cheerfully. "Alansa, is that you..." His expression suddenly shifted.

"Ger!" A petite figure dashed into Ye Tian's arms and burst into tears. "Alansa, what's going on? Where is Taya?" Ye Tian's expression instantly darkened, and the surrounding temperature plummeted to freezing point.

"Gray, are you alright?" Akanala was startled. When had Ye Tian developed such a fierce temper? Moreover, he exuded an ominous aura—just like, just like killing intent!

"Alansa, tell me slowly, what happened? Where is Taya, and why is Rolora injured?" Ye Tian softened his tone slightly, asking as calmly as possible.

Mina gently stood up. "We're fine, we're all fine, but Taya was captured by the Elven tribe on the grounds that she broke their rules." Mina glanced at Rolora, who was still unconscious. "Rolora wouldn't accept it, so we fought."

"Are you hurt?" Ye Tian pushed aside the still-weeping Alansa, who shook her head gently. "Mina, what about you?" "I'm fine too. Rolora was injured more severely; we've spent the past six months recovering, which is why we're late."

"Alansa, I'm going to go check on Rolora." Ye Tian said softly. "Ger, will Rolora get better?" Alansa sobbed. "Don't worry, with me here, nothing is a problem." With that, Ye Tian crouched down to examine the unconscious Rolora.

"There's no major danger, she just needs some recuperation to recover fully." Ye Tian's teeth clicked together as he looked at Rolora's bandage-wrapped leg. "The Elven tribe, the Elven tribe!" Ye Tian suddenly stood up, kicked a nearby table to smithereens, and roared, "Elven tribe, I am not finished with you!"

After settling Alansa and the others, Akanala came out and saw Ye Tian squatting outside. "Gray, are you still angry?" Ye Tian turned his head. "Of course not." "Really? Then why are your fists clenched so tightly?"

"Oh, I was holding something and was afraid of dropping it." Ye Tian smiled. "Thank you." "When are you planning to leave?" Akanala asked. "What?" Ye Tian asked in confusion. "Don't play dumb, I know you can't wait to leave right now." Akanala curled her lip.

"Tomorrow." Ye Tian said. "So soon!" Akanala blurted out. "They've been delayed for too long. I don't know what might happen, so the sooner the better." Ye Tian stated.

"What about that injured girl?" Akanala asked. "Don't worry, Rolora is tougher than you think." Ye Tian said. "And with me here, everything will be fine."

"Ger, will you come back?" Akanala asked hesitatingly. "I will." Ye Tian said firmly, causing her face to instantly brighten. "Get some rest early, I'll go prepare some things." With a smile, Akanala scampered off.

"Elven tribe!" Ye Tian watched Akanala depart, his expression turning gloomy once more. "Daring to mess with my people—I'll make you know the true meaning of regret!"