189: Chapter 189 I Might Be Able

Returnee Stronghold, Third Floor Terrace.

Qi Yun closed the regional channel out of boredom and sighed to the air.

"Sigh, how dull. Now, as soon as I pop up, the entire channel clears out like it's been purged, instantly becoming a vacuum. Not a single person dares to respond."

He felt like a max-level boss who had accidentally entered a beginner village; just by standing there, all the low-level mobs ran away.

At that moment, a soft sound of footsteps approached.

Xia Ran walked to his side. Today, she had changed into clothes that were easy to move in, which outlined her graceful curves, and her long pink hair was simply draped over her shoulders.

"Qi Yun, I want to leave for a while."

Xia Ran spoke softly, her voice not as energetic as usual.

Qi Yun turned his head to look at her. Without much surprise, he nodded. "Are you going to the central region of the Land of Beginning?"

"Yes," Xia Ran responded, her gaze drifting toward the distance.

"I want to go back and see if my former Tribe is still there. I also want to figure some things out."

Qi Yun had long expected this day would come.

Xia Ran's situation was different from Li and Yun Lin's.

Li had been betrayed by companions she trusted; she only thought of settling scores with the "Calamity" and had no other attachments.

Yun Lin's Tribe had long since been annihilated in the past, and she had no roots to rely on in the Land of Beginning.

But Xia Ran was different.

She had originally been trapped in a desperate situation and was on the brink of death because she stayed behind to cover her Tribe's retreat and buy them time.

Her Tribe might still exist.

Moreover, she still harbored doubts and a slim, faint hope regarding the attack they suffered back then, the current state of her Tribe, and the possible "truth."

"I'll go with you," Qi Yun said.

Qi Yun also wanted to learn about the center of the Land of Beginning and see what the top powers of this continent were like.

Xia Ran abruptly turned her head and looked at Qi Yun, a flash of panic appearing in her beautiful eyes.

"Ah? You... you're coming with me?" Her voice was flustered.

Qi Yun looked at her strangely. "What's wrong? Do you have any concerns?"

Xia Ran steadied her mind and quickly searched for an excuse.

"Then... then who will protect the Tribe?"

"With Li here, it won't be much of a problem," Qi Yun waved his hand, having absolute confidence in Li's strength. "Besides, Xia Jin, Bai Yu, and the others can manage the Tribe well. Tell me, what are you actually worried about?"

Xia Ran was momentarily stunned by the question. Her cheeks grew inexplicably hot, and her eyes flickered away.

"If you go with me... on the way, there won't be anyone for you to... vent on."

Qi Yun was stunned for a moment, then he realized what she meant.

He patted Xia Ran's shoulder solemnly, his tone "sincere." "Don't worry, I can hold back."

"Fine." She nodded, no longer objecting.

Qi Yun went to explain the situation briefly to Li, Xia Jin, Bai Yu, and the others.

Once everything was prepared, Qi Yun took Xia Ran to the entrance of the stronghold.

Parked there was an incredibly cool-looking motorcycle with smooth lines and an entirely matte black body.

This was one of the items from the Shadow Flow Tribe's "apology" supplies; it was driven by a high-efficiency energy crystal and was extremely fast.

Qi Yun walked to the motorcycle and naturally signaled to Xia Ran with his eyes. "Get on, you drive."

Xia Ran was about to sit on the back seat when she froze at his words, pointing at her own nose. "Ah? Why am I the one driving?"

Qi Yun had a "does that even need asking" expression, speaking with full justification.

"I don't know the way to your Tribe, so of course you're driving. Besides, as the Clan Leader, should I really be your chauffeur? Hurry up, hurry up."

Xia Ran: "..."

Looking at Qi Yun's matter-of-fact attitude and then at the powerful-looking motorcycle before her, she pursed her lips and eventually resigned herself to straddling the driver's seat.

She was tall with long legs, so controlling this motorcycle was actually quite suitable for her.

Only then did Qi Yun nod in satisfaction and sit steadily behind Xia Ran, their bodies inevitably pressing together.

The moment Qi Yun sat down and his chest pressed against her back, Xia Ran's body stiffened imperceptibly.

Even through their clothing, she could clearly feel the sensation coming from behind her.

Xia Ran's cheeks began to heat up again.

She forced herself to look straight ahead and gripped the handlebars tightly, telling herself to focus on driving and not let her mind wander.

However, her body's instincts caused her to involuntarily and subtly adjust her posture, as if wanting to feel the presence behind her more clearly, yet also as if wanting to avoid that overly intimate contact.

Qi Yun, on the other hand, was very natural. He unceremoniously reached out his arms and wrapped them around Xia Ran's slender yet supple and strong waist, holding her steadily.

The soft touch and amazing elasticity transmitted through his arms made him inwardly praise her: as expected of a former famous goddess-level figure of the Land of Beginning, this figure is incredible.

A fresh and pleasant scent, Xia Ran's unique faint body fragrance mixed with the fragrance of her hair, drifted into Qi Yun's nose, causing his heart to flutter slightly.

Xia Ran's body trembled again at Qi Yun's sudden, tight embrace. She felt as if the place on her waist touched by his arms had been hit by an electric current, a tingling sensation instantly spreading through her entire body.

Two red clouds flew onto her face. She bit her lower lip and tried hard to make her voice sound normal.

"Hold... hold on tight."

"Mm, let's go," Qi Yun replied in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe.

Xia Ran took a deep breath and twisted the energy valve.

"Vroom—!"

A low, powerful engine sound roared, and the motorcycle shot out, speeding toward the central region of the Land of Beginning.

The wind whistled in their ears as the scenery receded rapidly.

At first, Xia Ran could still concentrate fully on driving and avoiding obstacles on the road.

But gradually, with the bumps brought by the motorcycle traveling on the uneven road, as well as the inevitable friction and close contact of their bodies, Xia Ran's attention began to scatter.

Particularly after a large bump, she clearly felt a certain part with a very strong presence behind her inevitably and heavily bump against her—the sensation was so clear it made her scalp tingle!

"!!!"

Xia Ran suddenly realized what that was, feeling both ashamed and annoyed.

"Qi Yun! Behave yourself!" Her voice carried a suppressed tone.

Qi Yun gave a dry cough, his voice carrying an unhideable embarrassment and a hint of innocence.

"Cough... sorry... I couldn't control this. It's too bumpy, that thing keeps going up and down."

"And who told you to have such a good figure."

This explanation, which bordered on teasing, made the blush on Xia Ran's face even deeper.

He has a reaction to me...

Li, in this regard, we are at least tied.

That competitive spirit flared up once again.

She turned her head slightly and glanced at Qi Yun, who was pressed tightly against her, from the corner of her eye, asking softly:

"Qi Yun..."

"Hmm?" Qi Yun made a questioning sound.

"Who is better, me or Li? Depending on your answer, I might be able to..."