Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 780 Challenge Dungeon 36

The man who should have protected his mother, his father, chose to abandon her and escape alone, marrying his first love before his mother's body was even cold.

With her first love's child, she started a new family and established a new guild in another city, completely forgetting about her "ex-wife's son."

He had secretly followed news about that man and heard how meticulously he protected his current wife in the game and how he risked everything for his family.

Every time he heard it, it was like a dull knife repeatedly cutting into his already cold heart.

Why can you cherish those who come after you so much, yet be so cruel to your wife who shared hardships with you?

From then on, he no longer believed in so-called "protection" and "dependence".

He became powerful and ruthless, believing only in his own strength and control.

He buried all his tender emotions deep inside, wrapping himself in layers of ice.

Until he met Yun Chu in the dungeon, her pure, almost obsessive desire to protect him, and her generous act of handing him all her trump cards, were like a blazing light that unexpectedly pierced through the thick layer of ice in his heart.

It turns out that not everyone will choose to abandon others in times of crisis.

It turns out that he too can be protected so resolutely, clumsily, yet with all his might.

The impact of this realization was far more shocking to him than obtaining those powerful talismans and puppets.

Joy, like a hot spring, welled up from the deepest part of his heart, soothing his old wounds that he had almost forgotten.

He held the little woman in his arms, who had given him surprise and warmth, and for the first time clearly felt that this marriage, which began with a contract, seemed to be giving birth to something far beyond his initial expectations.

“Chu Chu…” he murmured against her neck, his voice muffled, with an unusual softness and a hint of barely perceptible hoarseness, “Thank you.”

Yun Chu could sense his low spirits and his current dependence. Although she didn't know the specific reason, the heavy emotion he felt was undeniable.

Her heart softened, and the hand that had been patting his back hesitated for a moment before gently wrapping around his lean waist and pressing her cheek against his shoulder.

"You're welcome," she replied softly, her tone gentle to a degree she herself was unaware of. "We're husband and wife."

These five simple words, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, rippled across Xie Yipei's heart.

Yes, they are a married couple.

Legally recognized, contractually bound, or even... couples who have already established the most intimate relationship.

This realization brings not just a simple desire to possess, but a deeper sense of belonging and responsibility.

He looked up, his deep eyes locking onto her face so close to his.

Under the lamplight, her fair cheeks still bore the lingering blush, and her peach blossom eyes shimmered with tears, showing less of her usual aloofness or wariness and more of a tender concern.

It was breathtakingly beautiful, and it made his heart flutter.

He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, then the tip of her nose, and finally gently covered her lips.

This kiss no longer carried the previous possessive, irresistible feeling, but was extremely gentle, filled with cherishing and exploration, carefully tracing the shape of her lips, sucking in her sweetness, as if savoring the most precious treasure in the world.

Yun Chu was slightly dizzy from his sudden tenderness, her heart pounding uncontrollably. She responded awkwardly, her fingertips unconsciously clutching the back of his shirt.

When the kiss ended, their foreheads touched, their breaths mingling. Xie Yipei looked into her hazy eyes and her glistening red lips, his Adam's apple bobbing, his gaze deepening once more.

“I will make good use of those things.” His voice was deep and resolute, as if he were making a promise to her, and also to himself. “I will also cherish the person who gave me these things.”

After saying that, before Yun Chu could react, he picked her up again and carried her straight to the large bed in the bedroom, instead of heading towards the bathroom.

"Xie Yipei... wait..." Yun Chu sensed something and her cheeks instantly turned bright red.

"I can't wait." His voice was low and husky as he gently placed her on the bed, then covered her with his own, supporting himself on either side of her body, his gaze fixed intently on her. "Wife, tonight... I want to properly 'thank' you."

His "thank you" was clearly tinged with ulterior motives. Yun Chu felt exposed under his burning gaze and tried to turn her head away, but he grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"Look at me, Chu Chu," he coaxed softly, his fingertips gently tracing the smooth skin of her chin. "We're husband and wife, this is perfectly normal. And... you like it too, right?"

His last question was asked very softly, with a strong sense of seduction.

Yun Chu was so embarrassed that her toes curled up, but she couldn't deny the strange flutter and hidden desire that welled up deep inside her body because of his approach.

The time in the instance was accidental and forced, the last time on her wedding night it was half-hearted, but this time... she seemed to have less resistance and more anticipation that she couldn't even explain herself.

Her silence and increasingly dazed gaze were the best form of acquiescence for Xie Yipei.

Without further hesitation, he lowered his head and kissed her again. This kiss was deeper and more passionate than before. He easily pried open her teeth, entwined his tongue with hers, and absorbed all her sweetness and breath.

This night was even more passionate and harmonious than their wedding night.

Xie Yipei seemed tireless, taking again and again, yet giving back the ultimate pleasure each time.

He was no longer simply possessing, but truly investing his emotions, trying to respond to and cherish this hard-won warmth and protection in his own way.

By the end, Yun Chu was so exhausted that she couldn't even lift her fingertips, and her voice was hoarse. She could only curl up helplessly in his sweaty embrace and drift off to sleep.

Her last conscious thought before falling asleep was the warmth emanating from the contract mark on her waist, synchronized with his heartbeat, and the tenderest kiss he gave her on the top of her head.

The night was deep, and the city lights outside the window were still dazzling, but they seemed to become a silent backdrop to their enchanting room.

Two hearts, originally bound together by a contract, seemed to have quietly drawn closer in the silent night and in the ultimate intimacy.

---

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

During these three days, Xie Yipei spent most of his time adapting to the new equipment, aside from handling necessary guild affairs, and also conducted some simple teamwork drills with Yun Chu.

Yun Chu then quickly drew another batch of talismans, this time not only for Xie Yipei, but also for the eight team members who would be traveling with her.

On the day of departure, the exclusive instance for the Divine Journey Guild was entered into the lobby.

Including Xie Yipei and Yun Chu, the ten team members have been assembled.

Besides familiar faces like Lu Ting, Ding Sheng, Lin Xun, Yin Chengxu, and Su Yining, there were three team members that Yun Chu was not very familiar with: Cao Luo, who was tall and thin and carried a longbow; Du Ruo, who held two daggers and whose aura was elusive; and Miao Yiming, who was muscular and carried a giant shield.

All ten members are guild elites, with at least a B-rank rating, making for a truly impressive lineup.