Chapter 5: Carrying Away Directly

Yuan Qian'er looked up to examine the mysterious figure before her. He wore a pale cyan, wide-sleeved robe of ice silk. Higher up, his thin, sensual lips curled into a faint smile. His violet eyes were like bottomless vortices, deep enough to make one drown in them at a single glance, yet they held a hint of cold detachment. He was truly a perfect creation of the divine—wickedly charming and aloof, with these contrasting qualities blending seamlessly.

Mo Yiran was also observing Yuan Qian'er. She had a standard, delicate, melon-seed-shaped face, with clear, sparkling eyes and a dainty nose. Her plump, moist lips seemed to invite a kiss. Her peculiar attire highlighted all her best features: her fair skin, a waist so slender it could be spanned by one’s hands, and long, graceful legs. A strange thought suddenly occurred to him: he wanted to hide her away so no one else could see her.

The two remained still, silently appraising each other, each lost in their own thoughts. Yuan Qian'er mused, "What a monster of a man! How can someone be this handsome? Forget every idol I ever worshipped; he is my new god."

The group kneeling on the ground, having been completely ignored, felt their legs going numb. One of them let out a fake cough, which finally pulled Yuan Qian'er and Mo Yiran back to reality.

"Rise," Mo Yiran said in a low, resonant voice.

"Thank you, Your Highness," a bailiff replied, bowing his head. He pointed gingerly at Yuan Qian'er and explained with caution, terrified of angering this formidable figure and facing the dire consequences. "Your Highness, we were apprehending this mysterious exhibitionist, but we did not mean to obstruct you. We hope you will be lenient."

Yuan Qian'er protested, "Big brother, can we have a civilized conversation? I’ve already told you, this is called fashion—it’s ‘cool for the summer,’ do you understand? Besides, I have a name! Calling me an ‘exhibitionist’ over and over is bad for my reputation, you know? Is this how you ancient people treat visitors from another world? Didn’t your mother teach you that guests should be treated with hospitality?"

Mo Yiran’s face darkened. He gestured in a certain direction, and a man in black immediately appeared behind him. The man handed over an outer robe and vanished just as quickly. Mo Yiran took the robe, threw it over the still-muttering Yuan Qian'er, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and took flight.

"I am taking her with me. You may all disperse." Before the crowd could do anything but hear his words, Mo Yiran had already vanished.

"We respectfully see off Your Highness."

After Mo Yiran left, the capital erupted in chaos. Word spread like wildfire, and everyone was buzzing with gossip.

"Hey, have you heard? An unidentified exhibitionist suddenly fell from the sky today!"

"I heard! Apparently, Prince Mo took her away."

"Wow, hasn't Prince Mo been away in the mountains studying under a master for a long time? Why did he suddenly appear? It’s such a pity I didn't get to see him!" sighed one infatuated woman regretfully.

"Why did Prince Mo take that exhibitionist away? Why wasn't it me? Oh, heavens! Let me become an exhibitionist so the Prince will take me too!" roared another woman at the sky.

For a time, the entire capital was consumed by talk of Yuan Qian'er and Mo Yiran. Yuan Qian'er had gloriously become the number one romantic rival of every woman in the city, while the news of Mo Yiran’s descent from the mountains spread through every street and alley. People wondered incessantly why Mo Yiran had taken her with him.

Mo Yiran, having left the capital, carried Yuan Qian'er toward Mist Mountain, where his master resided. As the name suggested, Mist Mountain was shrouded in clouds and fog year-round, with visibility limited to barely a meter. For those unfamiliar with the terrain, climbing the mountain was essentially a death sentence. Only those with an incredibly strong sense of direction had any chance of finding their way out, yet even then, no one dared to try, fearing they might accidentally lose their lives in the depths of the mountain.