Chapter 343 - HE'S SLOWLY CATCHING UP

LUO YAN looked around. From where he was standing, aside from the trees and the wildflowers growing everywhere, he could also see colorful butterflies fluttering around and small birds twittering. He could even see some trees bearing luscious fruits. Now, he could understand a bit why this place was called the 'Garden of Eden'. He wondered if they could go around the place after they were done.

He turned to Shen Ji Yun who seemed to be in deep thought, probably thinking of what their strategy should be. And Luo Yan once again remembered that the other concealed the fact that he could freely enter this place with his identity as a Legendary race. Since the people from the Tower seemed to not still notice their presence, he might as well asked that question. He didn't want it to keep bothering him.

"Brother Ji Yun, why didn't you mention that you can go freely inside the Garden of Eden when you told me last week after we left the Gatekeeper's house that the Tower of Edia was located there?"

Shen Ji Yun's mind went blank when he heard Luo Yan's inquiry. He suddenly didn't know what to say. It's not like he wanted to keep it from him. It was just all accidental. Maybe. So, he looked down and gazed away before saying, "I- I forgot about it. I just remembered it when we left the headquarters of the Crimson Corps."

He did forget about it at that moment. But the day after, when he was searching of pertinent information about their two tasks, he suddenly remembered that his race could go to the Garden of Eden freely. Then he became a bit conflicted. If he told Luo Yan about this, the time they spent together might be lessen. After all, they could just directly go at the Garden and questioned the people in the Tower regarding Finnea. 

At the end, he chose to conceal it from him and decided to reveal it at the right moment. Which was earlier, when he transformed to his beast form and they were about to fly towards the Garden. 

He knew it was bad for him to do that. It felt like he's being a manipulative scum. But what could he do? He just wanted to spend more time with his rabbit. Clearly, his feelings for him was clouding his judgement. But he didn't care. Because he loved feeling this way because of him. 

Yes, he just admitted that. And yes, that was weird. But that's fine. Because it was Luo Yan who evoked those feelings from him.

Luo Yan stared at Shen Ji Yun's face and he just knew he was lying. Seeing the guilty expression on his face, he decided to just leave it be. It's not as if this guy would do anything to harm him. Even before something could harm him, Shen Ji Yun would definitely stand first in front of him and take all the damage. 

He was slightly startled by that thought. He didn't expect that he already trusted his feelings for him to that degree. It seemed like this guy was already close in catching up to him. Maybe in a month or two, his stubborn brain would finally agree with his heart. He just hoped this guy would directly confess to him by that time. 

But he still had to punish him for lying.

Luo Yan walked up beside Shen Ji Yun. He reached to his hand and played with his fingers. "Well, its's a good thing that Brother Ji Yun remembered it. Or else we wouldn't know how to go here." Then he intertwined their fingers together. He raised his head and gave him a sweet smile. "Right?"

As he expected, he felt Shen Ji Yun's whole body stiffened. His whole face also turned red. All the guilty expression on his face vanished and all that was left was a ripe red tomato.

"Y-yes," Shen Ji Yun said, stuttering that one simple word. 

Luo Yan's smile became even deeper. [How adorable.]

[Mashter is teasing Captain again. It looked like you're bullying him.] – Eclipse commented who's now sitting back again on Luo Yan's shoulder.

[What bullying? I'm clearly showing him my favor.]

Having had enough fun, Luo Yan let go of the other's hand before smoke appeared on Shen Ji Yun's head. 

Shen Ji Yun hadn't calmed himself yet, he could still feel the soft hand that played with each of his finger, when the huge door of the Tower suddenly opened. A male NPC wearing a white robe walked out.

He bowed respectfully at Shen Ji Yun. "Lord Qilin, we welcome you to the Tower of Edia. May I ask what brought you and your companion here?"

"Bring me to your head priest," Shen Ji Yun said in a cold voice.

Luo Yan glanced at him. There was still a faint blush on his face, but overall, he was already back to his normal expressionless face. And based on how he spoke to the priest just now, it seemed like he was indeed serious when he said earlier that he should leave this to him. 

Asking the NPC to bring them to the head priest would surely make the development of their task to move much faster. He just wondered how Shen Ji Yun would proceed from here.

"My apologies, Lord Qilin. The head priest is currently busy. I don't think he had time to meet with you. If you have any message for him, I would be more than glad to deliver it to him," the NPC answered in a humble manner. But Luo Yan could still feel that he was looking down on them.

"If he doesn't have time then he should make one."

"Lord Qilin, please don't be unreasonable."

"Tell him to make time or I will raze this Tower to the ground and destroy everything surrounding it," Shen Ji Yun said simply, completely ignoring what the NPC just said. "And for a fact, that was me being unreasonable." 

If Luo Yan was drinking something at that moment, he might have spit it out and choke on it because of what Shen Ji Yun said. He should have already expected this. But damn, that was truly straightforward.

[Wow. Captain is so cool!] – Eclipse, Shen Ji Yun's number one fan, exclaimed.

The NPC's face turned red. Obviously, he was very angry because of what Shen Ji Yun said. But he still held it in and said through gritted teeth, "Lord Qilin, this is a blatant threat."

"Yes, I'm glad you noticed."

Hearing that, the priest's red face turned all shades of purple, showing how angry he was. Before he could respond, an ethereal voice suddenly spoke.

"Let them in."

Luo Yan had a feeling that that just now was the head priest. 

The NPC reluctantly let them in. Although one could see in his face that he really didn't want to. 

"This way, please," he said before going inside.

The two went inside and followed the NPC.