books44 Chapter 272 [Empire] The Power of Wen Ya
Chapter 272 [Empire] The Power of Wen Ya
Wen Ya had already made his move the moment I was stunned. His palm hovered over the piece of exotic beast meat, and an extremely cold chill instantly spread. In the blink of an eye, the meat was encased in a thick layer of ice, and even the remaining water stains on the countertop were frozen into tiny ice crystals. The temperature in the entire kitchen plummeted, and even the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
I looked at him, feeling indescribably complicated and frustrated. His expression was stern, and his eyes held worry and dissatisfaction that I couldn't ignore.
"Wen Ya, I'm fine, don't worry." I tried to make my voice sound more relaxed, but even I could hear the weakness in it. "I shouldn't be poisoned, really."
Wen Ya ignored my attempts to comfort me, only giving me a deep look, as if to confirm my condition. His brow remained furrowed, but his tone softened slightly. "You haven't been here long, and with your special constitution, you'll be fine for now. But don't think you're safe. This kind of meat can poison exotic beasts. Do you think it will be harmless to you?"
He paused, lowering his voice. "Next time, don't touch anything you're not familiar with, especially something as dangerous as this. If I hadn't discovered it in time, do you know what would have happened?"
His rebuke made me even more depressed. I lowered my head, not daring to look him in the face. Although his words were harsh, I could hear the concern hidden in them. He wasn't angry, but afraid—afraid that I would put myself in danger due to my ignorance.
"I just... wanted to give it a try," I explained, my voice low and buried in my chest. "I didn't know it was so dangerous."
Wen Ya sighed, walked closer to me, and gently placed her hand on my shoulder: "This is not something you can just try. Remember, if you don't understand something, it's better not to touch it than to try it rashly. It's okay this time, but you may not be so lucky next time."
His tone finally softened, but it still held a hint of seriousness that couldn't be ignored. I looked up and saw the complex expression on his face. I felt regretful and ashamed, but I didn't know how to express it.
"I'm sorry." I whispered, my voice almost inaudible.
Wen Ya rubbed her brows and sighed, "If you have anything in the future, tell me directly. No matter if it's a gift from a friend or you got it from somewhere, don't touch it casually. Leave it to me. Do you understand?"
I nodded, looking at the piece of frozen exotic beast meat, and many indescribable emotions surged in my heart.
I gently wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my head in his embrace. He stiffened slightly, clearly not expecting me to do this. His breath was close, but not as warm as I'd imagined. After a moment, he slowly placed his hand on my back, as if he was still processing my action.
"What's wrong?" His voice lowered, with his usual gentleness, and even a hint of caution.
I didn't answer, only burying my face deeper, as if trying to escape reality. The sadness and powerlessness in my heart surged like a tide, leaving me speechless. I had done nothing wrong, yet I still felt helpless, feeling like I was always so easily caught up in unknown dangers. I wanted to grow, to do something...
He patted my back gently, as if to comfort me, or as if waiting for me to speak. But I just leaned on him quietly, feeling his familiar scent, trying to let this feeling of dependence ease my confusion.
"I just..." I said in a low voice, with a trembling voice, "I feel a little sad, and feel... very powerless."
Wen Ya's hands paused for a moment, then he hugged me even tighter. He didn't say anything, simply responding to my emotions in this way. I could feel his chin resting gently on the top of my head, his breathing a little tired, yet so firm, as if something was breaking through the earth.
I closed my eyes, letting the moisture in the corners of my eyes be absorbed by the fabric on his chest. Perhaps, at this moment, nothing more needed to be said; just this hug was enough.
"Is your trouble about plants?" Wen Ya asked tentatively. Her voice was very soft, but it carried an undeniable certainty, as if she had seen through something.
I froze slightly in his arms, a chord in my heart being gently plucked. I looked up at him and saw that his eyes were fixed on me, gentle yet serious, as if waiting for my answer.
"Why do you ask that?" I didn't respond directly, but asked back, trying to get more information from his words.
Wen Ya smiled slightly, reached out to tuck my hair behind my ear, and spoke softly, "You've been acting strangely since you came back. I'm not sure what it is, but I can sense that you're suffocating under something. Also, that piece of meat just now... you're a little abnormal. You once asked me about combat plants, remember?"
I lowered my head, avoiding his gaze. After a moment of silence, I said softly, "It's a bit troublesome, but I can handle it myself."
Wen Ya didn't rush to ask, but just frowned slightly, as if thinking for a moment, and then slowly said: "If you want, tell me. Maybe I can't help, but at least I can save you from carrying it alone."
There was an irresistible sincerity in his voice that instinctively shook me. I knew he was right, I had endured a lot on my own during this period, but I didn't want him to get too involved in this.
"I..." I opened my mouth, but didn't know how to start.
He held my shoulders, leaned down slightly, and said with a little encouragement: "It's okay, you can speak slowly."
Seeing him waiting earnestly, a pang of bitterness welled up in my heart. I finally sighed and said, "Yes, it's about plants. I got into trouble with a plant that's... not so ordinary."
His expression suddenly grew serious, a hint of deep thought and alertness flashing across his previously gentle eyes, as if he'd heard something profound. I felt even more anxious, lowering my head and mumbling, "I suspect it's more than just a simple story."
The moment I said it, I felt a strange sense of grievance well up. I didn't know if it was because of my frustration with myself or my expectations for Wen Ya. Looking up at him, I saw the concern in his eyes, but I felt that concern made me feel so sad.
"What... is going on?" Wen Ya asked softly, as if he didn't want to put too much pressure on me, but there was a seriousness in his tone that could not be ignored.
I bit my lower lip and looked up at him. My eyes felt a little dry, as if tears might fall at any moment. "I'm not entirely sure, but... I feel like it's threatening me, even slowly devouring me. Its existence always makes me feel creepy, like..." I paused, my voice trembling slightly, "like I shouldn't have touched it in the first place."