Time travel, quick transmigration

Xiao Huanling tightened the reins and stopped in front of Shi Yan. Liu Yun seemed very happy to see Shi Yan and snorted at her, while its tail swished behind it.

"Liuyun."

Shi Yan was attracted by Liu Yun's clear, glass-like eyes, and her affection for him was evident.

"May I touch its head?"

Shi Yan looked up at Xiao Huanling.

Xiao Huanling nodded.

Shi Yan smiled and reached out to stroke Liu Yun's smooth head.

Liu Yun felt Shi Yan gently and affectionately touch her palm, which made Shi Yan sigh with gratitude.

"It's so well-behaved!"

Seeing that Liu Yun and Shi Yan were getting along well, Xiao Huanling was naturally happy. He reached out and offered his hand to Shi Yan.

"Let's go!"

Shi Yan looked at Xiao Huanling's outstretched hand and hesitated to respond. After all, she was still a little uncomfortable sharing a horse with a man.

Seeing that Shi Yan didn't move, Xiao Huanling's heart began to pound with anxiety. He realized that he would feel terrible if Shi Yan rejected him. But he stubbornly refused to pull his hand back, choosing to persist even if there was only the slightest possibility.

Shi Yan was somewhat surprised to see that Xiao Huanling hadn't withdrawn his hand. Besides, she knew she couldn't ride a horse at all, and she couldn't bring herself to ask Xiao Huanling to accommodate her by walking with her, or for Xiao Huanling to ride a horse while she walked. After weighing the pros and cons, Shi Yan didn't hesitate for long before placing her hand in Xiao Huanling's and whispering.

"Slow down, I can't ride a horse."

Xiao Huanling held her soft, delicate, and beautiful fingers as if he were holding his most beloved treasure, and he smiled and made a promise.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here to protect you."

"The Flowing Clouds won't let you fall off your horse."

As she spoke, she was lifted up, and Shi Yan felt a lightness on her body and was instantly lifted into the air. In no time, she was sitting steadily in front of Xiao Huanling.

Shi Yan stiffened up and dared not move. Xiao Huanling noticed her tension and comforted her.

"Relax, just shift your weight onto me, and I promise you I won't let you fall. And when we get to the valley, I'll teach you how to ride a horse. Once you can ride the clouds on your own, you'll find that riding a horse is a very simple thing."

"The Flowing Clouds accept you, and will take you anywhere you want to go, whenever you wish."

Xiao Huanling wrapped his arms around her, his voice low and gentle. Shi Yan smelled the clean and refreshing scent emanating from Xiao Huanling, like ice and snow plum blossoms. She seemed to feel nervous too. Although Xiao Huanling enveloped her in an embrace, it was not aggressive. Shi Yan was satisfied with the safe distance between them.

Sensing that Shi Yan had relaxed, Xiao Huanling gave a soft shout and turned the car around to head towards its destination.

"If you feel scared, you can grab my arm."

Xiao Huanling's clear and melodious voice, as pure as spring water, rang in Shi Yan's ears, warming her heart.

"I see."

"You don't need to worry about me too much, I'm not afraid anymore."

Shi Yan raised her voice, her tone seemingly cheerful. Xiao Huanling's gaze softened, and she lowered her head to look at the top of Shi Yan's head.

Now that Shi Yan was no longer afraid, Xiao Huanling increased his speed.

The clouds flew by on the forest path, and the wind from all directions ruffled the hair and clothes of Shi Yan and Xiao Huanling. They passed through dense forests, fields, streams, official roads, and crossed thorny, winding paths.

Shi Yan felt her heart was released, and she had never felt so free and relaxed.

Liuyun is truly a divine steed, not only as fast as lightning but also seemingly traversing any terrain with ease.

About fifteen minutes later, a mountain peak appeared before Shi Yan. Xiao Huanling drove her forward until the mountain was covered with bright purple azaleas and trees of pink and white peach blossoms came into view. Only then did Shi Yan hear Xiao Huanling's voice above her head.

"This place is called Luoxia Peak. I discovered it by chance last year when I went out for a trip with Liuyun. Of course, I also named it."

Shi Yan nodded.

"The name Luoxia Peak is very fitting. The pink and white peach blossoms and purple azaleas complement each other, truly making it seem as if the mountain is draped in a sunset glow."

Shi Yan was quite surprised by Xiao Huanling's understanding of literature. She had always thought that Xiao Huanling was just a flamboyant and impulsive young man, but she did not expect that he also had a poetic and artistic side.

Xiao Huanling's eyebrows lifted slightly when he heard Shi Yan's praise.

"The valley I mentioned to you is just ahead; I call it Huiyun Valley."

Shi Yan became interested upon hearing this.

"Why is it called Huiyun Valley?"

Xiao Huanling recalled the scene when she first entered the valley.

"That day happened to be a clear and sunny day. I was lying on the grass in the valley, looking up at the sky. For a moment, I felt as if the clouds in the sky were so heavy that they were about to fall down..."

Although Xiao Huanling's tone was smiling, Shi Yan inexplicably detected a hint of loneliness hidden in his heart. She suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for the young man behind her.

Shi Yan was unaware of Xiao Huanling's heartache for him; at that moment, he was immersed in the joy of sharing his innermost thoughts with Shi Yan.

As Shi Yan was deep in thought, she heard a bird call she had never heard before. She looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the valley Xiao Huanling had mentioned suddenly opened up in front of her.

The valley is surrounded by several mountain peaks in a low-lying area. Seeing the entire Huiyun Valley and the white water birds that inhabit it, she knew where the birdsong she had just heard came from.

Xiao Huanling drove her into the valley, where she saw colorful wildflowers and a large expanse of lush grassland.

Xiao Huanling tightened the reins, leaped off the horse, and then reached out his hand.

"Hold my hand tightly, and I'll help you down from your horse."

Xiao Huanling stood there with his arms outstretched, looked up at Shi Yan who was sitting upright on the horse, and extended his right hand to her.

This time, Shi Yan did not hesitate and naturally grasped his hand. With the help of Xiao Huanling's arm, she jumped off the horse and landed steadily on the ground.

Xiao Huanling took in her efficient demeanor.

"Not bad. Much better than I expected."

Shi Yan smiled at him without saying a word.

Everything before her was beautiful. Shi Yan couldn't help but slowly walk towards the lake not far away, which seemed to be sparkling with starlight under the sunlight.

“I think I understand why you called this lake Starfall. It really looks like countless stars have fallen into the lake.”

"You must have come up with the name 'Starfall' too."

Shi Yan turned around to look at Xiao Huanling, who was slowly approaching her, her tone very firm.

Xiao Huanling walked up to her and gave her a slightly shy smile under her gaze.

"This lake is beautiful, but it's not as beautiful as something else."

Shi Yan turned to face the lake, her voice low and soft.

Xiao Huanling thought Shi Yan was referring to the stars hanging in the sky at night.

"Compared to the stars in the sky, this Starfall Lake is indeed somewhat inferior."

Shi Yan turned her gaze to Xiao Huanling's exquisite and beautiful profile.

"The stars in the sky are indeed very beautiful, but they are not as beautiful as Ah Ling's eyes. You understand what I mean."

"Ah, um... I..."

Shi Yan's words left Xiao Huanling completely stunned. He was even too embarrassed to look directly into Shi Yan's smiling eyes. A heat rose to his ears, and he suspected his face must be red too. It was the first time someone had praised him like this, and forgiving his fragile heart, he couldn't help but blush. If he hadn't known Shi Yan was rather direct, he might have misunderstood her as flirting with him.