Ye Lingyuan guessed that the only thing that could make his Lin'er so desperate was probably the summoning power he had mentioned before.
Therefore, even if the five-clawed golden dragon Ao Xiang had found a way out, Ye Lingyuan would not leave until Zi Linling woke up.
If Ye Lingyuan didn't leave, Zi Guochang naturally wouldn't leave either.
After Zi Guochang recognized Ye Lingyuan as his son-in-law, he had grown accustomed to not thinking for himself.
After all, no matter what happened, with Ye Lingyuan and Zi Linling around, he only needed to be ready to follow their lead.
In the blink of an eye, another half a month passed, and Zi Linling had been in a deep sleep for a full month.
During this month, Ye Lingyuan had spent his time cultivating and watching Zi Linling by her side with deep affection.
Meanwhile, Zi Guochang and the five-clawed golden dragon Ao Xiang had been exploring everywhere, searching for a way to leave the dark abyss.
Of course, they found nothing.
This was because they had no idea that the black space was the core of the dark abyss.
Ye Lingyuan looked at the still unconscious Zi Linling. Although he felt heartache and worry, he could sense that Zi Linling's aura was slowly becoming stronger.
He knew that Zi Linling was undergoing some kind of transformation, and only when this transformation was complete would she be able to wake up.
Time ticked by.
Although the dark abyss was always shrouded in darkness, and there was no sense of light, according to the passage of time, it should be night again.
"Lin'er, you can really sleep! Do you know that for this past month, although you were by my side, I felt even more restless.
I have seen you with your fangs bared and your claws out, I have seen you furious, I have seen you cold and distant, and I have seen you lively and cute... but I have never seen you so quiet.
Although you have a different kind of beauty like this, I still hope to see the quirky, aloof, calm, and protective you with your hundred variations."
"Really?"
Zi Linling slowly opened her eyes, her cheeks flushed.
She hadn't expected that the first thing she would hear upon waking was Ye Lingyuan's heartfelt confession.
She wanted to pretend to be asleep, but her breathing was erratic, and her heart was pounding.
Ye Lingyuan froze, then, overjoyed, picked Zi Linling up, held her tightly, and said excitedly, "Lin'er, you're finally awake!"
His voice trembled slightly, filled with the feeling of having lost and found something precious.
It was precisely because of this that he hadn't realized his Lin'er had woken up just moments ago.
Zi Linling had intended to tease him further, but sensing his current emotions, she could no longer bring herself to say anything mocking.
Thus, all her emotions turned into a single sentence, "I'm sorry for making you worry!"
Ye Lingyuan's arms tightened, as if he wished he could embrace her into his very body.
"Silly girl! I was indeed worried, but you never need to apologize to me. Everything you have given me, I accept with all my heart!"
The unexpected declaration of love and the sudden flutter in her heart made Zi Linling involuntarily kiss him on his lips.
The kiss was deep and passionate, and neither could bear to part.
After a long time, they reluctantly broke apart, both clearly breathing a little heavily.
"Ye Lingyuan, how long have I slept?"
Zi Linling steadied her breathing, her slightly stiff hands cupping Ye Lingyuan's handsome face as she asked.
"Too long! So long that I've become a statue waiting for my wife!"
Ye Lingyuan's voice clearly carried a hint of amusement.
But the subtle hint of lingering grievance was still caught by Zi Linling.
"Ah?"
Zi Linling exclaimed, "Then how long have I slept?"
Ye Lingyuan chuckled, "Not too long, just a month!"
"A month?"
Zi Linling jumped up abruptly.
However, she had forgotten that due to her long period of sleep, her body was still stiff.
So, when she jumped, she didn't manage to get up at all and instead fell heavily onto Ye Lingyuan's lap.
What was even more awkward was that the spot she fell on was a sensitive area.
"Hiss—"
Ye Lingyuan gasped.
It was fortunate that he reacted quickly and supported Zi Linling's body when she fell.
Otherwise, if she had landed squarely, their happy life would have been affected.
Even with his quick reaction, Zi Linling had still bumped into him forcefully.
One had to remember that it was the most vulnerable part of the human body, and even body refinement couldn't make that area indestructible.
"Lin'er, are you trying to murder your husband, or are you just impatient?"
Ye Lingyuan frowned slightly, but his tone was teasing.
"Huh?"
Zi Linling didn't react at first. It wasn't until she saw Ye Lingyuan deliberately covering that area that she suddenly understood.
A blush spread across her face again, and she said shyly, "That... that I... I didn't do it on purpose!"
"Not on purpose?"
Ye Lingyuan raised an eyebrow and said solemnly, "It's fine even if it was on purpose. It's yours sooner or later. It's just that you're too young now, and you shouldn't rush things, otherwise it would be harmful to your health!"
Zi Linling's guilt was instantly swept away by his words.
"Ye Lingyuan, you're shameless!"
She cursed him fiercely and moved three feet away from him.
Her posture clearly indicated she was warding off a rogue.
"I'm only shameless in front of you!" Ye Lingyuan said with a half-smile.
"You..."
Zi Linling was rendered speechless.
She vowed to practice her wit in the future.
Because she realized that being with Ye Lingyuan required not only thick skin but also a sharp tongue.
Ye Lingyuan looked at her distressed expression and a smile curved his lips as he changed the subject. "Lin'er, I remember your birthday is approaching. You wouldn't plan to celebrate it in this pitch-black place, would you?"
Zi Linling blinked, then remembered that her birthday, or rather, the original owner's birthday, was in ten days.
Time really flew by. In the blink of an eye, she had been on the Tianyuan Continent for a year.
However, she hadn't expected that even though she had forgotten her own birthday, Ye Lingyuan remembered it clearly.
To say she wasn't touched would be a lie.
A woman's heart is very soft, and even the smallest things can make her feel happy.
Therefore, the happiness a woman seeks is actually very simple.
"Here? Let's forget it! I feel like my eyes will be unaccustomed to the sunlight when I see it again!"
Zi Linling raised an eyebrow, glanced at the surrounding darkness, and shook her head.
Ye Lingyuan smiled, "I feel the same! How about this, once your body recovers and you finish your own matters, we'll leave, okay?"
Zi Linling nodded and said, "Okay! But how did you know I still have things to finish?"