Exiting the Crystal Stone Space and returning to the tent, Yan Zhen let out a long sigh.
Jiu Youyue sidled up to him affectionately from the side and probed, “What’s wrong, Little Zhen Zhen? Why the sighs?”
Yan Zhen pushed Jiu Youyue away with some distaste, glanced at Yun Xiu—who was still sleeping soundly—and sighed again.
“…She’s asleep.”
With that said, Yan Zhen lay back down.
Seeing this, Jiu Youyue figured that Master Chen Xi probably hadn’t spilled her secrets either, though her senior sister was in for a rough time~
The thought inexplicably made Jiu Youyue want to laugh. She lay back down too, hugging one of Yan Zhen’s arms as she slipped into sweet dreams.
The next day, Yun Xiu woke first. She vaguely recalled being ambushed by Jiu Youyue again last night, half in dream and half awake. From the spot where she had been struck, it had to be her sleep acupoint!
Could it be—
Yun Xiu jolted in alarm. She sat up at once and checked on Yan Zhen.
He looked perfectly normal on the surface. But if Jiu Youyue had done anything, she would never leave marks on his face or neck—somewhere under his clothes was far more likely.
Now that she was Yan Zhen’s girlfriend (temporarily, at least), Yun Xiu mustered her courage. She lifted the covers off both of them, then rolled Yan Zhen’s shirt up to his chest to inspect his torso for any marks.
Like hickeys, for instance.
—Nothing.
Yun Xiu leaned in close and sniffed for any odd scents.
—None there either. Instead, she caught Yan Zhen’s natural aroma, which left her a little intoxicated.
“No marks up top, so maybe below…”
But pulling down his pants? That was too mortifying.
Yun Xiu bit her lip. She was just protecting Yan Zhen from Jiu Youyue’s predations, she told herself. She glanced at his face to confirm he was still asleep, then steeled her resolve. Her hands grasped the waistband of his shorts and tugged them down, ever so slowly.
A cute blue long-trunked little elephant sprang into view.
It was the first time Yun Xiu had noticed the pattern. Even stretched out of shape, it struck her as boyishly childish—wholly at odds with Yan Zhen’s usual demeanor. She couldn’t help but chuckle.
She dared go no further. Her cheeks faintly flushed, Yun Xiu leaned down for another sniff.
A potent rush of masculine pheromones assaulted her senses. Her face heated up in an instant, her heart thumping wildly.
“Nothing here either? That can’t be right.”
Jiu Youyue had deliberately tapped her sleep acupoint—she wouldn’t have stopped at nothing. Maybe she should pull off these last shorts too?
Yun Xiu reached out, only for a hand to seize her slender wrist. She shivered in shock and looked up, straight into the eyes of the now-awake Yan Zhen.
Her heart stopped dead. Her mind blanked out.
“Y-Yan Zhen?”
Hearing his real name, Yan Zhen realized she had seen through his disguise. Looking distinctly uncomfortable, he asked, “What are you doing, Yun Xiu?”
Yun Xiu yanked her hand back and sat bolt upright. “Let me explain—it’s not what you think.”
Though I hope it’s not what I think either.
Yan Zhen broke out in a cold sweat. There she was, first thing in the morning, draped over his lap with his pants halfway down. It was hard not to picture a morning bite—even if he knew Yun Xiu would never go there.
“Then what is it?”
Yun Xiu couldn’t very well say she was afraid Jiu Youyue had devoured him, so she blurted the first excuse that came to mind. “I-I saw the big bulge down there and got curious.”
They had only just become lovers (temporarily). That sort of thing should be normal enough, right?
“…”
Yan Zhen’s mouth twitched. Another girl might have seemed adorable saying that, but coming from Yun Xiu—who knew his true identity—it felt downright awkward.
The more earnestly she played the girlfriend role, the more embarrassed Yan Zhen grew.
“Are you mad at me, Yan Zhen? I’m sorry.”
“No… I was just surprised.”
Yun Xiu’s cheeks burned anew. Had she come off as too forward?
“—What are you two doing up so early?” Jiu Youyue sat up, eyeing Yan Zhen’s disheveled state. She arched a brow. “Don’t tell me you sneaked in some naughty fun while I was out cold?”
Yan Zhen hastily yanked his shirt down and fixed his pants. Clearing his throat, he said, “Just a restless sleeper—that’s all. Now that we’re up, time to wash. Jiu Youyue, you first. I’ll change Yun Xiu’s bandages one last time.”
Jiu Youyue pouted inwardly. She should have faked a few more scrapes. Her shallow wounds had healed completely after a single day of his care.
She wriggled out of the tent and freshened up at the waterfall by the cave mouth.
Yan Zhen turned back to Yun Xiu.
Shyly, she bowed her head. Her delicate hand tugged at the sash around her waist, loosening it before shrugging off her sole remaining garment.
Yan Zhen did his utmost not to stare at the snowy mountain and its crowning cold plum. He peeled away the old bandages, exposing the three claw marks beneath her breasts.
“Just as I thought—nearly healed. One more day, and they’ll be good as new.”
As he spoke, Yan Zhen applied fresh ointment, then rebound the wounds.
His fingers unavoidably grazed the curves of her breasts now and then. Each brush drew a soft hum from Yun Xiu’s lips.
Once finished, Yan Zhen caught sight once more of that cold plum in full bloom atop the snowy peak. He swallowed hard.
The sound made Yun Xiu squirm with unbearable shyness. She rushed to don his black outer robe again and cinched the sash tight.
Yet the thin fabric did nothing to hide her two stiff peaks. Clutching her hands over them, she stammered, “Y-You go on ahead. I need to rest a little longer.”
“Mm. I’ll step out soon. Stay in the cave and wait for me.”
Yan Zhen swiftly changed into his outdoor clothes. He swished some waterfall water in his mouth, splashed his face, called to Jiu Youyue, then bolted out. With a fluid display of the Starry Sky Dance, he touched down lightly on the water’s surface before striding wave to shore—dashing as ever.
Two hours later, Yan Zhen finally returned.
“Little Zhen Zhen, you’re so slow!”
“Did something happen?”
“Sorry, sorry. I accidentally stirred up a Tier 3 Mystic Beast nest and got chased halfway across the mountain by that family of three.” Yan Zhen dumped an armload of firewood and dangled a wild pheasant from his other hand. “But hey, turned disaster into fortune—roast chicken for lunch!”
The two women spotted his pallor at once.
“You got hurt, didn’t you, Chen Zhen?”
“N-No, I’m fine.”
“Your face is whiter than a ghost! Clothes off—now. Where’s the injury?”
“No need—hey! Jiu Youyue, easy there, talk first!”
The women dragged a protesting Yan Zhen into the tent and stripped off his shirt, revealing ugly bruises across his chest and back.
“Just got clipped a few times by those three rhinos,” Yan Zhen said, embarrassed. “Minor stuff. I’ve already popped a blood-circulation pill. A little qi work, and it’ll be gone soon.”
Yun Xiu brushed the bruise ever so lightly, drawing a sharp hiss from Yan Zhen. Her heart ached fiercely at the sound.
“Iron-Horned Mad Rhino Mystic Power lingers on it. We’ve got to clear it out fast, or it’ll throb forever. We’ll massage it out—Jiu Youyue, you take the back.”
“Oh, sure.”
The two gathered Mystic Power in their palms. Their soft hands pressed gently onto Yan Zhen’s bruises, kneading away the pain.
