Morning sunlight slipped through the narrow mouth of the cave, painting thin golden ribbons across the stone floor.
Xuan Yan sat leaning against a smooth boulder with a folded white mattress beneath him, his long legs stretched out and his head tilted slightly to the side in sleep.
Curled in his lap, Zhu Zhuqing slept with her cheek pressed to his collarbone.
The bandages around her torso rose and fell with each slow breath.
A stray beam of sun touched her face and she frowned slightly.
Zhu Zhuqing blinked awake.
For a moment she stared at the boy holding her and noticed the way his arms had stayed locked around her all night despite the uncomfortable angle of his neck.
A helpless smile on her lips "Idiot..."
Because of the lash wounds on her back, she couldn't lie flat.
So she slept upright, cradled against his chest, and he… he hasn't moved once.
He sat like that for hours, with his spine straight against cold stone, just so she could rest without pain.
Her palm settled over her own heart, feeling it race beneath the bandages.
'So this is love...' she thought, cheeks warming.
She looked at his sleeping face and pride bloomed in her chest.
This boy, this impossible, terrifying, gentle boy, was hers. Her lover.
A shy blush rose at the thought.
Carefully, she lifted both hands and cupped his face.
She pressed a feather-light kiss to his forehead, then to each closed eyelid, then to the curve of each cheekbone.
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze dropped to his mouth. The memory of last night's kisses still lingered on her lips like warm honey.
Unable to resist, she leaned in and brushed her mouth against his lips.
Two strong arms slid around her waist and Xuan Yan's lips moved against hers, returning the kiss.
Zhu Zhuqing startled, a tiny squeak escaping her lips, but then her eyes fluttered shut and she melted into him.
When they finally parted, he teased her "What's this, Zhuqing? Waking your poor lover with a sweet morning kiss?"
Her face flared crimson and she swatted his chest "Y-you were pretending to sleep!"
Before she could swat him again, he caught her wrist, tugged gently, and pulled her into his chest.
She fell against him with a soft huff that turned into a sigh when his arms folded around her.
Zhu Zhuqing wrapped her arms around his neck in return and held on tight, burying her burning face against his shoulder.
Suddenly, she felt her whole body was on fire. No, it's not a feeling.
Huh? Her body was actually burning with light green flame.
"W-What is this green flame?"
But she didn't feel any pain.
She felt a warm feeling inside her body.
The mild pain in her abdomen and her back disappeared instantly, and her wounds healed.
Xuan Yan watched her reaction with a small, gentle smile. "My seal is broken. This is my 'Life Flame'. It can heal any injury instantly."
Zhu Zhuqing's lips parted in surprise 'Heal any injury?'
"But didn't you say it would take six days for the seal to break?"
With a chuckle, he replied "I forcibly broke it. I didn't want you to suffer any longer."
Hearing this, her heart warmed 'He didn't want to see me suffering. So, he broke the seal forcibly overnight?'
Zhu Zhuqing hugged him tightly "Thank you for caring so much about me, Yan."
Stroking her back, he replied "Isn't it natural for any man to care about his woman?"
'Not everyone is as caring as you, idiot.' She buried her head in his chest and lay there comfortably.
Xuan Yan's fingers brushed the edge of the bandage that wrapped beneath her abdomen and around her ribs. "Hold still, Let's get these bandages off you now that you are healed."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, loosening her grip just enough to sit upright in his lap.
She kept her arms slightly raised so he could work.
The morning air felt cool against her skin as the first layer of gauze came free.
He unwound the bandage slowly, careful not to tug where the cloth had stuck to faint scabs.
When the last of the wrap slipped away, he let it fall to the mattress and traced one healed mark with a fingertip.
"Beautiful," he said quietly.
Before she could answer, his hands slid forward, palms gliding beneath her arms to cup her bare breasts from behind.
The sudden warmth made her jolt, then melt back against his chest with a soft exhale.
"Yan…"
"Shh. Just checking everything healed properly," he teased and his thumbs swept slow arcs across her nipples, coaxing them to stiff peaks almost instantly.
Zhu Zhuqing's head fell against his shoulder and she closed her eyes with a sigh.
He squeezed them gently, then kneaded with deliberate care, rolling the soft weight in his palms.
Each squeeze drew a tiny, helpless sound from her throat.
The cave was quiet except for the soft rustle of fabric, her ragged breathing, and the low, approving hum he gave every time she pressed closer.
He brushed one last soothing stroke across each breast, then simply held them.
Zhu Zhuqing turned her head to catch his mouth in a slow kiss.
When they parted, she was smiling, "Pervert," she accused softly.
"Maybe I am..." he muttered, pressing a kiss to the corner of her smile.
She laughed quietly and leaned back into his embrace, letting him hold her just like that.
Xuan Yan looked at her quietly for a moment before asking, "Do you have any spare clothes in your storage ring? We should leave now."
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head, her long hair brushing her shoulders as she replied softly, "No."
He exhaled 'Should I give her my clothes? That would look ridiculous on her…'
But then he remembered something and reached into his satchel and pulled out a beautiful purple gown.
Handing it to her, he said, "It may be quite big for you."
Zhu Zhuqing stared at the dress in open surprise.
The gown looked luxurious enough to belong in nobility.
But her surprise quickly dissolved into suspicion as her eyes narrowed. "Why do you have women's clothes in your storage ring?"
With a dry smile, he answered honestly, "I bought that dress for Sister Nana."
There was no point twisting the truth; lies would complicate everything later.
"Nana?" Her eyes welled with a silent accusation before she moved closer and began hitting his chest lightly with both fists.
"As I thought, you have other women out there. You bastard."
Xuan Yan didn't avoid it.
He let her hit him, her frustration softly thudding against his chest as he watched her with soft eyes.
After a few moments, she slowed and eventually lifted her gaze to look at him again.
She reached up, pinching his cheeks with annoyance "It's all because of this damn charm," she muttered.
He grinned "Hey, what can I do? God made me when he was in a good mood, I think. Don't blame me."
She stuck her tongue out. "Bah. Narcissistic."
He chuckled softly.
Then he gently took her hand. "Come on. Wear the dress."
She pouted but didn't pull away.
Instead, she lifted her arms slightly and murmured, "Help me wear it…"
He smiled and began helping her into the gown.
His fingers brushed the fine fabric as he adjusted it over her shoulders and down her sides.
When he reached the upper part of the dress, he paused "It's quite tight. Your boobs are really big for your age."
'What does she even eat to grow like this?'
Zhu Zhuqing instantly turned her head away and whispered with a blush "…It is all for you, anyway,"
After finishing the adjustments, he stepped back to take a proper look.
She was breathtaking.
The purple gown hugged her figure perfectly, the way her eyes darted away shyly... everything about her looked stunning.
He reached out, cupping her face with both hands and kissed her forehead gently.
"My Zhuqing is really gorgeous."
He stood up, carrying her like a princess in his arms "Didn't I say once my seal is broken I can take you out of here instantly?"
Hearing his words, she looked at him confused. "Yeah, you said."
"So, get ready. You may feel kind of dizzy."
Hm? Zhuqing was dumbfounded "Kind of dizzy?"
*swoosh* In the next instant, both of them disappeared from the cave.