On this cold and desolate night, the group’s posture was quite peculiar.
Qian Ye sat cross-legged, while Li Kuanglan leaned against him with her back to his chest. Ji Tianqing, like a cat basking by the hearth, curled up at Qian Ye’s feet, encircling him entirely.
At that moment, Li Kuanglan should have been calm, focusing on channeling vitality to lessen Qian Ye’s burden. However, she felt as if a pair of eyes were watching her, making her restless and tempted to flee. But her body’s instinct for survival made her cling tightly to Qian Ye. The blood core behind her, like a sun in the frigid night, radiated life, creating a small haven in this icy world.
Li Kuanglan knew the more unsettled her heart, the more exhausted Qian Ye would become. In the three days and nights, apart from a brief rest when darkness fell, he had been battling the harshness of this world.
This thought brought a twinge of pain to Li Kuanglan’s heart. The persistent feeling of being watched, scrutinizing every detail, even the most hidden parts, made her tense and sweat despite the chill.
At that moment, Qian Ye tightened his arm around her waist, signaling her to relax. It was not yet midnight, and too much tension would only deplete their energy, making the harsh second half of the night even harder to endure.
Li Kuanglan’s face flushed with embarrassment, grateful for the cover of darkness and Qian Ye’s position behind her. Otherwise, she would have wanted to find a hole to crawl into and never come out. But the darkness could not hide the curious gaze, which continued to study her face.
Frustrated, Li Kuanglan reached out quietly, intending to move Ji Tianqing’s head away. Unexpectedly, the seemingly unconscious Ji Tianqing suddenly bit down on her hand, dispersing her protective force. The searing pain almost made her scream. She hadn’t expected such ferocity from Ji Tianqing, and if not for her years of cultivation, she would have succumbed.
Not to be outdone, Li Kuanglan sent a burst of cold energy into Ji Tianqing’s throat, freezing it instantly. Taking the opportunity, she pulled her hand back, and Ji Tianqing exhaled a frosty breath before continuing to sleep.
Qian Ye appeared unperturbed, seemingly unaware of the exchange. In truth, he was inwardly alarmed. These two women fought so fiercely that an ordinary strong warrior would have been either dead or maimed. He still couldn’t tell if they were just joking or truly fighting.
Nevertheless, the night eventually passed.
Before dawn, Li Kuanglan, ignoring her weakness, left Qian Ye’s embrace and dressed herself. Ji Tianqing, on the other hand, remained unabashedly curled up beside Qian Ye, snoring softly.
She unconsciously turned, tightening her hold on Qian Ye. Concerned, he looked at her and was taken aback. Ji Tianqing’s face no longer held its usual ethereal quality; it was real and tangible. She was not the kind to turn heads immediately, but the more one looked, the more one liked her. Frankly, Ji Tianqing and Li Kuanglan were of equal caliber, each with her unique charm, far surpassing ordinary beauties.
To Qian Ye’s surprise, her face now resembled the one he saw when they first met. Only now did he recall her appearance, which had always been a blur in his memory.
In their first encounter, Ji Tianqing had revealed her true face to Qian Ye, using a mystic technique to hide it deep in his heart. The memory would only resurface when the time was right. If not, it would remain submerged, perhaps to be rediscovered when Qian Ye attained the ultimate realm.
A soft sigh echoed in Qian Ye’s heart.
As dawn broke, the first rays of sunlight illuminated the camp. Ji Tianqing rubbed her eyes, sat up, and grumbled, “What happened? Why was it so cold last night? My teeth are aching.”
Li Kuanglan, fully dressed, resumed her icy demeanor. Hearing Ji Tianqing’s complaint, she retorted, “It was strange last night. A bug bit me hard.”
Ji Tianqing, surprised, asked, “Really? Are you sure it wasn’t a dream? I slept well, though I had many strange dreams. Do you want to hear them?”
“No!” Even Li Kuanglan, with her great self-control, felt the urge to lash out.
Ji Tianqing added, “By the way, I’m a restless sleeper. If I bumped into anything, bear with it.”
Li Kuanglan’s heart raced, recalling something. She glared at Ji Tianqing, who smiled innocently.
Ji Tianqing’s movements were far from ordinary. At their skill level, any touch could be lethal. One wrong move during their shared night could have disastrous consequences. The more Li Kuanglan observed Ji Tianqing, the more she suspected her intentions.
Despite the threat, Li Kuanglan had to endure. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself, but then noticed something, exclaiming, “Tianqing, your face?”
“You said to show my true face. There’s no one else here, and that technique is too draining. I can’t afford it.”
Li Kuanglan’s face showed both joy and worry. “I heard if your face…”
“You heard wrong,” Ji Tianqing interrupted.
As they bickered, Qian Ye silently channeled the Mystical Chapter, replenishing his depleted blood force. Once somewhat recovered, he rose and walked to the edge of the camp, gazing at the distant landscape, filled with uncontrollable restlessness and anger.
This world was full of malice. Was everyone forced to bow under pressure, abandoning all principles and limits for survival?
“Go about your activities, be careful. I’m going for a walk outside.” With that, Qian Ye leaped out of the camp, vanishing like a wisp of shadow, without looking back.
Ji Tianqing and Li Kuanglan exchanged stunned looks. After a moment, Ji Tianqing asked, “What’s wrong with him?”
Li Kuanglan huffed, “How should I know?”
“But aren’t you two close?”
“Only out of necessity, and we haven’t gone all the way.”
Ji Tianqing nodded, “True, not all the way.”
Li Kuanglan snapped, “How do you know?”
Ji Tianqing replied, “I saw everything. I know.”
With a sudden realization, Ji Tianqing exclaimed, “Ah, I get it. You were planning to do it last night, but I interrupted, right?”
Li Kuanglan, losing her temper, grabbed Ji Tianqing, shouting, “Looks like I’ll have to strangle you!”
“Help!” Ji Tianqing cried.
“Quiet, do you want to attract the natives?”
“What’s there to fear? The strongest ones are dead,” Ji Tianqing shrugged.
Li Kuanglan released her, glaring. “Don’t forget, you drank a whole jar of wine last night! What if the natives come? More trouble.”
Ji Tianqing smiled, “No worries, I have a secret method to suppress the effects for now.”
Li Kuanglan pressed, “Temporary suppression. When it flares up, what will you do?”
“If I have no choice, I’ll borrow your man. You won’t let me die, will you?”
Li Kuanglan blushed, “Nonsense, he’s not my man! I don’t have a man!”
“Really? Who was begging for death when I was drinking?”
“Tianqing, I think strangling you is a better idea!”
After a while, they quieted down, both concerned: Where did Qian Ye go?
Li Kuanglan broke the silence, “Let’s explore the forest again, see if we find anything.”
Ji Tianqing shook her head, “No, we have food. Focus on training. The stronger we are, the less burden he has.”
Li Kuanglan scrutinized Ji Tianqing, asking, “Tell me honestly, is there a problem with the wine?”
Ji Tianqing sighed, “My secret method only suppresses temporarily. When it fails, the effects will double. If that happens and you don’t lend me your man, I might… end it myself while I’m still clear-headed.”
Li Kuanglan’s heart tightened, “Don’t say that! Qian Ye won’t abandon you.”
Ji Tianqing whispered, “I know. But I can’t help feeling…”
Li Kuanglan was silent. She, too, felt the same way.
Yet, no matter how many choices there were, Qian Ye was always the best. But this man, with his stubborn heart, could only love one person.
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