Yun Yun stood frozen, blankly watching Xiao Hua's back as he disappeared from sight, leaving the cave. Her jade-like hands hovered hesitantly in the air, as if uncertain what expression suited this moment.
A long while later, she finally snapped out of her daze and stamped her foot in frustration. "Even if you were once powerful at your peak, you're not now! So ruthless when he's angry… and to think I even considered helping him! Since he enjoys acting brave and showing off, he can deal with it himself!"
Though her words were laced with irritation, she still found herself taking a few steps toward the cave entrance. But the memory of Xiao Hua's warning made her halt, a trace of worry clouding her delicate brow.
Not long after he left, the howl of beasts outside intensified, growing more distant as time passed—yet Xiao Hua had yet to return.
She waited, her patience wearing thin. Finally, determination flashed across her eyes as she gritted her teeth. With a flick of her jade-like hand, a bizarre sword shot out, and she coldly declared, "If anything happens to Xiao Hua, Amethyst Winged Lion, I will overturn this entire mountain range!"
"I told you not to make such a reckless decision…"
Just as she turned toward the cave's exit, she froze. A familiar voice rang out, halting her steps.
A bloody figure stumbled in from the cave entrance.
Her heart clenched violently as she took in the sight—Xiao Hua, covered in blood.
Although exhaustion lingered in his eyes, Xiao Hua stared at her with a helpless yet exasperated expression.
"Yun Yun, please don't go out anymore. If more Magic Beasts come, I really will die."
"I understand, but your injuries…!" Yun Yun nodded hastily before rushing toward him.
Seeing her anxious reaction, Xiao Hua let out a bitter smile. But before he could say another word, his vision darkened, and his body collapsed.
In that fleeting moment, he vaguely felt himself falling into a soft, warm embrace...
...
When Xiao Hua finally regained consciousness, he vaguely felt a soft, warm arm wrapped around his waist. His head seemed to be resting against something, and most noticeably, his back was pressed tightly against two soft mounds…
As he slowly awakened, a sudden cool sensation spread across his lips as a large mouthful of cold, clear water was somewhat forcefully poured into his mouth. However, due to the poor technique of the person administering it, a fair amount ended up going down the wrong way—some even into his nose.
Cough! Cough! Cough!
Xiao Hua's eyes snapped open as he quickly lowered his head, violently coughing to clear his throat. When he finally managed to compose himself, he turned to see Yun Yun holding a bowl of clear water behind him, looking utterly flustered and unsure of what to do.
The corner of Xiao Hua's mouth twitched before he let out a bitter chuckle. "I never expected you to be this clumsy. This is your first time taking care of someone, isn't it?"
Hearing his words, a faint flush of embarrassment surfaced on Yun Yun's delicate face. Just as Xiao Hua had said, this was indeed the first time she had ever cared for someone—honestly, considering that, she felt she hadn't done too badly.
Putting down the bowl in her hands, Yun Yun asked with a concerned expression, "Are you alright?"
"Not too bad, but not great either." Xiao Hua rubbed his somewhat dizzy head. "There were plenty of third-ranked and fourth-ranked Magic Beasts. They're really doing everything they can to find you…"
Magic Beasts above the third rank usually acted alone or in small family groups. However, the sheer variety of beasts gathering outside the cave had forced him to push himself beyond his limits, despite his injuries.
"I apologize for not heeding your warning. I thought taking a different route back would be safe…"
Perhaps it was because her strength was temporarily sealed, or maybe their relationship had grown closer, but over the past few days, Yun Yun found herself apologizing far more than ever before.
If the Misty Cloud Sect or those acquainted with Yun Yun witnessed this scene, they would be so shocked they might end up swallowing their own tongues.
Smiling helplessly, Xiao Hua waved his hand and said, "Forget it. This was my fault for being careless."
Guuu—!
"Uh…" At that moment, Xiao Hua's stomach suddenly growled, making him feel a bit embarrassed. He let out a small cough to cover it up.
Hearing the sound, Yun Yun couldn't hold back her laughter. Her clear, melodious voice echoed through the cave, carrying a rare sense of amusement.
"How nice of you to enjoy the sound of my hunger…" Xiao Hua shook his head with a faint smile and was about to stand up.
Before he could, a soft hand reached out and gently stopped him. Yun Yun smiled and said, "You're the patient right now so it's my time to take care of you. I'll grill the fish today."
Xiao Hua blinked and gave her a doubtful look. "You? Cook?"
He knew full well that this woman had never touched a kitchen in her life. Given her noble status and single-minded focus on martial cultivation, the chances of her knowing how to cook were practically nonexistent.
"I've learned a little after watching you these past two or three days." With a smile, Yun Yun turned and walked toward the stone platform, leaving Xiao Hua with a mesmerizing view of her graceful back.
Watching Yun Yun squat by the fire, carefully grilling the fish, Xiao Hua's eyes flickered with concern and unease. After letting out a resigned sigh, he glanced toward the right side of the fireplace and said, "Just in case, the jade bottles with the seasonings are on the right—not the left."
He had to warn her, just to be safe. Some of the medicinal powders stored here were poisonous, while others had irritating effects. If she used the wrong one, it could cause unnecessary trouble.
Moreover, he still remembered the chaos she had caused during her cohabitation with Xiao Yan in the novel. He wanted to make sure she didn't repeat the same mistake.
After receiving an understanding reply from her, Xiao Hua finally sighed in relief. Even though he couldn't use Dou Qi in his current state, he could still grind medicinal ingredients into powder and use them to ward off magical beasts.
Naturally, whenever he did so, his workspace would become a mess. Fortunately, he was the type to clean up after himself. If not, this situation might have already played out differently.
Focusing on recuperating his injuries, he takes out a medicinal pill in his storage ring before swallowing it. Fortunately, even if his Dou Qi is sealed, it doesn't mean he unable to use Spiritual Strength to help him. He carefully guided the medicinal strength towards the most severe injuries.
Squatting beside the fire, Yun Yun was sweating heavily as she flipped the fish. Occasionally, she would glance over at Xiao Hua, who was recuperating with his eyes closed, and involuntarily muttered, "No one else has ever eaten fish that I've grilled. I'll admit I've never cooked before, but that doesn't mean you should judge me so quickly…"
If Xiao Hua had heard her whisper, he would have countered that those who can't cook always say the same thing—until they experience it firsthand.
Turning the wooden handle once more, Yun Yun's gaze swept across the jade bottles on the stone table. Her brows furrowed slightly as her hands hesitated before moving. A moment later, she suddenly grabbed the closest jade bottle.
"This one is a different color from the rest… This must be the seasoning, right?"
Opening the bottle, she examined its contents. The powder inside was pink, resembling the one Xiao Hua had used before. Convinced she had found the right ingredient, she sprinkled it generously over the grilled fish.
After a while, a soft sigh came from Xiao Hua's direction. Yun Yun turned to see his complexion gradually improving, and a sense of relief washed over her heart.
Xiao Hua blinked, his gaze landing on the slightly burnt grilled fish placed in front of him. The corner of his mouth twitched as he looked up at Yun Yun, who was watching him with bright, expectant eyes—her expression filled with pride.
'She's a bit more childish than I thought…' Xiao Hua smiled wryly at her reaction and shook his head.
Over the past few days, he had noticed this side of her. At first, he had been surprised, but now he had grown accustomed to it and simply chose to ignore it.
He let out a dry chuckle. "Did you grill this yourself?"
"This is my first time cooking anything. Even if it doesn't taste good, you have to finish it. Otherwise… when I recover…" Yun Yun's red lips curved slightly as she waved a grilled fish in her hand. Though her voice remained calm, the unspoken threat was clear.
She knew that Xiao Hua's recovery would take time, and since the seal on her strength was gradually weakening, she would regain her full power before he did. Naturally, this mean that she can have a little fun with him in the meantime.
Xiao Hua sighed in resignation, accepting his fate. Without protest, he took the burnt grilled fish placed in front of him.
Satisfied, Yun Yun took a small bite of her own portion. The moment the burnt taste hit her tongue, she frowned, clearly displeased. Naturally, anyone would feel the same when eating something so poorly cooked.
Laughing inwardly, Xiao Hua took a bite. The burnt fish left a bitter taste in his mouth, and a faint smudge of black coated his lips, but there was nothing he could do—he simply chewed and swallowed it without complaint.
However, as he forced down another bite, his expression stiffened. A strange sensation crept into his body, sending an ominous chill down his spine. His muscles twitched uncomfortably, a telltale sign that he had consumed something poison—or at the very least, something that have a bad effect on him.
"…Xiao Hua, do you… feel like something is off?" Yun Yun's hesitant voice broke the silence.
Hearing her words, Xiao Hua slowly raised his head, only for his heart to skip a beat.
Standing before him, Yun Yun's usually fair complexion was now flushed with an alluring shade of red. Her sharp, alert eyes had turned hazy, clouded with something unfamiliar. As his gaze drifted downward, he noticed that even her slender neck was tinged with pink.
Seeing her expression and the state she was in, Xiao Hua immediately confirmed his worst fear.
"You… Take out the jade bottle you used to season the fish," he said, his voice dry.
Yun Yun blinked, realization dawning upon her. The source of the problem—was the grilled fish.
Without hesitation, she spun around and grabbed the small jade bottle from the stone table, quickly handing it to Xiao Hua.
Seeing the black-jade bottle, Xiao Hua's expression instantly change, and his brows furrowed tightly. He didn't even need to examine its contents—he already knew what was inside.
"What is it? Is there something wrong with the seasoning?" Yun Yun asked curiously, noticing his reaction.
Xiao Hua let out a deep sigh, feeling both exasperated and helpless. "Who told you this was seasoning for grilled fish?"
His voice carried a hint of frustration. "I specifically said the seasonings were on the right… Why did you take something from the left?"
Yun Yun blinked before responding, a hint of guilt slipping into her voice. "You were unconscious for an entire day, so I cleaned up your station since it was a bit messy."
Xiao Hua was momentarily stunned. Two days have passed?
But more importantly, an important fact suddenly resurfaced in his mind—he usually cleaned his station after lunch. Unfortunately, due to the magical beasts discovering their location, he hadn't had the time to do so.
"It looked similar to the one you usually use…" Yun Yun's voice was extremely soft, barely audible, but it still reached Xiao Hua's ears.
Letting out a long sigh, Xiao Hua shook his head. The seasoning he normally used was a rare mineral similar to Himalayan salt from his previous world, which he had coincidentally discovered while traveling through the Black-Corner Region's mountain range.
He would be fine. His body had long since become impervious to poisons and something with similar effects, especially with the Lightning Beasts, Celestial Ancient Frost, and the fusion of Heavenly Lightning and Primordial Heavenly Flame residing within him.
But Yun Yun, on the other hand…
"What exactly is this stuff?" In front of him, Yun Yun's expression grew increasingly strained. A visible flush deepened on her skin, and her breathing became heavier. More alarmingly, she felt an unbearable heat surging through her body, an almost overwhelming urge to strip off her clothes.
However, as a Dou Huang, even with her strength temporarily sealed, her mental fortitude remained. Gritting her teeth, she forcefully suppressed the burning sensation as she hurriedly questioned him.
"This is… an aphrodisiac." Xiao Hua replied, his face tinged with a slight redness. This was truly an embarrassing topic to discuss…
"A-Aphro… aphrodisiac?!" Yun Yun's expression froze upon hearing his response. A deep blush immediately spread across her face as she stomped her foot, scolding, "Why would you even make something like this?!"
"This wasn't for you. It is for the beasts outside." Faced with Yun Yun Yun's anger caused by her embarrassment, Xiao Hua let out a helpless chuckle.
"The medicinal powders that cause irritation don't always work on certain types of magical beasts. So, I mixed this to force them into heat. When that happens, they usually retreat into hiding to relieve it rather than lingering in the same area. Once they're preoccupied with… other things, the chances of them staying active and pursuing us become extremely low."
Hearing his explanation, Yun Yun bit her lip in frustration. Even so, she couldn't argue with his logic. At this moment, however, she felt utterly powerless—far from the composed and formidable expert who once battled the Amethyst Winged Lion.
She turned her gaze toward Xiao Hua, only to find his expression calm and composed. "You don't seem affected by this…"
"My body has undergone multiple tribulations and refinements," Xiao Hua replied, shaking his head as if this was merely a trivial matter.
Recalling his Qi Method, Yun Yun chose not to dwell on the topic. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she asked, "What should I do now?"
"Normally, I'd tell you to use Dou Qi to suppress the aphrodisiac… but with your current condition…" Xiao Hua's voice trailed off.
Yun Yun immediately understood what he left unsaid. Her Dou Qi had been completely sealed by the Amethyst Winged Lion. Without it, how was she supposed to suppress the fire raging within her?
As the heat of desire spread through her body, her bright eyes grew increasingly hazy, her sense of reasoning slowly slipping away.
Letting out a resigned sigh, Xiao Hua stood up and reached out to the Lightning Beasts for assistance in his spiritual sea. If he used Xue Yue's energy, both he and Yun Yun would be frozen into ice blocks instantly.
Although using the Lightning Beasts' energy was a better alternative, it wasn't without cost. The backlash would be severe, further delaying his recovery. But given the situation, he had little choice.
Compared to the Celestial Ancient Frost's energy, this was at least manageable—painful, yes, but still within his control.
The Lightning Beasts, upon learning of the situation, didn't object. However, their stares carried a mixture of exasperation and disbelief, as if silently questioning how their master had managed to end up in such a predicament.
Xiao Hua understood their exasperation at the absurdity of the situation, but he had no time to dwell on it—his priority was curing Yun Yun.
Just as his consciousness returned, he heard Yun Yun's anxious voice, her breathing uneven as she struggled to restrain herself through sheer willpower. "I can't stay here any longer. I need to leave!"
A gust of cold wind swept into the cave, momentarily sobering her. Clenching her silver teeth, she made a split-second decision and dashed toward the cave entrance.
Xiao Hua's heart pounded in alarm. If she left in her current state, things would spiral into chaos—Magical Beasts would be drawn to her uncontrollable aura, swarming from all directions to block their escape.
Without hesitation, he shot up from the stone bed and lunged forward, grabbing Yun Yun from behind.
The moment his hands wrapped around her slender waist, Yun Yun's entire body stiffened. Instinctively, she spun around and swung her hand toward him.
However, in her weakened state, her slap lacked any real strength. Instead of a sharp impact, her palm barely brushed against his cheek, feeling more like the absentminded touch of a lover than an actual strike.
"Don't worry, Yun Yun." Xiao Hua swiftly reassured her. Although he couldn't deny that he liked the soft sensation of her touch, he needed to clarify the situation. "I have a certain method to suppress it. I just need your cooperation for—"
Before he could finish, a sudden force pushed him back. A sharp pain followed as he felt teeth sinking into his shoulder. Stunned, he opened his eyes, only to see Yun Yun biting him.
However, being this close to a man, his scent only served to intensify the heat surging within her. The small mouth that had latched onto his shoulder slowly loosened its grip.
Though there was no wound, faint teeth marks remained on his skin. A soft, delicate tongue flicked out, tracing over the mark in a teasing motion.
Raising her head, Yun Yun's hazy gaze fell upon Xiao Hua's lips. An unknown force seemed to pull her closer, and before she could stop herself, she leaned in, pressing her lips against his.
In his dazed state, Xiao Hua instinctively parted his lips, only to feel a small, moist tongue slip inside.
The unexpected entanglement sent a jolt through his entire body, his mind momentarily blanking out. But in the next instant, clarity struck him like a bolt of lightning.
His eyes widened in shock. Snapping out of his daze, he attempted to pull away, only to realize that the sudden movement had aggravated his wounds, sapping his strength.
"Fuck…!" Xiao Hua gritted his teeth, unable to suppress his frustration. "Of all times, you just had to cause trouble now…!"
"Sorry in advance, Yun Yun." Xiao Hua swiftly raised his hand and struck the back of her neck, knocking her unconscious with precision. However, just as she lost consciousness, a single crystal-clear tear slipped from her beautiful eyes.
Gently holding her delicate body, he carefully laid her down beside him. A weary sigh escaped his lips as he stared at her peaceful face, an undeniable sense of guilt creeping into his heart. He took a few deep breaths, trying to suppress the turmoil within him.
Ironically, the sharp throbbing of his wounds helped ground his mind, forcing him to stay focused. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stand despite the searing pain coursing through his body. With great effort, he bent down and carefully lifted Yun Yun's slender waist, carrying her over to the stone table before setting her down.
"Now… all that's left is to use the Lightning Beasts' energy to neutralize the aphrodisiac."
Surging the Lightning Beasts' energy within his body, Xiao Hua instantly felt his wounds worsen. The tearing pain was excruciating, but he could only smile bitterly and endure it. No matter how much it hurt, he had no choice—if he hesitated now, the effects of the aphrodisiac would only escalate into an even greater disaster…