Yun Yun's eyelashes trembled as she slowly opened her eyes. When she noticed the black robe gently draped over her body, another tear silently fell. Though she knew that the worst had not come to pass, the state of her clothing made it clear—Xiao Hua had seen everything. His treatment of her was no different from having laid eyes upon her bare form.
As the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, few dared to be impudent before her, let alone lay a finger on her body.
Yet now, in this secluded cave, the first kiss she had guarded for years had been stolen—by a boy far younger than her. A surge of despair rose within her chest, yet no tears came, only an aching emptiness.
With her Dou Qi sealed, Yun Zhi no longer carried the same distant, untouchable air she usually exuded. The weight of her lofty status seemed momentarily locked away in the depths of her mind.
Had this happened in the past, she wouldn't have hesitated to unsheathe her sword and cut Xiao Hua into pieces—or die trying.
Of course, had her Dou Qi not been sealed, the crude aphrodisiac Xiao Hua had haphazardly concocted would never have been enough to make her feel even the slightest dizziness.
Lying on the cold stone bed, Yun Yun bit her lips, her expression shifting between light and shadow, as if torn between emotions too complex to unravel.
However, a sudden thought struck her—Xiao Hua's Dou Qi was supposed to be sealed. Yet, he had managed to heal her.
She swiftly sat up, doubt creeping into her heart. Healing required Dou Qi, so had the seal on Xiao Hua been released? Or had he only pretended his Dou Qi was sealed to get close to her?
If it was the former, she could feel relieved—she could ask him to undo the seal on her as well. But if it was the latter… she would be utterly disappointed in his character.
Curious, she slowly lifted herself and swept her gaze across the cave.
Her eyes trembled slightly at the sight before her.
A figure sat motionless in a pool of blood, his entire body drenched in it.
"Xiao Hua!"
She rushed forward, all traces of embarrassment and sorrow vanishing the moment she saw his condition.
"What happened? Is this… lightning energy?" Yun Yun swiftly examined his injuries, sensing arcs of lightning flickering across his body. In that instant, realization struck—Xiao Hua had suffered a severe backlash in exchange for using this lightning energy to cure her.
"Did you do this… to save me?"
Her expression darkened. She no longer cared about what had happened before—right now, her only concern was healing him.
She quickly stood and scanned the cave, her gaze landing on the countless jade bottles scattered nearby. Knitting her brows, she hurriedly opened them, revealing medicinal powders of various colors.
She had no idea which was which. But rather than waste time figuring it out, she sprinkled the powders over herself, masking her scent. After applying nearly fifty different medicinal powders, she turned and carefully made her way outside.
Over a hundred meters away, a waterfall roared in the distance.
She retrieved the wooden bucket Xiao Hua had used for grinding medicinal herbs into powder and filled it to the brim with water. Without wasting another second, she swiftly returned to the cave.
This time, she was more cautious. Taking a different route back, she spread medicinal powders along the way to mask her scent and cover her tracks.
Upon returning, Yun Yun hesitated slightly before approaching Xiao Hua's unconscious body.
Cleaning the blood off him meant she would have to remove his clothes—and even his pants. Just the thought made her heart pound wildly, her fair face flushing crimson. A deep shyness filled her chest. She had never been in such a situation before, especially with a young man.
Taking several deep breaths, she forced herself to calm down. Slowly, the redness on her face faded, and she reached for the black robe, its intricate blue and green embroidery standing out in the dim light.
As she removed his clothes, a finely sculpted physique was revealed beneath—neither overly bulky nor thin, but honed to perfect symmetry. The chiseled ridges of his six-pack abs rose and fell subtly with each breath. His broad shoulders and well-toned arms spoke of a strength tempered through relentless cultivation.
For a moment, Yun Yun froze. Her gaze locked onto his bare upper body, her mind blank as a mesmerized expression overtook her face.
Then, an icy gust of wind suddenly swept through the cave, snapping her out of her daze.
Realizing how lost in thought she had been, her face instantly turned scarlet, the redness spreading down to her neck and ears as embarrassment surged through her.
She coughed awkwardly twice before focusing on cleaning the blood from Xiao Hua's body. Doing her best to ignore his form, she methodically wiped away the crimson stains.
After a while, his body was finally clean. Yun Yun exhaled lightly, wiping away the perspiration on her forehead before straightening up.
Her eyes swept across his body, quickly noticing the wounds still marring his skin. She glanced around the cave, searching for anything to use as bandages, but found nothing.
Relentlessly scouring every corner, her gaze eventually landed on the black robe Xiao Hua had draped over her. Without hesitation, she took it and tore it into strips, carefully binding his wounds to stop the bleeding.
"Don't you dare die, Xiao Hua..." Her voice quivered, low but fierce, as she carefully wrapped the cloth around his injuries.
"If you do, I'll hate you for the rest of my life—for putting me in that kind of situation, accident or not…"
Her words sounded like blame, but they were laced with fear—fear that he might slip away from her before she could understand what had just taken root in her heart.
Though the effects of the aphrodisiac had clouded their senses, Xiao Hua had stopped things from spiraling beyond control.
And now, as she knelt beside him, no longer the lofty, untouchable Sect Leader, but just a woman caught in the chaos of fate—her heart ached.
The world that had once seemed so distant now felt unbearably close.
"So live, Xiao Hua… if only to take responsibility for stealing my first kiss."
Her voice was barely a whisper, but in that quiet cave, it echoed with longing, with unspoken truths, and the weight of a bond that had just begun to form.
As she worked, her expression remained tense, her clothes stained with traces of blood. At some point, her noble-looking hairpin had fallen to the ground, allowing her long hair to flow freely, cascading past her waist.
Once the wounds were fully bandaged, a wave of relief washed over her. Gently, she laid his body down before exhaustion overwhelmed her, and she drifted into sleep beside him.
As time passed, another day in the cave slowly faded into dawn. The golden rays of sunrise peeked over the mountains, casting away the remnants of night.
Xiao Hua's closed eyes twitched slightly before slowly opening. He stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment, gathering his thoughts. As he regained awareness, he felt a weight pressing down on his left arm and turned his head.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Yun Yun was resting her head on his arm, sleeping soundly without a care. He was slightly surprised that she had allowed herself to get this close to him after everything that had happened. But he thought nothing of it—she must have simply been exhausted.
More than anything, this showed her trust in him—not fearing that he would take advantage of her. That realization brought him a sense of relief. Truthfully, he had expected her to wake up with a sword to his throat after what had transpired. If she had, he wouldn't have blamed her, especially knowing how proud this woman is.
Carefully, he sat up, making sure not to disturb her, and lean on the cave wall. Glancing down, he noticed the messy bandages wrapped around his upper body. Though haphazardly done, he could sense the care and warmth behind Yun Yun's efforts, making his smile grow even softer.
A barely audible soft moan sounded beside him, drawing his attention back to his arm. Yun Yun stirred, shifting slightly before slowly raising her head. Her dazed eyes swept across the cave, unfocused, as she absentmindedly licked her lips.
After a brief moment, clarity returned to her gaze. Realizing her position, a faint red flush crept onto her cheeks.
"What are you looking at?" she asked, a trace of embarrassment flickering in her beautiful eyes, laced with a hint of irritation.
Xiao Hua's lips curved into a faint, apologetic smile. "I'm sorry for making you go through all of this…"
Hearing his words, Yun Yun's expression stiffened slightly, her cheeks deepening in color. As much as she wanted to be angry, she found herself unable to direct her frustration at him.
Her gaze instinctively dropped to the bandages wrapped around his torso. She immediately understood—he had suffered a severe backlash to heal her.
A complicated emotion flickered across her face as she stared at his wounds. The usual iciness in her eyes softened just a little. After a long silence, she let out a dejected sigh and spoke weakly, "Let's just pretend… that none of this ever happened."
She paused before standing up and fixing her gaze on him. Her voice turned cold and matter-of-fact. "Otherwise, if word of this spreads, even if I can't defeat you, I'll hunt you down until one of us dies."
Leaning against the wall, Xiao Hua met her piercing gaze with a faint smile. "Don't worry. I have no intention of spreading this story. I'd rather not have you relentlessly chasing me."
Yun Yun nodded slightly before turning away. She walked toward a quiet corner of the cave, sat down, and closed her eyes.
Xiao Hua let out a slow sigh, feeling a small sense of relief. At the very least, their relationship hadn't worsened because of this incident.
Shaking his head, he suddenly felt a strange sensation in his lower abdomen. His expression shifted—this was a sign that the seal had begun to unravel.
A faint trace of joy flickered across Xiao Hua's face, but he quickly regained his composure. Just because the seal had begun to unravel didn't mean it would be a swift process.
'Judging by the energy it emits, it will likely take another month or so for the seal to fully break. For now, patience is key—I need to focus on recovering my body first.'
Murmuring inwardly, Xiao Hua carefully analyzed the flow of energy, estimating the time needed for the seal to completely dissolve. He then retrieved a medicinal pill from his Storage Ring, swallowed it, and slowly closed his eyes, concentrating on healing his injuries.
Meanwhile, Yun Yun's closed eyes fluttered open, quietly observing Xiao Hua as he meditated. A complex glint flashed in her gaze, her heart growing heavy with conflicting emotions.
Normally, she wouldn't have hesitated to raise her longsword and pierce his throat. Yet, at this moment, an unfamiliar hesitation crept into her heart. Anger, embarrassment, and frustration surged within her—yet, inexplicably, so did warmth, gentleness, and something unknown. The contradiction left her emotions in turmoil.
Her lips parted as if to say something, but in the end, only a weary sigh escaped. She pushed the matter aside, choosing instead to focus on breaking the seal suppressing her Dou Qi.
'Whatever happens… I'll deal with it later. Right now, I must break this seal and settle what I came here for.'
As both immersed themselves in their respective tasks, a heavy silence settled over the cave—awkward and thick with unspoken thoughts. It seemed neither of them could return to the natural rhythm of the past few days.
The uncomfortable atmosphere persisted until noon. At some point, Yun Yun sensed Xiao Hua leaving the cave. Though he had yet to fully recover, it was clear that he could at least move—albeit with some difficulty.
When Xiao Hua returned, he carried a few freshly caught fish. Without much thought, he sat beside the fire, absentmindedly rotating the wooden skewer as the fish roasted over the flames.
Just then, an inexplicable feeling tugged at his heart. Lifting his head, his gaze collided with a pair of beautiful yet livid eyes.
Their eyes met for a brief moment before both quickly averted their gazes, pretending as if nothing had happened. The awkwardness and embarrassment between them hadn't faded in such a short time.
Xiao Hua silently turned the grilled fish once more before pulling one off the skewer and offering it to Yun Yun.
"You can eat. I'm not hungry." Yun Yun murmured softly, lowering her head. Yet, as soon as the words left her lips, a low growl echoed from her stomach. A faint red flush crept onto her cheeks, but she remained stubborn, closing her eyes as if ignoring her body's protest.
Xiao Hua chuckled lightly. "Don't force yourself. And as for that… it's already been taken care of." His tone was gentle, subtly reassuring.
Yun Yun slowly opened her eyes and pressed her lips together. When she finally lifted her gaze, she saw a young man sitting by the fire, his pale face illuminated by the flickering flames.
The weak aura he emitted, combined with the warmth in his smile, made something stir within her heart. A fleeting softness flickered in her eyes as she looked at him—this wounded young man who, despite his own pain, still concerned himself with her well-being.
There was no denying that Xiao Hua's delicate and gentle eyes, paired with his extraordinarily handsome features, gave him an air of harmlessness.
As Yun Yun stared at the grilled fish in her hands, a realization struck her—this entire incident had started because of the fish she had grilled.
The young man before her had simply been caught in an unexpected misfortune. She couldn't blame him entirely; after all, it was her own pride that had stopped her from asking him before accidentally adding the aphrodisiac to the fish…
Letting out a quiet sigh, Yun Yun extended her hand and took the grilled fish. Just as she was about to take a bite, Xiao Hua suddenly spoke. "Be careful. It's still a little hot."
His words made her pause. She blinked, momentarily distracted, before shooting him a sidelong glance.
"Which Dou Huang have you ever seen worry about a little heat?" she retorted, her voice carrying a hint of arrogance.
Xiao Hua smirked. "One who had her strength sealed." His tone was lighthearted, his teasing evident as he casually tended to the remaining fish, ensuring they didn't burn.
Yun Yun's cheeks flushed red at his words. She glared at him, embarrassment flickering in her beautiful eyes, mixed with a touch of irritation. With a slight huff, she turned her attention back to the grilled fish, biting into it with just a hint of dissatisfaction.
Taking small bites, Yun Yun slowly chewed the fish, gradually relaxing Perhaps it was because of Xiao Hua's unexpected words, laced with a teasing tone. After swallowing, she spoke softly, "I should be able to break the seal by tomorrow."
"That's a relief. Congratulations." Xiao Hua nodded with a smile.
"…Aren't you worried?" Yun Yun hesitated for a moment before asking.
"That you'll attack me?" Xiao Hua glanced at her in confusion. He chuckled softly and said, "I trust that you wouldn't."
"That's not what I meant…" Her voice trailed off. What she truly wondered was whether things between them would change—whether he would grow distant.
She gazed at his side profile before letting out a quiet, dispirited sigh. A complicated mix of emotions churned within her—restlessness, dejection, and a hint of something she couldn't quite name.
"…Anyway, once I recover my strength, I'll once again go and find the Amethyst Winged Lion." Changing the subject, Yun Yun pushed aside the unsettling emotions in her heart, unwilling to dwell on them any longer.
"Let's just hope history doesn't repeat itself and you get your Dou Qi sealed again. Not that I'd mind…" Xiao Hua smirked, his teasing tone carrying a hint of mischief.
Hearing his words, Yun Yun's brows twitched. With an annoyed huff, she angrily threw her grilled fish at him. "You jinx! What nonsense are you spouting?"
Xiao Hua flipped his hand, easily catching the flying grilled fish. Glancing at it, he noticed the faint marks of her small teeth on its surface. His grin deepened, and without hesitation, he took a bite—his movements exaggerated, as if savoring a rare treasure.
Watching him casually eat the fish she had already bitten into, Yun Yun's face turned a faint shade of red. Her heart inexplicably skipped a beat. She scowled and muttered under her breath, "Just eat it. Let it choke you to death!"
"Heh, teasing you really is quite entertaining." Xiao Hua chuckled, his tone filled with amusement as he casually accepted Yun Yun's irritated glare.
"Just you wait until I've dealt with the Amethyst Winged Lion…" Yun Yun huffed, her soft voice laced with both embarrassment and a hint of grievance as she glared at his playful smirk.
After finishing his fish, Xiao Hua licked his lips before tilting his head slightly. "I'll help you retrieve the Purple Spirit Crystal."
Yun Yun was momentarily dumbfounded by his words. Before she could respond, Xiao Hua continued.
"The Purple Spirit Crystal is usually placed inside the Amethyst Winged Lion's cave. Judging from its reaction, you must have originally planned to sneak in and take it, but were discovered before you could succeed." His voice was calm, as he knew everything.
"If you create a distraction, I can slip inside and retrieve the crystal."
Seeing the uncertainty in her expression, he added reassuringly, "Don't worry about being discovered. I have several methods to conceal my presence, tracks, and scent."
Yun Yun's initial shock faded into contemplation as she mulled over his words. His plan was sound. If he was confident in his ability to enter undetected, then she could focus entirely on fighting the Amethyst Winged Lion without any hesitation.
Besides, few magical beasts dared to venture near the Amethyst Winged Lion's territory, reducing the risk of unexpected interference.
"But what about your injuries? Are you sure you're fine?" Yun Yun asked with concern. While she felt a hint of happiness at his willingness to help, she couldn't ignore the worry that his wounds might worsen.
"Don't worry about me. Have you forgotten that I'm an alchemist?" Xiao Hua shook his head with a reassuring smile. "I have plenty of medicinal pills to heal my injuries. I just need a little time, and by tomorrow, I'll be good enough to move."
Yun Yun remained silent for a moment before nodding hesitantly. "Then we'll go with your plan."
As much as she wanted to refuse, she knew that Xiao Hua's approach was the most practical.
Even if she managed to defeat the Amethyst Winged Lion, she would be left exhausted, making her vulnerable to attacks from other magical beasts. Having Xiao Hua retrieve the Purple Spirit Crystal while she kept the lion occupied was indeed the safest option.
She could only hope he wouldn't push himself too hard out of stubbornness or reckless bravado.
After a moment of internal struggle, Yun Yun suddenly stood up and walked behind a large rock, leaving Xiao Hua slightly confused. Making sure he couldn't see her, she swiftly and elegantly removed her outer robe.
Her slender fingers gently unfastened the blue-hued metal inner vest, which shimmered with a strange light. As soon as she took it off, she hurriedly redressed, a faint shyness coloring her expression.
Returning to her seat, Yun Yun carefully folded the vest in her hands before extending it toward him. In a soft voice, she explained,
"This is the Sea's Core Vest, crafted from a rare metal found in the stomach of a Three-Tailed Blue Whale, a Rank Six sea beast. Its defensive strength scales with its wearer's power. Even though your strength is currently sealed, you're far from weak. With this, even a Rank Four magical beast wouldn't be able to harm you. I don't want your wounds to worsen, so… I hope this helps."
Xiao Hua was momentarily speechless. In the original novel, this was the very gift Yun Yun had given to Xiao Yan—yet now, he was the one receiving it.
Yun Yun hadn't offered to temporarily increase his strength with a secret technique, as it would be useless with his Dou Qi sealed. Rather, forcing such a method on him might do more harm than good. Instead, she chose to give him this armor, ensuring his safety in a more practical way.
Seeing her urging him to take it, Xiao Hua accepted the armor, warmth and gratitude filling his heart. Storing it in his Spatial Ring, he looked up and smiled.
"Let's hope for the best."
Watching Xiao Hua's smile, Yun Yun slightly inclined her head. Having said all there was to say, silence once again settled between them.
"Let's get some rest. At first light tomorrow, we'll make our move." Xiao Hua finally broke the quiet, flashing her a small smile. Without further words, he sat cross-legged on a stone platform at the side, closed his eyes, and focused on recuperating his injuries.
Seated on the stone bed, Yun Yun watched him for a long time. His composed expression, his pale yet handsome face… A soft sigh escaped her lips as she finally lay down.
"Just sleep… By morning, you'll forget everything," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the stillness of the cave.
As time passed in silence, the sun dipped below the horizon, and the night sky cast its dark veil over the land.
Suddenly, Xiao Hua's closed eyes fluttered open. He let out a soft sigh, sensing the slow but steady recovery of his body. The pain had dulled, and for the first time in days, he felt a trace of comfort.
Turning his head, his gaze fell upon the sleeping beauty on the stone bed—Yun Yun. Slowly rising from his seat, he approached her and silently observed her elegant and graceful form. His eyes traced her delicate features, lingering on the slight furrow in her brow, as if she were troubled even in her sleep.
After a brief pause, Xiao Hua shook his head and retrieved a black robe from his Storage Ring, gently draping it over her. Without another word, he turned and left the cave. As he stepped outside, his gaze sharpened as a faint flicker of light danced along his arms, and a pair of snow-white gauntlets adorned with silvery patterns materialized over them.
The night was when Magic Beasts were most active—he needed to stay vigilant.
Unbeknownst to him, the moment he left, Yun Yun's closed eyes slowly fluttered open. She quietly watched his retreating figure disappear into the darkness, her gaze falling upon the white gauntlets adorned with strange runes.
Lowering her eyes, she reached out, her fingers lightly brushing against the black robe covering her. A ripple stirred within her heart—an unfamiliar, yet undeniable feeling beginning to surface.
"…Ah." A soft sigh escaped her lips, fading into the stillness of the cave.