Chapter 75 Keeping Warm: "Medicine kit, flint, map, guide..."

"Medicine kit, flint, map, compass..."

Lingke looked down and checked the contents of her bag, then nodded in satisfaction.

"Okay, that's about right. From what I've observed, there will be the aurora borealis on the snowy plains outside the city tonight. Your boyfriend has come all this way to Belleburg, so he should witness Belleburg's unique features."

You, Bai'er, Pella, and Lingke squatted in Shiluwa's mechanical house and did a final inventory of the supplies.

Bai Er curiously observed the constantly turning gears around him and the unique heating system, eager to try it out.

"Aurora? Are we going camping? But you guys are..."

He spoke tactfully, but Pera immediately understood what he meant—both he and you are protected by the power of destiny, and your combat strength is ridiculously strong, but Pera and Ling Ke look somewhat... frail, especially in such cold weather outside.

“Don’t worry, Ling Ke is a wilderness survival expert,” Pera said proudly, adjusting her glasses. “We’re always going out to play. And her camping meals are absolutely delicious! You have to try them!”

Lingke paused as she tidied her backpack.

I have a feeling that Pella is a little too excited, and her eyes keep glancing at you and Bai'er... Is it just my imagination?

But she didn't show it; her face remained calm and composed.

“Don’t worry too much about us,” she said, slinging the heavy bag over her shoulder. “Just stick close to me.”

...

So you and Bai'er returned to the snowfield where you first entered Yalilo VI.

A few snowflakes landed on Bai E's nose, cool and refreshing, not cold, but ticklish enough to make him sneeze.

Lingke walked ahead to clear the way. Hearing him wipe his nose, she said quietly, "You don't look well." He immediately straightened his back, his expression stern, as if he was about to rush off to fight Nanuk.

"I'm in excellent health!"

He emphasized, with a look of disbelief, that "this involves a man's dignity and cannot be taken lightly."

"Leave the packages and everything to me—I used to do farm work with my family when I was little, and later I joined the army. Although it's not this cold in Onfaros, I'm still pretty good at regular weighted running!"

...

Putting everything else aside, Bai E's stamina is absolutely genuine.

You recall the countless times he'd tried to drag you along for morning exercise. Often, after he'd pulled you up, you'd be panting and drenched in sweat after only a few runs, while Bai E would act as if nothing was wrong, casually lifting weights on the side. Those seemingly intimidating weights looked like little toys in his hands, he lifted them with ease, without even a change in expression.

Sweat streamed down his cheek, soaking a small patch of fabric at his collar. With each lift and lower, the muscles in his arms bulged, looking like they could kill you with a single punch.

Noticing your gaze, Bai E turned his head, raising an eyebrow. "What's wrong, partner?"

You said, "Promise me we won't fight when we argue, okay?"

"...What are you thinking about now?" Bai E said helplessly. "We won't fight."

How can you not argue when you're in a relationship?

"My partner hasn't dated anyone else before, how do I know we won't argue?"

Bai E leaned in to kiss you, but you dodged away in disgust, muttering, "You smell sweaty, stay away from me." He wasn't angry, just smiled, and instead stole a kiss on your cheek, eliciting an embarrassed "Ah—" from you.

"Okay, I won't tease you anymore. But... even if we argue, it'll be my fault, right?"

He thought about it.

“My partner has always been someone who guides me from the very beginning… I was raised by you, so naturally my thinking and ideas will align with yours. If you are wrong, I will definitely be wrong, so we cancel each other out and neither of us is wrong. But if I am wrong, you may not be wrong—so no matter how you look at it, I am the one who is wrong?”

You opened your mouth, "...sophistry."

This kid truly deserves his title as a debate champion; he manages to make arguing sound so refreshing and unconventional.

On March 7th, I passed by the entrance and heard you making noise, so I peeked into the fitness area.

She wrinkled her nose. Seeing Bai E approaching her like he was worthless, and seeing you being pinned down by him, unable to resist or not even trying to resist, your hair, which you had just tied up, came loose.

"...Dating is terrifying. It's even stickier than the rice cake I ate this morning!"

She shuddered, feeling goosebumps all over her body. Then, as if unable to bear it any longer, she let out an "Eek!" and quickly hurried away.

*

"The most important factors for seeing the aurora are timing and location."

Pera crawled out of the newly set-up tent and stuffed some novels inside, planning to read them by lamplight that night. Bai Er helped her set up another tent that belonged to you and him. Since you had already slept together on the train, and he would even get up in the middle of the night to cover you up when you were a restless sleeper, you just let him be.

Lingke and you lit a fire and put a pot on it. At that moment, the delicious soup inside was bubbling away.

Lingke explains, "This place is on higher ground, making it easier to observe the monsters. When Pella and I go on adventures, our biggest worry is our safety while sleeping at night..."

Logically speaking, this statement is correct and very professional. But...

Upon hearing this, you turned and glanced at Bai E.

He's also blinking at you, so you know he's already solved the problem.

“If it’s just for safety…” you hesitated, “maybe… um… we don’t need to worry too much about that.”

"Um?"

Ling didn't quite understand what you meant.

She clapped her hands, stood up, and glanced around—a scene of pure white, desolate, and utterly silent.

"...Strange, where have all the monsters gone?"

She muttered to herself blankly.

Bai E secretly gives you a thumbs up from behind.

You glanced at your boyfriend, who had effortlessly dispatched a horde of ordinary beasts in no time, paused for a moment, and decided not to tell Lingke and the others yet, lest you scare them. Otherwise, Bai E's image would probably transform from a kind and simple country boy into a terrifying bulldozer monster…

...

Lingke and Pera stood up to check other matters.

As darkness fell, the pristine snowfield, devoid of light reflection, finally became less glaring.

You sniffed, boredly making a snowball and playing with it in your hand. You thought back to when you first arrived in Beloborg, you and March 7th were wary of this snowy place and found it very suspicious, but now you felt a sense of familiarity.

A familiar figure walks over, sits close to you, and speaks with a wistful tone.

"If I had come here with you from the beginning..."

You chuckled softly, with a touch of nostalgia, "Then we probably wouldn't have had to be in such a sorry state. You have no idea, back then we were being hunted down and wanted, and it was only after much persuasion that we managed to get a chance to survive."

"That sounds like a very interesting experience."

Bai Er gently wrapped her hand around your fingertips, which were already red from playing in the snow. "Are you cold?"

You shake your head, "Xiaobai is worrying too much."

Bai E snorted, clearly not believing you.

He bent down to examine your boots—half of the heel was sunk into the soft snow. He had been worried all day about whether snow would get into your boots, but he was afraid that you would be too shy to do such a private thing because there were other people around. Now he had a chance to take a good look.

"Take off your shoes so I can see them."

His voice was very low.

The topic jumped so fast you didn't react, "What?"

Bai Er didn't say anything more. He just leaned down a little lower and reached for your boots.

You instinctively gasped and reached out to support his shoulder, but out of trust, you didn't stop him and let him gently take off your boots.

"A little water got in." His voice was calm and predictable, giving a reassuring feeling. "It's okay, it'll be fine after warming up."

Then, as if he had thought of something, he smiled.

"My partner doesn't seem to take good care of himself. Every time we sleep together, your feet brush against me, and they're always ice-cold; sometimes they even kick me in the stomach—"

"Hey! Bai'er, are you making fun of my sleeping posture?"

"Hey, that's not what I meant."

"Then what are you laughing at!?"

"..."

Bai E couldn't suppress the urge to smile.

“It’s okay,” he said. “If you’re a restless sleeper, I can just hold you. If you get kicked awake, I can get up and cover you with a blanket to prevent you from catching a cold if the air conditioning is too high at night.”

You were speechless for a moment: ...How virtuous.

Bai'e first placed the snow-covered boots by the fire to dry, then held your ankles, pulled your feet into his arms, and placed them on his trousers. A warm golden light shone from his palm, constantly heating that spot.

You never imagined that the power of [destruction] could be used to keep warm.

The sunlight shone on his focused face, outlining his serious expression, and even his cool blue eyes seemed to take on a touch of warmth.

"...Can 'destruction' really be used like that?"

"What matters is not the power itself, but what you want to do with that power."

Bai Er's lips curled up in a smile:

"Just like Onfaros, new seeds will sprout from the soil of [destruction], won't they?... And even the me who only knew [destruction] before, the golden blood of [destruction] flowing in my veins has always been warm."

You didn't speak again. For a moment, all that could be heard was the crackling of the campfire.

"I've always known that." Finally, you lowered your head and said, "...Xiaobai has always been such a gentle person, I've always known that."

...

"Pera, I've finished checking this area. Hey, what are you doing hiding here—"

"Sh-!"

Ling was bewildered when her friend covered her mouth and dragged her to a corner.

However, before she could react, she saw a glint of light flash in her friend's eyes.

"Look over there!"

Pera winked at her.

Ling stopped struggling and looked as instructed, and saw you and Bai E warming themselves by the firelight.

There were no intimate or dramatic movements between the two, and even Bai E's gesture of warming your hands and feet was devoid of any lust, yet there was an inexplicable harmony between them.

As you stepped back, you affectionately nuzzled his nose, and he grinned foolishly again.

"...Looks like you've found some material for your novel. I'm so happy for you. It's just that I'll need to work out my thoughts before I get back, or my brother will cry..."

"Ling Ke is truly amazing; she understands me perfectly. I'm going to start writing tonight!!!"