Chapter 22: That moment didn't need to be highlighted by a life-or-death experience...

The burning dry branches emitted a hazy woody fragrance, the campfire roared, flames leaped and crackled.

The two huddled around the fire, silent yet warm.

Liu Yuhen rubbed salt on the gutted fish, stuffed wild ginger to remove the fishy smell into its belly, and deftly threaded it through the iron hook.

The crimson flames almost licked his wrist when Jiaojiao grabbed his left wrist and pulled him closer. "Why are you putting your hand over there!"

An iron ring was also cast around the connection between his wrist and the iron hook, which was almost welded into his flesh.

The heat from the flames made the iron ring scorching hot, and Jiaojiao's palms were already slightly red from the heat.

Liu Yuhen had long since lost his guard against her. He wasn't displeased at all that his wrist was held in her hand. He simply pushed her with his right wrist, telling her to let go, "Be careful not to get burned."

She gripped the fish tighter, and said defiantly, "Let's just scald to death together with the grilled fish!"

Liu Yuhen was taken aback, momentarily at a loss for words, yet a tender feeling welled up in his heart.

Before he knew how to react, Jiaojiao had already wrapped the fish in a leaf and carefully removed it from his iron hook.

She carefully wiped the fish blood and bits of meat off the iron hook with a soft leaf before getting up and running to break off a branch. Following Liu Yuhen's example, she threaded the fish meat through the branch.

Jiaojiao looked at the decent-looking fish skewers in her hand with delight, and said with a crescent moon smile, "Brother Yuhen, do you think this is right?"

Her voice carried a thick, sweet quality, instantly enveloping his lonely and cold heart as if something warm had comfortably enveloped it.

When that moment arrived, he realized that some things don't need to go through life and death to highlight their grandeur.

These lively and vibrant moments are enough.

A burning passion, like molten lava, flickered in his cold gaze as he watched her clumsily flip the fish.

Yes, he handled it.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the growing throbbing in his heart, and felt a sense of peace and tranquility.

Of course, the fish that Jiaojiao was in charge of grilling ended up burning as expected.

Fortunately, the crispy texture was acceptable, and for a little butterfly spirit who had never eaten cooked food before and a kind-hearted person who was content with just water, it was a half-meal of deliciousness.

......

The evening breeze wasn't exactly cool, but Jiaojiao felt a slight chill in her skin.

It was a very long sleep, but I didn't feel refreshed when I woke up; instead, I felt even more tired.

Seeing that she was awake, Liu Yuhen moved his stiff shoulders and neck and asked her in a low voice, "Did you sleep well?"

Jiaojiao nodded dazedly, stood up a little dizzy, and unconsciously swallowed, feeling a dry, choked sensation in her throat.

She touched her throat in confusion. Could this be what it felt like to have a fishbone stuck in her throat?

Her clothes had been thoroughly dried by Liu Yuhen, but when she woke up, she felt sticky and damp all over, making her feel cold.

The warm campfire had long since died out. Jiaojiao stared at the pile of wood chips and ashes, and then, as if struck by a sudden thought, said, "Brother Yuhen, there's a boiling spring halfway up the mountain. Let's go soak in it for a while."

Liu Yuhen assumed she wanted to take a bath. The river water was too cold, and there were many inconveniences in the mountains. If there were boiling springs, that would be perfect.

Jiaojiao hadn't walked more than a few steps when she felt weak and lightheaded, and she didn't know what was wrong with her.

Seeing that her steps were weak, Liu Yuhen thought she was still asleep. He stepped forward, picked her up, and used his lightness skill to fly up, like a wild sparrow flitting among the mountains.

The wind whipped the fabric of her clothes around her, and then she gently shook it off with a thud as it hit the ground.

Thick, white steam billowed around, and the hot water simmered like soup in a broth pot. Through the clear, hot water, the smooth rocks at the bottom of the pool were clearly visible.

As soon as you get close, it feels like all the pores on your body open up and become relaxed and active.

The ever-present coolness finally eased for a moment, and the humid heat washed over me, seemingly soothing my dry throat.

Jiaojiao reached out and splashed some boiling spring water, exclaiming with delight, "It's so warm! Brother Yuhen, let's wash up quickly!"

After saying that, she simply took off her outer dress.

Liu Yuhen only caught a glimpse of her snow-white shoulder, his heart clenched, and he hurriedly turned his back.

Jiaojiao went into the water wearing only a narrow dress, and the steam turned her face pink.

She was immersed in the hot soup, her graceful body appearing and disappearing in the ripples, urging the stiff figure behind her, "Brother Yuhen, come here quickly."

This is probably the hardest thing in the world to refuse.

But her tone remained innocent and natural, without any hint of girlish shyness.

Liu Yuhen rubbed his chest, his rapid breathing gradually calming down, and a look of gloom appeared on his demonic face.

But she still said gently, "Jiaojiao, wash first."

He didn't offer any further explanation, and hurriedly walked out, leaving the scorching heat behind him.

Only after he stepped out of the small grove and felt the cool night breeze on his face, which dispelled the restlessness in his heart, did he finally exhale.

He stood there for who knows how long, and when he was alone, the deep sorrow and grief could never be dispelled.

…

The night was long and the stars were faint.

A hint of melancholy lingered between his brows. He turned around and caught a glimpse of a delicate, pure white wild peony on a distant hillside, as beautiful as snow and as radiant as moonlight. Suddenly, a surge of tenderness welled up in his heart, and his expression softened.

I couldn't resist going closer and picking the freshest one.

This wretched and ugly beast, when it senses happiness, is just as gentle as a human.

"Jiaojiao, are you up?" Liu Yuhen asked in a raised voice, stopping at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

The usually lively girl did not reply immediately.

He frowned, sensing something was wrong. Without thinking, he leaped into the boiling spring without his feet touching the ground.

Amidst the rising steam, Jiaojiao lay unconscious by the spring.

Her blouse was only held up by two thin straps with loose knots at the back, exposing a large expanse of her fair and smooth back.

Strands of black hair clung tightly to her waist, like soft little snakes winding down to her waist.

Liu Yuhen showed no interest in appreciating the breathtaking scenery, as the white wild peonies fell heavily onto the muddy ground.

He endured the sudden, sharp pain in his heart and jumped into the boiling spring in a panic.

The warm spring water couldn't warm him from his chill. He picked up the unconscious Jiaojiao and called out to her urgently.

The heat emanating from his wrist was so intense it felt like it was burning. Jiaojiao collapsed into his arms, her face flushed and her limbs weak.

Liu Yuhen held her tightly in a panic, channeling his warm internal energy into her meridians, but his arms trembled uncontrollably.

Amidst the rapid, urgent calls in her ears, Jiaojiao finally managed to open her eyes slightly, her red eyes filled with shimmering tears.

She felt dizzy and panicked, the world was spinning before her eyes, and although her whole body was burning hot and red, she felt a chill.

The burning chest beneath her became her only lifeline. She huddled tightly in his arms, her throat dry and hoarse, and weakly said, "Brother Yuhen, I'm so cold..."

A glimmer of tears seemed to well up in Liu Yuhen's single eye. Upon hearing this, he quickly rolled up her clothes and wrapped them around her. He then took off his own coat and draped it over her shoulders.

His throat tightened, and he gasped for breath as if black water were flooding his heart: "Jiaojiao, we're not cold anymore."

Jiaojiao's eyelids felt heavy, and in the hazy dimness, only a few tired lights could be seen flickering in his frightening eyes.

She clutched her clothes tightly, her voice trembling with tears, and said weakly, "It's so cold..."

Beads of cold sweat had formed on her forehead. A gust of wind made her teeth chatter. Even though she was wrapped in layers of clothing, her skin was still cold.

Jiaojiao let out a sob, as if she couldn't take it anymore, and burrowed her arms into his undergarment.

Her tender, lotus-root-like arms wrapped around his burning waist and abdomen like dodder vines, intimately close, leaving no gaps.

She leaned against him, her hot breath falling on his heart, her beautifully shaped back rising and falling like the wings of a butterfly about to take flight.

This scene should make any man's heart flutter and want to devour her whole.

However, Liu Yuhen's stomach cramped and his vision blurred because of the woman's weakness and tears in his arms.

For some reason, Jiaojiao suddenly couldn't help but choke up, her chest ached, and tears suddenly streamed down her face, the salty tears falling all the way to her collarbone.

Liu Yuhen thought she was in great pain, so he carried her on his back and rushed down the mountain, muttering comforting words in his panic: "Find a doctor... I'll find a doctor for Jiaojiao..."

The mountain road was bumpy, rugged, and long.

Liu Yuhen told her in a trembling voice not to sleep.

Jiaojiao rested her chin on Liu Yuhen's shoulder, her body limp and dizzy, yet she cried so hard she could barely breathe, causing a large patch of her inner garment to smudge on his shoulders and neck.

She always knew that his body beneath his clothes must be covered in scars.

But just now, in her daze, when she hugged his waist and her palms truly touched the dense, rugged scars that crisscrossed his body, she suddenly collapsed and couldn't accept it.

She lowered her head, trying to remain silent, but her heart was already in turmoil, and the aching pain even brought her back to her senses.

Being human is so painful; her nose stung and she could hardly breathe.

As the heart clenched, a certain life force within the body seemed to sense something and suddenly vanished, causing the body to gradually grow cold.

As if realizing something, Jiaojiao's face suddenly turned as pale as paper.

Why is her demonic power about to disappear completely?

The ground beneath Liu Yuhen's feet suddenly trembled slightly, but he did not change his pace. There was nothing more important to distract him now, and he was focused on getting down the mountain.

Jiaojiao immediately arched her back like a frightened bird, clutching his sleeve tightly, and crawled to Liu Yuhen's ear, struggling to say something, "Brother Yuhen..."

The sound seemed both near and far, ethereal and fragmented.

Before the words were finished, the world suddenly went dark, frozen in time. The next instant, a strong wind blew by, and the scene before my eyes shattered like a mirror falling to the ground.

The demonic power was exhausted, and the dream collapsed.

Everything before my eyes has returned to darkness and illusion.

A note from the author:

----------------------

Xiaoliu: Even if the woman I like stood naked in front of me, I would only ask her if she was cold. I'm sorry, I can't bring myself to hurt a woman.

Hurry up and find love in the real world!