Chapter 18: Space Expands, Divine Spring Appears! From now on, it's my turn to protect you!
On the night the grand competition ended, Lu Zhanting returned home covered in honors and utterly exhausted.
The soldiers of the Fierce Tiger Battalion were clamoring to celebrate their battalion commander's victory, and their calls for a banquet to be held grew louder and louder, but they were all silenced by a single, cold look from him.
He rejected all the noise and entourage, and amidst countless gazes filled with envy and blessings, he took Su Wanqing's hand and returned to their quiet little home.
“Clatter.”
The moment the courtyard gate closed, it felt as if two worlds were separated.
The fierce aura that the man had been forcibly maintaining in front of outsiders crumbled instantly.
He released Su Wanqing's hand, his tall body slamming heavily against the door with a thud.
He exhaled a long breath, and his eyes, which had been so bright and piercing during the day, were now filled with an intense weariness, and his eyes were bloodshot.
"I'll go boil some water for you."
Su Wanqing felt a sharp pain in her heart as she looked at the dark stubble on his chin.
As soon as she turned around, her wrist was grabbed by a large, hot hand.
"Don't rush."
Lu Zhanting gently pulled her to his side.
He didn't say anything, but simply stretched out his arms and pulled her tightly into his embrace.
The man rested his chin on her shoulder, his face buried deep in the side of her neck, breathing in her unique, calming fragrance with a desperate intensity.
This hug was unlike any other before.
There was no lust whatsoever, only dependence and longing from having let down all defenses.
Like a giant ship that had battled through stormy seas for days and nights, he finally returned to the only harbor where he could anchor and dock.
Su Wanqing didn't move, quietly letting him hold her, reaching out her soft hands to gently stroke his broad back, which was trembling slightly from tension.
"You must be exhausted?" Her voice was as soft as a feather.
"Um."
Lu Zhanting squeezed out a muffled syllable from deep in his throat, with a hint of almost imperceptible hoarseness and grievance.
The two embraced quietly.
Only when the steely tension in Lu Zhanting's body completely relaxed did he slowly straighten up and look down at the woman in his arms.
"Today, as I stand on the podium, I'm thinking about one thing."
"What is it?" Su Wanqing looked up at him, her eyes reflecting his image.
"I'm wondering, what am I working so hard for?"
Lu Zhanting gently stroked her cheek with his rough thumb, his eyes as deep as a calm night sea.
"Before, it was for the national emblem on the uniform, for the flag of the Fierce Tiger Battalion. But today, I see you standing below the stage..."
He paused, his voice becoming exceptionally low and solemn.
"Suddenly I understood, Wanqing, I want to offer you all the glory I earned with my life."
"I want you to become the proudest and most enviable military spouse in the entire military region."
Su Wanqing's heart was gripped tightly by this clumsy confession, and instantly felt incredibly tender.
This man, who is not good with words, is revealing his passionate heart to her in the most sincere way.
"You've done it."
She tiptoed and kissed his lips.
"Lu Zhanting, I am proud of you."
The kiss was as gentle as a feather, yet it instantly ignited the wildfire that had already spread within the man.
Lu Zhanting's eyes suddenly darkened.
He grabbed the back of her head, turning the tables and fiercely kissing her back.
After taking a shower, all the fatigue seemed to be washed away by the hot water.
Lu Zhanting wore only a towel around his waist, and water droplets slowly slid down his strong, muscular body covered with old and new scars.
He came out while drying his wet short hair with a towel.
Su Wanqing had already served the warmed food on the table.
Lu Zhanting ate very quickly as usual, but Su Wanqing could feel that he had relaxed and was no longer the taut bow.
After dinner, Su Wanqing pulled him to sit on the sofa, took out the first-aid kit, and treated the new injuries he had sustained during the day's martial arts competition.
His arms and calves had several cuts from obstacles; although they weren't deep, the way the flesh was torn open was still shocking.
"hiss……"
When the cotton ball soaked in medicated wine touched a relatively deep wound, Lu Zhanting's body tensed instinctively, and a suppressed gasp escaped from between his teeth.
"Did I hurt you?" Su Wanqing immediately stopped what she was doing, her voice trembling.
"It's nothing." Lu Zhanting shook his head, looking at her worried and anxious expression, his heart warmed and softened. "This little injury is nothing."
"How can this be considered a minor injury!"
Su Wanqing's eyes welled up with tears. She put down the cotton ball, her voice thick with nasal tone and a sob.
"Lu Zhanting, could you... please stop pushing yourself so hard in the future?"
She knew this request was unreasonable.
A soldier's duty is to obey and fight.
But the thought of him leaping and tumbling on the cliff face made her heart ache as if gripped by an invisible hand, almost suffocating her.
Lu Zhanting looked at her reddened eyes and fell silent.
A moment later, he reached out his uninjured hand and gently wiped away the moisture from the corner of her eyes with his fingertips.
"Silly girl." He sighed, his voice full of helpless affection. "If I don't fight for you, how can I protect you? How can I earn you a future where no one will dare to bully you?"
As if by magic, he pulled the gleaming gold medal from his pocket and solemnly placed it in her palm.
"Keep it safe."
"This is yours."
The warm, metallic touch, heavy and imprinted on her palm, was like his burning heart.
Su Wanqing gripped the medal tightly; all her grievances and worries transformed into a surge of love and unwavering resolve at that moment.
yes.
This man is using his blood, sweat, and even his life to create a safe haven for her.
So what can she do for him?
It's late at night.
Due to the extreme exhaustion during the day, Lu Zhanting fell into a deep sleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
He was sleeping soundly, his breathing even and strong, and a rare hint of peace and tranquility appeared on his usually cold and tense face.
Su Wanqing lay on her side beside him, tracing his deep features again and again in the cool moonlight from the window.
Her heart was filled with a complex and intense emotion.
It's love, it's heartache, it's pride, and above all, it's a strong desire to do something for him.
Suddenly, her secret space flashed through her mind.
A thought, which could no longer be suppressed, began to grow wildly.
She wants to become stronger.
She wants to have more capital to help him.
Su Wanqing carefully sat up in bed. After making sure she hadn't woken Lu Zhanting, she quietly got out of bed, went into the study, and locked the door.
After the familiar pulling sensation subsided, she reappeared on that familiar land.
However, the moment she entered the space, a sudden change occurred!
The entire space began to rumble and shake violently, and the ground beneath our feet seemed to have been hit by a strong earthquake, suddenly jolting upwards!
The originally gray "sky" was suddenly torn apart by streaks of dazzling colored light!
Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple!
The seven-colored light, like flowing liquid glass, intertwined and surged, illuminating the entire space as if it were a divine realm.
Su Wanqing was stunned by this sudden change. She subconsciously squatted down to steady herself and nervously looked around.
She saw it!
The black soil, which was originally only half the size of a basketball court, is expanding outward at an alarming rate!
The thick, impenetrable white mist that shrouded the boundary of space seemed to be violently pushed away by an invisible, giant hand of God, constantly rolling and dissipating backward!
Ten meters, fifty meters, one hundred meters...
In just a few minutes, the area of the entire space expanded more than tenfold!
What were originally small clods of earth have been transformed into a vast field, covering an area of a full acre!
The color of the soil has also changed, from ordinary black to rich, deep, and fertile soil that looks like it could be squeezed to release oil!
The air was filled with a unique and refreshing aroma, a blend of earthy fragrance and the scent of fresh grass and trees.
What shocked her even more was that the vegetables and medicinal herbs she had planted earlier, under the glow of the colorful sunset, staged a silent and crazy miracle of life!
The green vegetable leaves unfurled and became lush and vibrant at a speed visible to the naked eye!
The red tomatoes swelled up quickly, becoming plump and vibrant!
Even a few rare medicinal herbs that have just sprouted tender buds frantically grow taller, flower, and bear fruit, completing their life journey in just a few dozen seconds!
This is a miracle!
Su Wanqing stood up in shock and walked step by step onto the newly expanded land.
She bent down and grabbed a handful of soil.
The soil was soft and moist, containing an indescribable vitality, as if a seed could sprout the moment it was sown.
The glow of the sunset gradually faded, and the tremors in the space ceased.
Everything returned to calm, but the entire space had undergone earth-shattering changes.
Before Su Wanqing's excitement had subsided, she suddenly heard a soft, clear gurgling sound of water.
She followed the sound.
In the very center of the field, a spring the size of a washbasin has appeared out of nowhere!
A stream of crystal-clear spring water is gushing upwards from its source, gathering into a small pool about one meter in diameter beside it.
The water in the pool was incredibly clear, and you could clearly see every smooth, round pebble on the bottom.
A faint, sweet-smelling white mist is rising from the water, like a dream.
This is... a spiritual spring?!
Su Wanqing's heart pounded wildly, almost bursting out of her chest.
She quickly walked to the edge of the pool and squatted down. The white mist brushed against her cheeks, bringing a cool and refreshing feeling that instantly invigorated her.
She hesitated for a moment, then reached out and scooped up a handful of spring water.
The spring water felt slightly cool to the touch, yet it had a warm, jade-like texture.
She brought her hand to her lips and took a small bite.
The spring water has no taste.
But the moment it slid down her throat, a gentle yet vast warm current exploded through her entire body!
That warm current was like the most efficient cleaner, washing away every cell in her body and sweeping away her fatigue and exhaustion from the past few days!
Her spirit reached an unprecedented level of clarity and comfort.
This water is truly a treasure!
Su Wanqing was so excited that she could hardly contain herself. She drank a few more sips until she felt warm all over before reluctantly stopping.
Her gaze fell on a cucumber vine not far away that was withering from growing too fast.
A thought struck her, and she quickly walked over and dripped the few drops of spring water she had left onto the slightly yellowed leaf.
A miracle has happened!
The leaf, which had turned yellow and curled up, instantly unfolded like a shriveled sponge soaking up water the moment it came into contact with the spring water, restoring its fresh and green appearance at a speed visible to the naked eye!
It really works!
Su Wanqing's breathing became rapid.
In her mind, the crisscrossing old scars on Lu Zhanting's body flashed by, along with the new, hideous wound on his arm that night.
if……
If we use this spiritual spring water on him...
Once this thought arises, it's like a wildfire that can no longer be contained!
She immediately rummaged through the warehouse and found a clean military water bottle, carefully washed it, and then filled it with spiritual spring water.
The moment she closed the lid, Su Wanqing felt that what she was holding in her hands was the boundless hope for her and Lu Zhanting's future.
Looking at the vast spiritual field before her and the spring that continuously gushed forth the fountain of life, she felt a surge of boundless pride.
From this day forward, she will no longer be the weak woman who can only rely on Lu Zhanting and wait for his protection.
She had her trump card.
They have the means to stand shoulder to shoulder with him, or even to protect him!
Su Wanqing hugged the kettle tightly to her chest, and on a whim, returned to her study.
The night was deep outside the window.
Holding the icy water bottle, she walked quickly to the bedroom door and gently pushed it open.
The man was fast asleep in the moonlight.
He lay on his side, one arm draped over the edge of the bed, the newly bandaged wound still conspicuous in the moonlight.
Su Wanqing walked to the bedside, slowly squatted down, looked at his sleeping face, her eyes filled with unprecedented determination and tenderness.
Lu Zhanting, you fought for me with your own flesh and blood to build this empire.
From now on, it's my turn to protect your vast land.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com