Chapter 27 An unexpected encounter: The two were traveling down the river, with Wu Chen steering the boat and Lu Qing...
The two traveled downstream, with Wu Chen steering the boat while Lu Qing focused on playing, practicing her skills, and completing the tasks assigned by Wu Chen. It wasn't until four or five days later, when the area became increasingly deserted and novel, that she finally remembered to ask, "Where are we going?"
Wu Chen chuckled, "You're only just now thinking of asking?"
Lu Qing didn't care. "Anyway, I don't know where I'm going, and besides, you're not going to sell me out. What's there to be afraid of?"
Wu Chen couldn't help but shake his head, bending down to moor the small boat on the shore. "It's getting late, so let's cook while we have some light. We'll stay here tonight."
Lu Qing, who was lying on the bow of the boat, raised his head and glanced into the river. He saw that the river water was crystal clear, and the aquatic plants at the bottom swayed gracefully with the current. The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the water and reflected on the large and small round stones at the bottom, creating a mottled and picturesque scene.
Lu Qingxin was delighted. After Wu Chen went ashore to gather firewood and wild fruit, she quickly took off her outer garment and slid into the river from the edge of the boat.
When Wu Chen returned, he found the small boat silent and empty. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly jumped onto the boat, put down what he was holding, and checked the cabin and the river, but there was no one around. His brows furrowed, and he looked around, opening his mouth to call Lu Qing's name.
A hand swiftly reached out from the side of the boat, grabbed his hem, and pulled him down abruptly.
Who else but Lu Qing could be so mischievous?
Wu Chen's momentary defensiveness and resistance instantly dissipated upon hearing her mischievous and triumphant laughter, and he fell into the river with a splash.
The river water was icy cold, but bearable. Wu Chen simply let himself sink, and then saw Lu Qing swim past him nimbly like a fish, preparing to swim to the surface.
Wu Chen grabbed her hem and pulled her down as well.
Lu Qing had never learned the art of turtle breathing. She had been hiding under the boat for a while to tease Wu Chen. She had been so focused on laughing that she hadn't bothered to breathe properly. Now she was exhausted, and bubbles were gurgling out of her mouth and nose. She panicked.
Wu Chen gazed at her, his eyes deep, but he did not let go.
Lu Qing exhaled all the remaining air from his mouth and nose, feeling flustered. He could only put on a pleading expression and clasp his hands in a gesture of respect.
Wu Chen let go, and even stretched out his arm to hug her waist, pulling her close to him, and the two continued to sink.
Lu Qing had no choice but to reach out and hug his neck, shaking her head repeatedly.
Wu Chen sighed inwardly. Since when had he become unable to let go...? Looking at Lu Qing's slightly flustered expression, he said to himself: Since we can't let go, let's do it together.
So he placed one hand on the back of Lu Qing's neck, pressed down on her swaying head, and then pressed his lips to hers, slowly breathing into her.
Lu Qing finally calmed down, letting him do as he pleased and ceasing to struggle. Having recovered from the suffocating predicament, she began to take an interest in Wu Chen's lips pressed against hers. However, the icy river water blurred her senses, and just as she curiously tried to investigate, Wu Chen pulled her to the surface.
Feeling the refreshingly cool air, Lu Qing took deep breaths and was lifted up to sit at the bow of the boat by Wu Chen, who had his hands on her waist.
Wu Chen said to her, "Stop being naughty, go inside and change your clothes, I'll come up in a bit."
Wu Chen untied his hair ornament, placed it on the edge of the boat, took a deep breath, and sank into the water.
This is... a handsome man taking a bath?!
Lu Qing stared wide-eyed, craning her neck, eager to get a good look and make up for the visual feast she hadn't enjoyed at the inn last time. Suddenly, waves rose on the river, and Wu Chen's soaking wet outer robe was thrown out of the water, covering Lu Qing's head completely.
Lu Qing let out a howl, tearing off her robe while muttering "stingy." A gust of wind blew by, and she suddenly shivered, quickly crawling into the inner cabin to change her clothes.
There were two windows on either side of the inner cabin. As she undressed, she peered out through the cracks. She saw Wu Chen just as he surfaced, his broad, muscular shoulders emerging from the water, his long, black hair flowing with the current, obscuring most of his figure. Yet, this very silhouette, combining strength and beauty, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, was almost unreal.
Lu Qing swallowed hard, suddenly understanding the meaning of "beauty that could topple kingdoms and cities." Even the most exquisite songs of birds before the crimson tree could not adequately describe the beauty before her.
Lu Qing's heart pounded, and she couldn't take her eyes off him.
Wu Chen seemed oblivious, staring blankly at the setting sun for a while before slowly sinking back into the water.
Lu Qing finally came to her senses. She touched her mouth, squinted her eyes, pondered for a moment, and then smiled silently.
After taking a bath, Wu Chen leaped onto the bow of the boat, leaving the slyly grinning Lu Qing outside the cabin, and went inside to change his clothes alone.
Lu Qing gritted her teeth outside and muttered under her breath, "He touched it, but won't let me see. What a stingy guy."
They slept together in the small boat every day, and it would have been incredibly easy for her to take advantage of them, but now she couldn't let anyone see. It was like a delicious dish placed in front of her, only to be tasted but not fully enjoyed, leaving her feeling unbearably tormented.
Lu Qing's eyes darted around as she was thinking of a mischievous idea when she suddenly heard the sound of oars. A passenger boat was turning the corner.
Lu Qing stopped thinking, stood up straight, craned her neck to look out, and knocked twice on the cabin door to remind Wu Chen, "Someone's coming."
Wu Chen had good hearing and heard the noise. Just then, Lu Qing added, "Put your clothes on before you come out."
Wu Chen's lips curved into a silent smile.
Lu Qing squatted at the bow of the boat, washing the wild fruits that Wu Chen had picked, while glancing around at the passenger ship.
The people on the passenger ship were also looking her over. They even brought their ship closer. One of the boatmen called out, "Miss, may I ask where this place is?"
Lu Qing found it amusing, thinking, "How would I know where this is?" She looked up and smiled, but didn't answer.
Just then, a window on the ship was pushed open, and a maid-like figure poked her head out. "Hey, I'm asking you a question!"
Lu Qing rolled her eyes and lowered her head to continue washing the wild fruit.
The maid was rather arrogant and snorted, "Poor mountains and bad waters, shrewish women and unruly people."
Lu Qing was a little angry at what she was told. She slowly raised her eyes and met the maid's gaze.
The maid looked at her with a sneer, "You think you're so great just because you're wearing clothes without patches? Take a look at your shabby boat. We're talking to you..."
Before she could finish speaking, Lu Qing reached out and scooped up some river water, casually waving it at her. Her cultivation had progressed rapidly these past few days; the two boats were still about ten feet apart, yet the maid couldn't dodge and was splashed with river water all over her face. She screamed, "You, how dare you! Guards, beat her up!"
Several burly men immediately emerged from the passenger ship's cabin.
The two boats were still some distance apart, and Lu Qing's boat was small. When the men saw this, they simply took a boat pole and poked Lu Qing's small boat, trying to capsize it.
Lu Qing casually picked up the eyebrow ruler, jumped directly onto the opposite passenger ship, and twirled the eyebrow ruler like a flower.
The "spanking" technique left behind by the unnamed senior of the Sword Forging Manor was particularly effective, both visually appealing and practical. A series of loud slapping sounds echoed on the deck; the burly men who had just struck had neat red welts on their cheeks, their teeth nearly knocked out.
The pain brought them to their senses, and the burly men huddled together, too afraid to step forward and speak.
But then the maid from before rushed out of the back cabin, yelling, "Give me a beating! Huh?"
Lu Qing chuckled, hefting the ruler between his eyebrows, and approached step by step, "Hit me? Why don't you try it yourself?"
The maid probably hadn't expected that the fishing girl on this dilapidated boat in the middle of nowhere would actually have two families. After dealing with all the servants, she flinched and then turned and ran, crying, "Young master, young lady, help! Someone's robbing us!"
Lu Qing had never seen anyone so shameless. But this trick was easy to learn; her eyes darted around, and she turned and lunged at the side of the boat, crying, "Help! Help! Someone's trying to kidnap a woman!"
Wu Chen, who had just changed his clothes, was stunned when he heard this, "Who are you robbing?"
Lu Qing pointed her finger at her nose, "You stole it from me!"
Wu Chen couldn't help but turn around and almost burst out laughing. After finally managing to suppress his laughter, he waved to Lu Qing, "Come back quickly, stop fooling around."
Huh? They're not even going to stand up for me?! Lu Qing was about to say something.
Wu Chen winked at her. Lu Qing immediately jumped back onto the small boat. "What's wrong?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than the boatman on the boat pulled up the pole, and the passenger boat actually went downstream with the current.
"Hey, don't let them get away!" Lu Qing exclaimed, jumping up and down.
Wu Chen reached out and pressed his hand on his shoulder. "Look."
Lu Qing looked in the direction he pointed. The riverbed, which had been crystal clear just moments before, was now much murky, especially the water behind the passenger boat, where something seemed to be lurking in the darkness.
"What is that?" Lu Qing asked.
“Biao. A kind of water monster,” Wu Chen replied.
Lu Qing immediately thought of the snake demon outside the small temple, shivered, and snuggled into Wu Chen's arms. "Are there any under our boat?"
Wu Chen patted her back to comfort her, "Don't be afraid. These kinds of ghosts usually don't target people they don't know. There must be someone on that ship they wouldn't let go of even after they've died."
Wu Chen said, seemingly unconcerned.
Lu Qing felt a bit uneasy about those things, so she stopped dwelling on what had just happened. However, someone on the passenger ship opened a window and looked towards them.
Lu Qing made a face at that direction and then ignored it.
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Author's Note: I'm back, but I've become lazy. The plot hasn't progressed much, only my weight has increased significantly.
Ah, I need to work hard! Whether it's losing weight or writing! Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants between 2020-03-26 08:32:37 and 2020-05-29 00:34:16!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Repigon 100 bottles; Someone Passing By 21 bottles; Gobi Beach, 5966062, and Ancient Tree Sunset 10 bottles; Fool 9 bottles; Weiyang 3 bottles;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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