"Hmm? What's wrong, brother?"
Shen Muqing was startled. She had just dozed off for a while when she was suddenly hugged tightly.
"Qingqing, will you leave me?"
Their hair was tangled together, and Lan Jin asked her anxiously, waiting for her answer.
Shen Muqing hesitated for only a moment, her shoulder blades were being squeezed painfully as if they would shatter at any moment. "Brother, you're hurting me."
"Little sister, you haven't answered my question yet. Will you leave your brother?"
“Answer your brother.”
Lan Jin's gaze remained fixed on Shen Muqing's face, not missing a single movement.
"I will not leave my brother, I will always stay by his side."
Shen Muqing rested her chin on his shoulder and gently patted his back with both hands, giving him a sense of security.
Now she has no choice but to go along with him. It's just a matter of saying a few words. She's not stupid; she doesn't want to go against a man and make herself suffer.
"Yes, Qingqing is the best." Lan Jin stroked the woman's hair in his arms, his eyes lingering on her, his nostrils filled with Shen Muqing's unique fragrance, which was addictive.
"Brother will grill some fish for you."
"OK."
A person and a snake sat under the tree, quietly watching Lan Jin. Of course, Shen Muqing couldn't see them even if she wanted to, her eyes staring blankly in Lan Jin's direction.
Silver nuzzled Shen Muqing's hand with its snake head in a fawning manner. Shen Muqing pinched its head; it was quite soft and bouncy.
During the month-long journey, Lan Jin took excellent care of Shen Muqing, and the two showed no signs of being in a hurry. Seeing that the pursuers had not caught up after a month, Shen Muqing became even more unrestrained in his travels.
Lan Jin led Shen Muqing to the foot of a mountain. Crossing this mountain would lead them to Tianshui Village, the place where he had lived since childhood.
"Brother, are we almost home?"
"Yes, we'll get there after we cross this mountain. We should be there this afternoon."
There is a large forest swamp in the mountains, filled with poisonous fog. One can easily get lost in it if one is not careful. Without a special antidote, ordinary people simply cannot enter.
Anyone who inhales too much of this poisonous fog will be poisoned.
Tianshui Village is like a paradise on earth; the people there rarely go out and live their lives behind closed doors.
Lan Jin explained the location to Shen Muqing and placed an antidote between Shen Muqing's lips, saying, "This is the antidote."
"Okay." Shen Muqing curled her tongue and brushed it against Lan Jin's fingers. The wet, hot tip of her tongue touched the cool fingers, and Lan Jin's eyes darkened.
Her unconscious expression was especially alluring, with her pink lips and red tongue.
"Heh~"
Lan Jin chuckled softly. The thought of bringing Shen Muqing home and having only him by her side made Lan Jin's lips curl into a wide smile.
"Brother, what are you laughing at?"
Did I laugh?
"You just laughed." Shen Muqing recalled Lan Jin's sudden laughter and felt something was wrong.
"Little sister, you misheard me. Come on, I'll lead you inside, be careful."
"Oh, okay, maybe I misheard."
Shen Muqing obediently held Lan Jin's hand. During this time, Lan Jin had been like her second pair of eyes, and she trusted Lan Jin completely.
"Oh right, brother, why did you leave the village?"
"Looking for something."
"Is it something very important?"
"Um."
"Did you find it, brother?"
"Found it."
Shen Muqing didn't press the matter further. Everyone has their own secrets, and she was afraid that if she kept asking, it would annoy Lan Jin.
Halfway there, Shen Muqing couldn't walk any further and stopped in place as if she were being stubborn, breaking free from Lan Jin's hand.
"Brother~ I'm tired, I can't walk anymore."
Lan Jin, who was walking alongside her, was caught off guard when she shook off his hand. Upon hearing her coquettish tone, he could only smile helplessly.
"Okay, brother will carry you."
"Brother, you're so kind."
As Shen Muqing lay on his back, she was still marveling at how great it was not having to walk herself, her arms wrapped around Lan Jin's neck.
Perhaps she was tired, she tilted her head and fell asleep on his shoulder, her hot breath spraying on Lan Jin's neck, turning his pale skin pink.
Lan Jin walked steadily, carrying Shen Muqing on his back for a long time without panting. Knowing that the girl on his back had fallen asleep, he did not rush. He slowed down and walked step by step. As he walked, he could hear the silver ornaments on his clothes jingling in the breeze.
I can't tell if it's his or hers.
"Qingqing, wake up, we've arrived."
Lan Jin turned his head and gently called to Shen Muqing. In his peripheral vision, he could only see the top of Shen Muqing's dark head.
"Um?"
Shen Muqing was woken up and slowly raised her head. She inadvertently brushed against something, which made her mouth feel numb.
"Qingqing, we've arrived." Lan Jin put Shen Muqing down, straightened her clothes and hair, and looked at her pink lips. His narrow eyes seemed to be suppressing something.
Unbeknownst to Shen Muqing, she hadn't noticed what had been applied to her lips. She licked her lips, which still felt slightly numb, as if she had been electrocuted.
"You arrived so quickly?"
"Okay, let's go home."
The villagers were slightly surprised to see Lan Jin return and jokingly said:
"Hey, Ah Jin's back! You found her so quickly?"
"Aunt Li, Brother Zhang," Lan Jin called out their names one by one. "Yes, we found them."
As she spoke, she waved the hand she was holding, which was holding Shen Muqing's hand, in front of them.
Aunt Li was also happy for Lan Jin, "It's good that you found him. I thought you'd never find him in your whole life."
How could that be?
Lan Jin felt more relaxed back in the village than when she was outside, and she smiled more often.
"Aunt Li, we're going back now."
"Okay, bring the person out for a chat sometime."
"good."
Although Shen Muqing couldn't see, she could feel the simple and honest folk customs and warm hospitality of the village.
Lan Jin greeted them along the way.
"Brother Jin, you're back!"
"Brother Ajin!"
A swarm of children surrounded Lan Jin, bombarding her with questions. Lan Jin took out candies and pastries she had bought outside from her bundle and shared them with them.
Shen Muqing was still a little uncomfortable being crowded with so many children, and kept moving closer to Lan Jin.
The children received the candy, looked at the two holding hands with a mixture of understanding and confusion, and happily walked away.
"Thank you, Brother Jin! We're going home now."
The noise faded into the distance for Shen Muqing. Shen Muqing tugged at Lan Jin's sleeve.
"Brother, were those a group of children just now?"
"right."
"So you just gave them the pastries we bought?"
Lan Jin thought Shen Muqing was jealous, so she pinched her fair cheek.
"What's wrong? Is your little sister jealous?"
"No, I was just wondering if you left me any."
"Don't worry, the ones we gave them were bought separately."
Lan Jin's house had been uninhabited for several months, so it was quite dusty. He cleaned it up a bit and then settled Shen Muqing on a stool.
"Qingqing, please have a seat. I'll go clean the room."
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