Chapter 21 The Princess's Beloved Dog 7 Likes being human, holding hands, kissing...
Inside the cave, light and shadow flickered and shifted.
Yuezhi woke up in the warmth, feeling a dampness on her neck. She groggily reached out and found her fingertips sinking into strands of silvery-white hair.
Pei Heng remained in human form, gently licking/kissing her collarbone like a puppy, as if eating candy.
"Can't you turn back?" she asked wearily, gently rubbing his sensitive animal ears in his hair.
Pei Heng looked up at her, his wide eyes revealing a hint of shyness. "I like being a person."
He pulled her closer, making sure they were completely sealed together, and murmured joyfully, "Becoming human means I can hold a princess tightly, hold her hand, kiss her, and do so many, many happy things..."
As she spoke, her cheeks flushed, and she seemed to be conjuring up some image in her mind, her eyes darting away and looking down.
Yuezhi was amused by his series of actions, but felt her waist and legs were sore and weak: "Then be good, I'll sleep a little longer."
Pei Heng immediately fell silent, quietly wrapping his tail around her legs and carefully tucking the blanket in so that she could comfortably rest her head in his arms.
Two bodies clung together, warm and cozy. The cave was so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat, and the sound of the waterfall seemed distant.
After a long while, he couldn't hold back any longer and whispered in her ear, "Are we partners now?"
The heat made Yuezhi itch. She opened her eyes and saw that the young man's ears were trembling with nervousness. She couldn't help but chuckle, reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, and nodded gently under his expectant gaze.
"Calculate."
Pei Heng immediately grinned, buried his burning face in her shoulder, and let out a suppressed giggle that made Yue Zhi's chest go numb.
"Silly dog." Yuezhi ruffled his silver hair, her fingertips accidentally brushing against his sensitive earlobe.
The young man trembled and hugged her even tighter.
As Yuezhi closed her eyes and felt this burning affection, she suddenly felt that all those indifferent people and things had disappeared from her mind. Whether it was true or false, right or wrong, it no longer mattered.
Because of the sincerity he felt at that moment, he cherished her more than any wealth or glory.
*
As the sun rose higher, the cave was shimmering with reflected light from the water. Yuezhi, having had a good sleep, got up and sat on the haystack, carefully tying Pei Heng's sash.
This was an indigo blue cloth dress she had bought in the city to fit his size. It fit him perfectly, but he was restless when sitting in front of her, always stealing kisses on her cheek when she bent down to tie the sash.
"Stop fooling around," Yuezhi said softly, gently smoothing out the wrinkles in his clothes.
Pei Heng blinked his dark eyes, leaned closer, and pecked her lips.
She didn't push him away; the light kiss quickly became long and drawn out. The young man, who had already tasted love, deepened the kiss by recalling the memory of the previous night, until the two of them slowly fell onto the haystack.
"It's getting light, we still have to travel." Yuezhi blushed and breathed softly, her forehead pressed against his.
Pei Heng knew it was very unsafe for them to stay in the borders of Yulin Kingdom, so he reluctantly propped himself up, but clung to her and refused to get up, burying his face in her neck and taking deep breaths, his tail swaying gently behind him.
Yuezhi let him rub against her for a while before smiling and pushing him away: "If you want to maintain your human form, you have to learn to act like a human."
She fastened his belt and carefully instructed him: "You can't be affectionate in front of others, you can't always talk about 'mating,' and don't call me princess anymore."
Pei Heng's eyes lit up: "Then call her 'wife'?"
Yuezhi smiled and nodded.
She'd done everything she could, so let him call her whatever he wanted; after all, she wasn't one to nitpick over words.
"Then, my wife, could you not call me husband too?!" he asked impatiently, his face full of anticipation.
Yuezhi's cheeks flushed slightly. Her hand, which was straightening his collar, paused. She couldn't imagine herself addressing him so affectionately. She stammered, "We haven't officially formed a bond yet. Can I call you Aheng for now?"
Pei Heng tilted his head and thought for a moment. He felt that forming a bond was the key to officially confirming the relationship, and he greatly appreciated her careful approach, so he happily agreed.
After they finished getting ready, the two walked out of the cave hand in hand.
Finding the horse tethered in the woods, Yuezhi nimbly mounted it, only to turn around and see Pei Heng standing there, at a loss.
“I can’t ride a horse.” He lowered his ears.
Yuezhi smiled and held out her hand: "Come on up, I'll teach you."
Pei Heng followed her example and mounted the horse, instinctively wrapping his arms around her waist. The moment the horse started moving, he tightened his arms and pressed his entire body against Yue Zhi's back.
"Relax." Yuezhi patted the back of his hand, feeling his warm breath brush against her ear.
Gradually, Pei Heng got used to the rhythm of horseback riding. He still held Yue Zhi tightly, resting his chin on her shoulder. This position allowed him to smell the fragrance of her hair and feel the slight vibration of her back when she spoke.
"I love holding you like this," he whispered, his tail swaying happily behind him.
Yuezhi indulged him in carrying her, and even secretly slowed down a bit to make their time together longer.
Several hours later, the distant mountain ranges gradually became clear. At the foot of the mountains, a group of people waited quietly, their armor gleaming coldly in the setting sun.
From a distance, Yuezhi reined in the horse and felt Pei Heng's arm tighten instantly.
"Don't be afraid," she whispered, covering his hands that were wrapped around her waist.
Pei Heng's tail was still gently wrapped around the hem of her clothes. His eyes became wary. He leaned forward slightly, protecting Yue Zhi in his arms, and let out a low whimper.
Upon seeing a familiar figure among the group, Yuezhi instructed Pei Heng to tuck in his tail and ears, then dismounted and turned to extend her hand to him.
The young man used her strength to dismount from the horse, but stumbled half a step when he landed and was steadily supported by her.
"Wait for me here," Yuezhi whispered, gently smoothing his slightly disheveled white hair.
She walked alone towards the imposing procession. The Crown Prince sat upright on his horse, his gaze sweeping over her shoulder and briefly lingering on Pei Heng, who was not far behind her, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
"You should go back now that you've had your fun." The Crown Prince's voice was calm and unquestionable. "You can't be willful about the marriage alliance."
Yuezhi met his gaze: "The safety of Yulin Kingdom should not be maintained by sacrificing a woman."
The Crown Prince frowned: "This is your responsibility as a princess."
"Responsibility?" Yuezhi chuckled. "I lived in the Cold Palace, where I was mistreated. When I went to pay my respects in winter, my father would leave me standing in the cold wind and refuse to let me into the palace. Why did no one remember that I was a princess back then? Now that they need leverage, they suddenly remember me?"
She stepped forward, her voice clear and bright: "If you, brother, are worried about the country, why don't you personally lead the expedition? Why don't you persuade your three elder sisters to share the country's burdens? Why do you come to force me, your helpless and helpless younger sister?"
The Crown Prince's expression changed drastically, but Yue Zhi continued, "I know you are stubborn and will not let me off easily. Now I will tell you that I am no longer a virgin. If you insist on sending me to marry a foreign ruler, Changxu Kingdom will only consider this marriage an insult."
Seeing her willful and unrepentant expression, the Crown Prince suddenly tightened his grip on the reins, his gaze piercing like a knife as he looked at the white-haired man behind her. "In just a few days, you've already found a wild man?"
"At least this wild man is considerate and puts me first, and he won't lie to me." Yuezhi glanced back at Pei Heng, her tone gentle.
The crown prince, enraged and humiliated, shouted: "Take him down!"
As the soldiers stepped forward, Yuezhi raised her hand, "Wait!"
She glanced around at the evasive eyes and sneered, "You gentlemen dare not confront the enemy's iron cavalry, yet you dare to brandish weapons at a weak woman?"
She looked at the Crown Prince again, her gaze sharp: "Crown Prince, is the weakness of Yulin Kingdom really because I refused to make peace through marriage? Who is it that holds a position without doing anything, who is corrupt by nature, and who is it that forms cliques and disregards the people? You know best in your heart!"
The crown prince's face was ashen, but he still shouted sternly, "Attack!"
Before the words were finished, a white figure rushed over.
Pei Heng transformed into a giant dog while running, crashing into the soldiers in front of him like an arrow, and pounced on the prince's mount. The warhorse reared up in alarm, and the prince was violently thrown against a tree trunk, then crashed into it, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"A demon! It's a demon!" The soldiers fled in panic, and the once majestic ranks were wiped out in an instant. The white dog bared its sharp teeth and approached the prince, letting out a low growl.
"Aheng, no!" Yuezhi stepped forward and hugged his neck to comfort him, "This kind of person doesn't deserve to dirty your teeth."
Pei Heng's bloodshot eyes were fixed on the Crown Prince, his hair standing on end. Yue Zhi gently stroked his trembling back: "Yu Lin's fate is sealed, why bear the burden of killing for him?"
The white dog gradually calmed down, but when it transformed into human form, there was still anger in the corners of its eyes. It took Yuezhi's hand and went back to unsaddle the horse and release the two of them back to their mount.
The prince clutched his aching chest, watching helplessly as the two figures walked hand in hand into the misty mountains, their silhouettes disappearing into the vast landscape as dusk deepened.
From then on, the fourth princess of Yulin Kingdom never existed again.
*
After crossing the mountain, Yuezhi felt a sudden blur before her eyes.
The surrounding air became fresh and sweet, completely different from the turbid air of the mortal world. Pei Heng carried her on his back and ran faster than a horse. They accelerated even more when they entered the demon realm.
"Ah!" she exclaimed softly, quickly bending down to hug Pei Heng's furry neck tightly.
The white dog galloped through the vast forest, its fluffy white fur flowing like water. The wind whistled in Yuezhi's ears, mixed with the dog's excited, low howls.
Before long, a pale silver light began to circulate around him, indicating that his demonic power was rapidly recovering.
Auspicious clouds spontaneously formed beneath its four claws. With a sudden leap, it soared into the air, flying on the clouds.
Mountains and rivers rushed past beneath her feet. Yuezhi opened her eyes wide, looking at the strange scenery below: glowing forests, floating islands, and a giant fish shadow flashing by in the river...
Flying is faster than running. After a night, the sun rose on the horizon, and Pei Heng swooped down towards a verdant mountain below, landing in an ancient forest at its foot.
In the center of the forest stands a colossal tree that has stood for thousands of years. Its trunk is as thick as a mountain wall, its canopy blocks out the sky, and a faint spiritual light flows among its branches and leaves.
Pei Heng landed in front of the giant tree. The roots of the tree naturally bulged, forming an exquisite and unique cave entrance structure. Steps extended down in front of the entrance, blending seamlessly with the giant tree.
He carefully crouched down, letting Yuezhi slide down.
A flash of silver light, and the giant white dog's figure shrank, transforming into a human form. His eyes shone brightly, with a hint of smugness, and he nervously took Yuezhi's hand.
"My wife, we're home." He said, showing her off like a treasure, and led her to the wooden door at the base of the tree.
Pushing open the door, instead of the narrow tree hollow she had imagined, she found herself in a spacious little world! Yuezhi covered her mouth in surprise.
Overhead, huge, verdant leaves intertwined, dappled sunlight filtering through the gaps and illuminating the scene below: a wide, soft meadow, a babbling brook flowing gently, its water crystal clear, with clumps of tender shoots sprouting from the tree roots near its edge...
In the center of the meadow stands a spacious wooden cabin without walls, its simple structure exuding warmth.
Looking up from here, you can see the azure sky filtered through the leaves, but from the outside, you can only see the dense canopy of the giant tree and cannot see the inner cave at all.
"What... what is this?"
Pei Heng scratched his head and explained, "This ancient tree has its own inner world. Three years ago, I fought with some powerful guys in the neighborhood for a long time before I finally got it. I then claimed ownership of this inner world, so it's ours now."
He pointed to the wooden house. "That's a house I built, modeled after the houses people live in. Do you like it?"
Before she finished speaking, Yuezhi had already let go of his hand and ran over like a light butterfly.
She saw an open-air stove next to the house. Pushing open the wooden door, she found a fully equipped living room and bedroom. The tables, chairs, beds, and cabinets were all made of fragrant wood, exquisite, clean, and full of traces of a life lived with care.
It was so much better than the desolate cave she had imagined, and even better than the cramped, sunless little palace she had in the royal palace!
A bright smile bloomed on her face. She turned and ran towards Pei Heng, who was standing there somewhat nervously, throwing herself into his arms and hugging his waist.
"I love it! Ah Heng, I love it so much!"
She buried her face in his chest, her voice filled with joy, "This is the home I've always dreamed of! It's a thousand times, ten thousand times better than a palace!"
Pei Heng's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. Joy surged through his heart, his tail wagged, and the ears on his head twitched happily. He hugged her back and smiled, "That's wonderful."
After settling in, the two packed up all the supplies from their treasure pouch at home.
Pei Yao, dressed in red, was stunningly beautiful. Watching Pei Heng busily setting up the offering table and drawing the magic array for forming a bond in the middle of the grass, her beautiful eyes flickered, and she quietly pulled Yue Zhi aside.
"Little Yuezhi," Pei Yao said in a low voice, "you're so beautiful and clever, do you really want to marry this silly dog? Won't you reconsider?"
Yuezhi looked at Pei Heng, who was seriously arranging things. His white tail swayed slightly behind him, and his profile looked particularly focused in the moonlight.
Her eyes were gentle as she murmured, "Master Pei, he is the first and only person in this world who has treated me with such sincerity and warmth. I want to be with him."
Pei Yao smiled and said no more.
Once the magic circle was completed, with Pei Yao as a witness, the two stood in the center of the magic circle, pricked their fingertips, squeezed out a drop of bright red blood, and the two drops of blood fell into the center of the magic circle. The magic circle lit up with a soft yet dazzling white light, enveloping the two of them.
An invisible bond connected them, their souls seemed to grow closer, and from then on they shared lifespans and were bound together in life and death.
After the meal, Pei Yao got up to say goodbye. Pei Heng was busy clearing away the dishes, and Yue Zhi saw her to the door.
Taking advantage of Pei Heng's absence, Pei Yao paused, took out a small jade bottle from her wide sleeves, stuffed it into Yue Zhi's hand, and winked at her.
Holding the slightly cool jade bottle, Yuezhi asked with some confusion, "Master Pei, what is this...?"
Pei Yao leaned close to her ear and laughed, "I could smell your puppy scent when I came here. I knew you two had gotten married. Take one of these pills before you do it. It will not only make the experience more enjoyable, but also reduce the burden, so that your delicate body won't be able to withstand his torment."
Yuezhi blushed deeply, her hands holding the jade bottle were burning hot, and she was so embarrassed that she wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Seeing her embarrassed expression, Pei Yao chuckled, stopped teasing her, waved her hand, and disappeared in a wisp of smoke.
Yuezhi stood there, clutching the jade bottle tightly, her heart pounding. Like a thief, she quickly hid the small bottle inside her clothes.
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