Li Chenxi's gaze swept across the clear, luminous eyes, which revealed everything. His whole body felt as if it had been doused in a spiritual spring, his face flushing slightly. He turned his head away, "It's nothing..."
Ming Yu nodded, then tossed aside the stick in her hand, poised for action. Seeing this, Li Chenxi couldn't help but ask, "You... what are you doing?"
Ming Yu didn't answer. With all her might, she kicked her slender legs fiercely at the tree where Li Chenxi was. The tree swayed, and with a crack, the branch holding Li Chenxi snapped. Li Chenxi fell.
"Li Chenxi, are you alright?" Ming Yu rushed over, helped Li Chenxi up, and sat down against the tree.
"I'm alright..." Li Chenxi turned his face away, no longer looking at Ming Yu.
Ming Yu thought Li Chenxi was still angry with her and didn't ask further. Then she saw the blood still flowing from Li Chenxi's chest. "It's still bleeding."
Li Chenxi moved his lips, thinking to himself, if it weren't for her recent forceful action that broke the branch and caused him to fall heavily, how could this have happened? Yet, he harbored no resentment, just as he had willingly taken those two palm strikes and one sword strike for Yun Jin Xuan back then.
Ming Yu went to the clear spring, gathered some water with large leaves, and handed it to Li Chenxi, "Have some water!"
Li Chenxi nodded, took the leaf, and moistened his throat.
Ming Yu looked at Li Chenxi's still bleeding wound, her delicate brows furrowed. "Let me clean it for you!"
Li Chenxi heard this and covered his chest with his hands, "You're a young lady, I can handle this small matter myself."
"But you've never considered me a young lady..." Ming Yu looked at Li Chenxi, asking.
Li Chenxi's face flushed slightly, but Ming Yu mistook it for pain and asked, "Does it hurt a lot?"
Li Chenxi nodded and then shook his head, "It doesn't hurt."
"Then can you stand up? I'll help you over there to wash it," Ming Yu asked with concern, her clear eyes filled with tenderness.
Li Chenxi nodded, "I can do it myself..." He stood up, but found he couldn't stand steadily. Suddenly, a pair of delicate, jade-like hands slipped under his arms, gently supporting him.
His body tensed as if touched by fire. "Relax a bit..." a clear, ethereal voice drifted over. He felt it was the most beautiful sound in the world.
Li Chenxi's face turned crimson, but he didn't refuse anymore, for here, it was just the two of them, and no one else.
"We don't know when we'll be able to get out, but I believe Bai Luo will come looking for us, so we'll have to depend on each other and live here for a while."
Hearing these words, Li Chenxi surprisingly wished that Bai Luo wouldn't find this place, yet he felt annoyed with himself for such a thought. He couldn't control his feelings, but his mind drifted unintentionally, beyond his control.
Arriving at the spring, Ming Yu turned her back. Li Chenxi removed his clothes and cleaned his wound. After bandaging it and getting dressed, he said, "All done."
Ming Yu turned around. In her peripheral vision, Li Chenxi's long hair was unbound, his black hair like the night, his face like green jade, his eyes like dark stones, shining with light.
Li Chenxi turned his face away. His black hair gently brushed against his face, playfully sweeping back and forth. Ming Yu smiled, "You're actually quite handsome when you're not looking so stern."
Li Chenxi's body tensed. He turned back, "Really?" Something sparkling flickered in his dark stone eyes.
Ming Yu was taken aback. She had expected Li Chenxi to respond with his usual coldness, but to her surprise, it was like this. She was unsure how to reply.
"Ahem..." Li Chenxi coughed, then quickly regained his usual cold demeanor, "I found fish in this water, I'm going to catch some."
"Okay," Ming Yu agreed.
They gathered wood and stones to make fire. With a spark, they fed it with twigs, and the fire burned brighter. Li Chenxi cleaned the fish, skewered them with branches, and roasted them over the fire. Soon, a fragrant aroma wafted through the air.
"It smells so good..." Ming Yu watched Li Chenxi skillfully turn the fish, exclaiming in admiration.
"It's ready," Li Chenxi handed the roasted fish to Ming Yu.
Ming Yu took the roasted fish and tore off a small piece. It was very fragrant. The only thing missing was salt, but it was still very fresh.
"I didn't think we'd be surviving in the wild, so I didn't bring any salt..." Li Chenxi explained.
After eating the fish, Li Chenxi went out to survey the terrain. By the time it was getting dark, Li Chenxi returned, carrying some wild fruits. "There's a cave over there."
"Then let's go," Ming Yu followed Li Chenxi to the cave.
The cave was not large, a square space that could accommodate four people standing side by side, but it was enough for two to sleep. Inside, Li Chenxi had already spread out dry grass. It turned out Li Chenxi had prepared everything, and his late return was to set up the cave.
Her heart warming slightly, she looked at Li Chenxi, "We'll sleep here tonight."
Li Chenxi nodded, pointing outside the cave, "I'll guard here, you can sleep soundly."
Ming Yu nodded, "Li Chenxi, thank you."
Li Chenxi's body trembled visibly. He turned around, his back to her, "Sleep soundly, we still need to find a way out tomorrow."
"Okay." Lying on the soft, dry grass, smelling its unique fragrance, she soon drifted off to sleep.
Li Chenxi sat at the cave entrance, his long sword planted in the ground. In the dark night, the corner of his mouth curved slightly. He gazed ahead, like an unshakeable stone sculpture, motionless, standing there.
The morning light streamed into the cave, the dazzling light forcing Ming Yu to open her eyes. She looked around and upon seeing Li Chenxi leaning against the cave entrance with his eyes closed, a warm current surged through her heart. He must have stayed awake all night guarding this entrance for her.
The light shone upon him, and a golden radiance burst forth, as if a god had descended, making him incredibly beautiful in that instant.
Ming Yu sat up. By her side, fruits and clear spring water in a leaf had already been prepared. After drinking some water, she walked out of the cave. The light shone on her, warm and cozy. She couldn't help but stretch.
Li Chenxi narrowed his eyes. He hadn't actually slept, merely resting with his eyes closed. He watched the person outside the cave. The light enveloped her completely. Her ethereal hair, like ink, cascaded over her petite, delicate frame. A gentle breeze brushed against her, her jade hair fluttering in the wind, her skirt dancing. At this moment, she was like a celestial being from beyond the heavens, descending to this mortal realm, inviolable.
"Li Chenxi, you're awake," the clear, ethereal voice drifted over, more melodious than the birdsong in the woods, so captivating, so moving.
"Did you sleep well?" Li Chenxi asked, looking at her back.
Ming Yu turned around, her smile bright and charming. Li Chenxi stared at her dazedly. Her smile was enveloped by the light, instantly dazzling, making heaven and earth lose their color. It shone warmly and astonishingly into his heart. At this moment, his heart held only one thought: even if his body were to be shattered to pieces, he would protect her completely.
"Li Chenxi..." her voice brought him back.
Li Chenxi lowered his head, not wanting her to see his expression. "Li Chenxi, this place is truly suitable for reclusion, how beautiful it is! Birds singing, flowers fragrant."