Calming Peace

Slowly, Lei Mingxing's eyes fluttered open and the first thing that entered her sight was Chang Liuyun's soft sleeping face only about ten centimeters away from her own. Instead of being surprised, Lei Mingxing just blinked a few times.

Cute.

She secretly commented in her mind as she quietly got up to stretch her body as well as she could inside the small cave.

Somehow, against all odds, they still made it into the cave. It was a very arduous process, involving the sword being used as a step in between the cave and the cliff's edge, in addition to their mutual cooperation and efforts.

After they both finally reached the cave, they were so exhausted that they directly huddled together with both their outer robes acting as blankets and fell asleep.

Usually, they wouldn't have feared the cold as much, with their inner Qi thoroughly depleted though, there was no other choice but the most primitive method of keeping warm.

Regardless, she had slept pretty well, and most of her injuries had also healed to a manageable extent. Only her crushed arm and leg were still aching to the bone, looking a bit raw and covered in thick scars.

Lei Mingxing circulated her inner Qi again, hoping to lessen the pain in those limbs, so they wouldn't be at immediate risk of snapping again.

Thanks to their cultivation session yesterday, Lei Mingxing had directly broken through to Qi Foundation early-stage and her Qi had grown to an extent that she could burn a few puny locks with absolute ease. In fact, she felt like she was able to burn down two or three entire cages now.

"Hm."

Lei Mingxing heard Chang Liuyun wake up next to her and stopped circulating her Qi.

"Good morning," she said.

"Mornin'" Chang Liuyun muffled sleepily in response while wiping his face.

He then yawned and stretched his body as well, before squintingly bundling Lei Mingxing's hair into a bun with one hand, struggling to secure it with the hair needle. This caused the bun to look slightly messier than usual.

If that was any other day, Chang Liuyun would lie down again for a few minutes after doing her hair. And Lei Mingxing would do some chores in the meantime, as she had a habit of waking up early and didn't want to waste that precious time.

Sweeping the floor or folding their clothes that had been airing throughout the night, using a little bit of her fire to burn away the dirt, she didn't mind these small tasks, actually, she found them quite fun. It felt like a bit of normalcy that she never got to experience previously.

Having completed these daily chores, Lei Mingxing waited for a sleepy Chang Liuyun to get up while she practiced her Qi Manipulation. Then they left for their respective work.

Like this, they were both perfectly content with their current living arrangements.

But their usual routine wouldn't really work inside the cave.

Chang Liuyun got up, not falling asleep once more, instead putting on his mask and outer robe, while Lei Mingxing did the same.

Lei Mingxing was the first to crawl out of the cave and climb up the cliff, holding out her hand to Chang Liuyun. Chang Liuyun didn't have the same restorative powers as Lei Mingxing and was still struggling with his left arm and leg, using the same strategy as yesterday only a lot smoother today, Lei Mingxing pulled Chang Liuyun up.

The cool morning breeze hit Chang Liuyun directly in his face and sobered him up immediately, making him finally notice that Lei Mingxing's injuries had mostly recovered, even the more serious ones.

But he didn't comment on it, only staring in awe for a brief moment before moving on to brushing off the dirt on his ragged robe.

During their difficult climb up the hill yesterday, Lei Mingxing had told him that she had no clue where her miraculous healing power came from, but her guess was that it had something to do with her variation of Chaos Physique.

And Chang Liuyun gladly believed it, after seeing how she cultivated, anything was possible in his mind.

She could even transform into a fox right in front of him, say it was because of her special physique and Chang Liuyun would believe her.

But there was one thing he was sure of, they wouldn't go cultivating again, not in the next few weeks at least. He really didn't need another close call with death for now.

"I think we should take a bath," Lei Mingxing chimed into his thoughts.

Chang Liuyun halted and looked down at his body.

...she was right.

They looked horrible, not to mention the smell...

Especially Lei Mingxing was in a horrible state. The tiger had caused some serious damage to her clothes if you could even call them that anymore. There were more holes than anything else, with blotches of blood dying several spots a brown red.

The only piece of clothing that survived her scuffle with the tiger without taking any damage, were her shoes. Even the one belonging to the crushed leg didn't have any obvious stains.

A bit unwilling, Chang Liuyun agreed to Lei Mingxing's idea and led the way down the hill toward a familiar river.

On their way, they passed the spot where their battle had taken place yesterday.

Unexpectedly, the tiger was still in place, with no signs of anyone or anything laying a hand on it.

Both their eyes began to sparkle.

At least, they hadn't suffered these injuries for nothing!

No need for any more words, Chang Liuyun let go of Lei Mingxing who was still supporting him and picked up a sturdy branch instead.

Meanwhile, Lei Mingxing stepped forward to grab the huge tiger carcass and arduously began dragging it behind her.

After encountering this unexpected fortune, they continued on their way, Lei Mingxing panting and sweating profusely while pulling the outrageously heavy tiger through the shrubs and bushes of the forest. Despite her, through cultivation improved, strength, it was still a struggle.

Sometimes, they encountered a first-rank beast, but Lei Mingxing just flicked a bit of fire on them and they honestly burned to death, until there was nothing but ashes and sometimes even a Spirit Core left.

Finally, after what felt like hours to Lei Mingxing, they reached the river.

She instantly let go of the tiger and jumped into the refreshing water, clothes and all, the only things she bothered to take off were her boots and her hair needle. Her face veil had been ruined during their desperate battle yesterday.

Excitedly, Lei Mingxing began rubbing off the sticky layer of dirt on her body with her hands, not stopping until she felt clean from head to toe. Only after she had finished, did she notice that Chang Liuyun was still standing at the riverbank, just as dirty as he was before.

"What's wrong?"

Lei Mingxing swam over to him, her long hair gently swaying in the water behind her.

Chang Liuyun froze at her question.

"It's nothing."

After answering, Chang Liuyun's continued to unblinkingly stare at the river's surface, before sucking in a deep breath and taking off his shoes and mask.

He hesitantly ventured down the riverbank to the water, but as soon as his toes reached the cold river water, he didn't move any further. Once again staring intently at the river surface, clear signs of struggle on his face.

Lei Mingxing watched him hesitate, wondering why he acted like that when suddenly a thought flashed through her mind.

"Are you scared of water?"

Chang Liuyun flinched and looked at Lei Mingxing with wide eyes.

But there was no hint of ridicule or maliciousness on her face, she just gazed at him with her dark eyes.

Chang Liuyun stayed quiet, not admitting or denying anything.

Despite his silence, Lei Mingxing felt like her guess was correct.

After thinking about it for a moment, Lei Mingxing opened her mouth.

"Do you want to take my hand?"

She stood up inside the river and walked over to Chang Liuyun, stretching out her hand for him.

Hearing her offer, Chang Liuyun began to blush slightly. He felt like the other was making fun of him until he saw her sincere expression.

The earnestness inside her pupils seemed to move something in his heart, because soon after, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes tightly, boldly raising his foot to take the next and hardest step.

Maybe a bit too boldly for his currently injured state, as he lost his balance, threatening to fall face-first into the water. Just then, a pair of soft and slender arms caught him, gently but securely wrapping around him.

Chang Liuyun hesitantly opened his eyes.

A warm, happy smile appeared in his view.

"Great! Let's go a little deeper?"

Hearing Lei Mingxing's voice so close to him, along with her beautiful face, Chang Liuyun involuntarily began to blush.

While hiding his face with his uninjured hand, he softly nodded.

Lei Mingxing's smile widened, her eyes curling into crescents and she slowly led Chang Liuyun deeper into the river. After the water reached his waist, she asked him to sit down on a big smooth rock she had found earlier, so that he could wash easier.

While Chang Liuyun rubbed his body clean, Lei Mingxing helped him wash his hair.

If someone had chanced upon them at this time, they would have been stunned by this harmonious scene, almost comparable to the tales of fairies and immortals.

And the two in question felt this peace as well.

Especially Lei Mingxing.

For once her constant anxiety and restlessness calmed somewhat, and she felt the sudden urge to say something, anything.

She parted her lips.

"You know..., I once had a very good friend who was also scared of water."

"We never met face to face, but we each made a promise to the other..."

"He promised to show me his favorite thing and I did the same," Lei Mingxing's voice became quieter.

"In the end only he got to keep our promise."

A sad smile appeared on Lei Mingxing's face, but she still seriously combed through Chang Liuyun's hair with her hand, getting all the crusty, old dirt out.

"..."

Chang Liuyun didn't say anything, only silently listening to Lei Mingxing recounting the story.

Despite sitting chest-deep in a cold river, he felt surprisingly calm.

But after hearing Lei Mingxing mention her friend, a short tinge of sadness that he couldn't quite understand, flashed through his heart.

Small theater:

Lei Mingxing: *smiling at Chang Liuyun without a face veil covering her face*

Chang Liuyun: *suffering a critical beauty attack*