Chapter 8

Contemplating different methods to ascend the steep hill, Zhao Yang suddenly felt Li Jun's hand wrap around his waist, followed by a powerful gust of wind. Buffeted by the strong winds, Zhao Yang instinctively closed his eyes and clung to Li Jun's neck. It was only when the winds ceased, and he sensed solid ground beneath his feet that he opened his eyes.

What he saw astonished him. Atop the hill lay a vast field teeming with various plants, most of which were medicinal in nature. Examining them closely, Zhao Yang realized he was looking at a paradise of herbs. "So this is what heaven looks like," he thought, his mouth watering at the sight. Releasing his arms from around Li Jun's neck, Zhao Yang gingerly made his way toward the Shada flower. He produced a jade container, opened it, and set it aside. Delicately plucking the Shada flower, he carefully placed it in the container before swiftly stowing it away in his space bag.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Zhao Yang relaxed, knowing he had successfully secured the flower. He then proceeded to collect the other medicinal plants in the field, spending nearly two hours carefully gathering them. Throughout this time, Li Jun sat on a nearby rock, watching Zhao Yang's enthusiastic herb gathering with a small smile on his face.

When Zhao Yang had finished storing the last container, he walked over to where Li Jun was seated. "Are you done?" Li Jun inquired, observing Zhao Yang's approach. Filled with joy, Zhao Yang nodded without realizing his own actions, and he impulsively threw himself at Li Jun, embracing him tightly. Li Jun felt his body stiffen, as he had never experienced physical contact with others, typically reacting with disgust. But with Zhao Yang, he did not feel repulsed. Zhao Yang's touch felt pleasant and refreshing, and no sense of disgust arose. However, caught off guard by Zhao Yang's sudden embrace, Li Jun was unprepared for the intimate gesture.

Zhao Yang's mood quickly cooled as he realized the stiffness in Li Jun's body, acknowledging his grave mistake. He released himself from the embrace and nervously laughed while scratching the back of his head. "Sorry, I didn't mean to. I was just so happy," Zhao Yang apologized, stealing glances at Li Jun to gauge his reaction.

"It's fine," Li Jun responded, although he knew it was not entirely true. Li Jun had enjoyed the hug from Zhao Yang, but he couldn't bring himself to admit it. A faint blush adorned his face and ears, but since Zhao Yang was looking away, he remained oblivious to it. Li Jun composed himself and walked over to Zhao Yang. Together, they descended the hill the same way they had climbed.

As night fell, they discovered an open cave to spend the night. Zhao Yang had roasted a small beast he had found, and after their meal, they settled into the cave. Zhao Yang assisted Li Jun in changing his bandages before finding a comfortable spot to rest, facing each other.

In the middle of the night, Zhao Yang struggled to fall asleep as his thoughts kept returning to the hug on top of the hill. Each time the memory surfaced, he felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. Shifting into a sitting position, he found Li Jun in front of him with closed eyes. The hug once again crossed his mind, and despite his embarrassment, Zhao Yang continued to gaze at Li Jun. He couldn't quite comprehend the feelings he had for this man, feeling a deep sense of dependency. He struggled to articulate his emotions towards Li Jun, but it felt as if they had known each other for a long time, transcending both this life and the last. Li Jun was handsome, intelligent, and mature. "If we were back in China, he would probably be a superstar," Zhao Yang thought. Pondering his feelings, Zhao Yang eventually drifted off to sleep.

Meanwhile, another pair of eyes opened as Li Jun had never truly fallen asleep. He had merely closed his eyes to rest. Unbeknownst to Zhao Yang, Li Jun felt the weight of his gaze upon him. He dared not open his eyes, waiting until he sensed Zhao Yang had fallen asleep before allowing his eyes to flutter open.

Li Jun observed the beautiful young man in front of him, illuminated by the moonlight, resembling an angel. He recognized the growing attachment he felt toward Zhao Yang, despite knowing he shouldn't. Li Jun had always believed that having someone around would be burdensome, but when he imagined Zhao Yang being that person, he didn't perceive it as a burden. Initially drawn in by Zhao Yang's appearance, as the week passed and they spent time together, Li Jun found himself falling deeper and deeper for him. Initially, he hadn't given it much thought, but the realization that they would eventually part ways led him to guard his heart. He didn't want to become too attached, fearing that he would end up hurt and lonely. Li Jun resolved not to get any closer to Zhao Yang, repeatedly reassuring himself before closing his eyes and succumbing to sleep.

For the next few months, Zhao Yang and Li Jun continued their journey together, collecting herbs and strengthening their bond. Li Jun, initially intending to assist Zhao Yang only in finding some of the herbs, ended up helping him with all of them. They spent quality time together, learning more about each other each day. Li Jun was amazed by Zhao Yang's strength at such a young age, being only 16 and already so formidable.

One morning, Zhao Yang headed to the nearby lake for a refreshing bath. The water was just right, neither cold nor warm. He always bathed alone, as Li Jun never joined him. Despite growing closer over the past few months and considering Li Jun a friend, there were still aspects of Li Jun's life that remained mysterious. Zhao Yang became increasingly curious as to why Li Jun wouldn't bathe together with him. After finishing his bath, Zhao Yang approached Li Jun and confronted him directly.

"Why don't you take a bath with me? Don't give me the excuse of seeing bloody things on your body. I've already seen your body," Zhao Yang said, standing before Li Jun with folded arms. He expected a response, but instead, Li Jun remained expressionless. Suddenly, Li Jun stood up and walked away, leaving Zhao Yang feeling frustrated. Even if Li Jun didn't want to answer, there was no need for him to walk away like that.

During the night, Zhao Yang lay inside the cave, unable to sleep. He was bothered by Li Jun's absence since the incident earlier, and his annoyance with Li Jun still lingered. Zhao Yang kept his eyes fixed on the entrance of the cave. Despite his irritation, he couldn't help but worry about Li Jun. Eventually, he spotted a familiar figure entering the cave.