Chu Tong shouted, "Oh no!" He immediately stood up, picked up a stone and swung it at the old man, yelling, "You big monkey! You dead monkey! I'm here! Come and kill me!"
Although the stone missed, Chu Tong's scream had already caught the old man's attention. He turned around and sneered, "Fine, I'll take your head first!" With that, he rushed over, and Yun Yinghuai took the opportunity to disappear into the dense forest.
Chu Tong was terrified when she saw the old man chasing after her. She hurriedly used her "Lotus Steps" technique and ran wildly through the forest in all directions. Fortunately, the moonlight was dim and the shadows of the trees in the dense forest were heavy. In addition, Chu Tong was light and agile and dodged left and right. The old man used his lightness skill and was unable to catch her for a while.
Chu Tong swayed from side to side. At first, she could barely manage, but later she gradually felt her strength failing and was panting heavily. She felt her legs getting heavier and heavier and could no longer lift her feet. Just as her legs gave way and she was about to fall to the ground, an arm caught her and then pulled her into an embrace, covering her mouth and nose.
Chu Tong was taken aback and was about to struggle, but when she smelled a familiar masculine scent, she immediately stopped and lay on Yun Yinghuai's chest, trying her best to control her breathing. She could hear Yun Yinghuai's heart pounding like thunder in his chest.
The hunchbacked old man saw Chu Tong running not far in front of him, but she disappeared right before his eyes in the blink of an eye. He was furious and stopped, holding his breath and listening intently to the sounds around him. Unfortunately, the waterfall was too noisy, and after listening for a while, the old man found nothing. So he picked up his sword and searched around.
Yun Yinghuai and Chu Tong hid in the bushes behind a large tree, crouching down slowly and concealing themselves in the shadows while the old man wasn't looking. The hunchbacked old man, sword in hand, approached and stood beside the bushes in front of Chu Tong, surveying the surroundings. Chu Tong immediately stiffened, her heart pounding wildly, as if it would leap out of her chest. The old man looked around and turned to leave, but then suddenly turned back, wildly stabbing at Chu Tong's hiding place with his sword. Chu Tong was startled, struggling to calm herself and suppress a scream, her body slightly recoiling. The old man, seeing the movement in the bushes, became suspicious and was about to peek out when a small rabbit darted out from the bushes.
The old man sighed and muttered to himself in disappointment, "It was just a rabbit." Then he turned and walked away.
Chu Tong breathed a sigh of relief and thought to herself, "Thank goodness, thank God, I'm so lucky to have had that rabbit, otherwise I would have been riddled with thorns by now!"
The old man stabbed at the nearby bushes with his sword, but to no avail. He was furious and cursed, "Is the famous Yun Yinghuai of the martial world going to hide in the shadows like a cowardly bandit and not dare to fight me? If you are a hero, don't be a coward!" He shouted a few times, but all around was silent except for the sound of the waterfall and the wind blowing through the branches.
Chu Tong thought to herself, "If that big monkey can't find anyone here, he'll probably go somewhere else. Once he's far away, Yun Da Xia and I will immediately ride away and escape. We have to shake him off no matter what!" Just then, there was a "snap" sound as the old man lit his tinderbox. In that instant, he caught a glimpse of Chu Tong's clothes peeking out from the bushes. The old man laughed loudly and shouted, "So this is where you are!" With that, he swung his sword and thrust.
Even though Yun Yinghuai reacted quickly, he jumped up, grabbed Chu Tong, and ran away. The old man chased after him relentlessly. Seeing Yun Yinghuai run out of the dense forest and head straight for the spring and the horses, he thought to himself that something was wrong. He slapped his right hand hard beside him and actually chopped a small tree in half. Then he shouted and channeled his inner strength into his arm, and threw the tree with all his might, trying to use the branch to sweep Yun Yinghuai off the horse.
Yun Yinghuai carried Chu Tong and jumped onto a horse. Just as he was about to urge the horse forward, he suddenly heard the sound of wind beside him. He saw a dense canopy of trees rushing towards him. It was too late for him to dodge. Chu Tong screamed, and the lush branches pushed them and the horse into the waterfall.
Chu Tong felt herself plummeting headfirst into a deep abyss, the wind whistling in her ears, the immense force sending shivers down her spine. She clung tightly to Yun Yinghuai, screaming agonizingly, her cries echoing throughout the valley. Suddenly, she felt a jolt, followed by a chill that instantly turned her body icy. Cold water rushed into her mouth and nose, a cacophony of sounds filled her ears, and darkness enveloped her. She struggled for a few moments, feeling herself sinking lower and lower, when suddenly the arm around her waist tightened, pulling her upwards and lifting her to the surface.
Chu Tong coughed loudly the moment she touched the air; she was already dizzy and disoriented. Yun Yinghuai wasn't much better off, barely managing to stay upright. He looked around and suddenly saw a heavy object crashing down from above. He hurriedly pulled Chu Tong away. The object hit the water with a "splash!" creating a wall of water several meters high. When the water settled, Yun Yinghuai looked closely and realized the object was a small tree that the old man had chopped down with his palm! Yun Yinghuai was overjoyed. He swam a few steps, grabbed the trunk, and struggled to lift Chu Tong onto the treetop. Yun Yinghuai's internal injuries hadn't healed; he was only holding on by sheer willpower. With his last bit of strength, he clung to the trunk, his head lolling to the side, and he passed out.
Having been repeatedly frightened, Chu Tong was now like a frightened bird, clinging to the tree trunk, sobbing uncontrollably and trembling uncontrollably, feeling as if she had lost half her life. She called out "Hero Yun" several times in a trembling voice, but saw Yun Yinghuai clinging to the tree trunk, his face ashen, his life hanging in the balance. Staring at Yun Yinghuai's face, she felt even more terrified.
The waterfall's powerful flow swept the tree trunk to one side, pushing them into a cave by the water's edge. Once inside, Chu Tong was met with complete darkness, terrifying her to the point of madness; her body trembled even more violently. She turned to look out of the cave, wanting to jump in and swim out, but her limbs were weak; she couldn't even wipe the tears from her face, let alone swim. She looked back at the cave entrance, seeing the tree trunk receding further and further from the starry sky. With a determined look, she gritted her teeth and turned her head back, trembling as she cursed inwardly, "Damn it! What I feared most has come to pass! Fine, I'll just let it be from now on!" Then she gave a bitter laugh, thinking, "Yes, what else can I do but let it be?"
Chu Tong opened her eyes wide and looked around. The cave was pitch black, and she trembled as she lay down, pressing her face against the cold tree trunk. She muttered, "Being alive is like being spared. If I die, I'll go to the King of Hell to find my mother." She was exhausted and drifted off to sleep to the sound of running water.
Springtime brings river waters as green as blue
In a daze, Chu Tong felt someone pushing her, and a very deep voice called out, "Little girl, little girl." Chu Tong hummed in response and opened her eyes, only to find that everything around her was still pitch black. Startled, she sat up and called out, "Yun Yinghuai! Yun Yinghuai!" As she spoke, she reached forward and touched a stubble-covered chin. Immediately afterward, her small hand was enveloped by a large hand, and Yun Yinghuai said with delight, "You're still alive, that's wonderful."
Hearing this, Chu Tong was overwhelmed with fear and grievance. Her heart ached, and she threw herself into Yun Yinghuai's arms, hugging his neck and bursting into tears. Yun Yinghuai stiffened, his handsome face flushing red. He realized his actions were extremely inappropriate, but then he remembered that no matter how clever and well-behaved the little girl in his arms was, she was still only a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl. A wave of tenderness washed over him, and he coughed awkwardly a few times, gently patting Chu Tong's back, and soothingly whispered, "Don't be afraid, it's alright now."
Chu Tong cried for a while, then asked in a hoarse voice, "Yun Yinghuai, where are we now?" After saying that, she moved her legs and realized that she was still sitting on the tree trunk with her legs soaking in the water.
Yun Yinghuai stiffened again, and said in a hoarse voice, "Little girl, are we still in the lake? Why can't we hear the waterfall? I... I think I've gone blind, I can't see anything."
Chu Tong was taken aback and quickly said, "Yun Yinghuai, are you blind? We were swept into the cave by the water. It's pitch black here, and I can't see anything."
Yun Yinghuai breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but then the two of them fell silent. They didn't know how long they had been in the cave, nor where the current had carried them. No matter how wide they looked, all they could see was darkness.
Chu Tong hugged Yun Yinghuai's neck and said in a trembling voice, "Hero Yun, we're trapped in a cave, what should we do?"
Yun Yinghuai patted her back reassuringly and said, "The water flows in one direction. If we go against the current, we should be able to get back to the cave entrance." Although he sounded confident, he wasn't really sure himself. The cave was of unknown size and had many twists and turns, and it was pitch black all around. Getting out of the cave would probably be extremely difficult.
Chu Tong, unaware of the details, excitedly exclaimed after hearing the story, "Then let's leave here quickly!"
Yun Yinghuai sensed the direction of the current, and then he and Chu Tong each broke off a branch to use as oars, paddling forward against the current. They quickly realized the difficulty of the effort; although the current wasn't strong, it constantly caused the tree trunk to veer off course. Moreover, since humans cannot see, they already lack a sense of direction, making navigation under these conditions virtually impossible.
After paddling for a while, both of them felt exhausted and were starving. Chu Tong plucked a few leaves and ate them with Yun Yinghuai to stave off hunger. As time passed, the two had been paddling in the darkness for two hours, but still hadn't found a way out. Yun Yinghuai suddenly stopped, his voice hoarse, and said, "Little girl, I'm sorry, I've dragged you into this."
It turned out that while rowing, Yun Yinghuai had broken off small branches and stuck them into the cracks in the rocks of the mountainside to mark the way. Just now, when he touched it, he found a branch with two leaves on it. It was the same branch he had used to mark the spot two hours ago. It turned out that after rowing for so long, they had returned to the starting point.
Chu Tong's heart sank, but she said lightly, "If you feel guilty, you can repay me with your body after we leave the cave. Anyway, we have already married, so you are my lawfully wedded husband."
Yun Yinghuai forced a smile, but the cave was pitch black, and Chu Tong couldn't see him even if he smiled. After a long while, Chu Tong said in a tearful voice, "Yun Yinghuai, are we going to die here? Are we going to die here?" Without waiting for Yun Yinghuai's answer, she shouted, "I don't want to die here! I've suffered so much, struggled through so many life-or-death situations, and overcome one obstacle after another. I don't want to die here! I don't want to die!" After saying that, she continued paddling forward.
Yun Yinghuai knew in his heart that he and Chu Tong were exhausted and could not survive for long on water and leaves alone. There was no one outside to help them, and if they could not get out of the cave, they would surely die. He didn't say anything, but picked up a branch and started paddling in the water.
Two more hours passed, no, perhaps three hours; time had become blurred in the darkness. Chu Tong stopped moving and said dryly, "Yun Yinghuai, I'm hungry, I have no strength left."
Yun Yinghuai said, "You eat some leaves and rest for a while, I'll continue paddling."
Chu Tong said, "Yun Yinghuai, you have internal injuries and a sword wound in your arm. You must be exhausted now. I've come to terms with it. Life and death are in the hands of fate. Why don't you rest too?"
Yun Yinghuai had been gritting his teeth and enduring the pain, but stopped after hearing Chu Tong's words. He carefully leaned against the mountain wall, feeling a dull ache in his wounds and his internal organs churning. He tried to circulate his internal energy to secretly spit out two mouthfuls of blood, but then he heard Chu Tong murmur, "Yun Yinghuai, I feel so cold all over..."
Upon hearing this, Yun Yinghuai reached out and touched Chu Tong, finding her trembling all over. He quickly pulled her into his arms, and when he touched her forehead, he found it burning hot. Chu Tong whispered, "Yun Yinghuai, am I going to die? I think I saw my mother. She just sang me the little tune she used to lull me to sleep when I was little." She then hummed a few lines softly.
Yun Yinghuai frowned and interrupted, "You little girl, you're just talking nonsense!" He held Chu Tong and felt another surge of blood rushing to his head. Then he gave a bitter laugh and thought to himself, "Perhaps this little girl and I are going to die here."
At this moment, Chu Tong continued, "Prisoners executed in the autumn get to drink a farewell drink and have a good meal before they die. What am I now? I want to eat roasted pheasant, lotus leaf rolls, mountain delicacies with dragon's buds, rouge goose breast, and sour bamboo shoot and chicken skin soup, along with a pot of fine bamboo leaf tea, fresh seasonal fruits, and a few cold appetizers to go with the wine." As she spoke, Chu Tong became excited, her voice rising slightly, "And I also want pastries, tea snacks, almond and Buddha's hand citron, crispy apples, He Yi cakes, and pigeon glass cakes—fragrant, sticky, and so delicious I could bite my tongue off!" After she finished speaking, her voice gradually lowered, "Yun Yinghuai, I want to have a big meal. If I can't die a full ghost, I'll definitely go to the underworld to settle accounts with King Yama after I die..."
Yun Yinghuai grew anxious as he heard Chu Tong's incoherent speech. He looked around, but all he saw was darkness and emptiness. Holding Chu Tong, he felt the little one in his arms gradually losing consciousness. Startled, Yun Yinghuai shook Chu Tong, saying, "Don't sleep, wake up!" He then checked her pulse, finding it erratic and extremely weak. Yun Yinghuai quickly pressed several acupoints on Chu Tong's body and kept calling her name.
Chu Tong woke up and, forcing herself to stay awake, said, "Okay, I won't sleep. Let's chat." Then she paused and continued, "Where have you been all these years since you left the Xie family? How did you end up in Beiliang? Your master was killed by that vixen, the Second Madam. Why do people say you betrayed your master and ancestors? Did you take another master?"
Yun Yinghuai remained silent for a long time before saying, "My master, Yun Zhongyan, is a descendant of Yun Banhe and the previous leader of the Yunding Sect. I was an orphan and was adopted by my master at a young age, living with him in Nan Yan. Four years ago, he and his close friend Shi Youliang went to Da Zhou to do business for the prince. Later, only Shi Youliang returned, saying that my master had been killed by Lin Ji. He then brought back a letter that my master had left for me and a martial arts manual called 'Great Search for Cloud Hands.' The letter contained my master's dying wish, that I become the new leader of the Yunding Sect. It is clear that my master went there with the intention of dying."
Chu Tong nodded and said, "I see. Then why are you being framed by others again?"
Yun Yinghuai raised an eyebrow in the darkness and sighed, "My master married his junior sister more than twenty years ago and had a son. My master's wife was cold-hearted and rarely saw my master. But after my master's death, she devoted herself to Buddhism and lived in an ancient temple. Unexpectedly, she suddenly disappeared a few months ago, leaving a blood letter in a hidden place in her room that read, 'Yun Yinghuai killed my husband.' We checked it several times, but it was definitely her handwriting. At this time, rumors are spreading in the Yunding Sect that I forged my master's letter, that I was a wolf in sheep's clothing who repaid kindness with enmity, and that I killed my master to seize the position of sect leader. Otherwise, why would my master pass the position of sect leader to me instead of his own son? That's why I disguised myself and went around looking for my master's wife's whereabouts, hoping to clear my name."
Chu Tong thought to herself, "Could Yun Yinghuai be the child of the Second Madam and Prince Ping of Nan Yan? Otherwise, why would his master treat him so well? Tsk tsk, Yun Zhongyan clearly has a wife, yet he can fall in love with another man's wife, and even love the child born to another man's wife more than his own flesh and blood. Tsk tsk, what kind of spirit is that! I really don't know whether to praise him for his devotion or curse him as a heartless scoundrel. Alas, his wife is also pitiful. She must have known that her husband had fallen in love with the prince's concubine, so she was heartbroken and didn't even want to see Yun Zhongyan. Now that Yun Zhongyan is dead, she has become a nun. It shows that the deeper the love, the deeper the hatred." But then she thought, "If he is the Second Madam's son, wouldn't he be that bastard Xie Linghui's brother? These two don't look very alike."
Thinking of this, Chu Tong said softly, "Is it because your master's wife knows... knows the reason for some things, and resents your master for not passing the position of sect leader to their own flesh and blood, so she deliberately framed you?"
Yun Yinghuai's body trembled, then he shook his head and said, "As far back as I can remember, I have never cared about worldly matters since I met my master's wife. I spend my days praying to Buddha and chanting scriptures. She would never do such a thing. I think there must be some misunderstanding." His voice grew softer as he spoke, and a layer of sorrow settled on his handsome face. After a long silence, he asked in a low voice, "Lin... Lin Ji..." Then he gave a bitter smile and said, "Never mind."
Chu Tong suddenly realized that Yun Yinghuai, with his intelligence, had naturally guessed the reason for the matter just like her, and vaguely understood her own background. She silently looked at Yun Yinghuai, only to feel that his tall figure now looked somewhat desolate and decadent. She couldn't help but feel pity and said, "Poor thing, poor thing. His master died at the hands of his own mother, and he even drove his mother insane with his own hands. No wonder he abandoned me and disappeared without a trace back then, and he never came back to look for the sword manual that was with me."
Thinking of this, Chu Tong reached out her small hand and gently patted Yun Yinghuai's shoulder, saying, "The Second Madam killed your master out of ingratitude, and you avenged him. This is the Second Madam's retribution. You don't need to be sad. Some things in this world are just hard to explain. Gratitude and grudges, right and wrong, if you really start to take it to heart, you'll never have a good time."
Yun Yinghuai knew the little girl was comforting him, and his heart warmed. Ever since he heard the Second Madam's mad ramblings at the Xie residence, his own background had been like a huge rock pressing on his chest. He kept it a secret from everyone, but every time he thought about it, his heart ached. He never imagined that this clever little girl would become the only person he could confide in and who could comfort him.
After saying these words, Chu Tong had exhausted all her strength. She leaned against Yun Yinghuai's chest and gave a bitter smile, saying, "Now we're like phoenixes fallen from the water, worse than chickens. I'm afraid we don't even have the chance to argue about love, hate, anger, or infatuation anymore!"
The atmosphere fell silent for a moment. Yun Yinghuai, holding Chu Tong, felt his heroic spirit falter and felt so stifled that he wanted to roar to the sky. But then he suddenly felt a faint breeze blowing by.
Yun Yinghuai's spirits immediately lifted. He pricked up his ears and listened carefully. Sure enough, he felt a slight breeze blowing from behind him. He quickly grabbed a branch and swung it in the direction the wind was blowing. As he swung, he suddenly saw a faint beam of light in the darkness. Overjoyed, Yun Yinghuai hurriedly said to Chu Tong, "Chu Tong, there's light ahead! We can get out!" Chu Tong groggily opened her eyes and, seeing the sliver of light ahead, her eyes widened in surprise. She struggled to sit up.
Yun Yinghuai led Chu Tong closer and saw an opening in the cave ceiling. Looking up, they saw a sky full of stars. Having struggled in the darkness for so long, Yun Yinghuai and Chu Tong were stunned by the sight of the stars, gazing at them intently for a long time.
At this moment, Yun Yinghuai said, "Chutong, you lie on my back, and I'll carry you up, then we can get away."
Chu Tong thought to herself, "That's right. The top of this cave is several feet above the ground. Normally, Yun Yinghuai could use his lightness skill to take me out, but he's injured now, so he can only carry me up." With that thought, she climbed onto Yun Yinghuai's back. Yun Yinghuai abandoned the tree trunk and, touching the rocks on the mountain wall, slowly began to climb upwards.
As he crawled, Yun Yinghuai suddenly felt a twitch in his calf. His heart sank, and he knew that he had been soaking in the cold water for too long and had exhausted his strength. His calf was about to cramp. But in this situation, if he lost his footing, he would fall into the water with Chu Tong. So he could only grit his teeth and endure it, his legs trembling slightly.
Chu Tong noticed Yun Yinghuai had stopped midway and became puzzled. Turning her head to look at him, she saw his thick eyebrows furrowed and beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. Chu Tong asked worriedly, "Yun Yinghuai, what's wrong?"
Yun Yinghuai forced a smile and said, "It's nothing." Then he continued climbing. He climbed for a while, then rested, his hands raw and bleeding. Chu Tong lowered her eyes upon seeing this, thinking to herself, "Although Yun Yinghuai kidnapped me from the Prince's mansion, he risked his life to protect me all the way. How many people in the world would do that?" Thinking of this, she felt a surge of admiration for Yun Yinghuai. Now, remembering that she was lying on Yun Yinghuai's back, she felt a wave of emotion and a faint sweetness rose in her heart.
They had reached the cave entrance. Yun Yinghuai shouted, grabbed the edge with his hands, and pushed off with his feet, crawling out with Chu Tong on his back. He crawled a few more steps forward, then, as if having completed a heavy task, he relaxed completely, collapsing limply to the ground, too weak to even move a finger. Chu Tong rolled off Yun Yinghuai's back, lying on her back on the grass, gazing at the starry sky. Suddenly, tears streamed down her face. She let the tears flow freely, opening her mouth to cry silently—finally, finally, she was saved!
Chu Tong lay on the grass for a while, feeling her head grow heavier and her body grow colder. She shivered, hugging her shoulders and curling up into a ball. Her wet clothes clung to her body, and the mountain wind made the cold seep into her bones. Eventually, she couldn't bear it any longer and glanced sideways at Yun Yinghuai, only to see him lying motionless on his back on the ground.
Chu Tong hesitated for a moment, then carefully moved over and hugged Yun Yinghuai's arm, saying, "Yun, Yun Yinghuai, I... I'm so cold, I want to warm up next to you." She called his name twice, but Yun Yinghuai didn't respond. She took it as tacit consent and then lay down beside him. It turned out that Yun Yinghuai was lying on the ground, secretly circulating his internal energy. He was seriously injured and felt his true energy dissipating, unable to muster any internal strength in his dantian. He was concentrating on circulating his energy, so he didn't respond to Chu Tong's calls.
Chu Tong nestled beside Yun Yinghuai for a while, feeling Yun Yinghuai growing increasingly hot while her own chill only intensified, causing her to tremble more violently. Suddenly, she remembered a time when she was a child and caught a cold, shivering just as fiercely. Her mother had taken off her clothes and held her in her arms, instantly warming her. Thinking of this, she glanced at Yun Yinghuai's handsome, calm face and thought, "It's inappropriate for Yun Yinghuai and I to be lying together alone. If I were to take off his clothes and hug him for warmth, he would surely refuse." Thinking this, she shivered violently several more times, glancing at Yun Yinghuai and thinking, "If he refuses, there's nothing I can do. If this continues, I'll freeze to death. Besides, besides, Yun Yinghuai isn't just anyone..." Chu Tong hesitated several times, but ultimately couldn't resist the chill and whispered, "Excuse me." Then, she quickly pressed Yun Yinghuai's pressure points.
Yun Yinghuai had just finished circulating his internal energy and felt much more relaxed. He was about to open his eyes when he was suddenly struck on an acupoint. He was immediately startled and opened his eyes to see Chu Tong kneeling in front of him, her face ashen and her whole body trembling, as she was unbuttoning his clothes with trembling hands.
Yun Yinghuai gasped sharply and demanded, "What are you doing?"
Chu Tong glanced at him with her bright eyes, but her hands didn't stop. She stammered, "Yun, Yun Yinghuai, don't, don't be angry. I'm so cold. I want to hug you to warm up, to warm up for a while."
Yun Yinghuai was immediately dumbfounded. He felt that this woman's behavior was something he had never heard of or seen in all his years of wandering the martial world. He asked incredulously, "What did you say?" At this moment, Chu Tong had already untied Yun Yinghuai's belt, pulled open his outer robe with her small hands, and then tried to pull at his inner robe. Yun Yinghuai's handsome face flushed red instantly. He raised his thick eyebrows, and a hint of anger appeared in his pair of stern eyes as he stared at Chu Tong and said, "Don't be ridiculous! Quickly release my acupoints. You're sick. I'll go find some herbs for you!"
Chu Tong trembled and said, "I'm afraid, I'm afraid I'll have frozen to death by the time you find the herbs." As soon as she finished speaking, she had already pulled off Yun Yinghuai's inner garment, revealing his strong and muscular upper body. Chu Tong blushed, but she immediately suppressed her shyness and silently told herself, "It's okay, it's okay, it's just a man's body." Yun Yinghuai was still in shock when he saw Chu Tong already undressing herself. Her clothes were half open, revealing a glimpse of fair skin under her neck.
Upon seeing this, Yun Yinghuai blushed from head to toe. He hurriedly closed his eyes and stammered, "You, you, you little girl, how can you be so shameless! In broad daylight, with a man... with a man..."
"Isn't it right to have physical contact with a man?" Chu Tong took off her wet clothes and interjected, "Yun, Yun Yinghuai, it's not even dawn yet, it's not broad daylight... Don't blame me for ruining it, ruining your reputation. Shame... Achoo! No matter how good it is, it can't save my life. I'm freezing to death, I'm about to die, what's the point of shame then!"
Yun Yinghuai closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, saying, "What do you mean, 'ruined my reputation'! Don't you care about your own reputation?" Just as he finished speaking, a cool and soft body pressed against him, two soft mounds pressed against his flat chest through a piece of fabric. The girl's fragrance entered his nostrils, and Yun Yinghuai's neck stiffened instantly. He couldn't help but take a deep breath, and this time, not only his face and neck, but his whole body turned red.
Chu Tong hugged Yun Yinghuai's neck and sighed contentedly, feeling her body warm up instantly. She whispered in Yun Yinghuai's ear, "Yun Yinghuai, don't be angry. When I was little, I had a cold and was shivering all over, and my mother would take off her clothes and hold me while I slept, and I would warm up immediately... I... I was so cold! I know you didn't want to hold me to warm up, so I had to use acupressure on you..." Chu Tong's warm breath blew into Yun Yinghuai's ear, adding a touch of ambiguity. Yun Yinghuai's heart skipped a beat. Although his eyes were closed, Chu Tong's face, with its curved eyebrows and upturned lips, involuntarily appeared in his mind. But he immediately snapped back to reality, turned his face away sharply, and scolded, "How could a young lady like you do such a scandalous thing! If word gets out..."
Chu Tong chuckled and said, "If you don't tell, and I don't tell, who will spread this around? Besides, you're still my husband. It's only natural for me to hold my husband for warmth." After saying that, she moved in Yun Yinghuai's arms and felt the body in front of her getting hotter and hotter. Chu Tong looked up and saw Yun Yinghuai with his eyes closed, head down, not saying a word. His face was so red that it looked like it could bleed, his thick eyelashes were still trembling slightly, and his lips were tightly pursed into a line.
Chu Tong blinked her big eyes and said, "Yun Yinghuai, are you shy?"
Yun Yinghuai snorted and said, "If you want to keep warm, then keep warm. Don't keep fidgeting. Why all the fuss?"
Chu Tong muttered to herself, trying to comfort Yun Yinghuai: "Yun Yinghuai, don't be shy. Buddha said that all beings are equal. Men and women, women and men, are just a stinking carcass. Don't be too concerned about the difference between men and women. Besides, you are saving a life. Buddha also said that saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Now is a good opportunity for you to do good and save a life. I've delivered this opportunity to you to build a seven-story pagoda. In the future, you will accumulate good karma and receive benefits because of this. You should thank me."
Yun Yinghuai was stunned for a moment after hearing these words, then turned to laughter and tears, coldly saying, "So, you're saying that after you immobilized my pressure points and stripped me of my clothes, I should thank you? How could a young lady like you casually strip another man of his clothes, and, and, and then, hold him naked, hold him..."
Chu Tong pouted and said, "Yun Yinghuai, I'm still wearing a bellyband, I'm not naked."
Yun Yinghuai swallowed hard at those words. He had probably never been so embarrassed and disheveled since he began his journey in the martial world. He was about to reprimand Chu Tong when he noticed her body trembling slightly. He thought to himself, "My internal organs are damaged, and I can't gather my inner strength. Otherwise, I could have channeled my inner strength into that little girl's body to help her dispel the cold." Thinking of this, he frowned and muttered to himself, "Damn it, this little rascal is so shameless, utterly dissolute and shameless. How could I possibly think of healing her!"
At that moment, he felt Chu Tong nuzzle against him and say in a very soft voice, "Besides, you, you're not 'just any man'..."
Upon hearing this, Yun Yinghuai's heart skipped a beat, followed by a thumping in his chest. It took him a while to regain his composure, and he coughed lightly before turning his head away.
Both of them were silent for a moment, when Chu Tong suddenly heard Yun Yinghuai say, "I know there's a kill order for you in the martial arts world. You... do you want me to avenge you and kill Xie Linghui?"
Chu Tong was stunned by these words, a strange feeling welling up inside her. She sighed and said, "I don't consider myself a very kind person, but I remember everyone who has done me a good thing. I stayed in the Xie family for four years, and Xie Linghui always treated me very well. He even said he wanted to marry me, so naturally I couldn't stand idly by when the Xie family was in trouble. But then the truth came out, and Xie Linghui wanted to kill me, determined to put me to death, and even married someone else... I really hate him. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and wish I could tear him to pieces. But later I realized that whether I hate him or not, whether I'm sad or not, it's all the same." "It's in my own hands. He's probably enjoying himself with his beautiful wife right now. No matter how much I wail and scream, it's all for my own benefit. Killing him now wouldn't do me any good. Besides, he's from a prestigious family in the Great Zhou Dynasty, surrounded by countless experts protecting him. If I fail to kill him and end up losing more, wouldn't that be a complete loss?" She chuckled softly, "I initially wanted to kill him, but now I don't! My original name was 'Danxing,' and he gave me the name 'Chutong.' From now on, I'll use the name 'Chutong' to make my way in the world and show him what I'm made of!"
Yun Yinghuai was stunned by these words, and sighed inwardly, "This little girl does have some of the qualities of a husband. She's young, but clever and quick-witted. Her actions may seem chaotic, but they reveal a calm and ruthless side. She's quite a character!" At this moment, Chu Tong said smugly, "I've gone through eighty-one tribulations on my journey, more thrilling than Tang Sanzang's journey to the West. Everyone says that those who survive great calamities are destined for good fortune, and I've accumulated quite a bit of good fortune. My luck will surely turn around in the future. Yun Yinghuai, you've treated me so well. Once I've achieved great success, we'll share wealth and luxury, and your so-called sect leader position won't matter. We can just quit."
Upon hearing this, Yun Yinghuai was both amused and exasperated, bursting into laughter and saying, "Fine, fine, I'll be waiting for you to rise to prominence!"
Chu Tong knew Yun Yinghuai didn't believe her, so she pouted and thought, "When I find out the secret of the double boxes and become richer than a country, you'll know that what I said is absolutely true, and I'm definitely not joking." She looked up at Yun Yinghuai's smiling face and was stunned for a moment, thinking, "So he looks so handsome when he smiles! This smile is really dazzling! It's a pity that Yun Yinghuai always has a stern face. If only he could always smile at me."
Yun Yinghuai kept his eyes closed, unaware of Chu Tong's childish thoughts. While secretly channeling his inner energy to open his acupoints, he casually remarked, "Were those few lines you sang in the water cave a folk song from Nanhua? They were quite melodious."
Chu Tong shook her head and smiled: "It's not a tune from Nanhuai, it's a tune from the capital of the Great Zhou." After saying that, she softly sang: "A small boat, purple dogwood and yellow chrysanthemums, wild geese flying in formation. The misty waters are vast, where is my hometown? The wispy clouds roll and unroll, I drink wine and sing a sad song. Let me be carefree and unrestrained, and wear plum blossoms in my hair, and go home to get drunk in the sunset."
The song was melodious, yet tinged with a faint sorrow. Yun Yinghuai closed his eyes and remained silent after listening. After a long while, he whispered, "You...you don't have to be sad. Even if we can't return to Da Zhou, you can come with me to Nan Yan. I can protect you and you won't have to live in fear anymore."
Chu Tong was startled, feeling a surge of warmth welling up inside her. She sat up, her star-like eyes gazing at Yun Yinghuai's handsome face. Yun Yinghuai, puzzled by Chu Tong's silence, opened his eyes to find Chu Tong smiling and staring at him. He was momentarily stunned.
A gentle mountain breeze rustled, and a bright moon hung in the sky. Suddenly, Chu Tong leaned in, wrapped her arms around Yun Yinghuai's shoulders, and pressed her red lips to his. Yun Yinghuai was startled. He had just broken free of his acupoints and reached out to push Chu Tong away, but the delicate fragrance emanating from the girl filled his nostrils. His mind went blank, and his arms, which had initially been pushing her away, inexplicably tightened around her slender waist, and he kissed her deeply.
As their lips intertwined, Chu Tong nestled against Yun Yinghuai's chest, inhaling the faint musky scent emanating from him, feeling her body go weak. She didn't know how much time had passed before the kiss ended. Chu Tong stared blankly into Yun Yinghuai's deep, dark eyes. Then, she realized what had happened; her ears burned as if they were on fire. She struggled a few times but couldn't break free from Yun Yinghuai's arms. Looking at Yun Yinghuai's handsome features, her head slumped, and she fainted, leaning against his shoulder.
In a hazy state, Chu Tong felt someone pry open her mouth and force-feed her a very bitter medicine. She felt nauseous all over and had no choice but to submit. When she woke up again, it was already bright daylight. Chu Tong was lying on a soft clump of dry grass, and the clothes covering her were completely dry. She felt much better after her nap. Just then, she smelled the aroma of roasting meat from not far away. She quickly got up and looked around. She saw a fire burning in front of her, with two roasted wild rabbits on it. Yun Yinghuai sat by the fire, turning the roasted rabbits over and over. He glanced at Chu Tong indifferently, his face slightly red, but his expression remained very calm as he simply lowered his head.
Chu Tong's face flushed, and she quickly got up, put on her clothes, and tied up her disheveled long hair before sitting by the fire. Yun Yinghuai looked up and handed her a wild rabbit skewered on a twig. Chu Tong took it and took a few bites, occasionally stealing glances at Yun Yinghuai's expression. The two ate in silence, and then Chu Tong followed Yun Yinghuai to survey the surroundings.
The two of them were in a valley in Tianyu Mountain. Although the valley was shrouded in miasma and poisonous fog, the green trees and red flowers within were a thriving scene. Yun Yinghuai remained silent the whole way. Chu Tong, who had just recovered from a serious illness, felt weak all over after walking for a while, but she gritted her teeth and endured it, following behind Yun Yinghuai. Yun Yinghuai glanced at Chu Tong out of the corner of his eye without saying a word. Suddenly, he stopped, then squatted down and said to Chu Tong, "If you're tired, you can lie down on my back." Chu Tong was taken aback, and a surge of joy welled up in her heart. She lay on Yun Yinghuai's back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and a deep smile appeared on her lips.
The two walked on for a while longer, when they heard the roar of a waterfall. Chu Tong looked closely and realized they had returned to the waterfall where they had fallen. Chu Tong couldn't help but gasp in amazement, thinking that they had walked for an hour, which showed just how big and winding the water cave must be. Luckily, they had found an opening and climbed out; otherwise, they would have been trapped and died inside. The waterfall looked magnificent in the daytime, like a silver river poured from the heavens, with pearls and jade splashing and spraying up layers of mist.