Brick and stone were piled around a campfire, supporting a pot where a thick, white mushroom soup simmered.
The youth in white sat by the soup, watching the bubbles rise, then turned his head to look at the two girls sleeping on a nearby stone ledge.
On the left lay Luo Qianning, with her cherry-white ponytail and fallen-red dress, looking adorable in her sleep.
She was He Qiu’s Senior Sister, the one who had appeared just in time the night before to save his life.
To He Qiu, she was the first girl in this world to whom he owed a debt of life.
Although he hadn’t said much in the way of gratitude, he remembered the image of her protecting him vividly; he would repay her sooner or later.
Beneath his stoic exterior, He Qiu was a man of deep loyalty.
To the right of Luo Qianning lay a girl He Qiu had rescued last night.
Though she appeared to be a commoner, her face was exquisite and her figure shapely.
Her long, deep-purple hair spilled across the ground.
Beneath her light-colored dress, bandages were faintly visible on her snowy-white thighs.
She seemed to have a leg injury that made walking difficult, but because she had been standing and covered by her black skirt during their previous encounter, no one had noticed.
She was barefoot, her tender, white feet exposed to He Qiu’s gaze.
He Qiu still didn’t know her name.
Regardless, this purple-haired girl was now his maidservant.
He had stayed awake all night on watch, gathering wild edible mushrooms to prepare breakfast for his Senior Sister and his maid.
Outside the cave, dawn was breaking.
“The hour is late…”
He Qiu stood up, deciding it was time to wake them.
Approaching them, He Qiu found the sight of the purple-haired girl’s long, exposed white legs a bit distracting.
He sighed helplessly and reached out to pull her skirt down, covering the bandages on her upper thighs.
Then, clearing his throat, he spoke:
“Senior Sister Qianning, Miss, it’s time to wake up.”
“Mmm…”
Luo Qianning sat up from the stone ledge and stretched, blinking as she looked at the youth’s profile against the morning light.
After a moment, her eyes curved into crescents.
“Heehee~ our Little Junior Brother is so handsome even early in the morning~”
She giggled foolishly, sitting in a “duck sit” position on the stone, reaching out to pinch and knead He Qiu’s cheeks.
He Qiu: ?
Senior Sister, what is this?
Is she still dreaming, or is she starting to flirt this early in the morning?
Though He Qiu didn’t necessarily enjoy having his face touched by girls, he didn’t dislike it either—especially since Luo Qianning had saved his life.
He didn’t pull away; instead, he stood there like a submissive doll, letting her poke and prod his face.
If she likes touching it, let her touch it…
Nearby, Zi Mengshan woke up in a daze.
She had been exhausted the night before, eventually falling unconscious in He Qiu’s arms.
Upon opening her eyes, she saw the cherry-white-haired girl smiling like a fangirl while the youth in white stood there with an indifferent expression.
The girl was touching the boy’s face as if mesmerized by its texture, her eyes reflecting his handsome features.
However, the youth didn’t seem to be enjoying it; his gaze was cold and devoid of desire, treating the face-touching as if it were merely a job requirement.
What’s going on here?
Zi Mengshan rubbed her eyes.
She vaguely remembered this girl appearing suddenly last night, displaying extraordinary power to force back all the demonic cultivators alone.
She was clearly not someone to be trifled with.
Right, they are disciples of the same sect.
I see, are they lovers?
That would explain the intimacy…
Zi Mengshan swallowed nervously, placing even more importance on the youth’s status.
To be loved by a girl of such talent and cultivation—and to have his face kneaded in front of others—he certainly wasn’t ordinary.
It seemed she had latched onto a truly “golden thigh.”
As she plotted how to escape the clutches of these righteous cultivators, He Qiu turned his head.
“You’re awake,” he said, checking on her condition.
“How are you? Still tired?”
His tone was gentle, like a drifting morning cloud, natural and calm.
Hearing his concern, Zi Mengshan recalled leaning into his chest the night before, her heart racing.
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and nodded.
“Much better. Thank you for taking care of me, Young Hero Brother.”
“My name is He Qiu. You can just call me by my name from now on.”
“Oh, that wouldn’t do… This humble girl is just your maid. I should call you Master He!”
Zi Mengshan slipped into her role with incredible speed, her every expression portraying a sense of cautious lowliness.
She was very used to adapting to her environment.
Before her father became the Demon Sovereign, she wasn’t a princess; having experienced both “lowly” and “noble” statuses, she had developed a “thousand-faced” personality to survive, though it had left her with a chronic condition of being easily agitated.
This was exactly why she could discard her royal dignity and beg He Qiu for shelter the night before.
“Call me Master if you wish,” He Qiu didn’t argue.
He moved on to a more pressing question: “I still don’t know your name.”
He Qiu watched her closely, observing every flicker of her reaction.
Zi Mengshan paused for a second before lowering her head.
“Li Mengxin. Master He may call me Meng’er.”
“Meng’er. It’s a nice name.”
He Qiu nodded and said no more.
He turned back to find Senior Sister Qianning had leaned into his arms and fallen back asleep.
He Qiu raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit speechless.
His Senior Sister’s first act upon “waking” was to pinch his face and giggle, only to fall back asleep against him.
What is this?
So lazy…
Will she ever fully wake up?
He felt that if he didn’t wake her, she could be carried off to a ditch and never know it.
Aside from being cool in critical moments, she was usually quite unreliable.
He propped her up and gave the soft flesh of her waist a little pinch.
“Senior Sister Qianning, time to get up.”
“Ah—!”
The slight sting at her side startled her awake.
This time, she was truly conscious.
In truth, she hadn’t been fully awake before; she thought she was still dreaming, which is why she had been so bold with his face.
Now, staring at a deadpan He Qiu, a wave of immense shame washed over her.
She could only make small, embarrassed noises: “Uh… ah… woo…”
He Qiu sighed.
“Senior Sister, good morning.”
“Ah, good… good morning, Junior Brother He Qiu.”
The memories of her “dream” became clear in her mind, leaving her in a state of half-awake embarrassment.
He Qiu rubbed his temples, worried for her future.
He pointed toward the cave entrance.
“Outside, twenty meters to the left, there is a stream where you both can wash your faces. Also, breakfast is ready. I made mushroom soup; have some if you have an appetite.”
Luo Qianning: “Ah, mm-hmm.”
Meng’er: Master He is so reliable…