Chapter 24: This is Your Doing

Yue Li was in a pleasant mood. 

She was no longer rushing her journey day and night, and she even found the inclination to improve their meals.

Three meals a day were no longer just beast meat; she added roasted mushrooms, vegetables, and wild fruits to the menu.

“Hey, this is a Shasha Fruit. The flesh is sweet, plump, and juicy. Lian’er, give it a try.”

Yue Li found a plump, ruby-red fruit and handed it to Xing Lian.

Xing Lian lowered her head and sniffed. 

A pleasant fruity aroma filled her nose, and her mouth immediately watered.

However, the fruit was too large, requiring two hands to hold. 

The size of the fruit reminded her of Fei.

Back when the two first met, Fei had also given her a fruit to eat, but there had been something wrong with that one.

‘My body felt hot after eating it, leaving me with no strength to resist. Could this fruit be the same?’

‘No, probably not.’

‘I don’t have the strength to resist her anyway. If she wanted to do something, she wouldn’t need a trick like this.’

Xing Lian opened her mouth and took a deep bite, leaving a tiny mark on the fruit.

“Pfft…”

Yue Li wanted to laugh at the sight but did not dare, fearing she would hurt the little one’s pride.

Xing Lian’s cheeks puffed out. 

She took several angry bites in a row before finally getting the sweet flesh into her mouth.

‘Delicious, it really is delicious!’

The corners of Xing Lian’s mouth curved upward, and her eyes curved into crescents.

‘Such a little glutton.’

Having spent a few days with Xing Lian, Yue Li had long since discovered that the girl had no resistance to delicious food.

Yue Li thought to herself.

‘If I want to win the little one’s heart, it seems I need to put more effort into the food. As long as I capture her stomach, I won’t have to worry about capturing her heart.’

But that would have to wait for later. 

For now, the most important thing was something else.

“How did you meet her?”

It was obvious who Yue Li meant by “her.”

As the saying goes, if you know yourself and your enemy, you will never be defeated. 

It was more important to understand their past than to bring up old news that might stir Xing Lian’s longing for Fei.

“She…”

Xing Lian stopped gnawing on the fruit and lowered her head, biting her lip.

She did not want to talk about it, yet Yue Li kept pressing her.

Xing Lian did not feel like talking, but Yue Li was relentless. 

She could only pick and choose a few details to share.

Yue Li wore a look of disdain after listening.

‘I thought they had known each other for a long time, but it has only been a few months. That fellow Fei is completely deceiving a pure young girl.’

‘If it were me, the result would definitely be the same. No, I would certainly be better than her and make the little one absolutely devoted to me.’

***

Knowing their past, Yue Li became even more confident in her plan.

After a few more days of travel to ensure Fei could never find them again, she would find a place for them to settle down. 

Then, she could focus on winning her over in peace.

However, an event occurred that disrupted her plans once more.

Three days later.

Yue Li was traveling with Xing Lian.

Seeing that it was getting late and the sun was sinking in the west, Yue Li began to look for a place to spend the night.

However, luck was not on her side today, as she could not find a Mountain Cave.

Yue Li was not worried about this. 

Since there was no cave, she would simply make one herself.

She returned to her original form and struck out dozens of times. 

The rock crumbled like tofu, and before long, a simple Mountain Cave was hollowed out.

After clearing the rubble, Yue Li gathered some dry firewood to start a fire and began roasting meat.

The meat was ready soon after.

Xing Lian sat to the side after finishing the roasted meat.

Yue Li also ate her dinner.

After tidying up a bit, she held the girl and closed her eyes to sleep.

This should have been an ordinary night, but it was not long before the weather changed abruptly. 

Dark clouds blanketed the sky, and heavy snow began to flutter down.

Xing Lian was startled awake from her dream.

“What is going on? Why did it suddenly become so cold?”

She was next to a fire and pressed close to Yue Li. 

The previous nights had passed without incident, but today was different.

The temperature dropped sharply, and the fire was simply of no use. 

She could not bear it, and her body began to shiver.

Yue Li was awakened by her movements and looked at her with concern.

“Little Lian? What is wrong?”

Her physical constitution was incredibly strong. 

A slight change in temperature had no effect on her at all; she could not even feel it.

“Cold, so cold.”

Xing Lian was so cold that even her teeth were chattering.

“Cold?”

Yue Li closed her eyes to sense it.

The temperature did indeed seem to have dropped a bit. 

Looking around, she realized it was snowing.

She did not care about a slight drop in temperature, but the little one could not handle it. 

Her body was too weak, so she had to take measures to keep her warm.

But what should she do?

She had left in a hurry and brought nothing with her.

Yue Li was a bit stumped.

‘Wait! There was actually a way.’

“Little Lian, we are in the middle of a desolate mountain range. I cannot make clothes appear, nor can I conjure a blanket. If you truly cannot stand the cold, how about you crawl into my arms?”

Although she had slept with Xing Lian several times and held her for many nights, she had been mindful of the girl’s feelings. 

The two had not embraced tightly; they had only been loosely pressed together.

If they were close and huddled together, the situation would improve.

‘This…’

Xing Lian showed a look of hesitation.

She did not want to be too close to Yue Li, but if she did not let the woman hold her, how would she survive the night?

The cold wind whistled, and the snow was getting heavier. 

It would be bad if she fell ill.

Forget it; there was no other way. 

Compared to her life, letting her hold her for a bit was no big deal.

Xing Lian did not speak but silently leaned closer.

Yue Li knew her choice from her small movements, and the corners of her mouth could not help but curl up slightly.

‘This sudden heavy snow is truly a perfect assist. If it were not for this snow, I do not know how long it would have taken before I could hold this beauty.’

She was very excited in her heart, but she did not let it show on her face.

Yue Li put her arm around Xing Lian’s waist and held her tightly in her arms.

Xing Lian’s body was petite, while Yue Li was a full size larger than her, so she could protect her entire body.

With the addition of Yue Li’s body heat, Xing Lian felt less cold. 

However, this night was destined to be eventful.

The first half of the night was fine, but when the latter half of the night arrived, both rain and snow fell, and the temperature dropped yet again.

Xing Lian, who was already asleep, frowned and could not help but shift around.

“Ugh, cold… so cold… how can it be so cold?”

Xing Lian was already dazed by the cold. 

Her body twisted and turned as she tried to get closer to Yue Li to absorb her body heat.

“Stop moving.”

Yue Li was starting to find it unbearable. 

She already liked the little one, but she had been enduring it because she wanted to win her heart. 

However, the little one kept moving around, making it difficult for her to keep her composure.

However, not only did Xing Lian not heed her warning, she continued to fan the flames.

“Mmm, warm… it is warm here… I want…”

In Yue Li’s plan, now was not the best time to possess the little one. 

But Xing Lian kept teasing her, and as a normal woman, she truly could not take it anymore.

“This is your doing; do not blame me.”

Yue Li’s eyes turned red, and she lowered her head without another thought.

***

When Xing Lian regained consciousness once more, it was already the next day.

She opened her eyes dazedly and tried to push herself up with her hands. 

But just as she was halfway up, a sudden wave of soreness and pain came from her waist.