Chapter 23: Plans Can’t Keep Up with Changes

After seeing Xing Lian, Yue Li had been unable to wait to snatch her away, wanting to immediately leave the forest for a place where Fei would never find them again.

In Yue Li’s plan, she would run for three days and three nights, enough to cover thousands of miles, so she could thoroughly rid herself of that person.

However, plans could not keep up with changes.

If it were just her alone, running for three days and three nights would be nothing, but with Xing Lian, the situation was completely different.

The little thing’s body was truly too weak; after running for less than one hour, the jolting had already made her dizzy, and her face had turned a frightening shade of white.

“Are you okay?” Yue Li asked with concern.

“I — “

Before she could finish her sentence, Xing Lian collapsed.

Fortunately, Yue Li had been watching her closely and caught her in time; otherwise, she would have certainly tumbled to the ground.

After supporting Xing Lian and seeing her deathly pale face, Yue Li desperately wanted to complain.

‘I’ve seen frail girls before, but never one this frail. She didn’t even have to walk herself, yet she’s this exhausted. If I let her run for one hour, wouldn’t she drop dead from exhaustion?’

Having Xing Lian with her brought more than just that trouble.

As the sky darkened and the temperature gradually dropped, Xing Lian shivered from the cold. 

For the sake of the girl’s health, Yue Li had to find a place to stop, build a fire, and rest.

“Are you okay?”

Hearing her ask again, Xing Lian couldn’t help herself.

“Do I look like I’m okay?”

Xing Lian was about to die of anger.

‘I could have been in a warm room, comfortably tucked under a blanket and sleeping soundly, but now I’ve been kidnapped.’

‘Poor food, poor clothes, and the risk of meeting my end at any moment. All of this is thanks to her.’ Xing Lian’s heart was full of resentment.

“But this is how I traveled yesterday?” Yue Li said with an innocent look.

“You still dare to say that.”

Xing Lian took a deep breath. 

Just thinking about it now made her feel afraid.

The day before yesterday, Yue Li had kidnapped her and traveled all night and day to avoid being caught by Fei.

‘I was unconscious for an entire day and somehow didn’t freeze to death, nor did I catch a cold or fever. It’s truly a miracle.’

‘There are no villages or shops around here. If I suddenly developed a fever, the possibility of dying is very high.’

“I just didn’t think of that.” Yue Li knew she was in the wrong and lowered her head, murmuring.

‘I really didn’t expect someone’s body to be this poor.’

With Xing Lian in tow, it was impossible to travel quickly, and there was always the risk of being caught, which made Yue Li feel very uneasy.

But even so, she had no intention of speeding up the journey.

The reason she fled was not because she feared Fei, but for Xing Lian’s sake.

‘If I hurt her because of the journey, wouldn’t that be putting the cart before the horse?’

‘Xing Lian’s body is far more important than the travel.’

Yue Li added a branch to the fire and rotated the roasted meat in her hand.

A moment later, the meat was done. 

She let it cool down before handing it to Xing Lian.

Xing Lian was not polite; she took the meat and started eating. 

After finishing, she was at a loss for what to do.

‘My mouth and hands are covered in oil. How am I supposed to sleep like this?’

Noticing Xing Lian’s predicament, Yue Li laughed softly. 

She took out a handkerchief, dampened it with water from a flask, and wiped the girl’s mouth and hands.

Being served by Yue Li, Xing Lian felt both shy and angry.

However, she soon stopped caring about such a small matter and felt anxious about something else.

‘It’s already dark. After eating and drinking my fill, I feel very sleepy and want to sleep. But with Yue Li by my side, how can I sleep? What if she gives in to her bestial desires and tries to pin me down?’

‘During my time with Fei, I gradually grew to like her, so I could barely accept being pinned down by her, but to be pinned down by Yue Li… No! Such a thing is absolutely unacceptable!’

Xing Lian felt afraid just thinking about it, and her body couldn’t help but tense up.

Yue Li didn’t know what Xing Lian was thinking, but she did indeed want to pin her down.

‘The little thing is so fragrant and soft, and her looks are so much to my liking. It’s impossible not to want to take her.’

But since they were not familiar yet, and she had decided to use a gentle approach, she would not do anything to lose favor.

“Are you full? If you’re full, let’s sleep.” Yue Li spoke while picking up Xing Lian, walking to a corner of the mountain cave to lie down.

The ground had been swept clean and was covered with dry straw, making it just barely possible to sleep for a night.

Xing Lian was not a pampered person and had no objection to this, but Yue Li’s presence made her extremely uneasy.

‘Will she make a move on me? What if she forces herself on me?’

Xing Lian’s heart was in turmoil as she prepared to resist at any time.

But one minute passed, five minutes, ten minutes, half an hour…

She still hadn’t moved.

Xing Lian’s health was poor, and she gradually lost the energy to remain vigilant.

‘So sleepy… I want to sleep so much.’

Her eyelids gradually became heavy, and Xing Lian slowly closed her eyes, entering dreamland a short while later.

By the faint light of the fire, Yue Li looked down at the little thing in her arms.

The flames flickered, casting shadows on the little thing’s face. 

Her youthful, peerless face was breathtakingly beautiful against the firelight.

Seeing her fan-like, slightly curled eyelashes, her delicate little nose, and her slightly parted, pink cherry lips, Yue Li endured and endured, but in the end, she couldn’t help it. 

She lowered her head and gently kissed her lips.

‘So fragrant, so soft, so sweet…’

Just as she had imagined, the taste was incredibly wonderful. 

Having had a taste of the sweetness, Yue Li was desperate for more.

However…

‘No, I can’t!’

Thinking of her previous decision, she used immense willpower to lift her head, turning away so as not to look at her while panting heavily.

***

When Xing Lian regained consciousness again, she felt a wave of warmth.

She was very familiar with this warmth—sunlight, warm sunlight.

‘It seems today is a sunny day.’

Opening her eyes slowly, Xing Lian thought to herself.

“You’re awake.”

Yue Li was sitting by the fire, roasting today’s breakfast. 

Noticing the movement behind her, she turned her head and greeted her with a smile.

Xing Lian ignored her, her brows furrowing slightly.

‘My body is a bit itchy; it feels somewhat uncomfortable.’

This body was very sensitive; even a slight touch could leave a very obvious mark.

Before, when living with Fei, she had been taken care of meticulously and could bathe every day. 

Now, she hadn’t bathed for three days, which made her feel very uncomfortable.

However, she couldn’t say it even if she felt bad.

‘If I say it, this woman will definitely help me wash, and I don’t want to be seen and touched by her.’

Yue Li didn’t mind Xing Lian’s coldness and focused on roasting the beast meat.

Once the meat was roasted, the two shared it and then continued their journey.

Stopping and starting along the way, Yue Li felt very anxious, worried about being caught by Fei.

Xing Lian had been praying in her heart, hoping that Fei could find her and rescue her from the clutches of this demon.

But she was disappointed. 

After traveling for three days straight, there was no sign of her at all.

Xing Lian knew clearly that as time passed, the possibility of being found decreased. 

Her mood became increasingly despondent.

Yue Li, on the other hand, was the opposite.

‘The world is so big; even I don’t know where I’m going, so it’s even more impossible for Fei. After another few days of travel, it will be impossible for Fei to ever find her again in this lifetime.’