In his memory.
He had once discovered a natural hot spring in a secluded mountain valley while hunting for the eggs of a rare Gu bug.
The environment was hidden, the water was clear, and the temperature was just right.
He first took off his own shoes, then dropped to one knee. Without a word of explanation, he lifted Chai Xiaomi's feet and removed her shoes and socks as well.
Then, he pulled her into his arms, concentrated, and began to drive his intent—
Chai Xiaomi was stunned for a few seconds before she realized what was happening, and suddenly threw a temper tantrum.
Like a cat with its fur standing on end, she pushed and shoved, trying to break free from his embrace.
Why are you taking off my shoes and socks? Don't touch me, and don't hold me! Chai Xiaomi tried to swat his hands away, biting her lower lip tightly. Didn't you say I was just paying lip service? Fine, fine, so everything I've said—achoo!—you just took as lies.
I've really been casting pearls before swine! Everything I—achoo!—said before, I take it all back! It's all—achoo!—void!
The surrounding environment had already begun to blur and shift.
Chai Xiaomi remained completely unaware.
Wu Li acted as if he hadn't heard her. His arm firmly circled her waist, hoisting her up a bit higher. Don't push me away. Put your arms around my neck.
Heh, who do you think you are? Chai Xiaomi struggled. Why should I listen to whatever you say?
Because I am the person you like the most.
You're overthinking it. I don't like you. Goodbye!
Wu Li's face suddenly turned pale, and a fine layer of cold sweat seeped from his forehead.
...Stop talking.
I will say it! Sensing that his strength had suddenly slackened for some unknown reason, Chai Xiaomi took the opportunity to push him away, continuing angrily, I don't like—glub glub glub...
Her last word turned into a panicked string of bubbles, rising from the bottom of the pool and wobbling to the surface.
They were then popped by the young man's hand as it swiftly plunged into the water.
He scooped the endlessly chattering little girl right out of the water.
Chai Xiaomi's whole body was immersed in the warm spring water, her freezing body instantly enveloped by the warmth.
Except she nearly choked to death.
Cough, cough, cough...
This time, without needing Wu Li's reminder, she consciously wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, hanging onto him like a frightened sloth.
Bad guy! Changing maps without even giving a heads-up!
She fiercely accused, Are you trying to murder me? Cough, cough...
Wu Li supported her as he slowly walked to the edge of the pool. Leaning against the rocky bank, he gently lifted the person in his arms a bit higher so she could comfortably rest against his shoulders. I told you to hold onto my neck. It's your own fault for not listening.
The clear, crisp end of his sentence rose slightly, as if silently declaring: See? Isn't this what happens when you don't listen to me?
The dirt was completely washed away by the hot spring water.
Glistening water droplets clung to the young girl's fair cheeks. Messy strands of hair stuck to her forehead, and a few plump water drops hung from her soft, thick eyelashes. As she trembled slightly from coughing, they fell one after another.
During her earlier struggle, the man's outer robe draped over her had long since slipped off and sunk to the bottom of the pool.
Only then did Chai Xiaomi realize they were in a secluded mountain valley.
Surrounded by rocky cliffs, there was a natural opening overhead. Clear moonlight poured down entirely onto the surface of the pool, sparkling on the rippling water amidst the curling mist, making it look like a wonderland.
The edge of the pool was covered in unknown wildflowers, giving off a hazy halo in the moonlight. At first glance, it felt like stumbling into some secret fairy tale realm.
If you're so capable, you shouldn't have saved me.
She raised her wet, almond-shaped eyes, crashing right into his gaze. Her tone was arrogant and petulant, yet her voice carried an unconscious, delicate softness.
Chai Xiaomi thought to herself that while this water level was just right for Wu Li, she couldn't reach the bottom.
But it didn't matter. Even if he let go right now, she knew how to swim. She was only in such a sorry state just now because she had been completely unprepared.
But Wu Li didn't let go.
Nor did he have any intention of throwing her back into the water.
She raised a hand to brush away a wet strand of hair stuck to her eyelashes, only to see his eyelashes lowered, staring blankly at her long hair floating on the surface of the water.
Her hair bun had long since come undone, and her silk-like black hair spread out across the pool, gently rippling with the water.
Amidst the swirling white mist, the young man's deep eyes seemed to harbor a surging tide.
His lips moved slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing as he conceded defeat in a hoarse voice: I'm not capable.
You win, okay?
His voice was low, melting into the water vapor.
Chai Xiaomi lowered her eyes and looked at him for a moment. The Twin Love Gu that the Plantain Demon had mentioned suddenly popped into her mind again.
How are you not capable? She suddenly gave a light snort. Perhaps because she had just nearly died, she no longer had any scruples and decided to just lay it all bare. You're clearly very capable. To achieve your ulterior motives, you don't hesitate to take extreme measures and dabble in crooked paths, right?
As her words fell.
Wu Li's body suddenly stiffened, as if nailed to the spot by invisible spikes.
For a long time, there was no movement.
Chai Xiaomi narrowed her eyes and leaned closer to him. Tell me, why exactly are you raising the Twin Love Gu? What are you plotting?
A peony grew right at the opening of the mountain valley above. The mist rising from the warm pool in the secluded valley condensed into fine water droplets on its petals, slowly gathering into a heavy drop of water.
The petal could no longer hold it, letting it plummet straight down and smash into the center of the pool.
With a soft plop, it shattered the pool of silent moonlight.
The young man finally moved.
Those heterochromatic eyes lifted extremely slowly, like pushing open a door leading into the dark night.
His chest felt as if it were tightly stuffed, pressed, and bound by something, so tight that he couldn't even catch his breath.
The color of his eyes was as deep as the silent night, yet in their depths, it seemed as though a dark beast lay dormant, awakening inch by inch.
...You know everything?
The fragmented light on the pool's surface flickered across his brows and eyes, brightening and dimming, obscure and hard to read.
A subtle wriggling sensation came from the skin beneath his collar. Those eerie and beautiful totems seemed to come alive, silently slithering in the dark.
Chai Xiaomi didn't notice the terrifying waves surging in his eyes; she just followed her own train of thought. How did Sister Yao offend you? Why do you want to harm her like this?
—And harm yourself even more.
Although she didn't know who he planned to plant the other half of the love Gu on, forcibly binding two people who didn't love each other was detrimental to both others and himself.
In the original novel, not only did he fail to plant the love Gu, but in the end, he suffered a backlash from his own Gu power, earning himself a unique bad ending.
Don't you know that a trap carefully laid out step by step will ultimately only trap yourself?
She stared at him quietly.
In the dense water mist, his eyelashes were wet, drooping heavily like raven feathers wilted by the rain.
The outer corners of his eyes naturally tilted upwards, the curve carrying a hint of seductive charm, but right now, the shadows of his drooping eyelashes gave off an almost fragile weariness.
It inexplicably created an extreme contrast of being both innocent and alluring.
She couldn't help but lean in a little closer, wanting to look deep into his pupils.
The arm hooked around the back of his neck slowly tightened.
The tip of her nose touched his.
The ripples spreading across the pool water acted like tiny waves, gently pushing her hair to tangle around the side of his neck, catching on the cold, layered silver collar, and finally resting against his collarbone, as if merging with the eerie, beautiful totems slithering beneath his skin.
Lili, give it up, she breathed softly, so close that she was almost kissing his lips. Stop holding onto this, okay?
"Stop trying to plant the love Gu in Sister Yao. You've approached her with bad intentions time and time again. Do you really have to plant this Gu?"
"If worse comes to worst... just plant both halves of the twin love Gu in me. You've nurtured them for so long, we can't just let them go to waste."
I love myself, and myself loves me. How wonderful.
By planting them both in her own body, she was guaranteed a surefire win without losing a thing.
