?
Yuan Shu froze for a moment, thinking she had heard wrong, and turned to look at Zhai Shuo.
Zhai Shuo felt a little embarrassed under her gaze, his eyes darting away as he turned his face slightly to the side.
"Seventh Junior Sister, I didn't mean to offend you. It's just that demonic beasts are truly rare in this place, and finding a mount won't be easy..."
Zhai Shuo knew his words just now were far too presumptuous, but he genuinely felt it was a great solution.
He absolutely wouldn't make Yuan Shu uncomfortable; he would be much more attentive than those beastly creatures!
Naturally, Yuan Shu didn't miss the fleeting look of shyness and apprehension on Zhai Shuo's face.
With just one glance, a smile curled at the corners of Yuan Shu's lips. Had Zhai Shuo fallen for her?
It seemed her painstaking "care" for him earlier hadn't been in vain.
Yuan Shu's gaze fell on Zhai Shuo's towering height of over two meters, then shifted to his broad shoulders and muscles.
Mmm... she had felt them while helping him wash up. Very solid, sturdy arms.
When relaxed, his muscles were soft; sleeping against them would definitely be comfortable.
However, Zhai Shuo had just recently been injured, and then hurt again by that guy Lu Guichen's powerful oppressive aura.
After only a brief moment of thought, Yuan Shu shook her head. "That's not very appropriate."
The light that had sparked in Zhai Shuo's eyes instantly dimmed at her rejection.
His lips moved hesitantly. "It really isn't appropriate. It's bad for Seventh Junior Sister's reputation. I was being too rash."
"No!" Yuan Shu quickly raised a hand to explain. "That's not what I meant. I'm worried your body won't be able to handle it."
"Second Senior Brother, I'm very heavy. I'm afraid of exhausting you."
Zhai Shuo's gaze fell on Yuan Shu, sweeping up and down a few times before he slowly shook his head. "Seventh Junior Sister is so slender, how could it be exhausting?"
"Carrying you would be as effortless for me as you holding a little cat."
His tone was so earnest that, for a moment, Yuan Shu couldn't tell if he was exaggerating or telling the truth.
But looking at his exceptional height, compared to her, he really did seem like a giant who possessed immense strength.
"Are you serious?"
Yuan Shu blinked, taking two steps forward to stand right in front of Zhai Shuo.
"Of course!" Zhai Shuo nodded, his tone resolute.
Yuan Shu reached up to stroke her chin, tempted.
This was Second Senior Brother volunteering; she hadn't forced him!
Breaking into a wide grin, Yuan Shu opened her arms. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Second Senior Brother."
Zhai Shuo's previously dimmed eyes lit up. With almost no hesitation, he stepped forward and swept Yuan Shu up into his arms.
Yuan Shu naturally wrapped her arms around his neck.
A faint, delicate scent of pear blossoms wafted softly into his nose.
Zhai Shuo lowered his eyes, looking at Yuan Shu resting obediently against his chest, and in that instant, his heart felt completely full.
Not to mention that carrying her truly took no effort at all—even if it did, he would still be more than willing!
"Seventh Junior Sister, if you're tired, just lean on me and take a nap."
Yuan Shu nodded. "Thank you, Second Senior Brother. Oh, right, eat this."
As she spoke, keeping one arm hooked around his neck, she pinched a medicinal pill with her other hand and brought it to his lips.
Zhai Shuo recognized it. This was the spiritual healing medicine Yuan Shu had been feeding him for the past few days.
Although he didn't know what kind of medicine it was, every time he took it, he could feel an exceptionally clear surge of spiritual energy flowing through his body.
The injuries previously inflicted on him by the demons were slowly healing under the effects of this spiritual medicine.
After being oppressed by Lu Guichen's aura, Yuan Shu had fed him another pill.
It was originally supposed to be one pill a day, but this was now the second one today.
"Don't waste the spiritual medicine. I'm fine, I'm not tired."
Zhai Shuo could roughly guess that Yuan Shu was afraid he wouldn't have enough stamina.
But for this spiritual medicine to have such immediate effects, it had to be incredibly valuable.
He was already deeply grateful that it had saved his life. How could he demand more spiritual medicine just for carrying Yuan Shu?
Besides, he truly felt it was nothing.
Yuan Shu wasn't heavy!
"Does Second Senior Brother think the medicine I feed you by hand isn't good enough, so you refuse to eat it?"
Yuan Shu blinked, a wicked smile appearing on her face. Suddenly, holding onto his neck, she sat up straighter and leaned in close to him.
"Could it be that Second Senior Brother wants me to feed you the medicine using another method?"
The emerald-green pill was gently rolled between her tender, fair fingertips, the contrast between the white and green striking.
Zhai Shuo was momentarily dazzled by the cool whiteness of her hand and reflexively asked, "What method?"
Yuan Shu raised an eyebrow. She had originally just wanted to provoke Zhai Shuo into obediently taking his medicine.
She hadn't expected Second Senior Brother to be so ambitious.
Since that was the case, how could she back down?
The corners of Yuan Shu's lips curled into a wicked arc. Rolling the pill in her fair fingers, she brought it to her own lips.
Zhai Shuo was distracted for a moment. By the time he came back to his senses, he saw Yuan Shu placing the pill into her own mouth.
Before he could react, her breathtakingly beautiful face suddenly magnified in front of him!
The next moment, a touch of softness pressed against his lips.
The faint scent of pear blossoms was right there, lingering at his nose like intoxicating Huadiao wine, instantly making Zhai Shuo's blood rush as he froze in place.
He looked in disbelief at Yuan Shu, who was kissing him. His eyes widened slightly, and his Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.
It wasn't like that shallow kiss in the cave the other day.
Yuan Shu was truly kissing him!
She gently bit his lip bit by bit, then softly pried open his lips and teeth.
"Second Senior Brother, open your mouth."
Her soft, sweet voice, tinged with a hint of coquettishness, slipped into his ears. As if possessed, Zhai Shuo opened his mouth.
And then, the familiar scent of pear blossoms, accompanied by the clear, refreshing aroma of the medicinal pill, was passed over to him.
Zhai Shuo's eyes widened slightly. The arms holding Yuan Shu tightened uncontrollably, as if he wanted to knead her right into his body!
He felt her softness.
So small, so soft, working hard to push the melted medicinal liquid over.
His throat swallowed involuntarily, accepting everything Yuan Shu offered until all the medicinal liquid was completely consumed.
All that remained was that alluring scent of pear blossoms, curling and lingering faintly.
Yuan Shu's eyes curved in a smile. With her goal achieved, she prepared to retreat.
To her surprise, just as her lips pulled back a little, Zhai Shuo chased after her and captured them again.
Zhai Shuo's heart was beating incredibly fast.
He never expected that the "other method" Yuan Shu spoke of would be this kind of method!
Yuan Shu actually kissed him?
And in such a way!
Amidst his daze, there was only the instinctive rhythm of his throat, as if what she passed to him was sweet spring water, spiritual nectar, the finest jade dew.
He didn't dare waste a single drop!
He felt his once calm heart go completely crazy because of this kiss.
Therefore, when Yuan Shu leaned back to leave, his body moved a step ahead of his brain and followed her.
Imitating what Yuan Shu had just done, he gently bit her lip, carefully seeking her out.
Yuan Shu, however, seemed to be teasing him, crossing the line just a little before retreating again.
After repeating this a few times, Zhai Shuo could no longer hold back and forcefully invaded!
Zhai Shuo was tall and large; his arms and long legs were scaled up proportionately.
His chest alone seemed twice the size of Yuan Shu's.
Yet she hadn't expected this proportional enlargement to also apply to certain hidden places.
For a moment, even as a seasoned expert in romance, Yuan Shu found herself somewhat overwhelmed.
