Chapter 34: Her Gentleness
When Shen Shuanglian awoke, the sky had already darkened.
She opened her eyes groggily, then fully alert, her hand instinctively reaching out to where Chen Yin should be.
Seeing him still lying there, motionless, her heart calmed down.
She continued to stare at him for a while, her eyes slightly unfocused, lost in thought.
But before she could drift too far, a soft groan broke the silence. Chen Yin slowly opened his eyes.
“Chen Yin!”
Shen Shuanglian leaned in closer, her eyes filled with concern. “You’re finally awake?”
“S-Senior Sister…”
Chen Yin’s voice was weak as he squinted his eyes. After a long while, he spoke with difficulty, “W-where… are we?”
“Don’t talk yet, your injuries are still serious. I gave you a medicinal pill, but it will take some time for it to fully take effect.”
Chen Yin nodded weakly, struggling to sit up. Shen Shuanglian quickly helped him.
“Are you thirsty? I’ll get you some water.”
“It’s okay…”
Chen Yin rubbed his aching head, trying to recall what had happened. After a while, his expression shifted through various emotions as he turned to Shen Shuanglian with disbelief in his eyes:
“Senior Sister, are we… in the Heavenly Path Perilous Domain? Why… why did you jump off the cliff with me?”
Shen Shuanglian froze. Her long eyelashes lowered, and her lips moved slightly as she carefully chose her words.
“I… I couldn’t just abandon a fellow disciple.”
…Was that really the reason? Chen Yin was even more surprised.
But he maintained a regretful expression on his face and sighed. “Ah, I’m just an insignificant cultivator, how could I be worthy of Senior Sister accompanying me to such a dangerous place?”
Before he could finish, Shen Shuanglian interrupted him.
“You’re worthy.” She said seriously.
Chen Yin stared at her, speechless. Shen Shuanglian didn’t say anything more, just lowered her head.
The sound of a flowing stream could be heard outside the cave, and the distant roar of the waterfall echoed faintly.
The dim light in the dark cave illuminated half of Shen Shuanglian’s face. Her features, usually as flawless as a precious jade, were now covered in dust, but a faint blush could still be seen on her cheeks.
“Are you… really not hungry or thirsty?” Shen Shuanglian asked awkwardly, trying to change the subject. “Or if you’re feeling uncomfortable anywhere, please tell me.”
“There’s no need for Senior Sister to take care of me so meticulously. I’m not that delicate.”
Chen Yin scratched his head sheepishly. “And for Senior Sister to be taking care of me, I-I feel a little embarrassed…”
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” Shen Shuanglian shook her head calmly. “You’re injured and can’t take care of yourself. It’s only natural for me to look after you.”
Seeing her sincere expression, Chen Yin felt a surge of curiosity.
His Senior Sister’s obedient and attentive demeanor made him want to test her limits.
So, he coughed lightly and said, “Well… I am a little thirsty. My throat feels dry and uncomfortable—”
“I’ll get you some water right away.”
Without hesitation, Shen Shuanglian turned and left the cave. She returned shortly with a large loquat leaf filled with water.
“Drink this first. I’ll get you more if you need it.” She looked at Chen Yin carefully, her eyes shining.
After finishing the water in one gulp, Chen Yin sighed again. “I haven’t eaten anything all day. I wonder if there’s anything to eat around here—”
Once again, Shen Shuanglian left without a word. This time, she was gone a bit longer, but she returned within fifteen minutes, holding a wild rabbit.
“Wait a moment, I’ll roast it for you.”
Chen Yin watched as Shen Shuanglian clumsily started a fire and fumbled with the rabbit for a long time. She managed to skin it but seemed unsure of what to do next.
After a while, her face covered in rabbit blood, she turned to Chen Yin with a pitiful expression.
“I-I’m sorry… I don’t know how to do this…”
Chen Yin suppressed his amusement and said gently, “It’s okay, let me do it.”
“But… but you’re still weak, you shouldn’t move around too much—”
“It’s fine, I’m not completely immobilized. I can still roast a rabbit.”
Chen Yin got up and skillfully cleaned the rabbit, skewered the best parts, and started roasting them over the fire.
As if he felt something was missing, he left the cave and searched for a while. He returned with a pouch of small berries and, in front of Shen Shuanglian, crushed them into powder and sprinkled it on the rabbit meat.
“What’s that?”
“A kind of spice. You can just crush it and add it to food for flavor. It tastes very good.” Chen Yin explained.
Shen Shuanglian watched obediently from the side and said with admiration, “Do you… often do this?”
“Occasionally. Our Master often steals my private stash of money. Sometimes, when I’m broke and can’t afford to eat, I have to hunt for food in the mountains.”
Soon, the rabbit meat was glistening with golden oil, and sizzling sounds filled the air as fat dripped into the fire.
A rich aroma spread through the cave. Shen Shuanglian stared at the rabbit meat for a while, then suddenly blushed.
The cave was quiet, so Chen Yin clearly heard a loud grumbling sound from her stomach.
Shen Shuanglian: “…”
Chen Yin: “…It’s okay, it’s ready. Eat if you’re hungry.”
Shen Shuanglian nodded, picked up a skewer of roasted rabbit leg, and took a small bite.
The next moment, she frowned and stuck out her tongue, blowing on it rapidly.
“Hot…” She looked at Chen Yin with a pitiful expression.
Chen Yin couldn’t help but laugh.
Was this really the aloof and intimidating Frost Moon Sword Immortal?
“Then wait for it to cool down. Why are you in such a hurry?”
Shen Shuanglian pursed her lips, nodded, and blew on the meat with her red lips.
The flickering firelight illuminated her beautiful face, the flames dancing in her bright eyes.
Chen Yin propped his head up with his hand and stared at her quietly.
After taking a couple of bites, Shen Shuanglian’s face lit up with a surprised and happy expression. Suddenly realizing that Chen Yin was watching her, she quickly lowered her head shyly.
“Wh-why are you looking at me?”
“People always say how elegant and beautiful Frost Moon Sword Immortal is, a true celestial beauty.”
Chen Yin said with a smile, “I think Senior Sister is not only beautiful but also very cute.”
Shen Shuanglian choked and coughed violently, her face flushing crimson.
Seeing his usually cold and aloof Senior Sister blush so easily from a simple tease, Chen Yin almost felt bad for teasing her.
Realizing that Chen Yin was playing with her, Shen Shuanglian couldn’t help but pout slightly and turned away, silently eating her rabbit leg.
The fire flickered and dimmed, and night fell.
Shen Shuanglian went to the stream to wash off the rabbit blood that had splattered on her. When she returned, her clothes and face were still damp with water droplets.
Chen Yin stared at the scenery revealed by the damp cloth, swallowed hard, and forced himself to look away.
“Are you… sleepy? If you are, go to sleep.”
“Aren’t you sleepy, Senior Sister?”
“I just woke up this afternoon, and someone needs to keep watch. This is the Heavenly Path Perilous Domain, after all. We don’t know what dangers we might encounter.”
Chen Yin was speechless. His Senior Sister was too considerate.
After adding more firewood to the fire, Shen Shuanglian squatted down and sat beside Chen Yin, hugging her knees.
She kept a distance of one person between them, never daring to get too close, but her eyes couldn’t help but steal glances at him.
Chen Yin also felt awkward sitting there in silence, but he couldn’t think of anything to talk about. So he asked casually:
“Are you afraid, Senior Sister?”
“Afraid of what?”
“Afraid of dying. This is the Heavenly Path Perilous Domain. Even Grand Clarity Realm experts fear this place. Aren’t you afraid we might not be able to get out?”
Shen Shuanglian thought for a moment and shook her head. “It’s okay. If we can’t get out, then we can’t get out.”
It’s… not so bad this way. Shen Shuanglian thought to herself.
The firelight illuminated Shen Shuanglian’s beautiful face, making her look incredibly alluring. Chen Yin couldn’t help but stare at her for a while, then suddenly shuddered.
“I’m cold…”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, maybe my body is still weak and can’t handle the cold.”
“Th-then what should we do?”
Chen Yin looked at her and said half-jokingly, “Maybe if Senior Sister hugs me, I’ll warm up.”
Shen Shuanglian blushed and lowered her head.
Chen Yin thought she would definitely refuse this time, but to his surprise, she looked up and said softly:
“Okay.”
Now it was Chen Yin’s turn to be speechless.
Shen Shuanglian’s face was burning, and she avoided his gaze as she walked over to him. She gently took off her outer robe and sat down beside him.
The words “I was just kidding, Senior Sister, don’t take it seriously” were stuck in Chen
Yin’s throat.
Shen Shuanglian had a beautiful figure. Her pure white inner robe clung to her curves, and the neckline revealed a glimpse of her fair skin and alluring collarbone.
She seemed a little nervous too. After sitting beside Chen Yin for a while, she finally reached out and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him into an embrace.
A refreshing fragrance and a bone-melting softness enveloped him.
Chen Yin completely forgot what he had been planning to do. His mind went blank.
After a long while, a soft, barely audible voice trembled in his ear:
“Is this… better?”
Chen Yin didn’t know how to answer that question.
Her body was pressed against his, and he suddenly realized that Shen Shuanglian was also cold.
Even the warmth of the fire couldn’t dispel the chill.
So, Chen Yin asked in return, “What about you, Senior Sister?”
“Does it feel better to be close like this?”
Shen Shuanglian froze for a moment, then bit her lip slightly and slowly nodded.
“Yes…”
“It’s very comfortable.”
It feels… strangely reassuring.
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