The Slender Waist-Chapter 246 - 173: Two People Keeping Warm

Han Pool was flanked by cliffs on three sides, which made it difficult to find a foothold, except for one narrow, steep slope leading to the unknown beyond.

The path upwards was fraught with thorns, and Pei Jue would stop at intervals to chop down branches with his knife, cleaving a way forward before returning to assist Feng Yun, maintaining his silence throughout the serious endeavor.

Each stroke of the blade was imbued with a wild strength, his features composed and silent, as beads of moisture—indistinguishable as sweat or rain—dotted his face.

Feng Yun obediently waited and followed him forward.

The surrounding silence was broken occasionally by the sight of grooves etched into the cliff by dripping water, a startling reminder of the landscape’s power.

With Pei Jue by her side, Feng Yun didn’t feel afraid, though the lack of movement made her a bit cold.

The rain intensified.

Both of them were drenched like drowned rats.

At last, Pei Jue found a cave around a mile away from Han Pool.

It was a dry cave, its entrance was narrow, barely allowing one person to pass through. A few dozen steps further in, a winding rocky path extended into the darkness...

The path led upwards, dimly lit by a faint light and cool breeze filtering down from above, the smooth, clean walls on either side to the touch.

Feng Yun: "I can walk on my own."

She wasn’t disabled, after all, and she deemed it burdensome to be carried all the time, but Pei Jue remained silent, his grip around her waist tightening as he moved forward with a stern expression, the Military General’s endurance displayed in full.

His strength was surprisingly great. Like an ox, he ascended the steps and set her down without showing any sign of strain.

Feng Yun sighed with a sense of amazement, turning her head only to widen her eyes in awe.

"This place is beautiful."

This was another cave, but unlike the one below, it was flat and clean, featuring a vast natural window. Looking out from the stone window, one could see the river below, the cave being about thirty feet above the river’s surface, and across it, the verdant greenery of the opposing cliffs and hills.

With light and scenery, it was indeed an ideal resting place.

She inspected the cave, while Pei Jue stayed silent, gathering supplies both inside and out. Soon enough, like magic, he returned bearing two bundles of dry firewood and a pile of pine needles for tinder.

He set up the firewood and lit it...

The rising flames brought warmth that enveloped Feng Yun’s chilled body, coaxing a comfortable sigh from her.

"It’s so nice..."

She breathed out deeply.

Then, as if recalling something, she looked towards Pei Jue.

"But isn’t this place too hidden? If they come down the mountain to look for us, won’t they not find us?"

Her concerns seemed trivial to Pei Jue.

He silently removed his outer garment, creating a makeshift wooden frame from small branches to drape his clothes near the fire. Noticing Feng Yun had not moved, his eyes heavy, he looked over at her.

"Take it off."

Feng Yun met his gaze, then suddenly sneezed.

"Cold."

Pei Jue said, "You’ll be colder if you don’t dry your clothes."

Those accustomed to campaigning outdoors had their own ways of survival.

Feng Yun understood his reasoning and without hesitating, she neatly took off her outer garment, arranging it on the makeshift frame, just as he had done.

Pei Jue remained silent, the firm line of his jaw tensed, appearing very sharp.

Without looking at Feng Yun, he proceeded to take off his own inner garment, revealing a chest that rose and fell slightly, broad and firm, with sculpted pecs that seemed almost breath with life, powerfully agile. His shoulders were straight, his neck long, with pronounced collarbones leading to smooth lines that vanished below the waist in a seductively forbidding manner.

The surroundings were quiet.

The fire burned brightly.

Feng Yun’s breathing became irregular, her cheeks flushed with heat.

She lowered her gaze to the inner garment she wore.

"Should I take off more?"

Pei Jue gave her a look, seemingly aware of her hesitation. His gaze darkened, and he turned his back to her.

That handsome expanse of back, along with the injuries upon it, lay exposed to Feng Yun’s gaze.

Horizontal, vertical, some old and some new.

Feng Yun paused for a moment, her realization dawning.

Only now did she understand that this man, who had held her as they jumped into Han Pool from the cliff and who seemed capable of anything, was wounded.

"General, are you injured?"

"Minor injuries," Pei Jue dismissed nonchalantly.

His voice was low and gruff, tinged with impatience.

To him, such injuries were as commonplace as a meal, yet Feng Yun found them shockingly severe.

She said nothing, moved closer, and gently touched his shoulder, leaning in to inspect the wounds.

"Two abrasions aren’t too bad, but this cut is quite deep. It needs medicine..."

Pei Jue started to protest, but Feng Yun wasn’t about to negotiate with him. Seeing his reluctance, her brows sharply furrowed.

"It’s just medicine, it’s not going to kill you!"

The gentle and graceful lady had transformed into a formidable tigress.

Pei Jue glanced at her, his Adam’s apple shifting slightly with apparent disapproval, but he straightened up and sat down properly nonetheless.

Feng Yun found the bottle of antiseptic medicine in the bag he had brought.

Unexpectedly, she saw a green porcelain vase and a white porcelain vase amid the pile, the bodies of which were exquisitely crafted and quite different from the ones she had brought.

She picked them up and looked them over, "What are these?"

Pei Jue turned around, glanced at them just once, and his face suddenly changed color.

"Don’t touch."

Feng Yun thought they might be some kind of poison and quickly let go, then picked up the antiseptic medicine, gesturing for him to turn his back, "Why yell so loudly, General? I’m not stupid, what makes you think I’d recklessly apply any medicine to you?"

Pei Jue was silent.

His back turned to her, Feng Yun couldn’t see his expression.

As the powder sprinkled onto the wound, the man didn’t flinch; she softened her touch, feeling admiration.

She remembered the wounded soldiers in the military hospital, how they would grimace in pain when the powder was applied to their wounds...

Doctor Yao had also said that this type of medicine was extremely painful when sprinkled on an injury.

Perhaps General Pei’s pain tolerance was a bit higher than others?

"Alright, turn around."

Feng Yun put down the medicine bottle and let out a sigh of relief.

However, Pei Jue, upon hearing this, stood up without any particular emotion.

"You dry the clothes first. I’ll stand guard at the entrance of the cave."

Feng Yun was startled, then couldn’t help but laugh.

"Is the General avoiding suspicion?"

Pei Jue, without turning back or saying a word, quickly disappeared from view, and only after a long while did a voice come through.

"I’m right outside."

Meaning she should not be afraid and feel at ease.

But in such cold weather, standing bare-chested at the cave entrance, Feng Yun worried he might catch cold...

Right now, they were dependent on each other for survival.

If General Pei fell ill, who would help her escape danger?

"General, please come in," she said.

Pei Jue did not respond.

It was as if the person didn’t exist at all.

The cave was cool and quiet.

Feng Yun sneezed suddenly, feeling that such behavior between them was exceedingly pretentious.

And Pei Gou’s avoidance of her, as if he loathed her—was he shy, or was he hesitating, not wanting to touch her?

Feng Yun pondered this as she stepped out and indeed saw him standing motionless in the corridor facing away from her, lost in his thoughts.

Feng Yun wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"General, come with me."

The wind outside the cave was strong, and she shivered with cold.

Pei Jue’s entire body stiffened. With the soft body of the woman pressing up against him, he had no place to escape. Even a saint would find it hard to endure, as the great serpent within was swiftly awakened, only to be quickly grasped by that soft hand that wrapped around his waist.

She was bold and also annoying.

Pei Jue’s throat released a husky breath.

"Go back."

His voice carried a harsh, teeth-gritting tone.

Feng Yun saw his conflict.

Sometimes she thought that Pei Jue really hated her.

The kind of hate that wished her dead...

But sometimes...

Like just now, when fleeing for their lives, he could recklessly protect her without a thought for his own survival.

"Mr. Pei," Feng Yun pressed her forehead against his broad back, carefully avoiding his wound, "I’ve been around long enough for you to know my character. I don’t mind these things."

She suddenly let out a quiet chuckle.

"Look at this chaotic world, having today but not knowing if there’s a tomorrow. Why shouldn’t we be more indulgent and not be constrained by society’s rules?"

She thought that by saying this, she could free Pei Jue from his burdens.

But Pei Jue’s face visibly turned even grimmer. He bent down to unwrap the arms encircling his waist, turned around, picked her up around the waist, and carried her back to the fire.

"Sit properly."

Feng Yun looked up at him and said directly, "I don’t want the General to leave; I don’t want you to catch a cold."

Her small hand reached up, wrapping around his arm. The slippery, soft touch dissolved his aloofness, his arm hung limply, and he said in a hoarse voice:

"Wait for me to set up a barrier outside the cave."

No one to stand guard, two people exposed in a cave, the danger was clear to her, and of course, Pei Jue knew it too.

He strode out and busied himself for a while, and just when Feng Yun couldn’t bear it and thought to go look for him again, that tall figure reappeared before her.

Against the warm glow of the fire, his chest, glistening with either sweat or water, looked exceptionally powerful in the warm light, solid and well-defined, but not so fierce as to be frightening.

Everything was just perfect, Feng Yun thought.