As An Jiu was about to peel the chestnut with her hands, Chu Dingjiang warned, “Be careful, it’s full of thorns.”
“I’ve peeled hedgehogs before,” An Jiu replied, irritated at being underestimated. She stubbornly tried to open a cracked chestnut.
As the chestnut split open, a thorn scraped her index finger, drawing blood.
An Jiu glanced furtively at Chu Dingjiang. Seeing he hadn’t noticed, she shifted her position, turning her back to him, and wiped the blood on her undergarment.
“All cleaned up?” Chu Dingjiang asked languidly.
An Jiu turned her head to find him setting up the lamb leg over the fire, a half-smile playing on his lips as he looked at her.
“It was an accident,” An Jiu said nonchalantly.
“Come here,” Chu Dingjiang beckoned.
An Jiu approached him with the scattered chestnuts and squatted down beside him.
Chu Dingjiang looked at her, both amused and exasperated. “You never forget about food, do you? Let me see your hand.”
An Jiu tucked her hand into her clothes. “It’s just a small cut. It’ll heal quickly.”
As Chu Dingjiang reached for her wrist, An Jiu resisted, kicking out at him. He caught her ankle, which only made her more agitated. She lashed out with her other foot.
They ended up wrestling playfully.
Chu Dingjiang was only teasing, not using his internal energy. However, when he sensed An Jiu using her spiritual power to attack, he grew alarmed. He immediately released his internal energy and pinned her to the ground. “An Xiaojiu! No spiritual power!”
An Jiu suddenly remembered Mosi Gui’s instructions and immediately withdrew her spiritual power.
“Ignoring medical advice? Do you have a death wish?” Chu Dingjiang felt he needed to break her habit of instinctively using spiritual power in combat. However, without internal energy, An Jiu would struggle against fourth or fifth-tier internal cultivators if not for her formidable spiritual power.
An Jiu remained silent, her dark eyes fixed on the face so close to hers.
The surroundings grew quiet. When Chu Dingjiang wasn’t thinking of other matters, his senses sharpened tenfold, acutely aware of the soft body pressed against him. His blood seemed to ignite, and his true qi circulated rapidly.
Their breaths mingled in the small space between them.
Fearing he might frighten her, Chu Dingjiang slowly leaned closer.
Lost in thought, An Jiu suddenly raised her head and kissed his lips.
The unexpected “attack” left Chu Dingjiang stunned.
An Jiu’s eyes widened as everything around her blurred, except for Chu Dingjiang’s presence, which remained crystal clear. His warmth carried a hint of sweetness, like sunlight on her skin. Her body felt soft and tingly – a sensation she enjoyed. She instinctively licked her lips.
Chu Dingjiang’s heart raced, the thunderous beat echoing in his ears. He cradled the back of her head, instantly taking control.
The kiss intensified like a sudden storm, fierce and passionate. An Jiu’s heartbeat quickened, and she abruptly broke free, glaring at him in displeasure.
“Ajiu…” Chu Dingjiang’s voice was husky, somewhat surprised by his loss of control.
An Jiu’s gaze softened as she looked at his lips. They weren’t too thin or too full, with a well-defined cupid’s bow. The color was pale, yet not as delicate as a woman’s – they were quite attractive.
“Ahem.” Chu Dingjiang’s heartbeat gradually steadied. Seeing her expression soften, he relaxed. “The lamb leg is about to burn.”
He went to turn the meat.
The aroma momentarily distracted An Jiu. She leaned in to look, noticing the other side had already turned a mouth-watering golden color. Any remaining displeasure vanished instantly.
“Ajiu, you can’t engage in combat for a while. If anything happens, I’ll protect you,” Chu Dingjiang said.
The cold wind dispersed the lingering intimacy, and both tacitly set aside what had just transpired.
An Jiu focused intently on the lamb leg, her face tense as she tried to calm her racing heart. The sensation of the kiss kept resurfacing in her mind, making her heart beat even faster. She pressed her lips together, a blush spreading across her cheeks.
In the flickering orange firelight, Chu Dingjiang couldn’t see the color on her face, only her taut expression and tightly pressed lips.
The event had happened so suddenly that perhaps neither of them was mentally prepared. Chu Dingjiang consoled himself with this thought but inwardly wondered if she felt nothing at all. This wasn’t just a blow to his male ego; it made him anxious, questioning whether she had any romantic feelings for him at all.
The fire crackled.
After a while, Chu Dingjiang broke the silence. “Give me your hand.”
An Jiu, focused on the lamb leg, seemed not to hear him.
“I have something tasty,” Chu Dingjiang tempted.
An Jiu turned her head and extended one hand.
“Both hands,” Chu Dingjiang instructed.
An Jiu hesitated, then obediently offered both hands.
Chu Dingjiang nodded in satisfaction. He took out a small bottle and sprinkled some powder on the wound on her right index finger, then wrapped it with a strip of cloth.
“Liar!” An Jiu snatched her hand back angrily.
“Don’t move!” Chu Dingjiang held onto her, finishing the bandage before letting go. Suddenly remembering something, he said, “You have internal injuries. I’m not sure if eating this will affect you. We should be cautious.”
He moved to take down the lamb leg.
An Jiu wouldn’t have it. She gripped his hand tightly, glaring at him. “Chu Dingjiang, keep roasting!”
“We still have chestnuts and sweet potatoes,” Chu Dingjiang said, putting down the lamb leg. He peeled the chestnuts and buried a handful of the brown nuts in the fire.
“Keep roasting!” An Jiu insisted, ready to fight if he didn’t comply.
“Stay here. I’ll be right back,” Chu Dingjiang said, setting up the lamb leg again before quickly returning to the relay station.