Chapter 249

Ji Yunkai’s eyes became razor-sharp as he muttered the devilish word, “Pay… the… money…”

A single tear slid down from the eyes of the ‘ The Light of Swordmanship’.

Tian Xianzi gritted his teeth, spread his arms, and closed his eyes.

“I have no money, only my life left. This body is all I have—come at me!”

Everyone’s expressions changed.

Tian Xianzi was dirt poor, so broke that he was practically eating dirt. He was a top-tier prodigal, and getting him to pay money was as difficult as reaching the heavens.

Even if you squeezed him dry, you wouldn’t get a single cent.

But as for his looks…

The handsome young man’s eyes were slightly red, a faint shimmer of tears in his clear, lake-like pupils.

His expression carried a touch of melancholy as he gazed wistfully at the sky.

Qu Feiqing made a disgusted face as if she had swallowed a fly.

“I feel nauseous. I don’t know why, but I suddenly thought of a big, greasy pancake trying to act coy.”

Lin Qian struggled to keep her facial features from twisting.

“A wild boar in human skin—my god, terrifying. Let’s get out of here.”

Tian Xianzi, like a little piglet made of large pancake, stood in place with his arms outstretched, tears welling in his eyes.

At least he wouldn’t be entangled by these two women anymore.

But why did he feel a tiny pang of heartache?

—

Inside the Demon Refining Tower, in a cave.

Pei Ji couldn’t resist her, so he had to hold Ning Ning in his arms and light a fire in the center of the cave.

The dim firelight emitted a faint warmth, gradually drying their soaked clothes.

Yet she continued to cling tightly to Pei Ji, occasionally resting her head on his chest.

Even the slightest movement made the inexperienced young man’s heart race.

The body in his arms was impossibly light, like soft jade, limp and boneless, lying against him.

Because her whole body was burning hot, Pei Ji felt disoriented, unsure whether the heat was coming from Ning Ning or if he himself was also feverish.

The fire on the ground, too, added to his irritation.

He took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the tumultuous emotions surging within him.

He reached into his storage pouch, took out a few spirit-replenishing pills, and gently moved Ning Ning’s head aside.

Her face still looked terrible, her eyes tightly shut in unconsciousness.

Pei Ji clumsily held a pill and some water, trying to feed the pill to her.

But Ning Ning kept her teeth clenched.

He called her name in a hoarse voice, “Ning Ning.”

Of course, she couldn’t hear him.

“Pei Xiaoji, in my years of experience,” Cheng Ying cautiously suggested, emerging from the depths of his sea of consciousness, “the best and most common way to give medicine to an unconscious girl is… mouth-to-mouth. I’m not sure of the exact principle, but if you give it a try, you might pick it up naturally.”

What kind of method was that?

It was nothing more than taking advantage of the situation.

Pei Ji pressed his lips together, lowering his gaze to look at her.

He had never been this close to anyone before.

Holding hands and hugging Ning Ning were both firsts for him.

If he were to administer the medicine as Cheng Ying suggested while she was unconscious—

If she ever found out, it would inevitably create an awkward distance between them.

Such an action was far too intimate, and he wouldn’t dare to overstep that boundary.

Cheng Ying, full of anticipation, secretly hoped to see something dramatic, but instead only saw Pei Ji holding his breath, tense and almost timid, as he gently brought the girl into his arms.

Ning Ning shifted uncomfortably, her hands roaming aimlessly across his back, as if seeking more warmth.

Her breathing grew increasingly rapid.

Pei Ji could clearly feel her heated breath seeping through his clothes, the strange sensation against his skin.

It was like lighting a firecracker; as soon as the sparks touched it, a tingly itch spread rapidly, crackling all over.

“…Don’t be afraid.”

His voice was awkward, as if all the patience he had in his life was reserved for her alone.

The boy’s long yet rough hands gently rested on Ning Ning’s back, not daring to use too much force.

He began to stroke her softly—his movements gentle but extremely stiff.

Gradually, her breathing steadied, and the trembling of her body finally lessened.

“I—”

Pei Ji had never said anything like this before.

Many complicated thoughts crowded his mind, but in the end, all he could say was, “I’ll kill it for you.”

As soon as he spoke, he regretted it.

Such a murderous statement was hardly comforting.

The girl in his arms seemed to relax more than before, quietly resting against his chest.

Pei Ji composed himself and tilted Ning Ning’s head back slightly, bringing the medicine to her lips.

The spirit-replenishing pill was pushed into her mouth, and it was supposed to be followed by a sip of cool water.

He was clumsy at it, and when the water jug tipped, a small stream of water dribbled from the corner of Ning Ning’s mouth.

Without thinking, Pei Ji reached out to wipe it away, only realizing as his fingers were about to pull back that he had touched Ning Ning’s lips.

A place he had never dared to think about.

The fire in the cave burned silently.

The girl’s pale, delicate lips parted slightly, now glistening with a soft, beautiful sheen.

He must be possessed.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have inexplicably raised his thumb and lightly pressed it against her soft lips.

Then he traced the cool moisture from her lip bead to the corner of her mouth.

It was a soft, addictive sensation.

Even though Ning Ning was asleep, he still felt guilty, as if he had done something wrong.

He pressed her back against his chest, covering her closed eyes.

In the dim, warm firelight, the boy lowered his gaze, hiding the darkness in his eyes, and a self-mocking smile appeared on his lips.

Silently, he raised his right hand.

The thumb that had just touched Ning Ning pressed against his own lips.

Unbeknownst to him, just moments earlier, the eyelashes of the girl in his arms had trembled slightly.