Chapter 283

Pei Ji’s body was covered in scratches and bite marks, which made Ning Ning frown deeply.

She had intended to scold him sternly, but when the words reached her lips, they softened involuntarily: “Get out of the water first. I’ll help you.”

Pei Ji’s gaze flickered for a moment before quickly disappearing: “…No need. I can do it myself.”

He never used to speak in such a stiff, awkward manner.

As if he were sulking.

Through the misty, dark fog, Ning Ning looked at him from a distance but said nothing.

Pei Ji’s skin was extremely pale, like fine snow, making it particularly noticeable in the twilight.

With his hair tie removed, his dark hair cascaded down like a waterfall, spilling over the flowing river water.

Looking further down, she could see a thin red mark on his neck, climbing up from his collarbone, mostly hidden by his damp hair.

No matter how sharp and cold Pei Ji’s gaze was, it couldn’t conceal this strange beauty.

What’s more, his eyes seemed slightly reddened, a stark contrast against his pale skin, making it impossible to hide.

Ning Ning felt a bit restless and instinctively pressed her lips together.

She could tell that Pei Ji was unhappy.

Why was he upset?

Wasn’t he fine in Xie Yu’s Futu Realm? If something happened after that…

Ning Ning half-jokingly thought, Could it be because of the misunderstanding with Meng Jue?

She initially brought up the idea with a teasing intent, but the more she thought about it, the more it seemed like something was off.

According to Yonggui and Bai Ye, since Pei Ji had managed to climb the mountain to find her despite his injuries, it meant he wasn’t angry before reaching the mountain top.

If there was a trigger, it really seemed to be that interaction between her and Meng Jue.

Could it be that Pei Ji was upset because she risked her life to save Meng Jue and the latter wiped the blood off her face?

…No way.

That assumption seemed a bit too bold.

But the feelings it implied were too obvious to ignore.

Ning Ning thought she must have blushed.

Getting flustered over such an outlandish thought—how pathetic.

Looking at the young man with slightly red eyes ahead, she suddenly felt panicked.

Remembering the bloodstains on Pei Ji’s body, she hesitated before speaking again, her voice strained: “You… get out of the water first.”

After a pause, seeing that he didn’t respond, she raised her voice: “If you don’t come out, I’ll come in.”

This worked.

The river water was as cold as ice shards, and Pei Ji certainly wouldn’t allow her to step into the rushing water.

After a brief hesitation, he quickly stood up and slowly walked to the shore.

Even in such a situation, he still couldn’t refuse her and had to obediently comply.

As the sound of his legs moving through the water echoed, Ning Ning finally got a clear look at him.

The mist outlined the boy’s tall figure, his black hair drenched and clinging to his bare arms and waist.

His broad shoulders had smooth lines, leading down to a bloodstained chest and abdomen.

His waist was slender, excessively pale.

Pei Ji felt her gaze and visibly tensed up, lowering his eyes and staring fixedly at the river.

Why was he so shy?

This should have been a perfectly normal scene, yet Pei Ji’s avoidance cast a faintly ambiguous atmosphere over it.

Ning Ning was already a bit nervous, and now she felt a rush of heat to her head, her whole body stiffening.

His reaction made it seem like she was some villain with impure intentions toward the beauty.

Ning Ning pressed her lips together, trying not to show any reaction.

Although she was indeed a bit tempted.

Once Pei Ji stepped ashore, the initial awkwardness quietly dissipated.

The wounded young man carried a scent of blood all over him.

Ning Ning had him sit by the river and take out a handkerchief from her storage pouch.

“I heard from Bai Ye and the others that you insisted on coming to the mountain top to find me and Senior Brother,” Ning Ning said, lowering her head as she gently wiped his neck with the damp handkerchief.

When Pei Ji lowered his head, he could see her long, dark lashes.

They were like fans, and with just a slight flutter, they could sweep away all the anger in his heart, leaving only a faint trace of bitterness.

She was so cunning.

She knew he was determined to walk his path alone, yet she would always approach him step by step at moments like this, leaving him unable to even stay angry.

“But by doing this, didn’t all your wounds worsen?”

Ning Ning focused on wiping away the bloodstains, lightly tapping the wound on his neck with her fingertip.

“Does it hurt?”

Pei Ji shook his head and sullenly asked, “Where is Senior Brother Meng Jue?”

As soon as he said it, he regretted it. Why would he say something so out of place?

“What?” Ning Ning laughed.

“Do you want to see him more than you want to see me?”

As she spoke, she lifted her head, following the strong line of his jaw up to his dark eyes.

Pei Ji’s eyes were still a bit red, his pupils laced with spiderweb-like blood vessels.

The tiny mole at the corner of his eye, usually hidden, now stood out, giving him a disoriented and helpless look that was completely different from his usual self.

His voice was dry as he spoke, his pale lips colorless and paper-thin: “No.”

After a pause, he added in a hoarse voice, “I only wanted to see—”

He only wanted to see her.

This secret was buried deep within his heart, something Ning Ning would never know.

Pei Ji heard her soft laugh.