Knee Pillow

His consciousness slowly rose from a warm darkness.

The first thing Mo Lin felt was not the cold, hard ground, but an indescribable softness and warmth.

The back of his head rested upon something supple and soft. Through the thin fabric, he could clearly feel the warmth of the skin beneath it.

A delicate, tranquil fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, mingled with a faint herbal scent that refreshed his mind.

His eyelids twitched slightly, but he did not open them at once. Instead, he carefully savored this rare "benefit."

This feeling... was a human thigh. And judging by its astonishing elasticity and fullness, as well as the generous curves so close above him that he could practically feel breath brushing over them—D-cup breasts hanging overhead—Mo Lin instantly realized what kind of "emperor-level" treatment he was receiving. His head rested on Yun Yun's jade-like thighs, and to maintain her balance and care for him conveniently, her upper body had to be very close to him.

What... an unexpected development. Mo Lin secretly reveled in it and decided to make good use of this opportunity.

He deliberately made his breathing steadier and deeper, as though he were still sound asleep. Yet from time to time, he would "unconsciously" turn his head slightly, letting his cheek or ear "inadvertently" brush against the soft skin of her thigh.

With every faint brush, he could clearly feel the jade-like thigh beneath his head stiffen and tense at once, while the breathing above him hitched slightly.

Yet Yun Yun seemed to endure it without moving. Only her breathing gradually became faintly hurried, almost imperceptibly so.

That indulgence that bordered on acquiescence, along with her restrained embarrassment, filled Mo Lin with the delight of a successful prank.

After about half a shichen—an hour—Mo Lin felt the "act" had gone on long enough. It was time to "wake up." He gathered his emotions and prepared to perform.

Just then, he felt a slightly cool, soft hand carefully cradle the back of his neck, attempting to raise his head a little.

Then, the rim of a bowl awkwardly pressed against his lips, and large mouthfuls of cold water were poured into his mouth.

Because the one feeding him was flustered and inexperienced, quite a bit of the water went straight up his nose.

"Cough! Cough, cough...!" Mo Lin abruptly opened his eyes at just the right moment and began coughing violently, as if he had been choked awake. While coughing, he "blankly" turned his gaze around.

The first thing that entered his vision was a pair of towering, full peaks, nearly touching the tip of his nose, stretching Yun Yun's pale dress into a breathtaking curve.

His gaze moved upward to a beautifully shaped chin, then higher still, until it met a pair of beautiful eyes close at hand. Clear as autumn water, they were now filled with panic and embarrassment.

Yun Yun was half-kneeling beside him, leaning slightly forward. One hand supported the back of his neck while the other held a bowl of water, and his head rested securely upon her full, slender jade-like thighs!

The posture was intimate to the point of ambiguity.

"Miss... Miss Yun Zhi?" Mo Lin promptly revealed an expression of "shock" and "awkwardness." His voice was hoarse, carrying just the right hint of weakness. "I... I am... I'm truly sorry! This is far too improper!"

He made as if to struggle to his feet and escape this overly intimate contact.

"D-Don't move!" Seeing that he was awake, the blush on Yun Yun's pretty face instantly spread to her ears. She hurriedly stopped him, her voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor. "Y-Your injuries are serious. You were unconscious for half a shichen. You've only just awakened, so you need... need to lie still."

She forced herself to remain composed, but her flickering gaze and trembling jade-like hands revealed how unsettled she truly was.

Letting an unfamiliar young man rest on her legs for so long was an experience entirely unprecedented for her. But when she remembered that he had been seriously injured and fallen unconscious to save her, that bit of shame and discomfort was suppressed by worry and an inexplicable sense of responsibility.

At her words, Mo Lin showed an even more "guilty" expression, yet he still "obediently" stopped moving.

He merely tilted his head slightly, seemingly trying to avoid the overly "oppressive" sight before him. But with that turn, his cheek "accidentally" grazed the skin at the side of her thigh again.

Yun Yun's delicate body trembled violently as if struck by lightning. Even the hand supporting his neck shook, nearly letting him fall back down.

She took a deep breath and tried to calm her racing heart. Bringing the bowl closer again, she avoided his gaze and said softly, "F-First... have some water."

Mo Lin drank several small sips from her hand, moistening his throat. Only then did he "strenuously" prop up his upper body with an elbow, slowly shift himself, and lean against the nearby stone wall, finally ending this heart-racing "knee pillow" treatment.

Throughout the process, he appeared "weak" and "restrained," but his occasional "helpless" sways always caused his arm or shoulder to "inadvertently" brush against Yun Yun's arm or waist, making her shudder lightly each time.

After sitting steadily, Mo Lin rubbed his still somewhat "dizzy" forehead and said with lingering fear in his voice, "That was truly fortunate... I never expected the thing that tracked us down to be a third-tier Shadow Phantom Leopard. It was incredibly fast and exceptionally stealthy. I nearly fell to its claws."

"A third-tier Shadow Phantom Leopard?" A trace of alarm flashed through Yun Yun's beautiful eyes. She knew well how troublesome magical beasts skilled in lurking and assassination could be. The gratitude and guilt in her gaze toward Mo Lin deepened. "I'm sorry... It was all because I was too careless that I dragged you into such danger..."

Her voice was low and filled with sincere apology.

"Miss Yun Zhi, there is no need to blame yourself. When traveling through the mountains, accidents are unavoidable." Mo Lin magnanimously waved a hand, revealing a "weary" smile.

Just then, his stomach very "cooperatively" let out a rumbling protest.

Hearing the sound, Yun Yun paused slightly. Then the blush on her lovely face faded a little, revealing a faint smile, beautiful as melting snow and ice.

She said softly, "You were unconscious for so long. You must be hungry. Your injuries have not healed, so rest well today. As for food... let me prepare it."

"You?" Mo Lin appropriately revealed a surprised look as he sized up this sect leader, whose noble bearing made her seem utterly untouched by worldly matters.

"After watching you do it several times, I should be able to imitate it well enough." Yun Yun smiled faintly, seeming to want to make up for her mistake through action. She turned and walked toward the stone platform, beginning to light a fire and prepare grilled fish.

As she crouched down, her slender waist and rounded hips were outlined beneath the firelight, making for an especially captivating sight.