Dragged to the Hot Spring by Jin Ping'er

Lu Jiuyuan gently moved Lu Xueqi's head from his shoulder and carefully placed it on the folded thin blanket.

She was sleeping very soundly, her breathing long and steady, her eyelashes casting faint shadows under the moonlight.

Lu Jiuyuan watched her for a moment, took off his outer robe to cover her, then stood up and walked toward the door.

The night wind blew against his face, carrying the humid heat and the raw, earthy scent peculiar to the Southern Border.

The moon hid behind the clouds, and the village was shrouded in a gray, murky darkness.

Lu Jiuyuan stood at the doorway, just about to head toward the village entrance, when a goose-yellow figure turned the corner.

Jin Ping'er.

She seemed to have just returned from outside, her purple robes standing out strikingly in the night.

The moment Jin Ping'er saw Lu Jiuyuan, her footsteps faltered, and then a smile bloomed on her face.

That smile in the moonlight held an indescribable meaning, as if it were a pleasant surprise, yet also as if she had expected it all along.

"Young Master Lu." Jin Ping'er walked up and, as naturally as an old friend, hooked her arm through his. Her soft, supple body pressed against him, her voice carrying three parts laziness and seven parts coquetry, "Why aren't you sleeping in the middle of the night? What are you doing out here?"

Lu Jiuyuan glanced down at the arm hooked through his but did not pull away: "I couldn't sleep, so I came out for a walk. And you?"

"I couldn't sleep either." Jin Ping'er tilted her face up to look at him, her eyes shimmering, "The night in the Southern Border is too noisy; the cries of those demonic beasts are enough to make one restless."

As she spoke, she tightened her grip on his arm.

Lu Jiuyuan could feel the softness and warmth of her arm through the fabric, and that familiar, faint fragrance drifted into his nostrils, even more intense than it had been by the campfire last night.

"Young Master Lu, do you have a moment? Accompany me to a place."

Lu Jiuyuan looked at her without answering immediately.

There was something in Jin Ping'er's eyes that made it hard to refuse—not a pitiable vulnerability, but a certain, confident knowledge that he would not turn her down.

"What place?"

"You'll know when we get there." She laughed, pulling him along, "It's not far, just behind the village."

Her hand shifted from hooking his arm to holding his hand, her fingers interlacing with his, her palm warm.

Lu Jiuyuan let her lead him through the ruins of the village, around a few crumbling walls, and over the gravel and withered grass toward the back of the village.

After walking for about the time it takes to brew a pot of tea, Jin Ping'er stopped.

Before them lay a patch of low shrubs; after bypassing them, a wave of warm steam rushed toward them.

The hot spring was small, about two zhang square, hidden among a cluster of rocks.

The spring water was crystal clear, and the moonlight reflecting off the surface stirred up wisps of white mist.

Several unknown flower petals floated on the water, releasing a faint, sweet fragrance as they were heated by the steam.

Jin Ping'er let go of his hand, walked to the edge of the pool, and crouched down. She reached out to test the water temperature, then turned back to smile at him.

"Young Master Lu, the temperature is just right. Would you like to join me?"

Her tone was casual, as if she were asking "Would you like to have some tea?"

Lu Jiuyuan stood where he was, watching her figure crouched by the pool.

The moonlight spilled over her, her goose-yellow dress appearing and disappearing within the mist. Her stunning face held a smile, and the way her eyes shimmered carried a soul-stirring charm.

"No." Lu Jiuyuan shook his head, "You bathe; I will keep watch outside."

Jin Ping'er glanced at him, the smile at the corners of her mouth deepening.

She did not insist, standing up and placing her fingers on the sash at her waist.

"Then I'll have to trouble Young Master Lu to keep watch for me."

The sash was untied, and the goose-yellow dress slipped away.

Jin Ping'er did not look back at him, her movements as composed as if she were in her own room.

The outer garment fell, revealing the moon-white undergarment beneath. Amidst the swirling mist, the thin fabric clung to her body, outlining her exquisite curves.

The undergarment also fell to the ground, leaving only a pink bodice.

Under the moonlight, her back was dazzlingly white. Her shoulders were rounded, her waist slender, and the line of her spine traced downward, disappearing into the ties of her bodice.

She reached up to undo her hair, and her dark tresses cascaded down like a waterfall, covering her bare back.

Lu Jiuyuan averted his gaze and turned his back to the hot spring.

Behind him came the sound of entering the water, a soft splash, followed by the sound of rippling waves.

The mist grew thicker, and that faint fragrance mixed with the steam drifted over, even more potent than before.

"Young Master Lu." Jin Ping'er's voice came from the mist, carrying a hint of lazy amusement, "Are you sure you won't come in? It's very comfortable."

"No need."

"Then aren't you bored standing out there?"

"Not bored."

Jin Ping'er laughed softly and said nothing more.

The sound of water continued, splash, splash, with the occasional sound of her stirring the surface, exceptionally clear in the silent night.

Lu Jiuyuan stood beside the rock, his back to the hot spring, his gaze fixed on the darkness in the distance.

The night breeze blew over, carrying the heat of the spring and that faint fragrance, brushing against his cheeks.

The splashing sound continued behind him, neither hurried nor slow.

He could imagine the scene: Jin Ping'er leaning against the edge of the pool, her long hair floating on the water's surface, droplets sliding down her collarbone and dripping into the water, creating ripples.

He swallowed hard.

Must not think about it.

Lu Jiuyuan took a deep breath, driving those images out of his mind.

But that faint fragrance was pervasive, as if it had seeped into his skin, impossible to shake off.

The splashing sound inside suddenly stopped.

"Young Master Lu." Jin Ping'er's voice drifted from the mist, carrying a strange tone. "Could you... could you come over here for a moment?"

Lu Jiuyuan frowned slightly. "What's wrong?"

"I think I... stepped on something. My foot hurts a little."

Jin Ping'er's voice was a few degrees lower than before, carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling.

Lu Jiuyuan hesitated for a moment, then turned around.

The mist was thicker than before, and the surface of the hot spring was not clearly visible.

Jin Ping'er leaned against the rock at the edge of the pool, her long hair clinging to her body, wet and heavy, revealing only her face and rounded shoulders.

Her brows were slightly furrowed, her lips pressed together, and she truly looked uncomfortable.

"What did you step on?" Lu Jiuyuan asked softly, his tone filled with concern.

"I don't know... it's slippery, and it feels like there are thorns." Jin Ping'er looked down at the water, then raised her head to look at him. "Young Master Lu, could you come over and help me take a look? I don't dare move my foot."

Lu Jiuyuan walked to the edge of the pool and crouched down. "Which foot?"

"The left one."

He lowered his head, looking toward the water.

The mist was too thick to see what was at the bottom of the pool.

Just as he was about to reach out to probe, Jin Ping'er suddenly tilted her body, falling toward him.

"Careful!!!"

Lu Jiuyuan instinctively reached out to steady her, but his wrist was grabbed.

Her hand was wet, slippery, and warm, yet her strength was surprisingly great.

Before he could react, a powerful force yanked him forward.

He instantly lost his balance.

He plunged headlong into the hot spring.

Warm water surged in from all sides, submerging his robes and soaking into his skin.

Lu Jiuyuan struggled in the water, his feet finding the bottom of the pool; it wasn't deep, reaching about to his chest.

He had just steadied himself and hadn't yet had the chance to wipe the water from his face when a warm, soft body pressed against him.

Jin Ping'er, her arms wrapped around his neck, hung onto him.