Continuing What Was Left Unfinished

Jin Ping'er paused, a strange glint flashing in those fox-like eyes under the moonlight.

She didn't speak, merely watching him, the lazy smile at the corners of her mouth gradually softening.

After clearing away all the beast-attracting powder, the two began their walk back.

Jin Ping'er walked beside him, the oversized outer robe hanging loosely on her frame. The neckline kept slipping down, and she would reach up to pull it back, only for it to slide down again, over and over.

Lu Jiuyuan's gaze swept over her neckline inadvertently; the robe had slipped again, leaving it wide open, with the clear contours of her chest vaguely visible within.

Moonlight spilled down from above, shining deep into the neckline, making that patch of snow-white skin stand out starkly against the greyish-blue fabric. Two soft mounds pressed together to form a deep cleavage, swaying gently with her every step.

Lu Jiuyuan's gaze fixed for a fleeting moment.

Then he looked away, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Jin Ping'er didn't notice; she was looking down, kicking a small pebble on the ground, the hem of her robe dragging along the earth, stained with dew and grass clippings.

"Jin Ping'er."

"Hmm?" She looked up.

"Your clothes."

Jin Ping'er looked down at her own neckline; under the moonlight, that expanse of snow-white skin was indeed a bit eye-catching.

She froze for a second, then looked up, meeting his eyes, which were struggling to remain calm.

The corners of her mouth slowly curled into a mischievous arc.

Instead of pulling up her neckline, she took a step forward, closing the distance.

"Lu Jiuyuan, what were you looking at just now?"

"Nothing."

"If it was nothing, then how did you know there was something wrong with my clothes?"

Lu Jiuyuan was choked by her retort. Jin Ping'er took another step forward, the distance between them so close they could feel each other's breath. She tilted her face up, the moonlight falling upon her features, her fox-like eyes reflecting his image, shining with startling intensity.

She deliberately pulled her neckline lower, her movements slow, as if unfolding a painting before his eyes. More of that snow-white skin was revealed, glowing with a lustrous sheen under the moonlight.

"Is it pretty?" Her voice was very soft, carrying a deliberately suppressed allure.

Lu Jiuyuan took a deep breath, shifting his gaze from her neckline to the night scenery in the distance. "Jin Ping'er, stop messing around."

"I'm not messing around." Jin Ping'er leaned in closer, her warm breath brushing against his chin. "I'm asking you a question. Is it pretty?"

"It's not."

"Liar." She stood on her tiptoes, leaning into his ear, her voice dropping to a whisper like a secret. "You watched for several seconds just now; I was counting."

The tips of Lu Jiuyuan's ears began to burn.

Jin Ping'er's fingers rested on his shoulder, her fingertips lightly tracing his collar—the exact same movement as before in the hot spring, slow and deliberate, carrying a rhythm that made one's heart itch.

"Young Master Lu..."

"Jin Ping'er." Lu Jiuyuan's voice dropped a notch, carrying a hint of warning.

"Hmm?"

"Do you really think I wouldn't do anything to you?"

Jin Ping'er's fingers stopped at his collar, and she looked up at him.

Under the moonlight, her eyes were as bright as two stars, a smile playing on her lips, but there was no fear in that smile—only a provocation that seemed to say, I'd like to see what you can actually do to me.

"Then go ahead and do something to me."

As soon as she finished the sentence, Jin Ping'er saw the look in Lu Jiuyuan's eyes change.

The change was subtle, but she was standing right in front of him, close enough to see her own reflection in his pupils.

A dark fire rose from the depths of his eyes, like embers in deep winter being fanned by the wind.

Jin Ping'er's heart skipped a beat. Before she could react, she was lifted into the air.

Lu Jiuyuan wrapped one arm around her waist and the other under her knees, holding her horizontally in his arms.

The movement was crisp and decisive, without a shred of hesitation.

Jin Ping'er let out a startled cry, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck. The oversized robe loosened further in the motion, the hem trailing and fluttering in the night breeze.

Her face flushed crimson instantly.

It wasn't a faint, ethereal blush, but a scorching, unmasked red that burned from her earlobes all the way down to her neck.

She, Jin Ping'er, the Miao Gongzi of the Hehuan Sect, had seen so many storms and experienced so much life and death, yet when held like this, her heart was beating in such a chaotic mess.

"What... what are you doing?"

Lu Jiuyuan looked down at her, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, the dark fire in his eyes still burning. "Didn't you say you wanted me to do something to you?"

Jin Ping'er opened her mouth, only to find she couldn't say a word.

Held in his arms, she felt like a cat caught by the scruff of its neck; all her allure, all her teasing, and all her schemes were useless at this moment.

Lu Jiuyuan carried her toward the depths of the village. His pace was fast, yet steady, as if he were afraid of jostling her.

Jin Ping'er wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling the warmth of his chest radiating through the thin fabric—scorching, powerful, and possessing a steady composure that put her at ease.

"Where... where are you taking me?" Jin Ping'er's voice was much softer than usual, carrying a hint of nervousness she hadn't even realized herself.

"You'll know when we get there."

Lu Jiuyuan turned into a narrow alley and stopped in front of a house.

This house was larger than the others in the village, appearing to have been the former residence of the village chief.

The roof was still intact, the door panels were whole, and although the windows had a few broken spots, it was far better than the other structures where the wind whistled through every wall.

He had stumbled upon this place by chance after entering the village; he had only given it a passing glance at the time, never expecting it to come in handy now.

He kicked the door open, walked inside, and set Jin Ping'er down on an aged bed frame.

As Jin Ping'er landed on the bed, her outer robe slipped slightly, revealing the sight beneath with startling clarity.

Moonlight shone in through the broken window, falling upon her and illuminating her graceful silhouette.

Her long hair spread across the bed like a spill of black silk, her cheeks flushed, her breathing uneven, and her chest rising and falling with every breath.

Jin Ping'er tilted her head to look at him, her fox-like eyes devoid of their usual calculation and languor, replaced only by a pure, undisguised nervousness and anticipation.

"Lu Jiuyuan..."

Lu Jiuyuan crouched down in front of her, reached out to pinch her chin, and gently rubbed his thumb across her lips.

His hand was very hot, yet his fingertips carried a trace of coolness, the sensation as distinct as a brand.

"Jin Ping'er." Lu Jiuyuan's voice was low and hoarse, carrying a sense of restraint she had never heard before. "Do you think that I always let you have your way?"

Jin Ping'er's heart skipped another beat.

She looked into his eyes, where a dark fire burned intensely, yet beneath that fire lay restraint, reason, and a boundary she had never seen him draw before.

"I haven't been letting you have your way," Lu Jiuyuan said calmly. "I have been holding back."

Jin Ping'er was slightly stunned, then she began to laugh.

It was a light, soft laugh, like a flower that had waited a long time to finally bloom.

She reached out, hooked her arms around his neck, and pulled him down.