At the thought of leaving, a fierce wave of reluctance surged through Zhu Zhuqing.
She bit down hard on her lower lip, as though she had made a momentous decision.
A surge of courage flooded her in an instant.
She hurried over to Qin Feng, bringing with her a faint, delicate fragrance.
Before Qin Feng could react,
the little cat rose onto her tiptoes, closed her eyes, and swiftly pressed her soft, warm lips to his cheek.
The touch was warm and soft.
"Thank you, Qin Feng."
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's, trembling noticeably.
The moment she pulled away, the girl's face turned red as a ripe apple, and even her cat ears drooped bashfully.
Daring not to meet Qin Feng's eyes, she spun around. Her figure became a black blur as she fled into the night.
The air froze.
Qin Feng touched the cheek that still held the warmth of her lips and stood there, stunned.
That little cat had actually ambushed him?
Hu Liena, standing off to the side, was even more thunderstruck.
Her enchanting fox eyes were wide as saucers. She stared at the direction Zhu Zhuqing had fled, then looked at Qin Feng's stunned expression.
Hu Liena sucked in a sharp breath.
"Hiss!"
Hu Liena stood rooted to the spot, her enchanting fox eyes now wider than bells.
The night wind swept by. The campfire crackled beside them, its glow illuminating her bewildered face.
She never would have thought that the little cat, who usually kept everyone at arm's length and couldn't be bothered with anyone, would act so decisively when she made her move!
She kissed him and ran—not a moment's hesitation!
Was this what it felt like to have someone steal your home?
A fierce sense of urgency surged through Hu Liena, and a strong, sour tang of jealousy quickly spread through the air.
Qin Feng was still standing there, instinctively raising a hand to touch the cheek Zhu Zhuqing had kissed.
The warm sensation seemed to linger, along with Zhu Zhuqing's delicate, distinctive fragrance in the air.
Qin Feng couldn't help thinking to himself,
My little cat is not only big and fair, but soft and sweet, too!
That sudden leap into his arms had left him wanting more, and ripples stirred in his heart.
Seeing Qin Feng's lingering, savoring expression, Hu Liena felt her jealousy boil over.
She marched up to him in a huff, her beautiful eyes fixed on his, her voice thick with petulance and displeasure.
"Still savoring it, are you?"
"I can see that little cat has nearly bewitched your soul right out of you!"
Hearing the jealousy in her words, Qin Feng snapped back to his senses and looked at the stunning girl stomping her foot in front of him.
He didn't bother to explain. Instead, he reached out with both strong arms and pulled her toward him.
Giving Hu Liena no chance to react or resist, he swept her into his broad embrace.
Hu Liena cried out in surprise. Her soft, graceful body pressed against Qin Feng's firm chest. Feeling his powerful heartbeat, her cheeks instantly flushed crimson.
"Y-you... what are you doing? Let go of me!"
Hu Liena made a token effort to struggle, lightly pushing at Qin Feng's chest, but she barely had enough strength to tickle him.
Qin Feng lowered his head and leaned close to Hu Liena's crystalline earlobe. His warm breath fell against her neck.
"Someone once made a bet with me."
"She said that if she lost, she'd let me do whatever I wanted."
"Isn't it about time you made good on that promise?"
Hu Liena shivered, and memories of their earlier sparring match and bet surfaced in her mind.
An intense blush crept up her fair neck, but beneath her embarrassment, a strong anticipation began to stir.
Unlike that little cat, who'd snuck a kiss and run, she was the one who'd earned the right to stay by Qin Feng's side!
The fierce competitive spirit that had been roused in her instantly took hold.
She, Hu Liena, was from Spirit Hall. She was the one closest to Qin Feng.
How could she lose to a down-and-out girl who'd fled the Star Luo Empire?
"Then... what exactly do you want to do to me?"
Hu Liena tipped her head up slightly, her watery fox eyes fixed on Qin Feng.
Her gaze was full of tenderness and teasing, and the natural charm of her Demon Fox Martial Soul shone through in that moment.
Who could resist that?
Qin Feng didn't hesitate. He lowered his head.
And kissed her.
The air around them grew scorching hot.
The firewood crackled beside them as the flames stretched their embracing shadows long across the ground.
Hu Liena wrapped her arms tightly around Qin Feng's neck and kissed him back passionately, losing herself completely in that forceful, heated embrace.
The fierce thrill of conquest made her feel as if she'd beaten Zhu Zhuqing in this bloodless battle for his heart.
At long last, their lips parted.
Hu Liena gasped for breath, her body limp in Qin Feng's arms.
Her gaze was hazy, as if it might drip with water, and the blush on her face had spread all the way to her ears.
"If you want, we can do things even more... daring than this."
Her honeyed voice was intensely seductive, like a feather gently brushing across Qin Feng's heart.
Qin Feng drew a deep breath and forced down the Evil Fire she'd stirred within him.
He couldn't help grumbling inwardly.
No wonder she has the Demon Fox Martial Soul. This girl is a little enchantress who could bewitch a man to death!
He reached out and pinched Hu Liena's smooth, tender cheek, unable to help himself.
"This is the middle of nowhere, in the Star Dou Great Forest."
"If we really did something here and a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast came bounding over to join in, it'd ruin the mood."
"For now, I'll just collect a little interest in advance. We'll settle the rest once we're back at Spirit Hall."
Hu Liena understood what Qin Feng meant and bashfully punched him in the chest.
Then she tucked her head against him, a sweet smile she couldn't hide playing at the corners of her lips.
Their feelings for each other rapidly grew warmer, reaching a whole new level.
Deep in the night, in another corner of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Zhu Zhuqing raced through the dense woods, her passage stirring a faint rush of wind.
Only after confirming that no one had followed did she slowly stop. She leaned against the trunk of a massive old tree and gasped for breath.
Her chest heaved, but the heat in her cheeks refused to fade.
Her mind was filled with Qin Feng's handsome face.
His imposing figure as he tossed aside a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, the focused expression he wore while roasting meat, and the warm sensation of his lips when she'd summoned the courage to kiss him just now.
Each scene seemed to have carved a deep mark into her soul.
She clasped her hands tightly to her chest, her heart pounding like a startled fawn's.
She was both shy and full of anticipation.
She wondered how he would see her the next time they met.