Ark Simulator, Didn't I Have No Physical Body?

"... ah?"

"She's lying to you." Lappland jumped off the artificial hill. "It's just a regular drink."

Bai Xue took the bottle with some skepticism, unscrewed the cap, and smelled it—it did indeed have a strong strawberry scent.

"What exactly do you want?" she asked in a low voice.

Nian and Lappland exchanged a glance and suddenly sighed at the same time.

"Just kidding." Nian shrugged. "We just came to see how Su Rui is doing."

Lappland's red eyes glanced at Su Rui was drinking tea alone in the distance. "He's much happier than before."

These words instantly dispelled Bai Xue's anger. She followed Lappland's gaze and saw Su Rui looking in their direction, sunlight dancing on his silver hair as if sprinkled with gold dust.

"... Is that really all there is to it?"

"Otherwise?" Lappland chuckled, "Take him away?"

She suddenly leaned closer to Bai Xue, her red eyes looking directly into hers. "Cherish it, little kitty."

They were so close they could smell the menthol on her. Before Bai Xue could react, Lappland had already turned and left, and Nian's voice came from afar:

"By the way! That candy really is Syracuse specialty! It wasn't spiked!"

The two figures quickly disappeared around the corner of the courtyard, leaving only a gentle breeze and faint laughter. Bai Xue stood there, still clutching the bottle of strawberry syrup, unsure how to react.

Su Rui was still sitting by the corridor, his plum juice empty. His tail patted the floor gently, his gaze fixed on Bai Xue, who was panting as she returned.

"They..." Bai Xue plopped down on the ground, "How strange..."

Su Rui curled her tail around a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead. "... Mmm."

"Here, take this." Bai Xue handed him the bottle of syrup, saying it was a specialty of Syracuse.

Su Rui took the bottle, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against hers. He opened the cap, smelled it, and frowned slightly. "... Too sweet."

"I think so too," Bai Xue leaned in and sniffed, "But it smells pretty good."

Su Rui suddenly tilted the bottle, and a drop of syrup landed on his fingertip. Under Bai Xue's surprised gaze, he gently licked it. "... Not bad."

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on his face. Bai Xue looked at his lips, still smeared with syrup, and, almost without thinking, leaned in and licked them. "Indeed... not very sweet."

This bold move stunned both of them. Su Rui's pupils dilated slightly, and her ears perked up instantly. Bai Xue's face turned as red as a ripe apple, and she quickly backed away, 'I... I didn't...!'

Su Rui's tail suddenly wrapped around her waist, pulling her back to him. His breath, sweet with strawberry syrup, gently brushed against her cheek. "... Try again?"

Bai Xue's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly closed her eyes. Su Rui lowered his head and kissed her. The moment their lips touched, an exaggerated scream came from afar:

"I told you they were having an affair! Give me the money!"

"Shut up!" Lappland's voice was filled with anger. "Who's betting this with you!"

The Wenyue Estate was shrouded in a thin mist in the early morning, and tiny dewdrops condensed on the bluestone slabs in the courtyard. Bai Xue knelt in the center of the Japanese-style room, carefully packing things into her bag—waterproof cloth, rope, dry food, a water bottle, and a thick book, <The Lungmen Herbal Compendium>.

"Su Rui, should we bring this?" She held up a small porcelain bottle containing a pale green ointment. "It's for repelling mosquitoes."

Su Rui was inspecting the shuriken when she heard this and looked up. "... Hmm."

His silver hair was casually tied back, a short sword he always used was tucked at his waist, and his tail gently patted the tatami mat. Today they were going to the wilderness outside Lungmen to collect a plant called "Evening Primrose," which is said to bloom only on the night of a full moon and is an important ingredient for making calming incense.

Volume 15, Chapter 870: Herb gathering is just an excuse.

"I heard Evening Primrose grow on cliff edges," Bai Xue said, her voice trembling slightly as she tucked the porcelain bottle into her backpack. "Wouldn't that be dangerous?"

Su Rui put down his dagger, walked over to her, and knelt down beside her. "I'm here."

The simple three words calmed Bai Xue's heart. She nodded and continued packing her luggage, but while rummaging through it, she accidentally knocked over a small box—it contained Syracuse Mint Candy that Lappland had left behind, with a few still uneaten.

The air froze instantly. Bai Xue's hand stood still in mid-air, and Su Rui's tail stopped wagging.

"Should I... bring it?" she asked softly.

Su Rui paused for a moment, then reached out and closed the box. "... No need."

He put the box back deep in the drawer, his tail gently wrapping around Bai Xue's wrist. "That's enough."

This gesture felt like a silent promise, making Bai Xue's heart skip a beat. She pursed her lips and pulled a small cloth bag from her pocket. "Then I'll take this."

Inside the bag was her homemade herbal tea, a blend of lavender and chamomile, known for its calming effects. Su Rui's nose twitched, and his ears twitched with pleasure—he loved the smell.

"Water," he said suddenly.

"Ah! Right!" Bai Xue jumped up, "I forgot to pack my water pouch!"

She hurried towards the kitchen, her wooden clogs making a crisp sound in the hallway. Su Rui watched her flustered retreating figure, a slight smile playing on his lips. He took two leather water pouches from the cupboard, expertly filled them with water, and added a little honey— Bai Xue liked it sweet.

At noon, the two were finally ready. Bai Xue changed into a short kimono that was easy to move in, with a small medicine basket tied around her waist; Su Rui was dressed in her usual black outfit, with her silver hair tied up, looking clean and neat.

"How long does it take to get from here to the wilderness?" Bai Xue asked, adjusting the shoulder straps of her medicine basket.

"Half a day." Su Rui helped her fasten the straps, her fingers inadvertently brushing against the back of her neck. "Before dark."

His fingertips carried a familiar warmth, making Bai Xue's nape slightly hot. She shrank back and muttered softly, "It tickles..."

Su Rui's tail tip lightly brushed against her wrist in response.

Lady Wenyue stood at the door to see him off, holding a sachet in her hands. "Go soon and return soon."

The sachet contained herbs to ward off evil spirits, a tradition of the Wenyue House. Bai Xue respectfully accepted it and tied it around her waist. "Thank you, Madam."

"Su Rui," Lady Wenyue turned her gaze to him, "Take good care of her."

Su Rui nodded solemnly, his tail unconsciously taut—a sign of his commitment.

The outskirts of Lungmen were more desolate than imagined. After leaving the main road, the path gradually became overgrown with weeds, and the surrounding trees grew taller and denser. Bai Xue followed closely behind Su Rui, carefully avoiding the overhanging branches.

"Are you tired?" Su Rui suddenly stopped and turned to ask.

Fine beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, and his silver hair was dappled with light through the shadows of the trees. Bai Xue shook her head and took a water pouch from her medicine basket. "Have some water."

Su Rui took the water pouch, tilted his head back, and took a sip. His Adam's apple bobbed with each swallow, a few drops of water sliding down his chin and disappearing into the depths of his collar. Bai Xue stared at him unconsciously until Su Rui tilted his head in confusion. "... What's wrong?"

"N-nothing!" She hurriedly looked away. "It's just... you're sweating."

Su Rui's ears twitched, and she suddenly leaned closer. "... Wipe?"

His breath brushed against Bai Xue's face, carrying the sweet scent of honey. Bai Xue's heart raced, and she frantically pulled out her handkerchief. "I... I'll wipe it myself!"

A hint of a smile flashed in Su Rui's eyes as he took the handkerchief and casually wiped his face. There was a small scratch on the back of his hand, probably from when he was parting the branches.

"You're injured!" Bai Xue exclaimed, quickly grabbing his hand. "Why didn't you say so?"

Su Rui glanced at the almost negligible scar. "... A minor injury."

"Even minor injuries need treatment!" Bai Xue insisted, taking a small porcelain bottle from her medicine basket. "What if it gets infected?"

Her fingertips, drenched in ointment, gently applied it to the wound. The ointment was cool and carried a faint herbal scent. Su Rui quietly watched her focused profile, its tail subtly wrapping around her waist.

"Alright!" Bai Xue put away the medicine bottle with satisfaction. "Be careful next time..."

Before she could finish speaking, Su Rui suddenly lowered her head and lightly pecked her lips. "... Thank you."

The sudden kiss stunned Bai Xue, her cheeks instantly burning. Su Rui, however, turned and continued forward as if nothing had happened, her tail tip wagging happily.

"Wait, wait for me!" Bai Xue hurriedly followed, almost tripping over a tree root.

As dusk fell, they finally arrived at their destination—a wide-open cliff area. In the distance stretched a range of mountains, and the setting sun painted the clouds a brilliant orange-red. Scattered along the cliff edge grew some low-lying plants with SilverAsh leaves that swayed gently in the wind.

"Is that Evening Primrose?" Bai Xue pointed excitedly at the plants. "It looks just like the one in the book!"

Su Rui nodded and took a rope from her bag. "Be careful."

He secured one end of the rope to a nearby tree trunk and tied the other end around his waist. Bai Xue watched nervously as he walked towards the edge of the cliff, her fingers unconsciously tightening their grip on the straps of the medicine basket.

"I'm fine." Su Rui turned to look at her, her voice very soft, "Stand still."

His movements were as agile as a real white wolf, descending effortlessly down the cliff face. Bai Xue knelt at the edge of the precipice, her eyes glued to his figure, afraid of missing a single detail.

"Did you see that?" she asked loudly.

Su Rui's tail tangled around a plant, and she gave it a gentle tug. "... Hmm."

His voice was muffled by the wind, but Bai Xue could still hear the certainty in it. A moment later, Su Rui climbed up with several intact Evening Primrose, their leaves still covered in fresh soil.

"That's wonderful!" Bai Xue carefully took the plant and placed it in the wooden box that had been prepared beforehand. "Lady Wenyue will be delighted!"

Su Rui untied the ropes and shook off the dust. The setting sun cast its golden rays upon him, making his silver hair appear to be edged with gold. Bai Xue stared at him, somewhat lost in thought, until he tilted his head in confusion. "... What's wrong?"

"N-nothing!" She hurriedly bent down to tidy the medicine basket. "It's just... there's a leaf stuck in your hair."

Su Rui reached into his hair, but couldn't find the supposed leaf. Bai Xue blushed and leaned closer, pretending to remove a non-existent leaf from his hair. "Okay..."

Her wrist was suddenly grabbed. Su Rui's palm was warm and dry, with thin calluses from years of holding a knife. He looked down at Bai Xue, his amber eyes like melting honey in the sunset.

"Liar," he said softly.

Bai Xue's heart skipped a beat. "I... I just..."

Su Rui's tail wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. "... Want to kiss me?"

The blunt question made Bai Xue's face turn bright red instantly. She stammered, trying to explain, but Su Rui lowered his head and kissed her. The kiss was gentle and lingering, with the sweetness of honey water and the fragrance of Evening Primrose.

The hooting of an owl echoed in the distance, and dusk gradually enveloped the fields. Bai Xue leaned against Su Rui's chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, and suddenly felt that all the day's journey had been worthwhile.

"We..." she whispered, "... would you like to spend the night here?"

Su Rui's ears twitched. "... Cold."

"I have a blanket!" Bai Xue hurriedly pulled a thick wool blanket from her bag. "Besides, Evening Primrose needs moonlight to retain its medicinal properties..."

Her excuse was lame, but Su Rui didn't call her out on it. He took the blanket and found a flat rock on the edge of the cliff to spread it out. "... Just for one night."

Volume 15, Chapter 871: Eat Now

Bai Xue cheered and quickly began preparing a simple dinner. Su Rui gathered some firewood and started a small campfire. The firelight illuminated his profile, outlining his deep features.

A night breeze began to rise, carrying the unique scent of wild grass and trees. Bai Xue leaned on Su Rui's shoulder, gazing at the starry sky and the slowly rising moon. Evening Primrose glowed faintly in the wooden box, as if responding to the moonlight's call.

"Su Rui."

"Um?"

"Next time..." Bai Xue's voice trailed off, "Shall we go gather herbs somewhere else?"

Su Rui's tail gently wrapped around her waist. "... Okay."

This simple promise seemed especially precious under the moonlight. Bai Xue closed her eyes contentedly, listening to the crackling of the campfire and Su Rui's steady breathing, and gradually drifted off to sleep.

In the distance, the shadow of a Silver Wolf swept silently past in the moonlight, then quickly disappeared into the night.

As dawn broke, Su Rui woke up first.

He found himself curled up on the rock in an extremely awkward position—his back against the cold stone wall, while a warm person was wrapped around him in his arms. Bai Xue was clinging to him, her head resting on his shoulder, one hand unconsciously clutching the front of his shirt, fast asleep.

Su Rui's tail froze in mid-air, afraid to move. He looked down at Bai Xue's sleeping face—her eyelashes looked exceptionally long in the morning light, and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, as if she were having a sweet dream. Her cheeks were bulging out a small mound of soft flesh because of her sleeping position, making her look more childlike than usual.

The rock was digging into his back, causing him pain, but Su Rui didn't want to move. He carefully adjusted his position to make Bai Xue more comfortable, gently wrapping his tail around her waist to prevent her from rolling off.

The distant mountains were gradually tinged with gold, and the morning mist drifted slowly through the forest. The wooden box containing Evening Primrose lay at their feet, its leaves gleaming faintly silver after a night bathed in moonlight.

"Um..."

Bai Xue suddenly snuggled against him, groggily opening her eyes. Her gaze first fell blankly on Su Rui's chin, then slowly moved upwards, meeting his amber eyes.

"Good morning..." She stammered, suddenly realizing she was lying on top of Su Rui, and her ears burned with embarrassment. "I... how could I..."

Su Rui's ears turned red, but her expression remained relatively calm. "... You're cold."

The temperature plummeted in the middle of the night last night, and Bai Xue, still asleep, kept trying to burrow towards the heat source, eventually rolling into Su Rui's arms. He initially wanted to push her back, but seeing her shivering in her sleep, he ultimately acquiesced to this transgression.

Bai Xue tried to get up in a flustered manner, but accidentally pressed down on the base of Su Rui's tail.

"Hiss--"

Su Rui suddenly stiffened, its tail slapping against the rock with a "thud." Bai Xue, too frightened to move. "I'm... I'm sorry!"

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Su Rui recovered first and gently patted her wrist with the tip of her tail. "... It's okay."

Bai Xue carefully sat up, only to find that her hair had come undone, with a silver bell hairpin hanging crookedly at her temple. She hurriedly tried to fix her hair, but then heard a loud protest from her stomach—

"Gurgle--"

In the quiet morning, the sound was exceptionally clear. Bai Xue clutched her stomach in embarrassment, "I... I'm hungry..."