Ark Simulator, Am I Not Without a Physical Body? Chapter 408

Su Rui stretched her arm, which had gone numb from being pressed down, and got up to gather the blanket. "Let's go back to eat."

"But..." Bai Xue looked at him expectantly, "I suddenly really want to eat barbecue..."

This sudden request startled Su Rui. They were in the wilderness, at least half a day's journey from Lungmen; where would they get roasted meat?

"It's..." Bai Xue gestured, "... the kind that's freshly baked, sizzling with oil, and sprinkled with cumin..."

She became more and more enthusiastic as she spoke, her eyes sparkling as if she could already smell the aroma of meat. Su Rui looked at her helplessly, flicking her tail slightly. "... Wait until we get back."

"But I want to eat it now..." Bai Xue tugged at his sleeve, her voice unconsciously taking on a coquettish tone, "The kind you grilled in the yard last time..."

She was referring to the outdoor barbecue Su Rui had in the backyard of Wenyue Estate last month. That day, he hunted a wild rabbit, marinated it with special spices, and roasted it until it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The aroma wafted throughout the entire Wenyue Estate. Bai Xue ate two whole plates of it and still remembers it fondly.

Su Rui glanced at the sky, then at Bai Xue's expectant eyes, and finally sighed, "... Wait."

He turned and walked towards the woods not far away, his tail tracing a graceful arc in the morning light. Bai Xue jumped up in surprise. "Really?"

"Okay." Su Rui waved her hand without turning her head. "Don't run around."

Half an hour later, a campfire was lit on the edge of the cliff.

Su Rui had hunted a plump pheasant from somewhere, cleaned it, skewered it on a branch, and roasted it over a fire. He was skilled at it, turning it occasionally to ensure the meat heated evenly.

Bai Xue squatted down beside them, her eyes glued to the chicken as it gradually turned golden brown, her mouth practically watering. "It smells so good..."

Su Rui's lips curled up slightly as he pulled a small cloth bag from his baggage—it contained spices he always carried with him, a mixture of cumin, chili, and several special herbs.

"You even brought this?" Bai Xue asked in surprise.

"...*used."

Su Rui's technique of sprinkling spices was nothing short of an art. With a gentle flick of her fingers, the evenly distributed powder landed on the sizzling, oily chicken, instantly releasing an even richer aroma. Bai Xue's stomach growled again, this time even louder.

"How much longer...?" she asked anxiously.

Su Rui pointed the tip of her tail at the sun. "... a quarter of an hour."

The wait felt incredibly long. Bai Xue would circle the campfire, then sniff the aroma, like a puppy waiting for food. Su Rui was amused and wanted to laugh, but she held it in, though her ears twitched with delight.

"Su Rui," Bai Xue suddenly said, "Will you teach me how to grill meat?"

Su Rui raised an eyebrow. "... Why?"

"In case you're not around anymore, I can bake it myself!"

These words made Su Rui's tail stiffen. He was silent for a moment, then moved aside to make room for Bai Xue: "... Come here."

Bai Xue excitedly sat down beside him, mimicking his gesture of holding the branch. Su Rui placed his hand over hers, guiding her to slowly rotate it. "... Slowly."

His voice was right beside her ear, his breath brushing against her earlobe, carrying the warmth unique to the morning. Bai Xue's heart pounded involuntarily, her fingers trembling slightly. "This... like this?"

"Hmm." Su Rui's tail had somehow wrapped around her waist. "Continue."

The two leaned against each other, slowly turning the branches. Chicken fat dripped into the fire, sizzling and filling the air with an increasingly rich aroma. The sunlight grew stronger, shining on them and casting their shadows on the rocks behind them, so intimately close.

"It seems like it's ready to eat?" Bai Xue asked tentatively.

Volume 15, Chapter 872: Lake Water

Su Rui released his grip, pulled a small knife from his waist, and cut off a small piece of chicken. "... Try it."

Bai Xue eagerly took it, but was burned and blew on it, saying, "It's so hot!"

Su Rui shook her head helplessly, took the piece of meat, gently blew on it to cool it down, and then held it to her lips. "... Slow down."

Bai Xue opened her mouth and took a bite, her eyes instantly squinting with happiness. "So delicious!"

The chicken had a crispy skin and was tender and juicy inside. The spices were just right, neither masking the meat's flavor nor diminishing its richness. She wolfed it down, then looked longingly at the rest. "More..."

Su Rui cut off a larger piece, this time remembering to blow on it to cool it down first. "... Here you go."

And just like that, the whole pheasant was quickly devoured. Bai Xue, her mouth glistening with oil, licked her fingers with lingering satisfaction. "This is the best roast meat I've ever eaten!"

A hint of a smile flickered in Su Rui's eyes, and she gently patted Suri's back with her tail. "... Wipe your mouth."

Bai Xue casually wiped the oil stain with the back of her hand, only to spread it even wider. Su Rui sighed, took out a handkerchief, and wiped it for her personally. His movements were very gentle, his fingertips occasionally brushing against the corner of her lips, bringing a slight shiver.

"Su Rui," Bai Xue suddenly grabbed his wrist, "You're so kind."

Sunlight danced on her eyelashes, casting a shimmering golden halo. Su Rui's Adam's apple bobbed, and he suddenly lowered his head to kiss her. The kiss was tender and lingering, carrying the aroma of roasted meat and the freshness of morning dew.

Bai Xue was taken aback for a moment, then closed her eyes in response. Her hand unconsciously climbed onto Su Rui's shoulder, her fingertips sinking into the softness of his silver hair.

"Um..." Her face was already flushed when they parted, "Suddenly..."

Su Rui's ears were bright red, but her expression remained calm. "... A reward."

What reward?

"... good."

The simple word made Bai Xue's heart skip a beat. She wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by the chirping of birds in the distance. Su Rui looked up at the sky and began to tidy up the mess. "It's time to go back."

Bai Xue helped extinguish the campfire and carefully placed the wooden box of Evening Primrose into the medicine basket. The aroma of roasted meat still lingered on her lips, and her heart was filled with reluctance. "Can I come again next time?"

Su Rui fastened her bag, and her tail gently wrapped around her wrist. "... Mmm."

This promise made Bai Xue's eyes crinkle with laughter. She took Su Rui's hand, and the two walked back along the path they had come from. Morning light filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on them.

In the distance, the outline of Lungmen gradually became clear. Smoke rose from the city, signaling the official start of a new day.

"Su Rui."

"Um?"

"Can we still have barbecue tonight?"

"..."

"Just a small piece!"

"... It depends."

Their voices faded into the distance, mingling with the morning breeze. The embers of the campfire on the cliff edge were whipped up by the wind, swirling and rising into the sky.

The return journey was much slower than the way there.

Bai Xue's steps were slow and hesitant, and she would stop every now and then to look at the wildflowers or strange stones by the roadside. Su Rui didn't urge her, but just followed quietly behind her, her tail swaying gently, sweeping through the grass along the way and startling a few colorful butterflies.

"Su Rui, look!" Bai Xue suddenly squatted down, pointing to a cluster of small purple flowers by the roadside, "Isn't this perilla, which can be used in medicine?"

Su Rui leaned closer to look and nodded in confirmation. His silver hair fell down, brushing against Bai Xue's cheek, carrying a faint minty scent.

"Shall we pick some to take back?" Bai Xue looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. "Lady Wenyue said last time that she wanted to brew tea with fresh perilla."

Su Rui curled her tail around her waist and used the small knife at her waist to deftly cut off a few of the best-looking plants, handing them to Bai Xue: "... Be careful of the roots."

Bai Xue carefully took the medicine, placing the perilla leaves into the medicine basket, next to the wooden box containing the Evening Primrose. Her fingertips were stained with dirt, which she casually wiped on her skirt, leaving a few faint marks. Su Rui's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly—he was always meticulous about cleanliness, but he had learned to turn a blind eye to Bai Xue's little actions.

"Are you hungry?" Bai Xue suddenly asked. "I remember you had some dry food in your bag?"

She wasn't actually hungry; the barbecue from earlier hadn't fully digested yet, but she just didn't want to go back so soon. The high walls of Lungmen were already faintly visible, and the thought of returning to that place full of rules made her inexplicably irritable.

Su Rui pulled a paper package from his bag—it contained red bean cakes specially made in Wenyue Estate, Aju had secretly given him before he left. Bai Xue cheered, took the cake, and took a big bite. The sweet red bean filling immediately overflowed and clung to the corner of her mouth.

"Mmm... so sweet!" she mumbled, squinting her eyes in satisfaction.

Su Rui's tail gently patted her wrist, signaling her to eat slowly. He took a piece himself, taking small bites with an elegant gesture, as if he were savoring some delicacy.

"Su Rui," Bai Xue swallowed the last bite of her red bean cake and suddenly said, "Shall we stay one more day?"

Su Rui's ears twitched. "... Why?"

"Well..." Bai Xue kicked a pebble at her feet, "It's rare for me to come out."

She didn't reveal her true thoughts—in the wilderness, Su Rui seemed more relaxed, his silver hair shimmering in the sunlight, his tail no longer constantly taut. But at Wenyue Estate, he always stood silently in the shadows, like a sword sheathed.

Su Rui glanced at the sky, then at Bai Xue's expectant eyes, and finally nodded. "... Mm."

This simple syllable made Bai Xue so happy she almost jumped for joy. She grabbed Su Rui's arm. "Great! I know there's a small lake up ahead, we can go camp there!"

Su Rui let her pull him forward, his tail wagging happily. He actually liked this carefree feeling too—no tasks, no rules, just sunshine, a gentle breeze, and this chattering girl beside him.

The lake is even more beautiful than I imagined.

The water's surface resembled a giant sapphire, reflecting the surrounding green mountains and white clouds. Soft grass lined the shore, dotted with wildflowers of various colors. Several water birds swam in the center of the lake, leaving ripples in their wake.

"Here it is!" Bai Xue cheered as she ran towards the lake, almost tripping over her own wooden clogs.

With lightning speed, Su Rui grabbed the back of her collar and lifted her up like a kitten. "... Be careful."

"Hehe." Bai Xue chuckled shyly, took off her wooden clogs, and stepped barefoot onto the grass. "So soft!"

Her toes sank into the grass and mud, feeling the warmth of the earth. Su Rui followed suit and took off her boots, her silvery tail finally unfurling, gleaming softly in the sunlight.

"I'm going to find something to eat." Su Rui placed her bag on a flat rock. "Don't go into the water."

Bai Xue nodded obediently, watching him walk towards the woods. Su Rui's figure appeared exceptionally tall in the sunlight, his silver hair swaying gently with each step, like some kind of elegant wild beast.

After his figure disappeared, Bai Xue immediately took off her outer robe, wearing only her close-fitting rupan, and ran to the lakeside. The lake water was crystal clear, and she carefully stretched out her foot to test the water temperature—it was cool but very comfortable.

"Just for a little while..." she muttered to herself, slowly stepping into the water.

When the lake water reached above her knees, she saw several small fish swim past her feet, their scales shimmering in the sunlight. Bai Xue excitedly chased after them, but stepped on a slippery rock—

"Ah!"

She fell backward, splashing a huge spray of water. The lake water instantly soaked her clothes, and the icy touch made her shiver.

Volume 15, Chapter 873: It was just a slip of the hand.

"Bai Xue!"

Su Rui's voice came from not far away, tinged with rare panic. Bai Xue scrambled to her feet and saw him rush out of the woods by the water, carrying a struggling wild rabbit in his hand.

"I'm fine!" she quickly waved her hand, "I just slipped..."

Su Rui's expression was grim. He dropped the rabbit, strode to the lakeside, his tail bristling like a feather duster. "... I told you not to go in the water."

"I just wanted to wash my feet..." Bai Xue explained softly, her wet hair plastered to her face, making her look like a drowned rat.

Su Rui sighed and reached out to pull her ashore. His palms were warm and dry, a stark contrast to Bai Xue's cold fingers.

"Cold..." Bai Xue unconsciously leaned closer to him, her teeth chattering slightly.

Su Rui's tail immediately wrapped around her waist, and with her other hand, she untied her outer robe and wrapped it around her. "... Go back."

"No!" Bai Xue tugged at his sleeve, "You're soaked through, you can't walk..."

She deliberately feigned a pitiful state, looking at Su Rui with teary eyes. This trick always worked— Su Rui's ears twitched, and she finally relented, bending down. "... Come on up."

Bai Xue happily climbed onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Su Rui's body heat seeped through her soaked clothes, dispelling the chill of the lake water. His silver hair brushed against Bai Xue's cheek, carrying a reassuring scent.

"Su Rui," Bai Xue whispered in his ear, "You're so kind."

Su Rui's ears turned red instantly, and her tail involuntarily tightened. "... Stop fooling around."

The campfire was quickly lit.

Bai Xue changed into dry spare clothes and sat by the fire to dry her hair. Su Rui, on the other hand, dealt with the unfortunate rabbit with clean and efficient movements. His silver hair shone with a warm gold in the firelight, and his profile was particularly well-defined.

"When did you learn to cook?" Bai Xue asked curiously.

Su Rui paused for a moment. "... When I was little."

He didn't explain in detail, but Bai Xue knew it couldn't have been a pleasant memory. Su Rui rarely mentioned her life before joining Wenyue Estate, only occasionally revealing her fondness for certain foods.

"I love your cooking," Bai Xue said softly, "Even better than the food at Wenyue Estate."

Su Rui's ears twitched with pleasure as he continued his work. He cut the rabbit meat into small pieces, skewered them on a sharpened twig, and sprinkled them with the spices he carried with him. The flames licked the meat, soon releasing an enticing aroma.

"Here you go." He handed one skewer to Bai Xue first, "Be careful, it's hot."

Bai Xue took the meat skewer and eagerly took a bite. "Hot, hot, hot!"

She was panting, tears welling up in her eyes. Su Rui shook her head helplessly, took the skewers of meat, and blew on them to cool them down. "... What's the rush?"

His lips were slightly pouting, appearing exceptionally soft in the firelight. Bai Xue stared, somewhat lost in thought, until the meat skewers were offered to her again. "... It's ready."

This time, she ate in small bites, enjoying the burst of juices in her mouth. Su Rui's grilled meat was always just right—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, with the spices perfectly blended, making it irresistible.

"You eat some too," Bai Xue said, handing him another skewer. "Don't just focus on me."

Su Rui took the skewer of meat and took a slow, deliberate bite. He ate elegantly, unlike Bai Xue who wolfed it down, but he was still quite fast. The two of them sat around the campfire, sharing this simple, delicious meal.