Ark Simulator, Am I Not Without a Physical Body? Chapter 501

Volume 18, Chapter 1188: Remember to keep it safe.

"... Don't reject me." She whispered on his lips, like the most devout prayer, and like the most fatal temptation.

At this moment, Su Rui's rationality completely collapsed. He turned around and tightly embraced the cold yet fragile, strong yet helpless woman in his arms, and deeply returned the kiss.

The moonlight flowed silently like water. The door to the bedchamber shut out all the wind, snow, and noise outside. Only their breaths and heartbeats intertwined in the quiet night, creating a most primal and moving melody.

The next day, early morning.

As the first rays of sunlight streamed through the high windows into the living quarters of the temple, Yela (Kjeragandr's human form) sat leisurely on a large stone chair covered with thick animal hides, holding a steaming cup of tea brewed with snow lotus and herbs unique to the Holy Mountain, sipping it casually. Her gaze seemed to sweep casually across the doorway, as if she were waiting for something.

Finally, footsteps could be heard in the corridor leading to the inner chambers.

The first to emerge was Enya. She had changed into a new saintly robe, her hair had been carefully combed again, and she wore a crown symbolizing her status. But her steps seemed somewhat unsteady and unsteady, as if she hadn't slept all night, or... had experienced something extremely exhausting. Her face was paler than usual, and the dark circles under her eyes were deeper, but her glacial sapphire eyes were brighter than ever, shimmering with an indescribable, delicate, and satisfied luster, like flowers nourished by rain. Her lips also seemed redder and fuller than usual, with a slight, barely perceptible swelling.

When she saw Yela, she paused almost imperceptibly, and two faint, unnatural blushes quickly rose on her cheeks. She awkwardly looked away, coughed softly, and tried to hide her unease.

"Good morning... good morning, Yela." Enya's voice was noticeably hoarse and... guilty.

Yela's hand, holding the teacup, paused almost imperceptibly. Her eyes, as deep as the starry sky, lingered on Enya for a moment, her gaze sweeping over Enya's slightly limping gait, her unnatural blush, and her obviously "well-groomed" complexion. Then, the corners of Yela's mouth, almost imperceptibly... curved upwards into an extremely subtle, knowing smile.

"Good morning, Enya." Yela's voice was as calm and distant as ever, but there was a hint of... amusement in her tone. "Did you sleep well last night?"

Enya's face flushed even redder! She could almost feel her ears burning! She hurriedly lowered her head, pretending to straighten her already neat cuffs, her voice barely audible. "N-nothing... thank you for your concern."

Yela's smile deepened, but she didn't point it out. She simply nodded and shifted her gaze to behind Enya.

Immediately after, Su Rui emerged from the corridor. He hadn't changed his clothes; he was still wearing the same dark gray loungewear from yesterday, though it looked wrinkled, as if... it had been crumpled all night? His hair was also somewhat disheveled, with a few strands of silver sticking up unruly. His face carried a mixture of satisfaction, exhaustion, and... a lingering, sleepwalking-like daze. His steps were similarly unsteady, even... more noticeably so than Enya's? Especially when he walked, it seemed... he subconsciously avoided putting weight on certain parts of his body?

He was also taken aback when he saw Yela, and then a suspicious blush quickly spread across his face. He awkwardly turned his face away, raised his hand, and scratched the back of his head unnaturally, trying to tame the few strands of hair that were sticking up.

"Good morning..." Su Rui's voice was even hoarseer Enya's, with a thick nasal tone and... a kind of guilty conscience as if she had been caught doing something wrong.

Yela's gaze swept back and forth between Su Rui and Enya. Seeing their identical expressions of "guilt," "exhaustion," and "refreshment," and noticing the distinctly different, almost invisible, bond and intimacy between them, the knowing smile on her lips could no longer be concealed. It widened into a clearly visible arc, carrying a blessing and... a hint of gentle teasing.

"It seems," Yela put down her teacup, her voice distant and seemingly echoing, "That last night... though the snow was heavy, the temple... was 'full of springtime'."

Enya and Su Rui's faces instantly turned as red as ripe apples! Almost simultaneously, they both abruptly lowered their heads, not daring to look at each other, much less at Yela's all-seeing gaze!

"I... I'm going to check today's prayer book!" Enya said, almost fleeing, and staggered towards the study.

Su Rui also wanted to find an excuse to slip away, but Yela's gaze was like the gentlest chain, softly locking him in.

"Su Rui." Yela called out to him, her voice still calm, yet carrying an undeniable authority.

Su Rui stiffened, forced to turn around and look at Yela, her face still flushed, her eyes flickering. "... Hmm?"

Yela looked at him, at this rare sight of him looking like a big boy who had done something wrong, and her smile deepened. She didn't scold him, nor did she press him for answers. She simply gazed at him quietly for a moment with her deep eyes, and then slowly said:

"Now that...our relationship has progressed further, you need to take even better care of Enya from now on, understand?" Her tone carried the gentleness and entrustment of an elder. "She...is much more fragile than you think."

Su Rui paused for a moment, then the blush on his face gradually faded, replaced by a serious and solemn expression. He glanced in the direction Enya had left, then turned to Yela and nodded almost imperceptibly, yet with unusual firmness.

"... I know." His voice, though hoarse, carried an unprecedented calmness and determination.

Yela nodded in satisfaction and said no more. She picked up her teacup again, gently blew on it to cool it, and gazed at the snow-capped mountains outside the window, as if everything that had just happened was merely a small interlude in the morning.

Su Rui stood there, watching Yela's nonchalant demeanor, and the awkwardness and unease he felt gradually dissipated. He had originally planned to go down the mountain today to wander around the SilverAsh Family's neighborhood, hoping to "bump into" that blond goat (the mace), settle yesterday's score, and figure out what she really meant by her inexplicable question, "Have you seen her before?"

Volume 18, Chapter 1189: The Future is Long

But at this moment, looking towards Enya's study, feeling the lingering afterglow of last night's wild and wonderful experience within me, and the newly established, heavy sense of responsibility and tenderness in my heart...

Su Rui's lips curled up almost imperceptibly. Forget it. Let's put that crazy woman's matter aside for now. Anyway, there's plenty of time.

Today... I'll spend some quality time with Enya. Seeing how unsteady she is, she must have been exhausted last night. Although, he himself... cough cough.

With this thought in mind, Su Rui turned around and started walking towards the study. Although his steps were still somewhat unsteady, his direction was exceptionally firm.

As for the commotion down the mountain, the inexplicable kisses and the hazy memories... let them drift away in the wind and snow for a while. At this moment, he only wanted to stay on this Holy Mountain, to stay by the side of the woman who had just opened her heart to him and given herself completely to him.

After all, some "debts" can be settled slowly, but some "feelings" need to be nurtured and cherished immediately and attentively.

The morning sunlight, filtering through the thinly polished ice crystals embedded in the high windows of the temple, casts dappled and cool light into the spacious and solemn living room. The air is filled with the bittersweet aroma of snow lotus and herbal tea, mingling with the unique, serene, and timeless atmosphere of the ancient stone and wood architecture.

Yela (in human form) sat leisurely on the large stone chair covered with thick snow leopard skin, holding a cup of steaming tea in her hands. However, her gaze was not on the ripples in the cup, but rather on the movement of the other two figures in the living room with a barely perceptible, gentle and playful smile.

Enya sat behind a desk not far from her, several scrolls of parchment concerning the affairs of temples throughout Kjerag spread out before her. But her attention was clearly not entirely on the dry text. Every now and then, her gaze would drift to the other side of the living room—where Su Rui was somewhat clumsily trying to move a heavy-looking sandalwood table, carved with intricate snowflake patterns, from one end of the room to the other to make more space.

Su Rui's movements were noticeably stiff and cautious. His back was ramrod straight, as if he were trying his best to maintain a "everything is normal" posture, but his slightly furrowed brows and the occasional twitch of his mouth due to slightly larger movements betrayed the discomfort in his body and... the aftereffects of last night's "overwork". Especially when he bent down to move the low table, the instantaneous stiffness of his back and the almost inaudible gasp made Enya behind the desk blush quickly, and she lowered her head somewhat guiltily, pretending to be focused on the file in her hands.

Yela took it all in, her smile deepening. She gently blew on the hot tea in her cup, letting out a barely audible sigh, tinged with understanding and amusement.

"Ahem." Enya seemed startled by the soft sigh, coughing slightly in embarrassment as she tried to break the delicate silence. She put down her Quill, looked up, but dared not meet Yela's gaze directly. Instead, her eyes drifted to Su Rui, who was struggling with the low table. Her voice carried a barely perceptible concern and... a guilty conscience. "Su Rui... um, if you're not feeling well, then... don't move it. Leave it... I'll do it."

Su Rui paused. He straightened up, turned his head, and looked at Enya. Sunlight outlined the contours of his profile, and his fluffy snow leopard ears twitched almost imperceptibly, as if sensitive to the word "uncomfortable." A very faint blush rose to his cheeks, but he quickly suppressed it. He waved his hand, feigning composure and even a bit of bravado, his voice slightly hoarse. "... It's nothing. Just a small matter."

After saying that, he took a deep breath, bent down again, and used his arm strength to lift the low table steadily off the ground. However, in that instant, the muscles in his lower back visibly tensed, and a few small beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Enya watched, her heart aching with guilt, making her restless. She instinctively stood up, wanting to help, but the moment she took a step, she met Yela's deep, all-seeing eyes, tinged with a faint smile. Enya froze, her cheeks flushing crimson, as if caught red-handed doing something wrong. She hurriedly looked away, standing there helplessly, unsure whether to go forward or retreat.

Yela watched the two "young people" who had clearly taken the most intimate step, yet had become even more shy, awkward, and cautious towards each other, and her smile almost overflowed. She put down her teacup, stood up, and walked gracefully and calmly to Su Rui's side.

"Alright, stop being stubborn." Yela's voice was gentle yet carried an undeniable authority. She extended her long, slender, white fingers and gently placed them on the other end of the low table, seemingly casually lifting it. Su Rui immediately felt the weight in her hands lighten considerably, as if the heavy low table had suddenly turned into a feather.

He looked at Yela with some surprise. Yela smiled at him, a smile as clear and warm as a melting glacier on a snow-capped mountain, carrying a maternal sense of acceptance and understanding. She didn't speak, but simply gestured for him to let go with her eyes.

Su Rui hesitated for a moment, but finally let go. Yela placed the low table in its proper place with ease, as if she were holding a cloud, her movements fluid and elegant, as if it were effortless.

After doing all this, Yela turned around, her gaze shifting between Su Rui and Enya, finally settling on Su Rui. She reached out and, with an extremely natural and caring gesture, gently wiped away the few beads of sweat that had appeared on Su Rui's forehead from the exertion.

Her fingertips were slightly cool, and when they touched Su Rui's skin, they sent a distinct shiver down his spine. Su Rui's body stiffened instantly, and his ears turned red uncontrollably. He instinctively wanted to pull away, but Yela's gaze was gentle and focused, carrying a power that he couldn't refuse, a power that seemed to soothe all fatigue and discomfort.

"Thank you for your hard work." Yela's voice was very soft, only Su Rui could hear it. But those three simple words seemed to contain a thousand words, making Su Rui's heart clench suddenly. A mixture of shame, warmth and... an indescribable fluttering sensation instantly surged through his body. He knew that Yela was referring to much more than just moving the low table.

Volume 18, page 1190: I didn't get enough rest.

Yela's hand didn't leave immediately. Her fingertips gently brushed against Su Rui's brow bone, the movement as soft as a spring breeze. Then, her gaze shifted to Enya, who was watching them nervously not far away, and a meaningful smile curved her lips.

"Enya, you've had a tough time too." Yela's voice rose slightly, carrying a hint of obvious teasing. "Last night... the snow was very heavy, you must not have slept well, right?"

Enya's face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple! She wanted to disappear into the ground! She frantically lowered her head, her hands tightly gripping the sleeves of her saintly robe, her voice barely a whisper, "Ye... Yela... don't... don't say anymore..."

Su Rui's face turned bright red. He awkwardly turned his face away, not daring to look at Yela or Enya. He had never imagined that this usually majestic, mysterious, and unapproachable deity, as lofty as the snow-capped mountain itself, would have such a... "mischievous" side!

Seeing the two of them looking like they wanted to disappear on the spot, Yela finally couldn't help but let out a clear, melodious laugh, like a wind chime. She withdrew her hand, no longer "torturing" the shy lovers, and turned around, gracefully walking towards the long couch with soft cushions in the center of the room.

"Come and sit down." Yela sat down on one side of the couch, patted the empty seat next to her, and glanced at Su Rui and Enya. "Don't stand. There's nothing important today, so just take a good 'rest'."

Her tone carried an undeniable yet caring assertiveness.

Enya and Su Rui exchanged a glance. Enya's eyes were filled with pleading and shyness, while Su Rui's eyes were full of helplessness and... a hint of resignation. In the end, the two of them dawdled, like elementary school students being called on by the teacher, and walked toward the tatami mat.

Enya hesitated for a moment, then chose to sit to Yela's left, trying to stay as far away from the "culprit" (Su Rui) as possible. Su Rui, on the other hand, braced herself and sat down in the empty seat to Yela's right. Yela was between them, as if that could isolate them from the awkward atmosphere that made their hearts race.

However, they clearly underestimated Yela's "bad sense of humor" and... some deeper intention.

As Yela watched the two settle down, that meaningful smile reappeared on her lips. She first turned her head to look at Enya beside her, reached out, and very naturally and gently tidied a stray strand of silver hair behind Enya's ear, her movements as gentle as a mother's towards her daughter.

"Is your body... alright?" Yela's voice was low, carrying a concern and teasing tone that only Enya could understand. "The first time... is always a bit tough."

Enya's cheeks were practically burning! She quickly glanced at Su Rui on the other side, and seeing that he seemed to be studying the pattern on her cuffs (pretending not to hear), she breathed a slight sigh of relief and replied in an almost inaudible voice, "N-nothing... Thank you, Yela your concern, Yela..."

Yela nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at Su Rui on the other side.

Although Su Rui kept his head down, all his senses were on high alert. He could clearly feel Yela's gaze, like a searchlight, falling on him. His back tensed instantly.

Yela didn't speak. She simply extended the hand that had just brushed through Enya's hair and, with the same natural and gentle movement, placed it on the back of Su Rui's hand, which was resting on her knee.

Su Rui's hand trembled violently, almost reflexively pulling it back! But he forcibly restrained the impulse, stiffly allowing Yela's hand to cover the back of his hand. Yela's hand was warm and dry, possessing a strange, seemingly soothing power. But at this moment, this touch only made Su Rui feel waves of heart-pounding fear and... indescribable tension.

"Su Rui." Yela's voice rang in his ears, gentle yet with a penetrating power he couldn't ignore, "You...did very well."

Su Rui: "..." He abruptly looked up at Yela, his eyes filled with disbelief, shock, and... immense embarrassment! What was she saying?! This was... too much!

Yela seemed quite pleased with his reaction, her smile deepening. Instead of withdrawing her hand, she gently stroked the back of Su Rui's hand with her fingertips, as if soothing a frightened feline.

"Enya ... needs someone to take care of her, and she needs someone... to keep her company." Yela's voice was calm and distant, as if reciting an ancient prophecy. "You... are the best choice. I'm so glad to see you... come this far."

Su Rui's face turned bright red, almost dripping blood! He opened his mouth, wanting to say something to refute or explain, but all the words were stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single word. What could he say? "Thank you for the compliment"? Or "It was all an accident"? Either way, it seemed utterly absurd and shameful!

Meanwhile, Enya, upon hearing Yela's words, blushed even more, her cheeks turning a fiery red! She was so ashamed she almost buried her face in her knees! Good heavens! Yela... how could Yela... say it so directly! This, this is simply...

Looking at the two "young people" beside her, like two boiled shrimp, filled with shame and indignation yet with nowhere to escape, Yela's pleasure reached its peak. She suddenly felt that occasionally "teasing" them like this was... quite interesting. Moreover, seeing the bond between them, strengthened and inseparable by their shyness, a faint sense of satisfaction and contentment welled up within her, like watching her carefully cultivated garden finally bloom with beautiful flowers.

She stopped speaking and simply sat quietly, one hand gently resting on Enya's shoulder, the other still covering the back of Su Rui's hand. Her gaze shifted between the two, carrying a knowing, gentle yet powerful sense of acceptance.

Su Rui and Enya sat stiffly on either side of Yela, not daring to move. An extremely ambiguous, awkward, yet strangely... warm atmosphere filled the air. Su Rui could clearly feel the warmth of Yela's palms and the faint, herbal scent emanating from Enya. Caught between them, he felt as if surrounded by two gentle yet powerful forces, with nowhere to escape, and... unwilling to escape.

This feeling of being "sandwiched" made him so embarrassed that he wanted to disappear on the spot, but deep down, a strange, reassuring feeling also arose. It was as if this was his destined home. It was as if these two women were his strongest support and warmest harbor in this strange and dangerous world.

Volume 18, Chapter 1191: What are they planning?

However, this "warm" balance did not last long.

Yela seemed to think she hadn't teased him enough. She glanced at Enya on her left, who was too shy to look up, and then at Su Rui on her right, who was stiff and had her ears burning red. A sly glint flashed in her eyes.

Her hand, which was resting on the back of Su Rui's hand, suddenly moved. Her fingertips, like feathers, gently scratched the skin on the back of Su Rui's hand.

Su Rui's body trembled violently! He instinctively tried to pull his hand back, but Yela's hand, like an iron clamp (though gentle), held him firmly in place.

At the same time, Yela removed her other hand from Enya's shoulder and gently lifted Enya's chin, which had been hanging down, forcing her to look up at her.

Enya was forced to raise her head, her eyes still showing lingering shyness and confusion. Yela smiled slightly at her, a smile that carried a tacit understanding and... a hint of encouragement like "accomplices".

Then, before Su Rui could react and was still feeling uneasy about the chilling scratching sensation on the back of her hand, Yela and Enya, as if they had agreed beforehand, moved at the same time!

Yela's hand, which was covering Su Rui's hand, suddenly flipped over, her fingers spread, and she grabbed Su Rui's wrist! On the other side, Enya, encouraged by Yela's gaze, also seemed to have mustered her courage, and with lightning speed, she reached out and grabbed Su Rui's other wrist!

Su Rui: "!!!"

He snapped back to his senses and tried to struggle, but it was too late! Yela's power was unfathomable, as unshakeable as a mountain! And Enya, though not very strong, seemed to have been infused with some kind of "courage" at this moment, gripping him exceptionally tightly!

"What... what are you doing?!" Su Rui's voice trembled with shock and shame. He tried to break free, but his wrists were firmly held, and his body was trapped between them, leaving him with no leverage! He was like a snow leopard caught in a trap, struggling in vain, only to receive even more "pleasant" smiles from the two "hunters".

Yela and Enya, one on each side, gripped Su Rui's wrists tightly, firmly "fixing" him to the center of the couch. They exchanged a glance, their eyes sparkling with a knowing, mischievous, and gleaming light.

"Are you... thinking of something bad?" Su Rui looked at the two of them with their identical sly smiles, and alarm bells went off in her heart. An ominous premonition arose spontaneously.

Yela and Enya exchanged another glance, then, in unison, with an extremely innocent yet slightly cunning tone, replied:

Of course not~

Before the words were even finished, the two women gripping Su Rui's wrists simultaneously exerted force, gently pulling Su Rui's body in their respective directions!

Caught off guard, Su Rui instantly lost his balance and involuntarily fell towards the center! His eyes widened in horror as two beautiful faces with similar smiles rapidly magnified in his vision!

Immediately afterwards, two hands, one on the left and one on the right, with almost the same force and... an indescribable "tacit understanding," simultaneously... pinched his cheeks!

Yela's fingers, long and strong, carried a cool, icy touch, yet remained gentle, lightly pinching the soft flesh of Su Rui's left cheek. Enya's fingers, slender and soft, carried her unique warmth and a slight tremor of nervousness, precisely... pinching the soft flesh of Su Rui's right cheek!

"!!!"

Su Rui's pupils dilated instantly! His mind went completely Blank! He couldn't understand how things had turned out this way! One second it was warm (?) care, the next it was... being publicly "ravaged"?!

"Ugh... let... let go..." Su Rui protested indistinctly, her cheeks slightly distorted from being pinched, and her lips involuntarily pouting, making her look... both pitiful and strangely adorable, making people want to bully her even more.

Seeing Su Rui's helpless state, Yela and Enya's smiles burst forth in radiant joy. Yela's smile was like a thawing glacier, carrying the mercy and pleasure of a god; Enya's smile was like a snow lotus in bloom, carrying the shyness of a young girl and the joy of finally releasing her small, triumphant "revenge."

Instead of letting go, the two of them seemed to have found some interesting toy and began to gently, from both sides, knead and rub Su Rui's wonderfully soft and elastic cheeks!

"Feels... not bad." Yela pinched it, commenting seriously, but her eyes were full of mockery.

"Mmm... soft..." Enya blushed and whispered in agreement, but her fingers clenched even tighter, as if she wanted to get back a little bit of the "revenge" she had suffered from him last night.

Su Rui: "..." He gave up struggling. He realized with despair that under the combined attack of these two, he had no chance of resistance. He could only sit there stiffly, letting his cheeks be kneaded and shaped like dough by the two women of noble status (one a god, the other a saint).

His heart was filled with a tremendous sense of absurdity and... a trace of indulgence and pampering that he himself was unwilling to admit. He looked at the rare, childlike pure joy in Yela's eyes, and at the bright and radiant smile on Enya's face that had finally dissipated from her shyness and unease. The shame and indignation in his heart that had been "ravaged" actually... gradually dissipated.

"Never mind... "Su Rui sighed inwardly, a sigh tinged with a hint of tenderness. As long as they're happy... that's all that matters.

Sunlight gently spilled onto the long couch, enveloping the three in a warm and bright halo. The deity, the saintess, and the snow leopard boy of unknown origin created a strange yet incredibly harmonious and heartwarming scene. The air seemed to be filled with an atmosphere sweeter than snow lotus and warmer than sunlight... an atmosphere called "home."

As for Su Rui's cheeks, which were slightly red from being pinched but looked even more "delicious"... well, that's probably a "sweet trouble."

Sunlight streamed through the temple's high windows, casting bright spots of light into the living room once more. But this time, the light seemed to carry a hint of ambiguity, silently illuminating Su Rui (Snow Leopard version), who was being "sandwiched" on the long couch, his cheeks brutally "ravaged," and the two "culprits" beside him, their lips curled into smiles and their eyes gleaming with cunning.

Su Rui's cheeks were flushed with a healthy blush as Yela and Enya kneaded them from both sides in a tacit agreement. He protested indistinctly, trying to break free from their clutches, but with his body sandwiched between them and his wrists firmly held, his struggles were extremely limited. He was more like a cat with its paws pinned down, making futile attempts to pounce.