A Tender Kiss Across Ten Thousand Years

Forget it.

She would give him a little chance.

An idea struck Wang Qiu'er. She decided to tease that big fool Huo Yuhao.

With that thought,

the corners of Wang Qiu'er's mouth lifted slightly. She walked toward Huo Yuhao step by step, while he tensed and backed away without even realizing it.

What was Qiu'er up to?

She wasn't about to play another trick, was she?

He couldn't speak for anyone else, but though Qiu'er seemed cold on the outside, she was deeply sensitive. Judging by her manner, she had surely made some kind of decision.

Huo Yuhao was nervous beyond words. With Qiu'er taking the initiative like this, he could hear his own heart pounding.

"Don't move."

Wang Qiu'er had already reached him.

She rose boldly onto her toes and leaned in, staring straight into his eyes. "Tell me, who's prettier, Dong'er or me..."

Thump, thump, thump-thump-thump, thump-thump-thump-thump...

Huo Yuhao's heartbeat raced as he gazed nervously at the face he had dreamed of day and night.

He even swallowed without meaning to.

Oh heavens.

That was a question that could get him killed. Had Qiu'er turned the tables on him?

Huo Yuhao was utterly flustered, but he still answered earnestly, "Dong'er is ten thousand years in the future... Right now, you're the only one in my heart."

Seeing Huo Yuhao flounder like a big fool under her pressure sent Wang Qiu'er's desire to conquer him soaring.

Huo Yuhao, Huo Yuhao, I never thought I'd see you like this. Where did all that coldness you showed me back then go?

She had loved him without ever having him.

This time, no matter what, I'll make you feel it for yourself. And until I'm completely satisfied, I'll make sure to punish you properly.

With that thought,

Wang Qiu'er grew bolder. She reached out, seized Huo Yuhao's collar, and tugged him closer, stopping only when they could feel each other's breath. "Do you really mean that?"

"You... I..."

No one had ever flirted back at Huo Yuhao so boldly. He was so thrown off that his words tangled together. "What should I do?"

"What are you thinking?"

The corners of Wang Qiu'er's mouth lifted slightly. Then, as if bored, she pushed Huo Yuhao away. "You'd better not let your imagination run wild..."

That was it?

Huo Yuhao stared blankly at Wang Qiu'er, who had turned cold again.

What had just happened seemed as fleeting as a night-blooming flower.

She'd toyed with him!

"Qiu'er..."

Huo Yuhao came back to himself and gave an awkward smile. "You've changed. You're nothing like the Qiu'er from ten thousand years in the future."

"Yes, I've changed."

Wang Qiu'er sighed. As if something had come back to her, a flash of self-mockery and melancholy crossed her eyes. "You should understand by now. I'm no longer the Wang Qiu'er you loved. I'm not the Wang Qiu'er from ten thousand years in the future. I'm just the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, untouched by Tang San's schemes and without that wisp of Tang Wutong's divine consciousness."

"Qiu'er... That's not what I meant."

Huo Yuhao froze. He knew Qiu'er might have misunderstood him, but for a moment he had no idea what to say.

But Qiu'er was Qiu'er.

The Qiu'er he had known had possessed a personality of her own, whether or not she carried Tang Wutong's divine consciousness. After all, Tang San had extracted that wisp only after Qiu'er sacrificed herself, all to seize the Golden Dragon King Bloodline.

He loved the Qiu'er from ten thousand years in the future.

And he loved the Qiu'er standing before him just as much.

His thoughts were a tangled skein, and he forgot to tell her what he truly felt.

Damn this mouth!

Why couldn't he get the words out when it mattered most?

"Hmph."

Wang Qiu'er seemed disappointed in him, too. She turned to look toward Spirit Hall Academy and sighed. "Forget it. It's getting late, and I should return to my dorm. I'll try to persuade those in the Star Dou Great Forest for you. For now, what's between us is only cooperation between humans and Soul Beasts. On behalf of the Soul Beasts, I also thank you for leaving us a place in the Divine Realm of the future."

With that,

Wang Qiu'er turned to leave.

Qiu'er...

Huo Yuhao opened his mouth, but the words deserted him again.

Useless!

He cursed himself inwardly. No wonder the Destruction God King had called him spineless. Even with a second chance, he didn't dare cast everything aside to pursue the woman he loved. If that didn't make him useless, what did?

If his mouth failed him, he could still prove himself through his actions.

With that thought,

Huo Yuhao caught Wang Qiu'er's wrist and pulled her firmly into his arms.

Before Wang Qiu'er could react, she felt an arm around her waist, and her whole body fell against Huo Yuhao's, pressed to him without a sliver of space between them.

Only then did Huo Yuhao notice how Wang Qiu'er's perfect curves filled out her white, silver-trimmed fitted outfit. Not a single wrinkle showed; the fabric was stretched taut.

Her curves looked ready to burst free. It was almost terrifying.

This, too, was the Goddess of Light in her perfect form.

It was the second time Huo Yuhao had held Wang Qiu'er. The first had been their final farewell, when she sacrificed herself.

Wang Qiu'er came to her senses, and a wave of embarrassment swept over her. When had Huo Yuhao grown so bold? He'd pulled her into his arms without a word.

The familiar scent that belonged to him filled her nose, sending color rushing across her cheeks and down her neck.

She had never seen Huo Yuhao act so impulsively. Nor had the man for whom she had given everything ever taken her into his arms of his own accord. Her heart bounded like a startled deer.

Panic seized Wang Qiu'er. Unable to meet Huo Yuhao's eyes, she shut her own and tried to wrench herself from his embrace.

Seeing Wang Qiu'er with her eyes tightly closed, Huo Yuhao couldn't help remembering how she had looked when she sacrificed herself.

He still remembered her slowly closing her eyes, her long, curled lashes resting against her lower lids. Then she had raised her head slightly and breathed through her red lips, "Kiss me."

But that kiss had become their final farewell.

At last, Huo Yuhao could no longer hold back his feelings.

He wrapped one arm around Qiu'er's waist and gently stroked the long waves of hair at the back of her head with his other hand. Tilting his head, he leaned in and kissed her.

This... was so soft.

Fragrant, delicate, warm, like jelly.

Huo Yuhao hadn't expected himself to act so impulsively either. Did this... count as stealing a kiss?

The next instant,

Wang Qiu'er shuddered as if struck by lightning.

Apart from her eyes, which widened by the moment, her mind went utterly blank.

Her hands, which had been gripping Huo Yuhao's arms to push him away, suddenly tightened.

Her nails left several scratches on his arms.

Oh heavens...

What was he doing?

The unexpected kiss had left Wang Qiu'er stunned.

But her panic lasted only a moment. The instant her senses returned, she shoved Huo Yuhao away with nearly all her strength.

Wang Qiu'er's face was crimson now. Flustered, she hurried to straighten her disheveled hair and collar.

"Huo Yuhao!"

Wang Qiu'er's eyes went round. "What are you doing?!"