Did You Like That Gift?

Jingliu gritted her teeth and glared fiercely at Dan Feng.

He gave her a faint smile, signaling that she could relax.

Jingliu: "..."

Dan Feng! What are you doing, Dan Feng?!

Did he think she was drinking to get a chance to spend time with Xianyu?

Had all that arguing with the Dragon Preceptors driven him insane?!

Jingliu nearly laughed in anger. She simply turned away-out of sight, out of mind.

Xianyu had never expected the task of taking Jingliu home to fall to him.

Wasn't everyone else here closer to Jingliu than he was? Whoever got the job, it shouldn't have been him, right?

Dan Feng continued, "Baiheng is a terrible drunk. We won't be able to keep her under control if we're short a person."

Xianyu began recalling what Baiheng had been like when drunk.

Baiheng couldn't hold her liquor as well as Jingliu. She was the type who loved drinking despite being terrible at it. Every time, Jingliu was the last one standing and took her home.

As for whether she was a troublesome drunk, Xianyu really didn't know.

But now Jingliu, the strongest of them all and the one who could easily subdue a drunk, was drunk too...

Xianyu looked over at Dan Feng, leader of the Vidyadhara, the Master Forger with his formidable metalworking skills and considerable arm strength, and Cloud Knight Lieutenant Jing Yuan. His respect for Baiheng soared.

Baiheng, you're incredible! It takes the Luofu's top fighters to subdue you when you're drunk! Are you some Aeon's Emanator or something? Badass!

He crunched through his mint candy, swallowed, then said, "All right, but I don't know where she lives."

Dan Feng showed unprecedented initiative. He whipped out his Jade Abacus, exchanged contact information, and sent over Jingliu's address. It wasn't far; they could reach it in just a few minutes on foot.

Then the High Elder grabbed Jing Yuan, whose face said, "My entire family is stunned," conjured an emerald dragon tail, and lashed Yingxing hard across the back, reaching past the thoroughly drunk Baiheng.

"Dan Feng, why are you hitting me?!"

With Yingxing's shriek, the group vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.

Xianyu: "..."

He was utterly stunned.

Imbibitor Lunae was even faster than Baiheng's Starskiff.

"...That's a secret Vidyadhara technique called Coiling Leap."

For some reason, Jingliu sounded as though she was speaking through gritted teeth.

"Impressive," Xianyu said dryly.

Jingliu paused for a moment, then added, "I'm not drunk."

Xianyu turned, bent down slightly, and studied Jingliu closely.

Up close, he could clearly hear her breathing growing heavier.

Her eyes looked dazed, her expression blank.

Her normally jade-like face was flushed red, and even the tips of her ears hadn't escaped.

Xianyu felt helpless. Even her eyes looked off, yet she was still insisting.

He said, "Every drunk says they're not drunk. Come on, I'll take you home."

Jingliu's tone turned cold.

She said, "I can go home on my own."

Was Jingliu worried about her safety, like other women might be?

Xianyu thought for a moment, then added, "Don't worry, I'll only take you to your door. With how weak I am, you've got nothing to worry about. One punch from you, and you'd be on your knees begging me not to die-"

Jingliu's expression thawed like melting ice, becoming more animated. A little flustered, she said, "I wouldn't hit you."

Seeing this, Xianyu lost the urge to tease her and said earnestly, "I was joking, Lady Sword Champion-"

Xianyu didn't know why Jingliu was so resistant. He could only try to ease her concerns in his own way.

He laid out the difference in their strength, emphasizing that he wouldn't do anything to her.

But it didn't seem to help.

After thinking it over, he could only say, "We're heading the same way anyway. Sorry for the trouble, Lady Sword Champion, but would you walk with me for a bit?"

At that, Jingliu stepped forward and walked beside Xianyu.

She asked, "Why did I never see you during my previous days off?"

Xianyu lied without batting an eye. "I basically never go out except for work. Speaking of which, is there any good food nearby worth trying?"

Jingliu considered for a moment, then began recommending food near Xianyu's home.

Xianyu turned to look at Jingliu from time to time.

When someone was speaking, he habitually looked into their eyes.

Before long, Xianyu noticed a problem.

The redness in Jingliu's face had spread to her neck.

He froze. Avoiding her exposed skin, he carefully raised a hand to support her back through her clothing.

Her back instantly stiffened beneath his palm.

Seeing that, Xianyu pulled his hand away and stopped touching Jingliu. He held it a finger's width from her back, ready to support her, and asked:

"Are you still dizzy? Can you stand steadily?"

Jingliu lightly bit her lower lip. With a cold expression, she shook her head, then nodded.

"Sorry for overstepping." Xianyu sighed. As he apologized, he leaned closer, lifted the bangs of the woman beside him, and touched her forehead with the back of his hand. He frowned. "Your face is burning hot."

Jingliu held Xianyu's gaze for a while before she gave in first. Looking away as though admitting defeat, she said softly, "I'm a little dizzy."

Xianyu understood.

If Jingliu, who cut down monsters as easily as chopping vegetables, admitted to being dizzy, things had to be very serious.

He quickly took off his jacket and draped it over Jingliu's shoulders.

The jacket fit Xianyu perfectly, but on Jingliu it hung loosely, its hem reaching her knees.

"Wait a moment."

He guided Jingliu onto a roadside bench and looked around. Once he spotted a vending machine, he spoke as he jogged over.

Jingliu watched Xianyu leave, unconsciously pulling his jacket tighter around herself. When he returned, she saw that he was holding a bottle of hot Fleece Lamb Milk.

Xianyu handed it to Jingliu.

The vending machine only had Scalegorge Ice Spring and fruit and vegetable juice.

There was also the hot Fleece Lamb Milk belonging to a child nearby.

Calcium, vitamins, and water could all help sober someone up.

But he didn't know which would work best for Jingliu. After some thought, he had traded snacks for the nearby child's hot Fleece Lamb Milk.

"Have something hot to drink."

Jingliu froze. "Where did you buy this Fleece Lamb Milk?"

Fleece Lamb Milk turned bitter when it cooled, so it wasn't sold in vending machines.

It was late at night now. Who would still have a stall open selling hot Fleece Lamb Milk?

"I happened to run into a kid, so I traded some snacks from the vending machine for it."

Jingliu lowered her head and quietly thanked him.

Xianyu casually said she was welcome, then began recalling the brat who had bossed him around, taken all his mint candies, and made him buy practically every snack in the vending machine.

I regret it. I regret it so much.

I should've given that brat a beating before I left.

While mentally beating up the brat, he watched Jingliu and thought about how to get her home safely.

He would avoid physical contact with her as much as possible.

After turning it over in his mind, Xianyu remembered the first-aid course at the Academy.

Moving a drunk person should be about the same as moving an injured person, right?

Have Jingliu put her arm over my shoulder?

No, there's too much of a height difference.

Or carry her over my shoulder?

No, vomiting while drunk could easily be life-threatening.

Xianyu thought for a long time.

Mindful of the boundaries between men and women, he ultimately chose the method with relatively little physical contact out of carrying her on his back, in his arms, or over his shoulder-the cradle carry.

It would minimize bodily contact while allowing him to monitor the drunk person's condition at all times.

Seeing that Jingliu had nearly finished her drink, Xianyu said, "Sorry for overstepping."

Without giving her a chance to refuse, he drew Jingliu into his arms, then quickly supported the backs of her knees through his jacket. Once he was sure her skirt wouldn't expose anything, he lifted her into a cradle carry.

They were close enough to feel each other's breath.

He felt as though the woman in his arms had almost stopped breathing.

Her body was incredibly tense. Perhaps she was suppressing her combat instincts?

"We're almost there."

Xianyu quickened his pace. Before long, he reached Jingliu's home and slowly set her down.

"Well, I'll be going, then."

"Wait-"

Jingliu suddenly spoke.

Puzzled, Xianyu turned back. She paused for a moment. "Your jacket..."

"Oh, I nearly forgot."

Xianyu instinctively reached to take it, but Jingliu showed no intention of removing it. Clutching its oversized cuffs, she added, "I'll give it back after I wash it."

Xianyu was confused. "You don't need to go to all that trouble..."

Jingliu said nothing, refusing him with her gaze.

"All right, then. Sorry for the trouble. I'll head off now."

"What I sent you before-" Jingliu cut herself off. For a moment, she didn't know what word to use to describe it.

She wanted to know whether he liked that gift.

But to others, their relationship didn't seem close enough for them to exchange gifts yet.

She felt she shouldn't call the item a gift.

Jingliu said, "What did you think of the thing I sent you?"

Would you like it?