[TCFO] Arc 3 – Chapter 139

The Vicious Princess Wants to Reverse Fate (33)

So natural, calm, and rational, she watched herself without emotion. Zhou Min turned over, facing his chest, unabashedly holding onto his waist, nestling in his embrace, absorbing his rare closeness and warmth. She left her contradictions and entanglements for later after they had left!

Although Shangguan Qi was somewhat surprised by Zhou Min’s behaviour, which seemed so natural that it showed no sign of unfamiliarity, it appeared this was the natural course of action for both of them!

Bending down to look at Zhou Min nestled in his arms, unconsciously rubbing against his chest, Shangguan Qi’s eyes showed surprise and astonishment, but there was no aversion. Despite both being dishevelled and their clothes tattered, there was an unexpected sense that the atmosphere around them was extremely harmonious and natural.

Perhaps out of guilt, perhaps due to her injuries, probably because the story she told about footprints was particularly memorable, or maybe due to an indescribable complexity within herself when Shangguan Qi took the initiative to embrace Zhou Min, he felt a hint of compromise, unwilling to dwell on it. What did this hint of compromise represent...

Shangguan Qi silently acknowledged Zhou Min’s unrestrained and natural presence in his arms. Leaning against the boulder, he eventually fell asleep until the next day’s arrival.

Finding a way out in the river’s direction through the jungle was difficult. Shangguan Qi, with Zhou Min in tow, walked along the river for ten days. The wound on Zhou Min’s back had long since scabbed and healed, and Shangguan Qi’s internal injuries, treated with medicinal herbs along the way, were also nearly recovered. However, his internal energy remained elusive, as if lost in the ocean’s vastness without a reason.

Another night arrived, and because they were near the riverbank, Zhou Min took advantage of Shangguan Qi going to gather firewood to leap into the river valley for the indispensable daily ritual of cleaning herself.

Upon returning early, Shangguan Qi realised that Zhou Min had not returned, so he set aside the firewood in his hands to search for her. From a vantage point, he observed the person sitting on the reef, ragged red clothing scattered on the black rocks. Moonlight spilled onto the half-undressed woman with dishevelled black hair cascading over her shoulders, leaning down. Her skin seemed to glow under the moonlight—radiant and soft, with a graceful profile and exquisite curves that momentarily took his breath away.

Somewhat embarrassed, Shangguan Qi turned away and left the shore. Only then did Zhou Min look up towards where Shangguan Qi had just stood. Her external injuries had healed, but the internal injuries were not completely cured. Physically, she might be in better condition than Shangguan Qi, who had been tormented by poison since childhood, a torment that never ceased. Therefore, before they could leave, she had to do something about it...

Zhou Min picked up a red pine from the ground and spun in place, clothes wrapping around her as she soared towards him.

Shangguan Qi returned to the jungle, leaning against a big tree to calm his heart. However, the scene he had just witnessed kept flashing in his mind, making it impossible for him to find peace.

Suddenly, there was a disturbance in the air. Shangguan Qi opened his deep, dark eyes, a hint of fierceness flashing in them. “Who?!”

A fiery figure descended from the sky, looking at Zhou Min standing not far away. Shangguan Qi half-closed his eyes, feigning indifference. “It’s you... go, the bonfire has been lit!”

After speaking, he walked towards the flames, and Zhou Min hesitantly followed him. Just as they reached the bonfire, Zhou Min suddenly embraced Shangguan Qi from behind.

With her face against his back, feeling his stiffness due to her proximity, she softly said, “Shangguan Qi, your poison... hasn’t been cured yet.”

Shangguan Qi trembled at Zhou Min’s words, grabbed her hand, pushed her away, and turned around with a stern look. “Do you know what you’re saying, Zhou Min!”

“I know... I am your antidote.” Zhou Min pushed away but, undeterred, removed the red pine from herself, dropped it onto the ground covered in dry leaves, and firmly approached Shangguan Qi.

“Shangguan Qi...”

Zhou Min’s hands circled his neck, left hand gripping the wrist of his right hand, tiptoed, gently capturing his lips, softly rubbing, sucking, lightly biting, wanting him to open his mouth to let her in.

However, Shangguan Qi remained cold and calm, standing still. He watched Zhou Min’s increasingly flushed cheeks but clenched his teeth, refusing to let her in. The palpable rejection made Zhou Min shiver, not only because of his refusal but also because he was too tall, making it difficult for her to kiss him, making her efforts and heartache challenging.

Finally, Zhou Min had to release his lips, watching the lips she had just licked turn rosy. She let go of his neck and stepped back, tears hidden in her eyes.

“Shangguan Qi, I just want to save you. I saw you yesterday, hiding in the corner, suppressing the pain throughout your body. I know that as long as the poison is not cured, you will experience intense pain every noon and a night worse than death every fifteenth of the month. Although the pain is short-lived every day, you can still alleviate it with inner strength. But now, your martial arts have inexplicably disappeared... every time you resist the poison with strong endurance and reason, I know... but at that time, I wanted to help you, but I was powerless. Now that I am better, Shangguan Qi... I am your antidote! Why resist it... why...”

Tears involuntarily slid down as if she didn’t want Shangguan Qi to see her in such a fragile state. Suddenly turning around, Zhou Min, with her back to him, said, “I can’t bear it... Shangguan Qi, I don’t want you to suffer so much!”

Her slightly convulsing shoulders and suppressed sobbing abruptly stopped when a pair of hot hands suddenly attacked. Before Zhou Min could react, the man behind her turned her around, and his massive body overwhelmed her.

Zhou Min suddenly looked up, the mist in her eyes not yet cleared, meeting his deep, intense black eyes. Zhou Min couldn’t help but feel her heart race. There was a restrained flame and a storm in his eyes, yet his tone was extremely calm and magnetic. “Zhou Min, this is your choice... I gave you a chance... bear the consequences yourself! I won’t...”

The unfinished words disappeared in her mouth when he suddenly leaned down and firmly kissed her. His large hand gripped Zhou Min’s chin, forcing her to open her mouth. His nimble tongue advanced, chasing her clove-like small tongue, licking every inch of sweetness in her mouth, not giving her the slightest chance to escape.