Arc 3 – Chapter 159, Vicious Princess Wants to Reverse Fate (53)

The Vicious Princess Wants to Reverse Fate (53)

When Zhou Min gradually came to, the fire in the cave was barely a flicker. As she moved her body, she felt a wave of weakness and spasms from below. The strong arm around her waist held her securely in his embrace. The hot breath on her nape tickled her, making her uncomfortable, and she tried to pull away.

"Don't move!" The man behind her, seemingly just awake, his voice lost the previous chill, now laced with a hint of laziness. The arm holding her tightens, pulling her closer into his embrace.

Zhou Min stiffened and found the hand that was previously resting innocently on her waist, now boldly cupping her breast, kneading it gently. Zhou Min's face turned beet red, her hands trying to pry his large hand away, "Stop, I..."

Shangguan Qi, hearing Zhou Min's soft and slightly hoarse voice after their climax, felt a sense of contentment. "What is it?" he asked.

"I, I..." Zhou Min stuttered, not knowing what to say. Suddenly remembering something, she turned around anxiously, trying to sit up to check on the man behind her.

But before she could move, Shangguan Qi pulled her tight into his embrace, his thigh pressing down on her restless legs, pinching the soft flesh at her sensitive waist, causing Zhou Min to moan softly.

"Didn't I tell you not to move?" Shangguan Qi said somewhat angrily, but there was no hint of anger on his face.

"I want to check your wound. You're bleeding, let me see!" Zhou Min was worried. She remembered that during their intimate moment, Shangguan Qi seemed to have lost control, his shoulder wound reopening, blood flowing freely, painting a vivid red scene before her eyes.

Feeling the man behind her suddenly stiffen, the hand on her chest broke free, and then she flipped over to face him, "Zhou Min, what will you do after we get out?"

Zhou Min was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Shangguan Qi to ask this sudden question. She didn't know what to say for a moment, just staring at Shangguan Qi, who was close enough to touch.

She avoided his gaze, burying herself in his embrace, holding onto his waist, her ear against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, feeling the warmth in his arms and the peaceful moment.

Shangguan Qi looked down at Zhou Min, who had buried herself in his embrace, her face full of trust and affection. His gaze softened like water, and his hands around her waist tightened, holding the woman who warmed and filled his heart tightly in his arms.

"Zhou Min, after we get out, return to the Valley of Divine Physicians with me."

Zhou Min stiffened slightly; her hands around Shangguan Qi tightened momentarily but then relaxed. Shangguan Qi didn't notice Zhou Min's brief change, but seeing that she remained silent, he looked down in confusion, only to see Zhou Min had fallen asleep, her face showing signs of exhaustion.

His long fingers gently stroked Zhou Min's soft and fair cheek; he bent down to kiss her forehead, then contentedly held Zhou Min as he fell asleep. Only after Shangguan Qi had truly fallen asleep did Zhou Min dare open her eyes, sighing with relief, her emotions a mix of joy and worry.

"When will the protagonist's martial arts recover?"

"The day after you get out."

"Has the protagonist's poison been completely cured?" Zhou Min asked, her eyes half-lowered.

"It hasn't been completely eradicated, but 80% has been eliminated. Proper medication can eradicate The remaining poison within a year or two."

"So, the mission to cure the protagonist's poison is technically completed, right?" Zhou Min suddenly looked up at Shangguan Qi, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Technically, you should have completely cured him to consider it done, but what you've done so far is acceptable. As long as he takes care of himself, he won't die. Your mission, which wasn't a mission, is thus completed!" he chuckled.

"What about the collection of the materials?" Zhou Min extended her hand, tracing Shangguan Qi's features through the air, her eyes filled with affection and conflict. She knew it was empathy.

"You've worked hard, and the protagonist has been very supportive. 80% of the materials have been collected, which is enough to open the next interface. We can leave once the client's wish is fulfilled!" he said happily.

"The client doesn't want any more entanglements with the protagonist, but do you think he'll let me go now?" Zhou Min asked. She couldn't be sure before whether Shangguan Qi would let her go after they left, pretending that nothing happened here, but now, after seeing his attitude towards her and his words about "returning to the Valley of the divine physician with him", Zhou Min knew it would be difficult to completely break away.

"I don't know. Human emotions are complicated, I don't understand..." he said, looking somewhat annoyed. Zhou Min couldn't help but smile at his frustrated expression.

Yes, human emotions are never pure, especially love. If it involves other factors, it becomes complicated. She couldn't let go of the guilt from her past life, the guilt towards her parents, towards the people of Zhou Kingdom...

In their past life, she had let down everyone except him. But still, the world had turned upside down because of her selfishness, and she couldn't win his heart. This love was too heavy, suffocating her. In this life, loving him became her shackles. The more she loved, the more it hurt. She could feel his heart, what she wanted most in her previous life. But now, she couldn't take it...

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