Chapter 78 Husband, Your Wife Does Not Wish to Die

“Ci’er, Ci’er?” No one had ever been as anxious as Liu Qingyun was at this very moment.

“Hua’er, Hua’er! Where are you? Don’t be afraid, I’m here to save you! Hua’er, Hua’er! Please answer me!” Wei San’er was also searching everywhere, calling out as he went, thrusting wildly with his wooden staff, making the already eerie and ominous atmosphere even more unsettling.

“Hua’er, Hua’er, I brought you eggs, and some meat too. Please, give me a reply!” Although Wei San’er was considered simple-minded, he had always been exceptionally attentive to Hua Qinci.

The crescent moon hung in the sky, and a cold, biting wind howled. Thick leaves and wild grass rustled as they collided in the breeze.

Earlier, Qin Youtian had intended to carry Hua Qinci straight home on his back. Yet they had barely made it halfway down the mountain when he heard her, shivering against his back, complain of the cold.

She curled into his arms like a kitten, her body feverishly hot against him.

The mountain path was treacherous, slick with dew and rain, and it would take another three or four hours to reach the foot. The mountain air was damp and chill, and with Hua Qinci soaked to the skin, he feared she would not survive the journey home.

So he took her to a nearby hunter’s cave to rest.

The cave had everything—a pile of firewood, cured meat, a boiler. All he needed to do was set it up, and they could have hot broth in no time.

Qin Youtian laid Hua Qinci on a makeshift bed of woven bamboo he’d assembled himself.

He lit a fire, boiled some soup, and gently fed the unconscious Hua Qinci a little.

Half-delirious, she kept murmuring that she was cold.

“In this weather, at this hour, no one will come,” Qin Youtian thought. He slipped off her outer garment and hung it near the fire to dry.

Now she wore only a delicate, embroidered undergarment. Her small, glowing hands clung to her arms, her whole body curled tightly, trembling uncontrollably.

“So cold… so cold!” she whimpered, her lips crimson, her forehead beaded with bright, glistening drops of sweat.

Qin Youtian frowned, watching her for a long moment. Then he reached out, pulled her into his arms, holding her tighter, and asked in a gentle voice, “How about now? Are you still cold?”

Feeling the searing warmth, Hua Qinci instinctively burrowed deeper into the most comfortable part of his embrace, like a cat seeking heat.

Qin Youtian was growing flustered by her closeness.

“Qin Youtian…” she murmured, her voice dreamy, her cheeks flushed as she lifted her dazed eyes to him.

“Hm?” Qin Youtian looked at her in confusion.

“Hold me tighter,” she pleaded, pressing her face to his chest, striving to snuggle further into his clothes.

Qin Youtian, ticklish and embarrassed, tried to gently push her away.

Irritated at being pushed, Hua Qinci wrapped her arms around his neck, pouting as she coquettishly begged, “Husband, your wife is so cold, so miserable. Will your wife die?”

As she spoke, tears shimmered in her eyes. “Husband, your wife doesn’t want to die. You must save me.”

Seeing her so lost, so pitiful, Qin Youtian’s large, warm hand softly stroked her cheek, and he said tenderly, “Don’t worry. As long as I am alive, you are not allowed to die.”

“Mm!” Hua Qinci pouted, nodding pitifully.

“Husband.”

“Mm?”

“You’re so good to me.”

Her words made Qin Youtian smile warmly. His burning lips inched closer and closer; her delicate appearance always held a certain magic over him, making him both unwilling to let go and afraid to hold her too tightly, lest she shatter and vanish.

Unable to help himself, he pressed his lips gently to hers, lingering in a deep, tender kiss.