Ye Jingyi was surprised to find Hui Ying awake, but his expression quickly turned to a frown as he noticed the trace of blood in her mouth.
"You know your situation better than anyone else, yet you still dare to move! Tell me, are you tired of living?" Ye Jingyi stood up and approached Hui Ying, displeasure evident on his face.
"Does it matter to you whether or not I am tired of living? Mind your own business!" Despite her weakness, Hui Ying didn't hold back in arguing with him.
"Of course, it matters to me. You need to live," Ye Jingyi stated. Hui Ying stared at him in bewilderment until he added, "If you don't live, who will pay the bill for treatment?"
Her heart went through a mix of emotions at his words. Initially touched by the concern, she felt a surge of anger at his mention of money.
"Money ghost!" she retorted, her anger evident.
Ye Jingyi sat in front of her, unfazed by her glare, and spoke seriously, "Lie down. I have to apply the medicines, or else your injury will never heal."
"No! Why should I listen to you? Vulgar man. And why should I let you touch my body?" Hui Ying expressed her irritation and displeasure.
The term "vulgar man" triggered a reaction in Ye Jingyi, causing a wry expression to form. He snorted and retorted, "Lie down obediently; otherwise, I will strip you myself."
"You!" Hui Ying's eyes widened, and her retort was cut short due to her weakened state.
"What? Are you being disobedient? Then allow me to proceed," Ye Jingyi threatened, a mischievous glint in his eyes as his hands moved toward her.
Before he could touch her, Hui Ying decided to lie down, unable to resist due to her injuries. She looked at Ye Jingyi with fury in her eyes and gritted her teeth.
"Hey! Why did you give up? Have you ever heard the quote, 'Out of resistance comes strength'? If you had resisted, then you would have been stronger," Ye Jingyi teased, feigning disappointment.
"Sigh, but you gave up on such a precious opportunity." He wore a deliberately disappointed expression, looking at Hui Ying as if he didn't know what to do.
Furious, Hui Ying refrained from engaging with him, closing her eyes to ignore his presence. She thought about recent events, realizing that encountering Ye Jingyi was the worst part of her already troubled situation. She recollected how the news of a beneficial opportunity in the forbidden land turned out to be a trap set by her enemies. Though she was confident in her strength, she found herself besieged by weaker opponents.
Her thoughts drifted to the embarrassing encounter with Ye Jingyi, who saw her naked body. Despite her initial intention to bring him back to the sect due to his divine body, the situation had taken an unexpected turn. The realization that he had seen her naked infuriated her, and though the worst hadn't happened, the mere fact of being exposed made her want him dead.
But as before, she couldn't bring herself to do it. Strangely, she found herself protecting him, going so far as to get injured in the process.
Why did she do that? Hui Ying pondered this question repeatedly, but each time, she couldn't find a clear answer. Was it because of his divine body? No, her own life was more crucial. She wouldn't risk everything for a genius she had only known for a few days.
There was something more, but she couldn't pinpoint it exactly. Her heart and mind were entangled in confusion because of these unanswered questions.
Amidst her confusion, she felt a foreign sensation spreading across her stomach, bringing warmth and comfort.
Suddenly, she snapped open her eyes, looking around with widened eyes. Glancing down at her stomach, she found Ye Jingyi seriously rubbing her abdomen with his large hands. The cloth around her stomach had been lifted, leaving her smooth midriff exposed.
"Y-Y-you, what are you doing?" Hui Ying asked in panic and embarrassment. Her mind was in disarray, and her stomach had been touched by a man—this particular man.
As she processed the situation, an oddly familiar feeling washed over her. Had she experienced something similar before? What exactly happened during the time she was unconscious with this man?