"It should be fine now..." Su Xiaobai muttered to himself, leaning back slightly after finishing the bandage.
He admired his handiwork for a moment, the tension easing now that the immediate danger had passed.
But as his eyes drifted from the wound, they wandered across her body, taking in the flawless, jade-like skin that seemed to shimmer faintly under the moonlight.
His fingers, still lightly hovering near the bandage, hesitated for just a second before brushing against her side.
The sensation of her smooth skin beneath his fingertips was enough to stop him in his tracks.
'So soft,' he thought, the curiosity rising in him. 'What kind of cultivation technique could make her skin so flawless?'
He knew he shouldn't—but once his hand made contact, his willpower wavered.
He lightly trailed his fingers up her arm, marveling at how silky her skin felt, almost as if it was crafted from divine silk.
His touch stayed longer than necessary, his mind growing hazy as the temptation crept in. 'This can't be natural. Surely there's some immortal-grade body technique involved here...'
His gaze drifted downward, toward her chest, where two perfectly formed peaks rose beneath the torn remnants of her robe.
Su Xiaobai's throat went dry as his eyes widened.
The fabric did little to hide the full, enticing curves beneath.
His hands trembled, the mischievous little voice in his head urging him on.
'Come on, Xiaobai... just a little touch. For medical reasons, obviously.'
His hand, almost acting on its own, moved lower, hovering just above the thick white wrapping around her chest.
He hesitated for the briefest of moments before giving in, gently resting his fingers atop the bindings.
They were firm yet soft, and the sensation sent a jolt through him.
'Good heavens...' He squeezed lightly, feeling the fullness beneath the cloth.
'Even the top beauties of White Cloud Star can't compare to this...' he thought, eyes wide with awe.
His hands, without permission from his brain, gave another gentle squeeze. He swallowed hard. 'How could someone cultivate to such a level of perfection? Even the finest spiritual treasures pale in comparison to this...'
But the voice in his head wasn't satisfied.
It whispered again, darker this time, urging him to explore further.
His palms glided across her chest, savoring the softness beneath the wrapping. 'Truly heavenly...'
He knew he should stop, but his body wasn't listening.
He leaned in closer, his breath shallow, and before he could stop himself, his lips brushed hers.
Her lips were soft, warm, and impossibly sweet—like the nectar of some rare celestial flower.
His heart pounded as he lingered there for a moment, kissing her gently.
"I'm not a bad person..." he whispered, pulling back slightly, his eyes locked on her peaceful, sleeping face. "I'm just taking my payment for healing you, that's all..."
The devilish thoughts filled his mind, tempting him further.
But as his hands began to move again, brushing once more across her chest, something in the distance made him freeze.
Rustle...
Rustle...
His instincts flared like an alarm bell.
He jerked his head up, his senses immediately sharpening.
The sound of birds taking flight echoed through the trees, and the distant shaking of branches made his pulse quicken.
His eyes narrowed as he peered into the distance.
And there, on the horizon, he saw them—multiple flying beasts cutting through the sky, mounted by powerful experts, all heading in his direction.
"Tch, heavens really do have it out for me!" Su Xiaobai muttered under his breath, his heart pounding faster now for entirely different reasons. "I can't even enjoy a moment of wickedness! Why do the heavens let the small fries have all the fun?"
In a rush, he looked back down at the woman, still fast asleep and oblivious to the chaos he'd stirred up in his head.
For a brief second, the mischievous side of him flickered again.
He gave her soft face a playful squeeze, as if to savor the moment one last time before duty called.
"Beauties can wait," he grumbled, glancing at the incoming reinforcements. "It's the treasures that will fill my empty stomach!"
With that, he grabbed his belongings and shot to his feet, moving swiftly toward the direction marked on his treasure map.
He could still feel the warmth of her body on his hands, her lips a lingering memory on his.
But he knew better than to stick around any longer—his instincts screamed that trouble was only moments away.
As he sprinted into the distance, the thought crossed his mind: Perhaps, if fate allowed it... their paths would cross again.
_____
Thirty Minutes Later…
"Umm..."
Feng Lianhua's long lashes fluttered as she slowly came to consciousness.
Her mind was hazy, and a dull ache pulsed in her head.
She shut her eyes tighter for a moment before they snapped open, immediately sharp with awareness.
"Who?!" she barked, her hand darting out to catch something near her.
She had grabbed a wrist—someone was dangerously close.
"Miss Feng, it's me!" came a familiar, panicked voice.
Her fierce gaze locked onto her maid, Xiao'er, standing by her side, her expression full of worry.
Instantly, Feng Lianhua relaxed her grip, letting the wrist go.
She blinked several times, trying to gather herself.
"Xiao'er... what happened?" Feng Lianhua asked, pressing a hand to her forehead as she sat up.
Her robes shifted slightly, revealing the smooth, pale skin of her neck and a hint of her collarbone.
Unbothered, she scanned the area, her beauty luminous even in her groggy state.
Her flawless complexion seemed to glow, the sunlight filtering through the trees creating a radiant halo around her figure.
Xiao'er hesitated for a moment, dazzled by the sight.
'Miss Feng really is breathtaking when she's not on the battlefield...' she thought, cheeks flushed before shaking her head to focus.
"We arrived about ten minutes ago," she began, her voice low. "You were unconscious and injured, but... it seems someone had already treated your wounds." There was a hint of awkwardness in her tone, as if she wasn't quite sure how to say the next part.
Feng Lianhua's eyes narrowed.
Her gaze shot down to her body, noting the torn fabric around her abdomen.
The robes had been carelessly pulled apart, revealing the tightly wrapped bindings around her chest, and worse—the treasure map, gone!
'That... pervert!' Her thoughts raced back to the brief moments before she blacked out, recalling the shadowy figure.
Her cheeks flushed, not from embarrassment, but from a mix of fury and disbelief.
"He... he touched me," she muttered, her voice darkening, her hand instinctively covering her chest, where his hands had clearly been.
"Should we pursue him, Miss? We can send for reinforcements," Xiao'er asked, seeing the anger flash in her mistress's eyes.
"Pursue him?"
Feng Lianhua took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.