As the night deepened, the cool breeze from the lake swept over them, rustling the leaves and making Xiao Wu shiver slightly.
Xuan Yan noticed and shrugged off his outer robe, draping it over her shoulders without a word.
She blinked in surprise and looked up at him. "Little Plum, you're really… well, not bad."
He raised an eyebrow. "Not bad? That's all I get after giving up my robe?"
She giggled, her mischievous grin returning. "Okay, fine! You're pretty good!"
Xuan Yan smiled, leaning back on his hands as he stared up at the stars. "Mhm."
They fell into a comfortable silence, the only sounds being the gentle lapping of the lake and the occasional rustle of leaves.
Xiao Wu, now wrapped snugly in his robe, sat quietly for a while, her gaze flickering between the lake and the boy beside her.
Her exhaustion from the day's excitement began to catch up with her.
She yawned, stretching her arms before scooting a little closer to Xuan Yan.
"Little plum," she murmured sleepily, "can I… stay here for a while? With you?"
He glanced at her, his eyes softening. "Of course. Rest if you want."
Xiao Wu shifted closer until she was sitting right beside him.
Then, to his surprise, she leaned her head against his shoulder, letting out a content sigh.
"This feels nice," she said softly.
"I don't feel scared when I'm with you."
Xuan Yan didn't move, letting her rest against him. "I'm glad."
As the minutes passed, Xiao Wu's breathing grew slower, her body relaxing completely against his.
She shifted slightly, lying down on the soft grass. But as she did, she instinctively reached out, tugging on Xuan Yan's sleeve.
"Don't go anywhere," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
He smiled faintly. "I won't."
Xiao Wu, satisfied with his answer, curled up slightly, but after a moment, she moved closer again.
Her small body nestled against him as she lay her head on his chest, using it as a makeshift pillow.
Xuan Yan blinked, a bit caught off guard by her sudden closeness.
But as he looked down at her peaceful face, he couldn't bring himself to move.
Carefully, he adjusted his position so she could lie more comfortably.
He rested a hand lightly on her back, gently patting her.
The moon hung high in the sky, its silvery light casting a tranquil glow over the lake and the two figures lying by its edge.
As the night deepened, Xuan Yan felt his own eyelids growing heavy.
The rhythmic sound of Xiao Wu's breathing, combined with the peaceful atmosphere, lulled him into a state of calm.
...
The next morning, the golden rays of the sun filtered through the dense canopy of the Star Dou Forest, casting a soft glow over the lush greenery.
Near the Lake of Life, the air was thick with vitality.
Xuan Yan stood at the edge of the lake, looking at the scene before him.
The Titan Giant Ape, Er Ming, was crouched by the lake.
Beside it, the Emerald Swan rested, its body glowing faintly with a soft green light.
Er Ming channeled vitality into the swan, ensuring its weakened form remained stable.
A little farther away, Mo Xie sat cross-legged on a patch of moss and a faint golden hue surrounded her as she absorbed the life essence of the Lake of Life, preparing herself for the enormous task of absorbing the spirit ring of the Emerald Swan.
As Xuan Yan watched, Xiao Wu appeared beside him, her cheerful presence breaking the stillness.
She tugged on his arm, her braided hair swaying as she grinned up at him. "Little Plum, you've been standing here forever! Come on, I want to show you some amazing places in the Star Dou Forest!"
Xuan Yan raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Alright, lead the way."
Xiao Wu clapped her hands excitedly before grabbing his hand and pulling him along. "Hurry up! You're too slow!"
They ventured deeper into the forest, with Xiao Wu taking the lead.
She brought Xuan Yan to hidden waterfalls cascading into pools, rivers winding through the dense greenery, and lakes shimmering under the sunlight.
"The Star Dou Forest is beautiful," Xuan Yan muttered as they stood by a serene riverbank.
The water was so clear that they could see fish darting beneath the surface. "No wonder you love it here."
Xiao Wu puffed out her chest proudly. "Of course! This is my home, after all. There's no place like it!"
On their way, Xuan Yan's keen eyes spotted rare herbs growing amidst the dense foliage.
'Herbs like these… they're treasures,' he murmured, making a mental note to visit Dugu Bo's Medicine Garden some time.
Xiao Wu noticed his interest and tilted her head curiously. "Brother Yan, you seem to know a lot about herbs. Are you a healer or something?"
Xuan Yan chuckled. "Not quite. But knowing about these things can come in handy."
Their journey continued, with Xiao Wu chatting incessantly about her favorite places, the playful animals she often befriended, and the countless adventures she'd had in the forest.
Her lively narration made the hours pass quickly, and before they knew it, the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink.
As they returned to the Lake of Life, the atmosphere was calm.
Er Ming was still tending to the Emerald Swan, while Mo Xie's aura had grown stronger.
Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled with excitement as she turned to Xuan Yan.
"Little plum, do you think that little girl will be okay?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of worry.
Xuan Yan gave a nod "She's doing well. She'll succeed."
Xiao Wu's expression softened, and she let out a relieved sigh.
...
As the sun began to set over the vast Star Dou Forest, a warm orange glow bathed the treetops, casting long shadows across the forest floor.
Xiao Wu sat perched on a sturdy branch of a large tree near the Lake of Life, her back resting against the trunk.
Her long brown braid was undone, and her silky hair cascaded down her back.
She hummed a soft tune to herself as she gently ran her fingers through her hair, untangling it.
Xuan Yan looked at her and climbed up the tree effortlessly.
Xiao Wu noticed him only when he was standing on the same branch, his presence catching her attention.
She turned her head slightly, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
"Little plum..." she greeted softly, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation.
"What are you doing here?"
Xuan Yan shrugged lightly, his lips curving into a small smile. "Just enjoying the view. And you?"
She looked down at the comb in her hand, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "I was… just combing my hair."
His eyes briefly flicked to her hair, then back to her face. "It looks nice,"
Xiao Wu's blush deepened, and she averted her gaze.
She hesitated for a moment, her fingers fidgeting with the comb.
Finally, she glanced at him shyly. "Little Plum…"
"Hm?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.
She hesitated again, her voice dropping to a soft murmur. "Would you… um… help me comb my hair?"
Xuan Yan blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected request.
He looked at her face, which was now bright red as she avoided his gaze and he knew how important combing her hair meant to her.
A small chuckle escaped his lips. "Are you sure?"
Xiao Wu pouted, her brows furrowing in embarrassment. "If you don't want to, just say so!"
He shook his head and spoke gently "No, it's not that. I'd be happy to help."
Her pout melted into a shy smile as she handed him the comb.
Xuan Yan moved to sit behind her on the branch, his legs crossed comfortably.
He took the comb from her hand, his fingers brushing against hers for a brief moment.
She turned her head slightly to glance at him a little bit nervous.
"Relax, I'll be gentle."
She nodded and sat still, her back straight and her hair spilling over her shoulders like a silken waterfall.
Xuan Yan began carefully running the comb through her hair, starting from the ends and working his way up to avoid tugging at any knots.
Her hair was soft and smooth, almost like the finest silk.
As he combed, he couldn't help but notice the faint floral scent lingering in her hair... a scent that was distinctly Xiao Wu.
"You have beautiful hair," he muttered quietly, breaking the silence.
Xiao Wu's blush deepened, but she smiled softly. "Thank you,"
For a while, neither of them spoke, the quiet moment stretching between them.
Finally, Xuan Yan finished combing her hair.
He gathered the strands carefully and began to braid them.
Xiao Wu glanced over her shoulder and was surprised.
"You know how to braid hair?" she asked curiously.
He chuckled softly. "I've done it before. My younger sister used to ask me to braid her hair."
Xiao Wu's expression softened, a warm smile spreading across her face. "I see, you have an younger sister."
Once he finished the braid, he tied it neatly with the ribbon Xiao Wu had handed him earlier.
"There," he said, leaning back to admire his work. "All done."
Xiao Wu turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. "Thank you, Little Plum. It feels perfect."
He smiled gently "I'm glad you like it."
For a moment, they simply sat there, the golden light of the setting sun casting a warm glow over them.
Xiao Wu leaned back slightly, resting her head against the trunk of the tree and gazing at the horizon.
"Haa..."
And like that two days quickly passed...
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I hope you guys liked this chapter!