Chapter 81: Morning Confessions and a Storm’s Embrace

Upon returning to the inn, the sky was already approaching dawn, and the weary group, having toiled all night, bid their goodbyes and retired to their respective rooms for rest.

Back in their room, Qing Yu’s first action was to draw the curtains tight. He then launched himself onto the bed, took a deep breath, and rolled around contentedly. Pulling back the covers, he lightly patted the mattress, looking at Aldoran.

“Aldoran, come to bed.”

“Mm.”

Facing the mirror, Aldoran replied as she began to undress.

“Did you forget something?”

“Forget what?”

Qing Yu patted his pockets, then ran his hands over his entire body, giving Aldoran a puzzled look.

“I don’t recall bringing anything, do I?”

“Think again.”

‘Think again?’

Qing Yu lifted his head, gently rubbing his chin. He pondered for a few more seconds but still couldn’t find an answer, so he could only fix his gaze on Aldoran’s eyes through the mirror, tilting his head with a bewildered expression.

“I see.”

Aldoran had already changed into her clothes by then. She untied her hair, letting her high ponytail cascade down. Turning around, her blue pupils silently watched Qing Yu.

‘I’m doomed!’

Seeing Aldoran’s expressionless face, Qing Yu’s heart clenched. Although Aldoran didn’t explicitly say anything, her expression remained as calm as ever, yet a voice within Qing Yu constantly reminded him that now was not the time to provoke her.

‘I’m so dead, so dead, so dead.’

Qing Yu silently straightened up, his mind racing through the day’s events, all while trying to avoid Aldoran’s gaze.

Aldoran, with immense patience, simply stood there, quietly watching Qing Yu, uttering not a single word.

Aldoran’s anger exuded a sense of oppression entirely disproportionate to her petite frame, her calm eyes unsettling Qing Yu to his core.

‘All in all, no matter what, apologizing first is paramount!’

‘Regardless of the reason, an apology is the primary course of action!’

‘If I just apologize, Aldoran will forgive me, right?’

“Aldoran, I am so incredibly sorry! I was wrong!”

Finally, Qing Yu decided to take the initiative, rushing forward to embrace Aldoran tightly, rubbing himself against her body repeatedly.

“Aldoran, I was wrong, please forgive me~”

“I’ve already reflected on it, I’m sorry, Aldoran~”

“Is that so?” Aldoran allowed Qing Yu to cling to her, asking coldly, “Where did you go wrong?”

‘Where did I go wrong?’

Qing Yu froze, utterly unprepared for Aldoran to ask such a question.

“I… I was wrong about…”

Qing Yu held Aldoran, his voice growing softer and softer until he could barely hear himself. He attempted to muddle through in this manner.

“Hm?”

Aldoran listened intently to Qing Yu’s words, asking faintly.

‘I-I-I didn’t do anything out of line, did I…?’

‘Cheating? How could I? I haven’t even held hands with any woman other than Aldoran. Saying the wrong thing? That’s not right either; Aldoran isn’t usually so petty.’

‘Could it be that I did something wrong?’

Qing Yu desperately racked his brain, his hands, still wrapped around Aldoran, beginning to break out in a cold sweat.

Although Qing Yu knew Aldoran wouldn’t harm him, her silent, unmoving presence still felt somewhat terrifying.

Observing Qing Yu stammering and failing to articulate an answer after much thought, Aldoran could only sigh helplessly. She gently patted Qing Yu’s back, her expression softening.

Qing Yu, sensing the shift in Aldoran’s mood and realizing she might have calmed down, involuntarily let out a sigh of relief, collapsing entirely into her embrace.

Aldoran carefully lifted Qing Yu and placed him on the bed.

“Why did you run into the cave on your own today?”

‘So that’s what this is about!’

Qing Yu suddenly remembered that Aldoran had mentioned settling accounts with him earlier in the cave.

“I-I was just worried about your safety, you see. You were taking so long, and I thought something might have happened to you…”

Aldoran remained silent, pressing her lips together. She cupped Qing Yu’s face with her hands, her fingers slowly caressing his cheeks. At this moment, the emotion Aldoran conveyed was pure concern.

“That was very dangerous, do you understand?”

Qing Yu had been braced for a lecture from Aldoran, but now he realized his apprehension had been unfounded. Aldoran had deliberately softened her voice to ease Qing Yu’s stress.

“I was just worried about you, that’s why I wanted to go down and check…”

“Mm, I’m very happy that you worry about me so much. However, worrying about me is one thing, but you absolutely cannot throw yourself into danger so carelessly, do you understand?”

“I’m not blaming you; it’s just, as you saw, if I hadn’t arrived in time today, you would have died there.”

Witnessing Aldoran’s genuine concern, her pale blue eyes filled with tenderness, a wave of shame washed over Qing Yu. He turned his head away, unable to meet Aldoran’s gaze.

“I’m sorry, Aldoran, I won’t do it again next time.”

“That’s good,” Aldoran smiled faintly, straddling Qing Yu’s abdomen. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you alone.”

“Then, Aldoran, what will you do if you’re in danger in the future?”

Aldoran gently pressed her lips against Qing Yu’s.

“Don’t worry, I promise you, no matter what happens, I will return safely to your side.”

Qing Yu’s face flushed crimson. He leaned into Aldoran, willingly exposing his neck for her to nip.

“Then… that’s good.”

Aldoran smiled, gently pressing down on Qing Yu’s wrists. She gazed down at him from above, her cascading hair blocking the light, leaving only Qing Yu and Aldoran’s eyes meeting in the small space.

“I’m sorry, I scared you just now. I won’t do it again.”

“Mm… Nngh…”

Before Qing Yu could even respond, Aldoran’s lips covered his.

****

Outside the window, a heavy rain began to fall, its pattering drops striking the earth, soaking the mountain thickets, and drumming against the slumbering flora.

It was a rare sun shower.

The golden sun, entwined with the crystal-clear raindrops, painted a beautiful tableau.

A babbling stream flowed lightly along the narrow mountain creek, while sparkling raindrops fell, mingling with the pure mountain spring water. This stirred up delicate splashes, refracting the vibrant sunlight onto the mountain’s vegetation, and in the profound silence, played a melody as beautiful as a heavenly song.

The wind began to howl, descending with the rain, clinging to the withered branches. The mountain flowers, awakened by the wind’s call, slowly unfurled their petals, their beautiful stamens emitting a faint fragrance, wandering through the mysterious forest.

Translucent water droplets hung from the crisp leaves and branches. Straight tree trunks soared high, reaching directly for the sky. In the lonely, serene forest, one droplet after another slid down, heavy, beautiful dewdrops bending the verdant green leaves. They traced the mysterious, intertwined veins of the leaves, dropping onto the soft earth, singing a wondrous song.

“Drip-drop, drip-drop.”

“Drip-drop, drip-drop.”

Ripples spread across the mountain spring, as large splashes of water blossomed like pristine, flawless water-flowers upon the clear, azure surface.

Frogs began to croak, leaping from the pond to join in a chorus beneath the cerulean sky.

The wind swept through the treetops, scattering a few droplets. Leaves, carried by the wind, licked the mountain path, then fell into the ravine, drifting far away with the flowing creek.

Gentle, sweet.

As the raindrops fell with increasing speed, the wind gradually began to roar.

The peaceful, tranquil forest was violently assailed by the howling wind, tall trees bowed their heads, subdued by the rain. The torrential downpour hammered the ground, and the slowly flowing mountain creek was swallowed by the roaring waters, transforming into a raging serpent, rapidly rushing towards the foot of the mountain.

The raindrops grew larger, striking the already softened earth with force, slowly sinking in. One small puddle after another appeared on the mountain path, countless leaves flew, scattered everywhere by the ceaseless wind, covering every corner of the earth.

“Rumble!”

Accompanied by a startling thunderclap that tore through the sky, the rain intensified its fury. The azure sky was blanketed by dark clouds; the beautiful world of moments before was now obscured by the torrential downpour. In the constantly slanting, densely packed, needle-impenetrable heavenly water, the forest’s form gradually blurred.

The wild beasts of the forest, roused by the commotion, poked their heads out, experiencing the full force of the tempest.

The downpour was far from gentle; it advanced with wild abandon, raindrops repeatedly striking the earth, assaulting the trees, and ceaselessly plunging into the already turbid mountain spring like a ferocious beast.

Again and again, the relentless storm battered the world, driving every fallen flower and leaf into the earth, where they mingled with the mud, becoming sustenance for the land, never to be seen again.

“Rumble!”

Thunder roared and lightning streaked across the sky, yet with each successive assault of the downpour, the intensity of the rain finally began to subside.

The furious storm lessened little by little, then lessened further. The enormous raindrops reverted to tiny, pearl-like droplets. The bowed trees once again stood tall, their branches upright. The mountain creek washed away the impurities, and the world was reborn.

The dark clouds shrouding the sky seemed to sense their incongruity, quietly dispersing. Golden rays pierced through the clouds, showering the earth, and for a time, the entire mountain shimmered with a kaleidoscopic glow.

Above the distant, cerulean dome, a beautiful rainbow bridge quietly emerged.

“Ha, ha, ha.”

Qing Yu, tears glistening at the corners of his eyes, lay weakly at the head of the bed. He hooked his legs around Aldoran’s soft waist, his face flushed, and looking at Aldoran, he slowly spoke with a choked voice.

“Aldoran, ha, ha, n-no more…”

Aldoran still held Qing Yu’s wrists. Seeing his tear-stained face, she reached out and gently wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.

“There, you’ve been tired for so long, rest now.”

Aldoran released his hands, pulled Qing Yu into her embrace, and slowly stroked his head.

“Sleep. It doesn’t matter how long you sleep, I’ll be here with you.”

“Ha, ha.”

Exhausted, Qing Yu allowed Aldoran to do as she pleased with him. He gasped for breath, burying his head in Aldoran’s chest, and fell into a deep sleep.