Quick Travel to the Clouds

The next day, as dawn broke, the thick night fog had not yet completely dissipated, and the air in the forest was damp and chilly. The campfire had long since died down, leaving only wisps of smoke.

A slight noise came from outside the tent; it was the sound of Lu Ting and Hu Lanqin getting up and moving around.

Inside the tent, Yun Chu sat cross-legged all night without truly falling asleep.

With her eyes closed, her mind remained clear. While directing the fire-iron flying ants to guard the surroundings and explore the environment further away, she repeatedly deduced in the depths of her mind how to break the shackles of the contract.

The cold shackles were still heavily imprinted on her consciousness, but after a night of "adaptation" and testing, she seemed to have a more vague perception of their boundaries.

Footsteps approached the tent, steady and familiar. It was Xie Yipei.

Almost at the same moment he reached out and lifted the curtain, Yun Chu suddenly opened her eyes.

Despite not having slept all night, her face showed little sign of fatigue; her skin remained as radiant and fair as snow.

But those peach blossom eyes that usually radiate either natural charm or icy coldness.

At this moment, after a long period of concentrating with her eyes closed, she suddenly opened them, her eyes shrouded in a thin layer of mist, her gaze carrying a hint of drowsiness and sleepiness, as if she were just waking up.

It has lost some of its sharpness, but inadvertently reveals a unique, unguarded, and languid charm.

A few strands of her long, black hair fell loosely beside her cheeks, making her face appear even more delicate and fragile, a stark contrast to her cold and hard demeanor when she was awake.

Xie Yipei lifted the curtain and entered, immediately plunging into the misty, shimmering water.

His steps faltered almost imperceptibly.

The morning light filtered through the gaps in the tent, subtly outlining the delicate profile of her face and her long eyelashes.

That fleeting, harmless, and dreamy charm, like an extremely light feather, unexpectedly brushed against a corner of his heart.

In an instant, the forceful, irresistible kiss in the dense forest last night, the soft touch of her lips, and the shock, anger, and coldness surging in her eyes as she was forced to endure it, flashed back to his mind with unparalleled clarity.

The impact of that contrast was far greater than that of the darkness of last night.

A silent undercurrent surged in the depths of her eyes, a certain desire for control and aggression that had been forcibly suppressed overnight was easily ignited in the tranquil dawn by the unintentional revelation of her charm.

He pulled down the curtain, cutting off all sight and sound from the outside world, leaving only the almost stagnant air between the two of them inside the tent.

The confusion in Yun Chu's eyes quickly faded, and she regained her usual coldness and vigilance.

She watched Xie Yipei approach step by step, her body slightly tense, like a cheetah poised to pounce, even though she knew that its claws were temporarily bound by invisible chains.

Xie Yipei stopped in front of her, not giving orders or scrutinizing her from a superior position as he had the night before, but instead took a step forward and knelt down.

This action brought him to almost eye level with Yun Chu, who was sitting on the bunk, instantly closing the distance to the point where they could hear each other's breaths.

His crisp, clean scent, mingled with the morning chill of the forest, wafted towards you.

Yun Chu subconsciously leaned back, her pupils contracting slightly as she looked at him warily. "You..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xie Yipei had already raised his hand and gripped the back of her neck. The grip wasn't strong, but it carried an unwavering determination that left no room for escape.

He leaned down and once again captured her lips with pinpoint accuracy.

Unlike last night's kiss in the darkness, which carried a sense of plunder and declaration, this time, his actions seemed to possess a greater degree of patience... or rather, a deeper desire for exploration.

The moment their lips touched, Yun Chu froze. The stagnation she felt last night, completely suppressed by the power of the contract, surged back, rendering her unable to mount any effective physical resistance.

But this time, there was no panic in her eyes, only the cold anger and humiliation that had been building up overnight, as she stared intently into Xie Yipei's deep eyes, which were so close to hers.

Xie Yipei seemed oblivious to the icy glint in her eyes. His kiss deepened, his tongue prying open her tightly clenched teeth, penetrating her territory with undeniable dominance, drawing her breath away.

His other hand caressed her cheek, his thumb gently stroking her delicate skin, the movement carrying an almost intimate control.

Yun Chu couldn't close her eyes, nor could she push him away; she could only passively endure it.

The feeling of humiliation clung to her heart like a poisonous vine, tightening ever tighter.

She could clearly feel the change in his breathing, and the unmistakable heat and intensity between his lips and tongue.

The power of the contract was like the strongest cage, trapping her in place, allowing him to take whatever he wanted.

She had never felt so powerless and angry.

All the trump cards, all the calculations, seemed to become a joke under the oppressive force of this almost rule-like contract.

After an unknown amount of time, Xie Yipei slowly moved back a little, but his forehead was still pressed against hers, his breathing slightly unsteady, spraying onto her equally hot skin.

His deep eyes were locked on her so close, a dark light swirling within them, along with a hint of satisfied, deeper amusement.

"Good morning," he said in a low, husky voice, still magnetic from the kiss. "Did you sleep well, my... servant?"

He deliberately slowed down his tone for the last two words, as if it were a deliberate reminder or a declaration.

Yun Chu's chest heaved violently, her peach blossom eyes filled with icy coldness, and her killing intent almost solidified.

She looked at Xie Yipei, speaking each word with a voice so cold it could drip ice:

"Xie Yipei, you'd better pray that this contract is valid forever."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yipei chuckled softly, his laughter filled with an air of absolute confidence and indifference.

He released his grip on the back of her neck and instead used his fingertips to lift her chin, forcing her to see more clearly the darkness in his eyes.

“I’m looking forward to it.” His tone was calm, but it carried immense pressure. “I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of tricks you can come up with.”

After saying that, he stood up and resumed his usual cold and aloof demeanor, as if he wasn't the one who had just given that forceful kiss.

"Pack up, get ready to go. Today we're crossing the poisonous swamp." He said this, turned around, lifted the tent flap, and went out.

Inside the tent, Yun Chu remained in the same position, but her fingertips dug deeply into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped red marks.

She raised her hand and forcefully wiped her lips, a cold flame burning in her eyes.

A contract? A master?

Xie Yipei, we'll see.

When Yun Chu lifted the tent flap and stepped out, the morning light fell precisely on her face.

Her expression was indifferent, as if nothing had happened last night or this morning, except that her lips were a few shades redder and fuller than usual.

The edges even showed a slight, barely perceptible swelling, which, against the backdrop of her fair skin, made her look like a rose blooming in the snow—dazzling and alluring.

Hu Lanqin's gaze locked onto that strange expression almost instantly.

She was squatting by the extinguished campfire, organizing her tactical backpack. Her fingers, which were checking the number of bandages, suddenly froze. The thin, tough bandages tightened unconsciously, almost digging into her palms.

A sudden surge of cold yet burning acidity rushed up her throat, accompanied by a sharp, stinging pain that pierced her heart.

How many years has it been...? How many years has she been by Xie Yipei's side?

From a timid newcomer to a healing assistant who can barely keep up with him, she thought she was closest to him, and that she was at least special.

She had seen his cold indifference that kept people at arm's length, his ruthless cruelty when dealing with enemies, and the occasional hint of admiration he showed for a powerful opponent.