This life, completely different from the past, unimaginable, was something Huai En had never experienced. He felt as if his entire body was soaked in a hot spring, warm and comfortable, not wanting to leave at all. Every inch of his body was filled with a strange yet soft emotion. Seeing Xiaobao's sly smile, he felt that he belonged here, that he was meant to be here, not in that dark, cold, hopeless past.
He started to panic. As their journey progressed, they were soon to arrive at FengcHuai. Once out of FengcHuai, Zong Zheng Li Han would surely make his move. If the plan went smoothly, they would have to return to Suzhou Jin Residence ahead of time, and then...
He looked at Xiaobao's carefree smile, momentarily dazed.
Xiaobao noticed Huai En looking at him, turned his head towards him, smiled with his teeth showing, and ambiguously blinked.
"Why has the speed slowed down?"
Huai En glanced at his buttocks.
"It's fine here... The medicine can even heal knife wounds, let alone reduce swelling. Moreover..." Xiaobao patted the thick, fur-covered cushion beneath him, laughing contentedly, "My dear, you are the best elixir in the world, your husband now feels strong and invigorated."
Huai En had basically become accustomed to his shamelessness. This morning, he still stubbornly clung to the bed, holding him and refusing to get up, saying a bunch of disgusting words. It turns out what the books say about men often speaking sweet nothings is true. But those romantic moments that make one's cheeks flush and heart race, how come he couldn't say a single one? Listening to them made him feel embarrassed, how could Xiaobao speak so effortlessly?
Xiaobao saw that Huai En paid him no mind, which made him somewhat bored. He especially enjoyed seeing Huai En blush and look annoyed, which could mesmerize him so much that it felt like "a Buddha leaving his body and a second Buddha ascending to heaven."
Huai En looked up at the sky and pointed ahead, "This main road leads straight to FengcHuai. However, we will camp in the mountains tonight and proceed to FengcHuai tomorrow to stock up on provisions."
Xiaobao, who had finally enjoyed a comfortable sleep, was quite disappointed to hear they would be camping out again tonight, yet he dared not object.
Seeing Xiaobao's expression, Huai En knew what he was thinking.
"Don't worry, it's less than an hour's climb from this fork in the road to a geothermal spring. Inside that cave, it's very warm, even more comfortable than staying in an inn, and its location is secluded, hardly known by anyone."
Xiaobao's eyes lit up at the mention of a geothermal spring. "Ah, that's great. I haven't had the time to bathe these past two days." Thinking of bathing, Xiaobao immediately thought of the beauty emerging from his bath. Imagining frolicking in the water with Huai En, romantically close to each other, he got so excited he almost let the reins slip from his hands.
In the desolate, uninhabited deep mountains, the two of them were alone in a hidden, warm cave. Huai En, in front of him, began to undress, revealing his snow-white skin and letting down his long hair, stepping into the steaming water, smiling at him in a way that was soul-stirringly beautiful. Then, Xiaobao also stripped down completely, joining Huai En in the bath, holding the beauty in his arms, whispering sweet nothings, and caressing gently, doing as he pleased, this way and that way... Oh!
This was too thrilling and erotic!
Xiaobao indulged in his rosy fantasies, his mind continuously conjuring vivid and sensual images, with him and Huai En as the main characters. At this moment, he wished he had wings to fly there directly.
Huai En frowned as he watched Xiaobao's expressions change, which seemed more and more... indecent...
Xiaobao was snapped back to reality by a whip from Huai En.
Rubbing his buttocks, Xiaobao sheepishly said, "Let's hurry, it's hard to navigate the mountain roads after dark."
Huai En glanced at him, turned his horse's head to lead the way, and Xiaobao, looking at his back, felt his obscene fantasies suddenly crushed by the harsh reality.
He reflected on the realization that he was the one being dominated, the one subject to others' whims.
Yet, the prospect of sharing a moment with Huai En in the waters, even if it meant being the dominated party, secretly filled him with anticipation.
The delight of being close to Huai En was overwhelmingly pleasant.
Without the discomfort of the concluding part, and since Huai En had become more careful not to cause him pain, the sacrifice seemed worthwhile for the sweetness of their closeness. In those moments, his desires to kiss and touch wherever he wished were fulfilled, an opportunity he rarely had otherwise. This thought made Xiaobao more accepting, his arousal intensified, and his passion flared.
Huai En was oblivious to the complex web of feelings tangled within Xiaobao. His mind was focused on a simpler aim; the thermal springs were known for their healing properties, and he intended to passionately embrace Xiaobao in them. With Xiaobao teasing him and staying so close, Huai En felt an overwhelming heat and arousal, plagued by salacious thoughts. He had held back for far too long and could no longer restrain himself. There, he could ensure Xiaobao's safety while freely giving in to his desires.
Unaware of the danger he was walking into, Xiaobao remained excited throughout.
When a thought struck him, he turned to ask, "Huai En, how do you know this area so well? You led us to FengcHuai without even consulting a map and even knew about a secret cave."
"I've been here before," was Huai En's simple reply.
"Okay," Xiaobao responded with a nod.
He hesitated to inquire why Huai En had visited this place before, ultimately choosing not to voice his curiosity.
Xiaobao had never been privy to Huai En's past. It would be false to claim he wasn't disappointed by this secrecy. However, he understood that in the world of martial arts, the origins of a hero were not for others to question. If Huai En chose not to share, it was his prerogative. Thus, Xiaobao refrained from asking, fearing it might upset him.
As they climbed the mountain, the path became too challenging for their horses, forcing them to continue on foot. After a day spent riding, walking provided a welcomed relief.
Venturing deeper into the forest, Xiaobao felt as if he were walking through clouds and fog. The dense vegetation made it nearly impossible to
discern a path without close examination. He was in awe of Huai En, who seemed to navigate the seemingly identical surroundings with ease, twisting and turning their way forward. Unbeknownst to Xiaobao, Huai En had visited this place no less than three times and had made mental notes of the route, making their progress seem effortless.
After walking for a while, Xiaobao began to tire but, not wanting to be ridiculed by Huai En, he refrained from breathing too heavily. Just when he was about to ask Huai En how much further they had to go, Huai En spoke up first.
Looking up, Xiaobao paused, puzzled. Instead of a cave, he saw a clutter of weeds and odd-shaped rocks.
Huai En secured the horse, then casually walked around the area.
Suddenly, he drew his sword and swiftly cleared the chest-high wild grass in front of them, revealing a large rock with a dark entrance barely visible behind it.
Huai En moved to the side of the rock, placing his hands against its surface.
Xiaobao, seeing Huai En concentrating his energy, was skeptical that such a large rock could be moved. Just as he was about to offer his help, Huai En exerted force, and the rock indeed started to move slowly, unveiling the cave entrance behind it.
Xiaobao was stunned.
Huai En peeked into the cave and then turned back to Xiaobao, saying, "Come in."
He didn't even break a sweat, as if he had just lifted a small stool with ease. Xiaobao finally realized that in Huai En's eyes, his own weight was probably akin to that of a sandbag, which explained why Huai En could easily toss him around.
This made Xiaobao face a harsh reality: his wish to dominate Huai En, unless Huai En willingly complied, would likely remain unfulfilled in this lifetime.
After entering the cave and walking for a considerable distance in pitch darkness, they had to feel their way along the damp and slippery walls, the touch of which was extremely unpleasant. The uneven ground beneath their feet made the journey even more challenging, with Xiaobao clinging tightly to Huai En's hand, terrified.
As they progressed, the air grew warmer, and a glimmer of light started to break through the darkness. Rounding another bend, they were greeted by a sudden expanse of space—a natural cave, hollow at its core, opened up before them.
This cavern, surprisingly void in the center, allowed them to gaze up at a patch of sky. The cave walls were adorned with unknown, scale-like objects that, with the slightest infusion of light, reflected brightness back into the dimly lit enclosure. At the heart of the cave, a curving spring emitted a welcoming steam, a tantalizing promise of relief to the weary traveler.
Xiaobao was thrilled, encountering a natural geothermal spring for the first time. It seemed almost magical, a secret shared only between them, fostering a sense of pride and a bond with Huai En as if they held a private secret between them.
Approaching the spring, the warmth intensified, prompting Xiaobao to sweat.
"This is really nice. How did you come across this place?"
Huai En, with his back to Xiaobao, bent down to test the water's temperature. "Ah, it's just right."
Feeling somewhat deflated by the non-response, Xiaobao let the question drop without further inquiry.
Turning to sit at the edge of the spring, Huai En took out some dry food from a cloth bag and invited Xiaobao to join him.
Eagerly, Xiaobao settled next to him.
The dry buns were a challenge to swallow. After a single bite, Xiaobao refused to eat more, instead focusing his attention on a large bag of dried deer meat.
Noticing Huai En also chewing sporadically, Xiaobao, wanting to be attentive, brought a piece of the meat to Huai En's mouth. "Here, darling, open up."
Obediently, Huai En opened his mouth and bit down, accidentally catching Xiaobao's finger as well.
"Hey, hey, be careful with what you're eating." The bite wasn't harsh, and Xiaobao, laughing, tried to pull his hand away but couldn't.
His hand was firmly held by Huai En, who then teasingly licked his finger, causing a ticklish sensation. Huai En's gaze, deep and tranquil like still waters, locked onto him, his eyes seemingly alight with desire.
Xiaobao felt like he was about to explode.