Chapter 43: Luckily, I Waited for You

The next day, at another morning, the storm gradually calmed down.

The girl curled up on a stone, seemingly too exhausted, had fallen asleep.

Not far away, a new figure appeared on the snow-covered ground, stepping steadily toward the cave, leaving behind a trail of footprints neither too deep nor too shallow.

Li Ang walked forward step by step.

A few days ago, he had finished the teaching work assigned by the City Lord, but because there had always been people watching him nearby, only today did those watchers disappear, giving Li Ang the chance to quietly slip out of the city.

“Is Liyas still here?”

Li Ang felt a pang of guilt in his heart, as more time had passed than he had expected.

He feared that Liyas might not be able to wait and run off somewhere.

With a nervous heart, he approached the cave and soon noticed the girl on the stone not far away.

A little succubus lay curled up on the rock like a kitten, eyes already closed, her delicate shoulders rising and falling lightly with each breath.

Li Ang’s eyes flickered slightly as he stepped closer, softly calling the girl’s name: “Liyas?”

At the sound, the girl’s body trembled slightly, as if waking.

She slowly lifted her head, tears clearly stained her fair face.

The girl drowsily opened her red-rimmed eyes and looked at the young man in front of her.

Upon recognizing him, her eyes reddened again, her throat rolling as if trying to say something.

But in the end, no words came out; emotions overwhelmed her speech.

Summoning all her strength, the girl lunged forward into the boy’s embrace, clutching him tightly, unwilling to let go.

Li Ang caught her, gently patting her back as he softly said, “I’m back.”

The boy’s warm embrace and words told her everything — it was real.

He was back.

He really came to find her.

All the resentment Liyas had held before inexplicably vanished in this moment.

Liyas buried her face against Li Ang’s chest and said with a hint of sorrow, “I waited for you for so, so long…”

Li Ang was about to apologize, but the girl only held him tighter.

“But… I still waited for you.”

Liyas lifted her head, her gem-like eyes shining brighter and brighter as they reflected Li Ang’s face.

The little succubus was indeed easy to soothe; she didn’t even need Li Ang to say anything — she simply calmed down on her own.

Li Ang had thought she might be very angry, angry enough to scold him or even refuse to wait for him.

But she wasn’t. She only expressed her longing.

Li Ang led Liyas into the cave and asked how she had been surviving these days.

As the wind gradually faded, the coldness lessened considerably.

He was stunned to learn that Liyas had been relying entirely on the rabbit all this time.

Li Ang clearly remembered that when he went out to gather herbs earlier, storms often blew through, so he had specially left quite a bit of food in the cave for shelter.

Only after entering the cave did Li Ang understand what had happened: due to the storm, many animals had used the cave as a refuge, and the food he had left was long gone.

Li Ang felt a bit frustrated.

“Next time I come, I’ll bring you more food. Hmm, and your books too.”

He muttered to himself.

This time, he had come out too hastily and hadn’t brought much.

“Li Ang, are you going to leave again?”

Liyas twisted her hands together, her eyes a little downcast.

“Sorry, I have to go back.”

Li Ang ruffled the little succubus’s hair.

“As for your eyes, I’ve figured out a way.”

“Really?”

Liyas’s eyes brightened.

“Yeah.”

Li Ang nodded.

According to what Liyas said, if she was missing one eye, she would never be able to absorb magic power properly.

If her body were like a bucket, then the missing eye was like a hole at the bottom, causing any water poured in to leak out.

So, if they wanted to increase the demonic bloodline within Liyas, they had to first plug that hole.

But this method, at least, was better left unknown to Liyas for now.

“Li Ang, those bad people didn’t hurt you, right?”

Liyas recalled what happened before and reached out to touch Li Ang’s chest, trying to take off his clothes to check for injuries.

“I’m fine.”

Li Ang helplessly caught the girl’s restless little hand.

“It’s all my fault…”

Liyas’s eyes were red as she murmured, “If only I were stronger, then I could have protected you.”

“Then I’ll wait for you to become stronger to protect me. In the future, I’ll be relying on Lady Liyas to cover me.”

Li Ang teased.

“Then I’ll beat up all the bullies who mess with you!”

The little succubus waved her delicate white fists fiercely.

“All right, all right.”

Li Ang laughed.

Afterward, Liyas clung to Li Ang, asking him to tell her stories.

They took turns telling and listening, and soon, the daylight began to fade.

Li Ang glanced outside at the dim weather and stood up.

“It’s getting late. I have to go back first. I’ll come see you again tomorrow.”

“Oh.”

The little succubus’s once lively tail drooped immediately, looking a little disappointed.

Then, she took out the preserved candied fruit she had carefully saved earlier, took out the only piece, and offered it to Li Ang’s mouth.

Li Ang didn’t expect she still had one left. Seeing the hopeful look in her eyes, he opened his mouth to accept the offering.

The delicate fingertip gently brushed his lips, tingling and tickling, carrying the girl’s unique milky scent, followed by the sweet taste of honey and dried fruit spreading through his mouth.

“Mm, delicious.”

Li Ang gave a thumbs-up.

Liyas blinked, looking a bit mischievous.

“This is my last piece, you know.”

Li Ang understood what she meant and smiled helplessly.

“Okay, I’ll bring you some more tomorrow.”

Hearing this, the girl finally showed a satisfied smile, humming softly with her hands behind her back.

“Then you have to come early, or else I’ll miss you.”

If so, she wouldn’t get any.

Li Ang’s gaze softened as he nodded.

“Okay.”

***

Watching Li Ang’s figure gradually disappear into the snowy landscape, Liyas’s originally excited mood faded with that retreating silhouette.

She sat dazed on the stone for a while, but recovered quickly.

Thinking that she could see Li Ang again tomorrow, the corners of her lips lifted slightly, and her previously gloomy mood improved a lot.

But tomorrow, Li Ang would bring her delicious things — should she prepare something for him?

The little succubus rested her chin in one hand, lost in thought, while the other idly played with her tail hook.

Human books said this was called “giving in return for a gift.”

Soon, her movements froze.

Got it!

She remembered that Li Ang needed many materials to make potions.

Liyas jumped down.

She planned to find some herbs and materials to help Li Ang save a lot of money.

Then the money saved could buy clothes and lots of tasty food!

Liyas thought she was incredibly clever!

With that thought, the girl happily headed out of the cave.

“Oh, Li Ang said not to go too far… then I’ll just look nearby. I can’t let him worry…”