Inside the Gui Xue cabin, the sound of running water echoed.
Hot mist mischievously slipped out through the cracks of the old door, only to be instantly scattered by the biting wind outside.
Shen Luolin leaned against the thin door panel, head bowed, intently using his tactical knife to process the snow fox he’d caught that afternoon.
The sharp blade sliced through the fur cleanly and efficiently, not a single unnecessary movement.
Yet today, his heart was nowhere near as steady as his hands.
From inside the door, a voice full of nasal complaint came muffled through the wooden board, reaching his ears with perfect clarity.
“Master, the back of my neck is still freezing…”
Shen Luolin’s hand paused for the briefest moment as he skinned the fox.
He couldn’t help but recall how, just moments ago, he’d grabbed a handful of fine snow and precisely stuffed it down the back of her upturned collar.
He could still see her jumping up from the cold, chasing after him for half the day, finally left puffing with frustration, yet utterly helpless.
His ears grew a little hot.
But his words showed no mercy, his voice low and gruff. “Serves you right. Who told you to provoke me first?”
“Hmph.”
A soft huff came from inside, followed by the sound of water being stirred.
After a moment, Moyin’s voice rang out again. “Then why don’t you go a little farther away? Why must you stand at the door?”
Shen Luolin lowered his eyelids, gaze fixed on the smooth fox pelt, and replied calmly, “Didn’t you say it’s unsafe to be alone?”
Silence inside for two seconds.
“Pfft—”
A stifled laugh slipped through the door, light as a feather, gently scratching at his ears.
Even she didn’t believe that excuse.
Shen Luolin forced himself to focus all his attention back on the task at hand.
He had to stay calm.
But this fragile wooden door couldn’t block out any sound at all.
She seemed to be washing her long silver hair, the sound of water pouring down her head, delicate and endless.
She even started to hum an off-key tune—a certain old ballad from an unknown town. The melody was light and soft, accompanied by the sound of water, carrying an indescribable sense of… ease.
On this desolate, silent snowfield, there had never been such a sound.
Shen Luolin’s movements grew slower and slower, his breathing unsteady.
He tried desperately to block out those sounds, but they seemed to have a life of their own, pushing their way into his mind, sketching scenes he was desperately trying to avoid.
He had to keep calm. They weren’t on vacation. Danger was everywhere. His task was…
Just as Shen Luolin was building a fortress of reason in his mind, the restless girl inside launched a final assault.
“Master.”
Her voice came through the door, less clear but laced with a sweet, steamy softness. “The water’s really hot. Why don’t you come in and bathe too?”
“!”
Shen Luolin was so choked by her words that a fierce itch welled up in his throat.
His knife slipped, nearly tearing the entire fox pelt.
He almost squeezed the words through his teeth: “…Shut up!”
Even he could hear the embarrassment and anger hidden in that rebuke.
The response was the clear, bell-like laughter of the girl inside, unable to hold it in now that she’d succeeded in her mischief.
That laughter was full of cunning and joy, as if she’d just won some tremendous victory.
This girl… she’s getting more and more out of control!
Yet, the laughter hadn’t even faded when—
“Kacha—”
A sharp crack of wood splitting, almost simultaneous with the heavy thump of something falling into water!
Immediately after came a short, pained gasp from Moyin!
No more teasing in that voice now—just pure shock and terror, instantly snuffing out all ambiguity in the air.
Something happened!
Every muscle in Shen Luolin’s body tensed to the limit in an instant.
Every tender thought, every spark of restless irritation, was washed away by that startled cry.
His body moved faster than his mind could think.
He didn’t even stop to wonder if the door was locked or ajar, nor did he call her name to check.
The next second, he turned and rammed his shoulder hard into the battered, fragile wooden door!
“Bang—!”
A deafening crash.
The already frail latch snapped; the wooden door burst open under the assault.
Shen Luolin, wrapped in icy wind and scattered snow, rushed inside.
And then, he froze on the spot.
The chill that charged in with him was instantly swallowed up by a hotter, sweeter mist. His vision was blurred by steam, and all he could see was dazzling white in the flickering firelight, while the thunder of his heartbeat echoed in his ears. For a moment, time seemed to congeal into syrup.
Moyin was curled up in the barrel.
Her hands instinctively crossed over her chest, her little face flushed bright red, eyes wide with terror and humiliation as she stared at him.
Her waterfall of silver hair clung damply to her smooth shoulders and back, droplets tracing along graceful curves before sinking into the water, sending out gentle ripples.
Steam swirled, softening her features, yet making her pale skin glow like the finest warm jade in the firelight. That sweet, hot mist instantly enveloped him—her dripping skin, panicked gaze, parted lips…
The air, for an instant, turned into molten lava.
Shen Luolin stood frozen at the doorway, unable to move forward or back.
His gaze seemed nailed in place, unable to tear away from the living painting before him.
His mind went completely blank.
The firewall of reason and self-control he was so proud of was incinerated the moment he broke down the door, not a trace left.
It was Moyin’s choked, humiliated, trembling voice that shattered the silence.
She quickly buried her face in her arm, not daring another glance at him, but with her other hand, she shakily pointed above the barrel.
“Th-there…”
Shen Luolin’s gaze instinctively swept over her, searching for wounds, but all he saw was her flawless, water-beaded skin.
No blood, no enemy…
His mind went blank for a heartbeat from the whiplash, then he followed her trembling fingertip, neck stiff as rust, and looked up inch by inch.
He saw an innocent hole in the roof, and a small chunk of rotten wood floating on the water’s surface.
Perhaps, after days of the fireplace warming the cabin, the snow on the roof had melted, causing a bit of rotted wood to give way and fall down…
So that was the source of the thump and her startled cry.
The misunderstanding cleared.
The tension that had nearly leapt into his throat faded instantly.
What replaced it was a mortifying embarrassment that felt hot enough to burn a man alive.
Shen Luolin looked at her ears, red enough to drip blood, her shoulders trembling from shame and cold, then at the innocent hole in the ceiling.
He opened his mouth, but his throat was so dry not a sound came out.
For a moment, he didn’t know whether he should first apologize for his reckless intrusion, or turn and flee from this room hotter than dragon fire.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.