The dirty clothes they’d changed out of—Lin Huanhuan had intended to toss them into the fire and burn them, but Dong Yun’er said there was no need to throw them away; they might still be useful later.
Lin Huanhuan muttered inwardly, ‘Don’t tell me she’s going to use these for something weird?’
But then, seeing Dong Yun’er’s calm expression, with not the slightest sign of trying to hide anything, and not at all looking like someone up to that sort of thing, she agreed. Dong Yun’er gathered them up.
Next, Dong Yun’er took out some tools and directed Lin Huanhuan in setting up a temporary camp. It wasn’t much, but at least it could block some of the night wind.
“I’ll keep watch tonight. You just go to sleep—no need to worry about anything else,” Lin Huanhuan said.
She paused for a moment, then reminded, “It’s best if you sleep on your stomach. It’ll still be a while before your wounds are healed, and you’re even weaker now with that poison in your system.”
Dong Yun’er suggested, “Let’s take turns on watch, Miss. You need rest too. I’m actually a lot better already; it’s not that serious anymore.”
Lin Huanhuan frowned slightly. “This isn’t a discussion. It’s an order. If I tell you to sleep, you sleep. Why so many words? I’m tough enough, not that fragile.”
Dong Yun’er wanted to argue, but seeing Lin Huanhuan’s resolute expression, she knew there was no changing her mind.
‘Miss always seems easygoing about everything, but once she’s decided on something, she won’t turn back, even if it means breaking through a brick wall. It’s because I know her so well that I was so anxious last time.’
Dong Yun’er sighed to herself, but with no better solution, she decided: when it was late at night, she’d get up and say she’d already slept. By then, Lin Huanhuan would have no excuse to refuse.
By the light of the flickering fire, she watched her Miss sitting by the campfire. Any small rustling from the woods had her instantly scanning around, as if something terrible was hiding out there.
But it was only small creatures out at night; if it had been some real beast, the sounds wouldn’t be like that.
‘Miss is a bit too jumpy. If this keeps up, she’ll wear herself out fast. But maybe that’s not so bad—when I wake up in the middle of the night, she probably won’t refuse a swap then.’
‘Still, Miss has really grown in just the short time I’ve been injured. She’s gotten so much faster. I used to deliberately shield her from things, but now it’s like the shackles have been broken. No need for me to do that anymore, I suppose.’
She watched and watched, her eyelids growing heavy, and under the starry night, she drifted off without even realizing it, sleeping more peacefully than ever.
Off to the side, Lin Huanhuan heard her even breathing and finally relaxed.
“Staying up late isn’t good for recovery. At least here there are no phones or anything, so no way to play until dawn.”
The night passed quietly.
When Dong Yun’er woke up, she saw Lin Huanhuan sitting by the recently extinguished campfire, smiling at her, and couldn’t help blushing with shame.
‘Last night I’d clearly decided to wake up, but ended up sleeping so soundly I didn’t wake at all. That’s terrible of me! Next time I absolutely can’t let this happen!’
Dong Yun’er silently admonished herself, but what was done was done; she couldn’t go back in time and could only accept it.
“Good morning, Miss.”
Lin Huanhuan nodded, then picked up two somewhat blackened roasted eggs and handed them over. “Just cooked these, give them a try.”
“About half an hour ago I saw a wild chicken passing by and followed it. Sure enough, I found its nest and borrowed a few eggs. They might not look great on the outside, but they’re still edible. I already ate one, so don’t worry.”
Dong Yun’er took the eggs in a daze, silently vowing, “Since Miss made this for me, even if it’s all charcoal inside, I’ll eat it with a smile.”
But when she peeled off the shell and saw the white egg inside, she paused—there was nothing wrong with it at all.
“Hey, hey, what’s that look for? I can at least roast an egg, all right?” Lin Huanhuan complained, a bit miffed. Back in her last life, she had lived alone and cooked sometimes; it was just that this life had spoiled her a bit.
Dong Yun’er took a gentle bite, chewing and tasting. The egg was nearly flavorless, and only then did she nod in satisfaction.
‘As expected, it’s still that Miss of mine—her food is edible, but probably no one else would want to eat it.’
“How’s it taste?” Lin Huanhuan had wolfed hers down without tasting much, so she finally asked.
Dong Yun’er went with her usual exaggerated praise: “It’s delicious! Miss, your cooking has far surpassed mine. If it weren’t inconvenient for you to cook, I probably wouldn’t even need to do it anymore.”
“Is it really that amazing?” Lin Huanhuan felt something was off, but hearing she’d have to cook herself, she quickly dodged, “I still need you to cook. Honestly, I’m not that good at it.”
After chatting for a bit, Lin Huanhuan said, “We should get moving. Reinforcements might already be on their way, but I think those cultists won’t give up so easily. If we get back to the sect early, we’ll be safer—and can cause them trouble too.”
This time, Lin Huanhuan was determined to remember it well. To be made such a mess by them—once she got back, she’d find out where that cult came from and get someone to wipe them out.
“All right.” Dong Yun’er nodded, bracing herself to stand. She tried to walk, but after just a couple of steps, staggered and nearly fell.
Lin Huanhuan rushed over to support her. “Hey, don’t push yourself. I can help you. If you fall, that’ll be even more trouble.”
Dong Yun’er tried to act tough: “But, Miss, aren’t you going to use your artifact? That might make it hard for you if you’re holding me. I’m fine, really. At most, I’ll use a stick for support.”
Lin Huanhuan was annoyed. “I could fly you around even when you were unconscious. Now you’re awake and I can’t do it? How does that make sense?”
Dong Yun’er was left speechless.
Lin Huanhuan activated her folding fan artifact and pulled Dong Yun’er up with her. Worried she might fall off midway, Lin Huanhuan thought, “Forget it, I’ll just do it this way. Dong Yun’er probably won’t object.”
As Dong Yun’er looked on in confusion, Lin Huanhuan took a step back, slipped her arms around Dong Yun’er’s waist, and pulled her into an embrace, as if she was about to shower her with affection the next second.
Then, Lin Huanhuan rode the artifact steadily toward Lingyun Sect.
Dong Yun’er froze, her face flushed red, her hands and feet at a total loss.
‘Is this how Miss treated me while I was unconscious? No—maybe with an even more ambiguous pose… Why didn’t I wake up back then!’