175: Chapter 176 No Regrets at All, People with Love

Lu Chen gently pulled his arm out from under Ji Xiaofu, which had gone numb. Like a thief, he tiptoed off the bed, and like a bird returning to its nest, he silently slipped out of the wooden hut.

Outside the hut, the moonlight was bright and clear.

Yin Susu stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the railing in front of the hut. Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, dancing gently in the wind. A few petals were scattered at her feet; she had clearly been waiting for a long time.

Hearing the sound, Yin Susu didn't turn her head, only letting out a faint "Hmph."

“What, are you jealous?” Lu Chen gently wrapped his arms around Yin Susu's waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder as he asked softly.

Yin Susu's body stiffened slightly before relaxing. She said crossly, “Who's jealous? I just... I just couldn't sleep and came out for some fresh air!”

“Oh? Is that so?” Lu Chen smirked, turning Yin Susu around to face him. “Then... do you want me to help you ‘get some air’?”

A flush of red appeared on Yin Susu's cheeks under the moonlight. She feigned composure and said, “How? Like how you just tricked Ji Xiaofu?”

Lu Chen whispered, “Of course not. How could that be considered tricking? Wasn't that idea yours to begin with? Let's go somewhere with even ‘fresher air’.”

“Where to?” Yin Susu asked, knowing full well.

“You'll know when we get there.” Lu Chen acted mysterious.

Lu Chen took Yin Susu's hand, and with a flash of movement, they vanished into the vast night like two owls.

A moment later, the two arrived at that natural hot spring.

The hot spring was surrounded by swirling mist, looking like a fairyland.

The dense steam enveloped their figures, making them appear and disappear within it.

“Do you remember Ice and Fire Island?” Lu Chen asked softly.

Yin Susu's eyes were somewhat dazed as she slowly nodded. “How could I not remember...”

That place held too many memories for her and Lu Chen.

The past was like smoke, yet every detail remained vivid.

“Jump down.” Lu Chen was the first to leap into the hot spring, reaching out his hand toward Yin Susu.

Yin Susu hesitated for a moment, a trace of struggle flashing across her face, but she was ultimately melted by the tenderness in Lu Chen's eyes.

She took a deep breath and leaped into the hot spring.

With a splash, water sprayed everywhere.

Lu Chen pulled Yin Susu into his arms.

The warm spring water wrapped around them as if trying to melt them together.

Yin Susu leaned against Lu Chen's chest, listening to his powerful heartbeat and feeling his familiar scent, her heart filled with a mix of emotions.

“Does it still hurt?” Lu Chen looked down at Yin Susu and asked softly.

Yin Susu shook her head, pressing her cheek tightly against Lu Chen's chest as she whispered, “It doesn't hurt anymore...”

“Do you still hate me?” Lu Chen asked again.

Yin Susu was silent for a moment before slowly saying, “What do you think?”

Lu Chen didn't speak further, only holding Yin Susu tighter.

Hate?

Perhaps.

But there was even more love.

Love and hate intertwined, impossible to sever and difficult to untangle.

This was perhaps the unique bond between them, a bond that would last forever.

The moonlight filtered through the mist, spilling onto the hot spring and creating shimmering ripples.

Their figures intertwined in the water, like a pair of mandarin ducks playing in the waves.

...

...

The night in the Kunlun Sacred Realm was quiet and beautiful.

But for Lu Chen, this was destined to be another sleepless night.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of splashing water by the spring gradually subsided.

Lu Chen picked up the exhausted Yin Susu and, with a few leaps, returned to the small wooden hut.

On the way, Lu Chen had already circulated his Internal Energy to clear the water from Yin Susu's body.

Lu Chen gently covered Yin Susu with the quilt and leaned down to give her a light kiss on the forehead.

He stood up, walked out of the hut, and gently closed the door.

Under the moonlight, Lu Chen's figure seemed a bit lonely, but the smile on his lips remained as cynical as ever.

He looked up at the night sky, where the stars were like brilliant jewels.

Lu Chen took a deep breath, feeling the Spiritual Qi of the Kunlun Sacred Realm as he secretly planned for the future.

In the end, Lu Chen returned to Yin Susu's hut.

He slowly turned and pushed open the door.

His movements were very light and slow, for fear of disturbing the sleeping beauty inside.

The room was very quiet, with only the sound of faint breathing.

Faint moonlight streamed through the window, spilling onto the floor like a layer of silver frost.

Yin Susu lay there quietly alone, looking somewhat lonely and forlorn.

Lu Chen's heart ached slightly.

He walked slowly to Yin Susu's side and gradually squatted down.

His gaze tenderly watched Yin Susu's face.

It was an exquisite face, with eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like autumn waters, a shapely nose, and lips like painted rouge.

Even in her dreams, she was still breathtakingly beautiful.

Lu Chen watched her, somewhat entranced.

He couldn't help but reach out and very gently tuck a stray lock of hair from Yin Susu's forehead behind her ear.

His movements were very soft and careful, for fear of waking her.

He simply gathered Yin Susu gently into his arms, holding her tightly.

At that moment, he felt as if he possessed the entire world.

Warmth, softness, fragrance...

All sorts of wonderful feelings filled his body and mind.

He smelled the faint fragrance on Yin Susu's body; it was like some unknown floral scent, and also like the scent of hot spring mist—fresh, elegant, and refreshing.

He couldn't help but bury his head in Yin Susu's hair and take a deep breath.

“So fragrant...”

He murmured to himself, his voice barely audible.

Yin Susu's eyelashes fluttered slightly, but she did not open her eyes.

Lu Chen felt it.

A smug smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

That smile was much like a cat that had successfully stolen a treat—cunning, satisfied, and carrying a hint of... doting.

And what about Yin Susu?

Her heart was beating like a drum, violent and rapid.

She felt like a small boat in the vast ocean, rising and falling with the waves, tossing and turning.

And Lu Chen was that solid harbor she could rely on and where she could anchor.

Did she hate him?

Of course she had.

She hated his overbearing nature on Ice and Fire Island, hated that he had forcibly taken her, and hated the indelible marks he had left on her.

However, she also had to admit that she had long been completely conquered by him.

Not just her body, but also that proud heart of hers.

This feeling was very complex and contradictory.

It was like...

Drinking a cup of aged strong liquor. At first, it was pungent, making one's eyes water, but upon careful savoring, it was sweet and mellow with an endless aftertaste, making it impossible to stop.

Yin Susu sighed softly in her heart.

She knew that in this life, she had completely fallen into this man's hands.

But she didn't regret it.

She really didn't regret it at all.

Because she had won the gamble.

She had used everything she had to bet that this man, who had dropped from the sky and claimed he would become emperor, was not a cold-blooded monster who only knew slaughter and conquest.

He had a heart, he had feelings, and he had love.

He could be gentle, he could be considerate, and he could care about others' feelings.

That was enough.

For a woman, what could be more important than this?

As for the future...

Who could say for sure?

At least, right now, at this moment, she was happy.

He held her, held her tightly, as if he wanted to merge her into his own flesh and blood.

This feeling was truly good.

The corners of Yin Susu's mouth curved up slightly, revealing a happy smile.

She snuggled a bit closer into Lu Chen's embrace.

It was as if only by doing this could she feel his temperature and be certain that all of this was not a dream.

“Lu Lang...”

She murmured softly, her voice very light and gentle, as if afraid of disturbing this beautiful night.

Lu Chen heard her.

He held Yin Susu even tighter.

“Go to sleep.”

He said softly, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze in March, capable of melting all the ice in the world.

Yin Susu slowly closed her eyes.

This time, she really fell asleep.

She slept deeply, soundly, and sweetly.

A satisfied smile still hung on the corner of her mouth, like a child who had received a beloved toy.

Outside the window, the moonlight flowed quietly like water.

The night in the Kunlun Mountains was quiet and peaceful.

The distant mountains appeared hazy and mysterious under the moonlight.

A gentle breeze blew past, and the leaves rustled, sounding like they were softly singing an ancient ballad.

Everything was so beautiful and so tranquil.

The moonlight filtered through the window, spilling onto the two of them and draping them in a layer of silver gauze.

Looking from afar, it was like an exquisite painting.

In the painting, a perfect couple slept in each other's arms, sweet and warm.

The night was still long.

But those with love will never be lonely.