260: Moonlight in the tent

The candle within the tent had long since been extinguished, leaving only the moonlight pouring in from outside, like a bolt of crushed silver silk gently draped over the two overlapping figures.

After a long while, Situ Jun's kiss finally came to rest on Hua Hanxiang's neck. Her skin still retained the warmth of his lips, and his voice was low and husky with the night air, yet every word was as earnest as if forged from his heart:

"Hanxiang, once I obtain the space pearl, I will take you back to North Border City to live a good life."

Hua Hanxiang's hands, which were wrapped around his back, suddenly paused. Her fingertips still felt the firm texture of his muscles beneath the fabric, carrying a lingering tremor.

She slowly raised her head. Moonlight filtered through the breathable gauze slits at the top of the tent, landing exactly on Situ Jun's face.

His eyes, which usually hid a sharp edge and layers of worry, were now filled with tenderness, like a hearth on a winter night in North Border City; even the light in his eyes carried a steady warmth.

That tenderness was so overwhelming that it flowed into her heart along with his gaze, warming her chest. Her nose couldn't help but tingle slightly, and her eyes quietly turned a faint red.

She raised her hand, her fingertips gently caressing his cheek, sliding from his brow bone to his jaw. Every inch of sensation was so clear it felt as if it were being etched into her Soul.

His brow was usually tightly furrowed, but now it was relaxed, and with it, the unease in her heart faded slightly.

"Alright, I will wait for you."

Her voice was very soft, yet it was laden with all her trust and affection, the end of her words trailing off with a lingering sob.

Before her voice could fade, Situ Jun kissed her again.

This time, there was none of the urgency previously fueled by worry over the situation; there was only dense, lingering tenderness.

He lowered his head, gently nuzzling her delicate lips with tender affection. When she slightly parted her mouth, his tongue gently explored, intertwining with hers.

There was no fierce plundering, only an inch-by-inch tender tracing, as if trying to thoroughly blend their breaths together until they could no longer be distinguished.

Hua Hanxiang closed her eyes, her long eyelashes casting shallow shadows beneath them.

She raised her hands to wrap around his neck, pressing her body tighter against him and actively responding to his kiss. Her tongue gently hooked his, melting all the reliance, trust, and affection in her heart into this lingering kiss.

She seemed to have completely let down her guard, giving herself entirely to him—feeling the warmth from his palms, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat against his chest, and even sensing the warmth wrapped within his spiritual power.

The unease and fear in her heart gradually dissipated in this tender embrace, turning into warm ripples within her Soul.

Occasionally, the sounds of Cultivators arguing came from outside the tent, but they were cut off by a silence array, leaving only a vague echo that instead made the inside of the tent seem even more tranquil.

In the tent, there was only the sound of their intertwined breathing. Accompanied by the moonlight spilling from the gaps in the tent's roof, it wove a silver glow on the low couch, outlining their embracing figures with increasing tenderness, like a scroll painting steeped in affection.

Situ Jun's hand slowly moved across her back, his fingertips carrying a faint warmth of spiritual power as he gently rubbed her skin.

That warmth was not overbearing like during his usual Cultivation; instead, it was like a spring stream, gently seeping into her Meridians. It made her tremble slightly, yet she craved this warmth, subconsciously pressing her body closer, her nose resting against his collarbone as she greedily inhaled his scent.

"Do you remember when we were in East Lin City, and you attacked to test me?"

Situ Jun suddenly spoke, his voice rising in the gaps between kisses, carrying a hint of reminiscent laughter and an almost imperceptible tenderness.

"You, only at the Mid Golden Core Stage, actually dared to spy on me, a Nascent Soul Cultivator. You certainly had courage."

Hearing this, a smile immediately appeared in Hua Hanxiang's eyes, and even the corners of her eyes curved up.

She raised her head, her nose gently rubbing against his chin, her tone carrying a bit of playfulness:

"If not for that test, how could I have caught my husband's attention and eventually become your wife?"

As she spoke, her fingers gently pinched his earlobe, her tone teasing:

"On the other hand, husband, you clearly had feelings for me back then, yet you put on such an icy front. Every time you saw me, you had such a stern face that I didn't even dare to approach you at first."

Situ Jun, having his past actions pointed out, smiled helplessly, the tenderness in his eyes nearly overflowing.

He lowered his head and gently bit the corner of her lip—not too hard, but enough to make Hua Hanxiang let out a soft cry. A layer of mist instantly covered her eyes, though the smile in them deepened.

"You were quite afraid of me back then,"

He looked at her reddened lips, his gaze darkening a few shades as his fingertips lightly brushed the corner of her mouth, his tone teasing:

"Now, look at you, you've learned to use the past to make fun of me."

"I'm not making fun of you."

Hua Hanxiang immediately reached out to cover his mouth, her eyes full of mischievous light, like a little girl who had stolen some candy:

"I am praising my husband for his good taste. To have taken a fancy to such a great beauty like me, what wonderful vision you have."

Situ Jun gripped her wrist, his thumb gently rubbing the skin there as he pinned her hand to her side and leaned down to kiss her again.

This kiss had more of a playful lingering quality. His tongue lightly swept over her lips and teeth, bringing a ticklish sensation that made her whole body go soft. She could only lean into his embrace, her fingertips losing all their strength.

The spiritual power around them also began to flow slowly. It was no longer a frantic merging like before, but rather like two familiar streams gently entwining, slowly nourishing each other's minds.

Hua Hanxiang could clearly feel that Situ Jun's spiritual power carried the chill of North Border City, yet when it touched hers, it instantly became gentle, intertwining with her spiritual power thread by thread until they were one.

The night gradually deepened, and the moonlight quietly shifted its position, spilling onto the other side of the low couch.

Hua Hanxiang gradually grew sleepy. Her eyelids drooped slightly, and her breathing became steady. The strength in her hands, which were originally around his neck, also lessened, her fingertips occasionally twitching like a tired kitten.

Situ Jun quickly noticed her fatigue. He slowed the rhythm of his kisses and finally pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of her mouth before carefully pulling her into his arms. He adjusted his posture so her head rested on his chest, then pulled over a thin quilt to gently cover her.

He looked down at the sleeping face of the woman in his arms. The moonlight fell on her face, outlining her features with increasing softness.

Her brow was slightly relaxed, no longer furrowed as it had been at nightfall; she truly seemed at peace.

Situ Jun's fingertips lightly brushed the ends of her hair. The pitch-black strands slid through his fingers, carrying a faint fragrance that filled his heart with stability.

Ever since he had stepped into this world, from a common servant to his current Nascent Soul Stage, he had been in a state of constant worry.

Worrying about his own safety, worrying that he couldn't protect his loved ones, worrying about his Cultivation stagnating—he had never felt such a sense of groundedness.

It was as if as long as he held the person in his arms, no matter how many difficulties or obstacles he encountered, he had the confidence to overcome them.

Just then, the Restriction outside the tent suddenly erupted with a burst of bluish-purple light. Likely, another Cultivator had accidentally touched the edge of the Immortal Cave's Restriction.

However, the tranquility inside the tent was not disturbed. Hua Hanxiang only moved slightly and continued to sleep soundly.

Situ Jun's expression changed instantly. The previous tenderness was replaced by sharpness. He subconsciously tightened his arms, holding Hua Hanxiang closer, for fear that the outside noise would startle her.

He looked out of the tent, his eyes full of determination.

That space pearl—no matter how many Nascent Soul Cultivators stood in his way, no matter what price had to be paid—he had to get it.

Not to increase his Cultivation, not to fight for territory, but simply to use its space to keep his loved ones by his side, to be able to guard and accompany them at all times, and to never let them suffer even a bit of grievance.

The moonlight remained gentle, and the night wind lightly brushed the tent fabric, bringing the cool air of the valley mixed with the faint fragrance of plants.

Inside the tent, the two slept in each other's arms, their breaths intertwined. In this perilous circular valley, they had built a world of their own, stable and full of affection.