"Haa.. it's so cold..."
Swimming on the chilling lake, a soft sigh escaped Zhao Tian's lips.
Floating on his back, he gazed up at the sky, the half-moon shining brightly, surrounded by a scattering of stars.
Zhao Tian closed his eyes for a moment, letting the cold water cradle him as he drifted.
Opening his eyes, he glanced at the surface of the water swaying slightly and he brought his hand down.
As he infused the space energy in his palm, the water wavered slightly and was pushed back under the pressure.
Seeing this, Zhao Tian smiled faintly and gripped his palm "Not bad..."
A few minutes later, he stepped out of the lake and dried his body, wearing a new set of robes.
The soft fabric of the robe offered immediate warmth as he slipped it on, and he ran a hand through his damp hair, pushing it back as he exhaled deeply.
"Let's return.. she must have cooked something."
...
As he reached the tent, he was surprised to see Yao Jing standing there, leaning on a tree and there was no tent in that place.
Yao Jing noticed his arrival and smiled faintly "Tian'er..."
Zhao Tian glanced around and asked "Where is the tent?"
Smiling, Yao Jing tilted her head slightly, letting the wind play with a strand of her dark hair and her emerald-green eyes sparkled under the faint moonlight as she extended a hand, palm up, letting the cold wind brush against it.
"The wind has picked up," she said softly.
"The speed has been increasing steadily... I believe there's a chance we'll face a sudden snowstorm or even a blizzard."
Zhao Tian frowned, glancing at the darkened sky as the half-moon was now partially veiled by fast-moving clouds, and the air had grown noticeably colder.
He could feel it now, the sharp sting of the wind against his face, more biting than it had been by the lake.
Yao Jing continued, "If we stayed in the tent and a storm hit, we'd be exposed. The fabric won't hold against the force of the wind, let alone the cold. It would be dangerous."
Her gaze softened as she looked at him. "That's why I took it down and packed everything. I thought it'd be better to move somewhere safer."
She gestured in the direction of the nearby mountains. "The cave we went to earlier... it's sheltered and far more secure. We can stay there comfortably until the weather clears."
"Hungry already?" Yao Jing teased, flipping the meat with a set of tongs she'd also pulled from her storage ring.
"Be patient. Good food takes time."
She leaned forward slightly, the firelight highlighting her focused expression as she worked.
With deft movements, she basted the meat with oil and sprinkled more herbs on top, the golden-brown edges crisping beautifully.
Zhao Tian watched her, his gaze softening as he noted the care she put into every motion.
She lifted a piece of meat with her tongs and waved it slightly to cool it before offering it to him. "Here, try this."
Zhao Tian accepted the offering, biting into the tender, flavorful meat and he smiled as the rich, savory taste spread across his tongue. "Amazing as always..."
Yao Jing's smile widened, a hint of pride in her expression. "Good."
For the next hour, the cave was filled with the sounds of sizzling meat and quiet conversation, the air rich with the aroma of roasted herbs and spices.
Yao Jing continued to cook, serving pieces of perfectly grilled meat to Zhao Tian, who happily devoured each one.
...
With a soft smile, Yao Jing spread the sheets over him as he lay on the matress "You went through a lot today... rest for now."
"Mhm..."
Yao Jing lay beside him as she reached out and patted his head, her fingers threading through his soft white hair.
She placed her another hand over his chest and soon drifted to sleep.
...
For the next whole day, they stayed inside the cave because of the heavy snow storm outside.
And quickly a week rolled as they continued their search...
Finally they found the Misty Moon petal.
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I hope you guys liked this chapter!
My main exams are starting, so for this month, the updates will be irrelugar... I will try to push out chaps whenever I can. Bear with me :)
And I had a voting poll in discord about Qi Xue and Qi Nue to be in harem or not... Mostly positive response. I will consider it.