Finally, the flower in her heart slowly bloomed at this moment. The doorway that had been sealed for too long was gradually opened, creaking softly. Qing Xia’s hands somewhat clumsily embraced Qin Zhiyan’s waist, gently responding.

Feeling Qing Xia’s response, Qin Zhiyan seemed to pause slightly, then immediately increased the strength in his hands, holding Qing Xia in his embrace and becoming even more tenderly intimate. Fine kisses fell along her cheeks and neck, lingering gently on her beautiful collarbone. His arms holding Qing Xia slowly leaned backward until, with a soft sound, they both fell onto the warm bed.

A pink glow emerged on Qing Xia’s neck, as if she were immersed in hot springs. Her body softened inch by inch as she whispered softly, “Zhiyan…”

Qin Zhiyan half-supported himself, the corners of his mouth curved in a smile, gazing with gentle morning sunlight at the woman who no longer had any trace of icy coldness. His expression was tender with otherworldly beauty. Qing Xia opened her eyes, gazing hazily at Qin Zhiyan’s handsome face, feeling as if her consciousness was still galloping somewhere far away, reluctant to return for a long time.

“Yima’er,” his voice was very light, carrying slight emotional fluctuations, deeply gazing at Qing Xia’s face as he asked softly, “May I?”

Qing Xia’s entire body was soft. She stared at Qin Zhiyan’s features, as if his whole being radiated a faint cloud-like radiance. Those past events that had been sealed away too long began dancing hazily in her mind.

Their first meeting in Hanchao Township – Qin Zhiyan, like a god, had thrown a life-saving straw before her when she was starving and cold, pulling her back from death’s edge. After that, their fates seemed bound by divine barriers, never again able to break free or deviate.

Afterward, her well-intentioned but misguided rescue attempts had disrupted Qin Zhiyan’s plans, trapping him in the imperial tomb’s desperate situation. Yet he never exposed this. The two traveled together, through life and death, never abandoning each other as they struggled through the tomb’s difficulties. The long dark corridors, flame-roaring fire halls, bone-chilling ice chambers, flowing sand and thick earth in the golden hall, the stinking ten-thousand-zhang snake pit, and finally the otherworldly paradise of the green wood hall. The bright yellow dust-avoiding pearl, the emerald bamboo forest, the layered mountain springs – the white-clothed man carried her through all those twisting, difficult paths, again and again giving her the hope of survival, allowing her to maintain the desire and motivation to live in that crisis-filled tomb, ultimately emerging alive.

In the beast hunt of the sandy wasteland, Qin Zhiyan’s pale cheeks, desperate persistence, finally opening the path to survival, letting her escape with his sworn enemy.

Then, in the sea of blood outside Yao Pass, he appeared before her once again like a god. In her most desperate moment, he extended a helping hand, holding her blood-stained body in his arms, once more forcibly wresting her from Death’s grasp.

These memories rushed through her mind like films. Qin Zhiyan’s serene smile, gentle features, and husky voice echoed dreamlike in the depths of her heart, sketching out a powerful, magnificent scroll.

Finally, she smiled warmly, supporting herself with her elbows. Qing Xia slowly leaned forward, a warm, moist kiss gently pressing against the corner of Qin Zhiyan’s lips, like petal rain and mist, refreshingly sprinkling fragrance across the sky.

Qin Zhiyan finally sighed deeply, like a taut string finally relaxing. He kissed Qing Xia’s lips and pressed down upon her, his warm breath caressing her thoughts, gradually stirring the spring waters.

Qing Xia extended her snow-white arms, embracing Qin Zhiyan’s waist, responding passionately. No longer thinking about differences in status, spans of time, wars, or Chu Li, she pressed down all her hidden anxieties, greedily absorbing Qin Zhiyan’s warmth like a drowning person clutching at the last lifesaving straw.

For the first time in her life, she so wanted to grasp something.

For the first time in her life, she so recklessly wanted to fight for someone.

Qin Zhiyan, Qin Zhiyan – you are my final faith in love. Let me stubbornly, willfully, wholeheartedly trust you once. I won’t think about tomorrow, won’t think about war, won’t think about power struggles and conspiracies. Just let me completely trust someone again – trust that you can give me peace of mind, can give me complete love. Believe that you are my salvation, the deity who can wash away all the blood and sin on my hands. As long as you’re here, I need fear nothing.

The fabric buttons on her clothing were undone one by one. Qing Xia’s pure white skin gleamed like pearls in the warm air. Qin Zhiyan’s gentle gaze was like the ocean, pressing down all waves and surges, slowly, inch by inch, drawing close to kiss her pristine chest, freely moving about this territory no one had ever explored. His slender hands carefully held Qing Xia’s shoulders as if embracing the world’s most precious treasure, with suppressed, low breathing between his lips and teeth.

His eyes flickered with strange light, carrying rarely seen radiance, slowly pressing his slightly cool lips against Qing Xia’s body. Like a fish with soft, smooth skin swimming across her. Qing Xia’s body blazed with fire, carrying slight tremors. Her fingers gripped tightly on Qin Zhiyan’s back, reaching into his clothing, touching his chest, spine, and lower abdomen, slowly moving downward, exploring his love and passion for her.

“Mm…” Qin Zhiyan suddenly groaned, his gaze immediately becoming fiery. He stared intently at Qing Xia, suddenly leaning down to bite her tender breast.

A strange warm current instantly surged through Qing Xia’s entire body. She slightly arched her back like a dying small beast, tightly grasping Qin Zhiyan’s waist with her nails digging deep, whimpering softly, calling like a small animal, “Zhiyan…”

Two flames blazed in Qin Zhiyan’s eyes. He looked deeply at Qing Xia, breathing rapidly with swelling blood vessels, finally moving forward to enter upon invitation.

“Mm…” Qing Xia immediately moaned softly, her entire body seeming to burn simultaneously. Qin Zhiyan, gentle yet powerful, carrying his warmth and medicinal fragrance, inch by inch filled Qing Xia’s body. The slight pain was quickly covered by satisfaction and pleasure. It wasn’t intensely passionate, but filled with deep satisfaction and strength, as if all her pores opened together, covered by warm spring water, with warmth filling her five organs and six viscera. They united tightly together, pressed close, full and complete, warming each other.

The candles in the tent burned brightly, emitting hazy light, illuminating the man and woman beneath the lamplight like an otherworldly immortal couple.

The air was all warmth and tenderness, red candles dripping red tears with gentle breath.

Qing Xia made satisfied low sounds. Qin Zhiyan took her round earlobe in his mouth, his warm breath spraying on her neck, his voice husky and low yet carrying endless tender gentleness, approaching her ear to softly call her name.

“Yima’er…”

“Yima’er… Yima’er…”

Those dreamlike sounds echoed deep in her nerves like celestial music, entering her body’s deepest places like his physical form. Her body was hot, burning all over, and his breath even hotter. He softly repeated, “Yima’er, let me take care of you.”

“Take care of you for life. No one can bully you anymore, no one can take you away. Just stay by my side, alright?”

Her tears suddenly overflowed her eyes, flowing out like trickling pearls, rolling freely down her white cheeks. She nodded hastily, continuously nodding, tightly embracing Qin Zhiyan’s body, burying her head in his neck on the warm bed.

Qin Zhiyan suddenly lifted her head, kissing away her tears bit by bit, tenderly smoothing her furrowed brows, sighing softly as he held her tightly as if to merge her into his flesh and blood.

“Zhiyan…”

Qing Xia finally wept with joy, her mind completely blank, leaning tightly in his embrace. Whatever the future held, whatever tomorrow brought – she no longer wanted to think about it. Just let her sink into his tenderness, never to wake again, to sleep forever.

Just after the fourth watch drum sounded, Qing Xia quietly awoke. Her eyelids moved lightly as she opened her eyes, seeing the peaceful, gentle face so close, with thick dark eyelashes casting small shadows. For a moment, her consciousness seemed somewhat dazed – everything from the night felt like a dream. She pulled away the silk quilt covering her body, seeing traces everywhere of their passionate moments.

A blush quietly crept up her cheeks. With slight movement, discomfort came from below, and her light frown awoke the sleeping man beside her.

Qin Zhiyan slowly opened his eyes, a pair of brilliant star-like eyes like translucent gems. His black hair scattered behind him further highlighted his sword-like brows, starry eyes, and jade-clear gentleman appearance. His long arm reached out to embrace Qing Xia, his voice carrying a trace of guilt, “Yima’er, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were still… are you uncomfortable?”

Qing Xia leaned in his embrace, resting her head on his arm, gently shaking her head. Not only had he not expected it, but even she herself hadn’t anticipated it. Perhaps during Chu Li’s return to the country, various emotional barriers had prevented him from approaching Zhuang Qingxia, but she hadn’t expected that even Qi An had never touched Zhuang Qingxia’s body. She slowly closed her eyes, her voice low like a small animal, softly saying, “Qin Zhiyan, are you afraid?”

She clearly felt Qin Zhiyan’s arm stiffen. Qing Xia turned to face Zhiyan, looking up at him in his embrace, gazing into his eyes with calm dual pupils, saying softly, “You’re not this type of person – you wouldn’t be so hasty. Is it because you heard Yan Hui’s words and know Chu Li is coming?”