Looking at the two steaming bowls of noodles in front of her, how could she not feel moved?
Lin Xian pushed one bowl toward her, then pulled the other closer and started eating in big mouthfuls.
He had to admit—the rewards from the cards were actually pretty good.
It was spicy, but the flavor was incredible.
"Why are you just staring? Hurry up and eat. It won't taste good once it gets cold. Hah… hah…"
There was no helping it—it was way too spicy.
The heat made him break out in sweat.
This time, Zhu Zhuqing didn't hold back and began eating as well.
When you're hungry, everything tastes amazing.
The result was that after finishing, the two of them sat facing each other, both panting from the heat.
"If it's not spicy, it's free"—that line really lived up to its name.
Even after they finished, the burning sensation lingered on their lips and tongues, refusing to fade.
They looked at each other—and suddenly burst into laughter.
Under the moonlight, Lin Xian could clearly see Zhu Zhuqing's lips, flushed red and slightly swollen from the spice.
She looked unexpectedly cute.
Noticing his intense gaze, Zhu Zhuqing turned her head away.
Judging by the time, nearly three hours had passed. Her spirit power would recover in about another hour.
Fortunately, she had met someone kind.
Otherwise, even if she had survived, recovery would have taken a long time.
She had fled from the Star Luo Empire to come to Soto City…
There were still about three months before the enrollment period for the advanced academies. She should make it in time.
After sitting for a while, Zhu Zhuqing stood up and stretched lazily.
That graceful curve almost made Lin Xian dizzy.
Had he accidentally hit himself with Galaxy Fall?
Combined with her fair skin peeking through the tears in her clothes—it was far too tempting.
Realizing this, Zhu Zhuqing quickly stopped and sat back down.
"Um… do you have any spare clothes?"
"No. I lost my luggage while being chased."
That made sense. When your life is on the line, who worries about luggage?
"I do have a set of women's clothes here. Want to try them?"
As soon as he said that, Zhu Zhuqing looked at him with a hint of caution.
"Don't misunderstand—I don't have any strange hobbies. It's a matching set with both men's and women's styles. I can change into the other one."
With that, he used the clothing card, and two academy-style outfits appeared.
"Here, change into these. I'll step outside for a bit."
After placing the clothes down, Lin Xian turned and walked out.
Watching his figure disappear, Zhu Zhuqing cautiously shifted her position, glancing outside from time to time.
Wearing torn clothes wasn't ideal. Changing would be better.
After a brief hesitation, she picked up the clothes, moved deeper into the cave, crouched down, and began removing her tight leather outfit…
Not even a minute later—
Lin Xian suddenly rushed back in.
"Are you done? We need to leave now—there's a wolf pack coming!"
This area was near a stream, and many Spirit Beasts came here to drink.
Wolf packs were especially active at night, and they had clearly picked up the scent of humans.
Lin Xian had spotted them the moment he stepped outside and immediately rushed back.
Zhu Zhuqing froze.
At that exact moment, she had just stood up, pulling the skirt into place.
Everything that should—and shouldn't—be seen…
…was completely exposed.
But now wasn't the time to think about that.
Without hesitation, Lin Xian picked her up.
However, by the time they reached the cave entrance—it was already too late.
The forest outside was filled with glowing green eyes, flickering with cold, predatory light.
"It's bad… this just escalated…"
Zhu Zhuqing saw it too, her expression turning bitter.
She had narrowly escaped her family's pursuit…
Only to end up facing a pack of wolves.
"How about you leave me and run? Otherwise, we'll both die here."
In his arms, Zhu Zhuqing struggled slightly as she spoke.
"Not happening. You're not dying. Otherwise, my medicine would've been wasted."
"Go back into the cave. The entrance is narrow—once your spirit power recovers, you'll be able to escape."
With a light push off the ground, Lin Xian dashed back to the cave entrance.
After setting her down, he stood alone at the entrance, facing the pack of hungry wolves.
Zhu Zhuqing stared at his slender back.
Unknowingly, her eyes began to moisten.
Her coldness had always been a form of self-protection.
From the moment she was born, she had known only cruelty.
After her Martial Soul awakened, things only worsened.
Her father ignored her. Her mother showed no affection. And her older sister wanted her dead.
She had no childhood companions.
Everyone kept their distance from her.
Because she was the Second Young Miss.
No one dared offend her eldest sister.
The gap between them was enormous.
According to the Zhu family's rules, only the strongest of the younger generation could survive. The rest were either killed, crippled, or exiled.
Even though she trained relentlessly, pouring all her time into cultivation…
The gap between her and her sister, Zhu Zhuyun, remained insurmountable.
Since childhood, she had been betrothed to the Third Prince of the Star Luo Empire.
She once believed that two people with similar fates could support each other.
But that coward… had run away.
Leaving her alone to endure cold stares and silent judgment.
So she became colder.
After reaching the second spirit ring, she chose to leave her family and search for her own path to strength.
But she had been hunted all the way here—into the Star Dou Forest.
She didn't know what the future held.
But she still wanted to go to Soto City…
To see what that coward was doing.
And to finally cut off her last lingering attachment.
So—
This feeling of being protected…
…was something she hadn't experienced in a very, very long time.
Even though his figure was slender.
Even though he only had a single white spirit ring beneath his feet.
At this moment, her heart felt warm.
That figure standing before her…
…crashed into her long-closed heart, tearing open a crack—
And slowly widening it.
Meanwhile, Lin Xian was still thinking about how to deal with the wolf pack.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, he turned his head.
Beside Zhu Zhuqing, a purple card quietly floated.
After a moment's thought, he understood.
Walking over, under her slightly dazed gaze, he stopped beside her.
"Rest and recover your spirit power. I'll hold them off."
"Don't worry—we're both getting out of here alive."
"Watch carefully… this move is going to be awesome."