The Earth Dragon only surfaces to breathe at noon every day, so Xu Xingguang can only act during this time period.

She went underwater yesterday too, but the Earth Dragon is extremely difficult to find in the water. Xu Xingguang splashed around for over half an hour and still couldn’t catch it.

Fortunately, heaven rewards those who are determined. Today, she successfully caught the Earth Dragon.

After learning the truth, Huo Wen’an was bewildered. "Are you saying that this creature can remove the virus in my blood?"

"Yes."

Feeling guilty, Huo Wen’an looked at Xu Xingguang’s shivering body. "You weren’t forced by assassins to hide in the No-man District. You came of your own accord, just to catch the Earth Dragon for me. Is that right?"

"Of course not, those idiots thought they could kill me?" Xu Xingguang, cold and trembling uncontrollably, began to take off her bra while talking to Huo Wen’an. "Boss Huo, lend me some warmth, give me your clothes."

Huo Wen’an quickly turned around and didn’t peek at Xu Xingguang taking off her clothes.

He took off his own clothes and handed them to Xu Xingguang.

Xu Xingguang quickly put on Huo Wen’an’s long shirt.

His long shirt was originally a loose style; when worn by Xu Xingguang, it reached her thighs, covering her bottom.

Xu Xingguang was having her period, and the wet pants felt extremely uncomfortable. After thinking for a moment, she said to Huo Wen’an, "Let me borrow your pants as well."

Huo Wen’an hesitated, but still took off his pants in front of Xu Xingguang and handed them to her.

Huo Wen’an was facing away from Xu Xingguang while taking off his pants. Without the long shirt and pants covering him, his body was fully exposed to Xu Xingguang’s view.

His legs, along with his arms, were so thin as if they could break with a gentle squeeze.

Xu Xingguang remembered when she first met Huo Wen’an at Drunken Beauty Photography Studio, he was still a tall and handsome young man. How long had it been, to have changed to this extent?

Huo Wen’an turned around, blushing as he handed the pants to Xu Xingguang.

Xu Xingguang took the pants and hid behind a big tree to adjust herself.

When she came out, Huo Wen’an was already sitting on the rock. He had wrung the water out of Xu Xingguang’s clothes and hung them on his cane.

He sat on the rock with bare arms and legs, having nowhere to hide, and his posture was somewhat awkward.

Noticing Xu Xingguang examining him, Huo Wen’an gave a self-deprecating laugh and said, "I’m so ugly like this, don’t look." He didn’t want the appearance-focused Xu Xingguang to see him like this.

Xu Xingguang walked up to Huo Wen’an and sat down next to him.

She joked remarkingly, "A lonely man and woman, dressed lightly, sitting together. According to the plot, shouldn’t something happen between us?"

Huo Wen’an’s gaze was deep.

He wanted to, but in his current sick state, he could only think about it.

Besides...

"You should see a doctor when we get out," Huo Wen’an said, looking pointedly at Xu Xingguang’s abdomen. "Being in icy water during your period will leave lasting problems."

"I know. It’s my body, I’ll take good care of it."

Huo Wen’an suddenly lifted Xu Xingguang’s left wrist sleeve, staring at the bracelet tattoo on her wrist, and asked her, "Is this a tattoo?"

Xu Xingguang nodded, "Yes."

Huo Wen’an didn’t have a liking for tattoos, but he respected Xu Xingguang’s taste.

After a serious look, Huo Wen’an praised, "It’s very unique, but suits you well." He gently touched the skin where Xu Xingguang’s tattoo was, surprisingly saying, "The artist you found is quite skilled."

"I found a random tattoo parlor, just lucky not to have a bad experience."

Suddenly, Xu Xingguang turned her hand back and grabbed Huo Wen’an’s fingers.

Her expression was natural.

Seeing Huo Wen’an abruptly turn his head and stare at her without blinking, Xu Xingguang laughed and asked him, "Why? Can’t I hold my boyfriend’s hand?"

The word "boyfriend" hit Huo Wen’an’s heart hard.

Huo Wen’an’s Adam’s apple moved up and down, suppressing his desire for Xu Xingguang.

Xu Xingguang watched Huo Wen’an’s slightly moving Adam’s apple and said, "You’re secretly kissing me in your mind."

Upon hearing this, Huo Wen’an said, "Not secretly." He suddenly used his other hand to hold Xu Xingguang’s cheek, leaning in to kiss her. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

It was a passionate kiss between adults.

A deep kiss, heartbeats irregular, maximizing the secretion of hormones within both individuals.

Huo Wen’an really didn’t want to let go of Xu Xingguang, but he was genuinely unwell and had to release her, turning aside to cough.

He coughed so hard he almost fainted.

The blood he coughed up stained the rocks beneath him.

Xu Xingguang held half of Huo Wen’an’s body, gently patting his back to help him breathe.

Feeling the man painfully gasping within her embrace, Xu Xingguang sorrowfully kissed his hair. "Huo Wen’an. With me watching over you, you won’t die."

Huo Wen’an laughed aloud, "Alright, you’ll look after me."

He had grown up without anyone cherishing or caring for him.

Whether it was his adoptive mother or biological parents, or anyone from the Huo Family, they all despised his background, feared his ruthless methods, and were wary of his outstanding capabilities.

Everyone feared him, hated him, respected him.

But nobody loved him, cherished him, treated him as treasure.

Only Xu Xingguang said she would watch over him.

This was a feeling he had never experienced before.

*

That night, Huo Wen’an had a fever again, even worse than before, and he clung to Xu Xingguang’s hand calling for mom, repeatedly saying those three words—

[I’m guilty.]

"Guilty my foot!" Xu Xingguang slapped Huo Wen’an’s face, "Huo Wen’an, your mom is long dead!"

With that slap, Huo Wen’an stopped calling for his mom and started calling her instead.

He muttered like a pervert, saying, "Xingguang, your lips are so soft."

Not yet recovering from the shock of those words, Xu Xingguang then heard Huo Wen’an say, "Call Brother, A Zui Brother."

Xu Xingguang could somewhat guess what Huo Wen’an was dreaming about.

The dream involved a bed, and him and her.

Knowing Huo Wen’an was already burned out, and he couldn’t walk out of this No-man District by himself, Xu Xingguang summoned Eagle Sparrow. She piloted Eagle Sparrow, taking Huo Wen’an, and smoothly walked out of the No-man District.

Jin Yunhai had ventured in the No-man District for three days and nights, finally returning to that valley.

Leaning against a tree, trying to take a good rest, he saw Xu Xingguang carrying Huo Wen’an walking down from the hillside.

"Miss Xu, you’re alive!"

Seeing this, Jin Yunhai quickly got up to greet them.