"Hehe..." Su Mo gave an awkward laugh. "I was just fooling those men in black! And about peeking at you bathing, I didn't know you had a girlfriend at the time. Ignorance is bliss, right? Anyway, I swear I didn't see anything!"
Su Mo held up two fingers in an oath, but suddenly remembered the proper oath gesture was three fingers. She quietly slipped out her ring finger as well.
Seeing her movements, Wu Ying couldn't help but frown slightly. "What is 'girlfriend'?"
"It means your lover!"
Wu Ying looked at her, his eyes somewhat cold. "I don't have a lover."
"Then who gave you that handkerchief? It's obviously a woman's belonging. You carry it with you everywhere - you must like her a lot to do that, right?" Su Mo said matter-of-factly.
Wu Ying paused before replying: "It was my mother's keepsake."
"What?!" Su Mo was taken aback, not having expected that. Sensing Wu Ying's mood shifting, she quickly added: "I'm sorry, I misunderstood."
Wu Ying did not respond, lowering his eyes as if lost in thought.
"Don't...don't be angry." Su Mo prodded him.
She leaned in with her pale shoulder. "Or...want to touch?"
Catching himself, Wu Ying promptly turned and strode away.
He couldn't help but quirk up the corners of his mouth, on the verge of laughter but not wanting Su Mo to see.
Thinking she had angered him, Su Mo hurriedly pulled up her clothes and chased after him.
"Don't be mad, Wu Ying. I really didn't know it was your late mother's belonging!"
Knowing now Wu Ying didn't have a girlfriend, Su Mo felt strangely relieved.
That racing heart sensation from earlier - could she be developing feelings for Wu Ying?
Not superficial attraction, but...genuine affection?
She had seen countless good-looking guys and never felt this way before.
That fluttering instant felt so peculiar.
And what did Wu Ying feel? Did he like her at all?
They had weathered two ordeals together now. And she wasn't exactly unattractive. No reason Wu Ying wouldn't like her!
Yes, no reason at all!
Heartened by this line of thought, Su Mo gazed at Wu Ying's receding figure, a sly gleam in her eyes.
"Wait up, Wu Ying! Ah!"
Hearing Su Mo cry out ahead of him, Wu Ying immediately turned back. He saw that she had fallen to the ground and rushed over, concern in his voice.
"What's wrong?"
"I twisted my ankle..." Su Mo made a pathetic face. "Forget me - just go on ahead!"
Wu Ying checked her ankle joint.
"Ow ow ow!" Su Mo exaggerated her pain.
"But there's no swelling." Wu Ying said, puzzled.
"No swelling, but it hurts!" Su Mo insisted woefully.
Wu Ying considered, then drew his sword and strapped it at his waist. Turning his back to her, he said: "Climb on. I'll carry you."
Biting back laughter, Su Mo declined, "No need. You're injured too. Go on without me - I don't want to burden you further!"
"I said, climb on!" Wu Ying's voice grew colder.
Su Mo hesitated, thinking her ruse wouldn't hold. "Actually, my foot is fi-"
Before she finished speaking, Wu Ying turned around, swept her up into his arms. Taken by surprise, Su Mo reflexively threw her arms around his neck.
Without another word, Wu Ying simply started walking while carrying her.
Su Mo's heart raced again. She stole an upward glance at Wu Ying, brimming with elation.
Why hadn't she felt this way gazing at good-looking guys before?
"Wu Ying." Su Mo said after a period of walking, "Why do you wear that mask?"
Halting briefly, Wu Ying gave her a look. "Didn't you say I was disfigured from poisoning, so I wear a mask?"
"......"
Wu Ying thought of the markings on his face. Though the poisons left no lasting impact thanks to his immunity, excessive exposure had ruined his looks.
Did Su Mo only show interest because she considered him good-looking?
But he was disfigured now - his face was far from handsome...
......
After walking awhile carrying Su Mo, Wu Ying was clearly fatigued, his complexion pale.
Su Mo quickly urged: "Wu Ying, put me down! My foot is really fine!"
Paying her no heed, Wu Ying kept walking.
"Wu Ying, I'm not lying this time - nothing's wrong with my foot!"
Su Mo squirmed in protest. Wu Ying was already wounded - she shouldn't have fooled him into carrying her.
"I know," came the calm reply.
"Huh?"
"I know your foot isn't twisted."
"......"
"You just wanted me to carry you, right?"
"......"
Heavens, who said martial artists had low IQs??
Su Mo gave an embarrassed laugh. "Ahaha, you knew yet still carried me?"
Wu Ying gazed straight at her. "I wanted to see just how shameless you could be."
"......"
Wu Ying set her down. "Miss Su Mo, do you resort to these tricks on every man you meet?" His tone held a dangerous edge.
"Well?"
"Oh shut it, you!" Unable to retaliate, Su Mo simply stretched up and stole a kiss from his lips.
That silenced Wu Ying all right, even stunning him stiff as he struggled to process what just happened.
"I do use these tricks on men - let's see who takes my bait!" Su Mo taunted him cheekily.
Let's see you handle a modern woman, ancient one!
"You...have no shame..." Wu Ying's entire face and neck flushed red.
"Oho, shy now?" Su Mo sidled up to him, radiant smile in place. At that moment, the sunrise peeked over the horizon, bathing her form in warm hues.
The morning breeze stirred her slightly disheveled hair, lending her beauty that caught the eye.
Wu Ying's gaze lingered on her lips, Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed.
The aphrodisiacs may have justified his urges last night, but now, their effects had faded. Yet stirrings rose unbidden once more...
Turning abruptly, he strode off without sparing Su Mo another glance.
Behind him, Su Mo laughed softly. "My, ancient people really can't take teasing!"
As Wu Ying walked on, his hand unconsciously touched his lips, unable to shake the lingering sensation of that stolen kiss.
He paused and looked back over his shoulder. Su Mo was squatting not far away, picking wildflowers.
"Wow, these flowers are so pretty! I can't believe places from novels could be this beautiful!"
Taking out her phone, Su Mo snapped a selfie holding the flowers. Female instincts to take photos kicked in regardless of circumstances, especially while traveling.
She took several in quick succession, then noticed her phone battery level and muttered in puzzlement: "I've been here for days already - how is my phone barely down to 80%? That's strange..."
Without calling out to her, Wu Ying simply stood at a distance watching Su Mo take selfies. Seeing her varied lively expressions, though ignorant of her actions, for some reason he found her look...rather captivating like that.
His gaze fell upon the ornamental tassel on his sword hilt. The corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously.