AUOF - 118

Sang Sang clutched the bedding, panting softly, her eyes hazy: “Where... did you learn all this from?”

The couple had been newlywed for only a short while, but they had known each other for seven years. Ji Hengyu was naturally reserved and disciplined, so even after marriage, he treated her with respect and never lost propriety.

Therefore, Sang Sang loved to tease him, always feeling inexplicably satisfied whenever she saw him blush and shy away.

Ji Hengyu raised his head, a slight trace of moisture clinging to the corner of his lips.

He naturally licked it away. The excessive restraint made the corners of his eyes crimson, his Adam’s apple rolling once, his voice hoarse with suppressed passion: “When Imperial Scholar Lin lent me books, he brought along one.” He paused slightly, “Do you dislike it?”

Sang Sang: “...”

It wasn’t exactly a matter of liking or disliking.

She coughed lightly to cover her embarrassment, turning her head away to avoid looking at his bewitching face: “You... you shouldn’t learn everything. Imperial Scholar Lin has corrupted you...”

Laughter rippled in his eyes.

He buried himself again, tending to Sang Sang diligently. After she found satisfaction, Ji Hengyu got up to rinse his mouth with tea water, quickly returning and eagerly pulling her into his arms.

Ji Hengyu tightly embraced Sang Sang from behind, his breath hot.

Sang Sang held onto his fingers. The incessant creaking of the wooden bed annoyed her. “Tomorrow... let’s get a new bed.”

He was busy and didn’t have time to respond, distractedly humming in agreement.

It took two hours of activity before Sang Sang finally had a chance to rest. As a natural-born demon, she didn’t need sleep. After Ji Hengyu fell deeply asleep, Sang Sang stealthily got up, dressed, and prepared to leave.

Even though she tried to suppress any noise, the moonlight that spilled in when she opened the door woke Ji Hengyu.

His eyes were clear as he propped himself up on his elbows, watching her put on her bamboo hat and hold an unlit lantern in her hand.

Seeing her about to close the door and leave, Ji Hengyu promptly spoke: “Where are you going?”

The sudden sound startled Sang Sang, and she turned around, meeting his gaze. “Did I wake you?”

Ji Hengyu got out of bed and lit a candle. “I wasn’t deeply asleep.”

Sang Sang smiled awkwardly. “It just rained, and there might be some Spring Bright Herbs on the mountain. I want to try my luck.”

Spring Bright Herb was a rare medicinal plant that only appeared in the early morning after rain. Even a small stalk could fetch ten taels of silver.

With the continuous plum rains recently, Sang Sang had gone up the mountain twice before but came back empty-handed. Seeing the plum rain season nearing its end, she was unwilling to give up and wanted to check again, hoping to pick some.

The door was open, and the night wind rushed in, blowing his hair upward.

Sang Sang hurriedly closed the door. “Husband, go back to sleep. I’ll be back soon.”

She tilted her head, her face white and pure, her black grape-like eyes sparkling, with slightly upturned outer corners like little hooks, yet her gaze was clear, dispelling any hint of coquettishness.

A gentle wave of affection surged in Ji Hengyu’s heart.

He sighed almost imperceptibly and turned to retrieve thick clothing from the cabinet.

Sang Sang was taken aback: “Husband?”

While dressing, Ji Hengyu said: “When Imperial Scholar Lin came today, he told me there were demons causing trouble on the mountain and specifically warned me not to let you go up. But since you insist, I’ll accompany you to take a look.”

Bamboo Creek Village was relatively peaceful.

But occasionally, demons would target this pure land. Now that it had just rained, the mountain paths were already slippery and prone to collapse. Knowing she was just an ordinary mortal woman, Ji Hengyu naturally couldn’t let her venture alone.

Ji Hengyu quickly dressed. “Let’s go.”

Sang Sang looked troubled: “Husband… why don’t you stay home and sleep? Your health isn’t good, and I’m worried…”

Before she could finish, Ji Hengyu interrupted sternly: “You want to take care of our home; I want to protect you.”

He was usually gentle, but this was the first time Sang Sang saw such an unprecedented firmness in his expression, making her swallow her excuses whole.

There was no choice but to let Ji Hengyu follow.

If he couldn’t walk anymore, she’d carry him. If they encountered any demons, she’d kill them. She couldn’t let her weak husband, who couldn’t take care of himself, be frightened.

The young couple held hands, each carrying a lantern, and climbed the mountain.

The ground, freshly soaked by rain, was damp, and the wilderness was shrouded in mist, with lush grass and trees.

Considering Ji Hengyu’s frailty, Sang Sang intentionally slowed her pace, unaware that Ji Hengyu, too, was walking slowly to accommodate her.

It took them half a day to enter the forest.

After the rain, plants sprouted like bamboo shoots. She walked and picked, filling half her bamboo basket in no time.

“Look, it’s Little Yang Grass!” Sang Sang proudly showed Ji Hengyu a strangely shaped herb. “This can sell for quite a bit of money.”

She deliberately placed the precious herbs in Ji Hengyu’s basket for identification.

Seeing her delighted expression, Ji Hengyu couldn’t help but muse, “What is it used for?”

Sang Sang casually answered: “For strengthening yang energy.”

Ji Hengyu: “.”

Sang Sang smirked at him, “You’ve been working hard lately, maybe...”

Ji Hengyu’s brow twitched, and he quickly covered her mouth, cutting off those unsavory words: “No need.” He corrected, “I’m not tired.”

Considering his wife’s mortal body, he was mostly restrained, only letting loose a bit today. How had he become, in her eyes, someone who needed Little Yang Grass to regain vitality? Was he really seen as useless?

Ji Hengyu sank into deep doubt over this.

Sang Sang didn’t press further and continued deeper into the forest.

The deeper they went, the more thorns there were. Yet amidst the dense woods, there was no sign of Spring Bright Herb, and her confidence waned accordingly.

“We probably won’t find any Spring Bright Herb.”

It was impossible not to feel disappointed.

Compared to her initial liveliness, she now looked deflated, her eyes dimmed.

Ji Hengyu’s gaze flickered, gently gripping Sang Sang’s hand: “Wait here for a moment.”

She looked up.

Ji Hengyu fabricated a clumsy excuse: “I need to... relieve myself.”

Sang Sang pointed to a tree root in front of her: “Can’t you do it here? It’s pitch dark inside, and I’m worried about you going alone.”

“...” Ji Hengyu’s expression turned difficult.

Sang Sang persisted: “Then should I come with you?”

He remained indifferent, struggling to say: “I’m not used to it.”

Sang Sang: “.” Her husband’s useless sense of pride increased.

With no other option, she could only take off her bamboo basket and sit leaning against a tree, waiting.

Seeing this, Ji Hengyu finally let out a sigh of relief.

He retreated behind the tree, glancing toward where Sang Sang was, summoning a protective talisman that he spread around. Then his figure vanished, dashing across the mountainside.

Ji Hengyu activated his spiritual eye to scan the entire mountain, instantly picking eighteen Spring Bright Herbs.

There were still about a hundred left on the mountain, but Ji Hengyu didn’t get greedy, fearing suspicion. After finishing, he returned to his original position.

Just as he removed the talisman, a surge of demonic energy rushed from behind.

Only a few feet away, Ji Hengyu’s expression sharpened. Before the demon could fully appear, he formed a seal with both hands and cast a spell. The unidentified demon disintegrated without a cry.

Suddenly, Sang Sang sensed this subtle anomaly.

She narrowed her eyes and approached cautiously.

“Husband?”

Sang Sang called softly, her fingers hidden behind her back, brimming with killing intent.

Ji Hengyu lowered his gaze, his thoughts swirling. His palm broke through the soil beneath his feet, creating a deep hole. He dropped into it, deliberately breaking his ankle and lying at the bottom, feigning pain with a muffled groan.

Sang Sang pushed aside the bushes, about to step forward, but Ji Hengyu stopped her—

“There’s a collapse.”

She then noticed the deep hole below.

Ji Hengyu lay within, scattered herbs everywhere. By the moonlight, she saw him covered in mud, looking utterly miserable.

Sang Sang’s breath caught, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes. In her panic, she cried out softly: “Husband, what happened?”

Seeing tears in her eyes, Ji Hengyu’s expression softened, and he regretted this plan. Slowly, he propped himself up from the ground. “I accidentally fell, but...” Ji Hengyu extended a Spring Bright Herb, his lips curling slightly, “Look, it’s not a complete loss.”

The tiny herb, glowing faintly green, rested in his palm, illuminating his clear features.

Sang Sang’s throat tightened, tears shimmering, and in the next moment, they spilled down her cheeks.

Ji Hengyu frowned, somewhat flustered: “Sang Sang?”

“I told you not to go so far. It’s just to pee, it’s not like I haven’t seen it before.” She wiped away her tears, torn between pity and frustration.

Sang Sang continued to scold him through her sobs. Ji Hengyu was initially stunned, but then he couldn’t help but chuckle.

He didn’t argue, his gentle eyes fixed on her, silently listening to her reprimands. The soft yet angry scolding echoed in the quiet forest, making Ji Hengyu like it more and more. If he weren’t in the pit, he would have pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

After venting her anger, Sang Sang remembered that her husband was still down there.

The pit was only as high as an adult man, and she could easily pull him up with a flick of her finger, but doing so would surely scare her mortal husband. After much thought, Sang Sang decided to carry him up.

But before she rolled up her sleeves to act, she heard Ji Hengyu say: “There’s vine nearby. Rip one and pull me up.”

Sang Sang disagreed: “Your leg is injured. What if you fall? Let me go down and carry you up.”

Ji Hengyu shook his head to stop her. “The soil on both sides isn’t too loose, and the pit isn’t high. I can climb up by holding on. If you come down, what if neither of us can get out? Just try my way first.”

Sang Sang had no choice but to listen.

Ji Hengyu first sent up the bamboo basket, then grabbed the vine tightly. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Sang Sang, seeing her clutching the vine tightly, her wrist muscles taut, straining earnestly. To Ji Hengyu, her effort was excessively adorable.

Ji Hengyu couldn’t control his emotions and felt like laughing.

The first two times he pretended to struggle, but on the third attempt, he grabbed the vine with both hands, lightly pushed off with his toes, and smoothly climbed up.

After all this commotion, both felt they should catch their breath. Facing each other, they pretended to be exhausted, panting heavily.

Seeing it was enough, Ji Hengyu steadied his breathing and showed her the bamboo basket. “Eighteen stalks, all grew below.”

The unique medicinal properties of Spring Bright Herb made it glow at night, which is why it was named as such.

The Spring Bright Herbs in the bamboo basket nearly illuminated the two of them. Sang Sang sorted through them, finding them all fresh. She found it strange: “But Spring Bright Herb doesn’t cluster. They usually grow alone.” Spring Bright Herb required abundant nourishment, and the nutrients in a patch of soil might only support one plant, making it precious and rare.

Sang Sang looked at him, her expression questioning: “Are they really all from below?”

At these words, Ji Hengyu’s hand holding the bamboo basket stiffened instantly.