Chapter Twenty: The Fisherman's Misfortune

“What is this?” Long Yun’s palm traced the enchanting curve, his hand wandering unconsciously as his awareness gradually sharpened. He began to sense what was happening, yet still could not fully comprehend it. His hand, as if bewitched, did not stop, gliding along the white-robed woman’s shapely hips and smooth back.

A soft, intoxicating sound escaped the person in his arms, a voice so bewitching it seemed to pierce his very bones. To Long Yun’s ears, it was as if sudden thunder had shattered the spring night, jolting him completely awake.

At that instant, he finally understood what his hand had been exploring. He opened his eyes abruptly, and was met with a face of breathtaking beauty, flawless beyond compare.

Long, delicate lashes still sparkled with tiny beads of water. The sight of her face, so beautiful it took his breath away, seemed almost divine—untouchable, as if to linger on her for even a moment longer would be a sin.

Her lashes trembled; the woman in white slowly opened her eyes, her gaze meeting Long Yun’s. Their eyes locked for a fleeting moment, the world pausing between them. Then, an icy force colder than winter seemed to envelop Long Yun, snuffing out his rising passion as though he had fallen into a frozen abyss.

“It’s a misunderstanding! All of this is a misunderstanding!” Long Yun said with a sheepish smile, trying to move. But their bodies were entangled; his arm was pinned beneath her, and unless she moved, he could not.

A flash of murderous intent flickered in the woman’s eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. Her brows knit slightly. “Aren’t you going to get up?”

Long Yun gave a wry smile. “You’re pressing down on my arm. I can’t get up. Besides, I’ve exhausted all my energy—I haven’t the strength to move you.”

“Then can you at least move your hand?” Her voice was as cold and emotionless as ever.

Suddenly realizing where his hand was, Long Yun’s face flushed red. He hastily withdrew his hand from her hips, stammering, “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I did it unconsciously!”

Cold sweat ran down his back. He had already experienced firsthand just how terrifying this woman could be; if she was displeased, she could kill him in an instant.

But the woman said nothing more, which allowed Long Yun to breathe a little easier. He dared not look at her face—such beauty could drown a man with a single glance.

“Senior sister, could you move your arm now?” After a while, Long Yun ventured to speak, careful and deferential. Her arms were still wound around his neck, their faces so close that her soft bosom pressed against his chest. If not for his iron self-control, he would surely have been overwhelmed with embarrassment by now.

Her gaze dimmed at his words, and she replied softly, “I am injured as well and cannot move. Don’t speak further. Focus on healing yourself—your wounds are not severe. You’ll recover quickly.”

Hearing this, Long Yun dared not let his mind wander. He calmed himself, entering the tranquil state of cultivation, circulating the last traces of energy through his body, slowly replenishing his strength.

A faint white mist could be seen rising from the top of his head—Long Yun was deliberately channeling some of his energy into the woman’s body as well. With their clothes soaked and clinging uncomfortably to their skin, his energy soon dried both their garments and hair.

The woman in white watched Long Yun’s closed eyes. Her gaze wavered, as though sighing, lost in thought; a subtle, complex light flickered in her eyes.

After about half an hour, Long Yun had recovered most of his strength. He opened his eyes, steadied his pounding heart, and said, “Miss, I have regained some energy. We…”

“Get up,” she answered, as curt as ever.

With her permission, he carefully disentangled her arms from his neck, gently shifting her slender body aside, then rose to his feet.

He exhaled slowly, finally feeling at ease. The ordeal had been unbearable—he would have preferred to face any demon or villain rather than endure this awkwardness again.

“Let me help you recover your wounds. Once you’re better, I’ll find a place for you to rest.” He extended his arm, ready to channel his energy into her shoulder.

The woman shook her head with some difficulty. “There’s no need. Your energy is too weak to help me. I will recover on my own. Still, we should find a farmhouse—though the surroundings here are pleasant, I feel uneasy.”

Long Yun understood. Though she said nothing, she clearly feared that other cultivators might appear and see them in such a state, which would damage her reputation.

He said nothing more, only nodded. “There’s a river nearby—if we follow it, we’ll surely find a village. Forgive me, then.”

With that, he stooped and lifted her in his arms, heading downstream.

Her body was soft and limp, powerless to resist. Pressed against his chest, her face brushed gently against him, her breath fragrant and warm, sending tingles through his heart.

Fortunately, the nearest village was only a few hours away. Though his thoughts were in turmoil, Long Yun managed to keep his composure.

“Miss, there’s a village ahead. We can look for a household there.” Long Yun whispered to her.

She opened her beautiful eyes slightly. “Cover my face. I don’t want anyone to see me.”

Long Yun gently put her down, tore off a piece of his clothing, and veiled her face—hiding a beauty capable of driving men mad. Then, he picked her up again and headed toward the village.

The villagers, living by the mountains, were simple and honest folk. Long Yun knocked at the door of a fishing family; their courtyard was strung with nets.

The couple, in their thirties, came out to greet the strangers. The woman hurried over and, before Long Yun could speak, asked with concern, “What happened? Did you run into wild beasts? There are often wild animals in these parts. What a pity for this lovely girl—bring her inside quickly!”

A gentle warmth flickered in Long Yun’s eyes. Though the lives of ordinary people were hard and often worried by daily needs, such honest trust was rare—no one asked about their origins, only offered help. Such kindness was not something everyone possessed.

If only he could stay here forever.

The thought startled him—he found himself wishing the woman in white could remain by his side as well. But he quickly shook off the fantasy; dreams like that could only court disaster.

“Young man, what are you standing there for? Your wife’s injured, and you both look like you’ve traveled far. We have a spare room—stay as long as you like!” the fisherman added.

At the word “wife,” Long Yun gave a wry smile and felt the woman in his arms tremble slightly. If not for her injuries, she would likely have taken offense at once.

“Thank you, sir. Her injuries are quite serious, so we may need to stay some time. Forgive us for the trouble,” Long Yun replied, making no effort to correct the misunderstanding.

“Enough of that!” the fisherman waved. “No need for thanks—we all have hard times. Bring her in before she catches cold!”

The fisherman's wife had already gone ahead to lead the way. The house was small but had several rooms. Though the surroundings were humble, everything was clean, and with a bit of tidying, suitable for guests.

Long Yun set the woman down, straightened the bedding, and covered her carefully before rising and bowing to the couple. “Thank you both for your kindness. We’re in your debt during our stay.”