Chapter 246 Life-And-Death Fever (1/2)

Ying Qingcang led Xin Qing into the cave where she saw a huge subterranean river flowing through. Wisps of steam wafted from the river surface, the sight of which would soothe just about anyone's heart.

”You can take off your clothes and take a dip if you like.” Well, anyone except Ying Qingcang, apparently. He had ripped into Xin Qing while keeping a straight face just because she and Zhang Mi had played with the water for a few seconds longer than necessary.

Xin Qing stood up and shook the water off her hands. ”I was just trying to test the water's temperature and see if its suitable,” she said calmly.

Ying Qingcang ignored her and kept walking forward. ”If we walk further down, there will be hot springs like these every ten meters,” he said.

Ah Nan held out a tablet to Xin Qing, who glanced at it. The data shown on the screen was in agreement with what Ying Qingcang had just told her.

”There are 18 of them in total,” Ying Qingcang said, giving them a glance. ”There are a lot of small ones at the top. We can set up villas in that area as it was.” Inside the cave, Ying Qingcang's voice was like the reverberating sound waves emitted from a woofer. Like the steaming spring water, his voice seeped and flowed into Xin Qing's heart with ease, causing her mind to feel more and more hazy.

Ah Che noticed her discomfort. ”Young Miss?” He asked.

Xin Qing shook her head to clear the haziness away. ”I'm fine.”

”Let's head out,” Ying Qingcang said, turning back and began walking in the opposite direction. ”It isn't well-ventilated in here, and the temperature is too high. That's why we need to demolish one side of the mountain, otherwise people won't be able to stay here for long.”

Zhang Mi and Ah Nan, who were walking at the tail end of the group, snapped some photos of the cave's interior. Zhang Mi had even collected some water samples with a bottle. They would have the samples analyzed by experts once they returned. God only knew if the water here would bring any harm to the human body!

After the tour, they went back to the villa district. It was unclear if it was deliberate on Ying Qingcang's part, but he walked straight into the cottage that they had stayed in during the blizzard.

”I'm tired. Let's take a break,” Ying Qingcang said as he plopped down on the couch. Then, he shot a glance at Ah Che. ”Boil some water.”

Ah Che obeyed instantly and went to the kitchen while Zhang Mi glared at the man's back and bared her teeth at him. ”Whose side are you on, you m*th*rf*ck*r?”

The food supply from their previous stay was still here, although Ah Che had already given it to the workers at the stable. Obviously, nobody from the stable had come to retrieve the food yet. After the water was boiled, the few of them sat around the living room and enjoyed tea. Zhang Mi stretched herself lazily and said, ”Let's take a nap before heading back. The air here is so fresh!”

”Sure. Let's head upstairs then,” said Xin Qing. The bed that they had made last time was still here.

Xin Qing could not get herself to fall asleep; her mind was too cluttered. So she decided to take a walk in the area.

Ah Che was worried about her and had planned to accompany her in her walk, but Ying Qingcang stood up and forced Ah Che back inside with a single look.

”They are now my people. Please be more courteous to them,” Xin Qing said indignantly as they strolled amidst the woods.

Ying Qingcang was walking behind her at a pace that was neither too fast nor too slow. ”If I remember correctly, everyone here is mine, even you.”

Xin Qing's body grew taut and she came to a halt. She knew he was referring to the fact he had literally bought her for 20 million bucks.

”Haha. Do you have any proof of that?” Xin Qing asked him back.

Ying Qingcang shook his head. ”No, I don't.”

Xin Qing chuckled again. She was just about to continue going forward when she realized that the villa was no longer in sight. It seemed like she had chosen the wrong path and had wandered into the deeper part of the woods. Xin Qing cursed herself inwardly as she watched Ying Qingcang slowly approach her.

She knew d*mn well that she had practically zero resistance against him, and yet she had wandered into a place where she knew they would end up alone. Did she have a death wish or what!

”Haha!” Ying Qingcang was already standing in front of her now. He glanced around and checked out their surroundings. ”President Xin is deliberately seducing me again.”

Xin Qing took a turn and ended up behind a tree. ”I took the wrong path, that's all.” She pointed to her left. ”Let's head back.”

Ying Qingcang seized her arm and held her still. ”Last time, we did it beside a fountain. Trying it in the middle of the woods isn't really a bad idea.”

”Get away from me!” Xin Qing gave him a push. ”Are you reminding me about the time you raped me?”

”Rape?” Ying Qingcang laughed. ”Looks like your memory is rather impaired, President Xin. I'm pretty sure you were an eager participant last time.”

Xin Qing tried to make a run for it by throwing her entire body forward, but Ying Qingcang pressed her against the tree trunk.

”Do you want to partner with me, hm?”

Warm breath tickled her ear, sending a wave of pleasure straight to her lower belly. Xin Qing buried her face in his chest. ”Is this the only way you know?” She asked, her voice muffled by his chest.

Her muffled tone caused Ying Qingcang to laugh out loud, though the coldness in his voice could chill one to the bones. ”There was always this Ancestral Behest and Totem between us, right? Isn't it normal for us to crave each others' body?”

He yanked open Xin Qing's coat and slid a hand under her sweater. ”I already told you before. My reaction to you is purely physical.”

”Stop it!” Xin Qing quickly pressed down on his wandering hands seeing as her bra was mere seconds away from being removed. Suddenly, a clear voice of a child rang out.

”My dear mommy! Please pick up the phone! Your cute Wangwang is looking for mommy!”

The call came from the house. Wangwang had made that ringtone himself. Xin Qing was panicking at this point; Aunt Tian would never call her unless something had happened. She struggled forcefully in order to free herself from him. ”Let go of me. The call is from the house,” she said in a tearful voice.

Ying Qingcang suddenly took a step back, though Xin Qing no longer cared. She quickly fished for her phone in her coat and pulled it out.

”Hello, Aunt Tian. It's me!”

”What?” The panic in Xin Qing's voice was palpable. ”I'll be right there. You guys just head straight to the hospital, okay?”

An erratic hue formed within Ying Qingcang's eyes, and it was like his entire body had suddenly grown taut. Even the surrounding air seemed to have become thick with tension. Nevertheless, because Xin Qing was already in a half-dazed state, the changes in his body language eluded her entirely. She ran downhill helter-skelter, calling Ah Che as she did.