Chapter 1045: The more you have, the more you fear (1/2)

Han Yunxi’s heart clenched as she flew up the mountainside. Behind her, Gu Qishao followed close in silence. By the time she reached the peak, it was to see Long Feiye and the rest standing by a nearby cliff to stare at the mass of white smoke below. Han Yunxi exhaled in relief to see them unharmed, but suddenly had a mischievous thought at the sight of Long Feiye’s back. “Idiot, I’m already here and you still haven’t noticed?”

That wasn’t Long Feiye’s fault. It was hard to see anything in the dark, much less with clouds over their head, thunder booming, and torrential storm brewing above. Even if she was standing right next to him, it’d be difficult to see who she was. Moreover, this mountain range was huge. Han Yunxi didn’t even bother getting her bearings after escaping the smoke but just circled around before making for the nearest peak. She had taken a path completely opposite of Long Feiye and the rest, causing them to miss each other.

While Han Yunxi was staring at Long Feiye, Gu Qishao was staring at her. After chasing her all the way here, he was now standing to one side and muttering in a doting tone, “Idiot, I’m here too, but you still don’t know.”

Han Yunxi was about to call out to Long Feiye when she stopped. A crafty gleam shone in her eyes before she silently approached him. Perhaps the wind and thunder were too loud, or perhaps Long Feiye was too concentrated on the valley below, but he didn’t even notice her approach, much less Tang Li and the rest. The shadow guards did see her, but it was so obvious that she was doing it on purpose that they didn’t give her away.

Just like that, Han Yunxi snuck up behind Long Feiye.

“Big bro, what do we do? It’s been so long but sister-in-law still hasn’t come up?” Tang Li fretted.

“Has the poison dissipated?” Pill Furnace Master was also worried.

“Your Highness, should we send some poison guards down there to search?” Baili Mingxiang spoke up.

Long Feiye didn’t answer any of them. If possible, he’d search for Han Yunxi himself, but all he could do was wait. There was no antidote to earthly fire’s poison, which would cause death as soon as it came in contact with the body. Sometimes he wished Han Yunxi knew no martial arts at all, because then she wouldn’t take risks.

Seeing Long Feiye remain silent, no one dared to press him. All of them kept their eyes on the smoke as he slowly clenched his fists.

It was then that Han Yunxi reached out from behind to wrap her arms around his waist. Shocked, Long Feiye grew guarded, but when he touched the hands hugging his torso, he recognized who she was.

“What are you worried about? A little poison like that can’t hurt me! And I got the thing we wanted!” Han Yunxi was very happy and ready to let go when Long Feiye tightened his grip on her hands.

Unhappily he asked, “When did you climb up?”

“Just now. I couldn’t find you guys so I searched all the way up here,” Han Yunxi replied honestly. She tried to struggle free, but Long Feiye wouldn’t let go. Panicking, she used more strength. All she did was play a joke, so how could he hold onto her without letting go in front of so many people? Wasn’t he embarrassed?

“Why didn’t you speak up if you found us?” Long Feiye asked.

“I...I wanted to give you guys a surprise!” Han Yunxi emphasized you guys so Long Feiye could get the hint that they were in public. He was supposed to show some propriety.

Tang Li glanced at Long Feiye’s waist. He couldn’t say whether it was Han Yunxi hugging Long Feiye’s waist or the latter holding her hands. In any case, the two looked very intimate with their entwined fingers. Long Feiye was very tall and big, so he had to tilt his head to even see Han Yunxi hiding behind him. At the sight, he was sure it was Long Feiye maintaining the contact, because Han Yunxi’s face was practically plastered against Long Feiye’s back. It was impossible to see her expression with her head buried against his shoulders.

Han Yunxi was probably the only one who could manage a “backhug” like this.

“Since sister-in-law’s fine, I’ll be leaving first. If it starts raining, it’s going to be huge!” Tang Li had the tact to slip away.

After he left, Baili Mingxiang immediately disappeared as well. Xu Donglin escorted Pill Furnace Master away, soon leaving Han Yunxi and Long Feiye alone by the cliff. The fact that everyone had the insight to leave them alone only made Han Yunxi flush harder. Luckily, her head was buried in Long Feiye’s back so no one saw. Finally she burst out, “Long Feiye, let go!”

“Give me a reason to let you go?” Long Feiye retorted. Did this woman know how worried he’d been? Yet she still had the mood to joke with him.

Actually, Han Yunxi wasn’t playing hide-and-seek with him on purpose. She too, had been scared to death the whole way up. “I’m uncomfortable, you’re holding me too tight!” Han Yunxi complained pathetically.

Whenever she brought up “uncomfortable,” Long Feiye would always relent. He turned and planned to glare at her, but saw a bruise on her nose instead.

“Long Feiye, I was searching--”

“Don’t move!” Long Feiye’s voice was fierce as he lifted her chin to study the bridge of her nose. “How did you get hurt?”

Han Yunxi finally remembered her throbbing face and grinned. “I couldn’t see my way in the smoke and accidentally ran into the stone pillar. It’s a minor wound, no issues.”

Long Feiye pressed on it gently and asked, “Does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t, it’s fine,” Han Yunxi smiled.

But Long Feiye soon made it impossible for her to smile as he applied more force.

“Ah...hurts! Lighter!” Han Yunxi shouted.