Transmigrating into the world of Jade Dynasty, I was targeted by the female lead in a reverse romanc

He felt sticky and uncomfortable, filthy from the previous battle and from the days of confinement. He remembered that behind the curtain of water, there was a clear pool of water.

He walked to the edge of the pool, took off his tattered clothes, and stepped into the icy water.

The water was clear and cold, making him shiver. He sank into the water, then floated up again, scooped up water, and vigorously scrubbed his face and body. The water washed away the dirt, bringing a refreshing feeling and taking away some of his fatigue.

While he closed his eyes and focused on washing his hair.

"Jiang Xiaochuan!"

A cry, trembling with fear and panic, suddenly came from the direction of the stone chamber, rapidly approaching!

It's Biyao's voice!

Jiang Xiaochuan was startled. He had just wiped the water off his face and opened his eyes when he saw a pale figure, like a frightened little beast, rush out of the passage and head straight for the pool. It was Biyao.

Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes were red and swollen, and her gaze was filled with immense fear and panic, as if the sky had fallen.

She rushed in too fast and didn't even see what was happening in the pool before she lunged straight at Jiang Xiaochuan, who was standing in waist-deep water!

"Thump!"

Water splashed everywhere, and Biyao fell squarely into Jiang Xiaochuan's arms, the icy water instantly soaking through her moon-white dress.

Ignoring everything else, she wrapped her arms tightly around Jiang Xiaochuan's bare back and waist, buried her face in his wet chest, and burst into tears, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind.

"I thought...I thought you were gone...I thought you abandoned me...Waaah..." She sobbed uncontrollably, her words incoherent, her scalding tears mingling with the cool pool water, falling onto Jiang Xiaochuan's skin.

Jiang Xiaochuan froze completely in the water. He was naked, and Biyao was holding him tightly. Her thin, wet dress clung to his body, and the girl's soft curves and body heat were transmitted to him without any obstruction.

His mind went blank, and he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet.

He wanted to say something, like "What are you doing?" or "I'm taking a shower," or simply push her away.

But as he listened to the broken, fearful, and lingering cries beside him, felt the body trembling violently in his arms, and heard the scalding tears that seemed to burn his cold skin, all his words and all his movements were stuck in his throat and frozen at his fingertips.

Somewhere in his heart, it felt as if he had been scalded by the crying and tears, leaving him feeling a little flustered, a little confused, and a strange, unsettling bitterness.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Then, he raised his hand, grasped Biyao's shoulder, and with a little force, pushed her slightly away from his embrace. He then turned her around so that her back was to him.

"What are you doing?" His voice was a little hoarse, tinged with helplessness and a tension he himself didn't even realize. "I'm taking a shower."

When he turned Biyao around, her crying subsided a little, but her shoulders were still trembling.

She raised her hand and hastily wiped away the tears and water from her face, her voice choked with sobs: "I...I woke up and didn't see you...I thought...I thought you were gone...you didn't want me anymore..."

"Get out, get out," Jiang Xiaochuan said irritably, trying to hide his inner turmoil with impatience. "I'm just taking a shower. Get out of here right now."

Biyao didn't move. She turned her back to him, remained silent for a few seconds, then suddenly whispered, "Um... I'm all wet too."

Jiang Xiaochuan: "...Wait a moment. I'll be right there."

Biyao gave an "Oh," but didn't move. After a few seconds, as if she remembered something, she pursed her lips and muttered in a low voice, with a heavy nasal tone but deliberately sounding self-righteous:

"...Anyway, you've already seen me. I...I want to see you back."

Jiang Xiaochuan: "..."

What is all this about?

The time that followed was incredibly long and awkward.

Jiang Xiaochuan quickly washed the rest of the area, then scrambled ashore as if fleeing, turned his back to the pool, and hurriedly put on the clean clothes he had taken out of his storage space. Luckily, he had prepared several sets beforehand.

After getting dressed, he heard the rustling sound of water behind him; it was Biyao washing up as well.

Without turning back, he strode back to the stone chamber with the makeshift bed on the floor, sat down against the cold rock wall, closed his eyes, and tried to calm his still somewhat chaotic heartbeat and the lingering heat on his face.

After a while, Biyao returned. She had changed into a clean, moon-white dress, her hair still wet and dripping down her shoulders. The traces of crying on her face had not completely faded, and her eyes and the tip of her nose were red.

She walked to the edge of the makeshift bed, didn't look at him or say anything, silently lay down, pulled the blanket over herself, faced inwards, and remained motionless.

She felt somewhat embarrassed by her earlier outburst by the pool.

She actually threw herself into his arms crying, saying so many nonsensical things. She closed her eyes, trying hard not to think about it.

But what kept replaying in her mind was his bare chest, the cold touch, and his helpless words, "I'm taking a shower."

Her face felt a little hot, and she bit her lip to suppress the thought.

The stone chamber was quiet. She could hear Jiang Xiaochuan's breathing not far away. It was steady, but seemed a little faster than usual.

After a long while, she finally turned over and spoke in a teasing tone:

"Hey, didn't you say in the cave earlier, 'A lone man and a lone woman, like dry wood meeting a raging fire'? Why are you chickening out now?"

Jiang Xiaochuan ignored her.

The stone chamber was silent except for the soft breathing of the two people and the faint sound of water dripping from deep within the rock walls.

After an unknown amount of time, just when Jiang Xiaochuan thought Biyao had fallen asleep, she suddenly spoke. Her voice was very soft and low, with a distant, hollow echo, as if it didn't come from her throat, but rather drifted out from some deep, dark corner:

Do you know what it feels like to be alone in the dark, waiting to die?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaochuan trembled violently! He suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Biyao's back.

However, Biyao seemed to be completely immersed in that terrible memory buried deep in her heart, and was oblivious to his reaction.

"When I was six years old..."

She began to speak, her voice flat and devoid of any emotion, her eyes staring blankly at the cold stone wall ahead, as if they could pierce through the thick rock and the long passage of time to see that dark and desperate past, "My mother took me back to the Six Fox Cave on Fox Ridge Mountain to visit my grandmother..."

"Biyao..." Jiang Xiaochuan subconsciously wanted to interrupt her; he didn't want to hear it.

He knew what that past was like, how cruel and painful it was, and he didn't want her to go through it again, not even just a memory.

But Biyao could no longer hear his voice; she was completely swallowed by the vortex of memories. Her tone remained flat, yet every word was piercing:

"...Unexpectedly, righteous people suddenly attacked. Among them was Pu Fang from Tianyin Temple...that evil monk! He used his magic weapon, the 'Floating Golden Bowl,' to forcefully collapse the entire cave! Burying the three of us alive deep underground..."

Jiang Xiaochuan closed his eyes in pain. He knew, he knew everything, but hearing her say it in such a calm tone was a hundred times more impactful than any words could describe.