That wretched vixen has disguised herself as my wife!

Jiang Jingming's fingers were still on her cheek, gently caressing it.

Why do you say that? Do I look unhappy?

Xie Yunqi lowered his eyes and looked away.

"Yes."

Jiang Jingming withdrew his hand, braced himself with both hands behind his back, and looked up at the sky.

The Milky Way flowed slowly overhead.

"I think your friend would also want you to be happier, no matter where he is right now."

"I know."

Xie Yunqi answered softly.

She lowered her head and remained silent for a while before raising her eyes to look at Jiang Jingming:

"Actually, I just feel sad when I think about how there are many things in the world that I can't do no matter how hard I try."

"For example what?"

"For example, I couldn't save my friend."

Just as Xie Yunqi finished speaking, Jiang Jingming reached out and pulled up the wide robe draped over her, covering her head as well.

"anything else?"

"And even though I've practiced swordsmanship for so long, I still can't beat you. I just want to be invincible as soon as I pick up a sword. I also want to go to the beach to see real merfolk, fly around like a bird, and even look for real dragons in the world."

Xie Yunqi, his head covered by a black robe, was speaking nonsense with a straight face.

"Is there anything easier to implement?"

Jiang Jingming rested his chin on his hand, feeling both amused and helpless.

"Yes, I have."

Xie Yunqi nodded:

"I want to get a good night's sleep."

"sleep tight?"

Jiang Jingming was slightly taken aback.

"Actually, I insisted on having you come with me to fight bandits because I couldn't sleep at night. Sorry."

As Xie Yunqi spoke, he stuck out his tongue a little shyly.

"..."

Jiang Jingming wanted to laugh, then shook his head:

"I forgive you. I wasn't going to be able to sleep tonight either. But why can't I sleep? I thought you were the kind of person who wouldn't fall asleep once your head hit the pillow."

"I don't know, I've had this problem since I was a child."

Xie Yunqi pursed his lips and shrank further into his outer robe, like a snail peeking out.

“My mother consulted many doctors for me, but nothing helped. I could only fall asleep when it was dawn. I always felt that as soon as it got dark, monsters were lurking everywhere. As soon as I closed my eyes, those monsters would grin and try to get closer.”

"..."

Listening to her speak, Jiang Jingming felt that this was not just a simple case of a child being timid and afraid of the dark, but rather a much more serious psychological problem.

Have you ever taken any calming herbal medicine or similar remedies?

"I drank it and fell asleep, but my mind was still awake. I kept having nightmares and couldn't move. It was even worse than not being able to sleep."

Xie Yunqi scratched his face and sighed helplessly:

“I even asked Master Wen, and he chuckled and said not to worry. The reason I can’t sleep is simply because I feel the world is dangerous. But everyone will find a place where they feel safe. Once I find that place, I’ll always be able to get a good night’s sleep.”

What kind of place makes you feel safe?

Jiang Jingming thought for a moment and then asked in return.

"I do not know either."

Xie Yunqi gazed at the starry sky, blinking his eyes:

"But it's nothing. When I become a star, I won't need to sleep at night anymore. I'll be in charge of blinding everyone's eyes."

"It doesn't have to be that far."

Jiang Jingming had barely finished speaking when he suddenly leaned closer.

Before Xie Yunqi could react, he opened his arms and pulled Xie Yunqi into his embrace.

"Hey......"

Before she could utter a single word, everything went black, and then she felt a warm embrace envelop her completely.

The boy carried a refreshing scent like a mountain spring, and although the hug was offensive, the force was gentle.

Xie Yunqi suddenly felt a lump in his throat for no apparent reason, and had an urge to cry.

Is this the place?

A place that makes you feel safe.

She couldn't see anything, but she felt that no one could find her, and no monster could hurt her.

Even if the sky were to fall and the earth were to collapse, as long as she remained in this embrace, she would be safe.

Yesterday is too close, tomorrow is too far, let her find it today.

......

"lecher."

Xie Yunqi leaned against his chest and sniffed.

Although she said that, she wrapped her arms around his waist.

On a starry night, the two embraced tightly on the edge of a cliff, as if the end of the world was imminent and this embrace was their only way out.

Jiang Jingming rested his chin on the young lady's head and gently rubbed it:

"So what if there are many monsters hiding there? I will protect you."

"It's just a matter of them eating you along with them."

Xie Yunqi said sullenly in his arms.

"Then eat me too. With someone to keep you company, you won't be scared, right?"

Jiang Jingming said with a smile.

"Smooth-talking!"

Xie Yunqi suddenly raised his head, staring at him warily:

"How many girls have you said that to!"

"..."

Jiang Jingming hadn't expected her to suddenly attack him, and he touched his nose guiltily.

Thinking about it carefully, he really hadn't said it, since Aqing was the only girl who had been by his side since he was a child.

However, those guys from the Duyue Cult have been making fun of him since he was a child, saying things like how their young master is so clever for getting himself a child bride.

Jiang Jingming and A Qing didn't really object to this, since they had already agreed to stay by each other's side for life.

……

"I never said that."

Jiang Jingming thought for a moment and answered cautiously.

Anyway, if we only consider that one sentence, what he said wasn't wrong.

Xie Yunqi glared and said loudly:

"Touching your nose is a lie!"

Jiang Jingming quickly removed his hand from his nose and spread his hands in a seemingly innocent manner.

"I never said that."

"If you didn't say this, then you must have said something else?"

Xie Yunqi narrowed his eyes and pressed closer step by step.

"Stop, stop."

Jiang Jingming raised his hands in surrender and ruffled her messy hair.

"There's only one thing that comes to mind right now, something that you, Miss, can achieve if you just work hard."

"Hmph, what is it?"

Although Xie Yunqi was unhappy with his perfunctory attitude, he still asked in return out of curiosity.

"Do you remember what we came out tonight? If we dawdle any longer, it'll be almost dawn."

Jiang Jingming raised his hand and pointed to the few morning stars that were gradually fading on the horizon.

"what!"

Xie Yunqi belatedly realized the important matter at hand tonight and hurriedly crawled out from under his outer robe.

"Then let's hurry up and go!"

"But we're at the highest point of this mountain now, and we still can't see any buildings that look like a bandit's hideout."

Jiang Jingming reached out and pulled her up from the edge of the cliff.

The young lady's hand felt warm and soft to the touch.

Xie Yunqi did not pull his hand back, letting him hold it, and stood on tiptoe to look around.

"Not every bandit in the world builds a huge stronghold and hangs signs like Black Wind Stronghold or Mad Dragon Stronghold at the gate. Who would be that stupid!"

"Then how should we find her? Miss Xie Yunqi, the number one female knight-errant in the world?"

Jiang Jingming listened to her seemingly logical explanation and decided to follow her instructions.

Anyway, he was forced to go up the mountain by the young lady.

However, having a warm and soft woman in one's arms is not a loss.

Xie Yunqi, holding his hand, suddenly noticed something and took a few quick steps to a spot with a wider view.

"Hey, Jingming, look over there!"

Jiang Jingming followed behind her and looked up. In the dim light of the early morning, he could vaguely see a flickering flame.

"It's a torch."

He said it with certainty.

"That must be it! Why would anyone be making a fire in the mountains at this time!"

In his excitement, Xie Yunqi pinched Jiang Jingming so hard he grimaced.

"Please don't seriously injure your teammate as soon as you discover the enemy, young lady."

"Oh dear, oh dear, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."

Xie Yunqi stuck out his tongue, took his hand and put it to his mouth, pretending to blow on it a few times.

So the two of them had no intention of lying in wait and continued to chatter as they walked toward the beam of fire.

Only when we got closer did we realize it was a cave.

There were a few wooden stakes scattered around the entrance; I don't know if they were used as a door.

Xie Yunqi took a few steps closer and saw three characters crookedly carved on the wooden stake.

"Xiongxiong Village".

"..."

Xie Yunqi covered his face, a wave of genuine speechlessness washing over him.