Chapter Thirty-Seven: Repaying a Hundredfold

“Oh, it’s so cold!” Yue Qi, bare-bottomed, searched room by room for any spare clothing or something to cover himself with.

Daylight had already broken, though Yue Qi hadn’t noticed earlier since he’d been stuck in the wine cellar. There was nothing left in the guest rooms—not even bed sheets; clearly Wang Jian and his men had cleaned them out. Luck smiled on him, however, as he found a bit of dried meat in a corner of the kitchen, likely overlooked by the others.

The sun’s warmth had yet to fully seep in, and the dew in the air lent a refreshing chill, making Yue Qi’s bare backside feel as if some crazed fiend was staring at it intently.

“But this feeling of running naked is oddly exhilarating…” Yue Qi thought perversely. His mood, despite everything, was surprisingly good—since emerging from the wine cellar, his relationship with Bai Lian had deepened, not just a step but several. If not for the apocalypse, perhaps they might already be married. Of course, if the world hadn’t ended, they would never have met, nor forged such intimacy.

Recalling Bai Lian’s shy demeanor, Yue Qi felt fortunate. He’d always thought his third brother and fourth sister were joking about Bai Lian’s feelings for him, but her demeanor made it clear she’d liked him for some time. He’d spent every day with her; how could he remain indifferent? Yet, Yue Qi had always felt too inferior, burying his feelings deep and never voicing them…

“If nothing’s in the guest rooms, surely the boss and the servant’s quarters must have clothes…” Yue Qi mused, heading toward the backyard—where the wine cellar was. Such quarters were usually reserved for the proprietor, who might even give up their own rooms when guests overflowed.

The doors to the houses were locked, perhaps to deter dishonest lodgers. Yue Qi was in a rush and hadn’t brought his sword, but that proved unnecessary.

Standing a bit distant from the door, Yue Qi cast a Fire Spell, sending a small fireball to ignite the wooden door.

Whether by luck or oversight, Wang Jian’s group seemed to have missed these rooms; otherwise, even this simple wooden door would have been broken down. Yet the wine from the first door in the cellar had been hauled away, suggesting the liquor was their primary aim…

Thinking of Wang Jian and his gang filled Yue Qi with murderous intent. In this apocalypse, he wouldn’t provoke anyone unless they challenged him first. But should anyone dare cross him, they’d best prepare a coffin in advance!

The door quickly charred black. When Yue Qi judged the moment right, he used a Water Spell to extinguish the flames, then kicked the door open without hindrance.

The room’s decor was quite lavish, clearly belonging to the boss or family. Apart from a layer of dust, nothing seemed disturbed; the innkeeper hadn’t had time to take anything before either mutating or fleeing.

“Clothes, clothes… where are the clothes?” Yue Qi rummaged through boxes and cupboards. He found no clothing, but plenty of gold and silver jewelry—the innkeeper must have been quite wealthy, unlike most small shops that take a lifetime to amass such fortunes.

These days, gold and jewels were worth less than dirt. A bottle of clean water or a bowl of food was far more valuable!

“Ah! There we go!” Opening a tall wardrobe, Yue Qi finally discovered several sets of men’s clothing. Though much too large, a belt would suffice to cinch them.

Even more interesting, among the men’s garments were several sets of women’s attire.

“So, this must be the boss and his wife’s room!” Yue Qi thought, not caring much. The boss’s wife must have been quite “plump”—the clothes would be big for Bai Lian.

“No choice but to make do…” Yue Qi compared sizes, picking the smallest set. Whether or not it was pretty mattered little; on Bai Lian, anything would look lovely.

Thinking of the person waiting for him in the wine cellar, Yue Qi chuckled softly. Last night had been so sudden, so surreal, but he’d made up his mind about the person he’d spend his life with—the one willing to give everything for him!

Grabbing the clothes, he glanced at the jewelry on the table.

“This jade pendant…” Yue Qi picked up a pair—one carved with a dragon, the other with a phoenix, entwined together beautifully.

“She’ll be delighted if I give her this…” Yue Qi dressed, stood before the bronze mirror to tidy his wrinkled collar, chose two sturdy red cords from the jewelry pile, tied the pendants, and headed toward the wine cellar.

“Lian’er…” Even before reaching the second door, Yue Qi called out loudly. The cellar was pitch-black, so he picked up a burning stick from the doorway for light.

“Throw the clothes in! Wait outside for me! Absolutely do not come in!” Bai Lian’s clear voice echoed from deep within the cellar. She must have seen Yue Qi approaching with the torch and, shy as any girl, called out from afar, not wanting him near.

Yue Qi tried to step forward. Bai Lian could see him, but he couldn’t see her or know where she was.

“I told you not to come in!” she said, annoyed and flustered, clearly anxious about him seeing her predicament.

“What’s there to be shy about? We’ve already shared a bed—why worry now…” Yue Qi grinned wickedly and stepped inside.

“I said don’t come in!” The torch illuminated the cellar, its smaller space easily revealed. Yue Qi saw Bai Lian sitting on the stone steps, facing him, arms crossed over her chest and legs tightly closed, as if to hide her most intimate parts.

“Lian… Lian’er…” Yue Qi swallowed hard. It had been too dark before to truly see Bai Lian’s body, but now, under the firelight, her pale skin glowed with a soft red, making her shy face even more radiant.

“Fool! Give me the clothes!” Bai Lian scolded, though her voice was thick with affection.

“Lian’er, you’re so beautiful!” Yue Qi stepped forward, pulling her into his arms, gazing closely at her wondrous face.

“Seventh Brother…” Bai Lian’s voice trembled with emotion.

Yue Qi wedged the torch into a stone pillar while Bai Lian closed her eyes. Her curved lashes quivered, torn between fear and anticipation.

“Lian’er…” Yue Qi kissed her cheek, then buried his face in her hair, breathing in the faint fragrance that drifted from her locks.

“Seventh Brother, never betray Lian’er…” Bai Lian suddenly opened her eyes, looking intently at Yue Qi’s thin face, tears glimmering in her eyes.

“How could I… As long as I live, I’ll never…” Bai Lian gently placed her hand on Yue Qi’s lips, silencing him.

“Don’t say such foolish things. You won’t die, nor will I. We’ll live well together! I’ll bear you a whole brood of children!” Bai Lian smiled blissfully, gazing at Yue Qi with hope.

Hearing her words, Yue Qi was moved to tears and silently vowed, “As long as I’m alive, I’ll keep Lian’er safe!”

Bai Lian closed her eyes again, and Yue Qi kissed her lips. The kiss brimmed not with desire, but with deep love.

“Lian’er…” Yue Qi pressed his body against hers, one arm around her shoulder, gently kneading her soft breast.

“Mm… You’re so annoying!” Bai Lian moaned softly, feigning displeasure, though she clearly enjoyed Yue Qi’s touch.

“Lian’er, take this…” Yue Qi, as if performing a magic trick, produced two jade pendants, handing one to Bai Lian.

“What’s this…” Seeing the phoenix carved into the pendant, Bai Lian’s heart soared, though she couldn’t resist asking.

“Found it while searching for clothes—just picked it up…” Yue Qi explained, tying the red cord around Bai Lian’s neck. “Here, let me help you put it on…”

Bai Lian wrapped her arms around Yue Qi’s neck as he carefully fastened the cord, ensuring the pendant wouldn’t fall. He then handed her his own pendant, gesturing for her to tie it.

“That’s perfect…!” Bai Lian tied a cute butterfly knot. Though it could easily come loose, she said, “If it falls off, I’ll just tie it again.”

Yue Qi chuckled, stood up, motioned for Bai Lian to dress, and put on his own clothes.

Bai Lian’s outfit might not have been stunning, but on her, it matched perfectly. Her natural grace and slightly cold demeanor made for a striking contrast. Yet Yue Qi knew Bai Lian’s icy manner was for others; for him, she showed only warmth and love.

“Seventh Brother, what should we do next? Should we go back to rescue… Mother, or…” Bai Lian paused, blushing as she said “Mother.”

Yue Qi didn’t notice, only sneering, “Of course we’ll save Mother, but…”

He raised his brows at Bai Lian, “But first, I need to deal with those scoundrels! If they dare harm the one I love, I’ll make them pay a hundredfold!”