Chu Ge truly "wrapped" her up.
Normally, Qiu Wuji was nearly 1.7 meters tall, while Chu Ge was only a little over 1.8 meters; the height difference of a dozen centimeters was perfectly normal, and they looked quite well-matched walking side by side.
But once she curled up slightly in his arms, it was as if a fledgling bird was being protected by an eagle's spread wings, completely enveloped.
Chu Ge had no other methods, only movement techniques and the Golden Bell Shield; his instinctive defense was to use his body to block. Actually, it was similar when he shielded Zhang Qiren, except his hands didn't wrap around her.
Qiu Wuji had long forgotten this, but she remembered that when they were jostled by the crowd in the movie theater, he had protected her in the same way, even saying something incredibly cheesy and annoying.
This time, he went a step further, holding her tightly, his body slightly bent to protect her, completely enveloping her, afraid that an attacker might come from another angle and cause her even the slightest injury.
That sense of security was like being sheltered in a warm home amidst a raging storm outside.
It was as if her decision to teach him movement techniques and the Golden Bell Shield was precisely to achieve this.
Even without Chu Ge, she could have easily won this battle. It would have just required a bit more effort—defending herself first, then dealing with the enemy—who wouldn't have been able to dodge her subsequent rage.
But with him protecting her, she could directly turn to attack, making victory much easier… she didn't even have the will to chase after the fleeing enemy.
She just wanted to savor this feeling of security a little longer.
By the time she realized what was happening, everyone was gone.
Qiu Wuji was filled with regret. In his world, this would be a serious mistake, an absolutely unacceptable error. So, had he helped or hindered her?
Maybe he had helped.
"How long are you going to keep me wrapped up like this?"
Chu Ge coughed twice, not only not leaving but also leaning his weight on her. "Um... I'm not trying to take advantage of you... I'm too weak to help you up."
Qiu Wuji: "..." All her initial gratitude and relief vanished. Qiu Wuji truly admired this guy's ability to ruin the atmosphere. You're not even seriously injured, are you?
Oh right, his magic was failing him.
Qiu Wuji, annoyed, put her arm around his waist. "Hold on tight."
Chu Ge returned the gesture. She carefully observed her expression... no expression.
Qiu Wuji parted the waves, quickly bringing him ashore.
The two sat on the rocks by the shore, soaking wet, to rest. Qiu Wuji said sternly, "Take off your shirt, let me see the injury on your back."
Chu Ge didn't mince words. He'd already been shirtless at the beach that afternoon, what difference did this make?
He quickly stripped off his clothes, and Qiu Wuji went to the back to check him over, her tone becoming more relaxed: "Not bad, just a minor shock... the enemy's water arrows couldn't break your defenses."
Chu Ge was a little smug: "At least it's a minor level of the Golden Bell Shield, which is quite durable even in your world, let alone here."
"That's still a minor internal injury, and it even affected your mana depletion. What are you so proud of?"
"..." Qiu Wuji conjured a spell in her hand, seemingly intending to heal him, but then dispelled it herself: "You... it's just a minor injury, take care of yourself."
Chu Ge actually understood what she meant.
Wasting any more mana might mean having to go back.
She wanted to stay a little longer.
So much so that she didn't even use a spell to dry off her soaking wet body, let alone a healing spell.
Qiu Wuji stuffed the pearl she had obtained into his pocket: "It's a clam pearl, of excellent quality, very valuable even in the mortal realm. It's also absorbed a lot of spiritual energy for some reason, making it a great treasure for you right now. Carry it with you for cultivation; reaching Foundation Establishment shouldn't be difficult."
"Let's not talk about that now," Chu Ge said, pulling her towards the hotel. "You're all soaking wet. Go back, take a bath, get a good night's sleep. I don't want you to just disappear."
Qiu Wuji pursed her lips, finally remaining silent.
... Chu Ge hadn't expected the hotel's wooden tub "hot spring" to actually come in handy.
The problem was that there was only one bathroom in the standard room, and both of them were soaking wet, needing to shower and change…
The look in Chu Ge's eyes as he looked at her… held a rather peculiar meaning.
Qiu Wuji, soaking wet…
Outside in the dim light, it was hard to see clearly, but under the indoor lights, it became clear how alluring the scene was.
Not to mention her body, just her wet hair clinging to her face was enough to ignite a fire in one's heart. Thinking of the warm, fragrant embrace he'd just held, Chu Ge was starting to feel a little overwhelmed…
Seeing Chu Ge's expression, Qiu Wuji sneered. She knew without a doubt what was going on in this man's head.
She'd throw him off the building the moment he dared to say "let's soak together."
But Chu Ge spoke up, actually trying to shoo her away: "I'll have the front desk bring a wooden tub to the room. You go use the bathtub in the bathroom… Hey, I already said I'd use the tub, what are you waiting for? Just go in and shower!"
Qiu Wuji's eyes widened, stunned by his exasperated expression.
You're kicking me out?
"Damn it!" Chu Ge snapped, exasperated. "Don't seduce me, woman!"
Qiu Wuji: "?" The two stared at each other for a long time, Qiu Wuji seeing the desire in the man's eyes, even more intense than before.
She hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, almost unconsciously, "You... how about I find a whip and give you a good beating?" Chu Ge practically wanted to jump off the building.
"Ding-dong!" The doorbell rang. "Hello, the hot spring is here." The strange atmosphere in the room instantly vanished. Qiu Wuji regained his aloof demeanor, took the hotel bathrobe, and turned to enter the bathroom.
Chu Ge sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. So tired... he was only now feeling the pain from his injury.
Even if Qiu Wuji called it a minor injury, it was still an injury. This water jet impact was an internal injury, different from the stab wound from the dagger. His internal organs felt jolted, as if they had been twisted.
Hotel staff carried in wooden tubs and poured several buckets of water into the tub. Chu Ge didn't even have the energy to complain that it was just boiling water, not a hot spring; he just wanted them to finish quickly and leave.
After finally getting everything settled, Chu Ge climbed into the tub, leaned against the rim, and absentmindedly played with the clam pearl in his hand.
Soaking himself in the hot water did seem to soothe his injuries somewhat. The clam pearl's spiritual energy was indeed quite concentrated; its subtle penetration into his skin seemed to have a slight healing effect.
Water-based items, huh? Seems like a universal setting?
Chu Ge chuckled to himself. How could he even think of this as a setting for a book… This thing is impossible in the world of Xianxia.
In fact, Chu Ge wasn't particularly interested in this thing. It was just an auxiliary item; it was valuable, but he wouldn't sell it, so why think about it so much?
The significance of tonight didn't seem to lie in acquiring a treasure at all.
It was fighting alongside Qiu Wuji, holding her, and even putting his arm around her waist.
She didn't object.
At this moment, Qiu Wuji was also taking a bath, separated by a glass door. But Chu Ge had long since lost his previous desires; what he kept savoring was the softness of her embrace in that moment.
I'm someone who can help her, not just a cheerleader.
We're from two different worlds, but we've been gradually overlapping in every way—her writing and life, my cultivation and battles. We're both doing what the other does, both entering each other's worlds.
Behind the glass door, Qiu Wuji soaks in the bathtub, lost in thought.
He's someone who can fight alongside me, not just a scholar.
Although it seems to have caused the enemy to escape… but…
The warmth in his arms at that moment is truly unforgettable.
The enemy escaped because I forgot to chase, not because he held me back… On the contrary, he protected me solidly behind me, like a sturdy wall, so reassuring.
I never imagined that being held so tightly in a man's arms wouldn't make me feel disgusted or want to kill him, but rather that I craved that moment of warmth, to the point that I even forgot to chase the enemy.
Choosing to teach him the Golden Bell Shield was a good decision…
We're from two different worlds, but actually… there's not much difference, is there? After all, it's the world he writes about… Inside and outside the glass, bathing together, sharing the same thoughts.