Chapter 26

Not all terrain is suitable for skiing. If the snow is too powdery or the slope too steep, skiing becomes impossible. So, as they left Kaoshan Village, Qin Qingman and Wei Ling stopped at the base of the mountain.

They needed to climb up a bit to find a place where they could continue skiing.

But Wei Ling knew they couldn’t afford to wait.

The black wolf could give birth at any moment, and without anyone watching over her, things could go wrong. The pups were too large, and the risk of a difficult birth was very high.

After a moment of thought, Wei Ling reached out his hand to Qin Qingman.

Qin Qingman looked at his extended hand in confusion. Skiing required personal strength and technique—holding hands would only slow them down.

Despite her doubts, she handed him her hand, trusting him completely.

Wei Ling hadn’t expected such trust from Qin Qingman. With his mind set, he felt a warmth in his heart. Taking her hand, he said, “I’ll carry you.” His words implied that Qin Qingman would need to move onto his skis.

“But there’s only room for one pair of feet.” Qin Qingman said, slightly puzzled.

Their skis weren’t designed for two people. To stand on a single pair, one of them would need to hold the other tightly, which would affect their speed.

Wei Ling looked at Qin Qingman intently, his eyes reflecting both hesitation and nervousness. But after thinking it over, he asked, “Qingman, do you trust me?”

Trust Wei Ling?

Without a moment’s hesitation, Qin Qingman nodded.

Instinctively, she believed in him.

Her quick, unthinking nod was absolute confirmation for Wei Ling, who broke into a smile. The normally stoic man’s smile had a childlike purity that instantly captured Qin Qingman’s attention.

As Wei Ling instructed her to “hold on tight.” Qin Qingman stepped onto his skis, arms wrapping firmly around his waist.

No sooner had she done so than she felt the wind.

A powerful wind.

This wind wasn’t blowing naturally; it was the rush created by their speed as they broke through the stillness of the air.

Faced with the harsh, cold wind, Qin Qingman instinctively buried her face into Wei Ling’s back.

Qin Qingman’s delicate face nestled into the warmth of Wei Ling’s thick cotton coat, shielding her instantly from the biting wind. She could feel his body heat radiating through the coat, enveloping her with a comforting warmth.

Her cheeks flushed a deep red.

With her face pressed against his back, Qin Qingman not only felt his warmth but inhaled his distinct scent with each breath—a rugged, masculine essence that filled her senses. It was intoxicating, like the finest wine, stirring both a deep shyness and an undeniable attraction within her.

This was her first time being this close to a man.

Her heartbeat raced, the heat on her face intensified, and the closeness of their bodies made her breathing quicken…

In the quiet mountain forest under the brilliant moonlight, only the two of them moved at such speed, gliding through the night. They skated across ridges, skimmed over the thickly iced river valleys, and breezed through sparse woods. In this vast, snowy wilderness, nothing could hinder their swift passage.

As they dashed ahead, Qin Qingman, holding onto Wei Ling, had only a fleeting moment to wonder at their speed before she realized something unusual.

Normally, it would be impossible for an ordinary person to defy the laws of nature like this.

But Wei Ling was doing just that.

Not only could he ski uphill, but he could also do so while carrying another person without the slightest struggle. Such feats weren’t something a regular person could accomplish.

She recalled the wild boar that Wei Ling had once killed with a single punch. Her blood seemed to heat up with excitement as she remembered it.

Her mind wandered to the novels she had read online from the future.

Could it be that people like him, with superhuman abilities or cultivation skills, truly existed? Could Wei Ling belong to some ancient, secret family of warriors or cultivators?

With this tantalizing thought, Qin Qingman instinctively tightened her hold around Wei Ling’s waist, feeling a surge of excitement she could barely contain.

She even began to daydream, wondering if she might have any talent for martial arts or, perhaps, a spiritual root.

Yes, she remembered that novels about cultivation always mentioned spiritual roots as a basis for training.

Wei Ling had no idea that Qin Qingman’s imagination was soaring to fantastical heights. He was well aware of the dangers of using such abilities openly in front of others; these weren’t powers that an average person could possess.

Yet, the situation was urgent. For Xiao Hei’s mate and unborn pups, he had no choice but to take the risk. He was placing his faith in Qin Qingman’s character, betting that he hadn’t misjudged her.

There they were, in each other’s arms, one feeling a flush of excitement and wonder, the other deeply anxious yet resolute.

The wolf den had arrived.

Wei Ling and Qin Qingman’s arrival alarmed the wolves outside the den.

At that moment, more than a dozen wolves were surrounding the den, watching it closely. When Wei Ling and Qin Qingman arrived, all the wolves turned to look at them. They stood up, alert, and watched them carefully, low growls coming from their throats.

Under the moonlight, the wolves’ eyes glowed with a faint green light.

This sight made Qin Qingman, who had just released Wei Ling’s waist after feeling her legs grow weak, tense all over. Her body hair stood on end, and her nerves were stretched to the limit. Even though she knew they were here to help the wolves with childbirth, the sudden attention of so many wolves gave her a chilling feeling.

“Qingman, don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Wei Ling said.

Noticing Qin Qingman’s nervousness, Wei Ling quickly wrapped an arm around her waist to help her stand firm.

In the extremely cold weather, both of them were bundled in thick clothing, but Wei Ling could still feel the size of Qin Qingman’s waist through the layers of her coat.

Wei Ling didn’t have time to be distracted by the sensation, quickly pulling Qin Qingman toward the cave.

Qin Qingman was an ordinary person. The pitch-black cave, for her, not only induced an instinctual fear but also made her feel disoriented visually. Once inside, she lost all sense of judgment, and her steps faltered naturally.

Even with Wei Ling leading her, the feeling of emptiness underfoot was inescapable.

“The wolves are afraid of fire. Qingman, I’m sorry, but I can’t light a fire to help you see.” Wei Ling explained while pulling out a flashlight and turning it on.

As the light from the flashlight flickered to life, Qin Qingman could finally see the path beneath her feet.

The disorienting feeling began to fade.

“Wooo—”

Suddenly, a long wolf howl echoed through the cave, followed by a gust of wind rushing toward them.

“Xiao Hei.” Wei Ling’s voice rang out just in time.

Then the wind disappeared, and a large silver wolf appeared before Qin Qingman’s eyes.

The silver wolf looked at Qin Qingman with suspicion and aggression, even baring its sharp teeth. It was clear that it didn’t trust Qin Qingman and regarded her with hostility due to her unfamiliar scent.

Wei Ling had spent a year with this wolf and had already figured out all its body language and facial expressions.

Noticing Xiao Hei’s distrust, Wei Ling tightened his hold on Qin Qingman and introduced, “This is my wife.”

Qin Qingman, who had not yet married Wei Ling: …

Xiao Hei didn’t understand Wei Ling’s words. Facing Wei Ling’s affection and defense of Qin Qingman, the wolf’s deep eyes flickered with a trace of thought. Then it stepped closer, sniffing around Qin Qingman. It was assessing the situation.

It was judging their true relationship.

Qin Qingman grew even more tense. This was not a wolf from a TV show or a zoo from the future. This was a real wild alpha wolf, one that was even more terrifying and brutal.

Feeling the breath of the alpha wolf, Qin Qingman tightly gripped Wei Ling’s clothes.

“Qingman, don’t be afraid. I’m here. Xiao Hei won’t hurt you.” Wei Ling reassured her confidently, holding her tighter, hoping his embrace would give her a sense of security.

Qin Qingman could not help but feel nervous with a wolf sniffing her so closely. The only reason she dared to take this risk was because she trusted Wei Ling—this trust was based on both his character and his strength.

In response to Wei Ling’s reassurance, Qin Qingman buried her head in his chest.

At that moment, a faint whimper came from deep within the wolf den.

Even though Qin Qingman was human, she could sense the wolf’s suppressed pain and distress from that soft whine.

Xiao Hei, initially still trying to assess Qin Qingman, immediately abandoned any further hesitation upon hearing the whimper. It pushed its head against Wei Ling, urging him to enter the cave quickly, and Qin Qingman was unintentionally pushed along with him.

Qin Qingman was taken aback.

She could feel that Xiao Hei no longer held any hostility toward her and also felt the wolf’s urgency.

“Xiao Hei’s wife is about to give birth. There might be complications.” Wei Ling said, not only sensing Xiao Hei’s intent but also hearing the pain in the wolf’s cries. He quickly reminded Qin Qingman. He had originally wanted to bring her here earlier to check on Xiao Hei’s wife, but now, with the situation being urgent, there was no time to delay.

“Quickly.” he urged.

Qin Qingman felt the urgency too.

Although she knew wolves were fierce and brutal animals, Xiao Hei trusted her because of Wei Ling, and she needed to live up to that trust.

Besides, she knew that a wolf seeking help from humans could not have evil intentions.

With Qin Qingman’s urging, Wei Ling quickly led her deeper into the cave. As the flashlight’s beam illuminated the area, Qin Qingman saw not only the large-bellied black wolf but also the bloodstains scattered on the straw.

“Ah Ling, it’s too dark here.” Qin Qingman noted. As an ordinary person, her vision was naturally affected by the poor lighting.

“What should we do?” Wei Ling asked, still calm and composed.

“Can we move it outside? There’s a hot spring outside, and the temperature isn’t as low. It might be better for the birth.” Qin Qingman suggested. She had heard Wei Ling mention the hot spring on their way here and thought it might be useful for the birth.

Wei Ling was silent for a moment before rejecting the idea. “Xiao Hei and the others only trust their den and their pack.”

Now, it was Qin Qingman’s turn to fall silent.

“You hold the flashlight, and shine it where my hand is.” Qin Qingman instructed, removing her gloves and reaching toward the black wolf’s belly.

The light from Wei Ling’s flashlight followed her hand.

Qin Qingman’s hand moved quickly, but the black wolf’s jaws moved faster.

In an instant, the black wolf’s teeth closed around her hand, but another hand, Wei Ling’s, quickly wrapped around hers, protecting it.

Sensing the black wolf’s resistance, Wei Ling immediately used his hand to shield Qin Qingman’s.

“Ah Ling!” Qin Qingman cried out, panic rising in her voice.

It was only at this moment that Qin Qingman clearly realized the difference between wolves and dogs.

“I’m fine. You should quickly check on Xiao Hei’s wife.” Wei Ling reminded Qin Qingman. He placed the flashlight on the ground and then pried the black wolf’s jaws off his hand, worried that delaying could cost them all.

Qin Qingman steadied her nerves, no longer looking at Wei Ling’s hand, but instead focusing on the black wolf, conveying her goodwill through her gaze.

Whether she could be of help was entirely up to the black wolf.

Pregnant wolves are the most protective of their young, and even the slightest disturbance could make them extremely anxious.

Perhaps sensing the danger to the black wolf, Xiao Hei no longer stayed by Wei Ling’s side. Instead, it approached its mate, gently pressing its head against the wolf’s, while emitting low, soothing growls. Its eyes never left Qin Qingman.

Qin Qingman understood this was the way animals communicated.

She then saw that the black wolf’s gaze toward her had lost its hostility. The wolf turned around, facing her with its belly.

Having already learned of Wei Ling’s abilities, Qin Qingman no longer feared being bitten by the wolf. She reached out her hand again.

The fur on the wolf’s belly was short, fine, and warm to the touch.

As soon as Qin Qingman’s hand made contact, she felt the life beneath the wolf’s skin, the two cubs struggling to be born, both eager to make their entrance.

But this caused the black wolf pain.

It was the first birth, and the birth canal was narrow. The two cubs fought to emerge, turning the black wolf’s belly into a battleground.

For the mother, this was a disaster.

While gently touching the black wolf’s belly, Qin Qingman reassured the cubs inside, recalling what she had seen in childbirth videos for when complications arose.

She had watched these videos carefully before.

As the memories came flooding back, Qin Qingman calmed herself down. One hand gently caressed one of the cubs, while the other hand went to the opposite side, hoping to separate the two cubs. Only once they were apart could the birth proceed smoothly.

Perhaps the warmth from Qin Qingman’s hands soothed the agitated cubs, or perhaps they were simply exhausted from their struggle, but under her calming touch, the cubs stopped fighting and reluctantly moved aside.

Once the cubs ceased their struggle, the black wolf’s pain was significantly reduced.

This allowed the black wolf a chance to breathe.

With a gesture of gratitude, the black wolf nuzzled Qin Qingman’s arm, showing complete trust. All its hostility had dissipated.

Faced with the black wolf’s trust, Qin Qingman thought for a moment before gently reaching out to stroke the wolf’s head.

The dark fur was soft and smooth, and the sensation was far more pleasant than petting cats or dogs in the future. It was almost addictive.

Qin Qingman enjoyed the feeling for just a second before refocusing all her attention back on the black wolf’s belly.

With her help, the black wolf’s birth canal began to contract, and one of the cubs slowly emerged.

The light from the flashlight wasn’t sufficient to illuminate everything, only casting light on part of the scene.

Out of consideration, Wei Ling turned his head away during the birth of the wolf, his face slightly flushed.

A few minutes later, with the sound of soft grunts, a silver-white cub was born.

The smooth delivery of the cub greatly encouraged both the people and the wolves present.

Xiao Hei was the first to rush over, grabbing the cub and pulling it aside. He repeatedly licked the cub with his tongue, fulfilling the honorable role of a father, and this was the first baptism the cub would receive in the world.

Qin Qingman looked at the busy Xiao Hei, then her gaze returned to the black wolf. She took a deep breath and continued to gently rub the wolf’s belly.

Because there was still another cub inside the black wolf.

However, a problem arose this time. No matter how she assisted, the second cub refused to be born.

“What’s wrong?” Wei Ling, without even turning around, sensed that something was off.

Qin Qingman quickly reviewed all the knowledge she had stored in her mind over the past few minutes, and a suspicion formed in her mind. After hesitating for a few seconds, she replied, “It’s probably because the umbilical cord is wrapped around the cub, which is preventing it from being born.”

“What should we do?” Wei Ling wasn’t in a rush, as he hadn’t sensed any urgency from Qin Qingman, meaning she likely had a solution.

Qin Qingman indeed had a plan. Although she had never practiced it before, she trusted the methods passed down over millennia. However, since she was speaking to Wei Ling, she suddenly felt a little embarrassed to say it out loud.

Wei Ling was quick-witted. “Is… is there something inconvenient?”

“I need you to help hold Xiao Hei’s wife’s leg.” Qin Qingman said clearly, though her face turned bright red.

Wei Ling paused for a second, then immediately understood.

Instantly, his face turned crimson as well.

However, out of respect for life, no matter how embarrassed Wei Ling felt, he would not stand idly by. The cub’s life was important, and besides, he had a good relationship with the cub’s father.

“I’ll do it.”

Once Wei Ling understood Qin Qingman’s request, he bit the flashlight in his mouth and stretched out his hand.

With Wei Ling’s help, Qin Qingman’s delivery went smoothly.

A few minutes later, a wolf cub, its neck wrapped in numerous loops of the umbilical cord, was gently pulled out of the black wolf’s belly by Qin Qingman, followed by the afterbirth.

The birth of this cub was completely different from its brother.

There were no grunts, and its breathing was weak, indicating it had likely been suffocated in the womb for too long.

Holding the small black cub, Qin Qingman felt an incredible sense of wonder.

The parents of the cubs had one black and one white coat, and the cubs they gave birth to were also one silver-white and one pitch-black.

This miraculous gene transmission.

“Ow-ow-ow—” With all the cubs now born, the black wolf was finally safe. The pain in its belly had subsided, and sensing that it was out of danger, the black wolf weakly nudged its head toward Qin Qingman. This was its way of once again thanking her for saving its life.

Had the cubs been left inside for any longer, not only would both cubs have suffocated in the womb, but the black wolf would have died as well.

In response to the black wolf’s gratitude, Qin Qingman smiled brightly.

She gently handed the cub she was holding to the black wolf.

The black wolf hesitated for a moment but then began licking the afterbirth off the cub. As the afterbirth was removed, the previously silent, weak cub finally let out a faint whimper. The sound was soft and delicate, evoking a sense of pity.

At this point, it could be said that Qin Qingman had successfully completed her task.

She crouched down, gazing longingly at the cub near the black wolf’s mouth. Compared to the other healthy wolf cub, this one—who had caused her so much concern—tugged at her heartstrings with a special tenderness.

Perhaps it was the human tendency to sympathize with the weak.

As Qin Qingman moved closer, the black wolf did not react with caution. Instead, it pushed the cub toward her with its nose.

Wei Ling, watching this scene, seemed to be deep in thought.

Originally, Qin Qingman had only wanted to take a closer look at the cub, but since the black wolf had pushed it toward her, she didn’t refuse. She reached out and gently touched the cub’s head. It was soft and warm, trembling slightly under her touch.

Its little heart was also beating rapidly.

The newborn cub still couldn’t stand properly, and its fur was all wrinkled. It looked nothing like its parents, who were so strikingly beautiful.

Qin Qingman was very tempted to flip the cub over to check its gender, but in front of its parents, she ultimately abandoned that thought.

Just then, Xiao Hei also brought over the other cub and placed it next to the black wolf.

The two cubs, still remembering the conflicts from the womb, immediately began to grumble at each other as soon as they met, their little paws scratching at one another.

The black wolf’s cub, being the last to be born, was weaker than the silver wolf cub that had been born first.

The silver wolf cub pushed the black wolf cub over with its paws, then waddled with soft steps over its sibling, heading straight for the mother wolf’s belly to drink milk.

The black wolf cub, having been stepped on, froze in place, its whole body stiff.

Wei Ling watched this familiar scene, his brows twitching. The silver wolf cub was just like Xiao Hei—always causing trouble. It was truly a nuisance.

As Wei Ling inwardly grumbled about Xiao Hei’s genes, Qin Qingman felt sorry for the black wolf cub. Had she not intervened in the birth and allowed the silver wolf cub to be born first, the black wolf cub wouldn’t have been so bullied.

“Survival of the fittest.” she thought.

Wei Ling took Qin Qingman’s hand and gently whispered into her ear.

Understanding the reasoning, Qin Qingman sighed and didn’t disturb the reunion of the wolf family. Instead, she followed Wei Ling out of the cave.

As soon as they stepped outside, a long, loud wolf howl echoed from within the cave.

It was Xiao Hei.

Xiao Hei was announcing the good news to the pack.

The dozen or so wolves surrounding the cave immediately joined in with excited howls of their own.

The melodious howls carried far into the silent forest, silencing all the nearby small animals.

Qin Qingman shivered slightly in response to the wolf howls.

Although she knew that this pack of wolves wouldn’t harm her, the instinctual fear she had for wolves still sent chills down her spine. If Wei Ling hadn’t been by her side, she would have been tempted to run away.

“We’re not far from the hot spring lake.” Wei Ling said, still holding onto Qin Qingman’s hand as if he didn’t want to let go. “There’s a hut by the lake where we rested yesterday.”

In moments of nervousness, Qin Qingman relied entirely on Wei Ling. Now that they were away from the wolf den and felt safe, she struggled slightly against his firm grasp on her hand.

Earlier, when she had assisted the black wolf in giving birth, her hands had gotten some sticky fluids on them, and she hadn’t had a chance to clean them. She felt a little embarrassed about letting Wei Ling hold her hand under these circumstances.

Wei Ling, remembering the incident when Qin Qingman had asked him to wash his hands after handling photos, understood exactly what she was concerned about. He smiled and said, “My hands are dirty too. It’s no good wearing gloves with dirty hands, so I’ll warm them for you. We can wash up once we’re at the lake.”

Reluctantly, Qin Qingman stopped struggling.

Indeed, the cold air made it difficult to wear gloves with dirty hands, but without them, her hands would easily become numb from the cold. With Wei Ling’s warmth protecting her hand, she wouldn’t have to worry about frostbite.

Thinking of hands, Qin Qingman remembered the bite from the black wolf.

She lifted the hand that Wei Ling was holding and said, “Let me check if you’re hurt.” She still remembered how mercilessly the black wolf had bitten down.

Before Wei Ling could come up with an excuse, Qin Qingman had already raised his hand.

Looking at Wei Ling’s hand, which had no sign of injury, Qin Qingman sighed with relief, followed by a smile.

The fact that Wei Ling, who had been protecting her, was uninjured made her the happiest.

Wei Ling, still trying to come up with an excuse to explain, was caught off guard when Qin Qingman didn’t press him for a reason and instead started walking briskly. It seemed like she was eager to reach the hot spring lake.

“Is the lake beautiful?” she asked.

Qin Qingman was very intrigued by the mysteriously appearing lake.

“It’s beautiful.”

Wei Ling turned his head to look at Qin Qingman. In the moonlight, from his perspective, the soft glow of the moon cast a delicate veil over her face, making her appear ethereal and enchanting, like a fairy from the Moon Palace. Her features seemed almost magical, and he couldn’t look away.

In that moment, Wei Ling understood.

There were some things Qin Qingman didn’t ask, and he, in turn, chose not to explain.

He could feel that Qin Qingman understood him. Even though he might appear different from ordinary people, she could still see and appreciate that difference, even respecting it.

Understanding this, Wei Ling felt a surge of happiness fill him completely.

The more he interacted with Qin Qingman, the more he realized her uniqueness, and it reaffirmed how right his decision to propose to her had been.

“Yes… beautiful.”

The two walked for half an hour under the moonlight before stopping. Qin Qingman was even more stunned by the breathtaking view before her.

Though she had visited Changbai Mountain before and seen the beautiful Tianchi, the valley under the moonlight before her now was even more captivating.

The bright moonlight, with its soft, misty beauty, made the lake and surrounding flowers look as if they were inhabited by spirits, creating an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere.

“It’s even more beautiful in the day.” Wei Ling answered seriously.

During the day, the view was clear and expansive, the scenery around them more distinct. Under the sunlight, the snow-capped mountains, the green trees, and the flying birds made the lake even more vivid. The mist over the lake shimmered with a bluish tint, creating a serene tranquility, adding to the sense of otherworldly beauty.

“Ah Ling, I love it here.”

Qin Qingman turned to look at Wei Ling, her eyes filled with joy.

“I love it here too.” Looking into Qin Qingman’s eyes, Wei Ling felt his heart race, an impulse rising within him.

“Ah Ling, let’s go. I want to check the water.” Qin Qingman said eagerly, wanting to wash her hands.

Wei Ling saw through her thoughts and, with a smile, happily agreed, “Okay.”

Under the moonlight, the young couple discarded the constraints of the mundane world and ran through the valley, where the snow had already melted.

Hand in hand, they ran.

A few minutes later, they stood by the clear lake.

Qin Qingman crouched down by the lake, not fully submerging both hands into the water, but instead dipping her hands in, splashing the water to wash them.

The water, heated by geothermal energy, had a faint sulfuric scent. If inhaled directly, the smell was not pleasant, but it was a great cleanser. As the warm water flowed over her palms and fingers, the lingering scent on her hands disappeared completely.

With her hands clean, Qin Qingman’s mood lightened.

“Qingman, the hut is just ahead. Let’s go check it out.” Wei Ling said, now holding her hand and walking toward the hut.

At that moment, it seemed like he had forgotten that there was no need for them to hold hands anymore.

With the foreign sensation of the dirt washed away, Qin Qingman became more sensitive to the feeling of Wei Ling’s hand holding hers. His hand, warm and dry, caused her heart to race. The contact between their hands was smooth, and there was no barrier between them, making her feel a heat rising in her cheeks.

Wei Ling, a soldier with years of training, had hands that were not as soft as his skin. They were slightly rougher, especially around the index finger and the base of his thumb, where calluses were visible. The friction from these rough patches as they touched Qin Qingman’s hand caused a unique sensation. It was more stimulating than the smoothness of soft skin, making her more aware of his hand.

In the moonlight, the tall figure of Wei Ling seemed to cast a protective shadow over her, and she felt a warmth spreading through her body.

Her footsteps became uneven, sometimes deep, sometimes shallow, as she walked beside him.

With a subtle sweetness in her heart, Qin Qingman allowed herself to trust Wei Ling completely. Wherever he led her, she followed without hesitation.

Her trusting attitude influenced Wei Ling as well.

He felt a mix of nervousness and excitement, unsure of what to say in this situation. Eventually, he chose silence, merely holding her hand as they walked toward the hut.

Although it was only a few hundred meters away, it felt as though they had walked a few miles, with their pace slowing down more and more. Their steps grew smaller, lingering, as the air between them became infused with a pink, intimate atmosphere.

At that moment, both Wei Ling and Qin Qingman were enjoying the simple pleasure of each other’s company, feeling light-hearted and happy.

Neither of them could help but smile faintly, their minds naturally releasing dopamine, bringing joy and attraction.

Their palms grew sweaty, hearts racing, and their hands, intertwined, pulled closer together.

Qin Qingman had never experienced anything like this before. It felt like she was coming down with a cold—her head was heavy, her legs weak, and her mind felt dizzy. The ground beneath her seemed to sway, and her legs grew increasingly soft, as though they might give way any moment. For a moment, she had the strange feeling that Wei Ling might have slipped something into her drink. Otherwise, why did she feel like all her strength was draining away?

“Ah…”

As her thoughts ran wild, Qin Qingman stumbled and nearly lost her balance.

“Qingman.” Wei Ling, who had been focused entirely on her, immediately wrapped his arm around her waist to steady her.

This time, it felt different from any of the previous times he had held her waist.

In the past, his holds had always been for a reason, but this time, it was driven by their mutual thoughts, both of them caught in the moment.

As Wei Ling pulled her into his arms, Qin Qingman could feel his scent enveloping her completely, and she breathed it in deeply without hesitation. Being this close to him, she found herself unable to resist the magnetic pull of his masculinity.

Her heart raced faster, her face flushed redder, and even her eyes weren’t sure where to look. The closeness made her body tremble slightly in his arms.

Compared to Qin Qingman, Wei Ling was no better off at this moment.

Although he had lived in an era where polygamy was common, he had always been self-disciplined, training hard in martial arts, and had never had any female servants in his room. He had gone to the battlefield before even coming of age, surrounded by men, so this was the first time in both his lives that he had been so close to a woman.

As he held Qin Qingman, Wei Ling struggled to control the strength in his arms, trying not to hold her too tightly.

Because of his restraint, the temperature in his body was several degrees higher than usual, and his breath came out a little more quickly.

“Ah… Ah Ling…”

Qin Qingman was the first to regain some clarity, though still caught in the intensity of the moment. As she looked up, all she could see was the green of his military coat pressed against her cheek.

It was the deep green of his army uniform.

Hearing Qin Qingman’s soft call, Wei Ling let out a quiet hum. He knew that he should let go of her now, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He couldn’t bear to part with the softness of her body in his arms.

“Ah Ling, I’m hungry.”

Qin Qingman quickly shifted her focus. She knew they shouldn’t linger too long in the cold wilderness. In such extreme temperatures, hypothermia could set in without warning, and by the time they noticed, it would be too late.

The moment Qin Qingman mentioned being hungry, all the romantic thoughts in Wei Ling’s mind evaporated instantly.

He reluctantly released his embrace and, taking Qin Qingman’s hand, guided her forward. Ahead, the small shelter awaited them.

Although the hut was tiny, it would provide some shelter from the wind and rain.

The night before, Wei Ling and the others had spent the night here, and after a full day, the chilly air had stripped away the lingering smells inside.

When they opened the door, they were greeted by the sight of blackened firewood that had been burned in the small stove.

“Qingman, I have wheat in my bag. You start the fire, and I’ll go fetch some snow.” Wei Ling said, handing over the dry rations he had brought with him. He picked up a pot and headed toward the door to gather snow.

“Ah Ling.”

Qin Qingman caught hold of Wei Ling’s arm, as if she had something to say.

Wei Ling turned around, and both of them froze in place.

Wei Ling was tall, about 1.85 meters, and Qin Qingman was slightly shorter at 1.72 meters. The difference in their heights naturally led them to adjust when speaking—one would slightly lower their head while the other would look up.

In this moment, their positions coincidentally brought their faces together, and their lips brushed ever so briefly.