A thick fog suddenly swept across the entire area.
Ji Chaoxi could no longer see Ye Jiming, nor could she see the ice arrows behind her.
She stood still, slowly closing her eyes.
She waited for the pain of death to pierce through her body.
One second.
Two seconds.
Nothing came.
Confused, she opened her eyes again.
A familiar figure suddenly appeared in front of her. Her waist was seized, and she was forced backward, slamming into something solid like a wall.
She instinctively grabbed his arm and looked up in panic.
A pair of eyes met hers—furious, dark, and filled with a murderous intent that seemed ready to tear her apart.
Ye Jiming grabbed her throat with one hand and leaned in.
His voice was freezing.
“Ji Chaoxi… you want to die? Without my permission, you dare to die? Even if you die, you’ll only die by my hand.”
He suddenly bit down on her pale lips.
Ruthless.
Like an enraged wolf pushed to the edge.
Ji Chaoxi struggled slightly, but his arm around her waist was like iron clamps. The wound on her side tightened painfully, though soft wood-type energy wrapped around it, preventing blood from flowing.
She didn’t want to feel pain anymore.
So she stopped struggling.
Somewhere on the ground, a thick black blanket appeared. Their clothes were half-disordered.
Her injured side was slowly healing, new pink flesh regenerating.
A faint gray-black mist spread across the wound, leaving behind a strange mark—like a name… or a black butterfly ready to take flight.
“Ji Chaoxi… this is the last time. If you dare try to die again, I’ll make sure you die right here…”
His voice was ruthless, but his fingers brushing the edge of her wound were unexpectedly gentle.
Ji Chaoxi frowned, biting hard into her own lip, trying to endure the trembling sensation spreading from her waist.
Her gaze drifted to a button lying on the ground.
Ye Jiming grew irritated at her distant expression and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.
“No biting. Not allowed.”
Ji Chaoxi didn’t comply.
The next moment, her eyes widened involuntarily as a soft sound escaped her lips.
The strange sensation in her chest forced her to release her bite on her lip.
Satisfied, Ye Jiming lowered his head and kissed her.
Then tilted his neck toward her lips.
“Bite here.”
The line of his neck was long and beautifully defined as he tilted it.
Ji Chaoxi hesitated for only a second before biting down.
Too hard.
Ye Jiming let out a muffled groan, and she immediately loosened her bite in panic.
But he actually laughed.
The madness inside him eased slightly.
“My wife is so obedient. Bite again.”
His voice was hoarse, laced with something dangerously seductive.
Ji Chaoxi’s ears burned. She bit him again—this time controlling her strength.
The thick gray-black fog appeared again, then vanished just as quickly.
The traces of battle on the road disappeared completely, as if nothing had ever happened.
Inside an empty house, Ji Chaoxi bit her lip and pleaded softly.
“Don’t… don’t kiss there.”
The skin where her wound had fully healed was now extremely thin and sensitive.
Wet, soft contact sent electric waves through her body, making her tremble uncontrollably.
Ye Jiming did not stop.
Her pleading sounds only fueled him further, and he kissed the sensitive skin even harder.
His long fingers wandered, deliberately stirring trouble.
Ji Chaoxi panicked, helpless and frustrated. She bit his neck, leaving several bite marks.
By late afternoon, she was completely drained, leaning against his chest, exhausted and hungry.
“Why did you save me?” Ye Jiming asked, his fingers lightly tracing the faint gray-black mark on her wound.
His tone was calm, but she could hear the implication—settling accounts afterward.
After thinking for two seconds, she asked softly, “Why couldn’t I save you?”
Ye Jiming replied coldly, “Because I’m just your dog. Since when does a master risk her life for a dog?”
Ji Chaoxi blinked.
“Before the apocalypse, dogs were humanity’s most loyal companions. So they should be saved.”
Something caught in his throat.
Ye Jiming laughed in anger. He pinched her lips lightly.
“You really are good at talking.”
Ji Chaoxi turned her head away slightly.
She almost said dogs wouldn’t act so disrespectfully toward their master.
But she didn’t.
She didn’t dare.
“Where are Wei Long and the others?” she changed the subject.
Ye Jiming answered casually.
“Dead.”
Ji Chaoxi was surprised, immediately guessing that the fog earlier was his ability. Yet she still couldn’t sense any energy fluctuations from it.
As for Wei Long’s group—there was no need to ask further.
Of course they were dead.
Killed by the villain. Naturally.
She even felt a strange curiosity.
Would it hurt? Would it be instant?
Maybe she hoped her own death would also be painless.
She went silent for a long time.
Ye Jiming lifted her chin.
“Don’t be afraid. As long as you behave, I won’t let you die… for now.”
Ji Chaoxi gave a small obedient “mm.”
She suddenly realized something.
Ye Jiming knew she wasn’t afraid of death.
That was why he used humiliating ways to torment her.
Thinking back, she really had been frightened by him the night before. She had expected him to force things despite her injuries—but he hadn’t gone all the way.
Her gaze drifted to his neck and shoulders.
Bite marks she had left earlier were still there.
Instinctively, she raised her hand and activated her healing ability.
When Ye Jiming noticed, the marks had already vanished.
His face darkened instantly.
He lowered his head and bit her neck again.
Ji Chaoxi hissed softly but didn’t move.
Bite after bite, things slowly changed again.
“Ye Jiming… I’m hungry,” she finally said.
From last night until now, after fighting, she was truly starving.
He paused, frowned, and bit her neck once more before letting go.
Then he stood up.
Only then did Ji Chaoxi notice—his injuries were completely gone.
Not a single scar remained.
She glanced at him once, then quickly looked away, her cheeks faintly red.
She had seen his body before—when she humiliated him.
Every inch had once been familiar in cruelty.
But now… it felt entirely different.
“Ye Jiming… I’m sorry,” she said again sincerely.
He paused slightly while dressing, then continued and wrapped her in a blanket.
He lifted her into his arms.
They walked out of the empty house, through the streets, and headed home.
Ji Chaoxi curled quietly in his arms, watching the fading sunset.
Another day survived, she thought.
Another day earned.