Huo Yuan’s mind was still in a daze.
Although Qianxing had previously told him that she had come to find her fated person at her master’s request, he had only assumed that she was an ordinary person from the deep mountains who knew a little about fortune-telling and such things.
There were plenty of strange people with unusual abilities among the common folk. During his time as a soldier, he had encountered quite a few strange incidents himself, so this was still within the range of what he could accept.
But a space that was no different from the outside world, and a soul that had crossed over from a dynasty called Great Xia that he had never even heard of?
Huo Yuan felt that he really hadn’t seen enough of the world.
“Hahahaha!”
It was rare to see Huo Yuan with such a stunned expression, so Qianxing laughed without holding back.
After she finished introducing everything inside the space, Huo Yuan finally came back to his senses.
The first thing he asked was:
“You just told me such a huge secret like that?”
Qianxing calmly nodded. “You’re the person I’m closest to besides my master. Was I supposed to hide it from you?”
It was so inconvenient to bathe here. If she had to boil water and bathe at home just to keep the Baojing a secret, then she might as well not have it at all. She would only be making things difficult for herself.
Besides, if the two of them lived together for a long time, it would be difficult to keep a secret like this hidden.
Huo Yuan was speechless.
He had never imagined that Qianxing would trust him so much.
“Enough, don’t overthink it. Even if you told other people about my Baojing, they couldn’t take it away. Besides, you wouldn’t tell anyone, right?”
Looking at the completely unguarded trust in her eyes, Huo Yuan instinctively nodded firmly.
“Even if they killed me, I wouldn’t reveal a single word.”
“That’s not necessary. None of these things are more important than our lives. Our lives are the most important thing.”
Ever since Qianxing met Huo Yuan, she had inexplicably felt that he was someone she could trust. Moreover, her master had given her the prophecy, and Heaven itself had chosen him as her fated person.
Surely her master wouldn’t choose someone who would betray her for her most beloved disciple?
Qianxing wasn’t worried at all.
“Come on, let’s soak in the hot spring. You first or me?”
Even though they were going to live together, Qianxing didn’t feel relaxed enough yet to soak in the hot spring together.
“You first.”
As soon as Huo Yuan finished speaking, a flash appeared before his eyes, and Qianxing returned to the room.
Regardless of how turbulent Huo Yuan’s emotions were outside, Qianxing herself happily soaked in the hot spring.
Only after getting dressed did she suddenly remember that she only had one change of clothes.
She would have to buy a few more sets another day.
She flashed out of the space and saw Huo Yuan sitting at the table, writing something.
“What are you writing?”
Qianxing curiously leaned over to look. The paper seemed to contain some sort of mission plan, though there were a few characters she couldn’t understand.
Huo Yuan didn’t hide it from her and answered frankly, “Your situation is extremely important. There are too many people here, and it isn’t safe. It would be safer if we moved to an independent courtyard.”
“The only way is for me to take on more missions and try to get promoted to regiment commander.”
Even becoming a deputy regiment commander would be enough to get an independent residence.
Qianxing’s eyes lit up. “I like having my own place! But don’t go anywhere for the time being.”
Huo Yuan looked at her in confusion.
“Don’t think I won’t know just because you don’t say anything. Those missions you go on must be dangerous. Wait until I make some medicine for you to keep on hand. No matter what you do, staying alive is the most important thing.”
Looking into Qianxing’s serious eyes, Huo Yuan felt as if his entire heart had been soaked in a hot spring, warm and comforted to the core.
“I know.”
Huo Yuan answered just as seriously.
Qianxing relaxed. She sent him, along with the clothes he had with him, into the space.
“Have a good soak. I’ll come get you in half an hour.”
Half an hour later, Qianxing kept her promise and entered the Baojing to bring Huo Yuan out.
After soaking for quite a while, Huo Yuan’s face had taken on a rare flush. His hair was slightly damp, making him look… even more handsome.
Qianxing once again marveled at Heaven’s taste in choosing her fated person.
After staring at him for a while, she pointed at the vat.
“Go buy another vat specifically for drinking water. I’ll add some spiritual liquid to it. It’ll be good for you to drink more of it from now on.”
“Okay. I’ll buy one tomorrow.”
“Oh, right. Where are your clothes?”
Why had he come out empty-handed?
Huo Yuan walked over and sat down on the bed.
“I washed them by the stream. I washed yours too. They’re hanging on the bamboo pole outside.”
Qianxing’s face reddened. “You didn’t have to wash mine…”
“It was just a matter of convenience. But you weren’t wearing…”
Huo Yuan hesitated as his gaze briefly swept toward Qianxing’s chest before immediately moving away.
“Why—”
Qianxing took a moment to understand what he meant, then immediately pounced on him and covered his mouth.
“Don’t say it!”
Although she was thin, she was still an adult. Huo Yuan hadn’t been prepared for her sudden attack and was knocked backward onto the bed.
He raised his head and looked at the flustered, exasperated expression of the woman pinning him down.
“Your mother—no, Liu Hongxia didn’t prepare that many clothes after she picked me up…”
The original body was thin, and the weather was still cool. If she didn’t wear an undergarment, no one would notice anyway.
A faint smile appeared in Huo Yuan’s eyes.
“Got it. I’ll accompany you to buy some later.”
“Mm. We still need to buy lots of things for the house.”
“Okay. Get off me first.”
Huo Yuan was pinned beneath her, and he couldn’t exactly push her away recklessly. He could barely move.
Qianxing looked down and only then realized that the two of them were currently lying on top of each other while talking.
She hurriedly pushed herself up and rolled to the other side of the bed, her voice filled with unmistakable embarrassment.
“I’m going to sleep. Go turn off the light.”
Huo Yuan obediently turned off the light.
Feeling the breathing of another person beside him, he also felt rather uncomfortable. He coughed lightly and found a topic to talk about.
“Do you know anything about your origins?”
Qianxing shook her head.
Only after looking into the darkness did she remember that Huo Yuan couldn’t see her shaking her head, so she said:
“I don’t know. I don’t have the original body’s memories. But either the original owner died and I happened to take her place, or I’m simply the fragment of soul she was missing. My master would never have allowed me to steal the body of someone who was still alive just so I could resurrect myself.”
“And in either case, I didn’t inherit the original owner’s memories. I don’t know where my parents are. I’ll just leave it to fate.”
That was what her master loved telling her most.
When the time came, perhaps she would be able to meet them.
Huo Yuan thought about it for a while and still found it incredible.
“I’ll try to ask around and see if anyone in that area has reported a missing daughter.”
“Mm. There’s no rush.”
After Qianxing finished speaking, the two fell silent again.
Before long, Huo Yuan said softly, “It’s getting late. Go to sleep.”
Qianxing hummed in response.
Suddenly, the hand resting at her side was grasped by a rough, warm palm.
The restless feeling in her heart from earlier suddenly settled down.
She curved her lips, returned the squeeze, and closed her eyes.
Just before falling into a deep, sweet sleep, Qianxing’s final thought was:
His hands are so dry. Mine are too.
She would have to make some face cream and hand cream.
…
The next day, sunlight streamed through the window. It was a beautiful day.
When Qianxing woke up, the blanket beside her had already gone cold.
She got up and saw that a new enamel basin, toothbrush, towel, and other toiletries had already been placed on the washstand in the corner.
While she was still staring blankly, Huo Yuan came in from the balcony.
“I forgot to buy them last night. I went out to buy them this morning.”
Qianxing carried the things outside to the water basin in the corridor to wash up.
Fortunately, perhaps because this was a military base, even the corridors and toilets were kept very clean.
But washing up outside still made her feel as if she were doing it in front of a crowd. Qianxing really wasn’t used to it, so she hurriedly finished and went back inside.
Huo Yuan was just about to leave.
“The meat is being delivered soon. I’m going to buy some. Are you coming?”
Qianxing shook her head and gave him a sly smile.
“There’ll definitely be a lot of people. I don’t want to squeeze through the crowd. Buy as much as you can. Get whatever cuts they have—I’m not picky.”
“Okay. Oh, right. I forgot to give you this yesterday.”
Huo Yuan took an iron box out of the cabinet.