Jiang Xingyan’s mind went completely blank.
Huo Ci was too fast; she simply had no time to dodge.
Just as their lips were about to meet.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a flash of yellow crossed her vision. A talisman paper perfectly inserted itself between them.
Huo Ci’s kiss landed squarely on the talisman, and he instantly became still and obedient.
“Wow!”
A milky, childish voice rang out.
Yun Chunfeng had just arrived at the entrance, holding Xiao Ya, almost a step too late.
Xiao Ya covered her eyes with her chubby little hands.
However, the gaps between her fingers were wide, and one could still see her black grape-like eyes blinking.
Was this what that uncle meant by kissing?
Are children not supposed to see this?
Jiang Xingyan was both embarrassed and flustered. She turned to see the talisman pasted firmly on Huo Ci’s forehead. He was motionless, frozen in place.
He had finally settled down.
Though, it did look a bit odd.
Jiang Xingyan quickly withdrew her hand and escaped from his grasp.
“Brother Yun, it’s not what you think—this person is drunk and crazy—”
“Brother Yun knows.
Young Miss, Brother Yun knows everything.”
Seeing Yun Chunfeng’s heartbroken look with his lowered gaze, Jiang Xingyan felt awful inside.
Why did she feel this guilty, like she’d been caught doing something wrong?!
But the worst part was, she couldn’t offer him any comfort or compensation right now.
This damn body! When on earth can we swap back?!
“Brother Yun, I… I’ll call Qiu Yan and Dong Xue to come put Xiao Ya to bed. You should rest early too.”
She fled the tent like an escape and ran right into her four maids—Chun, Xia, Qiu, Dong—who had returned early.
Before she could give them more instructions, she was dragged away by a group of soldiers.
“General! We’ve long heard from the captains that you have a sea-like capacity for liquor! Today, the men insist on each toasting you a cup!”
“Yeah, General! Deputy General Xin said you get drunk after one cup, but I never believed it!”
“Me neither! Those who can fight have great tolerance, just look at our old General Huo!”
Soon, Jiang Xingyan was carried back to the tent by four soldiers.
Her alcohol tolerance was decent, but she was no match for the 100,000 soldiers of the Huo Army.
If each person offered a bowl of wine, she’d still owe 80,000 bowls.
She had been so infuriated by Huo Ci that she had agreed to such an unreasonable demand.
Yun Chunfeng shook his head helplessly. Better not use the Soul-Guiding Art tonight; let the Young Miss rest properly.
Just as he walked back to his own tent, a chilling gust of wind blew out the candle. In the flickering shadows, a graceful, slender figure appeared within the tent.
He was greatly alarmed: “Young Miss?!”
He immediately formed hand seals and chanted incantations, stabilizing Jiang Xingyan’s soul.
Jiang Xingyan was dizzy and disoriented, but her thoughts had been fixed on Yun Chunfeng. Somehow, she had wandered into his tent.
But she couldn’t speak or move. She could only vaguely see Yun Chunfeng’s anxious, concerned expression.
A living soul leaving the body was no trivial matter.
Even Yun Chunfeng only dared to confine a soul within a dream, and not for too long.
Now, with Huo Ci’s body dead drunk, the Young Miss’s soul had managed to slip free. If not returned swiftly, within a quarter of an hour, she would become a wandering ghost with no hope of return.
“Young Miss, return to your body at once!”
Beads of fine sweat broke out on Yun Chunfeng’s forehead.
But Jiang Xingyan’s soul didn’t want to leave.
Why was Brother Yun trying to send her away?
Perhaps he was still upset about the earlier misunderstanding.
Please let me explain, Brother Yun.
Jiang Xingyan opened her mouth but couldn’t make a sound.
What Yun Chunfeng saw was her soul flickering erratically.
It was a sign of a powerful, clinging attachment.
“Young Miss, don’t be anxious. Please return first. Would it be alright to meet Brother Yun in a dream?”
Jiang Xingyan understood this and nodded. Following Yun Chunfeng’s guidance, she moved towards Huo Ci’s body.
Only when she got close did she discover the body was no longer breathing. The soul couldn’t re-enter.
Yun Chunfeng’s nerves were stretched taut. Beads of sweat the size of beans dripped to the ground.
He reached through the air, grasped a wisp of Huo Ci’s remaining breath, and slowly channeled it into the body’s mouth.
The body suddenly took a sharp inhale. Jiang Xingyan’s soul followed that breath back to its proper place.
There was only a split second to spare.
Watching “Huo Ci” breathe steadily again, Yun Chunfeng’s heart finally settled back into place with a heavy thud.
His heart felt both sour and sweet. Did the Young Miss care for him this deeply?
Her attachment was so strong her soul could leave her body.
He ignored the weakness in his limbs and immediately performed the Soul-Guiding Art, entering the dream in an instant.
Someone immediately threw themselves into his arms.
“Brother Yun, don’t be angry with me.”
Yun Chunfeng, caught off-balance, was knocked to the ground by Jiang Xingyan. Lying there, they gazed into each other’s eyes, seeing nothing but unmistakable affection shining back.
Yun Chunfeng’s heart softened unbearably.
Before he could say anything, Jiang Xingyan’s rosy lips were already upon his.
Buzz!
Though it was just the briefest touch, like a dragonfly skimming water, it still left his mind blank and his heart skipping a beat.
This was the first time the Young Miss had taken the initiative to kiss him!
Jiang Xingyan’s face flushed with shyness. She couldn’t think of any other good way to reassure Brother Yun.
Too much explanation felt hollow. Direct, sincere action was better.
“Ah!”
Suddenly, her world spun.
Yun Chunfeng rolled over with Jiang Xingyan in his arms, pinning her beneath him.
“Brother Yun is grateful for the Young Miss’s favor.
Knowing not how else to repay it, I can only offer myself.”
He leaned down, bringing his lips close to Jiang Xingyan’s ear, and whispered with a breathy voice, “It’s my first time, you know.”