Help! The Villainess Trapped in the Beast World's Drama!

Chapter 1053: Chapter 767: Eagle: Deep Love 100!_3

Lu Xiao didn’t say anything, he just tightened his arms around her.

After a moment of quiet, his fingers gently lifted her chin, his gaze falling on the marks on her neck.

Those bluish-purple bruises had faded a lot, but you could still see them.

"Does it still hurt?" His voice was a little hoarse.

Shen Tang touched her neck and shook her head. "It stopped hurting long ago. I have a Healing Ability, did you forget?"

Of course Lu Xiao hadn’t forgotten.

But he also knew there were some wounds the Healing Ability couldn’t erase.

His fingertips slid down along her cheek and fell onto her cracked lips, gently rubbing once.

"These past few days... you haven’t really eaten properly."

Shen Tang blinked guiltily. "...I forgot."

Lu Xiao let out a helpless sigh.

Shen Tang hurriedly changed the subject. "Are you hungry? I’ve got food!"

She fumbled around in the Space and pulled out the System reward, an Advanced Survival Resource Pack. When she opened it, her eyes lit up.

It was packed full of all sorts of things—clean water, fresh Beast meat, vegetables and fruits, sealed cooked dishes, and even several cans of hot soup.

"Wow..." Shen Tang cradled a can of soup, touched the side of the can—it was still warm. "The System is pretty generous this time."

She opened the lid, and a rich aroma instantly spread, making her stomach growl loudly.

Shen Tang’s face flushed red. She snuck a glance at Lu Xiao.

Lu Xiao’s lips curved slightly. He took the can of soup, warmed it further with his superpower, and brought it to her lips.

"Drink some soup first."

Shen Tang held the can and took a sip. The warm broth slid down her throat, her stomach turning cozy and warm, so comfortable she narrowed her eyes.

"You drink too." She pushed the can toward him.

Lu Xiao didn’t refuse. He drank a mouthful straight from her hands.

The two of them just took turns, one sip then the other, and finished the can of soup. Then they took out some cooked food and fruits, sitting in the cave and eating at a slow, leisurely pace.

Sunlight slanted in through the cave entrance, falling at their feet.

Shen Tang was chewing on a piece of fruit when she suddenly turned her head to look at Lu Xiao.

"What is it?" he asked.

Shen Tang tilted her head and sized him up for quite a while, then suddenly said, "You seem... stronger."

Lu Xiao paused for a moment, then smiled. "You noticed."

He put down the food in his hand, spread his palm, and a wisp of bluish-green airflow spiraled upward, gathered without dispersing. It was thicker and more solid than before, carrying an extreme, steady pressure.

"Breaking Yuan Rank," Lu Xiao said lightly. "All thanks to Return Nest."

Shen Tang’s eyes widened.

The System popped up right on cue, its voice tinged with admiration: [The fact that he survived Return Nest at all is already a miracle. This thing’s mortality rate is close to one hundred percent. Of all the Beastmen who have ever triggered Return Nest, not a single one has managed to endure it.]

[But he made it through.]

[Willpower is part of it. The other part...] The System paused, its tone turning soft and fluffy. [Is thanks to the Host. If the Host hadn’t stayed with him, he probably wouldn’t have lasted till the end.]

[Return Nest is the kind of thing where, if you get through it, you’re reborn. His body went through all that, and instead it broke past his former bottleneck and shot straight up to Breaking Yuan Rank.]

[You could say it was a blessing in disguise.]

After listening, Shen Tang’s eyes curved into crescent moons. She pounced forward and wrapped her arms around Lu Xiao’s neck. "Congratulations!"

Lu Xiao was knocked back a little by her pounce. He hurriedly reached out to support her waist and let out a low chuckle.

"Why are you thanking me? You’re the one who endured it," Shen Tang said with perfect confidence.

Lu Xiao looked at her, those dark-gold eyes in the morning light warm like melting amber.

"Because of you," he said.

Shen Tang froze for an instant.

Lu Xiao didn’t explain further. He just lowered his head, pressing his forehead to hers. Their breaths mingled, warm and damp.

"Thank you, Tangtang."

Shen Tang blinked, then suddenly leaned in and pecked his lips.

"You’re welcome."

Lu Xiao was stunned for a second by her kiss, then his lips curled up and he drew her into his arms.

The two of them just leaned against each other like that, neither saying a word.

The sunlight inched further and further in, making the cave bright and clear. Outside, a bird called once, then again, its crisp cries sounding as if they’d been washed in water.

Shen Tang rested in Lu Xiao’s arms, listening to his heartbeat, feeling like these seven days had been one long, long dream.

In the dream it was dark, it hurt, and it was miserable.

But when she woke up, he was there.

That was enough.

——

Just as the two of them were snuggled together, Shen Tang even feeling a little drowsy—

"Look, there’s a cave over here!"

A rough voice came from the direction of the cave entrance, mixed with chaotic footsteps.

"Let’s hurry over and take a break. I’ve been walking for three days and nights, my legs are about to fall off."

Shen Tang’s body instantly went taut.

Lu Xiao’s reaction was even faster. He grabbed Shen Tang and pulled her behind him, one palm pressed to the rock wall as he turned his head to listen.

The footsteps weren’t from just one person.

At least three or four, and they were heading deeper into the cave.

"This place is remote enough, there probably won’t be any wild beasts, right?"

"Even if there are, I’ll chop them down one by one."

The voices were getting closer and closer; they could already see flickering torchlight.

Shen Tang and Lu Xiao exchanged a glance.

Lu Xiao didn’t speak. He just gripped her wrist a little tighter. His palm was dry and warm, full of reassuring strength.