Chapter 20: The Lake

The girl was sitting on a wooden log, submerged in the lake water. Fei Yu was in front of her, dipped in the water. Only his face and bare shoulders were visible. His long black hair was tied up in a bun on his head. He had already checked on her wounds and forbade her to get into the water.

So, she sat there, watching the trees on the horizon, wearing a white piece of cloth, which clung to her wet body like a second skin. Once she was comfortable being naked… perhaps because she was less civilized then. Now anyone could pop up at any moment—the legionaries, the dynastian guerrilla, or a mere wanderer. Or perhaps the half-naked angel in front of her was the reason for her discomfort.

"Don't you feel pain, Red?" Fei Yu asked because there was no trace of pain on her face.

"I feel less…"

Fei Yu walked through the water towards her and his body gradually became visible with his every slow step. They watched each other's bare skin under bright daylight for the first time. He stopped where her legs were submerged. She could see the white cloth wrapped around his groin through the clear water. And he could see the faint resemblance of her bare legs under the water.

Fei Yu pressed his hand on her thigh. It wasn't a touch of professionalism. It was something else. The girl curiously watched him, extending the silence. His hands glided through her legs, exploring every inch. Something on her legs made him frown. He lifted her leg to observe the grove.

She retrieved it underwater as soon as he pulled it out. Insecurities crawled up inside her.

"It's okay… let me see…" he said with utmost softness.

Red's expression softened. Fei Yu lifted both of her legs and pressed those together. Several parallel scars revealed themselves.

"Guandao…?"

"I was a bit noob dealing dynast's lower attacks. Those were the trickiest. Now I know their every move." She walked with this wound from Falcon Gorge to their camp, trying to suppress the limping. No legionary offered any help. She wouldn't accept any either. Her comrades were wounded as well. Only the unharmed captive, June was throwing her sympathetic look.

He watched the curves intensely. "These are done by no ordinary guandao…" he spoke to himself.

"Deng Rao gave me these."

"Deng Rao? You fought with Deng Rao?"

"Yeah."

"How are you still alive?"

"What?" Red laughed. "Serge told me to spear his life."

"You defeated him?" he spoke with unbelief. "You defeated Deng Rao!"

"I was surprised too."

"You deserve to be the champion…"

Her heart didn't flutter. She didn't want to be a part of the entertainment.

"Do you know, when I first saw you, I didn't believe it was your real hair color." Fei Yu brushed her leg hair, which was a few shades lighter than her hair.

First saw… in the spring water… naked… Red blushed and took away her legs into the water, splashing water everywhere. She never shaved her leg hair.

"Hey, these are not ugly…" He lifted her legs again. "the scars… the hair… The girls here have dark hair, which looks a bit nasty on their legs. But red hair is somewhat… aesthetic." He lifted his gaze from her legs to her and noticed her nipples had hardened and were clearly visible through the transparent wet cloth.

Resist… not appropriate… Her wounds might bleed… Her wounds seem to be healed… Just a kiss… just some careful touch? His expression hardened as he fought with himself.

The girl could see where his gaze had settled. She had an intense urge to cover her breasts with her hands or peel off the cloth, exposing it for his hands. But she did nothing. She told herself he was wounded. What if his situation worsened?

Fei Yu came closer as he convinced himself that he would be soft. He knelt on a lower wooden log of the submerged wooden stair, settling him between her legs.

She could see the bulge beneath his abdomen through the water. As his hand glided up to the breast and his lips touched her neck, she said, "Fei Yu. Are you done washing yourself? Then we might move." She gently pushed him away.

"Move where? My sparrow hasn't fetched the location yet." His thumb brushed her nipple.

She flinched as a wave of pleasure spread through her chest.

He forced a kiss on her neck, pressing his bulge against her groin.

"Fei Yu, we shouldn't do this."

"We're not doing anything…"

"You are stimulating me," she said in a cold voice.

"Don't worry. I can give you orgasms without penetrating you." His hand reached for her clit as he nuzzled her neck. He wouldn't dare to do anything because he didn't think of bringing 'protection' in a war….

Before she could further argue, he pressed a kiss on her lips. A rough, demanding kiss. The girl's hand explored his back, shoulders then his head. She untied his bun and let his hair flow on his back.

Fei Yu grabbed her hair and forced her to face the bright sky, straightening her throat. His kiss slid down from her chin to her chest, lapping the water drops on her throat. He pulled down the cloth around her breast with his teeth and kissed.

He kissed and kissed until he felt out of breath. "Promise me, Red. When the war will be done and everything will be fine, you'll come back to me! Promise me, you'll find me!" He was panting heavily. The pain in his chest increased.

"I will… if I survive…"

"You have to survive…" He bit her nipple.

"Aah!" she moaned.

"Promise me!" He bit her again.

"I promise…"

Taking a painful deep breath, he dived into the water and lifted her waist.

"Hey!" She almost lost balance.

Fei Yu kissed the lotus between her legs underwater. His tongue almost slipped inside her.

"Fei Yu, get out of the water. If you want to do something, then do it on the ground!"

He couldn't hear her muffled sound. However, he had to stop because his lungs didn't support the stunt. He came out of the water, panting hard. His lips swelled up, hot and red. His sleek black hair clung to his face. Red's breath hitched and she forgot what she was about to say.

"Let's go back to our meadow…," he said.

Fei Yu took her to their camp and spread a sheet. Ignoring the pain around his chest, he got into his unfinished job. He hungrily kissed her core, dipping his tongue inside her. Before he could do something more, he was interrupted by his bird, which soared through the air and perched on his back, covered with his wet hair. It brought June's reply.