Chapter 566: Chapter 550: This Seat Rewards You

“Phew…”

San Niang had just sipped her drink when she heard the words and spit it all out.

Originally, she thought he would surely speak about chivalry, about the common folk on the island… instead, he said “Yes.”

Yes, for you.

Under these circumstances, San Niang had reason to suspect he was just sweet-talking.

However, Zhao Changhe wasn’t just spouting sweet nothings; he had thought long and hard before speaking, certain it was his true feeling.

Chivalry isn’t shown recklessly to just anyone. He wasn’t familiar with the pirates, and since they were pirates, one couldn’t expect all were ‘noble thieves’; they likely weren’t strangers to wrongdoing. Had it not been for knowing these were San Niang’s men, why would he have gotten so involved? Even risking his own life nearly to the point of peril.

So it was truly for San Niang—this was the fact.

Of course, originally it meant showing loyalty to San Niang, but given the current mood, it turned rather sugary, much like sweet nothings to commence an offensive.

Zhao Changhe knew the effect it would have; he shouldn’t have said it, yet he blurted it out after holding it back for so long.

One could only say that his heart was stirred, cursed by this moonlight.

San Niang coughed incessantly for a long while, not quite knowing what to say, and the two silently watched the bonfire. Both reached out to add firewood, as if having something to do with their hands could alleviate the awkwardness.

But the sound of their heartbeats in the silent night, each wave making it clearer.

Having held back for quite a while, Zhao Changhe finally managed a compensatory phrase, “The Venerable is my superior, after all… your matters are naturally my matters.”

San Niang stared at him for a long moment, then deadpan said, “Very well, you will be richly rewarded upon our return.”

Zhao Changhe thought, you might as well reward me now, but the words never made it past his lips.

“Alright, it’s getting late,” San Niang suddenly said. “You’ve heard my story, now it’s time for my meditation. You will protect me.”

The story wasn’t really finished; how they got involved with the Bandit Brothers again, what plans they had next.

However, time was ample, and the story indeed could pause here, the atmosphere was off… Zhao Changhe nodded, “Alright.”

San Niang looked at him distrustfully, her lips moving awkwardly for a while before she warned, “Don’t take the opportunity to cop a feel.”

Zhao Changhe couldn’t be bothered to argue.

If he wanted to touch, he could do it now. Your injury isn’t healed, and it’s still ‘hot’.

San Niang pouted, tossed the liquor gourd back to him, and then leaned against the giant octopus, closing her eyes to regulate her breathing.

It seemed as if with that “Yes,” the atmosphere had suddenly changed, even closing her eyes began to feel somewhat frantic—it definitely wasn’t like this before…

“Boom!”

Thunder unexpectedly roared in the sky.

The two looked up and muttered, this isn’t good.

The gentle moonlight had just been there, but who knew when it had hidden behind thick clouds, lightning illuminating the night sky, looking ready to rain.

“Swish!” San Niang’s casually draped coat was blown open by a fierce gust, revealing a patch of white once more.

Zhao Changhe: “…”

San Niang frantically closed her clothes, “What should we do?”

What could they do…

They had finally managed to light the fire, hoping for a peaceful night of drinks and recovery, but this sudden storm seemed poised to ruin everything.

There was absolutely no shelter on the island, were they to crawl inside the octopus carcass? Disgusting, and besides, the body would start to stink and rot after a while; it was never intended for anything more than a temporary windbreak, planning to be pushed into the sea the next day.

What could they do about this downpour now? They couldn’t even keep the fire…

It was really blame on inexperience for not considering to preemptively construct a shelter.

Zhao Changhe suddenly jumped up, searching around.

“Splash…” The rain quickly turned into a downpour, instantly extinguishing the bonfire; both become drenched.

After searching in the rain, Zhao Changhe saw an irregular slab of stone. Planting the Dragon Sparrow beside the stone and levering it forcefully, he pried the stone off the ground and then, with a burst of strength, flipped the stone over, carrying it on his back.

With a shout, he hoisted the huge stone entirely.

San Niang, dazed, watched him stagger through the rain bearing the stone, which he leaned against a large boulder nearby, forming a triangular shelter.

Zhao Changhe turned around and flashed a smile, “Come.”

San Niang, with mixed emotions, bent down and crawled in. Outside, the rain poured incessantly, and the shelter beneath the stone didn’t entirely block out the wind and rain, which pelted in from all sides, creating a mess.

Zhao Changhe continued searching, moving another stone to block the wind.

Rain still managed to get in, but it was much better now.

He found some smaller stones to barely block the places where the wind was leaking, creating a crude shelter from the wind and rain.

He moved to the uncovered “entrance” and peeked through, smiling, “It’s alright now. Hmm… we probably can’t start a fire… but you’re not as frail as before. Start meditating, I’ll keep watch.”

After a pause, he added, “It’s best if you take off your clothes. I won’t look… although it’s not like I haven’t seen before…”

San Niang pursed her lips, silently took off her clothes, and laid them aside, her expression complex as she watched him guard the entrance.

The stone slab above had its limits in size, he sat on the edge, covering only a small part. Most of him was exposed to the stormy rain, but he sat without moving, steadfast as a mountain.

It was infuriating, actually, she only needed to meditate through the night to recover mostly by herself, yet before dawn, they had to be in such a sorry state.

But he was always so dependable, looking at his broad back brought her inexplicable peace.

Even though there were drafts everywhere, even though it was extremely simple, it still felt like home.

What is home?

A little shelter from the wind and rain, with a little pig beneath.

San Niang felt that ever since they had been stranded here, she felt she was being treated like a little pig by him, and he was like an irreplaceable pillar of the household everywhere.

She cherished this feeling… it was like returning to her childhood, although wandering through the seas with the Pirate Group, there was a place to call home.

Then there was nothing, only endless waves and miles of sand.

The rain beat mercilessly on his face and body, flowing down his resolute features and along his well-built physique, like the most beautiful statue.

San Niang kept watching him, then softly said, “Actually, you could come in… if we squeeze a bit, there’s room for two.”

Zhao Changhe hesitated, then looked at the stone slab.

The stone slab was not large at all, leaning against the rock, just enough to shelter one person from the rain. It would indeed be tight.

San Niang scooted inside and said softly, “Come.”

Without fuss, Zhao Changhe moved in.

The two clung tightly together, baring their bodies, seeking warmth in the drafty shelter.

After a short while, Zhao Changhe felt uncomfortable and naturally reached over, pulling San Niang into his arms.

San Niang quietly rested in his embrace, the two held each other gently, silent for a moment.

But their heartbeats quickened, it seemed as if they could hear each other’s breath quicken.

Almost instinctively, Zhao Changhe slowly lowered his head and lightly kissed San Niang’s smooth forehead.

San Niang pursed her lips, but said nothing.

His boldness grew, he continued to kiss downward, his hands starting to wander.

San Niang quickly grabbed his misbehaving hand.

The movement stopped for a moment, tensely.

Realizing she was just holding his hand still, not shoving it away, Zhao Changhe became bolder, his lips started moving downward again, kissing her face.

San Niang’s eyelashes trembled slightly, her tone a bit indifferent, “Have you thought this through?”

Zhao Changhe momentarily hesitated, clenched his teeth, even if you beat me, I can’t hold back anymore.

His lips kept searching downward, finally reaching the edges of San Niang’s lips.

San Niang knew it was just desire and not emotion. It’s hard for anyone to resist under such circumstances, it’s normal, unless he’s really a eunuch.

But what about herself?

She had no resistance, was it also because of human biological instincts?

The moment she let him in, didn’t she know what would happen?

Was she rewarding him? Or because something in her heart had been touched, still causing ripples that couldn’t fade.

Thoughts flashed, San Niang didn’t have time to sort through her feelings before their lips completely met.

San Niang trembled as if electrified and finally spoke her last words, “Venerable rewards you.”

The next instant, all words were sealed thoroughly, the Room Fire Pig held Xuanwu in a kiss that blurred heaven and earth.

“Boom!” Thunder roared in the sky, as if heaven itself was enraged.