“My body is quite filthy; it seems I’ll have to find a place to wash.”
You’er cast his gaze downwards, assessing his current state before reaching this conclusion.
Indeed, he was utterly caked in grime.
Having just finished cleaning the squalid prison cell, his body was, needless to say, covered in dust, and a large patch of bloodstains from when the black spear pierced his chest still marred his skin, now beginning to reek.
He then looked towards Noelle Noah, lying on the bed.
The once pristine and beautiful girl was now equally grimy, her small face smudged with mud, resembling a little calico cat.
After all, she had sustained significant injuries back then.
Recalling the events of that time, You’er’s heart was gripped by a recurring pang of pain.
“My silly girl, if only you would take better care of yourself.”
You’er gently pinched Noelle Noah’s soft cheek, a tender smile unconsciously gracing his lips, before turning to ask Keane Coe Harrow.
“Keane Coe Harrow, did you find out if there’s a place to bathe nearby?”
“Bathe?! Boss, are you going to bathe?”
Upon hearing that word, Keane Coe Harrow’s eyes immediately lit up with an intense gleam.
How to describe it? Ah, yes, it was like a fervent devotee beholding their deity, but the object of his adoration was not Noelle Noah, but You’er himself, sending a shiver of revulsion down You’er’s spine.
‘Is there something wrong with this fellow?’ You’er mused, just as he considered conjuring an ice needle with his magic to poke Keane Coe Harrow, the man himself suddenly sprang to his feet.
“Yes, yes, yes! Hahaha, of course there is, and it’s spacious too! Boss, do you want to go wash now? Oh, no, please, you absolutely must go wash now! Please, you absolutely must wash with me… and the brothers!”
Keane Coe Harrow’s reaction was utterly exaggerated, his last sentence nearly betraying something, but the innocent You’er genuinely failed to grasp what he was trying to convey.
“Enough, whatever you’re thinking, just take us there quickly; Noelle Noah’s body also needs to be cleaned.”
You’er urged him impatiently, no longer wanting to bother with the man.
“Oh… I see, Big Sister-in-Law is washing too! Oh, hehe, hehe…” Upon hearing You’er say he would bring Noelle Noah, Keane Coe Harrow instantly deflated like a frostbitten eggplant.
If the boss was bringing his wife along, would he still wash with his brothers? The answer was obviously no!
Ultimately, You’er grandly ignored Keane Coe Harrow, picking up Noelle Noah and walking towards two other men: a pair of burly, dark-skinned brothers, Veron Toth and Vimay Toth, who had been imprisoned for repeatedly ambushing official roads as mountain bandits.
It was quite surprising, however, that their purpose in ambushing the official roads was to rob the rich and aid the poor.
Previously, when Noelle Noah was in danger, they were the first to step forward and block Quia and his faction, prompting You’er to specifically inquire about their names and reasons.
These two were quite formidable, both possessing the strength of intermediate sword apprentices, a level not far from You’er’s own, purely in terms of rank.
“Boss!” Seeing You’er approach, the Toth brothers respectfully bowed their heads.
“Lead me to the bathing place.”
You’er shook his head; he actually wasn’t particularly fond of being addressed in such a manner.
“Boss, this is it. Please enter!”
The Toth brothers led You’er to a rock cavern resembling a grotto, where an irregular, oval artificial trough had been carved out, filled with clear, cold underground spring water.
The water in this basin was replaced daily around six or seven o’clock, and undoubtedly, the underground spring water that had just been freshly filled was exceptionally clean.
“Guard this place; do not let anyone enter!”
Issuing this command with utmost caution, You’er carried Noelle Noah and stepped inside.
As a precaution, You’er expended some effort to conjure an ice wall, blocking the entrance so that no one outside could peer in.
“Noelle Noah, I’m going to take off your clothes now.”
Holding Noelle Noah, You’er sat by the edge of the spring.
He gently kissed her forehead, then proceeded to remove the cloak that enveloped her body, revealing her exquisitely beautiful face, capable of eclipsing all other beauty in the world.
Beneath Noelle Noah’s cloak was a tattered, plain blue and white dress, a detail You’er had long been aware of, just as he knew that before their meeting, Noelle Noah and her people had lived in seclusion within the mountains, hidden from the world.
You’er uttered the words symbolically, then gently untied the red cord at her waist.
He and Noelle Noah had long since established their relationship, and thus, You’er felt he could make decisions on her behalf.
As the red cord loosened, her garments slipped away, and her exquisite, captivating, jade-like body appeared before him for the second time, making it impossible for You’er to tear his gaze away for a long moment.
His wife, Noelle Noah, was beautiful beyond measure, always and everywhere.
Carefully folding Noelle Noah’s clothes, You’er then shed his own garments and plunged into the spring water.
Feeling the biting chill of the clear spring, You’er couldn’t help but frown.
As it was freshly drawn underground spring water, the temperature was exceptionally low.
You’er, possessing ice magic, naturally felt no fear of the cold, but Noelle Noah’s delicate body in her current state would be unable to withstand it.
“I’ve got it; let’s try this.”
Suddenly struck by an idea, You’er clapped his hands, then stood in the spring water and began to manipulate his magic.
Releasing ice magic would only make the water colder, a fact You’er was well aware of, so his method was to absorb rather than emit, drawing all the chill from the spring water into his own body.
Swiftly, the spring’s temperature gradually rose, becoming less biting, growing warmer, and ultimately, quite comfortable.
“It’s done!” You’er beamed, then hopped onto the bank and carefully lowered Noelle Noah into the water.
As his skin brushed against Noelle Noah’s, You’er suddenly felt his body grow several degrees warmer, a fire seemingly igniting within his heart.
Steam rose from the spring, perfectly obscuring Noelle Noah’s body below her collarbone, and for a fleeting moment, You’er felt a profound sense of wistful loss.
‘Noelle Noah is still asleep; even if I touch her, she won’t feel it, right?’
Gazing at Noelle Noah’s sweet, cherry-like cheeks, You’er swallowed with difficulty, a hint of guilt flickering across his face.
‘What are you thinking? What are you thinking, You’er! Even if she’s your wife, you absolutely cannot do such a thing to her while she’s completely unaware!’
Harboring this sense of impropriety, You’er reached out to Noelle Noah…
But precisely at that moment, Noelle Noah opened her beautiful eyes, which had been closed for so long.
And You’er’s mind, at that very instant, abruptly froze.
“Uh… Noelle Noah… I… I… just a little… that…”
Caught in the act, You’er froze, unable to utter a single coherent word for a long moment.
He wanted to explain, but with his hand still touching her, any explanation would surely be a death sentence!
Noelle Noah, as the “victim,” took a full few seconds to react, finally comprehending the strange situation.
You’er had fully expected Noelle Noah to be terrified, her face drained of color, or to reflexively slap him…
Yet, she did nothing of the sort. Her reaction completely defied You’er’s expectations; her strongest response was to lower her small head, covering her flushed face with her hands, neither struggling nor resisting, presenting an image of utter compliance.
Noelle Noah’s almost dotingly compliant reaction stirred a surge of guilt within You’er.
He found himself unable to proceed, gently pulled Noelle Noah’s small hands away, looked directly into her eyes, and softly confessed, “I’m sorry, Noelle Noah, I shouldn’t have done such a thing while you were unconscious!”
“No! I love you! I am yours to possess! I am your wife! Whatever you do to me, I will have no complaints or regrets!”
Noelle Noah leaned against You’er, her slender, jade-like fingers surfacing from the water to gently trace words on You’er’s chest.
“This warm spring was prepared with such care by my husband for me, wasn’t it? Noelle Noah is deeply moved. Thank you, husband!”
“Silly girl, why are you still saying such things to me?” You’er gently tapped Noelle Noah’s small nose.
Leaning against You’er’s chest, feeling the depth of his affection, Noelle Noah’s exquisite face flushed an even deeper crimson.
She wrote once more, “Husband… it’s alright, you know. Noelle Noah can accept it anytime…”