Chapter 261: Feng Qiwu's Hot Spring Invitation

Chapter 261: Chapter 260: Feng Qiwu’s Hot Spring Invitation

“You’re too kind.”

Chu Liangyu certainly wouldn’t turn down offerings from those willing to give them. All in all, she quite liked the atmosphere of the banquet.

The Beastmen weren’t in the habit of staying up late, so the banquet dispersed before it got too late.

Chu Liangyu stretched and started walking toward her courtyard.

But just then, someone grabbed her arm.

“Female Master, don’t be in such a hurry to leave. I’m taking you somewhere.”

Feng Qiwu’s secretive demeanor piqued Chu Liangyu’s curiosity.

She asked, “Where are you taking me?”

Perhaps from all the wine he had drunk, Feng Qiwu’s face was flushed red. Even the corners of his eyes seemed to be tinged with the same color, carrying a hazy, drunken air.

He made a shushing gesture, then glanced around. Seeing that no one was following them, he took Chu Liangyu’s hand and started walking in a specific direction.

“I discovered a beautiful place while I was searching for the cubs. I was disappointed you hadn’t come.”

At this, Feng Qiwu paused and turned back to look at her. “But thankfully, you changed your mind. This is the perfect chance to show it to you.”

“A beautiful place? Here?”

The Southern Barbarian Land was known for being barren, its plants and trees not nearly as lush as in other regions. Chu Liangyu couldn’t imagine there being any scenic spots here.

But Feng Qiwu didn’t look like he was lying, so her anticipation grew.

“It is. You’ll understand once we’re there.”

Feng Qiwu led her by the hand at a leisurely pace. In any case, she had nothing else to do, so Chu Liangyu wasn’t in a hurry.

The forest was cold and so dark you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. With the occasional cry of a wild beast, it was hardly the picture of romance.

‘Back when she was weaker, she would have already started searching for a safe cave to take shelter in. She would’ve had no desire to go for a leisurely stroll in the woods.’

As she marveled at the change, Chu Liangyu understood that this was a perk her newfound strength afforded her.

After walking for a little while, Feng Qiwu finally realized just how dark it was.

“Fire Spirit.”

Although they could see perfectly in the dark, walking like this on a date felt more like a clandestine affair.

Fortunately, he had his Fire Spirit. It could come out to provide some light and help set the mood.

This was the first time Chu Liangyu got a good look at his Fire Spirit. It was a delicate Phoenix, a perfect miniature of his true form.

Unlike her Thunder Spirit, this Fire Spirit was one of the Talent Skills Feng Qiwu had awakened after advancing in power—something he had cultivated himself.

Although it wasn’t as powerful as Chu Liangyu’s Thunder Spirit, the degree of tacit understanding the Fire Spirit shared with its master was something her Thunder Spirit couldn’t match.

The moment the Fire Spirit appeared, it rushed over to Chu Liangyu. It landed on her shoulder and began to nuzzle her affectionately, its behavior a spitting image of Feng Qiwu’s own.

Even though it was his own Fire Spirit, Feng Qiwu was instantly annoyed to see it getting so familiar with Chu Liangyu.

He reached out his free hand toward the Fire Spirit and gave it a light flick with his index finger. The spirit was sent flying like a speck of dust, wobbling as it drifted into the distance.

“Female Master, don’t mind it. I let it out to provide some light, but all it wants to do is play.”

Chu Liangyu fell silent. ‘Now I think I understand why Yu He called him petty,’ she thought. ‘He’s even jealous of his own Fire Spirit.’

‘This guy… No wonder Yu He said that about him.’

Feng Qiwu seemed to guess what she was thinking. “Female Master, what’s with that look on your face?” he asked, his tone full of grievance.

“AHEM… It’s nothing. I’m just curious about what kind of place you’re taking me to.”

Chu Liangyu coughed to hide her awkwardness, quickly changing the subject to distract him.

“We’re almost there.”

Feng Qiwu squeezed her hand. After walking a little further, he stopped. “Female Master, close your eyes. I’ll lead you inside.”

Chu Liangyu didn’t ask any questions, obediently closing her eyes and letting Feng Qiwu lead her forward.

With her eyes closed, Chu Liangyu’s other senses sharpened. She could distinctly feel more stones under her feet.

After a RUSTLE, Feng Qiwu pushed aside some bushes. Finally, he said, “Female Master, lower your head.”

Chu Liangyu lowered her head as instructed and let him lead her a few more steps before Feng Qiwu finally stopped.

“All right, Female Master. You can open your eyes now.”

Her eyes hadn’t been closed for long, but her vision was still blurry for a moment when she opened them.

She blinked instinctively, and once her vision cleared, she began to take in the surrounding scenery.

Even though it was night, the cave was brightly lit. The walls were covered with red, butterfly-shaped crystals, and clusters of red flowers grew tenaciously from the cracks between them.

The flower petals resembled those of a peach blossom but were far more vibrant. They swayed in the air like the resident sprites of this place.

Moreover, crystalline dewdrops clung to the center of the stamens, reflecting the light and making the flowers seem all the more exquisite.

Faintly, Chu Liangyu detected a sweet yet alluring fragrance filling the space. She didn’t need to guess its source.

“So? What do you think?”

Chu Liangyu had been so engrossed that she had almost forgotten someone was with her. The voice brought her back to reality.

“It’s truly beautiful here!”

Feng Qiwu chuckled. “This is just the surface,” he said. “There’s something even more interesting.”

Meeting Chu Liangyu’s questioning gaze, Feng Qiwu offered no explanation. Instead, he simply raised his hands and clapped lightly.

Instantly, the crisp sound of his clap echoed through the narrow space, the sound reverberating for a long time.

Chu Liangyu’s eyes were still filled with confusion, but before she could voice her question, the sight before her made the words die in her throat.

The things she had thought were red, butterfly-shaped crystals… had started to move!

The butterflies fluttered down like falling petals, revealing a mural painted on the walls they had been clinging to!

It depicted none other than the very flowers growing from the wall, painted so lifelike that it was hard to tell which ones were real.

Every corner of the cave was painted with these flowers. Accompanied by the lingering floral fragrance, it felt like being immersed in a sea of blossoms.

“Female Master, these are for you.”

At some point, Feng Qiwu had picked a large bouquet of the flowers. He walked up to Chu Liangyu and, grinning, handed it to her.

“They’re beautiful!”

This was the first time a Beast Husband had ever given her flowers. Chu Liangyu was in a wonderful mood, and she made sure to praise him as she took them.

“At first, I also thought they were Crystal Stones,” he explained. “I only discovered they were real butterflies by chance.”

“By the way, there’s also a hot spring here. Would you like to see it, Female Master?”

Feng Qiwu coughed and turned away, looking a bit embarrassed, though his eyes never stopped watching the expression on Chu Liangyu’s face.

‘They were as intimate as an old married couple; how could Chu Liangyu not know what he was thinking?’

Still, seeing how much thought he’d put into this, she didn’t mind spending the night with him.