Chapter 410: Chapter 318: Stone Workshop (Part 3)
Duan Rong suddenly shivered as he recalled Ximen Kankan’s words in that dark cave.
"Do I really have this preference?"
"No way! I’m completely normal."
Xiao Yu didn’t notice the change in Duan Rong’s expression at all. She heard Duan Rong say it was nice, and felt contented herself, then put on her shoes and socks.
The two continued chatting at the entrance of the cave, and soon they talked about Xianggu County, Zhu Xiaoqi, and Elder Xiao. Xiao Yu even asked about Duan Rong’s relationship with the Ximen Family. Duan Rong then shared how he came to know Ximen Kankan, mentioning what he could with Xiao Yu.
Some things made Xiao Yu laugh aloud.
Without realizing it, they sat next to each other, with Xiao Yu’s head already leaning on Duan Rong’s shoulder.
As they talked, silence gradually settled in, and no one spoke for a long time.
Yet, the atmosphere bore no trace of awkwardness.
They could clearly sense each other’s presence.
Their minds were naturally interwoven at this moment. It was quiet, without a trace of distracting thoughts.
They stayed like this for quite some time.
The nearby pile of firewood had burned out, leaving only a heap of reddish ash.
The mountain hollows were silent, with only a few caves emitting a faint glow.
Duan Rong said, "I should go."
Xiao Yu responded with a gentle "Mm," rubbed her face against Duan Rong’s shoulder but didn’t get up.
They lingered for a while longer, then Duan Rong suddenly stood up, saying, "I’m leaving."
Xiao Yu sat hugging her knees, sniffed, and looked up at Duan Rong without speaking.
In the darkness, they gazed at each other.
Duan Rong could distinctly feel something stirring within their hearts.
He bowed his head and kissed Xiao Yu’s forehead lightly.
Xiao Yu didn’t move; her body was tense, her heart a turbulent sea.
Duan Rong turned and walked off into the darkness.
Xiao Yu watched Duan Rong’s form gradually fade into the night, feeling her heart sinking bit by bit...
Yet after a while, Duan Rong unexpectedly returned.
Xiao Yu looked at him coming back, smiling, "Why did you come back?"
Duan Rong’s eyes flickered, "I’m afraid of the dark!"
Xiao Yu chuckled and gave him a sidelong glance.
She understood that Duan Rong didn’t want to leave.
Xiao Yu got up and led Duan Rong into the cave.
Xiao Yu lit a candle on the stone table and placed it by the stone bed at the cave’s depth.
She looked at Duan Rong with a bashful expression after setting the candle.
Duan Rong stared in surprise at the stone bed’s surroundings.
Around the stone bed, four stone statues were placed.
Three were embedded in the wall, one stood beside the bed, about half a person’s height.
Duan Rong was astonished because these four stone statues were the divine statues of the Four Great Kings from the Fetal Concealment Scripture.
Duan Rong’s gaze shifted to the bashful Xiao Yu, asking, "Where did these statues come from?"
Xiao Yu glanced around the statues, understanding why Duan Rong was surprised. When she first saw the statues around the bed, she found it strange too.
"I don’t know, they were here when I arrived."
Duan Rong’s eyes showed a thoughtful look, "Is the statue you carved today one of these four?"
Xiao Yu nodded and pointed to the statue beside the bed, "It’s this one."
Duan Rong looked at the statue and his eyelid twitched.
That was the Vajra Yaksha King!
Duan Rong circled around the stone bed.
He discovered that the placement of these statues was correct.
This indicated that these statues might not be for stonemasons to practice. Rather, someone was cultivating the Fetal Concealment Scripture in this cave.
Who could that person be?
Duan Rong frowned deeply, showing a look of intense contemplation.
Xiao Yu realized Duan Rong seemed very interested in the statues.
She looked at Duan Rong and asked, "Is there a problem with these statues?"
Duan Rong snapped out of his deep thoughts and replied, "No... no problem."
Xiao Yu rolled her eyes at Duan Rong, teasing, "Then why are you so jumpy and paranoid?"
Duan Rong said, "Let’s go to sleep."
Xiao Yu murmured shyly, and then extinguished the candle.
They lay on the stone bed.
Xiao Yu slept on her side with her back to Duan Rong.
In the darkness, Duan Rong’s hand suddenly reached for Xiao Yu’s waist.
Xiao Yu was startled and immediately grasped Duan Rong’s hand tightly to stop it from moving.
Duan Rong spoke in the darkness, "Xiao Yu, turn over to sleep."
"Why?!" In the pitch-dark depth of the cave, Xiao Yu’s face had already turned crimson.
At that moment, Duan Rong suddenly embraced Xiao Yu’s shoulder and turned her into his arms.
Xiao Yu struggled a few times, but her heart was pounding in her throat, and Duan Rong’s arm was like an iron clasp.
Finally, Xiao Yu stopped moving and lay on Duan Rong’s chest.
She bit her lip and secretly resolved that if Duan Rong tried anything more, she would not comply!
But Duan Rong simply held her shoulder lightly, lying quietly in the dark.
Soon after, Xiao Yu realized Duan Rong was already asleep.
Her tense heart finally relaxed.
And in that instant, she was enveloped by happiness... lying on Duan Rong, she could hear his heartbeat, a sound that made her feel so serene...
In this peaceful happiness, Xiao Yu gradually fell asleep...
She didn’t know how much time passed when she slowly woke in the darkness.
Duan Rong was gently placing her back on the bed, then quietly climbing out of bed.
Xiao Yu let Duan Rong put her in place, seeing the darkness at the cave’s entrance, but she knew this was the darkest hour before dawn, and soon it would be light.
Duan Rong settled Xiao Yu and lightly kissed her forehead in the dark.
A tear unknowingly slid down from Xiao Yu’s eye corner...
Duan Rong seemed to stand at the bedside for a while before turning to leave the cave.
Listening to Duan Rong’s footsteps fade in the cave, Xiao Yu sat up, got out of bed, and walked to the cave entrance.
She stood at the entrance, watching the dark mountain hollow where a vague shadow slowly moved...
Xiao Yu fixed her gaze on the shadow, knowing even in the pitch-black night that it was Duan Rong.
Watching the shadow disappear completely in the darkness, she didn’t know when, but tears were already streaming down her face...
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