Ji Chun held Su Ran tightly in his arms as the rain poured down even harder, drenching them both. He bent over, shielding Su Ran from the downpour, and hurried under the eaves of a nearby shop. Their thin clothes were soaked through, and the cold wind made them shiver uncontrollably. Ji Chun's heart raced as he looked out at the relentless rain, clutching Su Ran, who was trembling from the cold and writhing in pain. He felt a surge of panic. How could Su Ran's body endure this? He had already consumed so much alcohol, and now he was caught in the storm. Ji Chun's mind raced, but he couldn't think of a solution.
Holding Su Ran close, Ji Chun followed the eaves and turned into an alley. After a short walk, he spotted a row of houses. Without hesitation, he kicked open the door of one and rushed inside. An old man, startled by the noise, hobbled out with a cane, calling out, "Who's there?" Before he could investigate further, he saw a tall young monk burst in, carrying a man in his arms.
"Please, forgive the intrusion," Ji Chun said urgently. "May we stay here for the night?"
The old man, frightened by the sudden intrusion, nodded quickly. He and his wife were the only ones home, and he didn't dare ask questions. He led Ji Chun to a guest room, where Ji Chun laid Su Ran on the bed. The old man lit a lamp, and Ji Chun turned to him, pulling out a few taels of silver. "Please, boil some hot water for us. I'm truly sorry for the trouble."
The old man took the silver, nodded, and hurried out, calling for his wife to prepare hot water. Ji Chun, left alone in the dimly lit room, turned his attention to Su Ran. Both of their clothes were soaked, and he knew they needed to get dry. He began to undress Su Ran, starting with the belt. As he loosened it, he noticed how tightly it had been tied—likely to conceal the growing bulge of Su Ran's belly. The realization made his heart ache. He carefully removed Su Ran's wet clothes, wrapped him in a clean quilt, and then stripped off his own soaked monk's robe. Though his inner clothes were still damp, he had no other options. He sat by the bed, keeping watch in his wet clothes.
Soon, the old man returned with a pot of hot water, followed by his wife carrying a bowl of steaming soup. "Young master, drink this to warm yourself," the old woman said kindly, noticing how drenched Ji Chun still was. She handed him a set of clean clothes. "Change into these so you don't catch a cold." She then ushered her husband out, leaving Ji Chun to tend to Su Ran.
Once they were gone, Ji Chun helped Su Ran sit up. He dried Su Ran's hair with a towel, then propped him up and began feeding him the hot soup, spoonful by spoonful. Su Ran's lips were bitten and bleeding, his face twisted in pain. Ji Chun spoke softly, "Open your mouth." Su Ran complied weakly, and the warm soup seemed to soothe him slightly. His cold body began to warm, and he instinctively leaned closer to Ji Chun.
After finishing the soup, Ji Chun wrapped Su Ran tightly in the quilt again. He then changed into the dry clothes the old woman had provided, washed his face with the hot water, and used a fresh towel to wipe Su Ran's face. Once everything was settled, he lay down beside Su Ran, making space for himself under the quilt. He covered Su Ran with two layers to keep him warm, while he only took one for himself. Just as he was beginning to relax, he felt Su Ran shift, curling into a ball and murmuring weakly, "My stomach hurts..."
Ji Chun sat up immediately, his heart pounding. Was it a stomachache? Or something worse? He reached under the quilt, his hand brushing against Su Ran's bare waist before settling on his slightly rounded belly. For a moment, Ji Chun hesitated, unsure of what he was doing. But Su Ran's pained groans spurred him into action. He focused his inner energy, channeling it through his palm to warm Su Ran's abdomen. Slowly, the tension in Su Ran's body eased, his breathing steadied, and he drifted into a deep sleep.
Ji Chun let out a breath of relief. He carefully tucked the quilt around Su Ran, his hand lingering on the man's belly. He knew he should pull away, but something kept him there, reluctant to let go.
Ji Chun worried that Su Ran might suffer another stomachache during the night. He came up with a random excuse to justify keeping his hand where it was, resting gently on Su Ran's belly. His broad, rough palm brushed against the man's smooth skin, and he found the sensation oddly comforting. It felt like the most pleasant thing he had ever touched. Despite having been awake for half the night, he wasn't sleepy at all. It was as if he were doing something secretly forbidden. He found the roundness of Su Ran's belly strangely fascinating to touch, and the thought that this was the belly of the cold, ruthless Demonic Cult Leader gave him an inexplicable sense of triumph.
Perhaps he did feel a certain closeness to this man, but to interpret that feeling as something inappropriate would be absurd and infuriating. As a monk, such thoughts were unthinkable—and even more so because Su Ran was a man. Inside that round, smooth belly was a tiny life, an innocent child who would be born in a few months. What will the child look like? Ji Chun wondered. Will they resemble their father? Or me? Unconsciously, a faint smile crept onto his face. He wondered if Su Ran would become gentler once he saw the child. The man's temper was far too volatile now.
When the time came for Su Ran to give birth, Ji Chun planned to seek out Mu Miefeng and Xue Yao. He was determined to save both Su Ran and the child, no matter the cost. He had thought a lot about it since that day. Although the miracle doctor had said that Su Ran would die the day the child was born, Ji Chun refused to accept that outcome. With his own skills and the unparalleled medical expertise of Yisheng Valley, he believed there had to be another way. As these thoughts swirled in his mind, he gradually grew drowsy and fell asleep.
The next morning, Su Ran stirred uncomfortably. His mind was still foggy, but he could tell something was off. Why was he naked under the quilt in an unfamiliar place? He tried to move but felt something—or someone—blocking him. Frowning, he turned his head and saw Ji Chun's face alarmingly close. As he shifted, he felt the monk's hand resting on his waist, as if holding him. Does this monk have a death wish?! Su Ran's anger flared. He gritted his teeth, gathered his strength, and kicked the lecherous monk off the bed.
With a loud thud, Ji Chun landed hard on the cold, unforgiving floor. The impact jolted him awake, and he groaned, clutching his abdomen where Su Ran's foot had struck. Confused and in pain, he slowly got up, frowning at the man on the bed. Before he could say a word, his face turned red, and he quickly looked away.
Su Ran, ready to unleash his fury, noticed Ji Chun's strange expression and hesitated. He tried to sit up, but as he moved, he caught sight of his own disheveled state. Mortified, he yanked the quilt up to cover himself, leaving only his toned upper body exposed. "You damn monk!" he shouted, his voice seething with anger. "Come here!"
Ji Chun turned at the sound of Su Ran's voice, his face still flushed with embarrassment. "I'm... I'm sorry," he stammered, his usual composure gone. He sounded uneasy, like someone caught in the act of doing something wrong. But he didn't dare step closer. It wasn't that he feared Su Ran's strength—he could easily overpower him—but he knew that approaching now would only invite more ridicule and possibly a few more blows. So he stood still, avoiding Su Ran's gaze.
Su Ran took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his rage. Just as he was about to demand that Ji Chun bring him some clothes, he sneezed. "Achoo!" The sound startled him, and he looked up to see Ji Chun staring at him in surprise. His face, already dark with anger, now flushed with embarrassment. Before he could scold the monk, he sneezed again. "Achoo!"
Ji Chun couldn't help but find the situation oddly amusing. The man who usually seemed so fearsome now appeared almost... endearing? A faint smile tugged at his lips, but he quickly schooled his expression. "Sect Leader Su," he said, his tone formal, "I'll go ask the hosts for some medicine. Please rest here." Su Ran still ignored him, his face stony, Ji Chun had no choice but to leave the room.
Outside, he found the elderly couple already up and preparing breakfast in the small kitchen.