Chapter Ninety-Seven: Journey to Fenglan

The quiet town lay silent under the night, its people already deep in sweet dreams. The star-studded sky glittered brilliantly, like scattered pearls and fragments of gold cast upon a jade-green platter.

“La la la… la la la…”

Inside a room, Guoguo soaked comfortably in a steaming hot bath. A slender leg stretched out, while small hands splashed playfully in the water, humming a gentle tune intermittently.

“Rabbit Mao Mao, you despicable creature, how dare you touch me there…” Guoguo’s hands caressed the fullness at her chest, her delicate face flushed with indignation.

Little did she know, the so-called despicable Rabbit Mao Mao she spoke of was at that very moment, having eaten to his fill, engaged in an earth-shattering endeavor!

“Almost there… almost there… I must be careful, or I’ll have to endure that loving touch again!” Rabbit Mao Mao wiped the sweat from his brow, clutching a dagger as he cautiously chipped away at the wall.

“Got through…” His heart leapt with joy, yet he dared not make a sound. Only a thin layer of the wall remained. He withdrew the dagger, opened his mouth, aimed at the small hole in the wall, and sucked sharply.

Pop!

Rabbit Mao Mao’s face instantly turned a deep purple as dirt lodged in his throat. Struggling not to make a sound, he tiptoed back to the table and guzzled several mouthfuls of tea before clearing his throat.

Having resolved the choking danger, Rabbit Mao Mao crept back to the corner, one eye peering through the hole, gazing into Guoguo’s room.

Glug…

“Too… too beautiful… oh mother, your child is lost!” His eye widened, fixed unblinkingly on the pale, motionless figure as he swallowed repeatedly.

Guoguo’s hands skimmed the water, caressing and cleansing her tender, jade-like body. Yet every movement of hers left Rabbit Mao Mao nearly swallowing all his saliva, his throat twitching uncontrollably.

Splash!

Guoguo rose from the tub, a vision of purity and grace, like a lotus emerging unsullied from the muddy waters. The sight sent a rush of heat surging through Rabbit Mao Mao’s entire body, pounding in his temples.

Huff, huff…

Rabbit Mao’s heavy breathing was keenly sensed by Guoguo through the hole. “Who’s there?” she demanded, tracing a slender finger toward the corner. With a flash, a spirit blade sliced through the wall at the hole.

No loud noise, just a soft “poof” as the blade cut through like soft tofu. The hole expanded to the size of a tabletop, the broken wall crumbling to dust on the floor.

Guoguo’s large eyes locked onto Rabbit Mao Mao’s flushed face, seeing two blazing flames burning within his gaze. “Pervert… shameless…”

She shouted angrily, clutching her trembling bosom with swift hands, eyes flashing with murderous intent. “By the grace of the Demon God… at least it’s covered now. But why is it so painfully hard and swollen down there? Mother never told me such things could happen!”

Rabbit Mao Mao hid afar, a small tent bulging beneath him, eyes glued to Guoguo’s enchanting form, unwilling to look away.

Seeing Rabbit Mao Mao still staring, Guoguo pressed her foot against the bottom of the tub and leapt out, water splashing toward the bed. She grabbed her clothes and hastily dressed, shielding her modesty.

“Rabbit Mao Mao, I’m going to kill you!”

Guoguo’s furious shout came as she appeared before Rabbit Mao Mao, raising her pale foot to kick the bulging tent. Seeing his member about to be struck, Rabbit Mao Mao’s face changed drastically. Though not afraid of pain, he knew the consequences could be dire if hit. Having been hit over twenty times before, this was the first time he managed to dodge.

But he was still too slow. Guoguo’s white toes grazed the top of the tent, sending a tingling numbness through his body, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, his heart pounding wildly.

Leaning back, he lightly tapped the ground with his toes, attempting to retreat. But in her anger, Guoguo gave no chance. “You sneaky pervert! I’ll crush you!”

Her hand flashed like lightning, slapping Rabbit Mao Mao’s cheek.

Smack!

Before he could cry out, she kicked him to the ground. Her snow-white feet pounded his tender, scholar-like face. Rabbit Mao Mao didn’t utter a sound; the small tent beneath him deflated, his fiery desires extinguished by Guoguo’s violent assault.

After the beating, Guoguo pressed her foot to his chest, hands on hips, scolding fiercely, “Why were you spying on me bathing? What is your intent? Ever since I came to this island, you’ve been shamelessly following me. Are you hoping to seize an opportunity...?”

Her voice dwindled until she fell silent, glaring fiercely at him.

“Seize an opportunity for what?” Rabbit Mao Mao asked breathlessly.

“Go to hell…” Guoguo ground her teeth in anger, biting down so hard they ached, wishing to unleash a devastating blow, yet a flicker of hesitation softened her heart. Why, even she did not understand, but she could not bring herself to strike fully.

Instead, she delivered a symbolic kick to Rabbit Mao Mao’s waist.

Thud!

“Ouch…” Guoguo cried out, almost collapsing, saved only by grabbing the table. Tears welled in her eyes.

Looking at her pale, tender foot, all five toes were swollen and purple. “It hurts so much… you villain! How dare you ambush me! Boohoo…”

Rabbit Mao Mao was dumbfounded, touching his waist, then realizing what had happened. Seeing Guoguo’s swollen foot, his heart ached with remorse. He slapped himself hard across the face.

He sprang up and timidly helped Guoguo sit down. Frantically, he produced a small jade bottle, grasped her soft foot, and gently blew on the swollen toes. “It’s okay, some medicine will fix it.” He bit off the bottle’s stopper and sprinkled white powder onto the inflamed areas.

In truth, with Guoguo’s level of cultivation, she wouldn’t have been hurt if not for her momentary anger. Minor injuries like these could heal swiftly with a bit of inner cultivation.

The main reason was Guoguo’s youth. Though her cultivation surpassed her peers, her worldly experience was as blank as a toddler learning to walk.

Rabbit Mao Mao’s behavior annoyed her; he had seen her body in full. Though furious, seeing his anxious care over her injury calmed her wrath considerably.

Though her heart softened, her words remained firm. “Get your mouth away from me!” Flushed with embarrassment, she yanked her foot from his grasp.

“Go away, and plug that hole! Tomorrow, I’ll settle scores with you!” She limped back to her room.

Rabbit Mao Mao stood holding the medicine bottle, dazed. Having smelled Guoguo’s scent up close and felt the softness of her skin, a strong urge surged within him to press her beneath him and savor that warm, delicate fragrance. But recalling her fierce nature, he subdued the impulse.

Seeing Guoguo return to her room, he hurriedly retrieved a silver shield from somewhere. With a thought, the shield shrank to the size of the hole and blocked it.

Guoguo lay on the bed, a mixture of embarrassment and anger on her face. Soon, the numb pain in her toes faded. Sitting up, she saw the swelling had vanished, and her toes gleamed with crystal-clear whiteness.

“This guy is quite capable. Whatever, I’ll sleep now!” Guoguo hadn’t rested properly for days, always wary of the clingy shadow beside her, fearing mischief during her guard’s lapse.

Yet, after the recent incident, a faint sense of security blossomed in her heart. Her delicate face relaxed as she drifted into sleep.

Rabbit Mao Mao also fell asleep, not on the bed but standing, his body leaning against the silver shield blocking the hole.

Time passed, the night quietly fading away as light reclaimed the world.

Awakened by the enticing aroma of food, Guoguo stretched luxuriously and yawned with no pretense of ladylike grace. She turned to the table where several exquisite dishes, steaming pies, and rice porridge awaited. Rabbit Mao Mao entered through the door, grinning. “You’re up? I just bought these pies from an old man. I thought you might not like the ones from the shop!”

For a fleeting moment, Guoguo felt moved, but recalling his earlier intrusion and how he had seen her completely the night before, that warmth vanished instantly.

“Why are you still here? Why haven’t you left?” she asked coldly.

Rabbit Mao Mao smiled shyly and spoke softly, “You’re going to Fenglan, right? You’re unfamiliar here, and won’t find the route on your own. After breakfast, I’ll accompany you.”

“I don’t know where I’m going. Who says I’m going to Fenglan? What are you scheming?” Guoguo was exasperated. Even she didn’t know where she was headed, yet he had already decided for her.

“Isn’t your purpose for coming to Bihai Qingtian the Divine Spring?” Rabbit Mao Mao asked, astonished. He could not fathom why a human warrior like Guoguo would come to Bihai Qingtian for any other reason.

“How do you know?” Guoguo’s expression changed, her gaze fixed on Rabbit Mao Mao. Then a thought struck her. “You say this is Bihai Qingtian?”

“Yes! This is one of the islands in Bihai Qingtian. Eat first, then I’ll accompany you,” Rabbit Mao Mao said calmly and gently.

Guoguo stared at him for a long moment before reluctantly allowing herself to be pulled down. After tasting the breakfast Rabbit Mao Mao prepared, she felt delighted—it suited her palate perfectly, and she ate heartily.

After breakfast, Rabbit Mao Mao led Guoguo to the shore. Only upon reaching the coast did she realize she had truly arrived at Bihai Qingtian.

The sea shimmered a jade green, imbued with a tremendous, unfamiliar energy. A grand ship was docked at the harbor, its deck crowded with armored demon soldiers wielding tridents.

Rabbit Mao Mao guided Guoguo aboard. The sudden scene left her bewildered. “Prince’s Royal Guard has been awaiting the Empress for some time. Please, Prince and Empress, come aboard to rest. We’ll set sail immediately for Fenglan!”

Guoguo wanted to ask what "Prince and Empress" meant—were they referring to her and Rabbit Mao Mao? But before she could speak, a group of maidservants surrounded her like stars encircling the moon, ushering her inside the ship.

Rabbit Mao Mao then ordered the soldiers to set sail and happily followed aboard.

——

Martial Peak 97: Journey to Fenglan — Updated!