With a swift flick of her wrist, Mu Qingyun released the blazing fireball in her right hand. The flames roared to life, surging upward to a height equal to the mountain cave's entrance, forming a blazing barrier that completely cut off the outside world.
"Having fire really is a blessing," Su murmured, his eyes fixed on the dancing flames. A faint, unspoken emotion flickered behind his calm gaze, perhaps envy or admiration.
"Water is more important," Mu Qingyun replied, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. "Water is the source of life. Without it, a person can survive no more than three days."
"Three days? That's not accurate. It's seven," Fan Xuanye interjected sharply from behind, clearly eager to correct her.
Mu Qingyun turned toward him with subtle surprise. Survive seven days without water? That seemed excessive by normal human standards. These people must have evolved far beyond her expectations.
Speaking up again, Su wrinkled his nose slightly and tugged at his soiled clothing. "By the way, should we go bathe? I've used up all my cleaning powder."
This planet had developed a special type of cleaning powder. A quick spray over the body substituted for bathing and even brushing one's teeth. It was an advanced and convenient invention.
Mu Qingyun had discovered some of that powder earlier in Su's storage pouch. She had rationed it carefully to maintain basic cleanliness in these harsh survival conditions.
"Hmm," she murmured in acknowledgment. The herbal brushing powder and soap she once used were all made from plants. Now, under these circumstances, even water was a luxury, but at least it could offer some relief.
Once the flames at the entrance had burned out, she stepped outside. White Feifei was nowhere in sight.
The group made their way toward the river. Before long, they arrived at the edge of the sea.
"You all go ahead. I'll take a walk down that path," Xiong Ruoyou said, pointing toward a side trail. As the only girl in the group, she naturally could not bathe alongside three men.
"I'll go as well. I'll bathe later," Mu Qingyun added, casting a brief glance at the water's surface. It was far from pure, but the idea of bathing alongside several men made her distinctly uncomfortable.
"You? Avoiding us?" Fan Xuanye looked her up and down, his brows furrowed with genuine confusion.
Su also appeared puzzled. Bathing together was hardly a matter of modesty in this world. Everyone was dirty. If it wasn't about being squeamish, then why was Mu Qingyun unwilling to join them?
"Mind your own business," she snapped, frowning. She had no way to explain her situation to them, so she chose not to. Her tone was cold as she turned and strode off without another word.
[Live Comments]
"What's going on? Why won't he bathe with the others?"
"Aren't they all guys? What's there to be shy about?"
"I don't get it. Mu Qingyun doesn't seem like the modest type or a clean freak. Why act like this?"
"Hold on… could it be what I think it is?"
"Say it outright! Stop being cryptic!"
"Cough, maybe... his thing is too small and he's afraid to be seen? Might hurt his pride?"
"..."
Mu Qingyun's expression was unreadable, but Xiong Ruoyou rushed to follow her. "Mu-ge, what's wrong?"
"I'm fine. I've decided not to bathe after all," she replied flatly. As soon as the words left her mouth, she increased her pace, heading back toward the mountain cave.
Left behind, Xiong Ruoyou stood confused, glancing at the equally perplexed Su and Fan Xuanye. None of them knew what to make of the situation.
Meanwhile, Mu Qingyun returned to the cave and found a quiet spot to sit. Her brows knitted tightly together.
In her excitement about the prospect of bathing, she had almost forgotten—she was still disguised as a man. She could not afford to bathe with the others. Her identity would be exposed.
In this world, polite explanations rarely worked. A cold demeanor was the only thing that earned respect.
When the three men returned later, she immediately noticed a faint, refreshing scent emanating from them.
How envious.She longed to bathe too.
"You all smell really nice," she commented, eyeing Su closely as she spoke.
Su blinked, momentarily stunned by the unexpected observation. A flicker of confusion passed through his eyes, but he didn't ask questions. Instead, he reached into his storage pouch and retrieved a small vial of body wash.
"It's this. This brand leaves the longest-lasting scent," he said, handing it to her.
"Thank you." She accepted it without hesitation and studied it carefully in her palm.
The original Mu Qingyun had memories of such items, but for the her that had crossed over from a more primitive time, this was her first encounter with such a modern invention.
The three men did not continue the earlier discussion about why she refused to bathe. Instead, they each returned to their positions and began cultivating in silence.
Late at night.
Mu Qingyun slowly opened her eyes. The others seemed fast asleep.
Tightening her grip on the body wash, she rose soundlessly and slipped out of the cave, heading quietly back toward the seashore.
However, no sooner had she disappeared into the darkness than Su, who had only been pretending to sleep, opened his eyes.
He stared in the direction she had gone, a flicker of curiosity in his expression. After a moment of hesitation, he stood up and began to follow her, determined to uncover what she was hiding.
Mu Qingyun made her way carefully through the forest, her eyes alert for any signs of pursuit. When she reached the coast, she crouched down and began to undress.
[Live Comments]
"Whoa, Mu-ge isn't even turning off the stream? So open with us?"
"Wait… are we about to see something forbidden?"
"Can't believe this stream is still up this late!"
"Stop commenting! If Mu-ge notices, he might shut the stream down!"
Just as that comment posted, the livestream went black.
Mu Qingyun glanced at the device strapped to her wrist and gave a wry smile. She knew women of this era were far more open and unrestrained than in her previous life, but still—some boundaries should remain sacred.
Here she was, playing the role of a man, yet these women seemed to have no hesitation about watching her bathe. It was utterly absurd.
She sighed and continued removing her clothing, focused solely on the idea of finally washing herself clean. She failed to notice the pair of eyes watching her from the shadows nearby.
Su frowned as he watched her from a hidden spot, unable to make sense of what he was seeing.
Why now? Why not earlier, with them? Why sneak out alone in the dead of night to bathe?
Could it be that Mu Qingyun had something on her body she could not allow them to see? A scar? A deformity? A hidden illness?
He narrowed his eyes, determined to see the truth.
Mu Qingyun, now undressed, reached into her chest area and seemed to retrieve something hidden there—her movements deliberate, practiced.
The next moment, she stepped into the water. The waves lapped gently against her legs as she slowly moved deeper into the sea, carefully placing a small white object on the shoreline behind her.
What… is that?
Su's gaze sharpened. He stared intently at the white item she had left on the shore, trying to figure out what it was—and why she had hidden it there.