The two conversed, and before they knew it, more than half a day had passed.

"Hmph," Mu Hongyuan said, "I'm tired, I'm hungry, I need to rest. Put me down. There's an orchard nearby; go pick some fruit for me to eat."

As they made their way through mountains and rivers, Wang Mu calculated the distance.

They weren't too far from Anle Village now. At most, it would take half a day, and they should be approaching Gu Yun Mountain's border soon; even Yunlai Creek was in sight.

Wang Mu set Mu Hongyuan down by the stream, aware that she was finding ways to amuse herself.

"Then I'll go pick some..."

"I only eat sweet ones; don't pick the sour," Mu Hongyuan instructed. "They must have a floral fragrance, and the color must be red, which I like. I don't want fruits of other colors. Also, I want to drink some water. Fetch me some from the stream; it should be that sweet-tasting spirit spring water."

"Understood."

Wang Mu nodded and headed into the nearby orchard.

The orchard was not far from Beast King Mountain, and it was home to numerous spirit beasts.

Employing his Superior Pure Spirit Body, Wang Mu sensed the state of the nearby orchard. He searched for most of the day. It wasn't until nightfall that he finally found the kind of fruit Mu Hongyuan had described, along with a nearby spirit spring.

The fruit that met Mu Hongyuan's demands was known as the Blood Spirit Fruit, a top-grade spiritual fruit, of which there was only one plant in the entire orchard.

It was guarded by a spirit beast in the Golden Core Realm.

Wang Mu put forth considerable effort and, after negotiating and paying a price to the spirit beast, he reluctantly obtained one.

It was said that eating this fruit significantly enhanced a cultivator's vitality and constitution, making it a rather rare find.

Then, Wang Mu found a Nameless Ancient Spring nearby. Upon tasting it, he found the water exceedingly sweet and brimming with spiritual energy. After cautiously filling a jug, he returned to where he'd left Mu Hongyuan.

Upon his return, he found Mu Hongyuan sitting on a rock, her skirt lifted to her calves, her feet soaking in Yunlai Creek, idly kicking the water.

Turning her head and seeing Wang Mu return, she tilted her head and asked, "How long has it been?"

"Here, the fruit and spirit spring water you wanted," Wang Mu presented the items he had found to her.

Mu Hongyuan took the fruit, looked at it from all sides, and with a face full of disdain said, "Wrong, this isn't what I wanted."

"You eat it yourself, Brother Mu. You really don't care at all."

"..." Wang Mu.

Mu Hongyuan uncorked the jug and took a light sip, then spat it out.

"It's both bitter and foul-tasting."

"I'm not drinking this."

Such a difficult person to please, Wang Mu thought.

"What, you're getting impatient already?" Mu Hongyuan quipped. "If you're so impatient, just give up. After carrying me all this way today, you haven't shown any affection at all—you look so unwilling."

"You're not being sincere at all."

"When you made that promise in the past, we agreed to be a romantic couple of the mortal world, but now, it seems you just want to fulfill an obligation."

"The promise I want isn't like that," she continued.

"Think about it yourself."

After speaking, Mu Hongyuan stood up, handing the fruit and jug back to Wang Mu.

Wang Mu was taken aback.

He fell silent.

Indeed, he had just regarded it as a mission...

After all, he only needed to accompany her for a year, and then the two of them would have no further connection, free from any burdens.

And before, in the Refining Emotion Cave, memories of those moments flashed back; when they made those promises, it was with sweetness and sincerity.

In other words, he hadn't really involved himself emotionally. He still saw her as Mu Lanxue, the Supreme Master of Fengyue Sect, not as Mu Hongyuan. And he, too, had not regarded himself as Dongfang Mu.

In that moment, he understood what Mu Hongyuan meant.

Looking at the jug and fruit in his hand, Wang Mu said, "I was wrong. Wait a moment."

After thinking for a bit, Wang Mu suddenly uncorked the jug and took a swig.

Mu Hongyuan hesitated, then turned towards him. "What are you...?"

Before she could finish, Wang Mu stepped forward, braced his hands on Mu Hongyuan's shoulders, and pressed his lips against hers.

The spring water passed from mouth to mouth, conveying that sweet taste from countless years ago.

Mu Hongyuan's eyes widened in surprise, seemingly not expecting him to do such a thing, and her face flushed with color.

"You!" She pushed Wang Mu away, flustered and annoyed, and glared at him. "Brother Mu, what are you doing? Taking advantage of me?"

"Isn't this a normal display of affection between lovers?" Wang Mu replied. "Now tell me, isn't the spring water sweet?"

"..." Mu Hongyuan.

She swallowed gently. Indeed, the spring water was exceedingly sweet.

"As for the fruit..." Wang Mu pondered for a few seconds.

Mu Hongyuan took a few steps back, saying indignantly, "Don't think of touching me!"

Although she said so, her eyes betrayed little resistance... instead, there was a hint of... expectation.

"Open your mouth," Wang Mu said.

"For what?"

"Just open your mouth when I tell you to. Why are you being so chatty?" Wang Mu replied. "Would I, the grand Dongfang Mu, really harm a little girl like you?"

Mu Hongyuan chuckled, her lips curling into a smile.

"Ah, so now you admit you're Dongfang Mu, is that right?"

Saying so, she parted her red lips slightly.

Wang Mu sliced the Blood Jade Fruit into a few pieces, picked up a slice with his fingers, and fed it into Mu Hongyuan's mouth.

Her delicate tongue quickly drew the piece of Blood Jade Fruit inside.

With a blush on her face, Mu Hongyuan chewed for a moment, her mind adrift...

"Is it delicious?" Wang Mu asked.

"How can I tell from just one piece? I need to eat a few more," Mu Hongyuan said, tilting her chin up slightly.

Wang Mu fed her several more slices.

"Hmph... That's more like it." Mu Hongyuan's eyes showed a trace of satisfaction. "I'm full and content now, Brother Mu, let's continue on our journey. It seems your comprehension is quite high after all. I just wonder how many girls you duped with this trick a thousand years ago."

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