Marrying the Soft-hearted Villain

Ruan Qiuqiu was still unaware of the danger gradually approaching in the forest not far from them.

Having spent the entire day with Yuan Jue, it was time for bed again. Ruan Qiuqiu, still slightly dizzy and feverish, felt quite awkward. She sat on a small stone stool near the stone stove, doing needlework with a bone needle.

Yuan Jue sat at the stone table, his long, dark eyelashes lowered, his back straight, seemingly lost in thought. The faint firelight in the "master bedroom" cast a gentle, warm glow on his face, softening the terrible scars and making her snail-gray wolf husband appear even more handsome.

They had maintained this posture for most of the day. Ever since Brother Eagle, Tian Xiu, had left that morning, the woman and the wolf had maintained a very polite distance. They ate breakfast in silence, sat apart tacitly, and then simultaneously suggested the other should rest.

Recalling Yuan Jue's words from earlier in the day, Ruan Qiuqiu paused, her hand tightening around the bone needle, a hint of helplessness in her eyes. He claimed he wasn't tired or in pain; did he think she was a three-year-old child, so easily fooled?

However, Mr. Big Gray Wolf had made some progress compared to before. Although he was still reluctant to show excessive vulnerability in front of her, he wasn't pretending to sleep or urging her to sleep, avoiding communication like he used to. Though, when he was awake, his silence made him seem almost asleep.

Ruan Qiuqiu finished the last stitch, tied a knot in the thread made of beast sinew, and snipped it. Mr. Big Gray Wolf's new clothes were complete.

Brother Eagle had brought them quite a lot of things. Besides a dozen or so medicinal herbs they desperately needed, there were also several beast hides, another item they were currently lacking.

Tian Xiu's mate must have been a very thoughtful eagle demon. Perhaps thinking of their recent marriage, the chosen hides were mostly bright red and durable black. The black hide was large and suitable for a new beast skin blanket. The red one was perfect for making clothes for Mr. Big Gray Wolf.

The wolf had very few clothes. Besides the dirty black set he had before, he only had a pitiful, earth-yellow jacket and his own wolf fur. Considering that the wolf "deliberately" bared his upper body every time he transformed, Ruan Qiuqiu, after some thought, decided to make him a garment, her ear tips flushing red.

This time, after pondering for a while, she chose to use the precious red beast hide to make a robe. It would be easy to wear, and even if he suddenly transformed into his half-demon form, his wolf tail wouldn't be constricted. It was a practical and convenient design. Of course, it was also simple to make. She finished it in just one afternoon.

Ruan Qiuqiu glanced at the wolf sitting at the stone table like a statue, slowly stood up, clutching the robe in her arms, and hesitantly looked at Mr. Big Gray Wolf.

Meanwhile, the wolf, who had spent the afternoon cultivating, repairing his broken meridians and recovering some of his demonic consciousness, was secretly observing his little wife.

"Seeing" the bright red robe in Ruan Qiuqiu's arms, Yuan Jue froze for two seconds, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. His large hand on the stone table clenched slightly. A bright red, unfamiliar garment. Was it made for him? Was it a wedding garment?

His demonic consciousness traced the robe in Ruan Qiuqiu's hands, then slowly, with a burning intensity, moved over her slightly swollen palms like a lingering gaze, inch by inch. Her fingertips were trembling, marked with a faint trace of thread, likely from the pressure of sewing.

His brows furrowed unconsciously, making Mr. Big Gray Wolf's expression appear even more formidable.

Ruan Qiuqiu assumed his discomfort was due to him pushing himself too hard, so she didn't deliberately keep her distance.

"Mr. Yuan, is your wound uncomfortable?" Ruan Qiuqiu asked softly, walking to his side, folding the robe and placing it on the stone table.

Noticing that his little wife hadn't mentioned whether the robe was for him, Mr. Big Gray Wolf's inner jealousy flared. He never knew he could be so sensitive; a simple action from Ruan Qiuqiu could make him feel such sadness and inferiority.

He appeared fierce and unapproachable, his personality twisted and awkward, unskilled in social interaction. He simply said stiffly, "It doesn't hurt."

Ruan Qiuqiu thought, "…" If only his fluffy ears hadn't drooped and there weren't tears welling up in his long eyelashes when he said it didn't hurt, perhaps she would have believed him.

She stared at his expressive, fluffy ears. The wolf, in a hoarse voice, lazily and nonchalantly twitched his ears, his tone ambiguous, "…Are you tired?"

Ruan Qiuqiu almost laughed. She was a straightforward person, and at this moment, she was indeed tired, so she nodded. "Yes, a little."

"…" Yuan Jue's demonic consciousness fell on her slightly swollen hands. He hesitated, then said stiffly, "Hand."

Ruan Qiuqiu "…?"

The wolf seemed a little impatient, his tone softening with concern, yet still attempting to sound cold, "Give me your hand."

In reality, to Ruan Qiuqiu's ears, his voice sounded incredibly aggrieved, making her heart soften against her will.

Despite not knowing what the wolf intended, Ruan Qiuqiu obediently raised both hands. Knowing he couldn't see, she placed her hands near his large paws, fanning them slightly in the air to indicate their location.

Yuan Jue "…"

He lifted his large paw, his darkening pupils seemingly focused on her swollen palms. He carefully reached towards her touch.

Their fingertips brushed against each other. Ruan Qiuqiu's eyes widened abruptly, her face flushing. By the time she regained her senses, the wolf had lowered his hand, his sexy Adam's apple bobbing as he let out a barely audible chuckle. "All done."

Ruan Qiuqiu "Ah…"

She looked down, belatedly realizing that a cool sensation had spread through her hands, which had been suffering from chilblains but hadn't yet cracked. The scratches from sewing were also gone.

While she was lost in thought, the wolf had done something to her hands, quickly healing them.

Ruan Qiuqiu touched the still-healing wound on her face, thinking that perhaps Mr. Big Gray Wolf didn't dislike her that much.

She pursed her lips shyly, her gaze falling on the wolf's face, and tentatively said, "Thank you… husband."

At the change in her address, Yuan Jue's hand tightened slightly, and the frost that had accumulated between his dark, gloomy brows melted away considerably.

Ruan Qiuqiu saw his pointed wolf ears twitch happily, and even a faint blush appeared on his handsome cheeks.

The wolf's lips curved upwards in a smile he didn't seem to notice, then quickly returned to their usual position. He said nonchalantly, "Mm."

Ruan Qiuqiu "…………"

If her eyes weren't deceiving her, did Mr. Big Gray Wolf just smile? Perhaps she was mistaken.

The wolf didn't seem to dislike her calling him husband. But why did he never call her wife?

Her heart began to beat faster. Ruan Qiuqiu touched her forehead, which felt warmer than before. Looking at the prepared herbs on the table, she hesitated, then tentatively said again, "…Let me apply medicine for you."

Yuan Jue "…"

He lowered his eyelashes, thinking of his disfigured limbs, his slightly messy black hair falling around his ears. "…No need."

Hearing the familiar refusal, Ruan Qiuqiu didn't give up this time. She felt like she had suddenly grasped the wolf's tactics. Softening her expression, she picked up the herbs and said again, "Let me apply the medicine for you, okay? Husband?"

Mr. Big Gray Wolf "…………"

Ruan Qiuqiu noticed the wolf's ears folding up and down repeatedly, seemingly reflecting his inner conflict and unease.

After a pause of two or three seconds, his low voice sounded again.

This time, it was the same words as that snowy night several days ago.

He said, "…Ugly."

The wounds hadn't healed yet, oozing blood and pus. Flesh and bone were exposed, so unsightly that he himself was disgusted by them.

Yuan Jue's face was pale, his light lips pressed together, silent.

Ruan Qiuqiu chuckled softly, her eyes curving into crescents. She didn't argue. "Ugly? I think it's alright."

Although his limbs were mangled, and even his once-handsome face was now marred by scars and dark spots, what did it matter? She had already seen him in an even worse state before.

Ruan Qiuqiu crouched down, slowly lifting Mr. Big Gray Wolf's natural wolf fur, little by little, revealing his broken limbs.

Yuan Jue's long eyelashes trembled, his whole body burning hot.

His demonic consciousness slid over her focused, beautiful eyes. As pain and a burning sensation surged through him, he couldn't help but lower his head, tracing and basely licking her lips.

Just like when he had pressed her against the wall, his eyes red, biting her inch by inch.

If only he hadn't been injured in the beast tide. If only he were a pure-blooded demon.

…

Applying medicine to the wolf wasn't easy. Despite Ruan Qiuqiu's utmost care, there were a few times when she applied a bit too much pressure. But Yuan Jue didn't make a single sound of discomfort throughout the entire process. He sat quietly, like a burning hot… yet desolate painting.

Ruan Qiuqiu looked at him in surprise. His face was flushed, even the tips of his ears were almost pink. She was worried he might have a fever.

After applying medicine to his legs, it was time for his back and abdomen.

Ruan Qiuqiu felt it wasn't appropriate to directly handle those areas. Her heart beat a little faster. "Um, your clothes…"

Yuan Jue felt very strange. The places she touched were burning hot, and his body was experiencing the same strange sensation as last night. Hearing her mention his clothes, he pursed his lips, unable to bear it any longer.

"…I'll do it myself." He didn't know what would happen if she applied medicine to the wounds on his back and abdomen.

Ruan Qiuqiu, also blushing, nodded. If the wolf were unconscious, she could apply the medicine with a straight face, but… he was awake now.

"Then I'll go clean up." Ruan Qiuqiu touched her ear tips, truly without any ulterior motive. "It's late. We should rest."

Yuan Jue's slender fingers paused, seemingly imagining something, and with great effort, he controlled himself. "Mm."

Ruan Qiuqiu carried the wooden basin, filled it with hot water, and went to the "storage room" to wash. When she returned, the snail-gray wolf had already applied the medicine.

She helped prepare hot water and watched as Yuan Jue, his back straight, went to the "storage room" himself.

Ruan Qiuqiu's gaze fell on the beast skin blanket folded on the stone bed. She sighed softly, quickly grabbed the beast hide Tian Xiu had given them, and swiftly separated it into two blankets. Before Mr. Big Gray Wolf returned, she quickly burrowed into the inner one, her cheeks flushed, waiting for the wolf to return.

But for some reason, the wolf was taking a long time. She had cultivated for a long time and spent the afternoon sewing, so she couldn't hold on any longer and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

The wolf, on the other hand, splashed cold water on his face several times before he managed to suppress the heat in his cheeks.

He had prepared himself for the possibility that Ruan Qiuqiu wouldn't sleep with him after returning, but when he actually "saw" the two separate blankets, he still felt a slight pang of disappointment.

He mischievously walked to the stone table, picked up the robe Ruan Qiuqiu had spent the afternoon making, and like a lovesick wolf, gently kissed it before putting it on.

Finding that it fit perfectly, a smile lit up his narrow eyes, like stars twinkling in the crescent moon.

After today, the beautiful images in Mr. Wolf's mind of their marriage bed had increased by several more.

…

…

The night was peaceful. Ruan Qiuqiu slept soundly, except for a dream where a wolf cub kept wrapping its tail around her. Everything else was perfect.

When she woke up the next day, Ruan Qiuqiu felt that her fever had mostly subsided, and her limbs had regained some strength.

She and the wolf were both lying honestly in their respective blankets. The cave was quiet, and the wolf had returned to his usual quiet demeanor, as if the memory of him consciously spending the entire previous day with her was just her imagination.

Ruan Qiuqiu didn't know that this was the wolf's little trick.

Mr. Yuan Jue had already planned their future. Now that they had medicinal herbs and spirit stones, he needed to recover quickly before the next beast tide arrived, to the point where he could take her away and ensure her complete safety.

The strength of a fifth-tier demon wasn't enough. But if he could find a way to cultivate both his demon core and his newly formed magic core to the fifth tier… perhaps he could protect her.

For this, he needed to focus entirely on healing and improving his strength within his current capabilities.

He had been pondering for a long time and had finally grasped a clue to merging the two powers.

He wanted to experiment. If he succeeded, when he awoke from his cultivation, he would be able to control the demonic energy within him, preventing it from leaking out easily.

He would work hard, getting better little by little.

ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ

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