C12 North Mountain Village

"Thank you for saving my life, beautiful lady!" Jiaang Lin managed to stand, despite his weakened state.

"Beautiful lady?" The woman chuckled behind her hand. "My name is Qiu Xiya, but you can call me Sister Xiao Wu!"

"Sister Xiao Wu, my mother always said that even the smallest kindness should be repaid with great generosity. So, should I propose marriage to you as thanks?"

Jiaang Lin was utterly serious as he spoke, as if he truly meant to express his gratitude.

If it weren't for the oddity of his statement, Qiu Xiya might have believed Jiaang Lin was sincere in his offer!

Qiu Xiya burst into laughter and said, "You're quite the character, aren't you? You're also the first person in North Mountain Village to ever speak to me this way!"

"North Mountain Village?"

Jiaang Lin furrowed his brow in thought. He did recall glimpsing a village before passing out, and the map etched in his mind indeed had a mark for such a village.

But the mark was so insignificant it was almost negligible, the smallest spot within the entirety of Cloud City!

"So, there's a village here," Jiaang Lin realized aloud.

"Exactly. North Mountain Village is a secluded little place. You're lucky to have found it!" Qiu Xiya boasted with a grin that suggested he had struck gold. "Not just anyone can stumble upon North Mountain Village. If I hadn't been returning from a bath in the river and found you, you'd be inside a demonic beast's belly by now! Aren't you going to thank me properly?"

Qiu Xiya stood with her hands on her hips, smiling in anticipation of Jiaang Lin's gratitude. But Jiaang Lin, scratching his cheek awkwardly, asked, "Sister Xiao Wu, did you just refer to yourself as 'Grandmother'?"

Hearing this, Qiu Xiya's mood flipped, and she slapped Jiaang Lin's arm, retorting, "I come from a respectable family; why would I say such a thing?"

As Jiaang Lin clutched his chest, he caught sight of Qiu Xiya's flushed face and was certain she had indeed slipped up.

Just then, Jiaang Lin's stomach growled loudly, betraying his immense hunger. He felt embarrassed, but Qiu Xiya simply laughed and said, "Hold on a moment. I'll go and get you something to eat."

After speaking, Qiu Xiya left the room.

Not long after, she returned with several robust young men in tow, carrying seven or eight plates brimming with food and vegetables.

Yet these young men wouldn't even lift their eyes. They fixated on the ground as if they might find coins there.

After setting down the meal, they quickly exited, clearly intimidated by Qiu Xiya.

"Look at you all. Do you really think I'm going to eat you? Take a look at him."

Qiu Xiya's lips curled into a captivating smile. She glanced at Jiaang Lin flirtatiously and, perhaps unintentionally, licked her lips.

Her soft, glistening tongue glided over her perfectly red lips, leaving them glistening. Jiaang Lin was captivated, his mouth dry and his tongue thirsty, the pangs of hunger momentarily forgotten.

He swallowed hard, thinking to himself that she was indeed a beauty like no other.

"I used to think you preferred men. Turns out you're a bit of a rascal too!"

Qiu Xiya's laughter filled the room. Jiaang Lin, ravenous, made no further ado. He grabbed a steamed bun and took a big bite. Between chews, he mumbled, "Everyone is drawn to beauty. Who could be the exception?"