Chapter 42

Just as Xia You snuggled into his sleeping bag and was on the verge of falling asleep, he was jolted awake by the sensation of a paw pad pressing against his cheek.

Reaching out from her sleeping bag to grasp the thick paw pad, Xia You rubbed her cheek against the leopard's paw, discerning which big cat it was just by touch without even opening her eyes. "Easy Yuan Yuan, no more mischief."

After a grueling three-hour virtual mecha battle, Xia You's brain felt like it couldn't process another thing, her body responding sluggishly as well. All she wanted was to lay inside her sleeping bag.

The black leopard, which had disappeared for quite a while in the evening, lowered its head and gently nuzzled Xia You's cheek.

The long whiskers brushed back and forth across Xia You's face, tickling her intensely.

Xia You opened one eye and stared at the big cat whose eyes were the only thing glowing in the dark tent.

The black leopard opened its mouth, tugging the zipper of Xia You's sleeping bag downwards. With a swift zip, it revealed the young man dressed in his nightwear.

Xia You: "..."

Fine, alright.

Slowly sitting up, Xia You grabbed a jacket from the side, wrapped it around herself, and stood up, preparing to follow the black leopard out to see what was going on.

But then, the black leopard sat down again.

Xia You: "?"

Xia You and the black leopard stared at each other for a long while before she tentatively tried to lie back down.

The black leopard leaned over again, biting the collar of Xia You's shirt.

Annoyed, the young man grabbed the leopard's triangular ears, giving them a firm rub, and then whispered into the big cat's ear, "Bad kitty! What do you want?"

The black leopard dragged over a full set of clothes with its claws, placing them on Xia You's lap.

Xia You: "..."

Frustrated but without any other choice, Xia You dressed properly. Only after the black leopard inspected and approved did she get permission to leave the tent.

The snow leopard woke up due to the commotion and was about to chase after them when Lu Yinghuai gave a soft cough.

In the darkness, the snow leopard blinked its eyes, adjusted its tail's position and breathing, and closed its eyes once again.

As for the little tiger, it remained undisturbed throughout, sleeping more soundly than anyone else.

*

The sky outside was studded with stars that hung low, and with each deep breath, one could feel the bone-chilling cold.

Her clothing was warm, so Xia You wasn't cold, but she instinctively rubbed her hands together.

The black leopard brushed against Xia You's knee and took two steps forward, its shiny tail raised and wrapped twice around her wrist.

Feeling the pull on her wrist, Xia You understood where the leopard wanted to lead her. She hesitated momentarily and was about to follow when the leopard turned and encircled her, stopping her in her tracks.

Xia You: "..."

The young man let out a resigned sigh and looked down at his enormous furry friend. "Alright, what do you want us to do now?"

The black leopard stared at Xia You for a moment, seemingly confirming her confusion. It then nuzzled the back of her hand and lay down in front of her.

Yet, its tail remained wrapped around her wrist, giving a gentle tug in its direction.

Xia You: "?"

After a few moments of realization, Xia You chuckled nervously, "You don’t mean for me to ride you… do you?"

"Roar."

Xia You and the black leopard locked eyes for a while. She rubbed her face, trying to clear her thoughts, then reached back to feel the leopard’s sleek fur.

Yuan Yuan's size seemed to suggest he could...

This is a jaguar!

A furry creature almost the size of a tiger!

Riding a black jaguar!

Xia You swallowed hard, unable to resist such a temptation, and climbed onto the black leopard's back.

The leopard's tail now rested on Xia You's waist as it stood upright and began trotting in a certain direction.

Xia You's pupils momentarily dilated with shock, and she fought back a scream, leaning forward to tightly hug the leopard's neck, burying her face into its short, thick fur.

After rounding a mountain, the black leopard found a cave sheltered from the wind. It sniffed lightly and then walked in.

Xia You looked up, utterly astonished.

It was a cave of rock, which contrasted sharply with its initially narrow entrance. As they ventured deeper, it expanded, with a faint scent reminiscent of sulfur and a palpable humidity in the air.

Could it be...

A possibility crossed Xia You's mind, causing her to sit upright abruptly.

"Bang!"

"Hiss..."

Clutching her bumped head, Xia You resumed her resting position on the black leopard.

The leopard paused, looking back at her.

Xia You gently patted its massive head, "It's okay, thankfully Yuan Yuan wasn’t moving too fast just now."

After a moment, the leopard proceeded, noticeably slowing its pace.

Initially, Xia You had thought their destination was deep within the cave. Yet, as they continued, her vision suddenly broadened.

To her surprise, they had entered a snow-lined valley. In the center was a spring emitting a soft sound of flowing water, its surface veiled by a white mist.

She couldn’t discern the source of the spring, nor where its waters converged.

The leopard, stopping not far from the hot spring, lay down, its tail gently tapping Xia You’s back.

Xia You was undoubtedly exhausted that day. Yet, given the choice between immediate rest or soaking in a hot spring before sleep, she’d undoubtedly choose the latter.

After a hot spring soak, one feels an airy softness, as if floating on water – sleep following such an experience is incomparably restful.

The last time Xia You indulged in a hot spring was in what felt like a past life. But how could a spa in a high-end club compare to a natural hot spring nestled between snow-capped mountains?

Testing the water's temperature with her hand and confirming its safety with her device, Xia You cheerfully undressed and slipped into the hot spring.

The slightly scalding water felt like a gentle caress as it touched her shoulders.

Xia You rested at the edge, playfully poking the soft, unmelted snow nearby, humming contentedly.

Feeling as if something was amiss, she scanned her surroundings and spotted the black leopard, sitting upright with its back to her in a corner.

"Yuan Yuan? Why are you over there? Come join me."

Their household cat spent the majority of its day grooming, ensuring its fur remained impeccably clean.

The black leopard turned its head.

Illuminated by the valley's starlight, Xia You finally saw that the leopard's eyes that night resembled sapphire sprinkled with gold – a magnificent, dreamy radiance.

"Yuan Yuan's eyes are so beautiful," Xia You murmured, propped up by her hands at the pool's edge, gazing intently at the leopard not far off.

"Come join me for a soak."

The leopard seemed torn. After a considerable pause, it stood up. As it approached, its pupils had reverted entirely to a golden hue.

Slightly puzzled, Xia You brushed it off, thinking perhaps the starlight had played tricks on her eyes.

Accompanied by the splashing sounds, the graceful leopard submerged itself. Moments later, its head emerged from the water, shaking side to side – evidently at ease in the liquid realm.

Unlike domestic cats that dread water, jaguars are adept at swimming, climbing, sprinting, and tree-climbing.

They are unparalleled hunters.

Despite Xia You's calls, the leopard remained steadfast on the opposite side of the spring, refusing to approach.

Noting a hint of mischief in her eyes, Xia You held her breath, inching closer to the leopard along the pool's edge. However, just as she was about to touch its paw, the massive furry creature dove into the water. In the next instant, it resurfaced where Xia You had originally been.

The entire maneuver was swift, silent, and seamless.

Xia You realized her supposed stealthy approach had been detected by the leopard long ago.

With the leopard playing hard to get, Xia You had no choice but to maintain a safe distance, enjoying her soak in silent camaraderie.

It was only when she felt parched that Xia You emerged from the spring. Fortunately, her spatial ring had everything, including a towel. She dried off and bundled herself up snugly in her clothes.

The leopard, on the other hand, was far more efficient. Despite being immersed for so long, after several vigorous shakes upon emerging, its fur was already nearly dry when Xia You touched it.

Truly, a natural waterproof coat.

Enviously, Xia You gave it a few more affectionate strokes.

Both the man and the leopard discreetly set out, just as silently as when they had arrived, returning to their tent under the cover of night.

Xa Yu stealthily changed into her pajamas, and then snuggled herself into the sleeping bag, a smile curving her lips as she closed her eyes.

The black leopard lay down beside Xa Yu, its tail resting on her, the tip slightly curled.

In the darkness, Lu Yinghuai's fingers twitched before he truly settled down to sleep.